I really wanna keep this as brief as I possibly can (nope). I've had so many fleeting thoughts and emotions behind this incident, as have millions of others across the country and around the world. I'm going to leave my emotion out of this post, but of course my heart bleeds for anyone who suffers the loss of a loved one to gun violence, let alone parents losing a child.
First, the media's spin on informing the public about this story and its spin on the two primary characters involved, Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, have intensified my skepticism of mainstream news' ability to present unbiased, truthful information. It's beyond disgraceful. It's beyond disappointing. But it shows me the nature of my society, how easily we allow them to get us emotionally riled up, going through our lives reacting constantly at what's being presented before us instead of asking questions and gathering all the facts. I admit I'm guilty of this.
Second, once I was able to calm down emotionally, I realize the double edged sword this case is regarding race. At one end, this case is not about race. It's about one human being who viewed another human being as "suspicious", "suspicious" meaning something specific and unique to this human. His actions and the subsequent actions of his local police department in Florida are sending a loud and clear message, and so will the actions of the Dept of Justice and the FBI. Depending upon the outcome of this case, the message will be that if I am in one of the 29 states that have adopted the "Stand-Your-Ground" statute, and someone views me as their brand of "suspicious," they have the right to follow me, question me and if they feel "reasonably" threatened by me ("reasonably" to be determined by local law enforcement based upon what??? hmm), they don't have to retreat; they can use deadly force against me, and then claim self defense. THIS REASON ALONE is enough to warrant national attention of this case, because this is infringing upon my basic civil right to walk down the street of my own neighborhood in peace.
On the other end of the double edged sword, it's difficult to ignore race. The consensus is that because Trayvon was Black, he was stereotyped and discriminated against. It's more difficult to speculate whether he would have suffered the same fate had he been another race.
Third, speaking of race and discrimination, I will simply say that we as Americans, in 2012, are still not ready to have an honest discussion about this, because our issue here is no longer about blacks vs whites. The bottom line is: ANYBODY can be prejudiced and discriminate against anybody. Please understand what I'm saying. I'm not talking about systemic racism. George Zimmerman was not 100% Caucasian, so this is not a white vs black case as the media initially attempted to allude to. If we really want to get to the bottom of our issues concerning discrimination based on race, all of us need to be honest about the thoughts in our conscious and subconscious regarding others outside our racial group. Along with race, it's about ethnicity and pop culture and "social norms." And our FEAR of and inability to understand and/or RESPECT those who aren't part of ours.
Finally, one major understanding as a result of this case is that someone has finally presented what I consider to be a logical argument supporting gun rights in this country. As easy as it would be for someone to conclude now that our country should ban guns, it would not be wise nor responsible. There are people out here who are going to do what they want to do regardless of there being a law in place or not. People are going to use guns to commit crimes and other dumb actions. Unfortunately the media's coverage is skewed (no surprise) on the people who do this, creating fear and paranoia in the public. Guns should not be banned because there are people who utilize guns for a purpose other than violence. Banning guns strips these peoples' rights to TRULY defend themselves which creates more harm than any good recognized as a result of banning guns at all. I know it's really, REALLY hard to agree with that sentence in the midst of what's going on right now. But regardless of my personal view, the option needs to be legal and available to all who may find themselves in a situation, because the consequences otherwise are far worse.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
For Those Who Question My Faith
I serve God by keeping my mind open, for one. I don't consume harmful amounts of high fructose corn syrup and meat. I don't hate homosexuals. I don't ridicule people. I see the beauty in nature. I read books. I challenge myself to respect the choices and views of those who I disagree with. I do my best to be mindful of the choices I make.
I find it quite interesting, a group of people who pride themselves on the ability to believe in the existence of something that can't be seen...will turn around and condemn their neighbor if they can't SEE the existence of their faith.
Understanding that the mind and the heart are two of the most important tools in serving the creator. Keep them open and free from fear.
I find it quite interesting, a group of people who pride themselves on the ability to believe in the existence of something that can't be seen...will turn around and condemn their neighbor if they can't SEE the existence of their faith.
Understanding that the mind and the heart are two of the most important tools in serving the creator. Keep them open and free from fear.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Humans, a Perspective pt. 2
How do I think the ways in which humans communicate with and think about one another serve us in the 21st century?
