Deep Thought

Every single person is connected to every other person (and all living things) through a golden filament of divine love.

Marianne Williamson

It's a black thing you just can't understand

I think what's really going on is discrimination (treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit). I put up a definition because I'll hear a lot of people say, 'well, discrimination is a good thing and everyone does it. Their broad definition of discrimination (To make sensible decisions; judge wisely) is not what I'm talking about.

Racism comes in two parts.
One part is when a race feels superior to the other (reword: feels like another race is inferior in some way) and therefore has a right to dominate them or receive more privileges/rights than them.

The other part, and most important to me, is that a person's race determines their character, talents, abilities, personality.

The discrimination I'm talking about fits in with the second part of racism that I think is more important than the superiority factor. Actually believing a person's race is a determining factor in how they act, feel, speak, and even how they look, is what bothers me.

It gets tricky because people of all races feed into the lie. It's even harder dealing with a person of another race who believes the generalizaitions that are fed to them. When they believe that they are actually supposed to feel, act, believe, look a certain way different than others.

One black person is not the spokesperson for all black people. non-black people and especially, black people need to consider this when they speak on racial issues.

So, the idea that, 'you're not black so you can't ever understand or relate to what black people experience' is a bit of bollocks.

Now, I will say that history affects people in different ways. History has affected many black people in a way that is hard to relate to. Hard but not impossible. More importantly, history has not affected all black people the same way. We aren't all decendants of slaves and our predecessors weren't all in the thick of the civil rights movement.
All black people in America do not share the same culture.

It's true that many black people have had different life experiences than white people; but there is nothing inherent in their blackness that makes them experience life in a different way.

I think the 'you'll never understand' angle is a defense mechanism. I'd even call it a cope out because it says that you can't/don't feel like explaining your experience or you think the other person is too daft to understand. And honestly, it is kind of hard to explain sometimes.

I have noticed that I've heard it in conversations where a well-meaning white person who thinks they have it all figured out has said something that is completely ignorant. This tends to stir up some annoyance or outright anger in some black people and they counter with the 'you'll never understand' bit. Rather than educating that person they try to shut down the conversation with that phrase.

Alt-Thanksgiving

For those of you who didn't celebrate Thanksgiving 'cause it's a bit tainted by history, there are plenty of celebrations you can partake in. Don't miss out on being thankful because some of our ancestors were thankful for the wrong reason.

Harvest Celebrations Around the World

Harvest Festivals from Around the World at HarvestFestivals.Net

some info is a little redundant. so be it

Cool dude

in your head

What's going on in the World Today?

I like definitions and I like to stick to the heart of a definition when I use words. I need to figure out the word for what's taking place in the world.

So excuse me; but, I need to do this to get something straight in my head.

Racism is The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

I know it exists but it's not the epidemic I'm seeing now

Discrimination is to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit.

There's a lot of that going on but not the heart of what I see

Prejudice is An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.

Yeah, there are a lot of opinions that don't seem to have much knowledge to back them up (I'm talking about real knowledge and not just 'book learning'); but that's not what I'm looking for

A bigot is One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

This is really close to what I'm seeing but a bit off. It's not that certain people are intolerant of those who differ from them but they are indifferent to those who differ from them.

Though, tolerance is a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own.

I really don't see a lot of tolerance going on in the world.

I don't really want to start calling people bigots because that word doesn't help to make change. People just get defensive and shut down; and the conversation comes to a halt. No learning, no growing.

I'd use the words inconsiderate or selfish; but those words are too broad. It seems that everyone is concerned about "topics that reflect the personal views by the majority of their community".

Anyway, what do you call it when a person only cares about the issues that affect them; and, to make matters worse, belittle people who speak out about issues that don't seem to affect them personally?

Melting Pot

I realized we (America) have become a melting pot of sorts.

If I have a group of friends, one from Haiti, one from Ghana, Dominican Repubic, Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria... to everyone else, we're all black. The many cultural differences amongst us don't mean anything. Our countries could be at war with each other; but we're the same in the eyes of America.

