Has the World Gone Mad or is it Just Me?

Sep 25 2008

Has the World Gone Mad or is it Just Me?

Published by Steve N. Lee at 7:45 pm under changing the world

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Have you ever had one of those days?

I bet you have.

But have you ever had FOUR of ‘those days’ all crammed into one?!

Thursday was fun…

As many writers have, I’ve a part-time job to supplement my income. Thursday morning, I moved into a new department. Nothing unusual there. Except I was never consulted about it and only learned I was being moved in a group email. The management regularly swears the staff is its most valuable asset. And we are. Assets, that is. Assets, things, unfeeling objects to be shifted about without thought or consideration like a desk, a cabinet, an old chair.
On my way home, I came across a car waiting to exit from a side road. Just as I crossed behind it, the driver reversed and nearly ran me over. To warn him I was there, I banged my hand on his boot (trunk). His passenger wound down her window. An apology and concern for my well-being? Yeah, right. She bawled at me for having dared to bang on their precious car.
Back home, I discovered my neighbour had erected scaffolding to undertake some renovation and it had blocked my satellite reception. I phoned my satellite provider’s technical department and asked how far away the scaffolding had to be moved from my dish to get my reception back. The technical expert said, “One mile.” Excuse me!? “So, I have to ask my neighbour to move his house a mile away to do his repairs?” The expert said he was trying his best so why I was being awkward.
24,000 children die in the Third World every single day. Thursday night, I tried to raise awareness of this in a blog post. It attracted a lot of attention. One commenter on a networking site posted his compassionate thoughts: “Awesome! The world is overpopulated as it is, what’s a few million n*gger deaths going to matter?”

Uncaring employers, dangerous strangers, incompetent helpers, vicious monsters… Yep, life is good!

Okay, so that’s an extreme example. But sadly such encounters are not a rarity. In fact, they’re increasing. It seems barely a week goes by without I’m forced to confront incredible incompetence, abject cruelty, or unbelievable insensitivity. That’s personally. If you take the daily news into account… well, it’s just in your face every moment of every day, isn’t it?

Why do so many people see trampling over others as their only means to feel good about themselves?
Why do so many almost pride themselves on being not just uninformed, but downright stupid?
Why do so many see other people’s problems as something which they can use to their advantage?

Why does such a huge section of the population believe they are the centre of the universe, so to hell with anyone or anything that doesn’t improve their life?

Or am I completely wrong?

Could it be that it’s actually ME who is the centre of the universe? Maybe I’m all-powerful. Maybe I’ve constructed reality. Maybe you, and everything and everyone are merely constructs of my imagination. So why have I developed this masochistic tendency and insisted on making life so difficult for myself. Why couldn’t I create a paradise?

Because I’m twisted?

No.

Because man needs to be challenged.

If everything came easily, what would become of creativity, self-expression, invention, drive? If everyone was, in effect, permanently on a luxury holiday, wouldn’t the endless pleasure and needing for nothing drive us all insane? Wouldn’t the world grind to a halt?

Why do you think the super rich still work? And when they aren’t working, why do you think they have demanding hobbies like mountaineering, learning languages, or breaking speed records?

Why do you think J.K. Rowling wrote seven Harry Potter books when she was a millionaire after writing three?

We need challenges.

So the question is, why do so many people choose challenges that bring greater adversity into the world? Couldn’t they choose challenges to make the world a better place? Instead of needing to be the centre of the universe, where everyone bows down to their superiority, wouldn’t it be better to be make a valuable contribution for which they could be commended?

Choice defines us. Would it be so hard for each of us to choose to be forgiving, tolerant, educated, empathetic? If everyone strove to achieve that, think what a world it would be.

And the beauty of that is you’d create a far better world for yourself than you could through any amount of selfishness. Selfishness, ultimately, is a poor provider compared to unselfishness. Weird, huh!?

So why do so many choose selfishness over humanitarianism? If they are so desperate for a better life, can’t they see that the easiest way to achieve that is to encourage everyone to be more philanthropic, starting with themselves? That a better world for ALL would mean an infinitely better world for ONE? The ‘one’ being them.

But instead we choose to breed abject stupidity and twisted selfishness! We actively promote it in our schools and continue the process throughout adulthood through our media, peer pressure, and cultural conditioning. It’s everywhere. Like an incurable cancer eating away at society.

Is there no cure for this madness?

We need challenge. Whether it’s completing a jigsaw, a degree, or a space station. Without challenge we might just as well climb back into the trees. Why can’t we find challenges that truly tests us? Why is the only kind of challenge most of us dream of one that can be solved by vegetating in front of the TV, or abusing a stranger, or revelling in someone else’s misery?

Choice defines us. And we choose our challenges. Can’t we choose ones to be proud of?

So go. See. Feel. Live.
Steve

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44 Responses to “Has the World Gone Mad or is it Just Me?”

# Arletteon 25 Sep 2008 at 8:51 pm

We attract what we need to improof and grow. Unfortunately we do not learn how to manage with what we have attrackted (Spirits that I’ve cited, My commands ignore - to say it with Goethes words.)
Great post, thank you Steve.
# Steve N. Leeon 25 Sep 2008 at 9:56 pm

Thanks, Arlette. Yes, and there’s the problem - we just run around in a daze, a panic, or confident in our ignorance, don’t we? How are we ever going to improve things with the culture and lifestyles we are so entrenched in?

Thanks for visiting, Arlette,
Steve
# Peace Dreameron 26 Sep 2008 at 1:12 am

Yes there are too many insane unfeeling people in the world.
We have choices and those choices effect everything we do.
We have no idea what kind of day the other person has had but we can choose how to react to their behavior.
People are out of touch with themselves and their connection to our Earth mother and the universe, each other, Creator/Spirit/God/Goddess or what ever you want to call it. We are all connected, yet we push each other away.
Man had in the beginning a knowledge of those connections but it has been lost for a long time now. I am reading the series of books by Vladimir Megre ‘The Ringing Cedars of Russia’ I think you might find some answers there to the questions you pose as to why people have all gone mad and how out of touch people seem to be.
There are many who are kind and loving but somehow we don’t pay attention to them as much as ones who make us feel bad or angry in some way.
Did you ever have a stranger smile at you and then you smiled at another stranger just because you were feeling good about being smiled at? How long did you remember that compared to the stranger who cut you off on the highway making you feel road rage and giving them the bird while you laid on your horn to another that you almost ran into because you were trying to see if the one you flicked off saw you giving them the bird?
Kind of causing a chain reaction, sort of like my previous run on sentence. lol
Anyway, if you look for it you can find the good in a lot more things than you think. There are many people out there trying to do things to bring a positive change to the world. The news rarely pays attention to those efforts. I try not to watch much news as it makes me feel very frustrated and I am a Peace Dreamer, imagining a world of peace a paradise that will some day come about with the individual efforts of many.
I was reading an article on darkness and light. Too many people are looking into the light instead of trying to bring the light into the darkness. In bringing the light into the darkness, does it not become light? Figure out your dark side and bring the light to it.
Blessings,
Peace Dreamer
# MsDebon 26 Sep 2008 at 1:41 am

