Hypocrisy. Chapter 2
Some people say they have it. Lots of people want to have it. Some people do. It doesn't come easy. The word is used often, and there is no doubt that the human family needs plenty. But suffering with others probably does not occur as much as people say.
The deeds are often lacking. I mentioned before how wars of acquisition and oppression of laborers worldwide have delivered the goods so many people relish, choosing to disregard how they got there. Speeches are given, books are written, protests are launched, and sympathy for the famished, diseased, war-torn, and otherwise suffering is expressed, but still the consumption goes on unabated. Sometimes compassion requires sacrifice, not always a natural human response. Added to these factors is the hatred for the criminal elite who control the creation and distribution of these products. The forums on the Internet, miraculously popular, in which the people can openly express their ideas and feelings reveal some of the problems with compassion as I've seen it talked about so frequently. Compassion to me is not scaring other people. I've observed instances where the impulses to hate with immense vehemence and predict with certainty the evil consequences of human behavior, have frightened others. Many times the people expressing the hatred seem not to consider the ill effect it will have. Extremely violent imagery is sometimes used, not thinking how this will penetrate other people's minds. Horror isn't a good start when electing government officials. Another problem is the lust for revenge against these rulers expressed in the same vein with caring, forgiveness and spirituality. It doesn't jibe. These violent feelings need expression, but where and how exactly? People on the outside see the disconnect. It mimics the behavior of the rulers they rally against. The lynch mob is hardly the way to care for the downtrodden of the world. It's not easy. How to care for society and implement justice effectively, leaving good intention intact as a foundation, keeping dangerous emotional excess under control, and governing with compassion. When we all can do this, maybe our leaders will too.
One of the most important things from my perspective, is the fact that many oppressed people around the world are tuning into our conversations, hoping to find inspiration and a belief that some day they'll have the freedom we have. People admire and follow the United States and will for many many years to come. The compassionate thing to do would be to have the most graceful, articulate, intelligent conversations we can as the people of the world come together on this new magnificent medium to try and solve our universal problems.
If we don't like the leadership, we must be better.
posted by jm at 3:02 AM
20 Comments:
"The compassionate thing to do would be to have the most graceful, articulate, intelligent conversations we can as the people of the world come together on this new magnificent medium to try and solve our universal problems."
Excellent, excellent. A much more helpful image to show off than the violent fantasies and petty motivations frequently depicted in mass entertainment media. And, generally speaking, it's important even for people on opposing sides to engage each other in dialogue (civilly and constructively, of course). Keeps us human.
Oh! i love, love, love this picture.
Compassion, yes, but as you suggest, difficult. Empathy would be good too. Maybe simple attempts at understanding what is different.
As you say the internet provides a circle of listeners, speakers, a place to share, grow.
When i was i child the people on my road felt rich, we had boards on our houses, we kids had shoes, warm coats.
We had things.
A big effort was made in our new school under the totem pole to train us all in white ways. We were all assigned pegs and a cubby for our things. It was a big issue. Do not take things of others.
Values.
When my brother and i would go to play at our Salish friends we would all pile into a house (maybe no boards only tarpaper) and everyone threw their coats in a pile. When we would all go out everyone just picked up a coat. Sympathy was shown for my brother and myself, we had to go home with our own. Had to. For my mother it was our coat, not a coat.
We were all comfortable, the forest gave to everyone, wood to keep warm and dry and the sound gave fish and clams and crab.
I have too much now. And things require participation in ways i do not like. My truck requires i have insurance, my mortgaged home also. Sometimes i choke on my life with things.
Progress has come too. Our organic farmer's market is a huge success. The local craftspeople will begin a market in the afternoon following the fruit and vegetables. Maybe i will design something with clay to participate, i love to play in mud.
I have not shopped in a supermarket for over a year. I didn't even notice.
I think we are all looking for the way back home. The place we want to be. Do the artists have directions? Maybe, i think i like their maps better than the CEO's.
Another great post, jm. Is it having Mars in Taurus in your 1st?! Whatever it is, keep it up!! :-)
In her post on the New Moon in Cancer, Lisa Dale Miller touches on compassion too.
New Moon in Cancer
She has some nice insights into Cancer too.
Maybe i will design something with clay to participate, i love to play in mud.
Mars in Taurus & Sun in Cancer = mud . . . :-) The little bit I did playing with clay (one quarter of Pottery) was so much fun. Very good stress relief.
More people than we realize are following all of this. If our leaders can't do the responsible thing in the world, at least we can.
Sometimes i choke on my life with things.
Amazing way to express it, tseka.
Progress has come too. Our organic farmer's market is a huge success. The local craftspeople will begin a market in the afternoon following the fruit and vegetables. Maybe i will design something with clay to participate, i love to play in mud.
I think the progress is greater than we know. There's a lot going on here I always want to post, but it all will be evident soon.
I think we are all looking for the way back home. The place we want to be. Do the artists have directions?
You bet they do. I'm overwhelmed now with the reponsibility I feel. It's surprised me. We will know the way.
Neith, I heard about everything going on for you and it's heavy. I'm so so happy you came over. That's a sign that you're quickly adjusting. No surprise that the Cancer planets are in your 8th house. Maybe the fact that the Sun is there made it easier, and probably helped you get to another level in processing your mother's death. It seems like you're seeing things a bit clearly. It goes on for a long time.
