Appreciation now means no regrets later

Our lives are filled with opportunities to express our thankfulness and appreciation to others, of which, those that are on their game, do that very thing; whereas, those that are too caught up in their own selfishness or discount the value of good human interaction are the very same that will, in all likelihood, express regret later, for not having appreciated the goodness that they received earlier and throughout their life.  That is to say, the best time to appreciate the other is in that moment, for good thoughts unexpressed in one form or another, essentially represent us not taking advantage of the opportunity to let people know that we are thankful for their kindness and consideration.

 Indeed, a little thankfulness goes a very long way, because people do appreciate being acknowledged for the good deeds that they have done, which reinforces them to desire to do even more, because they know that they have been appreciated; whereas, whenever those that do us consistently right, don’t feel or hear appreciation for their good deeds, they can easily become resentful of such lack of gratefulness, especially when they perceive that they are being taken advantage of, or taken for granted.

 So too, sometimes our lack of appreciation comes from our lack of perspective, in which, as a child, we basically believe that our parents should do this and that for us, as a matter of course, of which, when we are helpless and just a toddler, this certainly makes eminent sense. Still, as we become more sovereign and more knowledgeable about who and what we really are, as well as recognizing our own capabilities and responsibilities, this presents us with the opportunity to show our thankfulness, especially since we should be thankful for all that has been done for us, which has helped us to better deal with the vicissitudes of what life presents to us.

 In truth, there are a whole lot of people that believe that life consists mainly of big and important actions done and accomplished, but in reality, it is the little things that we do right, day after day, that not only makes life better, but permits us to show our appreciation to those that we should appreciate, by expressing such to them.  After all, we typically tend to get occupied taking care of those necessary things in life, as well as being preoccupied thinking about what we need or should be doing, but in all of that, we need to make sure to reflect from time-to-time whether we have properly thanked those that the represent the good part of our life, for doing what they have not only done for us, but also for others.

 The best gifts in life come from the heart, in which we take the time to acknowledge the importance of those who have been there for us, day in and day out, that not only deserve our appreciation, but deserve so much more and the best way to express that appreciation is by letting them know their true value to us, in our own words and by our good deeds

Libido dominandi

Libido dominandi is Latin for “the lust to dominate,” which is a character fault that so many people fall sway to, for many a person, simply wants their way from the other, and to the degree that they can get their way without having to convince the other of why they should do so, or to work with the other about such, they basically want what they want from the other, through sheer force, literal or figurative.  After all, it has to be noted, that many a person just wants their way, and thus they don’t care too much about whether their way is right or wrong, but just want compliance from the other, so that they can get what they want, in the here and now.

 Indeed, because human beings are free will people with their own thoughts and their own desires, this presents the ever present problem of there being people that will not readily give into our demands, of which, reasonable people, recognize the sovereignty of the individual, and if there is something that needs to be done, thus works with them on a level that considers that the other has equal rights that are the equivalency of their own.  However, there are those selfish people that aren’t interested in having a discussion, but simply want obedience, whether such is warranted or not, for they have the lust to dominate and if necessary will impress themselves upon the other, with physical or other intimidating force to get the other to comply with their demands.

 Those then that exert themselves in a way and manner in which it has to be “their way” are the very same that are prone to creating trouble, because there are few people that desire to be consistently dominated, because they have their own desires and needs which they rightly feel should be given a higher priority than being told that they must comply with this or with that.  Further to the point, while those with power and authority are often able to control others, because of those attributes, they are though susceptible to losing not only the respect of the other, but their ultimate control of the other, because those in compliance with their demands are doing so mainly because they don’t see any other ready options available to them, though they are typically searching for alternatives.

 It has to be noted, that there is a fundamental difference between domination and cooperation, in which voluntary cooperation is far superior to other means, because it implies not only collaboration but also a willingness to get along; whereas, domination is neither of those things, which is why those that are prone to wanting to dominate others, would behoove themselves to understand the psychology better of humankind, in which, respect for the other, will over the long term present a better and healthier construct to work with.

 The lust to dominate is the type of bad characteristic that in most circumstances, we should want to disassociate ourselves from, because it belittles the value of the other, while also encouraging the increase of our ego and our selfishness to an overall ill and unhealthy effect.

Mandatory on-the-job drug tests should not typically be allowed

On January 28, 1972, President Nixon signed into law his emergency spending bill to fight drug addiction which subsequently became known as the "War on Drugs".  More than fifty years later, the war is still ongoing with both public and private companies joining in by fighting this battle with on-the-job drug testing.  The theory behind the employee drug testing is that the employer can alter the employee's behavior in such a way that they will forego illicit drugs, which will then bring the dual benefits of a safer workplace, and a healthier employee.  In some cases, the drug testing is mandatory as a condition of employment and/or continued employment.   

 Supporters of mandatory drug testing state that the tests are necessary to provide a safe working environment and maintain worker productivity, reliability, efficiency, effectiveness, security, and throughput.  Since the tests are non-discriminatory by virtue of the fact that theoretically all employees are subjected to them, this acts thereby as a strong deterrent for illicit drug usage which serves the greater good by diminishing crime, dependency, and other illegal activities which are drug induced.  Proponents of mandatory drug testing believe that their ever watchful eye makes therefore for a better workplace and a safer working environment.

 Additionally, strict defenders of mandatory drug testing do not believe that there is a Constitutional right to privacy and therefore that mandatory drug testing is always legal and should be supported by jurisprudence in all circumstances.  Recent Supreme Court decisions in regards to drug testing have shown that in reference to public safety (such as public transportation), medical professionals, and classified/secure information, that the court believes that the public safety outweighs any complaints or inconveniences of drug testing and therefore that this testing is legal.  While there have been some court rulings that have struck down mandatory drug testing in certain circumstances, in the whole, to date, random and mandatory drug testing have been upheld, much to the chagrin of those that oppose these invasive rules.