We reap what we sow. Simple, perhaps, but true. On the other hand, while someone close to me once told me that while “things have changed and people have not,” the longer I am on this planet I realize that person was right. Perhaps people feel a lack of control or feel that no matter what they do, things will not change and nothing will make a difference, or that what really needs changing is so big and overwhelming that life becomes more of a survival - take care of yourself first. How many times have you actually run across someone who really cared, was honest, and did not “run all over everyone”? How do YOU treat that person? With disdain? Make fun of them? Put them down in someway? Run all over them? It’s no wonder. Why should “we” care about anyone else? Perhaps it is like someone else said - we need to look for the good - maybe “reward” it - before things change.
# kim son 26 Sep 2008 at 10:00 am

The world has gone mad with greed.
We see it all around us, people thinking they have to get their portion however they can, regardless how it affects others.
From corporate heads to the average Joe/Jane in the streets, fear of being left ‘wanting’ is the drive behind the madness.
If only… people would stop and see that their actions are not in line with what is best for the human race /planet.
If only… govts would do the jobs they are supposed to do, protect the citizens from environmental hazards, economic disasters, and corporate accountability. Instead these govts are payed off by the mega-corporations to side with them.
It is unbelievable that humanity cannot develop sustainable energy, products which don’t harm our planet/humans and peaceful solutions for all of Earth’s inhabitants. We have the technology, but instead it’s used to bring warfare to our planet; driven by the greed to control the Earth’s resources. Agriculture, industry and habitat are all lusted after.
GM seeds that require farmers to buy more from those who control the seed banks; valuable water which is one of our basic human rights, is being taken control of by corporations and sold back to the people.
Chemicals known by man that cause serious health issues are peddled openly, their lab results ‘doctored’ so the unsuspecting public are ignorant of the potential risks associated with their products. Aspartame is classic of this as is Roundup, the herbicide peddled by chemical giant Monsanto; who ironically is one of the driving forces behind GM seeds.
Does Monsanto care about the dangers to humans/the environment? No, the bottom line is profit.
All which brings us back to the green-eyed monster. Greed and the lust for more.
Until humanity opens their eyes to these truths and ends the quest to have more while others have less, the world will continue to spin madly into oblivion.
Just my opinion of course Steve and others may well disagree, but after a lifetime of watching people step on others to gain ‘their share’, it’s the only reason I can see for the madness you write of.
My thanx as always for the thought provoking blog, you have a gift m’friend and I’m pleased to be associated with those who see beyond the greed to the potential of what we ALL can be!
Peace be with you and watch out for those angry drivers! They’re just blinded by greed, don’t cha know? ;)

You know there really is still a chance for peace and that chance will definitely increase if we each do our piece. So let’s make peace — in our homes, in our own hearts, in our relationships, in our communities, in all of our dealings and in the world. Peace be with us all.
# Steve N. Leeon 26 Sep 2008 at 10:31 am

You’re right, Peace Dreamer, we are all connected. Coincidentally, I let two characters discuss this very subject in my book. (I say ‘let’ as a conversation between characters must develop naturally or it just comes over as the author rambling or, worse still, preaching.) It’s an interesting subject, the basic concept of which is so easy to ‘get’ if it’s explained well that I can’t see why so many people struggle with it. If they didn’t and the concept could reach and be adopted by the mainstream, it would make a tremendous impact on our lives and society.

It’s simple enough to get, but I think most people think the whole thing is way too ‘new age’ to be of any relevance to them. That’s a real shame as, apart from bringing benefits to the wider community, such a concept can help us relate to those we love as well, so bringing a greater balance to our home and social life.

But, yes, we do tend to fixate more on when people wrong us than when they are kind. I don’t know if that’s basic human nature and our survival instinct stepping in or if it’s more cultural. And, yes, it does often cause a chain reaction - someone is nasty with you so you take it out on someone else who then…

Thanks, Peace Dreamer. Good comment.

Yes, MsDeb, we do invariably reap what we sow. Yes, we should all hold mirrors up to ourselves and look at how we treat others. That said, there is a sense of greed and apathy that pervades today’s society that is causing so many of the world’s problems. Greed because we want more and more and more, we’re simply never satisfied; apathy not just because it would be difficult to change things for the better, but it would involve YOU actually getting off your lazy butt and actually doing something.

A very sorry state of affairs, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts, MsDeb.

Have a wonderful weekend both of you,
Steve
# Steve N. Leeon 26 Sep 2008 at 10:37 am

Great comment, Kim.

Yes, I’ve written about greed and how it affects each of us personally, and through our societies via corporations and political environments. It isn’t pretty, is it? Yet on and on and on it goes> We’re addicted to it, like a drug we can’t live without. If we see something we ‘need’ it. People simply can’t differentiate between need and want anymore. But more than that, our culture is now breeding something worse - not only to people feel they ‘need’ it, but now so many honestly believe they ‘deserve’ it! Need/want/deserve, they are all interchangeable concepts. Damn scary! But it does explain the state of the world.

Thanks, Kim. Have a great weekend.
Steve
# Faithon 26 Sep 2008 at 7:22 pm

No it is not just U -the world has not gone mad it has been going that way for a long time and there are many factors involved but it is getting worse-tempers are short and people are overwhelmed by what is going on in the world and with the pigeons coming home to roost with the problems on wall street that will effect everyone and their jobs –people are snapping-the once polite face that people wore in public has vanished for they no longer are able to put it on due to the deep fear that has taken over our streets. Batten down the hatches people a huge storm is coming and it is almost here -with any answers to prayers people will swing on the best of who they are not the worst but not everyone will be able so get prepared -for what has been in the dark is now coming to the light and it is nasty-however when an abscess erupts it is an awful smelly mess and then a healing process is begun so this mess is an abscess that has been building for a long time and is finally erupting so now that we know what it is we can place our energies in the most helpful direction -it is imperative that we stay positive in every thing we think do and feel now and imperative that we come together to get solutions started -for the government will not- is not able to save us -we have to save ourselves with new directions and new technology which is out there right now by the way- and not relying on credit to get this mess done.become more self and community reliant support each other - trade and barter-support your local gardener and get your own— use cash to pay for everything u need - downsize everywhere U can in your life-if you are worried about losing your home get a good size camper -pay cash on a used one- so U will at least have a roof over your head with the basic amenities - pay for a car that is used and in good shape - but make sure U own it - I live this way very well everyday so it can be done-I own an old car-it is mine-I own land payed for and I have no credit cards — if I did not have the land I would do exactly has I suggested above to insure that if all else failed I would always have a roof over my head come what may .I do not see another way do U?
# Susan Lon 26 Sep 2008 at 9:45 pm

I know exactly what you are saying. Man are there ever people I wish would have used birth control and NEVER had offspring. Their offspring make a day in my life (my part time job) the most unpleasant it can be. Makes me wonder why I do the job, oh yea, I need the money!

