It seems that there is one region of the world, or at least one region of the world exposed by our media, in which horrors never seem to cease. People will blame politicians, history, geographic boundaries and these are indeed all factors to be considered. Yet in this blog one of the primary aims is get right, deep down at the very core reasons as to why man treats man so inhumanely there. I intend to use all my intelligence (what there is of it) and aptitude for discerning truth to discover this. For we need something more than blame and rumours- we need truth. Peace- lasting peace- requires truth. So it must be the absence of truth that is making this region bleed tears of sorrow.
Now for some, the reason for the problems there can be explained quite simply- the very existence of Israel, a foreign implant in the Arab territorial sphere, that pushed aside native people in order to establish herself. Yet, considering that so little of the killing going on there is actually done by Israel, this claim necessitates wild conspiracy theories of terrorism solely being the work of Zionist agent-provocateurs. This is a real possibility- but at the same time an outrageous one and not much different from the historical penchant for 'blaming the Jews' whenever something goes wrong. The plain fact is that not only does Israel have a large Arab population- far larger than any Jewish population in any Arab country at present, but that they are too busy trying to survive and have a normal country to be responsible for absolutely everything that goes wrong there. Much less the atrocities being committed by 'militants' in the region. Something deeper is going on.
We have to see what is going on in the hearts of the people to see how they can act this way. There are an array of terrible emotions- fear, hatred, feeling of betrayal, false hopes in the success of violence. Yet, all of this is taking place in the 'Holy Lands', if one believes in such a thing. The cradle of the three 'great' monotheistic religions. Who could spoil all this work to make a paradisaical Earth for us all?
The answer, simply, is Satan. He, ultimately, is responsible for putting the evil thoughts in mens minds to do atrocious things. He is quite clearly corrupting the minds of the people there whose fear lets him in, so as to block as well as he can the dreams they have of a better life there. Of course, this all has a childish simplicity to it. But, it is the most basic truth of them all and the reason so much anger and confusion arises around this topic.
You can blame Israel or America. You can blame Britain's colonial legacy. You can blame the extremists and opportunists in Iran or Syria, or the displaced Palestinian refugees that have been treated so coldly by Arab and Jew alike. But it will do no good, it will only add fuel to the fire and another partisan voice to the cacophony.
Satan wants to wreck God's plans. Right there, in the middle of the Earth, the middle that we still instinctively place this way on our maps, was not just the cradle of the great religions, but also the cradle of civilisation. The first humans evolved there and were bred with by the 'gods'- advanced, angelic extra-terrestrials, who infused them with advanced DNA and taught them the basics of civilised life.
A little remains- the aforesaid religions, the Bible, things like the Pyramids and Karnak temple complex in Egypt. But this was once the area of Eden, the Arcadian beginning of it all. Part of a a kingdom that Satan would rather corrupt than serve under. So corrupt it he and his kingdom does- and no people would he more dearly love to turn from their maker than the Jews, the people who the living God chose to show and spread his messages. How could he bear to let them live in peace and prosperity so that God's plans be fulfilled?
Yet, at every turn, there is the constant stream of love, the stream of the spirit, around us. always, everywhere and every time. If we listen to it's voice, we too can be saved. The reason Jesus came, right back to this region, was to show quite clearly the appropriate way to live and know God. This isn't to say that Christians are necessarily closer to these teachings than other people- they could just be hypocrites or culturally respectful of them, but, as the Western nations, they are custodians of the way forward, whether they know it or not. This also isn't to detract from secular efforts- religion, especially wrong-headed religion can do the worst damage of all and to live Jesus' teachings is not to be religious in the conventional sense of that term- hence his constant refutation of the legalistic Pharasies who put the law and their traditions before love.
We have the way forward, we have the holy spirit- yet we also have a region of the world where not only are Christ's teachings as recorded in the gospels actually illegal to distribute in many countries- a sad fact and one no apologetics will do away with- but they are quite simply not being followed. The fact that certain aggressive westerners have given a bad image of these teachings here and elsewhere doesn't help- but the people deserve the chance to see them for themselves. In fact, ironic though it may be, the last place for these teachings to spread and be commonplace is the area from which they arose.
Hence we have the continual terrible events of the middle-East, a sandstorm of chaos hiding God's promises from view. But one day it will clear. One day the promises will come true. Which is why the peace of the middle-east, the mutual survival of her peoples and the preservation of their multicultural heritage is something worth fighting for. Something that will always be worth fighting for, at least until it fully arrives and the peacemakers' blessed mission is complete.
Showing posts with label Arcadia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arcadia. Show all posts
Monday, August 20, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Comment- Feeling Alive
(This is in response to a piece about having a wonderful spring day in Valdez, but hearing the same old songs on the radio)
Here we have a conundrum- how do we keep feeling alive in a world that we have populated with so much sameness? On the one hand, each new day the bright sun unveils new wonders for us, the weather is so-slightly like never before- the snow, or rain, or clear skies beckon us to a new sense of wonder.
Yet the human society is in its usual patterns. The same songs being played, we are almost being asked, 'be small, be temporary, fit into the system- who do you think you are, supposing something new and incredible is happening today? It's the same old stuff and here is the same old song, just to prove it!'
The irony is that like any art, that song was a work of revolution, of evolution, bursting free from the mundane, with all is deadness-of-heart. Yet put in a picture frame, played endlessly on a radio, it gets subsumed into 'the establishment', the ordinary, the mundane, making us feel lifeless again.
We are truly lost if we allow ourselves to be subsumed into society. Society is there to protect us, not us it. It has no rights, no legitimate opinions. We need a life lived beyond the media, a life filled with the mysterious wonder of each new day. Such is the real life. Such is the life the artists beckon us to, time after time, eon after eon.
Life only has a meaning, if we feel alive.
Here we have a conundrum- how do we keep feeling alive in a world that we have populated with so much sameness? On the one hand, each new day the bright sun unveils new wonders for us, the weather is so-slightly like never before- the snow, or rain, or clear skies beckon us to a new sense of wonder.
Yet the human society is in its usual patterns. The same songs being played, we are almost being asked, 'be small, be temporary, fit into the system- who do you think you are, supposing something new and incredible is happening today? It's the same old stuff and here is the same old song, just to prove it!'
The irony is that like any art, that song was a work of revolution, of evolution, bursting free from the mundane, with all is deadness-of-heart. Yet put in a picture frame, played endlessly on a radio, it gets subsumed into 'the establishment', the ordinary, the mundane, making us feel lifeless again.
We are truly lost if we allow ourselves to be subsumed into society. Society is there to protect us, not us it. It has no rights, no legitimate opinions. We need a life lived beyond the media, a life filled with the mysterious wonder of each new day. Such is the real life. Such is the life the artists beckon us to, time after time, eon after eon.
Life only has a meaning, if we feel alive.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
A Gift of Seeing the Future
My experiences glimpse the future in the way I do must be something of a gift. It seems to have been born of deep anxieties of the Middle-Eastern situation in particular and more generally, of how to turn the Capitalist ‘Trumphalism’ that followed the fall of the Eastern Block into a more workable, humane world-view. the world situation just looked so hopeless to me, it is perhaps natural that kind beings from the fields of space and time should reach out with reassuring visions for me. Some would say the main thing is that I saw them and see this as unusual- others would just say that I have a very active imagination. Yet for me, the powers of the universe were reaching out to help me. In a multi-dimensional reality it should come as no surprise that especially evolved beings can pass through the matrix to do good for others.
I have been very fortunate in that many of my visions are serene. I have come across many ‘prophets’ who foresee terrible times, dramatic catastrophes. Now, perhaps they can view them with a certain aesthetic detachment, or perhaps they are glad to be able to prepare the world (in as much as anyone can be truly prepared for such events). I see problems, but not great doom and gloom- which means that for many I may not be accepted as a prophet- but after all, who is?