 While it is true that nowhere in the Constitution do we find the words "the right to privacy"--this does not necessarily mean that we don't have an implicit right to privacy.  To wit, privacy is protected by the following Constitutional Amendments: I (privacy of your beliefs), III (privacy of your home), IV (privacy of your person and your possessions), IX (retained privacy rights of your person), and XIV (right to your liberty and due process of the law).  Mandatory drug tests are normally done with a urine test, which in some cases is supervised by an attendant and therefore necessitates some exposure of one’s genitals in order for the attendant to verify the integrity of said test.  Furthermore, urinalysis is capable of revealing the presence of all measurable drugs within your system (whether legal or illegal); and also provides genetic predisposition to certain diseases and can be a de facto pregnancy test for females.  Tragically, these intrusive tests in aggregate are not 100% accurate and consequently "false positives" do occur with career changing consequences.

 Mandatory drug testing turns United States' jurisprudence on its head from a presumption of innocence to a presumption of guilt unless the test "clears" you.  Sadly, it also enables private companies and government agencies to intrusively profile you under the ostensible reasons of worker safety and worker productivity.   Quite frankly, this is "big brother" monitoring that dehumanizes us and makes us subservient to corporations and bureaucrats.  This represents the falsifying of the American dream and is fundamentally contrary to our expressed rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".

The misconception of Heaven

The very first thing to recognize about eternity, is the fact that eternity is a very, very long time.  This would seem to indicate that for those that find that their final destination appears to be Heaven, that after they re-introduce themselves to loved ones and the joy, so of, that there may well be a tendency to eventually degenerate into having arguments and disagreements about this or that, because, there is only so much time one can devote to just being at peace and existing within harmony, before the troubles that we were not successful in overcoming in this world, would begin to reassert themselves.  This would seem to indicate that for all those who have unfinished business and are arriving in Heaven, they are going to eventually gravitate to desiring to take care of that unfinished business, which if permitted would make Heaven not to be a sanctuary, but rather, would make Heaven to be a realm of chaos, instead.

 In reality, the nuances of Heaven are myriad, of which, those that have developed well the very best characteristics of, for instance, justice, love, patience, endurance, perseverance, and consideration are going to be at a whole different level than those that weren’t able to conquer or control their emotions for they remain inclined to suffer from feelings to others of vengeance, hatred, intolerance, are themselves prone to lethargy, lack initiative, or are uncaring.   These types of characteristics are clearly quite different from one another which is why Heaven cannot be, and is not, some cacophony of different entities at one another’s throats, so to speak, because that which has not been successfully resolved in this world, are the very same, that have yet to be resolved in the Heavenly dimension.

 Indeed, to believe that simply adhering to some orthodox religious belief will somehow be good enough to remain in good company, when departing this earth, is neither conceivable nor possible.  Rather, the good deeds and good characteristics we take with us to the dimension beyond earth, as well as that which is classified as bad deeds and bad characteristics, are ours to own, also; of which, it is our responsibility to correct what needs to be corrected, because within the dimension of Heaven, there is a distinct hierarchy, of which, those that are more advanced have properly risen within that hierarchy, and those that have not, are placed at a designated lower level, with the fair opportunity to improve their status.

 The object of the exercise, therefore, in the realm of Heaven, is to eventually get to that designated place in which we become a pillar in the endless palace rooms of God, of which, in our determination to re-unite with our Creator, there becomes a state of Oneness obtained, of which, once that occurs, we become fully cognizant of the eternal blissfulness of God, no more to believe in the apparent dualities of our previous existence, but rather in the sure knowledge that we are forever in that eternal safe sanctuary of no beginning and of no end.

Not knowing God means never having searched diligently for such

There are plenty of things that people want or desire to accomplish in life, of which, to achieve these objectives, necessitates not only consistent effort, but also the proper background and learning to do this, and then mandates the relentless drive to accomplish that very thing.  That is to say, those things that come easy to us, are probably not the same things, that will provide us with the lasting satisfaction in the knowledge that we have actually reached the apex of what we were supposed to achieve.  Rather, we are meant to have to put forth effort and overcome challenges to get to where we need to be, which means that we need a worthwhile objective that will necessitate us putting forth blood, sweat, and tears, of which, we will thereby when achieving that objective, feel the lasting satisfaction that we have done well.

 Indeed, the construct of this modern world is such that we can become distracted and confused about what we ought to be about, which means that we may not spend much time or care to, when it comes to searching for what we should really be concentrating our time upon.  So too, those then that do not put forth the effort needed on a whole slew of worthwhile subjects and things, will often believe that they have not missed anything, at all, mainly because their lack of knowledge about those specific things signifies that they don’t really know what they might be missing, for they have not cared to investigate.

 When it comes to God, there are plenty of people who have closed the book on God, without ever bothering to open the same book, up.  For them, this is not only a conscious choice, but seems to be the correct one, for they believe the world as presented to them,  pretty much represents the be-all and end-all of existence, and are perhaps too distracted or uninterested in pursuing this thought line to its full comprehension, at all.  The loss, thereof, is their own, because those that don’t pursue God, don’t know what they are missing, because of that lack of knowledge, of which, if they knew God, their mindset would surely be quite different, for God is the be-all and end-all of our being, and those that fail to comprehend this, are the same, that have missed the forest for the trees.

