As I contemplate (and write) this next part of "Why Are We Here", I can't help but come back to "me, myself and I".
Afterall, in case you don't know, reality is subjective. That's a fact. And so, I have no idea why "we" are here. I'm not sure I really know why I am here.
It's nothing mystical, no trick - this "reality is subjective" clause to our existence. It's simple fact. Everything we believe, everything we learn, take in, experience is interpreted subjectively. Within ourself, subject to our own disposition to an experience.
Fortunately, us humans possess the ability to think objectively, however, it is something we learn to do. It's popularly called "thinking outside the box". Easier said, than done, I might add.
It usually starts out as an insignificant event. For example, let's say we vote strictly Republican. Yet, during an election there is a Democrat that we find we really like. We may torture ourselves with the idea of voting for the person, we may imagine what others might think of us. We end up voting for the person...
1) the person loses. We are disappointed, yet we breathe a sigh of relief a Republican was elected, even though we didn't vote for the person.
2) the person wins; we feel both a rush of success, and a pang of guilt. We realize we helped the person win.
In both cases the fact is we thought outside the box. To many a very scary, self-deprecating act, initially. We get over it.
Life goes on.
But for many people, "thinking outside the box" is the norm. They may be called names, like "liberal", or immoral, or misguided. Or they may be admired... the latter of which I am fortunate enough to be a member.
Yet, I feel it's a no-win situation. The last Presidential election is one such example. By extraoridary popular vote not only is "a Black man" elected to be President of the US, but he's elected because the majority of "The People" find his "Message of Change" powerful and desirable. The PEOPLE want the change. The majority are tired of the "good old boys" style of politics. It's the 21st century, and the populace believes and acts on the realization it's time for a change. They'll begin with a new, charismatic, intelligent, sincere man who provides the message/change they have wanted for a long time.
The result. No change. Period.
To backtrack a few thousand years, remember our heritage... and no, I don't mean Colonial America, I mean the age of Kings, of Nobels, of us common people.
In previous posts I hopefully enlighted my readers of Genesis... from the Bible. I clarified first came Earth, then animals, then "man". Man went through some confusing changes. God created man to, according to the Bible to "dominate all creatures". Then God put man to work. Man was depressed without a help-mate, so God tried giving man a pet. That didn't work. So then god put man into a deep sleep (drug induced, in my opinion), and when he awoke, he was missing a rib and looking into the eyes of a woman.
Quite a romatic story. But that aside, man found a mate. Trouble is, there were more than one woman around. And there were "drugs" (in the form of an apple, we're told).
Now man was for whatever reason burdened with tilling fields and doing hard work. Why, I have no idea, other than it's a metaphor for the simple fact our ancestors had to raise crops and cattle to become an agricultural society. A community with roots.
But we know the future... Eve consumed the forbidden drug, and surely they had sex. Without a Catholic Church to guide them, most likely both Adam and Eve had sex with multiple partners, gay sex included. We know Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden of Eden, into a hostile, unknown land.
Well that's what happens when one is confronted with the unusual... a conflict - when the Republican votes for a Democrat. That is what it's like to think outside the box... you not only "think it", you experience it.
What the Bible in Genesis is reveiling is becoming self-aware, and based on decisions we make, we find we make objective decisions. Doesn't mean reality is no longer subjective, as it is, but rather, it means using our hearts, minds and souls to make a decision, come to a conclusion that doesn't fit within our normal form of thought. We become "radical thinkers". Or revolutionists thinkers.
Grant you - we/you are HERE if you're reading this blog. But I can't tell you why we're here. And i can't fully explain why I'm here either. What i can say is my being here has not only had a big effect on my environment, but also the many people I've known within my environment.
I also know the same is true of you.
WE are you and I. So the real question is why are you and I here?
Why are we still tilling fields, still common folk or Kings and nobels... why do we have a government with promised change, that is locked in a battle of their own design, without regard for "We The People".
Why does it matter that a Pentagon report found 70% of the military finds no problem with gays serving openly in the military, yet the 30% with a problem are scaring them to postpone any action in changing current laws. And why is it that if 47% of Californians voted to legalize cannbis, that a mere 53% opposed carries so much weight?
