The sounds of Silence

People need to learn how to listen. I'm not the first person to say it, I doubt I'll be the last. So when will people start listening? A lot of time people ask questions that they would already known the answer too, had they taken the time to listen. Kundera said all conversation is, is one person talking about themselves while everyone else sits around waiting for their turn, to talk about themselves. The problem with Kundera is he is 100% accurate. We as human beings need to rise above that. We need to start listening to other people, otherwise we will remain doomed. Esse quam videri- to be, rather than to seem, we need to actually listen. Not for the sake of them but for our own sake. Look forget the other person's feelings in relation to your listening to them, but if you can't hear really hear what they're saying than why waste your time? your not gaining anything from it?
THe Talmud says a coin for your thoughts, two for your silence. Your thoughts, your verbalization of your thoughts have value. But, but you can learn far more from your silence. By staying silent you hear better, I'm no scientist but I think that's a pretty reasonable and easily proved assertion. Try talking and listening at the same time, Now just try listening which works better? assertion proved. Not only do you hear better, thus understand better what is going on around you, you are able to absorb more than you other wise would. The benefits don't stop there. Try listening to silence, eventually you'll hear the sound of silence. Stop speaking long enough your bound to hear it. The sound of silence will teach you more than any other sound. Once you stop talking don't just listen to what the other person is saying, listen to what they aren't saying. What did they leave out of conversation? What are they avoiding this will often tell you more than all their words. You can learn more from a person by what they don't say than what they do say, in case I wasn't clear before. Try it. Try listening to The sounds of Silence it might change your life.

The two party system needs to end

In America we have a two part system, any school kid can tell you this. But what's the point, besides of course that, that is just the way things have always been done. Today people think the words Democrat and Republican are just political parties, they don't even bother considering the ideals of the words Republic and Democracy. The two parties of today, as any student of history can tell you , are almost ideologically the opposite of what they were after the civil war through the gilded age and past. All that besides, politicians are terrible human beings by the mere fact that their livelihoods depend on impressing vasts amount of people, and people can't agree on anything, so to be a politician one must compromise. Since there are only two parties by necessity the parties are basically just two huge sides of moderate political ideals. Look at the patterns of American presidents, with an exception here or there one party is in control for a few elections than people grow dissatisfied, because people as a whole are inherently dissatisfied--but that's another issue--, and then they vote for a person of the different party, Now usually this switch happens when the opposite party not currently in power has a more charismatic leader. The problem is with only two political parties each party is forced to compromise and become similar, we need more parties. We need more parties that can represent smaller and more accurate portions of the population. An excellent example of this problem of moderation is if one examine religious voting statistics for the past several years, now I don't waste my time supporting my facts on a blog because all facts are biased and unfair so go look up your own, you'll probably find that most religious denominations vote relatively 40-60% for each part sometimes its dead on 50-50%. One notable exception are Jews who vote 85-90% in favor of democrats, with the exception of the issue of Israel in which the reverse is true where 85-90% agree with the Republican party who likes Jews and Israel far more than Democrats, Im sure I pissed off a bunch of people so comment and we can argue or discuss. However this points to the fact that, the facts are useless if around 50% vote for 1 of 2 parties what does that tell you? not much. We need more political parties just like almost any other representative democracy in the world. So for now I remain a firm supporter of our nations greatest president and only major third party Politician, Teddy Roosevelt and his Bull Moose party.

taking a stance

Have you ever been in a show of hands voting type forum? the choices are yes, no, abstain. well this post is to you people who abstain, don't be a child, don't be weak willed take a stance. That is the problem with the world today, people don't take a stance. Sometimes people think there is such a thing as neutrality, this is just a way for those people who abstani to assuage their guilt. Germans who stood by while Jews, cripples, Gypsies and many others were killed supported the Nazis and should be considered Nazis themsevles. It says in the opening scene of the popular movie The Boondock saints, we must all fear evil men but more than that we must fear the inaction of good men in the face of evil. Not fighting an atrocitiy is supporting it. This extreme example is easily applicable for less serious matters, but the message is still the same pick a side. In situations such as these its not a matter of a grey area, we aren't talking about moral quandries, murder is wrong a person, a person who murders is evil, a person who stands idly by while murder occurs is evil. Neutrality is a good idea, rarely it might even be possible in the real world but don't fool yourself not taking a stance, Is taking a stance.