 All those that believe that God is an irrelevancy, represent those that do not know God, and therefore are content to remain ignorant of such, to their own lasting regret, for knowing God, permits the full and unvarnished unveiling of Truth, justice, and love, which is transformative for everybody that have been successful in that search, and thus brings a spiritual awakening which is beneficial for redirecting our efforts to that which will bring lasting peace and happiness, of which, that road will in and of itself, make all the difference in bringing forth the enlightenment to those that are willing to see.

The continual need for good deeds

There are a fair amount of people who have not been able to find their purpose in life, or haven’t bothered to investigate such.  While it is true that we can do all sorts of things with our abilities, it is also true that we should have an abiding focus that we should concentrate our efforts on, of which, that focus should be about not only bettering ourselves to be a benefit to those that we congregate with, but also to perform good deeds, which will definitely be a benefit to the society that we are an active member of.

 In life, there are going to be many opportunities to express our dissatisfaction with all sorts of things, which while having its place, often doesn’t do much to ameliorate or to correct that which requires such amelioration or correction.  This signifies that to complain about this or that, often doesn’t get us any closer to resolving what needs to be resolved or worked upon, so that, it would behoove those that tend to complain, to complain less, and instead do more by contributing their labor to dealing with the problems that are ever present, and could use their blood, sweat, and tears to make progress upon.

 While words have their place, there are far too many people that have the knowledge so needed, or can see where things can be improved, but fail to ever put their words into action, and thereby do not help to accomplish that which would represent a step closer to making progress by taking action, so that, there comes a time, when enough words have been spoken or heard, and thereupon action is required, or else, nothing will be accomplished that could and ought to be accomplished by the participation of our needed good labor.

 So too, those that want to strengthen their character, can accomplish this with plenty of aplomb, by devoting themselves to the doing of good deeds, for by virtue of performing good acts, and seeing the results thereof, reenforces that what they do actually does matter, which thereby encourages them to do even more, for having seen that their efforts have resulted in contributing to the good of that community.  Additionally, we typically lead best by example, and those seeing that we do put action behind our wise words, are the very same that will respect us more, for that action, and may themselves be positively influenced to do some good deeds, as well.

 So then, the problems that we have in any society, need not only to be identified, but also need to be worked upon, step by step, in the sure understanding, that intractable problems are going to take not only concentrated effort to resolve, but will necessitate unrelenting effort and resources to do so, best done by those that perform their good actions, big and small, in a way and manner, in which the overarching desire is to help make society a better place for our good participation in it.

The Sabbath

We read in Holy Scripture “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2: 27)  This tells us that those that obey what they believe to be the letter of the law, as opposed to the spirit of the law, have got their priorities wrong, for God is our benefactor as compared to being our constant taskmaster, who insists that we obey God’s Commandments, without deviation, or thought.

 The reason why the Sabbath is so important is that during six days of the week, we typically have to devote ourselves to all that which will sustain us, by laboring, and through taking care of our day to day tasks, diligently, of which, if there was no Sabbath, thereby signifying that there was not even one day out of the week, in which, we were entitled to rest from our efforts, life would soon become one of drudgery, as compared to providing us with the fair opportunity to benefit from the goodness that God’s provisions as well as the society that we are an active member of, can provide for us.  This is why it is crucial, to walk away from our daily labors, on one designated day of the week, not so much to rest, but rather as the opportunity to contemplate and to study our purpose as gifted to us by God, as well as to let our body take a backseat to such contemplation, for we have been provided with a mind, that should take in far more than what we typically have to deal with on a daily basis.

 In this hi-energy world there is a tendency to believe that there are all sorts of tasks and duties that we simply must always attend to, or else dire consequences we will face, but those that take their foot off of the proverbial pedal, to actually consider that life may consist of something far more comprehensive, than our common everyday activities, are the very same, that are utilizing their mind to search for the abiding meaning in life, which will allow them thereby to get a better perspective on what life on this earthly plane is actually all about.

 Each of us should take the time to reset ourselves and to understand better that we need the Sabbath as our ever-present aid in trouble or in good times, to give us the opportunity to devote ourselves to that which is the actuator of our very being, which will thereby permit us to evaluate as to whether we are on the correct path with the correct destination, or perhaps have wandered away, even far way, from where we ought to be.  The Sabbath should be seen as our North Star, enlightening us as to who and what we really are, and thereby leading us to where we need to be, for in the hurly-burly of modern life, it is easy to get distracted on those lesser things, which really don’t mean all that much in totality, as opposed to pressing on to those necessary things, and thereby finding that which will provide us with eternal satisfaction and peace.

Strive to be ambidextrous

There doesn’t appear to be a calling in society to be ambidextrous, but the fact that there isn’t is no credit for those who don’t believe in the value of being ambidextrous.  The fact of the matter is that when it comes to certain tasks, sports, music, and other activities, there is a distinct advantage for those that are not stuck with having just one dominant hand, because these people can use both hands equally well, which reduces fatigue and allows them to be more effective, coordinated, and efficient, for having properly developed the muscle memory in both hands.  For example, when it comes to sports, we find that many players “throw like a girl” when they use their non-dominant hand, mainly because that hand has not been trained to throw for it has not practiced the tasks needed to develop the muscle memory to do so -- even though the person so trying to throw with their non-dominate hand, is quite familiar with the logistics of what makes for a good throw.

 So, too, those who are under a lot of pressure to get certain work accomplished or other tasks done can find that when that activity requires the constant repeated usage of just one hand, their hand can become tired and fatigued over a period of time; whereas, if they were ambidextrous, they could distribute the work more equally between their hands instead.