I try to be pleasant to all and yet there is always one who grumbles. Do I care? I’ve given up letting them ruin MY day. It’s MY day, not their’s, so I will NOT let them ruin it for me.
# Penelopeon 26 Sep 2008 at 9:55 pm

Hello there.

I’ve spent the majority of my working life helping workers in a variety of ways. I found, for the most part, they were ignorant, placid, self absorbed, timid, unappreciative and/or lazy. These were Unionized workers with a spectacular collective agreement and yet every time they felt thwarted they would blame … the Union! It was as if the Union was a catch-all entity for all of their self serving woes. Once in a great while, I would meet someone who would recognize the U in Union meant them! I never stopped being thrilled when this happened.

I believe we are in dire need of a cultural revolution where the public demands political accountability. I don’t really care how this is achieved as long as citizens do it collectively and stand firm on grass roots goals. I get rather tired of special interest groups undermining each other and clinging to fractured agendas that pigeon hole the population into weakened factions.

I am debt free - I’ve worked all my life - Lived within my means - Paid my taxes on time - Own my home - Raised my child to be a self sustaining adult - and a litany of other accomplishments.

I feel absolutely NO guilt about any choice I’ve made because I believe it to be futile to obsess over things one can not change.

I’m not one of the Lions however, I was born in the Year of the Tiger.
# franciscoon 27 Sep 2008 at 1:00 am

Life, Real Life is Life Eternal for that which is Real is Forever…….

Should such Life be given to the untested, the untried, the unknown?

“Angels” were untested and apparently 1 of 3 chose to rebel against Their Creator.

Seems The Creator would be justified in filling that void in HIS Family with tried and tested Children.

So there is hope!

For Miracles do happen!

Hope is that there would be those who have “set their affections on things above”, Heavenly things, for they will have “seen” how “poor and needy” they truly are and so it is they desire above all else:

“Father, not my will, But THY Will Be Done!”

Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth…….

Truth is never ending…….
# Glendaon 27 Sep 2008 at 5:10 am

sorry youve had a bad week steve. i fell down last saturday and broke my arm. i did a good job and now have a plate and pins in there. it did show me what wonderful overworked people nurses and doctors are.
i saw them abused verbally and physically with the police called and capsicum spray used, all to people doing their job and trying to help us get better.

two nurses complimented me, one saying i was a fabulous patient and the other saying i made her job easy. i kept a smile on my face, said thankyou and told them how wonderful they were. very easy to make someone who is doing a really hard underpaid job feel better about themselves.

sorry about capitals etc, one handed typing and pain.

lets hope next week is better
# Nikolas Karmanon 27 Sep 2008 at 5:54 am

Well my brothers and sisters after reading the post by Steve and the comments it became very apparent just how far off line we have come.
If you check out my website you will find out how to become sovereign and free again. The process is very simple to start with,all one has to do is learn and live in accordance with the seven natural laws we were born with.
its important to read up on the explanations at http://www.saveoz.info suffice to say i will just post the headings here.
1. freewill
2. cause and effect
3. resonance and attraction
4. service
5. forgiveness
6. love and self respect
7. transmutation
# Steve N. Leeon 27 Sep 2008 at 10:51 am

Oh, Glenda, I am sorry to hear you’ve broken your arm. And it sounds bad from the treatment you’ve needed. One of my oldest friends has plates and bolts in both his arms, so I appreciate how bad it must be. I hope the healing process won’t be too long and stressful for you.

Yes, British hospital staff are regularly abused. You can’t believe it can you? They take poor pay to do a job that truly does improve people’s lives and that’s the thanks they get? Hell, I’d throw the book at people who abused our doctors and nurses. There’s no way you can possibly excuse it.

Thanks for taking the time to comment when it obviously isn’t easy. I’ll forgive the punctuation on this occasion! ;-) Get well soon, Glenda.

Francisco, yes, there’s always hope. Obviously I believe that or I wouldn’t waste my time writing these posts. I’m sure ‘His’ will does not involve letting millions starve, so it’s taking a long, long time to see ‘His will be done’, but… one day… who knows. We might actually see the light and get off our lazy butts to do something.

Thanks for stopping by.

Penelope, you make some wonderful points. (And how you’ve led your life sounds to be an example we could all learn from!)

Yes, if we all taught our children real values, and took responsibility for our own lives - e.g. living within our means - those two simple acts would make a tremendous impact on the entire globe. People don’t realize that. Yet it’s such a simple concept to grasp, and to execute.

Thanks for making a valuable contribution to the issue, Penelope.

Have a great weekend, all of you,
Steve
# Steve N. Leeon 27 Sep 2008 at 11:07 am

Susan, birth control? I remember a joke from a TV show, the name of which I can’t remember, which asked if abortion was out of the question at 120 months. I think we all understand what you’re saying - insensitive, inconsiderate people passing on those wonderful traits to the next generation. Yep, that’s a huge problem, isn’t it? And it’s only getting worse as, as I’ve said elsewhere, people can no longer tell the difference between what they need, what they want, and what they deserve - they seriously believe they deserve everything and will walk over anyone to make sure they get it. It’s a horrible situation we’re encouraging, right across society.

I know just what you mean about people making your working life hell and you have to grin and bear it because you need the money - I think a lot of readers will empathise with that!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Susan.

You are echoing sentiments of many of us, Faith. Thank you. Living within your means, self-reliance, accountability… these are all dirty words to so many people these days, aren’t they? They want it all, they deserve it all, but to hell if they’re going to be the ones who pay for it. Hey, they ‘deserve’ it, so why should they?

It’s the same story time and time again, isn’t it? And it is getting worse, as you say, because this is the mentality we are breeding. The government is happy though because it means we’re all fighting amongst our selves over issues that don’t matter at all, leaving them to their own hidden agendas instead of creating a world where no one hungers, no one is cold, no one is sick.

We have to change this mentality at the grass roots level, but how we do it on the grand scale that is needed I just don’t know.

Thanks for furthering the discussion, Faith.

Enjoy your weekend,
Steve
# franciscoon 27 Sep 2008 at 6:44 pm

Steve wrote, “How are we ever going to improve things with the culture and lifestyles we are so entrenched in?”