I preach the Good News- that if we are faithful to our deepest values we can indeed have a wonderful world. In fact, we already have such in terms of the vast expanses of Mother Nature and the sheer quantity of lovely souls in existence. Yet, we have to see through the corruption of this world, to make it more closed to its original blueprint, to make it ‘better’, ever better. There is no stopping here as to stop, to pause on the gentle stream of life is to possibly get stuck in stagnant water- and this is where corruption sets in.
Perhaps great and tragic events will be necessary to resuscitate the human spirit and get back on these progressive tracks. Consciously, I believe this and expect great traumatic events that will somehow help to change the Earth. Yet my visions have so far shown me none of these. Perhaps they are in fact more limited in scope than many have thought, or perhaps my visions take place long after them. Either way, I wish for my visions to inspire people with the elixir of hope. What follows are some of the more positive consequences of living in this ‘possible future’ (it could be that there are many timelines and we must choose which takes place):
1- There is peaceful co-operation in the Middle East, which is a peaceful economic and cultural community for all the religions there. Interestingly, the religions tend to merge a lot and rediscover their ‘Jewish’ roots. I apostrophise this, as it may mean different things to different people, but obviously I mean this in a good way, as a natural religion, more a way of life loving God than a set of doctrines or, even worse, dogmas (the latter I believe poisoned many Jewish-derived religions, including Communism, making them think in the abstract rather than the real). They have, if you will, the religion Jesus spoke of as distinct from the one made over time by the Christians, great though both its achievements and follies may have been.
2- Cleaner technology means we do not pollute the atmosphere, making air cleaner, lighter and reducing the possibility of environmental collapse. The problems with the oil industry over making this happen are evidently resolved, probably with their co-operation and a great re-routing of their resources. Oil execs are human too (even if it may not always seem that way!)
3- We make contact with our ancestors/relatives- other humans living on other worlds. This infusion of history and culture inspires a new renaissance, a new feeling that we are not alone. We realize that not all in space are ‘alien’ and gain a new sense of our cosmic home. This is not just a scientific realization, but also an emotional watershed. Why fight when we are all one?
4) Genetic technologies turn out to be a good thing, helping us repopulate the world with previously rare creatures, and restoring our balance with nature. Our spirituality is much more harmonized, much less distracted with worldly concerns. There is no more violence in religion- the peaceful elements have won, in no small measure due to the fact that injustices feeding the violent ones have ceased to be a major factor of Earthly existence. The Earth is much more like a paradise than ever before.
When will this happen? Well, when we are ready, when we collectively open our hearts and minds to ‘letting it be’. This could be tomorrow, or could in fact be never. It behooves us to uplift one another and know at least that such possibilities are just as realistic as any other… in fact they may even be inevitable at the end of history when we finally realize what life is really about. Let it be…
I have been very fortunate in that many of my visions are serene. I have come across many ‘prophets’ who foresee terrible times, dramatic catastrophes. Now, perhaps they can view them with a certain aesthetic detachment, or perhaps they are glad to be able to prepare the world (in as much as anyone can be truly prepared for such events). I see problems, but not great doom and gloom- which means that for many I may not be accepted as a prophet- but after all, who is?
I preach the Good News- that if we are faithful to our deepest values we can indeed have a wonderful world. In fact, we already have such in terms of the vast expanses of Mother Nature and the sheer quantity of lovely souls in existence. Yet, we have to see through the corruption of this world, to make it more closed to its original blueprint, to make it ‘better’, ever better. There is no stopping here as to stop, to pause on the gentle stream of life is to possibly get stuck in stagnant water- and this is where corruption sets in.
Perhaps great and tragic events will be necessary to resuscitate the human spirit and get back on these progressive tracks. Consciously, I believe this and expect great traumatic events that will somehow help to change the Earth. Yet my visions have so far shown me none of these. Perhaps they are in fact more limited in scope than many have thought, or perhaps my visions take place long after them. Either way, I wish for my visions to inspire people with the elixir of hope. What follows are some of the more positive consequences of living in this ‘possible future’ (it could be that there are many timelines and we must choose which takes place):
1- There is peaceful co-operation in the Middle East, which is a peaceful economic and cultural community for all the religions there. Interestingly, the religions tend to merge a lot and rediscover their ‘Jewish’ roots. I apostrophise this, as it may mean different things to different people, but obviously I mean this in a good way, as a natural religion, more a way of life loving God than a set of doctrines or, even worse, dogmas (the latter I believe poisoned many Jewish-derived religions, including Communism, making them think in the abstract rather than the real). They have, if you will, the religion Jesus spoke of as distinct from the one made over time by the Christians, great though both its achievements and follies may have been.
2- Cleaner technology means we do not pollute the atmosphere, making air cleaner, lighter and reducing the possibility of environmental collapse. The problems with the oil industry over making this happen are evidently resolved, probably with their co-operation and a great re-routing of their resources. Oil execs are human too (even if it may not always seem that way!)
3- We make contact with our ancestors/relatives- other humans living on other worlds. This infusion of history and culture inspires a new renaissance, a new feeling that we are not alone. We realize that not all in space are ‘alien’ and gain a new sense of our cosmic home. This is not just a scientific realization, but also an emotional watershed. Why fight when we are all one?
4) Genetic technologies turn out to be a good thing, helping us repopulate the world with previously rare creatures, and restoring our balance with nature. Our spirituality is much more harmonized, much less distracted with worldly concerns. There is no more violence in religion- the peaceful elements have won, in no small measure due to the fact that injustices feeding the violent ones have ceased to be a major factor of Earthly existence. The Earth is much more like a paradise than ever before.
When will this happen? Well, when we are ready, when we collectively open our hearts and minds to ‘letting it be’. This could be tomorrow, or could in fact be never. It behooves us to uplift one another and know at least that such possibilities are just as realistic as any other… in fact they may even be inevitable at the end of history when we finally realize what life is really about. Let it be…
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Heaven of the Small
Having established that my inner voice can flow freely here, I will go on to say what I wish to do next... more macro photography. I see in this small world a kind of heaven. Really, a heaven- perhaps the paradise wrapped up inside everything and simultaneously surrounding it, as spoken of in my favourite, The Urantia Book.
Just as mortals say that, 'All roads lead to Rome' and 'When in Rome do as Rome does'- the very sayings of Caesar's world; so angels say, 'All worlds lead to heaven' and 'When in Heaven do as Angels do'. (I think it is a crying shame that so few people will ever read this, but there you go... at least bits may make their way to other, more accessible sites... Certainly, God can hear me here and those who really care enough to look).
So have no fear; God's kingdom shall triumph... but even while that triumph is the stuff of legends and mythology, to be realised fully far in the future, you can see the reality of heaven, right here and now. No, you don't need to climb Mt Everest and enjoy the view from the peaks there... not to say that isn't exhilarating and beautiful. You don't need to dive deep in shoals of tropical fish, or even go to the greatest gardens ever made, mere echoes of Eden though they may be. No, you can see this anywhere, in the smallest of parks... parks being gem-stones of Heaven that God, in His infinite power, made sure would be available throughout the world. You can, with the right eyes, see it in the worst of places, hidden in the gloom and of course also in the best ones, too.
Look into a flower, deep within it, especially just after the rain stops and it still glistens with the dew-like raindrops that remain. Look into this, perhaps with some strange, suddenly gigantic insect making it's way around it... and you will see heaven. Heaven in a flower. And it is great, and it is vast. You cannot imagine the scope of it, the scale you behold. The colours, they are beautiful, wonderful, fantastic to the point of hardly being believable. See them, taste them, drink deep of them, for that colour is the life-blood of this universe, in a sense the ever-flowing blood of Christ in the creation... the beingness of it all.