 Additionally, injuries are a way of life, and whenever our hand or fingers of our dominant hand have been injured, the quality of our life is impacted rather negatively because having failed to develop the skill set so needed to accomplish the same sorts of tasks with our non-dominant hand, we suffer for that lack of preparedness. 

 While it is true that most of us are not required to be ambidextrous to do what we need to do, it is amazing to find out, just how dependent we are upon our dominant hand, in which, common tasks such as opening a can, or spooning out food, or writing down notes, or operating our cellphone, become not just a lot more difficult, but seemingly impossible without our dominant hand, even when we know that our non-dominant hand has the same sort of capability, itself, to accomplish this.  The issue, therefore, is the fact that our non-dominant hand has not been trained, which basically is indicative that it could be trained, if only we would devote some time and energy in doing so.

 In consideration, that while we don’t need to be ambidextrous, it does seem worthwhile, to at least attempt to do some tasks, even as simple as brushing our teeth, eating, tying our shoes, or shaving with our non-denominate hand so as to develop some of those motor skills so necessary, that would not only make us to be more flexible in the way that we do common things, but would permit us to understand better that which we take for granted, because the reason that we are so good with our dominant hand is because of the practice and devotion that we have put into developing that, in the first place.

The new American Basketball Association

The American Basketball Association (ABA) was an upstart professional basketball league from 1967 to 1976, which succeeded in merging with the NBA, by having four of the ABA teams become part of the NBA.  The biggest change that the ABA brought to the NBA was the 3-point line.  Since that merger the NBA has gone on to become incredibly successful, but as in anything, the NBA currently is pretty much content to rest on its laurels and has little interest in making any comprehensive changes to the game as it is played, though it probably should, for there are plenty of changes that ought to be done, which is why those that love basketball need something akin to the ABA to return.

 The very first thing that needs to change is the basketball court size which is currently 94 feet long by 50 feet wide -- which needs to increase its width to at least 54 feet, and its length by at least an additional six feet, which would help to not only spread out the court better, but would now mean that the 3-point shot from the corners would be at 24 feet, and from the center of the arc, 25 feet, 9 inches or thereabouts.  This would thereby reduce the amount of 3-point shooting and make for a more engaging sport, instead.

 Other changes that need to be made consist of the following: that instead of players having to pass the ball in when the ball goes out of bounds or after a basket is made, they have the option to simply dribble the ball in.  Also, to cut down on annoying foul calls, there would be only one referee on the floor who would make those foul calls, and a laser would be utilized on the court boundaries to ascertain when a ball or stray foot has traveled out of bounds.  Additionally, all intentional fouls would be a violation of the rules of the sport, resulting in a Technical foul being assessed.  In addition, when it comes to any foul, the captain of the team would determine whether they desired to shoot free throws or would decline to do so, and thereby simply maintain possession of the basketball. Also, the traditional 3-point play, in which a player fouled who makes the basket, is awarded a free throw, would no longer exist, though a foul would still be assessed, but since the basket was made there would be no added free throw.  In addition, each coach would be provided with one timeout per quarter, and the quarter would consist of 15 minutes, because with fewer fouls and fewer free throws, there would be less stoppage in play.  Also, the amount of time to get the ball to the front court would be ten seconds, and the shot clock would be 25 seconds.  Finally, the basketball color would be a tri-color, such as red, white, and blue.

 Indeed, because there are so many players that play basketball and are good at such, it would certainly seem conceivable that another competitive pro league could be formed, especially since there are many arenas throughout America, that are underutilized, and in consideration, that a basketball team probably doesn’t need much more than 12 players on their roster, to play their games, this would lend itself to a reasonable payroll.  Additionally, in this era of social media of all types and a multitude of ways to stream content to fans, it would seem that a new basketball league could certainly have its place.

Listening but not listening

In today’s society, we have a lot of ways to communicate with one another that simply didn’t exist before, such as email, text messaging, and through social media.  While these alternative ways to communicate have their place, they can’t fully replace the human need to have communication on a more personal level, done on a face-to-face basis or via a phone.  There is, though a lot of difference between in-person communication and communication though phone, for the former basically requires some sort of eye-to-eye contact, at least, occasionally; whereas, the other can be done in a manner in which one or both persons on that call could be multi-tasking -- that is to say, sort of listening but doing other things on the side, such as cleaning, or cooking, or using an app, so that these two ways of communicating aren’t equivalent.

 So too, there are plenty of people, that like to talk, and talk, and talk, which for those that are on the receiving end of such people, pretty much necessitates that their communication is going to have to be on the phone, because the other, doesn’t typically have the time or the desire to pay full attention to what is being said, not only because they have seemingly heard it all before, but also because they don’t have the time to devote to that conversation, for they have their own obligations to attend to, which is why, we get the situation in which we can hear the words so being spoken, but we aren’t really listening to them, whatsoever.

 One might think that when we don’t really listen to the other, that they might surmise that they are essentially being ignored, but that depends on the nature of the conversation, for certain people just want to vent about this or that, and are really just looking for an echo chamber, as compared to an actual conversation, and as long as we confirm to acknowledge the validity of what they are saying, they are content with such.  Then some need us to really listen, but because they meander from one topic to another, or talk about things that we aren’t really in agreement with, yet we aren’t able to pushback on, because they won’t accept that, we have to respond to them in general affirmations so that whatever that they are saying still is validated.

 Additionally, when we have been in a familial relationship for a long time, there is a strong tendency to believe that whatever that person is saying, is the same sort of story that we have heard before, time and time again, which is why we often tune out what they are saying to contemplate our own issues or thoughts, instead.