Why is it that so many questions are asked? and concerns shared? when the questions were answered and the concerns addressed some two thousand years ago?

Why is it no one will take heed and listen?

Simply, because that which it calls itself “religion” has had it’s way with the multitudes, and especially the educated, those who were taught that to read and memorize a book is to “know” ;-( Such “head” knowledge is a prime reason that today, natural Creation(land, air, water, vegetation, creatures) is being destroyed and that which is of The Spirit(Light, Truth, Love, Peace, Life, Hope, Grace, Mercy, etc.) is being perverted ;-(

Sadly, those who “see” religion for what it is, yet allow “religion” to have it’s way with them, for “religion’s” purpose is to insure that “The Way of Truth will be evil spoken of” ;-(
(2Peter2:2)

Once again, some two thousand years past the answers to what truly matters were revealed.

Steve questioned, “How are we ever going to improve things with the culture and lifestyles we are so entrenched in?”

“Love not the world, neither the things in the world!”(1Jn2:15)
And, “Whoever loves this world is the enemy of GOD!”(James4:4)
For “The WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one!”(1Jn5:19)

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me(The Messiah) before it hated you.”(John15:18)

And it was promised that “evil men and seducers would grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”.(2Timothy3:13)

So, for “the entrenched”, “The Call” remains, “Come out of her, MY people!”
(Revelations18:4)

“Come Out” of this wicked, evil world and it’s systems of religion!

And the reader’s “imag”ination is cranking now, “ah, a catholic/christian, another one of those “religious” hypocrites!”

Or those religious ones “imag”ine, even as they have their portion in the destruction and perversion of Creation, “Who does he think he is?”, “No body’s perfect!”, and religion’s favorite line, “You can’t judge me” ;-( When in Truth it is their own Creator given conscience that is convicting them!

Truth is, “Pure religion and undefiled before GOD The Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.” (James1:27)

All other “religion” is impure and defiled!

Sadly, there are many who have allowed what is called “religion” to have it’s way with them, and so it is that many who “see” the destruction and perversion of Creation return to their “mother earth”, yet sadly never experience The Oneness that is in and of “Our Father” in Heaven ;-(

Yet there is Hope!

For Miracles do happen!

Hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is receiving “a love of The Truth” for they will “see” The Light that is The Messiah, and they will take heed unto The Call of “Our Father”, and “Come out of her, MY people!”

They will no longer be of those who are destroying and perverting Creation!

Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(destruction and perversion) that is of this world and it’s systems of religion, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth…….

Truth is never ending…….
# Heidi M.on 28 Sep 2008 at 2:23 am

I can’t speak for the whole world, but in the US a lot of social factors have created this mess of insensitivity and stupidity. My parents and elder relatives lived through the Depression and World War II. They went without a lot. And somewhere along the way, in the post-war boom, they decided their kids would have it better. So the “Greatest Generation” spawned the “Me” generation. Sadly, my generation. In general (and of course, there are exceptions to this), they lived their lives with huge safety nets and rarely suffered disappointment and learned, thanks to huge doses of advice from so-called child psychologists and child rearing experts, that they were the center of everyone’s universe. They developed no coping skills. I remember my 10th high school reunion. Most of my classmates had moved back in with mom and dad after college because they just couldn’t do it on their own. Now, the “Me” generation spawned “Generation X”, who have been raised by mothers who fret over such global issues as “Does my butt look big?”, “I have a gray hair!!”, or weekly doses of Botox, along with their medications to just help them get through the day. They have no coping skills either. But they have guns. And when someone says something they don’t like, or they get picked on, they take their guns to school and shoot everyone. Poor things. They got picked on, which makes it alright to kill everyone.

Education has fallen by the wayside. (I work for a woman who can’t read. No kidding. I was passed over for a promotion and the job was given to someone who can’t read. I have no idea how she completed her job application.) Educators are so worried about one person out of a thousand who may be offended by one word in a textbook, that all the students don’t get taught. Push those math and science initiatives, but don’t teach them to read. And certainly, don’t teach them to think creatively or logically. Do teach them that nothing is their fault, that they never have to feel guilty for anything, that they can have any number of a myriad of bad excuses for their bad behavior.

Of course, there are some of us from the “Me” generation who actually learned something from the Greatest generation. As children, we were recycling before it was called that. We were told to be thankful for what we had because there were starving children in the world. My mom’s two favorite sayings were “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.”, and “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Those were our lessons and our mantras. Thirty years ago I was fighting alongside Greenpeace, fighting the government to save sacred Native American lands, fighting to provide the truly impoverished in the world with skills to sustain them and not to just throw money at the problem.

Well, that was a long way of saying that the loudest and most annoying people we encounter every day probably took that “Looking out for Number One” seminar several times in their lifetimes. Those of us who are slogging away for truth and justice in the world are hard pressed to explain their behavior. But as my grandmother would say, “They’re not well. You must pray for them.” And yes Steve, that really is the irony - those who give us the hardest time will benefit greatly by what we do.
# Steve N. Leeon 28 Sep 2008 at 11:55 am

Don’t worry, Heidi, your insightful analysis of recent generations is as pertinent this side of the Atlantic as on yours. I’ve talked before about how people won’t accept responsibility for their own lives, how they ‘deserve’ everything they can possibly imagine possessing, how they’ve been brainwashed into ‘needing’ to consume as much absolute crap as is humanly possible… So, yes, you’re right.

Education? Yep, talked about that, too, so couldn’t agree with you more. I remember my schooling - we were segregated intellectually so the cleverest could be stretched while those less academically gifted could work at a slower pace to ensure they grasped things and weren’t left behind. Thank God I’m not at school now where it seems everyone is dragged down to the lowest common denominator. Without meaning to sound big-headed, there’s no way I would have developed the intellect and creativity I have with today’s practices. Yes, basic English and basic mathematics are poor relations to the ‘you’re special’ class and the ‘it’s not your fault’ series of seminars!

Yes, my parents had a strong moral centre, too. Fortunately. Oh, I didn’t think so at the time - I just thought they were being mean by laying down so many rules! Now? Now, I’m grateful and consider myself lucky to have had such forward-thinking parents. If only more parents would accept responsibility for their offspring.

Thanks for a great comment, which I’m sure will set a lot of people’s head’s nodding in agreement as they read it! Enjoy your weekend, Heidi.

Francisco, you make a very valid point - memorizing a book compared to undstanding what it actually says. Yes, that is a problem. There’s a huge difference between being able to recite a philosophical concept or religious teaching and being able to truly grasp it’s, essence isn’t there? And that crosses over into many avenues of life. You can see someone suffering, but do you truly appreciate the pain they are feeling enough to want to do something about it? It’s the difference between empathy and mere knowledge.

