You can't always get what you want... But if you try sometime .. You get what you need.
MAYBE...
But trying is to be in process... and it's the journey... the process forward... which is the point.
Right?
SURE.
Wants, needs... COSTS? You get what you pay for... And sometimes you are lucky.
I want to be fully independent. I need help from others. I pay for things... I use those things... What I pay helps s/he who I pay get things s/he needs.... Round and round we go...
Are there too many of us on this planet Earth shuffling stuff around and around. I think a case can be made we are overpopulated or nearly so.
Will the Moon or Mars or artificial satellites or other places off Earth provide an outlet for our progeny? Probably... since we genetically want to produce and produce and produce.
Production is SO IMPORTANT... More important then consumption. RIGHT?
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
emotional responding - and expressing sadness
When we are happy and things are going well... We share that with others and it is appreciated and we empathize for the good of another. YES... empathize with happiness.... Support happiness. Be thankful for the happiness of others.
Easy? Well -- maybe and maybe not...
What about when someone is sad and things are not going well for some other. Many suggest we empathize with that other. We should give support as appropriate. And be grateful, too?
Grateful for what?
And it seems easy... ??? to empathize with someone who is having a difficult time.
Maybe easier to empathize with someone's difficulties rather then with their joys.... ? Maybe?
I wonder why...
WHILE WONDERING....
Consider what you feel and what you tell people you are feeling. I imagine we all generally say -- I'm fine, I'm ok... etc. etc... and yet we may not be fully honest!? On the other hand those times we tell people we are sad, not doing well, feeling bad... etc, etc... are we not being more honest when we reveal our weakness? Granted, I imagine, we open up rarely and only to certain people. People who we hope (and even expect!) will care. People who may empathize. People who may be supportive as appropriate!
Therefore -- if we can truly empathize with those who are truly happy... it is also likely we can empathize with those who tell us their woes, worries, pains, sadness, etc.
Paying attention to our feelings and sharing our feelings and hearing the feelings of others is ??? What is it? Difficult? Life? Useful? REAL?!
These days .. I am sometimes sad, sometimes frustrated, sometimes happy, sometimes positively energized, etc. etc.. I try to feel what I am feeling instead of becoming to0 negative (angry) or too positive (manic). Being mindful... being in the here and now on one side or the other of contentment seems healthy .. for me and for people I care about.
AH .. CARING! Even for those people who are difficult!
BUT TO A POINT... I had in mind as I began this, to wit: telling someone you are sad is very, very difficult. Sure -- if you are happy and the person you share that with doesn't empathize .. well you still are happy. If you are sad and the person you share that with doesn't empathize then you may be even more sad and alone and unsupported. THEREFORE -- it behooves all of us to surely be empathetic when we are told of another's sadness, difficulties, etc... And it is also good practice and "nice" to be empathetic with someone who is happy!
REMEMBER ... please empathize with those in distress! And tell people when you have some distress so people can empathize.
We all get sad. We can share that. We all can use a little help. We can all give help. AND that is between us humans.
Between us and G-d... that may be another thing... since we all are living G-d's plans.
Blessings.
Ken
Easy? Well -- maybe and maybe not...
What about when someone is sad and things are not going well for some other. Many suggest we empathize with that other. We should give support as appropriate. And be grateful, too?
Grateful for what?
And it seems easy... ??? to empathize with someone who is having a difficult time.
Maybe easier to empathize with someone's difficulties rather then with their joys.... ? Maybe?
I wonder why...
WHILE WONDERING....
Consider what you feel and what you tell people you are feeling. I imagine we all generally say -- I'm fine, I'm ok... etc. etc... and yet we may not be fully honest!? On the other hand those times we tell people we are sad, not doing well, feeling bad... etc, etc... are we not being more honest when we reveal our weakness? Granted, I imagine, we open up rarely and only to certain people. People who we hope (and even expect!) will care. People who may empathize. People who may be supportive as appropriate!
Therefore -- if we can truly empathize with those who are truly happy... it is also likely we can empathize with those who tell us their woes, worries, pains, sadness, etc.
Paying attention to our feelings and sharing our feelings and hearing the feelings of others is ??? What is it? Difficult? Life? Useful? REAL?!
These days .. I am sometimes sad, sometimes frustrated, sometimes happy, sometimes positively energized, etc. etc.. I try to feel what I am feeling instead of becoming to0 negative (angry) or too positive (manic). Being mindful... being in the here and now on one side or the other of contentment seems healthy .. for me and for people I care about.