 In all of these areas, we have the situation in which the recipient is listening in the sense that they hear the words, but they aren’t really listening in the sense that they are actively trying to engage in the conversation for a lot of reasons, which may well include the fact that they have their own thoughts they want to express but aren’t getting the chance to, they are preoccupied, they have work to do, or it could be that they have heard it all before, which is why when we really have something of import to say, the very first thing that we need to find out, is whether or not the other is ready and able to fairly hear us out.

Shiftless in America

The first thing to note about those who are shiftless in America, is that they wouldn’t be so prominent in numbers, if the nation was not itself, quite wealthy. That is to say, to live within a society in which there is a lot of overall poverty and little possibility to escape from such, necessities that even the laziness amongst us, must contribute some form of labor or help, or else they will be entirely shunned, because there is plenty that is needing to be done just to survive, and those that are able, must thereby do their fair part, or suffer the consequences, for failing to do so.

 On the other hand, Western nations, have plenty of money, and have situated themselves so that there is a social welfare system to help take care of the neediest amongst us, of which, to the degree that these programs and institutions do provide help to the disabled, the aged, the unemployed, and others of that general ilk, they have done so to the betterment of what that nation owes to its people.  On the other hand, there seems to be a significant subset of Americans that are actually quite able, but just don’t want to work for a living, perhaps because the monetary compensation for a job is considered to be too low, or the job itself is beneath their dignity, or for various other spurious reasons, including the seminal fact that they typically lack ambition or drive.

 So too, when there is seemingly plenty of money available to spend on welfare in a given nation along with valuable institutions specifically being structured to help provide for those that are disadvantaged, there are going to be plenty of shiftless people that are going to do what they feel that they have to do to “game” the system, so that they get food stamps, a subsidized apartment, and pretty much whatever that they can obtain, one way or another, without having to put forth any labor to get it.

 For a fact, the shiftless lack motivation, and when unable to find a charity or government institution that will provide for their needs, thereby decide that they can mooch off of someone that they know, such as a family member or a friend, in which, they are quite willing to sleep on the couch, and perhaps in return do a chore or two from time to time, or take on some basic responsibility such as cooking, and exist within this construct, seemingly forever, in which they are forever broke, but at least have shelter, food, and an existence that appears to be acceptable to them.

 The foregoing are the laziest and most shiftless, of which, they don’t show up in governmental reports about unemployment, because they aren’t looking for employment, for they are content to do as little as possible, day after day, without any real desire to improve their mind, by studying anything of merit, or of volunteering to help the society that they are a member of, because they aren’t engaged to do so.  Indeed, the shiftless are parasitic in nature, and as long as they can find a host to accommodate them, they are essentially satisfied.

Settler colonialism

While it has been said that the victors write the history, it can also be said, that such history is subject to revision, and through that revision, a more nuanced and a fairer perspective can be generated, for those so inclined to take in a more comprehensive perspective.  First though, what is settler colonialism?  The answer is that those who are not indigenous to a particular land, but have traveled to such, having done so essentially to take over or seize the land for their own or their motherland’s benefit, which is accomplished through actions taken, typically violent, at the direct expense of the indigenous peoples, until those indigenous peoples have been conquered or forcefully removed or become an irrelevancy. 

 So then, the United States of America, could be considered to be a prime example of settler colonialism, for America was already populated by what we call “American Indians,” who though they still exist here in America are at this point completely decimated in their population, and are presently not untypically ill-educated and impoverished, along with being situated onto often remote reservations, that, in theory, they are sovereign of.  At the time of America’s founding, American Indians were plentiful, self-sufficient, but were also considered to pose a real threat to what became known as the American way of life and its manifest destiny, of which, American Indians through one form or another, were subsequently defeated or forcefully relocated to such an extent that they are almost an irrelevancy in this nation, presently.

 Perhaps this is the way that it should be, that the strong and determined take what they so desire by whatever means so necessary, fair or foul, for the supposed greater purpose of this settler nation and its non-native people.  Indeed, it could be said that what occurred was overall a benefit to the world, at large, for America has gone on to accomplish some incredible things,  as well as to be at the forefront of inventions and innovations that have helped to make this world and the society that we are a part of, so much better for these accomplishments.  So too, to believe, somehow, that America is the sole example of settler colonialism is to get history wrong, for there are plenty of other nations, that have the same sort of background history, as well, signifying that in many a case, those that are adventurous, determined, and have powerfully deadly weapons, have been able to successfully assert their selves against indigenous people, the world over, for better or for worse.

 In sum, whether people are comfortable with admitting this truth or not, settler colonialism has been the means of choice, of nation-states on the move for generations upon generations to overcome indigenous societies and to claim their resources, as their own.  It is also is the epitome of the belief that might makes right, for indigenous societies, typically have not recognized the moral superiority of the colonial mindset, nor should they, but have instead, been conquered through the sword, which demonstrates the historic value of organized military might to impress itself upon the other, understanding well that in these battles the spoils will go to the victor, at the expense of the vanquished.

"You don't know what you've got till it's gone"

The above quotation comes from Joni Mitchell’s song “Big Yellow Taxi” and has stood true throughout the annals of time, for many of us have the rather poor habit of not appreciating what we really have, until it is gone, or no longer available for us to use, and by the time we realize that we have taken something for granted, that we should have been more appreciative of, it is truly too late.  This is why we must take an inventory of that which is valued from time to time of the things, events, and friends that we have, so as to properly show our appreciation, for even that which has always been ours, such as good health, or an especially valued family member, can be subject to disappearance in a blink of an eye, through for instance, a disastrous unexpected event.  This signifies that the time to tell someone that you love and that you care for them is in the present; and the time to appreciate a good education, a good neighborhood, and good friends, is in the present, as well, because we know not what the future will hold.

