Problems at the border?

 

Place the men and women flooding into our country into the US military. They will be earning a living while serving our country for a chance to become citizens. Our military is in need of recruits. Just may stem the flow too, and perhaps some will stay and help their countries form better governance.

 

And while we are doing this, how about requiring high school graduates to serve their country in some way for at least a year before going on to higher learning? They would select a service of their choice, from the military, to building homes for the homeless, cleaning up blighted and deteriorating city areas, planting neighborhood vegetable gardens in poorer areas, reading to children in day care and elementary schools, helping in nursing homes and so on; the list is endless. Many young people are so focused on themselves, are emotionally depressed or anxious, and habitually on electronics. We can help with that. Getting them away from these devices for a change, and enabling them to see how being of service is rewarding and fulfilling.

Hysteria

 

Hysteria once again has taken hold of every position on the spectrum of political views. The extreme exaggerations, the cry of victimhood over slight offenses, the fear generating statements to scare people toward one side or another, are harming our country, our children and our future.

Seeing the world through the eyes of politics distorts reality.

This does not work. We can solve our problems, but we need to calm down.  

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Let's Be Really Honest

 

Is it out of convenience we determine the sanctity of life? Is it animals we have relationships with that we protect? Not farm animals, we eat them. Endangered animals? Animal's lives aren't sacred? Embryos, fetuses, babies we didn’t want, or convicted criminals; do we deny them a right to life? Why do we decide what life is sacrosanct and what life is expendable? Does anyone really know? I venture to offer we are still a primitive species making small and monstrous mistakes. We need to move carefully and thoughtfully. Not knee-jerk rebellion nor celebration. No, we aren’t evolved enough for that.

 

Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash

It Isn’t Left or Right, Its Tribalism

 

Over our country’s history the political parties have shifted, and sometimes moved ideologically in a big way.  Hard core Republicans and Democrats don’t want to hear this, but in today’s political climate, as probably we always were, we are much more tribal.

            It is solidly in our DNA to gravitate toward those we identify with. Those who make us feel our opinions and beliefs are right. Once we ‘find’ our tribe we are susceptible to the shifting opinions of that tribe. Nothing stays the same in real life. Each political party has members who represent various factions of ideology.

            What is going on is much more than polarization. There aren’t just two ‘sides’; there are multiple tribes. And once a person is steeped in the identity of a certain tribe, they are susceptible to the shifting tides of it. Distrust the government, there are several tribes who adhere to that. Distrust rich people? Distrust Wall Street? Suspicious of environmental conservation projects? Look down on rural communities? Urban communities? Suspicious of efforts toward racial justice? Distrusting of government shifting the material to be taught to our children?

            Each tribe holds multiple beliefs, and as one gravitates to one tribe because they believe in prudent fiscal spending, for instance, they become susceptible to the other beliefs within this group; perhaps the opinion that all lower income people want the government to give them more free money and services.

            A tribe who doesn’t trust the government can easily extend this suspicion to the medical community, a similar big power group. A tribe who believes wealthy people are untrustworthy may eventually add the opinion that there is a sinister group of wealthy people trying to take over the whole planet for themselves.  

            The biggest take away from this situation is to understand how we are influenced by those we listen to and hang around. To be insightful as to how and why we think a certain way about a topic. To question our own beliefs. To not just buy in to one political party in its entirety. Because each is made up of multiple tribes.

Once Again

 

Once again, a horrific school shooting and everyone in the media is clambering to blame 'the others', lamenting along with their positions, angering one side or the other. We, ultimately, are all at fault.

Our culture has a sickness to put it simply. It out-pictures in the vulnerable among us. Those lost souls with so much lack of meaning in their lives, that they act out in the worst ways to relieve their pain.

And we allow this to happen. It is a spiritual crisis.

Children are growing up in a sea of violence, meanness, incivility, and lack of respect. Problems are cast off as someone else's responsibility. Every issue is torn into opposing camps throwing endless barbs.

The government cannot fix the sickness in our society.

We, the people have to mature, take responsibility, admit we have a crisis of meaning with no solutions. The next evolution of our species must be in our consciousness. And all of us need to work together and use all the solutions. It starts with kindness, care, and understanding.

“I do honestly think that if women were running the world there would be more investment in peace, because basically as women we do not want to see our children killed. Maybe I am completely idealistic, but until we see women in equal positions of power in the world, I just think that we are doomed.” - Meryl Streep 

This isn't a political comment though some may go there. Please try not to.