AH .. CARING! Even for those people who are difficult!
BUT TO A POINT... I had in mind as I began this, to wit: telling someone you are sad is very, very difficult. Sure -- if you are happy and the person you share that with doesn't empathize .. well you still are happy. If you are sad and the person you share that with doesn't empathize then you may be even more sad and alone and unsupported. THEREFORE -- it behooves all of us to surely be empathetic when we are told of another's sadness, difficulties, etc... And it is also good practice and "nice" to be empathetic with someone who is happy!
REMEMBER ... please empathize with those in distress! And tell people when you have some distress so people can empathize.
We all get sad. We can share that. We all can use a little help. We can all give help. AND that is between us humans.
Between us and G-d... that may be another thing... since we all are living G-d's plans.
Blessings.
Ken
Sunday, July 29, 2018
facts and values
I'm writing this ... quickly... and it may not be tight logically - BUT I think the point is important.
Facts ARE important and today facts are abundant and selected and analysed variously by various points of views to prove points... Those points are then used to enact policies and elect candidates who will carry out programs such as separating immigrant families at the border and building a wall to keep those immigrants out in the first place.
Values ARE important. Helping neighbors and all other fellow human beings is valuable. I hope it is clear that one day I help you... and another day you help me... and essentially we are paying things forwards and backwards when we care. While it is true taking care of yourself is necessary - it is also VERY NECESSARY to take care of others... Others who grow our food, manufacture our cars, educate our children, protect our persons, heal our bodies, build our homes, maintain our roads and bridges... etc. etc.. EVERY DAY ... .WE ARE ALL TAKING CARE OF OTHERS.... And that is GOOD. And that is FACTUAL, too.
Individuality and community go hand in hand amongst humans and all humans are valuable. REALLY -- who would YOU KILL? Why? Under what circumstances?
Life and living is a basic and supreme value. Love and loving is another basic and supreme value. Bravery and courageousness is part of the American Way and supporting life and love and happiness is what makes America GREAT!
What values urge the use of children as hostages against their parents What values negate the realities of oppression in other countries and the hope and need people have to seek refuge in the US? FEAR IS NOT AMERICAN.
We are the HOME OF THE BRAVE... and we remembering and aspiring to bravery and goodness is radically most American.
Facts ARE important and today facts are abundant and selected and analysed variously by various points of views to prove points... Those points are then used to enact policies and elect candidates who will carry out programs such as separating immigrant families at the border and building a wall to keep those immigrants out in the first place.
Values ARE important. Helping neighbors and all other fellow human beings is valuable. I hope it is clear that one day I help you... and another day you help me... and essentially we are paying things forwards and backwards when we care. While it is true taking care of yourself is necessary - it is also VERY NECESSARY to take care of others... Others who grow our food, manufacture our cars, educate our children, protect our persons, heal our bodies, build our homes, maintain our roads and bridges... etc. etc.. EVERY DAY ... .WE ARE ALL TAKING CARE OF OTHERS.... And that is GOOD. And that is FACTUAL, too.
Individuality and community go hand in hand amongst humans and all humans are valuable. REALLY -- who would YOU KILL? Why? Under what circumstances?
Life and living is a basic and supreme value. Love and loving is another basic and supreme value. Bravery and courageousness is part of the American Way and supporting life and love and happiness is what makes America GREAT!
What values urge the use of children as hostages against their parents What values negate the realities of oppression in other countries and the hope and need people have to seek refuge in the US? FEAR IS NOT AMERICAN.
We are the HOME OF THE BRAVE... and we remembering and aspiring to bravery and goodness is radically most American.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Service - Rotary
SO - I am in Rotary. Specifically the Davis Sunrise Rotary Club, California. We meet every week at 7am on Fridays and many people work and go off to work after our 1-hour meeting. We sing a couple of songs. We have breakfast. We give happy bucks (stuff we are happy about our lives), we have announcements, Sargents call out members for what they have done publicly (pictures in newspapers, new big purchases, stuff done to be noted... etc). We listen to a speaker who tells us interesting things... AND as a group our purpose is to DO SERVICE.
We have a four way test:
We have a four way test:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
This year, somehow, I have become chair of the Youth Services Committee and I hope after a while the various youth groups and services will be energized!