Why? I already told you. Reality is subjective. It's only when one can think "outside the box" that reality takes on new meaning... the fact is, outside of our own self-determined view of reality, there is a world out there. A world in trouble. A people many of whom are suffering. And in many ways, for no practical reason, other than we have governments that don't know what or how to govern.
I give President Obama credit for trying, but he's not the person I thought he was. I see no real change, and although I know his hands are somewhat bound, there's much he could do to show the American people he meant what he promised. Change, transparency, science.
He has let himself to be drawn into the power game - Wall St., global conflicts, continuations of the Bush legacy, continued denial of the rights of the American People, their pursuite of happiness, their calls for justice, and for commonsense to prevail.
President Jimmy Carter was a far more powerful president. Under similar odds and barriers. Yet historically, he did provide change. He provided leadership; he provided Americans with a person in government, who cared, who tried to create change.
President Obama is compared to republican President Ronald Regan; as far as I know Pres. Obama embraces the connection. It's beyond me to understand why. He's nothing like Regan... but if he wants to act that way, who am I?
I'm just an American who can't pursue happiness any longer. I'm blocked at every effort. And there are millions, far worse off than myself.
I am a slug, a snail, bathed in slim, sliming my way through my day, working the job of 3 people, and I'm suppose to be thankful. And I am. I have no choice. My government failed to govern... they fail to think outside the box. They fail at comprehending and understanding the most basic things.
To be continued...
November 30, 2010
November 27, 2010
WHY ARE WE HERE? PART FOUR
Here I sit, a natural born American, "enjoying" my Thanksgiving vacation.
I had Thursday and Friday off. Now I'm into Saturday...
As part of the "Why Are We Here" series I will provide an update on how I feel at this moment. I'm sure many of us wonder at this moment why we're here, now... ?
Is it to be happy? Successful? In love?
Kind of depends, doesn't it? Fact is, why we're here may not have anything to do with being any of the above. Fact is, where we live determines "why we are here".
I'm not going to into the "where" of where we live, I'm just saying, where we live has a lot to do with the "WHY"?
I live in the USA. I was born here. My parents were immigrants back in the early 1900's. My mother's side is pure Swedish. My father's side - now that's where it get's interesting: German, French, Dutch, Bohemian, and more. Good mix. Genetically speaking.
50% Swedish, and my other side a 50% mix.
The Swedish side of my family had expectations. It's with that side of the family I grew up. Near as I can conclude, children never grow up to become independent in that environment. It seems, children are expected to continue the status quo... extensions of the family. After reaching the age of maturity, be it 18 or 21, the "child" is expected to do as the family expects. Whatever the "child" does is a reflection on the family. There is the sense that one does not have "free-will", except as approved by the family.
This is not particularly uncommon. Look at many Muslim countries and you see a great discrepancy between the freedom of a male family member, and that of a female. Again, I'm not going to expound on the differences, other than to suggest, in many countries, females are very much subservient to the family rules, and the expectations - to the point that in many countries, if the female doesn't abide by the rules, incarceration or death may be the consequence. In some cases, moving to another country where laws are less stringent makes no difference. The "child" is subject to family rules.
On my father's side I can attest the "rules" were much less stringent. I recall a great deal of support to be myself from my relatives on my father's side. Unfortunately, growing up, I had that support every other year, maybe at Christmas time. Vacations. Holidays.
Why are we here?
In my case it was to get away from the family control. It took many of my most productive years to do so. Between the ages of 20 and 50+ the family influence was a constant. Ultimately, I had to declare a form of personal exile. Not an easy thing to do or accomplish. One doesn't exile oneself by desire, but rather, it's by necessity. It's painful.
One's family doesn't comprehend the action; can't see justification. Doesn't even recognize it as an action.
The world is changing... there is much ado about the break-down of the American family. There is much in the way of criticism, that our country has lost it's moral foundation.
Fact is, we value "education", yet disregard the results. The "typical family" expects results that are in line with family expectations. The fact is, education and knowledge are far, far beyond any expectations.
One reason we're here is to "push the envelope". The first college I attended had a motto - "Let Each Become All One is Capable of Becoming..." That was the goal I accepted ... much to the dismay of my family.
I became educated. I became self-aware. I became cursed!