More so with German, French, English, Italian, Irish... all white. If your father is German and your mother is Scottish, you'd never be considered interracial; but think of all the cultural differences your parents had to overcome to be with each other. Hundreds of years of culture wiped out when you're in America.

Same with Asians.

People in America don't care about another's distinct cultural background. You're either white, black, or Asian.

I won't even mention how we've botched the whole hispanic/latin thing.

Civil Rights for All

We are all United States citizens who are guaranteed equal protection of the law. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.

This country was founded on the idea that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

And since the inception of this country, our society (including our government) has not been living up to that ideal.

Realize that this fight for equal rights has been fought over and over again for each marginalized group in this country. The fight has been slightly different for each. We've all come out of it wounded. Some worse than others. Some are still healing. Some are still hurting.

The only way we can end this fight is if we come together.

I know it is difficult to see past my own suffering to see someone else suffer. But if we can do that then we'll realize that we can aid in healing each other.

I would assume it would be painful to carry such a tumultuous history and have to deal with such injustices today; and then see those same injustices that your ancestors fought against, used against someone else.

They're using the same tactics and the same arguments to deny our equality. To even deny our humanity.

They're destroying our families, our livelihoods, our dreams. They're taking our lives.

We can't let this continue. We have to come together so that EVERYONE can pursue the life, liberty, and happiness we are ALL entitled to.

Left Lane Rules

I could say a lot about California drivers and their total disregard for traffic law. I will say they respect the left lane. Washington drivers, not so much.

So here is a refresher for those of you who like to linger in the left lane

On a road with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, stay in the right lane except to pass. On a road with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction, if there is a lot of entering or exiting traffic, use the center
travel lane.

On a road with two lanes traveling in the same
direction, the left-hand lane is intended to be used for
passing slower vehicles. On roads with more than two
lanes traveling in the same direction, use the right lane for slower speeds, the middle lanes for higher speeds, and the left-hand lane for passing only.

-Washington Driver Guide

Internets

if it weren't for the internet, I'd be ass out... daily.

Thank you Al Gore.

Fuck Roman Polanski

That is all.

Hormones and Gender/Sexuality cont.

ANYWAY, I think all this is a testament to our evolving body.

Basically I think anything that has to do with sex, (biology and behavior) has to do with hormone levels; how much you have, when they were introduced, and where they were introduced. Genes are supposed to determine the how much, when, and where but sometimes they don't work like we think they should. If you want to talk about "gay" genes then figure out which genes control our sex hormones. I don't think there is a particular gene that makes us gay; I think the genes that determine our sexuality don't produce the same results for everyone.

I guess my half-ass conclusion is that gender and sexuality aren't as concrete as some might think. Hormones are the key to all the sexual/gender variations we see in life.


I'm open to all feedback. Professional feedback would be awesome.
It's a growing post...

Hormones and Gender/Sexuality cont.

Concerning the same-sex/opposite sex extreme (and the auto-sexuality deal), I'm not ready to go against evolutionary biology that says humans (and any other life form) must reproduce. I don't have any data against the notion that the function of our body's reproductive system is to reproduce. And for whatever ridiculous reason, mammals have to copulate in order to reproduce.

Since studies show that about 80-90% want to reproduce without artificial measures (i.e. they're attracted to the same sex). Infertility is said to arise at about 10-15% among couples. This includes infertility due to lifestyle habits. Only 20% of women 40-44 have never had children. Homosexuality doesn't even eradicate the want to reproduce.
I think our perspective is a bit clouded by technology. Now people can have children without reproducing. But, back in the day, if you wanted a kid, you were going to have to find someone of the opposite sex to have it with.



Now, i don't think sexual attraction is synonymous with sexual activity. Even though it might sound like that. I know people often have sex with someone for other reasons besides sexual attraction. I think sex is a tool for social bonding and is used for other social "negotiations".
Let's look at the bonobos. Homosexuality is prevalent in the species; but, when they feel like mating, they find an opposite sex partner to do the deed; then bond with their same sex partner.