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
helsinki hell
Well hell is what showed up when POTUS, 2018, met with Putin in Helsinki.
SO... we either believe Putin or our own intelligence.
So... we either continue to listen and believe POTUS, 2018, who speaks out of both sides of his mouth.. providing himself with sound-bites on both sides of any issue...
SO ... it is time to rid ourselves of lies and mistrust and hypocrisy and distractions bad information... AND this means - rid ourselves of POTUS .. the leader of magically misleading and causing us to look another way... To look stupid and dishonorable to anyone with any sense.
SO... we either believe Putin or our own intelligence.
So... we either continue to listen and believe POTUS, 2018, who speaks out of both sides of his mouth.. providing himself with sound-bites on both sides of any issue...
SO ... it is time to rid ourselves of lies and mistrust and hypocrisy and distractions bad information... AND this means - rid ourselves of POTUS .. the leader of magically misleading and causing us to look another way... To look stupid and dishonorable to anyone with any sense.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Miserable
(an old note to myself… blogged today)
Some years ago I finished reading an English translation of the book: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I have seen the musical and it’s movie adaptation with Hugh Jackman, et al.
I love the musical which I have seen a couple of times and listened to many times. It always brings tears to my eyes, lumps in my throat, chills to my soul. Another book and movie which feels similar to me is The unbearable lightness of being by Milan Kundera. I recommend this to you, too. This movie based on the book is in English. I also want to recommend to you a version of Les Miserables which is on film, stars Jean-Paul Belmondo, is subtitled from the French, and came out in 1995. And there are many other versions of Les Miserables to see. The Belmondo version is set during World War 2 and uses the background of a Jewish family trying to escape the Holocaust. It is a wonderful film!
But let me digress a bit less and get back to the musical and its filmed version. The first production of this musical in America in English was in 1987 and now over 25 years later. I have often wondered why the world as we know it has not changed for the better after people saw the musical. I could say the same thing about the book which is something the author most probably hoped for. An answer could be that not enough people saw the musical or read the book. With the film version so many more people will be exposed to the thrilling revolutionary imperatives of the story and the music.
AND SO -- it may be hoped that all that the original book meant to convey will be understood since in the book the radical social ideas are clearly put forward while they may not be fully conveyed by the musical. And the ideas as summed up by the author in the book and in letters written after the book was translated into languages of other lands is that the oppression of women and children was and I must say still is the primary indication of the failure of society to be evolved to a level of mature goodness AND free and good universal education is absolutely necessary to bring the world to the time and place of peace and goodness.
Some years ago I finished reading an English translation of the book: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I have seen the musical and it’s movie adaptation with Hugh Jackman, et al.
I love the musical which I have seen a couple of times and listened to many times. It always brings tears to my eyes, lumps in my throat, chills to my soul. Another book and movie which feels similar to me is The unbearable lightness of being by Milan Kundera. I recommend this to you, too. This movie based on the book is in English. I also want to recommend to you a version of Les Miserables which is on film, stars Jean-Paul Belmondo, is subtitled from the French, and came out in 1995. And there are many other versions of Les Miserables to see. The Belmondo version is set during World War 2 and uses the background of a Jewish family trying to escape the Holocaust. It is a wonderful film!
But let me digress a bit less and get back to the musical and its filmed version. The first production of this musical in America in English was in 1987 and now over 25 years later. I have often wondered why the world as we know it has not changed for the better after people saw the musical. I could say the same thing about the book which is something the author most probably hoped for. An answer could be that not enough people saw the musical or read the book. With the film version so many more people will be exposed to the thrilling revolutionary imperatives of the story and the music.
AND SO -- it may be hoped that all that the original book meant to convey will be understood since in the book the radical social ideas are clearly put forward while they may not be fully conveyed by the musical. And the ideas as summed up by the author in the book and in letters written after the book was translated into languages of other lands is that the oppression of women and children was and I must say still is the primary indication of the failure of society to be evolved to a level of mature goodness AND free and good universal education is absolutely necessary to bring the world to the time and place of peace and goodness.
Monday, July 16, 2018
In the Age of NO-Apology
We are in an age where apologizing is not done by many. Especially powerful people, such as The President, even when it is absolutely clear an apology and remorse and understanding are obvious and true. And many others do not apologize because they are above that... or because they do not feel responsible or They Just Don't Do That!