 So often, we regret the things we lose, because we know that we have never really properly appreciated them, for we have taken such for granted, and by doing so, just assume that what we have, will always be ours. In actuality, those things that matter to us most of all, are subject not only to traumatic change but invariably are subject to our not paying enough mind to such, of which, slowly through the eons of time, they begin to fade away, and when we subsequently reach out for them, we find to our dismay, that not only are they gone, but they are no longer available for us to retrieve.

 So too, we are prone to not evaluating things that we have in our possession, appropriately, thereby making decisions that are going to be in error, because we haven’t taken into account fully, what we should have calculated correctly in the making of those decisions, which leads to our loss, of which, the decisions that we make define not only who and what we really are, but the results of those decisions are reflected in the life that we have, along with the future trajectory of such.

 Indeed, the best time to appreciate what we have is always going to be the present time, and those then that make it their point, to not take for granted the blessings that they have in life, are going to be in a far better place, to handle the vicissitudes of life because their foundation is built upon a substance that is better able to handle adversity, for they are better connected to that which is of more importance to them, and those bonds are the very bonds that will help them to endure, as well as to appreciate life all the better, which places them in a much better position as opposed to those who have failed to properly prioritize or to appreciate that which is no longer in their grasp, and seriously doubt that it will ever come back.

America and its love for false labeling

In America, it seems like the government doesn’t want to get in the way of those who sell food items and the potential profit from those items, even when this is being sold under apparent false pretenses, by pretending to be one thing, when in reality it really is another thing.  There are, for instance, plenty of foods that contain lots of sugar or additives to that food but are labeled as being wholesome or advertised explicitly as being good for the body, when in reality, this is not fundamentally true.  Then there are also those items being sold that allege that they are one thing when they clearly are another.  For instance, there is bacon, which comes from the belly or sides of a pig, and therefore is correctly labeled as being pork bacon because that is what it really is; whereas, on the same shelves often near pork bacon, is something known as turkey bacon.  In reality, turkey bacon does not come from the belly or sides of a turkey, but is in actuality, made up of ground-up or chopped turkey poultry, that is processed into looking like bacon, sold as if it is bacon, and labeled as bacon, but it is not bacon.

 So too, many restaurants sell extensively and are well known for their boneless wings, which to a certain degree, might make sense, because working your way around the bones of a wing, can be cumbersome or annoying for some people, so processing a chicken wing in a way, in which the bone is removed, and thereby it becomes boneless, seems genius.  However, that isn’t what boneless wings are, for boneless wings are made out of chicken breast poultry that has been cut into small pieces, and then advertised as being “boneless wings” when they aren’t wing poultry, at all.

 Additionally, there are many people who enjoy a glass of champagne, believing that what they are imbibing really is champagne, and when that champagne comes from the Champagne region of France, they are correct in their assertion that they are drinking real champagne.  However, the truth of the matter is that there are plenty of bottles in America that are labeled as champagne, that are not produced in the Champagne region of France, whatsoever, but are actually created and manufactured in the United States of America, but somehow are able to label their sparkling wine as champagne, though in reality, since it is not from the Champagne region of France this is actually not champagne, but is instead, sparkling wine.

 All of the above are examples of false labeling permitted in America, which seems to stipulate to the American people, that it is okay by the governance of this nation to have false labeling, because apparently it is good for the business of America, and one thing that you can say about America, is apparently what is good for American business, must be good for Americans, though, in truth, it really is mainly good for those businesses that profit from such.

Never build a case against yourself

In truth, life is going to present us with all sorts of challenges and problems, of which, the objective of the exercise is to do our level best to overcome these obstacles so that we can have a successful and satisfying life.  One of the seminal things to keep in mind is that just as the Fifth Amendment protects us from self-incrimination, we need to remind ourselves, that there aren’t many situations in which it is in our best interests to build a case against ourselves and thereby broadcast to everyone our foibles, when there isn’t any sensible reason to do so.  That is to say, confession has its place, but it has to be recognized that when we confess appropriately, we are doing so with the understanding that our confession is not disclosed to just anybody or any institution, for it remains secret between the penitent and the priest. 

 While being forthright and honest should be the mode of conduct that we display with those that we congregate with, that doesn’t mean that includes confessing all that we have done wrong to the general public, for not only do we not have an obligation to do so, but it isn’t discreet or of good purpose on our part to commit this indiscretion, for there are plenty of institutions and people that will take a heartfelt acknowledgment of personal error and thus hold it against us, or hold it over our head, in order to control or compromise us, all because we have built a case against ourselves, when we shouldn’t have done that very thing.

 Look, it has to be acknowledged, that not everybody is on the up and up, and not everybody has our best interests in mind, so that by disclosing that which should remain private to those who desire to take advantage of our weaknesses isn’t going to be prudent on our part, for while we are being open about our personal failures and errors, they, on the other hand, typically aren’t confessing or admitting to any errors on their part, because they deeply desire to maintain their moral superiority over us, by selling the illusion that they are of better character;  whereas if they too were confessing, it would be quite apparent that they were no better than us.

 We are provided with a tongue that speaks the words that we speak, as well as fingers that write the words that we write, but it is up to our discretion as to what we do or do not say or write, and not every thought that comes to us, is a thought that needs to be disclosed, for we are sovereign of our mind, and those that relinquish that sovereignty, good intentions or not, to admit to character faults that need not be revealed to that particular company, have made the error of believing that making a case against one’s self, is good for the soul, when in reality it tends to open a door that will lead to the emphasis of our bad character traits as being our true self, when it is not, which will subsequently reflect poorly on who we are in totality.