Why are we here? Maybe all I can share is why I'm here. Maybe I can provide more.
I can firmly suggest, we're not here to be pigeon-holed. We're not here to be subservient to others, whether family nor government. We're not here to hurt others, but we are here to encourage change, and equality. We are here to promote freedom in pursuit of happiness. If we can make our families proud, great. If we incur the wrath of our family, so be it.
We have a right to exist... to be ourselves and to live our life as we chose, as long as we don't hurt others. In the case where our actions portend to hurt the family, it's a judgement call... a decision to make. In my opinion you have no obligation to conform to family rules once you've come of age to make your own decisions. If what you choose defies family, too bad. As long as your life choice is not to hurt others, it's your option in life to live as you choose.
In my family taboo was being involved sexually with a woman of color, including Asian women. It was to not make marriage and children a priority. It was not to get a job, in just any field - there were "approved" jobs, and those that were unapproved. At age 20 I got one of the latter...
I was cursed as a result of that, and the fact I liked women. I didn't pursue college in the fashion expected of me, and I didn't dress, nor grow my hair as expected. The "perfect storm" ensued.
I am here today, suffering from my personal choices. The only remedy would be to go back and live my origin over again, something I cannot do.
Life is difficult... that is a given. I made my own decisions, and lived my life as i felt was personally acceptable. That I suffer today as a consequence - so be it. I have no regrets, other than there's no going back.
We are here... to be ourselves. Whatever the cost.
We won't live forever, so it's my opinion, with what time we have, live our life being true to ourself. Family is important, but family does need to accept us as an individual when we come of age to use our education and experiences to become ourselves.
Why we are here is our own business!
I had Thursday and Friday off. Now I'm into Saturday...
As part of the "Why Are We Here" series I will provide an update on how I feel at this moment. I'm sure many of us wonder at this moment why we're here, now... ?
Is it to be happy? Successful? In love?
Kind of depends, doesn't it? Fact is, why we're here may not have anything to do with being any of the above. Fact is, where we live determines "why we are here".
I'm not going to into the "where" of where we live, I'm just saying, where we live has a lot to do with the "WHY"?
I live in the USA. I was born here. My parents were immigrants back in the early 1900's. My mother's side is pure Swedish. My father's side - now that's where it get's interesting: German, French, Dutch, Bohemian, and more. Good mix. Genetically speaking.
50% Swedish, and my other side a 50% mix.
The Swedish side of my family had expectations. It's with that side of the family I grew up. Near as I can conclude, children never grow up to become independent in that environment. It seems, children are expected to continue the status quo... extensions of the family. After reaching the age of maturity, be it 18 or 21, the "child" is expected to do as the family expects. Whatever the "child" does is a reflection on the family. There is the sense that one does not have "free-will", except as approved by the family.
This is not particularly uncommon. Look at many Muslim countries and you see a great discrepancy between the freedom of a male family member, and that of a female. Again, I'm not going to expound on the differences, other than to suggest, in many countries, females are very much subservient to the family rules, and the expectations - to the point that in many countries, if the female doesn't abide by the rules, incarceration or death may be the consequence. In some cases, moving to another country where laws are less stringent makes no difference. The "child" is subject to family rules.
On my father's side I can attest the "rules" were much less stringent. I recall a great deal of support to be myself from my relatives on my father's side. Unfortunately, growing up, I had that support every other year, maybe at Christmas time. Vacations. Holidays.
Why are we here?
In my case it was to get away from the family control. It took many of my most productive years to do so. Between the ages of 20 and 50+ the family influence was a constant. Ultimately, I had to declare a form of personal exile. Not an easy thing to do or accomplish. One doesn't exile oneself by desire, but rather, it's by necessity. It's painful.
One's family doesn't comprehend the action; can't see justification. Doesn't even recognize it as an action.
The world is changing... there is much ado about the break-down of the American family. There is much in the way of criticism, that our country has lost it's moral foundation.
Fact is, we value "education", yet disregard the results. The "typical family" expects results that are in line with family expectations. The fact is, education and knowledge are far, far beyond any expectations.
One reason we're here is to "push the envelope". The first college I attended had a motto - "Let Each Become All One is Capable of Becoming..." That was the goal I accepted ... much to the dismay of my family.