As a response to so many apologies not being made and with so many people hurt and harmed and traumatized, etc... the idea that Personally Forgiving has become very popular. I am calling Personal Forgiving either when one "forgives oneself" or "forgives the other" when no apology is made. It is a matter of either giving grace or letting go. And showing grace and/or letting go are both good things.
I say Dynamic Forgiving is much better. Dynamic Forgiving is the exchange of an apology for forgiveness. Dynamic Forgiveness is a gift by both parties to each other. Not always easy and in some cases not possible if one of the parties cannot participate (death, insanity, other?). When both parties do their parts comprehensively and well the result is peace in the community. The result includes the likelihood a similar bad event will not happen and a general understanding of what is bad and not to be done by others.
MORE on forgiveness in future...and maybe there have been some posts on this in the past. This a BIG and IMPORTANT subject for all and all times.
As a response to so many apologies not being made and with so many people hurt and harmed and traumatized, etc... the idea that Personally Forgiving has become very popular. I am calling Personal Forgiving either when one "forgives oneself" or "forgives the other" when no apology is made. It is a matter of either giving grace or letting go. And showing grace and/or letting go are both good things.
I say Dynamic Forgiving is much better. Dynamic Forgiving is the exchange of an apology for forgiveness. Dynamic Forgiveness is a gift by both parties to each other. Not always easy and in some cases not possible if one of the parties cannot participate (death, insanity, other?). When both parties do their parts comprehensively and well the result is peace in the community. The result includes the likelihood a similar bad event will not happen and a general understanding of what is bad and not to be done by others.
MORE on forgiveness in future...and maybe there have been some posts on this in the past. This a BIG and IMPORTANT subject for all and all times.
Trump... both ways... ?!! Always?
Sound bites.
Trump makes nasty with our allies and then says it was the best of meetings and all is terrific.
Trump says all is fine, for instance with North Korea, while in fact nothing has changed. He said terrible, negative things about North Korea AND wonderful, friendly things, too.
Always there is a bit of truth or some way he can be understood.... but he pronouncements are essentially exaggerations, untrue, inaccurate, the opposite of one another, and confusing. SO why?
Wait for the next Presidential election and see all sides of his two-faced (multi-faced) self being shown in campaign advertisements to appeal to both/all sides of the political spectrum. Watch for targeted ads.
OR -- show all the opposing sound bites together and ask viewers to see from what they are choosing. And ask such questions as: who do you believe? - The CIA/FBI or KGB/FSB. Who do you trust? Trump or Putin. Who are our allies and friends? Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany OR Russia, China, North Korea?
YES - keep your friends close and your enemies closer... Said Machiavelli. But is Trump Machiavelli or Mussolini?
OR
Trump makes nasty with our allies and then says it was the best of meetings and all is terrific.
Trump says all is fine, for instance with North Korea, while in fact nothing has changed. He said terrible, negative things about North Korea AND wonderful, friendly things, too.
Always there is a bit of truth or some way he can be understood.... but he pronouncements are essentially exaggerations, untrue, inaccurate, the opposite of one another, and confusing. SO why?
Wait for the next Presidential election and see all sides of his two-faced (multi-faced) self being shown in campaign advertisements to appeal to both/all sides of the political spectrum. Watch for targeted ads.
OR -- show all the opposing sound bites together and ask viewers to see from what they are choosing. And ask such questions as: who do you believe? - The CIA/FBI or KGB/FSB. Who do you trust? Trump or Putin. Who are our allies and friends? Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany OR Russia, China, North Korea?
YES - keep your friends close and your enemies closer... Said Machiavelli. But is Trump Machiavelli or Mussolini?
OR
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Good equals great.
What do YOU think? Is it easier to be good or bad? Kind or mean?
What does one show/project when he/she is good or bad; kind or mean?
We all need: power, connections, love.
Where does power come from? What connects us? What makes us loved?
We are great when we use what power we have to connect and to love.
Its that simple.
Our nation, The United States of America has the power to connect with other nations with love.
All people have the power to connect with love.
And yes -- it is that simple.
What does one show/project when he/she is good or bad; kind or mean?
We all need: power, connections, love.
Where does power come from? What connects us? What makes us loved?
We are great when we use what power we have to connect and to love.
Its that simple.
Our nation, The United States of America has the power to connect with other nations with love.
All people have the power to connect with love.
And yes -- it is that simple.