There is a wealth of information being shared over the internet. There are millions of minds connecting in a way and at a rate like never before. Therefore we must learn the difference between informing and fear mongering. There are those of us who share information and knowledge that they've acquired, which can help others live a more fulfilling, balanced life. And then there are those who use their knowledge/information to berate others. The fact is, one day each of us will die/transition (at least, physically). For most of us that live in Western civilization, we have greater freedom in choosing whether it will be a fast or slow death. We can take all the preventative measures in the world to prolong our lives: read books, avoid overly processed foods, alcohol, air pollution (smog, cigarettes), exercise and etc, but this only prolongs the inevitable. Now this by no means suggests that we should all run out to have a hamburger at the Heart Attack Grill and watch TV all day. However, we shouldn't go around thinking evil of one another and being full of distrust, projecting that on the whole of humanity simply because selfishness is the agenda of a select few (and compared to the BILLIONS inhabiting this planet, yes it is a select FEW).
Instead of fear mongering and tearing down, we need to inform yet be compassionate. Many focus on the evil of the government and corporations, the "beast" etc but we have to remember that these entities are comprised of PEOPLE and they are still connected to us. They represent our lowest nature. To paraphrase Mark Twain, who has the humanity to pray for Satan when Satan is being Satan??
Part of the problem with human thinking in the West is that we have gone so far into individuality that we forget how we are all connected (collectivism). Not only have we deluded ourselves into thinking that we are separate, almost exalted, from the rest of nature and the universe but from one another. This creates for us a prison in the mind. So the whore, the murderer, the addict, the "slave", the "beast" that one thinks is separate from them is actually a part of them and is reflecting back to them the lowest potential of humanity.
The point of this post is to encourage everyone to think and communicate with one another in a much more balanced way. Radical, extreme ways of thinking and communicating come from going unchecked for long periods of time, being allowed to so far down one's own rabbit hole until one is too afraid to come out.
There is a wealth of information being shared over the internet. There are millions of minds connecting in a way and at a rate like never before. Therefore we must learn the difference between informing and fear mongering. There are those of us who share information and knowledge that they've acquired, which can help others live a more fulfilling, balanced life. And then there are those who use their knowledge/information to berate others. The fact is, one day each of us will die/transition (at least, physically). For most of us that live in Western civilization, we have greater freedom in choosing whether it will be a fast or slow death. We can take all the preventative measures in the world to prolong our lives: read books, avoid overly processed foods, alcohol, air pollution (smog, cigarettes), exercise and etc, but this only prolongs the inevitable. Now this by no means suggests that we should all run out to have a hamburger at the Heart Attack Grill and watch TV all day. However, we shouldn't go around thinking evil of one another and being full of distrust, projecting that on the whole of humanity simply because selfishness is the agenda of a select few (and compared to the BILLIONS inhabiting this planet, yes it is a select FEW).
Instead of fear mongering and tearing down, we need to inform yet be compassionate. Many focus on the evil of the government and corporations, the "beast" etc but we have to remember that these entities are comprised of PEOPLE and they are still connected to us. They represent our lowest nature. To paraphrase Mark Twain, who has the humanity to pray for Satan when Satan is being Satan??
Part of the problem with human thinking in the West is that we have gone so far into individuality that we forget how we are all connected (collectivism). Not only have we deluded ourselves into thinking that we are separate, almost exalted, from the rest of nature and the universe but from one another. This creates for us a prison in the mind. So the whore, the murderer, the addict, the "slave", the "beast" that one thinks is separate from them is actually a part of them and is reflecting back to them the lowest potential of humanity.
The point of this post is to encourage everyone to think and communicate with one another in a much more balanced way. Radical, extreme ways of thinking and communicating come from going unchecked for long periods of time, being allowed to so far down one's own rabbit hole until one is too afraid to come out.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The way I see it
Sometimes I think I have human existence figured out. And then something happens or someone introduces a different perspective that reminds me that I don't. The bottom line is, I know enough to know that I really don't know anything!
But what I would like to do is summarize my analysis of humanity, based upon my own experience up through this exact moment, for the purpose of determining how I will contribute to the human story.
The way I see it, the problem with humanity is that we don't even know who we are. We spend half of our lives attempting to define ourselves..Am I an animal? Am I an alien? Am I a "woman"? "man"? "black"? "white"? "homosexual"? "Muslim"? And then once we've finally figured out who we think we are (what we feel comfortable identifying with) then we spend the other portion of our lives attempting to build something, for a variety of reasons. And it's the case for many to spend their entire lives focusing solely on one aspect without ever achieving the other. Some do neither. And few of us achieve both. But nonetheless I think history, in summary, is the story of the human family defining (or re-defining itself/its environment) and building (discovering/re-discovering universal laws to create technology). Thus, history is the evolution of human thought; what humanity thinks about itself and its environment.
huMANS tend to think they are better or higher than all the other consciousness of nature, simply because it has free will (the beauty and tragedy of being human). Because humanity has free will, it has defined itself in a multitude of ways, often contradicting and conflicting within itself. Add to the equation that humans disagree on the ways & the reasons why to build, and one begins to understand why it is difficult to attain world peace.