If you stop blocking it, you will find it utterly unbelievable... and then you will be transported to another world, a more real world, the one we lived in in Eden. So quiet and peaceful. There is music, oh yes. The whistling of the wind, the gentle swaying of branches. Birds and fluttering insects... so delicate, so infused with higher meanings. Oh, it is all so real and all so near. Touch it and ascend... I guarantee that in this peace you will find memories that shine far brighter than so many others. You will see things that make you believe that there is a God, there is intelligence out there... such a rich intelligence, our heart pounds to be nearer to it... to the divine artist that could orchestrate such wonders... such wonders so near to us, so accessible to each and any one of us... bringing heaven right here and now!
So, in more mundane terms, I want to find time to return to the world of macro photography, in which mythic worlds rose up before me in the miniature, one moment after another, each a breath of eternity, each suffused with love, with all it's divine warmth and colour.
The Beginning (an alternative to closing with 'The End'!)
Just as mortals say that, 'All roads lead to Rome' and 'When in Rome do as Rome does'- the very sayings of Caesar's world; so angels say, 'All worlds lead to heaven' and 'When in Heaven do as Angels do'. (I think it is a crying shame that so few people will ever read this, but there you go... at least bits may make their way to other, more accessible sites... Certainly, God can hear me here and those who really care enough to look).
So have no fear; God's kingdom shall triumph... but even while that triumph is the stuff of legends and mythology, to be realised fully far in the future, you can see the reality of heaven, right here and now. No, you don't need to climb Mt Everest and enjoy the view from the peaks there... not to say that isn't exhilarating and beautiful. You don't need to dive deep in shoals of tropical fish, or even go to the greatest gardens ever made, mere echoes of Eden though they may be. No, you can see this anywhere, in the smallest of parks... parks being gem-stones of Heaven that God, in His infinite power, made sure would be available throughout the world. You can, with the right eyes, see it in the worst of places, hidden in the gloom and of course also in the best ones, too.
Look into a flower, deep within it, especially just after the rain stops and it still glistens with the dew-like raindrops that remain. Look into this, perhaps with some strange, suddenly gigantic insect making it's way around it... and you will see heaven. Heaven in a flower. And it is great, and it is vast. You cannot imagine the scope of it, the scale you behold. The colours, they are beautiful, wonderful, fantastic to the point of hardly being believable. See them, taste them, drink deep of them, for that colour is the life-blood of this universe, in a sense the ever-flowing blood of Christ in the creation... the beingness of it all.
If you stop blocking it, you will find it utterly unbelievable... and then you will be transported to another world, a more real world, the one we lived in in Eden. So quiet and peaceful. There is music, oh yes. The whistling of the wind, the gentle swaying of branches. Birds and fluttering insects... so delicate, so infused with higher meanings. Oh, it is all so real and all so near. Touch it and ascend... I guarantee that in this peace you will find memories that shine far brighter than so many others. You will see things that make you believe that there is a God, there is intelligence out there... such a rich intelligence, our heart pounds to be nearer to it... to the divine artist that could orchestrate such wonders... such wonders so near to us, so accessible to each and any one of us... bringing heaven right here and now!
So, in more mundane terms, I want to find time to return to the world of macro photography, in which mythic worlds rose up before me in the miniature, one moment after another, each a breath of eternity, each suffused with love, with all it's divine warmth and colour.
The Beginning (an alternative to closing with 'The End'!)
Monday, November 13, 2006
The Starfire Community (in Detail)
The Starfire Foundation is something that has been prophesied for hundreds, even thousands of years and has existed in the minds of the Creators for literally millions of years. It's coming manifestation is something to truly celebrate with open arms and hearts. With it comes the fulfillment of dreams of understanding, justice, togetherness- the realisation of true values within the protective aura of this wondrous vehicle. Let us shout for joy together at it's coming arrival!
Nevertheless, many organisational details need to be established so that it's unveiling can be safely accomplished. As one of it's primary purposes is the opening of links to Higher beings and the channeling of messages from them to a wider humanity, it needs to be a safe, yet open-minded environment. Such safety is predicated by good hearts and intentions, but in the real world of human behaviour we need to be ready for when people get confused and act from less than their best instincts. By wisely anticipating possible problems, we can safely avoid them, without losing the sense of loving freedom which is the very essence of our lives.
I
The model for such arrangements has to be the wise, loosely federal order of the USA and more recently, of the EU. Whilst the lead teacher and guide, myself (or whoever should one day replace me) may have many good qualities, he is still merely a human being. "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". There needs top be a dispersal, a division of power, such that will also ensure the smooth running of the Foundation's various activities and the stability of any communities that may arise in the warmth of it's light. Consultation with heavenly powers will help to finalise and customise such arrangements, but even now their form can be dimly viewed-
The Guide (approved by the Arrangers)
The Panel of Arrangers (elected by the council)
The Legislative and Representative Council (elected by the community)
All branches of this 'divinely inspired government' will need to be in accord for important decisions and moments of policy. The democratic element ensures that there is a break on any rampant exhibition of power-tripping in any of the other branches, yet the existence of the other branches ensures that there is a divinely-inspired aspect to this government that might otherwise be left to chance or faith alone, with no clearly manifested presence. Note that there is here a distinction between 'church and state' (the elected branch being more closely 'The State'), yet there is no longer the secular separation of the two. This separation, so necessary during the dark ages in which Religion sought to suppress the emerging sciences, is held to no longer be necessary and hence is softened if not entirely eliminated by a mere 'distinction' of the two.
II
Some glimpses into the type of arrangements to be expected can be presented here. In it's daily workings, the guide is open to questions from all and can offer illuminating responses to the questions posed by the community, who arrange appointments to visit him or her. It should be remembered that this is something of a monastic community, predicated upon the search for truth and one which may in fact take millenia to accommodate the desires of humanity as a whole, desires which should grow closer to those of the community rather than the community conforming in any essential way to the surrounding society's mores.
In the community voting will be a common practice, often in the style of referendums. Despite the emphasis on divine guidance, it is very much an expression of both individual and collective free-will, however paradoxical that may at first appear. The divine guidance is sought to be followed freely, openly, with a loving heart- just as it is so offered. With certain issues, children will have a far greater say than is to be expected conventionally. The reason being that their future is also affected and that on these certain issues the children may even be more aware than certain adults of the right path to be taken.
The community shall have a rich cultural life. Music is something central to the life of the community, as it stimulates emotional warmth and the appreciation of what life itself is about- and the community is seeking ways to enjoy this adventure in a spirit of togetherness. Spiritual or deeply emotional music is emphasised, yet there is room for all genres.
Periodically, group meditations shall pool our spiritual energies in an openness to God's will and to better facilitate our harmony with the universe. Those who are ready will participate in sessions seeking to contact higher beings, with the purpose of loving communication though not worship of them- such worship being only directed towards God, a rule that all authentic ascendant lifeforms respect.
III
The presence of rules and decrees is to protect all from dangers, dangers that might not be immediately apparent. Yet in both the worldly and spiritual spheres they exist and would snare the unaware, were it not for protective legislation. People will freely join the community and equally freely participate, but severely anti-social behaviour, behaviour exhibiting a contempt for others, will not be tolerated.