I became educated. I became self-aware. I became cursed!
Why are we here? Maybe all I can share is why I'm here. Maybe I can provide more.
I can firmly suggest, we're not here to be pigeon-holed. We're not here to be subservient to others, whether family nor government. We're not here to hurt others, but we are here to encourage change, and equality. We are here to promote freedom in pursuit of happiness. If we can make our families proud, great. If we incur the wrath of our family, so be it.
We have a right to exist... to be ourselves and to live our life as we chose, as long as we don't hurt others. In the case where our actions portend to hurt the family, it's a judgement call... a decision to make. In my opinion you have no obligation to conform to family rules once you've come of age to make your own decisions. If what you choose defies family, too bad. As long as your life choice is not to hurt others, it's your option in life to live as you choose.
In my family taboo was being involved sexually with a woman of color, including Asian women. It was to not make marriage and children a priority. It was not to get a job, in just any field - there were "approved" jobs, and those that were unapproved. At age 20 I got one of the latter...
I was cursed as a result of that, and the fact I liked women. I didn't pursue college in the fashion expected of me, and I didn't dress, nor grow my hair as expected. The "perfect storm" ensued.
I am here today, suffering from my personal choices. The only remedy would be to go back and live my origin over again, something I cannot do.
Life is difficult... that is a given. I made my own decisions, and lived my life as i felt was personally acceptable. That I suffer today as a consequence - so be it. I have no regrets, other than there's no going back.
We are here... to be ourselves. Whatever the cost.
We won't live forever, so it's my opinion, with what time we have, live our life being true to ourself. Family is important, but family does need to accept us as an individual when we come of age to use our education and experiences to become ourselves.
Why we are here is our own business!
November 25, 2010
WHY ARE WE HERE? PART THREE
Here today to wish family and friends "Happy Thanksgiving" 2010!
Here today to express my relief I don't have to go to work for the next 4 days.
Here today to enjoy our own home-bred turkey. (No Picture, sorry). Although I regret we have to kill it to eat it! But that's our livestock. We eat meat, yet we become attached to our live-stock, and that is life.
In the future maybe that will change. But for now that's the way it is. At least I know our turkey was treated very well, and had a good life. Plenty to eat. I will miss it's gobbling while I try and start my car in the mornings. Certain sounds entice a turkey to gobble. It's pretty cool.
I'm here to remind you, that despite all that's cool about our existence, there is much that sucks - sorry to remind you of that.
Our recent "Great Recession" has crippled hundreds of thousands of average people, myself included.Our banking system is now more dangerous than ever. Politics is more insane than it's ever been, but there is still hope.
Some may argue success is in one's mind, attainable simply by shear belief in oneself. I'm accepting the new reality, that with unemployment rates of 5% gone, as has been the standard in past generations, those rates will remain high for quite awhile. Both a world market and advancements in technology have fueled the reality.
That means, the employer has the advantage. If you're over 50, it's best to stay put. And for me that means a 150 mile commute, M-F. Burning a lot of gas, driving. Although I could move, my home is my home - and it means a lot to me.
Part Four will bring you back to the beginning ...
It begins with a book which I just added to my media list. A book I had forgotten about, but that was vital to who I am today.
Wiki Link: Fifth Business is a 1970 novel by Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor Robertson Davies. It is the first installment of the Deptford Trilogy and is a story of the life of the narrator, Dunstan Ramsay. It is Davies' best-known novel, and considered his finest.
There are "leaders, followers, and fifth business..."
I am the latter.
Happy Holidays!
BobKat
Here today to express my relief I don't have to go to work for the next 4 days.
Here today to enjoy our own home-bred turkey. (No Picture, sorry). Although I regret we have to kill it to eat it! But that's our livestock. We eat meat, yet we become attached to our live-stock, and that is life.
In the future maybe that will change. But for now that's the way it is. At least I know our turkey was treated very well, and had a good life. Plenty to eat. I will miss it's gobbling while I try and start my car in the mornings. Certain sounds entice a turkey to gobble. It's pretty cool.
I'm here to remind you, that despite all that's cool about our existence, there is much that sucks - sorry to remind you of that.