The rhetorical question(s) I ask are why don't we just call ourselves human doings (?), and how is the current state of human thought serving us in the present world? Is it beneficial for humans to remain in this constant state of "define and build?" Is it beneficial for humanity to continue on down its path of narcissist thinking in relation with all the other consciousness on this planet?
But what I would like to do is summarize my analysis of humanity, based upon my own experience up through this exact moment, for the purpose of determining how I will contribute to the human story.
The way I see it, the problem with humanity is that we don't even know who we are. We spend half of our lives attempting to define ourselves..Am I an animal? Am I an alien? Am I a "woman"? "man"? "black"? "white"? "homosexual"? "Muslim"? And then once we've finally figured out who we think we are (what we feel comfortable identifying with) then we spend the other portion of our lives attempting to build something, for a variety of reasons. And it's the case for many to spend their entire lives focusing solely on one aspect without ever achieving the other. Some do neither. And few of us achieve both. But nonetheless I think history, in summary, is the story of the human family defining (or re-defining itself/its environment) and building (discovering/re-discovering universal laws to create technology). Thus, history is the evolution of human thought; what humanity thinks about itself and its environment.
huMANS tend to think they are better or higher than all the other consciousness of nature, simply because it has free will (the beauty and tragedy of being human). Because humanity has free will, it has defined itself in a multitude of ways, often contradicting and conflicting within itself. Add to the equation that humans disagree on the ways & the reasons why to build, and one begins to understand why it is difficult to attain world peace.
The rhetorical question(s) I ask are why don't we just call ourselves human doings (?), and how is the current state of human thought serving us in the present world? Is it beneficial for humans to remain in this constant state of "define and build?" Is it beneficial for humanity to continue on down its path of narcissist thinking in relation with all the other consciousness on this planet?
Monday, December 19, 2011
Instant Gratification.
It's the addiction behind the addiction...it runs deep, like droplets of water trickling into the soil. Addicted to wanting to be entertained constantly. It's the reason why it's easier for some to listen to a Lil Wayne than a Little Brother...why one would opt for a cheeseburger over a salad...it's why I use a microwave instead of an oven, it's why she wears weave instead of growing her hair, it's why he thinks the goal of sex is purely for the orgasm. Instant Gratification. It's what people are really chasing after at the bottom of the vodka bottle, or the drag of their cigarettes, or the pill that gets popped to numb the "pain"; it's why some linger in the club, why some go to church, why some are fanatical about football or boxing...it's why some are manipulative, and others get bored easily. Instant Gratification. Because somehow "entertainment" became synonymous with "fun" and "happiness" and "freedom", while self awareness has not. Many of us are getting high but we don't recognize our addiction.
Growing up
As I reflect back over the last 12 weeks of this year, I feel like everything I've taken myself through mentally and emotionally has really forced me to grow up. The actions and words of others and other little happenings that have set me off emotionally have caused me to confront hidden insecurities, lack of confidence, caring too much about things that I shouldn't and how much I have lied to myself over a long period of time. It's really interesting how so many people say they hate liars yet fail to account for the lies constantly being told to the self. We tell ourselves that everything's OK when it's really not. We suppress our emotions and the instinctive voice in our head that alert us when things are off balance. We do this because we wanna please other people and we are afraid of rejection. But part of growing up is the development of courage, and to me, a woman is a female who is mature, applies her energy wisely, and brave enough to stop lying to herself.
I turned 29 in March. Before that point, I never considered myself a "woman" but this year has brought a lot of changes. I continue to say this, but my way of thinking about everything has been challenged constantly. What I considered "normal", what I considered "holy", "real", "sinful" or "truth" - the concepts that defined those terms for me have gone out the window. I know that I am growing because I recognize my ability to think about things differently without fear, bias or judgement.
I feel myself growing confident and courageous as the days go by. I remember the days when I was shy/reserved (even more so than now) and very easily intimidated by everyone and everything. I mean, everybody else seemed like they had the world figured out and had their thing together. Looking back now I realize that a lot of people really don't know what the heck they were doing either; they just did a darn better job of making it appear that way! Some people are just better than others at masking their insecurities. For some of us it's a little easier to take action on achieving our purpose for which we live our life. For others of us, we have to work harder at attaining that necessary balance.