I had the strangest experience with the Mars on my NN today. I thought it would be easy and pleasurable but it wasn't. I had an extreme bout with pain last night, so there's a big lesson here. What does that Taurus really mean? Maybe an acceptance of the back and forth of both sensations.
People forget sometimes how many people around the world are listening in on these chats. We are led to believe that the Islamic world hates us and this couldn't be futher from the truth. The world adores us like it always has. It's the extreme factions that are getting notice and manipulated by the government and media.
The whole notion that America is hated is ridiculous. True, we're in the doghouse now governmentwise, and some western cultures are envious, but it's our character and the people that have always been admired by the international community. Our spirit and outspokenness. Our naivete. Our charm. Our liveliness. Our inability to be held down. They see the bad traits too, but they accept us with the flaws, and copy our behavior.
The Moslem World is going through huge changes and we figure in. In Egypt, for example, there is a sex talk show now that is extremely popular. I'm sure they've copied us as people around the world always do.
So this is the golden opportunity to show off who we want to be at our best outside the pretenses of our leadership. The world knows. And the newness of these forums increases the effect. Now is the time.
It's like Mom dressing the kids up in their Sunday best to go visit the distant relatives.
Sometimes i choke on my life with things.
Oh Tseka, what a PERFECT way to sum up how I feel upon my return from the place where I keep my heart.
I will have photos shortly. :o)
The rocks????????
OMG. My NN in Taurus actually did deliver pleasure, after all.
"In Egypt, for example, there is a sex talk show now that is extremely popular."
Not that kind of "sex talk," I assume! :-) On sex, the host talks only about sex allowed by the Qur'an, however. Still, it's a good beginning, and its popularity would be diminished otherwise.
It's a huge step. Just the mention of the word in public. We would do well to adopt some of their reticence probably..:-)
Hmm. It may be too late for that. But the energy could become more refined...eventually, so not all is lost! :-/
Sex\War. To some Clinton's sex life was unpardonable (or was it the lies). To some Bush's war is unpardonable (or is it the lies).
Haven't those of us who fell on one side or the other been forced to reevaluate? I know I have.
Reevaluate? Yes.
I tentatively gave Clinton a chance but soon saw the light. It wasn't the sex, it was partly the lies, but most of all it was the desecration of the presidency. Breach of trust. Flagrant abuse of his office. Rock star trashing of the WH. Deceptions which are still undercover. One of he biggest stock market scams in recent years, on and on and on.
He played his sex games in the office while he was supposed to be working. He thought it was highly amusing apparently. My taxpaying dollars are not paying for this. Ever.
He humiliated the whole country. Sex had nothing to do with it really. His attitude toward me as a citizen of this country had everything to do with it.
The fear generated by this betrayal is why Bush got elected. The immorality. The country was doing well and Gore should have won by a landslide, but Clinton scared the bejesus out of his people with his selfish irresponsibility and snubbing of us all, and the society cannot quite face it.
And Bush. It was expected. No reevaluation here.
I lump these two presidencies together as the ruin of the office.
"...is not scaring other people"
YES!! YES YES YES YES!!!
Go gentle into the dark night. Or good night. Or whothehellever said what! It makes me think of the old seers from my culture.
My aunt used to see an old woman in a nearby village. When she (my aunt) was diagnosed with cancer, she refused to go back. She said it would be too hard for the old lady, who would certainly know if she was going to die from cancer, or not, and she would never want to put the woman (the seer) in that position.
For me, it was a good lesson. A life lesson. Go easy, my friends. Go easy.
Clinton did nothing compared to George Bush Sr. It is those behind Ken Starr and Ken Starr himself who humiliated those who were willing to be humiliated.
I once spent time with a profound psychic. We talked for days. She told me that the next President of the US would be a war President, and he would serve only one term. That was George Bush Sr. The next President, she said, would be young, and the best President the US has ever had, bar none, but he would have a hard time staying in Office. That was William Jefferson Clinton. He did indeed have a very hard time staying in Office.
I have to wonder what he would have accomplished for education, healthcare, and world peace if he had actually been able to govern.
Astrid
That psychic's expanded view represents quite a big shift in perspective.
I'm always struck by how reality is multivariate and multifaceted. Shared realities, especially. Most things in the world seem to have multiple causes, and the shared dream has lots of meaning.
Some people don't think so, but I'm inclined to feel that there's been a gift with my name on it in every major challenge I have confronted. Perhaps that's too radical for most people. Can't say life's been boring, though. :-)
Most things in the world seem to have multiple causes
They do indeed. And things have multiple purposes.
I'm always struck by how reality is multivariate and multifaceted.
Absolutely. Our own experience is what counts.
For me, it was a good lesson. A life lesson. Go easy, my friends. Go easy.
So sayeth the Taurus.
Speaking of mulivariate reality, how 'bout this from Bloomberg news?
People who smoke tobacco are less likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease before the age of 75 then nonsmokers, scientists said.
The report, pooling data from 11 studies found that US smokers of cigarettes had at least a 13 to 32% decrease in risk.
The brain regions affected by Parkinson's are those that produce dopamine, one of the brain's reward chemicals, which is involved in addictive behavior.
All you computer addicts take note!!
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