Friday, July 13, 2018
THE Four Freedoms
Let us remember... Franklin Delanor Roosevelt and his calling for recognition of The Four Freedoms... and the Norman Rockwell paintings of them:
We can all come together around this as Americans. These are very much American Ideals
Freedom of speech
Freedom of worship
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear
And hear are the paintings:
We can all come together around this as Americans. These are very much American Ideals
Freedom of speech
Freedom of worship
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear
And hear are the paintings:
a few ramblings about forgiveness... essentially a draft
(this is definitely a draft/beginning... maybe something more will come!!!)
INTRO:
Why am I so interested in forgiveness...
One reason is when I was very young, perhaps as young as 6 years old, I did things for which I felt the need to say: “I'm sorry”. When I did that my father would say – that is not enough and you should not have done (whatever) that and don't do it again. I look back and think that was very insufficient and yet that was all I recall being told to do. Nothing about remorse or making things right which I later learned are two very important components of an apology for which one might receive forgiveness.
Another set of reasons for my interest are those things that I have done and for which I have tried to apologize and atone for and for which I have not had the gift from the “other” of forgiveness. And similarly I have not always been able to generously give such to others.
Then there is my preferred stating of the Golden Rule. THE golden rule is: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. An alternate stating of that rule is in the negative: “Do not unto others as you would not have others do unto you”. The Golden Rule begs such questions as who and how to love and what is love? The negative assertion may be easier to do since we can usually better identify those things which we do not like and which others will not like and which are harmful and hurtful (even “madly” loving someone who doesn't reciprocate and who may feel pressured by such love). Then an apology and forgiveness is required! And clear as to why. I recognise the hurt/harm.
Finally there are the many conversations I have had about the subject and much reading and viewings of many quotations on the subject.
What I write is based on my thinking and logic and is subject to scientific study by those who have the time and ability. My hope is to show and explain my thinking on the subject with the hope it will be useful.
Today (the early days of the Trump Presidency) there appears to be a need for many communities to come together and form that more perfect Union which is the United States of America. Forgiveness and reconciliation amongst many people and groups will be necessary I think. Forgiveness comes first. And before groups can forgive and reconcile pairs of individuals need to forgive and reconcile.
In my (humble) opinion.... In my opinion!
CHAPTER ONE:
Harm by one person unto another person is the beginning of the problem and sometimes harm may not be known to the actor/perpetrator. Sometimes the motivation of the actor is to do good. Sometimes the motivation may be to follow orders (see the book: The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal). Sometimes the actor does something accidentally. Sometimes there IS intent.
In all cases the person hurt/harmed has the right to ask for an apology. And the person who did harm must request forgiveness. The request is important in those instances where the action was not done with intent and will be easier then when the harm done was intentional. When there was not intent the actor is likely to find it easier to apologize and when there was intent the actor has a choice to maintain and continue being hurtful or the actor can choose to re-evaluate the value of causing harm.
In a later chapter I will suggest the person hurt may even be obligated to ask for an apology. But I get ahead of myself.
MORE LATER. This is really rough... BUT important. Requesting forgiveness is much better than simply forgiving yourself... Though if the harmed person is not longer alive... and there is remorse and guilt... then maybe the only way is self-forgiveness. More and more... later.... and fixes to this...
Why am I so interested in forgiveness...
One reason is when I was very young, perhaps as young as 6 years old, I did things for which I felt the need to say: “I'm sorry”. When I did that my father would say – that is not enough and you should not have done (whatever) that and don't do it again. I look back and think that was very insufficient and yet that was all I recall being told to do. Nothing about remorse or making things right which I later learned are two very important components of an apology for which one might receive forgiveness.
Another set of reasons for my interest are those things that I have done and for which I have tried to apologize and atone for and for which I have not had the gift from the “other” of forgiveness. And similarly I have not always been able to generously give such to others.
Then there is my preferred stating of the Golden Rule. THE golden rule is: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. An alternate stating of that rule is in the negative: “Do not unto others as you would not have others do unto you”. The Golden Rule begs such questions as who and how to love and what is love? The negative assertion may be easier to do since we can usually better identify those things which we do not like and which others will not like and which are harmful and hurtful (even “madly” loving someone who doesn't reciprocate and who may feel pressured by such love). Then an apology and forgiveness is required! And clear as to why. I recognise the hurt/harm.
Finally there are the many conversations I have had about the subject and much reading and viewings of many quotations on the subject.