It took having my heart broken a few times in the last 12 weeks (not just speaking romantically) for me to realize that I needed to grow a proverbial "pair". After that is when I understood that if I did not practice some self-love through standing up for myself, I was going to be eaten alive by the wolves and sharks of the world. One thing's for sure and two things are for certain: if mama & daddy aren't willing or capable of teaching you how to defend yourself, the world certainly will force you to! Today my saying is "I love ME, no matter what."
I'm satisfied with the progress that I've made. I know that I have a lot of smart work to do in order to be who I want and am supposed to be. So with me writing out this realization today, it marks another milestone in my transition away from girlhood and further into womanhood.
I turned 29 in March. Before that point, I never considered myself a "woman" but this year has brought a lot of changes. I continue to say this, but my way of thinking about everything has been challenged constantly. What I considered "normal", what I considered "holy", "real", "sinful" or "truth" - the concepts that defined those terms for me have gone out the window. I know that I am growing because I recognize my ability to think about things differently without fear, bias or judgement.
I feel myself growing confident and courageous as the days go by. I remember the days when I was shy/reserved (even more so than now) and very easily intimidated by everyone and everything. I mean, everybody else seemed like they had the world figured out and had their thing together. Looking back now I realize that a lot of people really don't know what the heck they were doing either; they just did a darn better job of making it appear that way! Some people are just better than others at masking their insecurities. For some of us it's a little easier to take action on achieving our purpose for which we live our life. For others of us, we have to work harder at attaining that necessary balance.
It took having my heart broken a few times in the last 12 weeks (not just speaking romantically) for me to realize that I needed to grow a proverbial "pair". After that is when I understood that if I did not practice some self-love through standing up for myself, I was going to be eaten alive by the wolves and sharks of the world. One thing's for sure and two things are for certain: if mama & daddy aren't willing or capable of teaching you how to defend yourself, the world certainly will force you to! Today my saying is "I love ME, no matter what."
I'm satisfied with the progress that I've made. I know that I have a lot of smart work to do in order to be who I want and am supposed to be. So with me writing out this realization today, it marks another milestone in my transition away from girlhood and further into womanhood.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Leaders of the New School
The last two hours of my Sunday evening have carried along at a snail's pace, but I am not complaining. I think maybe it's because my mind has been traversing at lightning speed over several topics, but anyway let me get to the topic at hand:
Well I've been spending a lot less time on Facebook and a lot more time on Twitter, and as the individuals behind those accounts represent a cross-section of the U.S. (and the world for that matter), a lot of information is being shared. But I don't wanna talk about what is being shared I wanna discuss my observation on how this information is being shared.
I'm just noticing how condescending people are when they discuss and share information on subjects they feel strongly about: religion/spirituality, politics, music, race relations, war, economics...the list goes on. There are a number of reasons a person may feel strongly about a particular subject (books, personal experience, etc). I would like to present my theory on why these people are condescending towards others. I think it is because perhaps the so-called "expert" is simply annoyed that person doesn't see the world the way that they do. And then people are labeled "brainwashed" "sheep/sheeple" or some other variants. I see these terms thrown around a lot.
I think these people, "Leaders of the New School" as I like to call them, forget that they once shared the same mindset or train of thinking as the person they are being condescending towards, and at some point in time they experienced a "great awakening" from the way they used to view the world. They go through this phase in which they become angry at the thought of being misled, misinformed, "tricked"; "duped". This anger, this bitterness, is projected every time the subject of "expertise" comes up. It gives the enlightened person the opportunity to display their knowledge and satisfy their ego with the idea that they "know" more than others. They feel more powerful. After all, knowledge IS power. But what's really happening is the perpetuating of a cycle. The so called "enlightened" "expert" was once oppressed by the popular view and now that they separated from it, they use their knowledge to in turn oppress others. It is truly a sad psychological and emotional cycle.
I like this quote by theologian Hosea Ballou: "The oppression of any people for opinions sake has rarely had any other effect than to fix those opinions deeper and render them more important."
When one has been oppressed for so long, after a while one begins to take on the characteristics of his/her oppressor. It's one thing to disagree with another's words, which are a reflection of their position in their life's journey. But to belittle and devalue another person's being and their opinion is not only disrespectful but is hardly an indication of "enlightenment".
Leaders of the new school ought to be careful, lest they be exposed as merely "followers of the old school".
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