It would appear that the role women have been naturally endowed with has gone hidden in modern culture. (Note. There is a spectrum of personality from what is considered masculine to feminine. I respect all expressions.)

Women have long been credited with roles such as nurturer, healer, spiritual guide, peace keeper, environmentalist, equal rights advocate, as well as ushering the next generation into adulthood with stability, respectfulness, and responsibility with great, fierce love.

These are the most common attributes women were seen as having.

Now, in current culture, in a misguided attempt at equal rights, we are shown in the media stories and shows of women taking up male-like toughness physically, with weapons, blowing up places with bombs, fighting, and basically moving backwards in the evolution of our species. It is truly cringeworthy and sets off alarms, or at least it should.

Creating a better, more peaceful world isn't advanced by women making the same mistakes as men have. We have the power to give a peaceful balance to society. It is in our nature and takes more courage than does hate and violence. So yes, we need to find positions where we can make change.

 

I was going to write about post pandemic PTSD, but frankly, those of you who have been following me for years know what I'd recommend, i.e. take care of yourself, limit news, meditate, eat well, get good sleep, get outside, move etc.

     What is going on is so much deeper than COVID. We are in a major transition to something new. So many authors, teachers, and spiritual leaders have written about moving through these upheavals, attempting to explain how the state of chaos in the world came to be, how it is affecting all of us, and what will happen next.

     We have been going through a unique period in our lifetime. Information and events have been exploding into our lives faster than we can adapt to it. Not only the health issues with the pandemic, the political storms, lack of consensus on facts (knowledge commons), and the economic issues from lock downs, but also the effects from the stress caused by it all; more divorces, eating disorders, depression, drinking, and anxiety among them.

     The media chooses stories to dwell on, magnify, exaggerate and cover day after day after day, until we feel like the whole world is in some sort of hell. Depending on what source of information you tune into the stories vary widely.

     In a true democratic system, there is knowledge commons and there is a base line of consensus for what we are, as a nation, attempting to create, what democracy means, and how the government works. Our disagreements have normally been on what government can do to protect that and how.

     We've entered, over the last decades, a period where we act like those who have different ideas to solve problems are ignorant, enemies, or just plain evil. Groups, organizations, colleges, media sources, and social media, censor opinions they don't want to hear; we have lost the ability to hear opposing views.  We have fractured pieces of 'reality' wherein extreme conspiracy theories gain millions of followers. There is an abundance of mistrust in the 'others'. Author Charles Eisenstein noted, "How can we have a democracy if we are being incited to hate each other by the very media we depend on to tell us what is real, what is "news" and what the world is?"  The political party in power tries to repress and censor the opposing party's views.

 

     Our cultural blemishes have risen to the forefront and are being seized upon by different sides. We live in a story that there are good guys and bad guys, and everyone thinks they are the good guy.

 

     And yet:

·         We are all one in the human family

·         We have all been the good guy and the bad guy

·         In our world there are opposing beliefs in which both are true

·         What we call 'truth' shifts with levels of consciousness

 

     The likeliest explanation for the current state, upon the revelation of the destructive stories we've been hiding, covering up or ignoring, are hopefully, the last gasps of the most primitive of consciousness, as it raises its ugly head for all to see.

     For example, there has always been a percentage of people who are drawn to law enforcement and military because of the sense of power and control it gives them over others. (There are ways to screen out these individuals in the application process with psych tests for social pathology.)

     Yet we can't fix what we aren't aware of. Those of us in the spiritual community are painfully aware of all the world's atrocities, from the horrors of war, famine, prisons, devastation of lands, all kinds of violence, to the insidious, subtle discriminations and everyday insults by all manner of journalists, bloggers and everyday people.

          When I was young in the 60s and 70s, we were filled with energy and ideas for creating a new world: just, safe, environmentally healthy, with gender equality and healthier food. We saw women were treated unfairly and often as sex objects, minorities experienced deep discrimination from every level, senseless wars, and guns and violence exploded in the streets. We charged forward to change this.

     We failed. There are more guns, still wars, more sexualization of young girls, still inequities, and we are less healthy.

     We have to tell a new story. One not of good and evil, us versus them, but a culture of compassion, listening, patience, creative problem solving, and understanding. It is time for transformation. We know in our hearts that the way society has been isn't working, and it's making us sick. It's making the Earth sick as well.

     And not tell a story of what we're against. The against position is already coming from behind, a weakened state that makes opposite forces strengthen more. Instead of pushing against opinions, beliefs or thoughts, manifest a powerful new vision that encompasses a beautiful story.