What I write is based on my thinking and logic and is subject to scientific study by those who have the time and ability. My hope is to show and explain my thinking on the subject with the hope it will be useful.
Today (the early days of the Trump Presidency) there appears to be a need for many communities to come together and form that more perfect Union which is the United States of America. Forgiveness and reconciliation amongst many people and groups will be necessary I think. Forgiveness comes first. And before groups can forgive and reconcile pairs of individuals need to forgive and reconcile.
In my (humble) opinion.... In my opinion!
CHAPTER ONE:
Harm by one person unto another person is the beginning of the problem and sometimes harm may not be known to the actor/perpetrator. Sometimes the motivation of the actor is to do good. Sometimes the motivation may be to follow orders (see the book: The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal). Sometimes the actor does something accidentally. Sometimes there IS intent.
In all cases the person hurt/harmed has the right to ask for an apology. And the person who did harm must request forgiveness. The request is important in those instances where the action was not done with intent and will be easier then when the harm done was intentional. When there was not intent the actor is likely to find it easier to apologize and when there was intent the actor has a choice to maintain and continue being hurtful or the actor can choose to re-evaluate the value of causing harm.
In a later chapter I will suggest the person hurt may even be obligated to ask for an apology. But I get ahead of myself.
MORE LATER. This is really rough... BUT important. Requesting forgiveness is much better than simply forgiving yourself... Though if the harmed person is not longer alive... and there is remorse and guilt... then maybe the only way is self-forgiveness. More and more... later.... and fixes to this...
Sunday, July 01, 2018
Bravery... not slavery
Slavery - never really good from slaves point of view ...even bible abhors.
Drugs and slavery? Self-enslavement AND a tool to enslave the poor and keep them poor…!
In the Bible people are sometimes put into slavery. That slavery is usually for a limited amount of time and includes various rules and restrictions on the master of the slave(s) AND at some point the slave is set free! Sometimes the slave chooses to not go free and for that he has his ear pierced as sign that person is a slave for life by that person’s choice. I do not think that is a mark of honor! Origin or earings??? Maybe…??
And collars on shirts? Are they from slave collars?
In ANY CASE…. To be a slave… to someone else, to something else, to ideas? Not good.
Freedom is the opposite of slavery and in fact freedom can be frightening because a human being alone is not a very strong animal.
Balance !!! Some mid-point between devotion (self-chosen enslavement to a group and its ideas and ideals) and pure freedom (alone in the wilderness) is what all/most of us choose.
Who of you is purely free? Who grows all his/her own food? Makes his/her own tools and shelter and clothes? Who came into this world … magically?! by themselves? (how did you do that!?).
The Bible shows us Adam alone and then with Eve … in a garden… a gift of God. We all owe someone or God our lives.
Share with others. We are all in this TOGETHER. We are all together… And love is the linkage.. It is said… Love thine enemies… Well - at least stop hating, I say!
Hate destroys. Hate separates. Hate is FEAR IN ACTION. Stop it! BE BRAVE. Be an American…. Be free in the home of the brave.
NOW.
Drugs and slavery? Self-enslavement AND a tool to enslave the poor and keep them poor…!
In the Bible people are sometimes put into slavery. That slavery is usually for a limited amount of time and includes various rules and restrictions on the master of the slave(s) AND at some point the slave is set free! Sometimes the slave chooses to not go free and for that he has his ear pierced as sign that person is a slave for life by that person’s choice. I do not think that is a mark of honor! Origin or earings??? Maybe…??
And collars on shirts? Are they from slave collars?
In ANY CASE…. To be a slave… to someone else, to something else, to ideas? Not good.
Freedom is the opposite of slavery and in fact freedom can be frightening because a human being alone is not a very strong animal.
Balance !!! Some mid-point between devotion (self-chosen enslavement to a group and its ideas and ideals) and pure freedom (alone in the wilderness) is what all/most of us choose.
Who of you is purely free? Who grows all his/her own food? Makes his/her own tools and shelter and clothes? Who came into this world … magically?! by themselves? (how did you do that!?).
The Bible shows us Adam alone and then with Eve … in a garden… a gift of God. We all owe someone or God our lives.
Share with others. We are all in this TOGETHER. We are all together… And love is the linkage.. It is said… Love thine enemies… Well - at least stop hating, I say!
Hate destroys. Hate separates. Hate is FEAR IN ACTION. Stop it! BE BRAVE. Be an American…. Be free in the home of the brave.
NOW.
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