The community will tolerate and even embrace all sorts of ethnic, religious and individual differences, but the one thing it will not tolerate is intolerance itself. This includes any form of harassment, bullying, cruelty, discrimination or other similarly ill-intentioned behaviour. Such disputes will be resolved as often as possible with patience, prayer and mediation, yet in extreme cases preventative punishments may be necessary, as proscribed by the legislative council. In certain cases outside legal intervention may even prove necessary, if the laws of the land are violated. the 'liberal' nature of the Foundation's endeavours should not be confused with vulnerability or any softness with evil. The rights and feelings of the innocent are what we gather together to cherish and protect. Together, in a spirit of charity, we shall do just that.
Nevertheless, many organisational details need to be established so that it's unveiling can be safely accomplished. As one of it's primary purposes is the opening of links to Higher beings and the channeling of messages from them to a wider humanity, it needs to be a safe, yet open-minded environment. Such safety is predicated by good hearts and intentions, but in the real world of human behaviour we need to be ready for when people get confused and act from less than their best instincts. By wisely anticipating possible problems, we can safely avoid them, without losing the sense of loving freedom which is the very essence of our lives.
I
The model for such arrangements has to be the wise, loosely federal order of the USA and more recently, of the EU. Whilst the lead teacher and guide, myself (or whoever should one day replace me) may have many good qualities, he is still merely a human being. "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". There needs top be a dispersal, a division of power, such that will also ensure the smooth running of the Foundation's various activities and the stability of any communities that may arise in the warmth of it's light. Consultation with heavenly powers will help to finalise and customise such arrangements, but even now their form can be dimly viewed-
The Guide (approved by the Arrangers)
The Panel of Arrangers (elected by the council)
The Legislative and Representative Council (elected by the community)
All branches of this 'divinely inspired government' will need to be in accord for important decisions and moments of policy. The democratic element ensures that there is a break on any rampant exhibition of power-tripping in any of the other branches, yet the existence of the other branches ensures that there is a divinely-inspired aspect to this government that might otherwise be left to chance or faith alone, with no clearly manifested presence. Note that there is here a distinction between 'church and state' (the elected branch being more closely 'The State'), yet there is no longer the secular separation of the two. This separation, so necessary during the dark ages in which Religion sought to suppress the emerging sciences, is held to no longer be necessary and hence is softened if not entirely eliminated by a mere 'distinction' of the two.
II
Some glimpses into the type of arrangements to be expected can be presented here. In it's daily workings, the guide is open to questions from all and can offer illuminating responses to the questions posed by the community, who arrange appointments to visit him or her. It should be remembered that this is something of a monastic community, predicated upon the search for truth and one which may in fact take millenia to accommodate the desires of humanity as a whole, desires which should grow closer to those of the community rather than the community conforming in any essential way to the surrounding society's mores.
In the community voting will be a common practice, often in the style of referendums. Despite the emphasis on divine guidance, it is very much an expression of both individual and collective free-will, however paradoxical that may at first appear. The divine guidance is sought to be followed freely, openly, with a loving heart- just as it is so offered. With certain issues, children will have a far greater say than is to be expected conventionally. The reason being that their future is also affected and that on these certain issues the children may even be more aware than certain adults of the right path to be taken.
The community shall have a rich cultural life. Music is something central to the life of the community, as it stimulates emotional warmth and the appreciation of what life itself is about- and the community is seeking ways to enjoy this adventure in a spirit of togetherness. Spiritual or deeply emotional music is emphasised, yet there is room for all genres.
Periodically, group meditations shall pool our spiritual energies in an openness to God's will and to better facilitate our harmony with the universe. Those who are ready will participate in sessions seeking to contact higher beings, with the purpose of loving communication though not worship of them- such worship being only directed towards God, a rule that all authentic ascendant lifeforms respect.
III
The presence of rules and decrees is to protect all from dangers, dangers that might not be immediately apparent. Yet in both the worldly and spiritual spheres they exist and would snare the unaware, were it not for protective legislation. People will freely join the community and equally freely participate, but severely anti-social behaviour, behaviour exhibiting a contempt for others, will not be tolerated.
The community will tolerate and even embrace all sorts of ethnic, religious and individual differences, but the one thing it will not tolerate is intolerance itself. This includes any form of harassment, bullying, cruelty, discrimination or other similarly ill-intentioned behaviour. Such disputes will be resolved as often as possible with patience, prayer and mediation, yet in extreme cases preventative punishments may be necessary, as proscribed by the legislative council. In certain cases outside legal intervention may even prove necessary, if the laws of the land are violated. the 'liberal' nature of the Foundation's endeavours should not be confused with vulnerability or any softness with evil. The rights and feelings of the innocent are what we gather together to cherish and protect. Together, in a spirit of charity, we shall do just that.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
The Starfire Community
In order to fully realise the Starfire Foundation's ideals, assembling a full and varied community of persons may be necessary- the Starfire Community. They shall come from all walks of life, from all avenues of experience, sharing amongst them a common goal, a common set of ideals. The community will be funded primarily by the richest members, yet proportionate contributions will be sought from all the members, if only as a gesture of commitment. Free and blameless passage in and out of the community shall be assured, as it is a community freely attended, yet such freedom is the mother of much responsibility- this will be made very much clear.
Teachers, Economists, Professors, Doctors, Lawyers, Carpenters, Bus Drivers, Farmers- all shall have a part to play in this vast vision and the learning of each and every member is of instrumental benefit to the community as a whole. Variety and a unity of diversity is it's touch-stone. We shall not be conformists to anything other than or highest ideals. We will live seeking the highest truths in each moment, and make the most of everyday life thereby. We shall find truth in the most mundane of daily tasks. We shall just as passionately seek truth in the finest of arts.
The spiritual food of the community will come from lectures and question and answer sessions with the spiritual leaders of the group, primarily Starfire, with his ability to find a spiritual interpretation to even the most troubling of matters. His appointed dispensers of wisdom (DOWs) will aid in this task, seeking advice from him and from God so as to spread rightful teachings far and deep within the community and even beyond it. People will chose to be members when they see the advantages of being so- they will be guided to ways with which to find the truth within themselves, they will be empowered and freed from the various delusions hoisted upon them by our materialistic society. This will not be a 'negative cult' that people are forced to join.
What it will be is the most perfect manifestation possible of the Universal Teachings, divinely inspired as they are, in our current time frame, on the world we currently inhabit. A living community devoted to truth, laying further foundations towards an even brighter future beyond. Such a community will create situations which Starfire can preach about, teach about, gently and lovingly guide the members through. The community's variety of age-groups, occupations and even personality-types make not only for a cohesive society, but together form a greater harmony, a chemical reaction (another word here) which makes truth-seeking ever-more a realised ideal. As such a community is exploring the wonderful adventure of our time that we call Life!
The Starfire Foundation
The moment cannot be put off any longer. I announce here the dream and aim of my activities- the eventual formation of The Starfire Foundation, a society dedicated to the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous civilisation on the Earth, and to the preservation of human tranquility even in the most troubled of times.
The Foundation is being planned as an organisation whose members, whatever their age, will investigate the following-
-Possibilities of sustainable communication between the beings of the Earth and higher beings loyal to God, be they angels or space creatures.
-The nature of the after-death state and ways in which Near Death Experiences and transcendental experiences can be better integrated into a society based upon truer values.
-Ways to integrate humanity better with the Earth and with one another, so that the most great peace can be a reality and not just a distant fantasy.
My visions of the future started out as just premonitions of near future advances in society, but they have lately grown to encompass what may well be a very distant future, even thousands of years away for the planet as a whole, in which humanity's tranquility is fully realised and peace attained. Joy, laughter, the togetherness of many diverse groups with a great love of the Earth and natural things transcending the current dreams of mere technical advancements. A future Arcadia, if you will, a return to Eden.