I will say that sexual arousal is necessary to reproductive function; because, if you're not aroused, it's damned hard to make a baby.
Therefore the person must be aroused by the person they are with in order to successfully reproduce.

Until I find some data that says the reproductive organ's primary function is not to reproduce, I will put same sex attraction at one extreme and opposite sex attraction at the other.
Or I can just come out and say that the human body/mind is equipped for opposite sex interaction; and strict same sex attraction is a biological variation ( I didn't use the word "defect" for a reason. It's not a defect. Defect is a moral based word. Biology is amoral).

The only other idea that I can come up with is based on the idea that same sex attraction is a biological variation. That this variation is mimicking something in our genetic past. Maybe taking us back to our asexual ancestors.

I've also wondered why women don't just lay eggs and men can come along and fertilize them outside the body. Maybe we have done that in our past. We are already creating embryos outside of the body. Maybe we can advance our science to be able to find an adequate external replacement for the uterus or placenta.

Researchers are looking into creating sperm from stem cells taken from female bone marrow.

OR, this could go along with the idea that the y chromosome is disappearing. Apparently, the Y chromosome lacks the mechanism to get rid of damaged DNA. So since the Y chromosome showed up, it has gradually lost genes due to mutations that render them useless. Another researcher (David Page of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Mass) found that the chromosome has a mechanism that can repair half of it's genes. So, over about 300 million years, the Y chromosome is getting smaller. But what if the SRY gene was the next to go? Or any other sex determining genes? Some say that other chromosomes will just take over that function. Would we then be like crickets?

Existentialism?

Word of the day

noun
a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.

Generally taken to originate with Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, existentialism tends to disparage scientific knowledge and to deny the existence of objective values, stressing instead the reality and significance of human freedom and experience.


Every human is a free and valuable creature
Valuable not for what they can offer but just for who they are


existentialism
1941, from Ger. Existentialismus (1919), replacing Existentialforhold (1849), ultimately from Danish writer Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), who wrote (1846) of Existents-Forhold "condition of existence," existentielle Pathos, etc. (see existential), and whose name means, literally, "churchyard."
existentialist
1945, from Fr. existentialiste, from existentialisme (1940); see existentialism. Related: Existentialistic.
existential
1690s, "pertaining to existence," from L.L. existentialis/exsistentialis, from existentia/exsistentia (see existence). As a term in logic, from 1819; in philosophy, from 1937, tracing back to the Danish works of Kierkegaard (see existentialism). Related: Existentially.

Freedom

Freedom is being able to face the consequences of your actions

I'm not a big fan of the concepts of right and wrong. Or good and evil.

I believe in freedom and consequences. That everyone has the freedom to do has they will.
And no one can avoid the consequences of their actions.
Call it karma or kismet. It's the way of life. The circle of life.

Freedom

Freedom is not something that anybody can be given
Freedom is something that people take
And people are as free as they want to be
-James Arthur Baldwin

Freedom

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose
-Janis Joplin

Freedom

Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men
-Mortimer Adler

Evolve

Conscious of the fact that I don't have to act like a barbarian even if I want to

Deep Thought

If you can't be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.
-don't remember

Deep Thought

Anyone who angers you, conquers you
-don't remember

Deep Thought

If you ain't got nothing nice to say don't say nothing at all
-thumper

Deep Thought

If there is a devil, his lazy ass is letting us do all his work

Deep Thought

We're all broken and flawed
That's why we need each other so much

-don't remember

Deep Thought

Politics is a great spectator sport
I'll watch it from the sidelines but I don't really want to play the game
-unknown (meaning I don't remember where I saw it)

My Sentiments Exactly

"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
-Lloyd Dobler, 'Say Anything'

Jay Smooth - Hip Hop Pastor

Ill Doctrine

Liberty

“Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.”
- Frederic Bastiat

Liberty

“Liberty, then, is the sovereignty of the individual, and never shall man know liberty until each and every individual is acknowledged to be the only legitimate sovereign of his or her person, time, and property, each living and acting at his own cost”
- Josiah Warren

Liberty

“Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it... The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it.”
-Woodrow T. Wilson

Liberty

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
-Thomas Jefferson