Spend now, pay later

 There are plenty of people who believe that credit cards have always been around and further to the point, that having a credit card is pretty much mandatory, signifying that those who don’t have credit cards are those who are either not creditworthy, or have destroyed their credit through mismanagement, or are just clueless.  Nevertheless, there are those people who understand correctly that credit cards while having their advantages such as being available to pay a huge unexpected expense, or the need to have such for other emergencies, basically entice people to spend more for goods, services, and entertainment than they would if they were paying just in cash, for the truth of the matter is that cash expenditures feel very real; whereas, credit card expenditures don’t, because not only do credit cards not have to be paid off immediately, but oftentimes the payment to credit card debt can be extended for months upon months, and even years, though those not paying in full their credit card bill each month, will be charged interest, and if late in that payment, appropriate penalties.

 All of the above indicates that those who know that they are on a tight budget should consider that rather than looking to a credit card to resolve their difficulties, they should more appropriately understand that the use of credit will actually add to their burden, especially when that usage involves an increase in expenditures because they lack the discipline to walk away from purchases that they don’t really need to make.  This indicates that those who make it their point to pay cash or to use a debit card for all that they purchase are going to spend less than those who have the same amount of income, but utilize credit cards, because cash, necessitates the spending of less, for a deficit, is not permitted, which is why more people need to comprehend that while having credit has its place, using that credit, is the type of temptation that can create all sorts of havoc and may ultimately lead to lasting regret.

 On the other hand, all those who sell goods or services to the general public are grateful for credit cards, because they know that despite the fees that the vendor must pay for the utilization of those credit cards, they will sell more goods or services than they would if credit didn’t exist.   Indeed, it just seems like human nature that people want what they want and utilize credit cards because they don’t care so much about the bill that they will have to pay, for that won’t happen today, but will be postponed till tomorrow.

 So then, it would be one thing if everything that we spent money on really was necessary, but the truth of the matter is, that it is not, which is why those who have credit cards are subject to being irresponsible with such, and thereby end up buying more than they would, if they didn’t have credit, or if they exercised the discipline not to use credit so much, which is why those that pay only with the money which they have in hand, spend less, while also not having to suffer from paying interest on that debt, because they keep everything on a cash basis.

Greatness and a nation’s poverty, incarceration, and educational status

It would seem a truism that every single nation wants to espouse itself as being great, and no nation wants to consider itself as falling far short of such.  So then, when it comes to greatness in a nation, all sorts of nations play the same sort of game, in which, they are able to cite certain statistics that support their contention that they are great, or simply profess that they are great, without providing any real proof that such is demonstratively true.  Certainly, it is true that there is a wealth of criteria that could be used to demonstrate how great a nation is, such as home ownership, assets, general satisfaction with one’s lot, charitable acts, and the like, though it has to be admitted, that looking at poverty, incarceration, and educational rates provides a very good measure of how a nation is actually performing.

 To live in a nation that has a high incarceration rate, that is significantly greater than other similar subject nations, does not reflect well upon that nation, because incarceration, by definition, means the taking away of freedom from someone through their committing of some sort of criminal act thus warranting that imprisonment, along with the corresponding expense of thereby keeping not only that person incarcerated, but also the recognition, that those that have been convicted, are the very same, who are in all probability, going to also be impoverished and will continue as such.  Indeed, when we look at the type of person most likely to be locked up, those people often suffer from being penurious as well as being ill-educated, which thereby indicates that high poverty rates in conjunction with poor educational achievements, are the mark of people that are not trending to becoming upstanding citizens of society.

 All of the above would seem to stipulate that any nation that has a significant degree of poverty, imprisonment, and educational shortfalls is a country that within its structure has not done those necessary things to ameliorate that which would be the hallmarks of a nation’s greatness.  Indeed, it is fair and appropriate, to measure a nation, by how it treats its most vulnerable and exposed citizens, and when it cannot seem to come up with policies that will eliminate or ameliorate poverty, it will thereby suffer the ill effects of having failed their citizenry, which is not the mark of greatness, whatsoever.

 Those then who have nothing and do not have the educational foundation to become something, are going to be prone to behaving in a way and manner, in which, they do what they feel they need to do, to survive and to thereby build some sort of self-respect, which is why great nations, make it their point, to see that as few as possible are left behind, and further to the point, that each citizen of the state, are provided with the proper accouterments to get them a good education and to have the fair opportunity for good employment, of which, those educational achievements serve to provide them with the requirements to be productive members of society, which is subsequently reflected in low poverty and incarceration rates.  So then, for a nation to be great, it must do what needs to be done, to provide the foundational structure for its citizens’ success.

“It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness”

The above quotation comes to us from the gifted mind of Leo Tolstoy. If we were thereby to take this sentiment to heart so as to really understand it, we would do a much better job of not judging a book by its cover, but rather judging what needs to be judged by the facts of the case, as presented to us.  Indeed, when it comes to a court of law, those who are the accused, typically like to present themselves with the most positive outward appearance in court, by dressing for the occasion in conservative clothes and being well-groomed along with projecting a pleasant demeanor, thus permitting them to present themselves as exemplars of outstanding citizens of society, even when they clearly are not.

 Look, it has to be said, that many people are prone to snap judgments, and those who present themselves that are considered to be outside the norm, when it comes to the standards of beauty and behavior of the day, are considered by many to be less deserving of being looked upon as good people; whereas, those that present themselves most beautifully, are seen much more positively, as if their beauty somehow equates to goodness, which while we may desire that this be true, isn’t necessarily true.