My thinking is moving to more absolute values and the neccessity to realise them in the current moment. They will never simply come of their own accord a pure and warm heart is the only way to safely express the more advanced reaches of the human mind and to really move on to the most high civilisation. The Starfire Foundation shall be dedicated to these goals, involving all kinds of persons in the long path towards their attainment. Yet the first step is the only step. They are attainable right in the present moment, should we but decide it now.
Friday, March 03, 2006
What is Infinity?
Let us stop for a moment and wonder- what really is infinity? Why should we have an end-goal without having any clear idea of what it is?
Infinity is clarity. Infinity is the all-in-all. Infinity is the end of all becomings and the birth of the transcendant. Only infinity cannot be described by words. We came from infinity and to infinity again we shall return.
From a Moment to Infinity
Seeing the different sides I have within myself, I would say that we have many personalities for many situations. The key is to be flexible enough to change and thereby never encounter stress, from a situation unplanned for. You will never always be alone, to contemplate life's mysteries and those of your own psyche. Likewise, you will not always have other people around, particularity not those who really understand you. You need to relate to different people all the time- sometimes a boss, sometimes a co-worker, sometimes a friend or a child. So a flexible personality is the key to unlocking the door to our holy grail- a life filled with meaning, yet devoid of stress. Without suffering. If only we could teach our children not so much to be a particular way, as to be adaptable.
We need to always be aware that life is ever-changing. Even on the molecular level there are constant births and deaths. These are mirrored by the births and deaths of that which we experience- which is not in fact hours or minutes but in actuality moments. Rising and falling in our conscious like the sun for the world each day. Reality for us is a series of interlinked moments which flow from one to another, not always in a linear fashion. Perhaps by using our higher-brain powers we can piece together some kind of hologram of this situation, but certainly it is different from the many attempts to represent it in a linear, two-dimentional fashion. Why should time be two-dimentional? Don't our memories and hopes colour the present with their rich hues? Time itself is a mystery begging contemplation.
So here we are, living moment-to-moment, making choices based on our values, constantly- this is what life really is. The other, linear thing is a kind of zoned-out state of consciousness, much like that experienced by a zombie in 'Night of the Living Dead'. So if we want to be alive, to be vibrant like the dawn-star who gives us light each day, we need to be aware. As I argue, the only awareness is that of the living moment, coloured though it might be by our perceptions of other times.
When I get into this kind of subject more and more, I feel the 'Overself' emerging. Perhaps it is the 'Thought-Adjuster' spoken of in the Urantia book- perhaps it is a spirit-guide- but whoever it is, it appears as some kind of Atlantean, Egyptian or Tibetan personality. A character who possesses the lost wisdom that the ancients called their own. A cosmic wisdom, a wisdom without fear of pressure or confusion- something more complete than that known nowadays. Like the symbol on the hieroglyphics, it is the sign of the wings of the spirit; homo-ignateous. Not so much the Superman as the next man-the man becoming an angel of mercy and wisdom. The human who realises that to reach an ability to fulfill the values he holds dear, it is necessary to evolved first.
Yet in the space of a lifetime, little evolution is possible. No doubt a lifetime is crammed full of trillions of the moments I elude to above- spaces of time microscopically smaller than a mili-second. Yet even so, in the grand scheme that is a small period. So, knowing that my own limited faculties will not be able to see enough of the truth to effectively guide me, I seek the wisdom of those far more developed than I. The Overself, the mind-adjuster, prayers to God Almighty.
This blog is primarily to transmit their wisdom. The issue of who I am is not entirely irrelevant, this is not an exercise in any sort of self-annihilation, but it is not the primary purpose of this transmission. Here you can see my true mission as I best understand it- to spread light and truth to a confused, trembling planet and thus aid it's discovery of peace. It is important that I again emphasise that the teachings contained herein are not the product of my fragmentary and limited mind. I lay no claim to having constructed them. They are not the product of any particular genius I may possess- they were merely given to me, in my mental anguish of unknowingness- to share. As much as possible, I hope to do so here.
We need to always be aware that life is ever-changing. Even on the molecular level there are constant births and deaths. These are mirrored by the births and deaths of that which we experience- which is not in fact hours or minutes but in actuality moments. Rising and falling in our conscious like the sun for the world each day. Reality for us is a series of interlinked moments which flow from one to another, not always in a linear fashion. Perhaps by using our higher-brain powers we can piece together some kind of hologram of this situation, but certainly it is different from the many attempts to represent it in a linear, two-dimentional fashion. Why should time be two-dimentional? Don't our memories and hopes colour the present with their rich hues? Time itself is a mystery begging contemplation.
So here we are, living moment-to-moment, making choices based on our values, constantly- this is what life really is. The other, linear thing is a kind of zoned-out state of consciousness, much like that experienced by a zombie in 'Night of the Living Dead'. So if we want to be alive, to be vibrant like the dawn-star who gives us light each day, we need to be aware. As I argue, the only awareness is that of the living moment, coloured though it might be by our perceptions of other times.
When I get into this kind of subject more and more, I feel the 'Overself' emerging. Perhaps it is the 'Thought-Adjuster' spoken of in the Urantia book- perhaps it is a spirit-guide- but whoever it is, it appears as some kind of Atlantean, Egyptian or Tibetan personality. A character who possesses the lost wisdom that the ancients called their own. A cosmic wisdom, a wisdom without fear of pressure or confusion- something more complete than that known nowadays. Like the symbol on the hieroglyphics, it is the sign of the wings of the spirit; homo-ignateous. Not so much the Superman as the next man-the man becoming an angel of mercy and wisdom. The human who realises that to reach an ability to fulfill the values he holds dear, it is necessary to evolved first.
Yet in the space of a lifetime, little evolution is possible. No doubt a lifetime is crammed full of trillions of the moments I elude to above- spaces of time microscopically smaller than a mili-second. Yet even so, in the grand scheme that is a small period. So, knowing that my own limited faculties will not be able to see enough of the truth to effectively guide me, I seek the wisdom of those far more developed than I. The Overself, the mind-adjuster, prayers to God Almighty.
This blog is primarily to transmit their wisdom. The issue of who I am is not entirely irrelevant, this is not an exercise in any sort of self-annihilation, but it is not the primary purpose of this transmission. Here you can see my true mission as I best understand it- to spread light and truth to a confused, trembling planet and thus aid it's discovery of peace. It is important that I again emphasise that the teachings contained herein are not the product of my fragmentary and limited mind. I lay no claim to having constructed them. They are not the product of any particular genius I may possess- they were merely given to me, in my mental anguish of unknowingness- to share. As much as possible, I hope to do so here.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
High School Life
You might be surprised, but in my school, I'm told I have a very friendly personality. I certainly love the kids and they me. They constantly come up with new ways to delight me. Japanese high-school kids love to be 'cute' and are often more interested in staying kids than in growing up. For example, it was raining the other morning and I was walking from the bus to the school with a couple of cute girl students. One of them said, giggling, 'It's raining... But I like rain'. I asked why and she said 'I grow- with rain and sun I can grow'- pointing to the nearby plants. I said, 'So are you a flower?' and she said 'Yes, a flower! (giggling). Her friend had a yellow umbrella and said- 'Look here's the sun'.
They have such innocent, happy minds and they wave to me from the windows, jokingly blowing kisses. Despite having to make and give tests now, a school is such a pleasant place to be. I am glad to be able to bring so much happiness to the student's lives. Their happiness becomes mine, too and I leave from there each day with a full heart.
They have such innocent, happy minds and they wave to me from the windows, jokingly blowing kisses. Despite having to make and give tests now, a school is such a pleasant place to be. I am glad to be able to bring so much happiness to the student's lives. Their happiness becomes mine, too and I leave from there each day with a full heart.