     Seeing two young children fighting over a toy, rather than make one right and one wrong, an effective parent will work out a solution that reduces upsetting emotions, makes them feel understood, and invites them to help come up with a peaceful one. We are no different. If we are told we are wrong we dig in our heels, don't we? We are more determined to prove we are right and they are wrong. What you push against grows stronger.

 

     So, I challenge everyone to create a new story.

 

·         Make one up. Call it fiction. There are always truths in storytelling.

·         Think, talk, write, read, stories with beautiful answers.

·         Envision the world how you know it could be.

·         Be fierce in your determination.

·         Don't stay silent when others try to drag someone or a group through the mud.

Ask the hard questions when they complain about the 'other'. Ask why they think the other is that way, challenge them to go deeper.

·         Tell personal stories to exemplify your points.

·         Flood the internet with good stories.

·         You don't need to defend or explain what your personal politics are, democrat or republican, independent or libertarian. It's all fine. This isn't a process for one political persuasion.

 

     In my book, The Light of Grace, two of the characters lived in future time periods: one in mid-21^st century, and one in the 26^th-century. It was great fun working out how many of today's problems were solved. So, inadvertently, I've already begun this process!

     One of the efforts of the spiritual community is to encourage people to go inward more, study scriptures and develop practices that raise one's consciousness and the desired effect will be the raising of mass consciousness. As the teachings go, when it reaches critical mass, this will change our culture, change society for the better. And we can see the emerging effect. You can find results all around.

     But I think we need to do more. I hope you're with me. Thank you.

*Photo by Obie Fernandez on Unsplash

Political Balance

 

 

I’ve been concerned, and over the last 30 years it has been an increasing concern. In fact, I've been writing about this for years, the widening political division. We’ve always had it, but I do remember when it wasn’t so in our face, so vicious and full of a deep stubbornness that holds us back from understanding each other. We can debate the causes and the beginning point, but I do remember while Reagan was president the media seemed to stretch more and more into opinion instead of mere reporting. Then we all know what ended up happening. Media companies took up sides, deciding what to omit and what to embellish.

     We start politically rubber-banding in sometimes exaggerated ways. Stretching and straining into imbalance from liberal and conservative administrations and imbalanced media coverage. If this imbalance is deep enough, the most inflamed sectors of the populace act out, sometimes leading to violence.

     I'd like to present what a balanced governance would look like.  I believe we've had it before, if only sporadically. Right now, it is as if we think we can only have either conservative or liberal policies. It isn't supposed to be this way.

     Warning, I'm going to get real politically incorrect, bringing up the masculine and feminine ways of approaching governance, and the huge benefits as well as disadvantages of both. Both are sorely needed.

 

What a conservative position stands for in a balanced, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual way:

 

1)      The conservative model represents male energy, or patriarchal, in its approach to managing, guiding and encouraging a people.

2)      The ideal goal is to allow people the freedom and space to create their own dreams and provide the open doors to pursue that.

3)      There is a strong belief that if a government aids people in need over and above what is essential in an emergency situation, the country will be fostering a state of dependence in such people. (welfare state)

4)      To help those in dire need is a necessity for a government, but to continue that help when the person is able-bodied only takes away that person’s means to achieve self-fulfillment and self-esteem as well as a sense of accomplishment.

5)      To enable a group of individuals to remain on more aid than is necessary for survival weakens society and allows a segment of the population to become a burden when in fact they could be productive given responsibility for themselves.

6)      Capitalism is the best form of economic base for a country and it will enable prosperity to the broadest number of people.

7)      Supply and demand in a free society will of its own accord will be the fairest system to all, pricing goods and services more equitably than any government could.

(Based on the belief of Adam Smith in 1776, ‘A Wealth of Nations’ which influenced our Declaration of Independence)

8)      Underlying these beliefs is the basic belief that people given free rein will rise to their full capabilities.

9)      This is very much like the father’s form of parenting, giving the children more responsibility, playing a bit tough, but being there for support of the helpless.

10)  The government is ready to protect during real or perceived threats.

 

When this form of governing gets out of balance, just like a father too stern or removed from the children, it can grow toward one end of the spectrum creating lack in other areas. In the effort to protect the masses and put resources there, there could be a lack of nurturing and respect of the people, the environment and the small businesses.  Funding can get lop-sided toward the male energy type activities, too much of the resources going giving it more authority, territorial rights, defense, etc. Aggression can be a knee jerk reaction to problems. Businesses may grow irresponsibly, ignoring the byproducts of their wastefulness and lack of ecological awareness as well as an understanding of the needs of the individual workers.