Our recent "Great Recession" has crippled hundreds of thousands of average people, myself included.Our banking system is now more dangerous than ever. Politics is more insane than it's ever been, but there is still hope.
Some may argue success is in one's mind, attainable simply by shear belief in oneself. I'm accepting the new reality, that with unemployment rates of 5% gone, as has been the standard in past generations, those rates will remain high for quite awhile. Both a world market and advancements in technology have fueled the reality.
That means, the employer has the advantage. If you're over 50, it's best to stay put. And for me that means a 150 mile commute, M-F. Burning a lot of gas, driving. Although I could move, my home is my home - and it means a lot to me.
Part Four will bring you back to the beginning ...
It begins with a book which I just added to my media list. A book I had forgotten about, but that was vital to who I am today.
Wiki Link: Fifth Business is a 1970 novel by Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor Robertson Davies. It is the first installment of the Deptford Trilogy and is a story of the life of the narrator, Dunstan Ramsay. It is Davies' best-known novel, and considered his finest.
There are "leaders, followers, and fifth business..."
I am the latter.
Happy Holidays!
BobKat
November 23, 2010
WHY ARE WE HERE? PART TWO
Part One is HERE
I ended Part One as a "Black Hole". Literally. That's what happens to some stars when they burn out, go nova.
The thing I'm curious about is, what causes some stars to become black holes, and others to become red dwarfs. My science here may not be exact, but hope you get my point.
I ended Part One ahead of myself. I'm still here... not the black hole quite yet. Not the thousand year old mummy, buried with pounds of cannabis in what was once known as the state of NH, in the once great country - the USA.
Sure, time WILL change things. Already has and is... the rate of change is exponentially multiplying at a rate that only machine will be able to understand. Humans will simply guide and relate to machines. The machines will build themselves, with the help of humans. We will become symbiants. It's already happened.
I heard tonight on my way home from work, on the radio, the technology is here to "PRINT" 3-D objects. 30,000 such printers already exist and they'll "print" actual objects. 3-D functional objects. In the future, there will be no US Mail, no UPS or Fed-Ex... no stores, malls, or work-places. You'll download and print what you want, be it clothes, be it subsistence, be it a house. The tech is here, now. And as a techie, I assure you, the technology we will witness, in the coming years will blow your socks off! It is going to go way beyond anything humankind ever imagined or dreamed about.
The new reality will not only include sophisticated printers, but a new reality - a Global Web. It will include robotic dolls, that men or women can buy as mates. No more need to date, play games and risk STD's. They exist already, rather expensive though, and not particularly bright just yet with the latest AI. But that'll change real soon. Too bad I don't feel optimistic about seeing it... living long enough to enjoy the possibilities.
I ended Part One as a "Black Hole". Literally. That's what happens to some stars when they burn out, go nova.
The thing I'm curious about is, what causes some stars to become black holes, and others to become red dwarfs. My science here may not be exact, but hope you get my point.
I ended Part One ahead of myself. I'm still here... not the black hole quite yet. Not the thousand year old mummy, buried with pounds of cannabis in what was once known as the state of NH, in the once great country - the USA.
Sure, time WILL change things. Already has and is... the rate of change is exponentially multiplying at a rate that only machine will be able to understand. Humans will simply guide and relate to machines. The machines will build themselves, with the help of humans. We will become symbiants. It's already happened.
I heard tonight on my way home from work, on the radio, the technology is here to "PRINT" 3-D objects. 30,000 such printers already exist and they'll "print" actual objects. 3-D functional objects. In the future, there will be no US Mail, no UPS or Fed-Ex... no stores, malls, or work-places. You'll download and print what you want, be it clothes, be it subsistence, be it a house. The tech is here, now. And as a techie, I assure you, the technology we will witness, in the coming years will blow your socks off! It is going to go way beyond anything humankind ever imagined or dreamed about.
The new reality will not only include sophisticated printers, but a new reality - a Global Web. It will include robotic dolls, that men or women can buy as mates. No more need to date, play games and risk STD's. They exist already, rather expensive though, and not particularly bright just yet with the latest AI. But that'll change real soon. Too bad I don't feel optimistic about seeing it... living long enough to enjoy the possibilities.
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