Monday, February 27, 2006
By an Icy Lake
For you- a nice picture - and like all featured here, it was taken by me. Or was it, in fact, taken by Starfire...? Who really knows?
A Nice Sunset
A nice sunset, as the day is over...
Easy to have a stunning beginning- easy to have a relaxing ending... but don't forget the middle of the day!
Friday, October 22, 2004
International Law and International Lawlessness (Emailed on November 14th 2004)
I really appreciate your reply. I don't get the BBC television here though I do visit their web-page daily and see a lot critical of the war and the Bush administration and the humanitarian crisis there. I'm pretty sure the Japanese media is also critical (thought they outsource for journalists often). CNN on the whole wasn't and also isn't and I see this as a problem, as they can probably get tax-breaks or something from the Bush administration, as do Murdock's enterprises. I am aware that there is a lot of freedom of expression. From what you say, there is a lot more attention paid to individuals’ views than I realised. But I wonder if articulate intellectuals (Iraqi or Western) are given sufficient airtime. The reason I say this is that articulate criticisms resonate far more deeply and may contain more analysis. This analysis is the key, as it unveils underlying causes and perhaps intentions, in a way that an individual's views, however poignant, may not. It can present an alternative source of authority and understanding.
As for the BBC, it is their partisan emotionality that bothers me. From what I have seen of them, I get the sense that they are towing a 'pro-Arab' line rather than being impartial, and they do not seem to favour progressive elements in those regions. So, in a sense, they seem to prop up a dichotomy of the status-quo and those resisting it by force, which the BBC seems to have great affection for. This leaves progressive, rational elements without much support (trusting that they exist, though are drowned out by the radical elements). In my time of watching the BBC in the past I saw very little of interviews with Arabs and Jews who wanted to live in peace, which I expect isn't as 'sexy' or 'shocking' for viewers as outrages are. They actually give the impression of seeing terrorists who attack civilians as legitimate and seem to have little time for peacemakers.
I blame historical politics and policies for the situation, not religions or fiery temperaments, and believe that the failure to correct them has resulted in the present 'post-colonial' or even 'late-colonial' chaos. Many well-meaning Israelis I met blame the post-colonial borders for the trouble in the Middle-East. By pointing out humanitarian problems without delving into the source of them, the liberal media may win praise and viewers, but it won't help to help solve problems, in fact it may just numb viewers with horror. Such images certainly emanate a sense of hopelessness and despair. There are indeed no easy answers, though I believe stable and reasonable national borders are the real answer. Without this, civil wars may be unavoidable. Why are thousands willing to die in civil wars? Because they believe that their families or tribes will benefit in the long run. Why do they feel the need? Because it is preferable to being oppressed by another ethnic group, with a seemingly infinite antagonism towards them. The only answer to this, as far as I can see, is a federal system that grants the right of territory, yet also balances this with a co-operative system with other tribes or 'nations'. A rational solution that calms emotions by providing what they truly seek.
It seems quite clear to me that the media has failed us thus far to effectively challenge the 'right' of whoever is strongest to impose a 'winner-takes-all' answer to problems. By implicitly supporting groups like Hamas and calling them merely 'militants' they fail to recognise Israel's right to exist. By focusing on the 'Right' in Israel, they weaken those there who want to find a negotiated solution. By quoting Bush and Blair without presenting experts in international law in the same presentation they confer legitimacy on what would be considered the actions of 'Rogue States' were they 'foreigners'. They fail in that they don’t present viable alternatives.
International law, rather than seeming expediency, is the only benchmark for international relations. It is to everyone's detriment that this has been ignored by Britain and America, who pride themselves on being its chief enforcers. How could this have happened in such a spectacular and terrible way? Well, my analysis is as follows-
Realising they were incapable of otherwise gaining office, and unable to get enough of the mainstream media to support their more 'progressive' policies, the Labour and Democratic parties came to support the interests of big-business elites, at the expense of their traditional liberal values. These values were perhaps never real vote-winners as their immediate benefits are hard to see. Having done this, they watered down the available channel of opposition to big-business interests, which allowed the latter to consolidate, until we have the 'fat cats' and conglomerates of today. The gap between rich and poor widened and so did the sense of accountability held by the rich. So when a decision was made to blatantly breach international law, in the case of the Iraq invasion, there was no longer the traditional opposition to stop them. I don't count the general public or public opinion as opposition- I count a counterbalance in government, i.e. with power to effectively vote. Back-benchers could vote, but only as 'rebels' and thus even less effectively than when they could create a larger block vote with the rest of the opposition- much of it now pressed into a pragmatic silence to support their leader. It is a kind of Faustian Pact, in which the natural opposition supports what would be unthinkable for them otherwise, so as to have a taste of power. This breakdown actually didn't start with the Iraq war- it started with the war in Kosovo. This proceeded without security-council authorisation, yet with massive co-operation from the media, who seemed to believe that it was being done for 'liberal' reasons rather than to expand the reach of NATO. From my understanding, it's main result has been a kind of 'ethnic-cleansing' of Serb Christians from the region, for whom it is now unsafe.
It may seem legalistic, but for me the legal angle is the key- all governments by their nature seek national interest and their own survival. They can say whatever they like, but as leaders are great actors, we cannot know whether their intentions are hypocritical or not. We may not even be able to analyse their chosen courses of action easily on their own merits. Thus, we need an authentic and trustworthy benchmark- international law, agreed upon by the nations. With little internal opposition (in a position of power, which for me includes the 'opposition party' that parliament depends upon) and a lack of respect for international checks and balances, this was an accident waiting to happen.
If the BBC et all quoted lawyers and intellectuals more, then they would be more convincing and able to propose intelligent alternatives to senseless belligerence. Their seeming legal ignorance and accepting of operations so long as they 'seem to be going okay' makes their protestations when things go wrong rather futile. Supposing things were going wrong and everything was legal and necessary, however unlikely this may be, seeing as the law is our protection as well as our deterrent. What would they say then? I see sensationalism in the media, not reasonable, calm analysis. I see an obsession with results to the exclusion of causes, with the belittling of those intelligent voices who actually could guide us rightly.
Opposition is a check and a balance. We are now seeing, I believe, what happens when it is sufficiently emasculated and driven underground. Hopefully people will learn more respect for it now- it may not have the power to make decisions, nut it is a necessary element to challenge and deter wrong ones. In terms of Britain, I would hope that the Conservatives fail to recover and the Liberal-Democrats become an effective and respected opposition, as what they have to say may seem a little less naive and foolish now. In terms of the US, there are great swaths of 'Blue states' who voted against Bush, and perhaps at least in those regions opposing views will find a home and a voice- again, this time a respected voice rather than a mocked one.
As for the issue of troops suddenly leaving, well I can see that this could produce chaos, yet the present time seems to be one of chaos too- some would say it verges on genocide. You do have a good point about the French and Portuguese colonies, (though of course people there had less to lose there in the sense that they don't have oil supplies to sell), and this almost makes me support the 'Coalition's' presence. Yet, the early refusal to hand control over to a responsible body such as the UN is really to blame here, not the ethnic divisions themselves, which need to be governed and their energy channeled in every existing state. Images of tanks defending oil-installations whilst looting and pillaging went on around them spoke volumes.