 

 

What a liberal position stands for in a balanced, emotional, intellectual and spiritual way:

 

1)      Conversely to the conservative model, the liberal model represents female energy, or maternal in its approach to managing, guiding and nurturing a people.

2)      The ideal goal is to create a safe, healthy environment that is rich in experience and gives everyone an opportunity to become what they want to be.

3)      There is a strong belief that if the government shows the people it’s ability to be there for them, have safety nets in place, caring for the poor, aged, disadvantaged, discriminated against, and ill, that this is a sign of success.

4)      To lack taking sufficient care of the less fortunate will bring an eventuality of more crime, hopelessness and despair. The gulf between the poor and wealthy will grow.

5)      To have a government that brings speedy aid to the less fortunate will allow those individuals, with government programs assisting them, become productive citizens of society and, in the end, off government assistance.

6)      Capitalism may be the best form of economic base, but the government must be vigilant in making sure it is fair to all.

7)      Sometimes supply and demand isn’t fair to all and the government can and should equal things out for everyone.

8)      Underlying these beliefs is the basic belief that we are our brother’s keeper. We are all ultimately responsible for the welfare of our people and the world where we can help.

9)      This, obviously, is very much like the mother’s form of parenting, very nurturing, helpful, listening, and being supportive in the direction the individuals want to go in.

10)  This government is ready to nurture and protect its weakest segment of society.

 

When this form of governing gets out of balance, just like a mother that is too permissive or too helpful, it can create divisions of the people. The people that work hardest and create the most success can be penalized by a heavy tax burden to support an ever-growing dependent population. Too much rescuing robs them of the opportunity to develop self-reliance, find out what they are innately capable of, thereby never attaining their potential or self-fulfillment. Their offspring becomes entangled in the web of government agencies without hope of escaping.

 

In both of the extreme scenarios there would be an eventual outcome of an exhausted, over-expended state, somewhat similar to single parenting!

 

A person in balance has an opportunity to improve, and raise his or her consciousness.

A person out of balance has fewer options available, being seemingly held down by unknown outside forces, which is an illusion. The country is a macrocosm of this.

 

The balance is created by the individuals, all of us; enabling our capacity for nurturing and discipline within ourselves and each other.  We, of course, need both attributes in a society. With balance, peace, fortitude, both caring and responsibility, we can create a vibrant, healthy populace that offers the fertile ground for all to grow. If humanity continues to thrive on this planet there will inevitably be an evolution resulting in the merging of these attributes in ourselves and our government, assisting the needy and fostering self-reliance.

 

We can see it in individuals right now. We are developing more awareness, use of our potential and certainly moving into a more whole-brained way of life. It is a matter of consciousness being raised above the polarization of society.

 

The Two-party system is in a death spiral

 

We need:

Courage 

Vision 

Innovation 

Creativity 

Compassion 

Resolve 

Strength 

Integrity 

And 

Fortitude 

To repair and reinvent what our founding fathers envisioned. 

What if: 

We evolved this beautiful system 

Of governance 

Into something so perfected 

So improved 

That there were no labels 

Describing one’s ‘side’ 

Just all of us with all of our views 

And candidates weren’t dependent on 

Being approved or backed by a party 

Any corporate funding 

Or lobbyists 

Just the people 

And all of our multiplicity 

Seeking the one candidate 

Who aligns with our 

Most embracing, common vision.

Women, Don't Buy into Barriers

This came up on my memories. Still same sentiment.

2018

I wrote this last night after watching the news. Instead of railing against how the news is presented, I write. :) The picture is me at 13! :

 I like hearing about women who ignore the idea that the world is stacked against them. Women who do what they want regardless of what others think. Women who do not listen to the rhetoric that says women have been discriminated against, who act as if this is not the case, who venture into all worlds with the expectation that they can do anything, and see no barriers, only opportunities. This was ingrained into me by my father.

There were blocks in front of me in the early 80s when I became a stockbroker. I tried to join Rotary but was told they weren't ready for a woman member, I was chased around a desk from a groping manager; I have stories, but making those stories into a victim's story is devolving. I just chalked it up to the idiot behavior of a few. Mostly the men in my life have been great, and working in an industry with so many men has been a blast.