Thanks for adding another dimension for people to think about, Francicso.
Steve
# Steve N. Leeon 28 Sep 2008 at 12:02 pm

Heidi, sorry I forgot - if you haven’t already, read this:

http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/08/28/snow/

I’m sure you’ll find it most interesting.

Steve
# franciscoon 28 Sep 2008 at 3:35 pm

Steve,

I believe it needs be “seen” that the most destructive and perverse “absolute crap”, as you call it, is not some physical thing! That which is physical is produced by that which originates in, and emanates from mankind’s “imag”ination.

“Brainwashing”?

Should that not, in Truth, be called “braindirtying”?

Who in this place called the u.s. of a. has not been braindirtyed by “educational” processes, both secular and religious?

“Educational” processes that manufacture robotic clones who but seek to fulfill the desires of their braindirtyed minds ;-( Was quite the shock when i first realized that “I” was the product of such a delusionary, deceitful, damnable, societal way!

And so it is that the most destructive and perverse “absolute crap” is that which eminates from mankind’s “imag”ination ;-( And such “absolute crap” would rightly be called the “image” of “the god of this world”, he who is “the father of lies”, for today mankind worships the LIES that emanate from their “imag”ination!

Braindirtyed to the utmost! Let the brainwashing begin!

So what to do, where to go, how to cope?

The answers were given long ago!

“Our Father” declared, “Come out of her, MY people”!

The Messiah testified, “Come unto Me”!

And Truth testifies, “Trust in The Creator(Father, ‘GOD’, Great Spirit) with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding”!

So there is Hope! Hope, not for this world or those who “love this wicked world and it’s things”, but Hope for those who have “Come Out”!

For Miracles do happen!

Thankfully The Life is of The Spirit, not flesh and bones, rocks and stones.

“A Simple and Spriitual Life is the only Life that will survive”…….

Peace, in spite of the dis-eases(lies) that are of this world and it’s systems of religion, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth…….

Faith will not create a system of religion…….

Truth is never ending…….
# Heidi M.on 28 Sep 2008 at 5:46 pm

Hi Steve,

Caught up with my reading at the “Wiping Your Butt” post. Where do I buy my ticket for the helicopter ride?

I do enjoy reading your posts. I know when I comment, in general, I’ll be “preaching to the choir” as the saying goes. But while spending everyday surrounded by some of my more “illustrious peers”, it’s nice to know that I’m not entirely alone in my beliefs.

Can’t stand the hand wringers - you know, “The problem’s too big - what can little old me do to fix it?” And there are too many of them.

Thanks for the intellectual conversation. It’s something I look forward to.
# Steve N. Leeon 29 Sep 2008 at 11:34 am

Yeah, I don’t think there are enough helicopters in the entire world for the number of passengers wanting that ride, Heidi!

I know what you mean about ‘preaching to the choir’, but you have to hope that there are others out there who can be swayed by reasonable arguments.

Thanks, Heidi.

You’re right to pick up on that, Francisco, as I don’t want people to take it too literally. Thanks.

When I talk about people buying or being sold ‘absolute crap’ I’m not only talking about the matieral but also about the ideological. We are ’sold’ on consumerism, the wars (Iraq), elections (the presidency), all manner of things. Unfortunetately, so few people see that just because these ideas are on sale, that they don’t actually have to buy them!

Steve
# Mark McCullaghon 29 Sep 2008 at 3:32 pm

Unfortunately, this world is all about “me”. People are so caught up due to regarding themselves as the center of the universe. In a sense, playing God.

There is hope. We can raise awareness. By being good examples ourselves - peaceful, forgiving, humble, loving. The best way I’ve found to become a better person is through following the teachings of Jesus and practicing yoga.
# franciscoon 29 Sep 2008 at 7:18 pm

Steve wrote: “When I talk about people buying or being sold ‘absolute crap’ I’m not only talking about the material but also about the ideological. We are ’sold’ on consumerism, the wars (Iraq), elections (the presidency), all manner of things. Unfortunetately, so few people see that just because these ideas are on sale, that they don’t actually have to buy them!”

Sadly, the multitudes have sold out ;-(

They have taken the bait(ease of life) as they swallowed the LIES, “hook(money), line(education/religion), and sinker(technology)” concerning the place they call the u.s. of a. ;-( Yet those in england, france, germany, japan, etc, all of which are nations of this wicked world have also taken the bait and swallowed the hook, line and sinker, in spite of The Truth testifying “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” ;-(

Why receive that which is of mankind’s “imag”ination? Even when such is supposedly “free” there will always be a price to pay, for mankind’s “imag”ination is destroying and perverting Creation(land, air, water, creatures, vegetation, Light, Truth, Love, Peace, Hope, Faith, etc.) ;-(

Consider the time when there were no radio’s, no tv’s, no movies, no newspapers, a time when there was no way yet “imag”ined, and then manufactured, that would allow someone to publish or display the vain “imag”inations of mankind to the “masses”. Sadly those who rule in this wicked world, and who control the “media”, consider the “masses” to be but the M in E=MC(squared) ;-(

And yet today, here i am publishing(sharing) that which i hope is from the heart, The Spirit within, not the vain “imag”inations of my fleshly mind. i can but hope that which i share is from The ONE whose voice i have heard and whose Power i have experienced in The Miracles that have set me free! The ONE who revealed the lies of this world and it’s systems of religion, as i received evermore “a love of The Truth”. The ONE WHOM i know and believe is the Giver of Life, The Creator of ALL!

Father Help! and HE does…….

Do you see the little child?
Do you see then running wild?

Sadly, the children, or those who once were called children, today are referred to as “kids” ;-(

Sadder yet, the reference is true ;-(

Baby goats abound because their ‘parents’ fed them all sorts of “trash”, and so it is that as they grow they “eat” any and all things, no matter the dis-eases that cause them to be pill pushers, or peer pleasers, or worse yet media slaves ;-(

“Where have all the children gone?, long time pa-as-sing” ;-(

Progress? yes things are progressively getting worse and worse ;-(

The Hopi people of AZ once believed “A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only Life that will survive”.

Sadly, not long ago, it seems the last “hostile” Hopi, “hostile” meaning against “progress” so-called! The last “hostile” Hopi passed away a short time ago, and remaining hopi, remain in name only, for they have given up and given in to “progress” ;-( Hope is there are yet Hopi who still await the coming of their “True White Brother”.

And Hope IS Alive!

For Miracles do happen!

Hope is there would be those who would take heed unto The Call of The Creator and “Come Out” of this wicked world and it’s systems of religion, for they will no longer have their portion with those who are destroying and perverting Creation(land, air, water, creatures, vegetation, Light, Truth, Love, Peace, Hope, Faith, etc.)!