 Indeed, the greatest hustlers and con artists, are never going to be those people who look like they are the forsaken and the lost, but rather are going to be those who look the part and behave as if they are upstanding citizens, which because the image looks so enticing, makes it far easier for them to gain the trust and access to what they need to have in order to ply their nefarious trade, which is why we need to save our judgment of the other, until we take the time to know them, in a way in which the façade of their beauty is an irrelevancy, and instead, we are face to face with the content of their character.

 There are many of us, who want to reduce the complexities of life into the simplest of components, which for them, makes it easier to deal with society, so that, they want to believe that surface characteristics always define the person, but it does not.  So too, the reason that prejudices of all types are so persistent is because we have an inclination to group people into categories, based on nothing much more than their religious faith, their heritage, their income, and so on, without taking the time to actually getting to know the person, as they really are.

 While it is true that there are many beautiful things in nature, and therefore we can accept nature as such, the same is not true when it comes to people, for there are many that wear a mask, of which, there are those times when the mask does not equate to who and what that person really is, of which, it is fair to state, those that look the most enticing to us, are the very ones that we should be most careful to give the benefit of the doubt to, because beauty has a way of distorting our perception of what is true, making us believe in what is false as if is true.

True compassion

We are told that “compassion means to journey with the other” which signifies that true compassion isn’t just feeling sorry for the other, or just being concerned about the other, or just validating the emotional state of the other, but goes far beyond that.  To be compassionate means to connect ourselves to the suffering of the other, so that we can thereby provide that person with love, and emotional support, as well as to engage them in the sure understanding, that they will not suffer alone, but rather they will have our attentive care to lean upon.

 To be compassionate is one of the greatest gifts that we can bestow upon one another, because in being compassionate, we are seeking to do our good part to help those who are hurting and are vulnerable, to thus aid them in their recovery, or if this is not possible, to travel in sympathy with them, upon the path that they are on until it reaches its final or chosen destination.

 Those who are compassionate are the same who recognize that to truly care about someone necessitates our devotion to that person, in a way and manner, that will help that person to deal with the difficult or troubling situation that they are in.  Indeed, to be compassionate does not necessarily mean that we can resolve what ails the other, but does mean that we can be that ever-present help in times of trouble, and therefore that we will be there for them, come what way, because we will minister to them, so as to share therefore their struggle with them, and to provide for them all that we can reasonably do to let them know that they are valued and we care for them.

 It is a truism that not every path that we take is going to be a path without its troubles, and all those that thereby commit to the other, so as to be with them, are the very same, that must acknowledge that when troubling times come, those that are true friends are the ones that stand with those that need such help, because to do anything else, violates what good friendship is all about.

 Each of us is meant to find our purpose in life, and one of those seminal purposes is not only to care about one another, but to be compassionate with one another, because every journey that humankind has upon this good earth, results at some point, with some serious challenges, and those then that are facing difficult times need thereby the support of those that will do their best to let them know by their actions and by their words that they are never alone, that they are valued, and that they will not be abandoned.  Each of us lives in a society in which the very purpose of that society is to join together for the betterment and wholesomeness of that society, and a compassionate society can only be a society made up of individuals who demonstrate their compassion by being there on the journey with those that are most needful of such.

The rich and connected control governmental power

There is this general belief in America that because Americans of all classes, races, and faiths, have the ballot box, that therefore the government that we have is truly a reflection of what the people want, for this is a government, of, for, and by the people.  As good as this might be or sound, it isn’t the actual truth -- because the bottom line is that this isn’t a government of, for, and by the people, at all and never has been – for rather America is a nation run by the rich and connected, for the benefit of the rich and connected, and those that believe that this is not true, have bought into a false construct, and are essentially deceiving themselves.

 The very first thing to recognize is that America is the richest nation in the world, and the one thing that we can say about people who have their hands on money, power, or both, is that they are typically quite reluctant to loosen their grip, because they appreciate all the privileges that having money and power represents, which is why, democratic nation or not, republic virtues or not, those that are the rich and connected, will not deign to risk their power and money through the ballot and will do everything within their domain to see that they can maintain their luxuriant status, come what may.

 So then, those who profess the loudest that we need censorship in order to drown out hate, misinformation, disinformation, and the like, don’t seem to recognize that the powers that be support this wholeheartedly because they desire to control the narrative and thereby want to see disseminated only that which supports them.  So too, when it comes to political elections and ballot initiatives, the powers that be, are all for Political Action Committees (PACs) and anything that permits them to utilize their money, without restriction or transparency, so that they can basically buy the results that they desire.  Additionally, in this two-party system in which no third party has any influence upon governmental power, the powers that be make it their point, to sell the illusion of choice, when, in fact, the two major parties, don’t really disagree on all that much that would be detrimental to those that are the richest and most powerful amongst us, because, to a large extent, they have been subsumed by such, or are themselves members of that class, or aspire to be so.

 Indeed, those who are rich and connected do everything within their power and influence to make sure that those of different races, different faiths, and different employment, are constantly at loggerheads with one another because they know that a nation with a multitude of people that really don’t have all that much that they truly own, would, if so united, present a clear and present danger to their power, which is why, we see and hear so much emphasis upon civil unrest, of which, those that are the silent majority, oftentimes just want it all to go away, which is where those that are rich and connected come into play, by promising that by giving up or relinquishing some of the people’s liberty and privacy, all will be secure, and those that are the rich and connected, can thereby continue to enjoy all that they have, without any undue or inconvenient interference, ever.