It seems like we're going into another round of hearing women are victimized. One of the ways we fight this is by moving past the perceived barriers, don't believe in them.
Those who choose to point at the reasons why they can't succeed, won't. Those who barrel on through regardless, just may change the world.

Create Peace in all the Division

 

              Photo by Loverna Journey on Unsplash

Much like most of you I have friends and family members who cover the spectrum of beliefs and ideologies. Intelligent people I know and respect who think so differently from each other on so many topics: politically, on health, fiscally, socially and more. I watch and hear the confusion people are feeling trying to understand this wide diversity among people close to us.

Look how confusing it is in our world today.

•  We have multiple information outlets with experts of prestigious backgrounds voicing disparate 'truths' on whatever topic you pick, from what drugs are effective, to when to open schools, and whether to trust the safety of wearing masks and more, just on the virus alone!
•  A continuous stream of 'breaking', alarming news.
•  Social media rife with torrents of angry rants, condemnation of others, as well as horrific stories of unimaginable atrocities to people, children and animals.
• Widely diverse news stories showing the information from an unbiased view (where?) all the way to extreme bias.
• An increasing number of conspiracy theorists gaining in popularity among all demographics
• Increasing violence in the streets of large cities and very little coverage of it on mainstream media.

             And no one takes responsibility for this. We hear the cry; it is the evil media's fault; they are the villain here. It is the politician's fault; no, the 'other party's' fault. You can find stories to validate whatever it is you are inclined to believe. Then you can feel justified in your judgments, your opinions, and 'know' you are right and others are wrong. Even the pandemic, of which we are in the middle of, is worse, or not nearly as bad, as the different sources say.

            Let's stop for a moment and look at where our judgments come from. In our modern world we have this gigantic compilation of all the egoic thoughts represented on the internet. Like a global brain, mass consciousness is suspended in the Ethernet, holding all good, bad and indifferent indiscriminately.

             We don't know how to handle all of this information overload. We spent a few million years living in small clans, knowing an infinitesimal bit about the greater world around us. We went on instinct, our guts, and our emotions, observing others near us, understanding what kept us safe, and had to stay focused on finding food and surviving.

            Now most of us don't need to worry about getting enough food, or a safe place to sleep. With our time we can spend it coming up with new ways to live and entertain ourselves day after day after day.

            So, where are we now? We work toward what constitutes a good life and how we want to be, and we gather with those who agree with us, but find many in our sphere don't, and low and behold we find millions of others disagree. Then others sometimes hold back on discussing topics, or quietly separate from us, or they may argue with us, or even get enraged!  

            The truth is we all are creating our own individual worlds from our own consciousness. Our own minds. We absorb—consume is a better word—all the information coming into our senses. We react with a combination of judgments, reactions and ensuing emotions. We base all our assumptions and beliefs on our history. Our ego is like an operating system that has learned about the world since our birth. This is where our judgments come from.

            We couldn't survive without it.

            But almost all of our suffering is caused by the ego. Our thoughts about a situation, and our feeling that we are powerless to fix it, drop a blinder in front of us, blocking a way out of the suffering. We don't see the suffering coming from inside our minds but blame everything outside of us. We become open to explanations served by conspiracy theories.  We reinforce this suffering by talking to our friends about how terrible everything is. We all do this to some extent, and it is so hard not to. Yet it holds us away from our sense of inner peace.

            We can learn to 'see' the deeper reality below all of this created chaos by being anchored in the unchanging, omniscient, omnipresent source; use your own words here: God, The Unmanifest, Source. Let's see how.

            We have another 'mind' besides the ego; that is our higher consciousness. That part of us that nudges and whispers when we stop to look within; when we take a moment to listen, actually connecting to our source. Pause, be mindful, meditate, be present, these are all suggestions to hop beyond the judgmental mind's suffering.

            No matter what is going on in your own world right now—you may be experiencing difficulties or illness—in this moment, you are sitting there reading these words and you are OK. The sun will still rise tomorrow. All that really exists is this moment, right now. Stop burdening yourself with worrying about the whole world. It's futile. Worrying about all the other people who think differently from you won't change anything. Worrying about the newscaster who said something incorrect, the politician who said something awful, the latest numbers on the virus, the violence and natural disasters, will not help anything.

            Create love in your heart. Find a way to seek to understand the hearts of others. That’s all. Then you are moving from ego to love. And as always, the more people who seek love and understanding will change the world.

 

 Kasey at the foot of a Statue of Gandhi in London