And for those who have embraced “mother earth”?

Hope is they would also experience Oneness as they embrace Their Father, HE WHO is Creator of ALL!

Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this wicked world and it’s systems of religion, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth…….

Truth is never ending…….
# Bonnieon 29 Sep 2008 at 11:45 pm

Once again you hit the nail on the head Steve. Everyday, it is a challenge to just get out of bed wondering just what blantanly proud idiots one must contend with. From the rude sales clerk, who really should quit their job and find something they would take pleasure in, to ongoing hand holding so that staff get their jobs done right the first time. Then of course there are those who fail to show up for work, without calling in, throwing everyone elses schedule off as they scramble to cover for the delinquent.

This “me” generation, is sick, sick, sick. Apparantely consideration of another person is a concept too abstract to grasp; as is the the term “common sense”.

I agree, we all need challenges in our lives, that is what makes us use our brains, be it a cross word puzzle or an intense mathematical cypher; maneuvering through traffic, walking a pedestrian cross walk and dodging vehicles that fail to stop; or just smiling at someone when you don’t really feel like it. Smiles do wonders, don’t they? You brighten someone elses day and you actually feel better yourself.

If more people would challenge themselves to do at least ONE nice thing a day for someone else, what a wonderful world this could become. Good thought there, I challenge all your readers to do that, just one nice thing a day for someone else and see the difference it makes in their own day.

I do hope your head is okay Steve, a nice dent in their boot I hope too.

Trick I learned a long time ago to handle an overly agressive in your face individual who is attempting to bully or stress their own self deceiving importance: just picture them standing there in their underwear….works everytime, you might even chuckle.
# Steve N. Leeon 30 Sep 2008 at 10:50 am

Hook, line and sinker? Yep, they have been taken in, Francisco. And when they see that, boy, are they going to be mad as hell! There will come a backlash and people will stop buying this material/ideological bull. When that day will be, who can say? But it will come.

Yes, Mark, some form is spirituality is definitely missing from a lot of people’s lives. Whether that comes from religious teaching or merely a humanitarian view of the world, it is sorely needed.

Thanks for commenting.

Bonnie, oh, don’t get me started on common sense! I’ve talked about that before and how it seems to be a quaint old concept that people remember with a smile but which they don’t really want to get to know on intimate terms anymore.

Doing one nice thing every single day would be a real challenge for many people. But the problem is, their idea of ‘nice’ might be in complete contrast to that of the person on the receiving end of the ‘nice’ act. People really can be dim and insensitive even when they mean well, can’t they? But yes, it would be an wonderful target to aim for.

Picturing obnoxious people in their underwear? Oh, I have a far more effective coping mechanism for such as those people who nearly ran me over but were more concerned for their car than for me. As on my blog, I use straight-talk that anyone can understand. In such circumstances just two words, shouted loudly, seem to suffice, “F****** A*******!!!”. They get the message, and the release of frustration does me the world of good. No, it’s not a particularly intellectual coping mechanism, neither is it exactly what you’d call a ‘clever riposte’, but sometimes it really is the best tool for the job.

Thanks for sharing, Bonnie,
Steve
# franciscoon 30 Sep 2008 at 9:17 pm

Steve wrote: “Hook, line and sinker? Yep, they have been taken in, Francisco. And when they see that, boy, are they going to be mad as hell! There will come a backlash and people will stop buying this material/ideological bull. When that day will be, who can say? But it will come.”

Sadly, that day naturally will not come ;-(

For it is quite evident that mankind’s “imag”ination is destroying and perverting Creation, destroying the earth(land, air, water, creatures, vegetation) and perverting that which is Spirit(Light, Life, Truth, Love, Peace, Hope, Faith, Simplicity, etc.) ;-(

Even those with only natural vision can “see” the destruction of the earth!

And those who have received Spiritual Life, have had the “eye of their understanding opened” and they can clearly “see” the perverseness and evil of this day in spite of the darkness that is this world for The Light, He reveals all things!

And most all of those who declare themselves to be “catholic/christians”, and most all who are held captive by the systems of religion that are of this world are engaged in the destruction and perversion of Creation ;-(

And what the “catholic/christians” call their “bible” clearly reveals that The Creator is going to destroy those who destroy the earth(HIS Creation)! (Revelations 11:18)

As stated previously, they are many who have returned to “mother earth” yet few who have experienced The Oneness that is a common union with Our Spiritual Father, The Great Spirit, HE WHO is Creator of ALL!

However, there is Hope!

For Miracles do happen!

Hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is receiving “a love of The Truth” for they will heed The Call of The Great Spirit and “Come Out of her, MY people”…….

They will “Come Out” of this wicked world and it’s systems of religion and no longer will they be of those who are destroying and perverting Creation…….

They will “see” that “A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only Life that will survive”…….

Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(complexity) that is of this wicked world, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth…….

Truth is never ending…….
# Elainnaon 02 Oct 2008 at 7:17 pm

Fantastic post, Steve and one I really resonated with! When I was a little girl, I thought the reason people did such disgusting, inhumane and cruel things is that they simply didn’t think. In those days, I believed that reason or using one’s mind would solve everything. Later, I decided that clear-headed reasoning wouldn’t solve the problem.

What was necessary, was an increase in awareness, we has to become more conscious of our fellow human beings and the way they think & feel!
However, now I’m an old woman and I feel that something more than reason and awareness is needed. I think that we need to feel/believe that we are part of something greater than ourselves and look upon everything & everybody as part of a greater whole. We need to escape from the prison of self and practice the art of inclusion instead of exclusion.

“Heretic, rebel, fool, lout
He drew a circle to cut me out.
But love and I had the wit to win.
We drew a circle to draw him in”

I may have misremembered the poem, but I’m sure you’ll get my drift!
# Heidi M.on 03 Oct 2008 at 12:51 am

You’re absolutely right, Elainna. If only we could get “them” to see that they are part of us and vice versa.

I remember, a number of years ago, I used to walk to work. It was a direct route of about half a mile or so. On my way I’d pass a number of people at various corners waiting for the bus. As I’d pass them, I’d smile and say good morning. At first, everyone looked shocked and said nothing. After a few days of this I’d get some mumbled and self-conscious replies. Of course, I kept it up. But I added, how are you today? And if they replied with more than “fine”, I stopped to listen. Eventually, all these people, whose names I didn’t even know began to say Good Morning first. If I saw them at church or the supermarket, they’d wave at me. We’d stop and chat if we were in line together at the bank. All because I just thought it was so rude to just walk by someone without speaking………. I know how I would feel if it was done to me.