People cannot simply organise themselves, they need government to do so, whatever region of the world we are dealing with. Even now, my prescription would be to somehow hand control over to the UN and let them organise a new government on a Federal basis, working with educated Iraqis to do so, as is happening in Afghanistan and happened in South Africa and many other places. People have similar needs everywhere and they can be understood and accommodated by trained professionals. The present plan, though, seems to be to maintain a puppet police-state. We will have to see if there really are elections in the future. Whilst I am sure a lot of Iraqis would like to see a real democracy, this would need a lot of nurturing, and I can't see anyone other than the 'good' UN having the time, patience, neutrality, or resources for that. I am aware of course that corrupt elements exist in the UN, but then again so also does a unique source of 'nation-building' resources and professionals. If the foreign troops are seen as a necessary evil, then surely more so the UN, who are actually competent at nation-building processes and respected by most people in the world today?
The only answer I can see to preventing this from happening again is a body powerful enough to be a fair and reasonable, yet powerful, 'world policeman' that can arbitrate and deter. An evolution of the role the US has taken upon itself, though with her recent swing to the right is less able to perform in a humanitarian manner. If the UN is now especially corrupt (i.e. the scandal of the oil-for food stamps) and controlled by dictators then we'll need a new institution, but letting superpowers run rampant is a terrible atavism. One that, I would think, the world will not accept.
As for the BBC, it is their partisan emotionality that bothers me. From what I have seen of them, I get the sense that they are towing a 'pro-Arab' line rather than being impartial, and they do not seem to favour progressive elements in those regions. So, in a sense, they seem to prop up a dichotomy of the status-quo and those resisting it by force, which the BBC seems to have great affection for. This leaves progressive, rational elements without much support (trusting that they exist, though are drowned out by the radical elements). In my time of watching the BBC in the past I saw very little of interviews with Arabs and Jews who wanted to live in peace, which I expect isn't as 'sexy' or 'shocking' for viewers as outrages are. They actually give the impression of seeing terrorists who attack civilians as legitimate and seem to have little time for peacemakers.
I blame historical politics and policies for the situation, not religions or fiery temperaments, and believe that the failure to correct them has resulted in the present 'post-colonial' or even 'late-colonial' chaos. Many well-meaning Israelis I met blame the post-colonial borders for the trouble in the Middle-East. By pointing out humanitarian problems without delving into the source of them, the liberal media may win praise and viewers, but it won't help to help solve problems, in fact it may just numb viewers with horror. Such images certainly emanate a sense of hopelessness and despair. There are indeed no easy answers, though I believe stable and reasonable national borders are the real answer. Without this, civil wars may be unavoidable. Why are thousands willing to die in civil wars? Because they believe that their families or tribes will benefit in the long run. Why do they feel the need? Because it is preferable to being oppressed by another ethnic group, with a seemingly infinite antagonism towards them. The only answer to this, as far as I can see, is a federal system that grants the right of territory, yet also balances this with a co-operative system with other tribes or 'nations'. A rational solution that calms emotions by providing what they truly seek.
It seems quite clear to me that the media has failed us thus far to effectively challenge the 'right' of whoever is strongest to impose a 'winner-takes-all' answer to problems. By implicitly supporting groups like Hamas and calling them merely 'militants' they fail to recognise Israel's right to exist. By focusing on the 'Right' in Israel, they weaken those there who want to find a negotiated solution. By quoting Bush and Blair without presenting experts in international law in the same presentation they confer legitimacy on what would be considered the actions of 'Rogue States' were they 'foreigners'. They fail in that they don’t present viable alternatives.
International law, rather than seeming expediency, is the only benchmark for international relations. It is to everyone's detriment that this has been ignored by Britain and America, who pride themselves on being its chief enforcers. How could this have happened in such a spectacular and terrible way? Well, my analysis is as follows-
Realising they were incapable of otherwise gaining office, and unable to get enough of the mainstream media to support their more 'progressive' policies, the Labour and Democratic parties came to support the interests of big-business elites, at the expense of their traditional liberal values. These values were perhaps never real vote-winners as their immediate benefits are hard to see. Having done this, they watered down the available channel of opposition to big-business interests, which allowed the latter to consolidate, until we have the 'fat cats' and conglomerates of today. The gap between rich and poor widened and so did the sense of accountability held by the rich. So when a decision was made to blatantly breach international law, in the case of the Iraq invasion, there was no longer the traditional opposition to stop them. I don't count the general public or public opinion as opposition- I count a counterbalance in government, i.e. with power to effectively vote. Back-benchers could vote, but only as 'rebels' and thus even less effectively than when they could create a larger block vote with the rest of the opposition- much of it now pressed into a pragmatic silence to support their leader. It is a kind of Faustian Pact, in which the natural opposition supports what would be unthinkable for them otherwise, so as to have a taste of power. This breakdown actually didn't start with the Iraq war- it started with the war in Kosovo. This proceeded without security-council authorisation, yet with massive co-operation from the media, who seemed to believe that it was being done for 'liberal' reasons rather than to expand the reach of NATO. From my understanding, it's main result has been a kind of 'ethnic-cleansing' of Serb Christians from the region, for whom it is now unsafe.
It may seem legalistic, but for me the legal angle is the key- all governments by their nature seek national interest and their own survival. They can say whatever they like, but as leaders are great actors, we cannot know whether their intentions are hypocritical or not. We may not even be able to analyse their chosen courses of action easily on their own merits. Thus, we need an authentic and trustworthy benchmark- international law, agreed upon by the nations. With little internal opposition (in a position of power, which for me includes the 'opposition party' that parliament depends upon) and a lack of respect for international checks and balances, this was an accident waiting to happen.
If the BBC et all quoted lawyers and intellectuals more, then they would be more convincing and able to propose intelligent alternatives to senseless belligerence. Their seeming legal ignorance and accepting of operations so long as they 'seem to be going okay' makes their protestations when things go wrong rather futile. Supposing things were going wrong and everything was legal and necessary, however unlikely this may be, seeing as the law is our protection as well as our deterrent. What would they say then? I see sensationalism in the media, not reasonable, calm analysis. I see an obsession with results to the exclusion of causes, with the belittling of those intelligent voices who actually could guide us rightly.
Opposition is a check and a balance. We are now seeing, I believe, what happens when it is sufficiently emasculated and driven underground. Hopefully people will learn more respect for it now- it may not have the power to make decisions, nut it is a necessary element to challenge and deter wrong ones. In terms of Britain, I would hope that the Conservatives fail to recover and the Liberal-Democrats become an effective and respected opposition, as what they have to say may seem a little less naive and foolish now. In terms of the US, there are great swaths of 'Blue states' who voted against Bush, and perhaps at least in those regions opposing views will find a home and a voice- again, this time a respected voice rather than a mocked one.
As for the issue of troops suddenly leaving, well I can see that this could produce chaos, yet the present time seems to be one of chaos too- some would say it verges on genocide. You do have a good point about the French and Portuguese colonies, (though of course people there had less to lose there in the sense that they don't have oil supplies to sell), and this almost makes me support the 'Coalition's' presence. Yet, the early refusal to hand control over to a responsible body such as the UN is really to blame here, not the ethnic divisions themselves, which need to be governed and their energy channeled in every existing state. Images of tanks defending oil-installations whilst looting and pillaging went on around them spoke volumes.
People cannot simply organise themselves, they need government to do so, whatever region of the world we are dealing with. Even now, my prescription would be to somehow hand control over to the UN and let them organise a new government on a Federal basis, working with educated Iraqis to do so, as is happening in Afghanistan and happened in South Africa and many other places. People have similar needs everywhere and they can be understood and accommodated by trained professionals. The present plan, though, seems to be to maintain a puppet police-state. We will have to see if there really are elections in the future. Whilst I am sure a lot of Iraqis would like to see a real democracy, this would need a lot of nurturing, and I can't see anyone other than the 'good' UN having the time, patience, neutrality, or resources for that. I am aware of course that corrupt elements exist in the UN, but then again so also does a unique source of 'nation-building' resources and professionals. If the foreign troops are seen as a necessary evil, then surely more so the UN, who are actually competent at nation-building processes and respected by most people in the world today?