The Golden Rule isn’t called Golden for no reason. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It just seems so hard for some people to grasp that concept.
# Steve N. Leeon 03 Oct 2008 at 9:28 am

You’re right, Elainna, except I’d add you were in deed right when you were a little girl - the reason people do what they do is that they don’t, that is, they don’t think like the other person they’re doing whatever it is to. They don’t empathise. That’s the key.

I’ve spoken on my blog and elaborated in my book about my concept of how we are all connected, so I won’t go into it again. Suffice it to say, once you ‘get’ that concept, that we are all connected, you don’t look at other people the same way. It completely alters your perspective. You can never see another person, as many of us do, as merely an ‘object’, but you seem them as a living, breathing, feeling person just like you.

It’s a fascinating subject which I why I felt the need to write about it and probably why you are drawn to it, too. It’s one of those rare creatures that, alone and in itself, could change the entire world.

Of course people will dismiss it as new age crap or hippy garbage, but that’s because they haven’t had it explained to them well enough or they simply choose not to get it.

Thanks for a valuable contribution to the discussion, Elainna.

Heidi, that reminds me of an elderly man I see sometimes in a morning in my local park who started saying hello to me for no apparent reason other than to be friendly. (I’m afraid I’m not a ‘morning person’ so would never have initiated this myself.) It is a nice gesture and it does give people that all important connection so, as I said to Elainna above, you’re both not just an object to each other, like one of the trees you’re walking by, but a person. Of course, a deeper connection is needed to create true empathy, but that’s a start.

Thanks for adding to the conversation, Heidi.

Have a great weekend, both of you,
Steve
# franciscoon 03 Oct 2008 at 4:25 pm

Steve wrote: “Of course, a deeper connection is needed to create true empathy, but that’s a start.”

The only “deeper connection” is in and of The Spirit, and such a “connection” extends to all of Creation(land, air, water, vegetation, creatures, Light, Truth, Life, Love, Peace, Hope, Mercy, Grace, Simplicity, Miracles, etc..).

Sadly, mankind’s “imag”ination is destroying and perverting Creation as religion leads the multitudes along “the broad way of destruction”.

Pure religion and undefiled before GOD The Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.” (James1:27)

All other “religion” is impure and defiled!

And “A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only Life that will survive”…….

Truth is never ending…….

Heidi wrote: “The Golden Rule isn’t called Golden for no reason. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It just seems so hard for some people to grasp that concept.”

Not hard for the perverse to “grasp that concept” in your version of the “golden rule” ;-( Just another example of how “religion” has misused and abused The Truth ;-(

The Words of Truth, standing alone and apart from the Whole, can be used to delude, deceive, pervert and ultimately justify that which is of The LIE, that which is of mankind’s “imag”ination ;-(

Yet there is hope!

For Miracles do happen!

Father Help! and HE does…….
# Steve N. Leeon 04 Oct 2008 at 5:22 pm

Sorry, Francisco, but religion aside, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who’ll agree with you that ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is not an excellent philosophy with which to embrace life.

Steve
# Isabelleon 04 Oct 2008 at 5:51 pm

Oh, I just can’t believe someone said that to you! (about those millions blacks that might starve or die otherwise). Is there no action you can undertake towards this person? In my country there is a public institution that investigates all kinds of racism. Is there no such institution where you live?
# Steve N. Leeon 04 Oct 2008 at 5:58 pm

Hi Isabella,

Yes, you can’t believe it, can you?

It was on a U.S. social network where you can vote web articles up or down and add comments, that was the guy’s idea of a ‘review’ of my blog post. There’s a button below every comment that you can press if you think the comment is abusive - I pressed it, assuming that a report would be sent for someone to investigate, but days later the comment was still there.

I don’t like to wish anyone ill, but some people are just begging for it. I hope this guy enjoys the kind of life he so richly deserves.

Thanks for dropping by and commenting,
Steve
# franciscoon 04 Oct 2008 at 6:07 pm

Steve wrote: “Sorry, Francisco, but religion aside, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who’ll agree with you that ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is not an excellent philosophy with which to embrace life.”

Not hard pressed at all for they are yet quite a number of souls who realize that such a mistranslation and “philosophy” will lead to confusion and the justification of every evil work, especially homosexuality and yes even physical warfare, for there are those who love to fight and kill ;-(

Once again, “The Words of Truth, standing alone and apart from The Whole, can be used to delude, deceive, pervert and ultimately justify that which is of The LIE, that which is of mankind’s “imag”ination ;-(”

And especially when such words are mis-translated by those seeking to justify their “religion’s” theo’ry’logical dogma, or used by those who have created their own “imag”ined “philosophy” ;-(

The Words of Truth, when spoken from the heart of those who follow their own vain “imag”ination, become but a lie, and are of The LIE.

Yet there is hope!

For Miracles do happen!

Father Help! and HE does…….

Truth is never ending…….
# Steve N. Leeon 04 Oct 2008 at 6:17 pm

Francisco, please don’t come on my blog and call certain demographics of the population evil.

I welcome opinions that take a contrary view to my own in order to broaden my knowledge, but I will not allow hate campaigns or anything that approaches them. If you want to talk disparagingly about homosexuality, please do it elsewhere.

Steve
# franciscoon 04 Oct 2008 at 6:32 pm

Steve wrote: “I welcome opinions that take a contrary view to my own in order to broaden my knowledge, but I will not allow hate campaigns or anything that approaches them. If you want to talk disparagingly about homosexuality, please do it elsewhere.”

I believe you should be able to “see” now, that your own “imag”ination is having it’s part in the destruction and perversion of Creation ;-(

Sadly, it is, and will remain so with those who are in and of this world ;-(

They continue destroying that which their “imag”ination has them believing they are saving ;-( Such are “opinions”!

Truth IS! “opinions” are of the “imag”ination ;-(

And Truth is mankind’s “imag”ination is destroying and perverting Creation(land, air, water, vegetation, creatures, Light, Life, Truth, Love, Peace, Hope, Simplicity, etc.)

Yet there is hope!

For Miracles do happen!

Hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is “receiving a love of The Truth” for they will “see” The Light that reveals how perverse and destructive this world and it’s systems of religion truly are! And they will take heed unto The Call of The Creator to “Come out of her, MY people”!

Father Help! and HE does…….

Truth is never ending…….
# Steve N. Leeon 04 Oct 2008 at 7:04 pm

Francisco, you’re banned from this blog.

If you care to look at how I describe Lions Led By Sheep you’ll clearly see it mentions an exploration of human rights - you obviously care little for that subject if you see homosexuality as evil and anyone who defends the rights of those who disagree with your beliefs as perverting creation.

I have cut you a lot of slack on my blog, as anyone whose taken the time to read any of your comments can clearly see, but you are starting to take liberties now which I will not allow.

Frankly, I don’t believe in most of what you spout. In fact, much of it is just plain evil because it segragates vast swathes of the human race, claiming them to be destroyers of the world at best, and perverts at the worst.

Go preach your doom elsewhere. Extremists are not welcome on my blog. Never have been, never will be.

Goodbye,
Steve
# Heidi M.on 05 Oct 2008 at 8:16 pm

Thanks Steve. You have exhibited a lot more tolerance with this guy than I think I could have. I almost commented when he was knocking Catholics (my religion) but then I thought, “No. There are a lot of things that even I take exception to within my own church.” But as I read his posts, I started wondering where this guy was really coming from. I never thought he would argue with the Golden Rule!!
# Steve N. Leeon 05 Oct 2008 at 8:59 pm

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, so if Francisco had shown any remorse over how he’d attacked homosexuality or the ‘do unto others’ philosophy etc, then I might have let him continue to post on here. Sadly, all he seemed interested in was preaching to everyone about how wicked we all are and that the end was surely coming and we were all doomed if we didn’t accept his teaching.

Americans invented a wonderfully apt phrase for just such occasions - yeah, right!

I don’t like banning anyone, but some people just leave me no option.

Oh and don’t worry, it wasn’t just Catholocism he had it in for. No, it was everyone and everything.

Thanks, Heidi.
Steve
# gmon 06 Oct 2008 at 5:30 am

hahaha, yep it’s just you steve! you’re not fitting in.
have you no realised that you are not the center of the universe. that others ARE and that you are nothing to them!?

as for the workers thing. check out the documentary “The Yes Men” and note the gold CEO suit. great stuff. then you will see where you fit.

as for the peeps in the car, again, they were in THEIR car, on THEIR road and along you came, interfering in THEIR day. how inconsiderate of you. didn’t you get the memo that they’d be out and about (not watching where they were driving being in control of a mechanical vehicle that could harm others if the operator of said vehicle was not qualified to use such a vehicle in a safe and healthy way. gees louise.

and as for the children in the third world. that says it all really. when the people that could do something about and for the people that can do so little, then something is missing.

i have to admit that i do agree that the population of humans is getting out of hand but i would have to say that it does not need to be that way. coupled with our consumerist, profit full, “us first”, “way of life”, it does leave members of the human race behind. but then that is only natural because the game is to be bigger, better, richer, have more and control more after all. there will always be losers in a game who’s players objective is to win. until there is a fundamental shift in ideology that includes everyone and everything then there will always be an imbalance.

(sigh)

there have been a number of people that have pointed these things out before so i’ll leave it to them.

god said something about being nice to one another and only doing good things.

christ said the same thing and actually went into a fair amount of detail.

i think most deities did.

and philosophers, both of old and more recently.

gene roddenberry showed us a vision of what humans might do if they tried.

jacque fresco had/has similar ideas

and douglas adams exposed the truth of the whole matter by proving we are descended from the useless third of a not so bright populous from another planet anyway and that we (well, our forefathers and mothers) were all supposed to die by plunging into a star.

genes are important, dna is important, health is important, being nice is important, education and doing the right thing is important.

be aware that not all people are equally educated, that their ideas are not always universal and that there will, as long as that is the case, always be idiots. including ourselves.

your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make people aware of this. and that they in turn should grow up, get real, face facts and make it better, and that that is their mission.

shit happens, as a matter of fact, it is happening all the time. it’s just not always happen to us all the time. thank your lucky stars, stay away from cars (and the idiots that drive them), you’re really not missing much on tv. and just keep trying to make a difference. or better still, just make the difference.

^.*/,,,
# Steve N. Leeon 06 Oct 2008 at 9:26 am

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Accepted. Now I’m just trying to recruit new agents to cause, GM.

Yes, silly me, I was on ‘their’ road interferring in ‘their’ day. Sadly, that seems to be the problem with much of the Western world - despite technology, economies, and cultures bringing us together we seem to be constantly striving to become more insular. Everybody wants ‘me’ space, filled with all the best ‘me’ stuff money can buy. And woe betide anyone who encroaches on either.

‘Bigger, better, richer’? Yep, that’s always going to be a problem. I’ve written about greed and over-consumption many times now, so I won’t go over that ground again, but it is going to take a drastic change in mindset before the human race can evolve to another ‘level’. (We don’t have to of course, a simple re-write could solve that problem entirely - “To arrogantly go where no man has gone before.”)

So, yes, for now I’ll be content with raising awareness of these issues.

Thanks for adding to the discussion, GM.
Steve
# Kim aka LadyMysticWolfon 26 Oct 2008 at 1:39 pm

No, you’ve not gone mad. Which knowing that should brighten your day some. However, knowing that the World has gone mad may darken it. I live in Jacksonville, Florida. Within the first quarter of this year, our deaths from crime had surpassed 2007’s total for the year.
It seems that people just ‘don’t want to know’ anymore. Awhile back, I overheard part of a conversation. The part I heard was someone’s response “what recession, we are not in a recession!”. This person must have a sizable income and is not concerned with the price of gas or groceries, or the fact that unemployment (for us anyway) has hit an all time high. I know of several people that have looked for ANY job for several months with no luck. Or, this person is totally blind to the reality around him.
I myself am disabled so the price of anything affects me as I live on an extremely tight budget. We are in a recession and unless effective change is made by the Government, we are headed for a depression.
That is what I think anyway. Not that that matters to anyone but myself.
The Great Spirit has a devine plan and path for everyone. So, the person that made the nasty comment about the deaths in third world countries will never find peace, happiness nor be content with their life.
Over population is handled in natural ways, by nature. I wish that I could afford to donate money to so many causes from animals to humans but alas I cannot afford to. And to me it seems that both McCain and Obama have left out a ‘class’ of peoples in their compaigns. The low income, poor, homeless and hungry.
So, no. You are not mad. Some people just don’t care anymore. I pray to The Creator to help those people and to guide them down the right path so they can ’see’.
Walk in peace and light my friend and may better days come your way!
# Steve N. Leeon 27 Oct 2008 at 11:04 am

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kim.

Yes, you’re right - some people live in a totally different world, don’t they? I know all about tight budgets, but then while some Wall Street banker might think he’s having a tight year if his bonus only runs into the low seven figures, some poor kid in Ethiopia thinks he’s having it tough if he can only afford one bowl of rice a day. It’s a weird world, isn’t it? The problem is, some people get obscene amounts of wealth while others get barely enough to feed themselves. It’s ciminal that in the 21st century we still allow this to go on. The whole $700 billion fiasco has just confirmed all this.

Nearly every politician you care to name is tarred with the same brush, I’m afraid. It’s a total shift in mindset that’s needed, not just a few extra dollars going to charity and a little tax relief on green technology. If we want to evolve as a society and as a species we need to reassess our whole worldview.

Thanks again, Kim.
Steve