The only answer I can see to preventing this from happening again is a body powerful enough to be a fair and reasonable, yet powerful, 'world policeman' that can arbitrate and deter. An evolution of the role the US has taken upon itself, though with her recent swing to the right is less able to perform in a humanitarian manner. If the UN is now especially corrupt (i.e. the scandal of the oil-for food stamps) and controlled by dictators then we'll need a new institution, but letting superpowers run rampant is a terrible atavism. One that, I would think, the world will not accept.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Nuclear War? (Emailed in Autumn 2004)
I like the way you put that. It also seems to be true.
I think it is very significant that the lands where humanity is said to have originated are engulfed by both conflict and promise. Things can truly go either way.
It is a beautiful story, in the sense that things may end where they begun... or of course blossom anew with emerging technologies.
I am suspecting that Iran may play a decisive role, and how that country is handled. After the Iraq debacle nations are loath to join a coalition against any particular state. Yet Iran seems to be developing nuclear weapons, which they could well discretely pass onto terrorists for them to use. Iran is a most isolated country- a Shiite nation of Persian stock surrounded by Sunni Arabs. Their natural friend may well be the West in such a case, yet they are overflowing with anti-Western vitriol, and viewed with deep suspicion. To complicate matters, there are also the beginnings of democracy there, along with an articulate president, though probably not an honest or straightforward one.
It is a very delicate situation.
I am assuming they are involved with elements of the resistance and kidnappers in Iraq. This would mean that they have moved from seeking sympathy, to making threats and blackmails. Could this grow into a nuclear blackmail? 'Do what we want or we set off the bomb'- another movie plot in our real world? Factor in also the continued development of missiles, and unprecedentedly large underground complexes, and we can see just what is possible.
I am left wondering at the inherent cruelty, in the kindness of granting us nuclear technology. On the one hand, it may be the only thing that could give us energy whilst staving off the effects of burning fossil fuels. Also, it can make conventional war redundant, and provides the ultimate deterrent. Yet should common sense and a sense of decency fail, it will surely be our undoing and time to start again.
One 'positive' note regarding this- the areas around Chernobyl are apparently as abundant with life as any nature reserve, with no more mutation than normal. Animals and plants seem to live with levels of radiation far higher than humans can bear- which came as a surprise to many scientists. There will probably be no 'nuclear wasteland'- just impassable zones, in which nature is in fact recuperating from humanity's previous expansion. The one species with no natural enemy- other than themselves. Should they require an enemy!
We cannot speak of nuclear war. We can only speak of nuclear destruction.
On a lighter note, I managed to take part in an interview with a very intelligent and ancient space-being, telepathically, a couple of nights ago. I mostly remember a scene in which sunlight was streaming through an open window onto me, and the message was that the real meaning of life is to be found in the beauty of the everyday. Everyday life is full of much more than we might see if we don't bother to look- and photography is a way of finding this. It came at a good time- the night before I took photos at AJ's wedding party, which I went to with him and T. I may follow this wisdom and see more in each day at a time- and I think being in a High School is a good place for this.
I think it is very significant that the lands where humanity is said to have originated are engulfed by both conflict and promise. Things can truly go either way.
It is a beautiful story, in the sense that things may end where they begun... or of course blossom anew with emerging technologies.
I am suspecting that Iran may play a decisive role, and how that country is handled. After the Iraq debacle nations are loath to join a coalition against any particular state. Yet Iran seems to be developing nuclear weapons, which they could well discretely pass onto terrorists for them to use. Iran is a most isolated country- a Shiite nation of Persian stock surrounded by Sunni Arabs. Their natural friend may well be the West in such a case, yet they are overflowing with anti-Western vitriol, and viewed with deep suspicion. To complicate matters, there are also the beginnings of democracy there, along with an articulate president, though probably not an honest or straightforward one.
It is a very delicate situation.
I am assuming they are involved with elements of the resistance and kidnappers in Iraq. This would mean that they have moved from seeking sympathy, to making threats and blackmails. Could this grow into a nuclear blackmail? 'Do what we want or we set off the bomb'- another movie plot in our real world? Factor in also the continued development of missiles, and unprecedentedly large underground complexes, and we can see just what is possible.
I am left wondering at the inherent cruelty, in the kindness of granting us nuclear technology. On the one hand, it may be the only thing that could give us energy whilst staving off the effects of burning fossil fuels. Also, it can make conventional war redundant, and provides the ultimate deterrent. Yet should common sense and a sense of decency fail, it will surely be our undoing and time to start again.
One 'positive' note regarding this- the areas around Chernobyl are apparently as abundant with life as any nature reserve, with no more mutation than normal. Animals and plants seem to live with levels of radiation far higher than humans can bear- which came as a surprise to many scientists. There will probably be no 'nuclear wasteland'- just impassable zones, in which nature is in fact recuperating from humanity's previous expansion. The one species with no natural enemy- other than themselves. Should they require an enemy!
We cannot speak of nuclear war. We can only speak of nuclear destruction.
On a lighter note, I managed to take part in an interview with a very intelligent and ancient space-being, telepathically, a couple of nights ago. I mostly remember a scene in which sunlight was streaming through an open window onto me, and the message was that the real meaning of life is to be found in the beauty of the everyday. Everyday life is full of much more than we might see if we don't bother to look- and photography is a way of finding this. It came at a good time- the night before I took photos at AJ's wedding party, which I went to with him and T. I may follow this wisdom and see more in each day at a time- and I think being in a High School is a good place for this.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Patterns of Armageddon? (Emailed in Autumn 2004)
As for the Iran stuff, if you are not too skeptical you could read The Bible Code Book 2, which talks about something like this from passages encoded in the Bible's text. It certainly sounds like the threat of our times. Also the EU seems to be growing quickly and whilst their army is now very small, all they need to do is go out shopping for the latest equipment and 'bingo' they have a conquering force with the ability to give orders to people. All they need then is a President and there you have it- they'll want an empire to rule.
I see what you mean about a 'breaking point'. Everything we've seen so far is relatively moderate compared to what could be. A catalyst could ironically be a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Considering this a betrayal, Hamas assassinates Yasser Arafat, just as Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli radical. The situation breaks down and under the doctrine of 'extreme force to make peace', Israel opts for the costly option of retaking the entire West Bank. The carnage rises and finally a little-known terrorist group threatens the ultimate blackmail if Israel won't withdraw- with a nuclear weapon made in Iran. What they may have forgotten is a decision that Israel made long ago- that if they're going down they'll be taking the Arab nations and Iran along with them. Goodbye world.
I would see Iran as the place with the most extreme, end-of-world-hoping radicals. It really is something like a medieval society from what I have seen- and this seems to be forced on many of the inhabitants. Europe seems to be very comfortable with their current self-righteous and largely uninvolved position. This will be fine if everything turns out okay, but if it doesn’t then I imagine they will switch and decide to get involved- like you said, probably pressuring Israel. This pressure could lead to an illusionary 'peace agreement' that really ends up making the conflict worse. Israel trades a lot with the EU so if sanctions were threatened, that is all a believable path.
But as I always like to say- there is probably a sincere, diplomatic solution, too. Yet the 'Armageddon' option makes a lot of sense as a possibility. I wonder what could possibly intervene to stop it? Also, I like your garden of Eden analogy. It is kind of knowledge of Good and Evil- which we seem to have evolved to the state of needing, but in other ways we may be too young and unstable a species to handle it safely ourselves.
Whatever else we can say, interesting times are ahead. I agree with Christian fundamentalists that these are the 'end times'- but I probably see them a bit differently.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)