Jesus Freaks

This does not refer to Christians of any particular sect or denomination or level of belief. This is about those guys who walk around with signs that say something like" fornicators, adulterers, sinners repent you are going to be cast into Hell" or some other flashy fire and brimstone type subject. These people feel the need to push their beliefs on to people in a forceful, gaudy and embarrassing manner, however this post isn't about converting and what not. Anyone who holds up a sign like that is not only mentally unstable they have no understanding of their own religion. Matthew 1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged./ For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. This is a common phrase in Christianity that gets bandied about pretty freely. However I think it is pretty clear in a faith where God is all knowing and all powerful only the figure of the Divine can judge a man, yet here men are condemning other men. That makes them hypocrite's as well as blasphemers. These Jesus freaks are freaks because they really hate the message of Jesus, which is why they seek to twist and pervert it to suit their own concept of what Christianity should be- thus they are the heretics so don't waste your time picking fights with these dumb schmucks.

Who Watch's the Watchmen?

A famous yet chilling line from one of the greatest stories ever told "Watchmen", this line forces us to ask ourselves the same question. Who watches the Watchmen. We as a society are forced to assume that police are good men who want to protect us, what a joke. Who overlooks law enforcement? other government agencies. Why isn't there a civilian oversight committee to start answering all the questions about police corruption, brutality, racism the list goes on. What about the questions that don't get asked? the less obvious questions? do the police men even know the law they are supposed to enforce? are they trustworthy individuals? What safeguards does the ordinary citizen have from the police? none, a cop can take any person into jail because they want to. This person is either forced to deal with getting out of jail, maybe even court dates not to mention maybe contending with dangerous criminals. Some will answer that's why we have the justice system, we have judges and lawyers to fight that sort of thing. That takes time and money both of which are hard to come by for Joe Schmoe. Some of you might believe police are good men let's ask Serpico. Police are the scum of the earth, only sadists become police. Don't believe that bullshit about how cops want to help people. If they wanted to help people they would have become firefighters, if they wanted to fight for freedom and protect lives they would have been soldiers, no they want to use a gun to scare kids. What differentiates the police from vigilante type character's in the "Watchmen" I can only think of two things, a shiny badge and an organization to help you get away with planting evidence, or beating kids up.

Wasted Potential

There is no bigger loss than wasted potential. When a person doesn't live up to their full capabilities they are squandering their gifts. What about humanities wasted potential? Mankind has the ability to do anything, go anywhere, the universe is not the limit. However we insist on limiting ourselves, God didn't say the sky is the limit, we did. Our language is full of these self-limiting catch phrases. How many times have you heard think outside the box? What box? who decided that we think inside a box? who decided there was a box? There is no box, except the one we put ourselves in and to be forced to think outside of this box is inherently limiting. We as a race, the human race, must break the shackles of these self-imposed limitations. Do not accept the status quo, if someone says to you, you can be president one day, ask yourself? why settle? A person who has the ability and potential to do something, is obligated to live up to that something, anything else is shameful. That is the biggest problem with humanity and society today, not only does wasted potential abound it is encouraged! Why else would there be so many problems in society today? Problems in society are inevitable this is true. However if the vast majority of the society was doing something, if the individuals that compose society used their unique skills to help the whole, then we would not have this feeling of hopelessness that besets us today. We would not look at the mounting economic crises and not even know what questions to ask. We see reports of radical extremist terrorist groups hurting innocent civilians, and what do people do? they excuse these atrocities! We need to stand up. I for one have had enough, the change starts with the individual. I leave you with two phrases I saw written in the stall in a bathroom at school, and I take these phrases as portents of the future, showing us two sides of the same coin. On one wall was written "Ignorance will destroy us" and just below it "Be the chosen one" Take these phrases to heart and don't accept the status quo.

hypocrisy of proselitization

This e-mail is for any member of the three major universalist religions that exist in the world for those of you who don't know what those are : Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. A universalist religion is one that thinks it is the only correct religion and anyone who doesn't agree with their particular sect is wrong, usually condemned to Hell, and often these religions actively seek converts. Now to talk about the ethics of conversion is more along a theological discussion and I am obviously biased towards the views of my own religion. However without discussing the ethics of proselitization, one is still able to consider the individuals who go out trying to convert people to their particular faith. Jehovah's witness jokes abound along these lines, but how many of you have ever taken the time to discuss religion with these guys? I have, when they come to my door I make it a policy to keep them there as long as I can until they say" excuse me, it's been nice talking to you but the rest of my group left and I have to go now". But I don't keep these people there just to waste time I discuss religion with them enthusiastically and give them their fair shot at converting me. However as soon as we start talking religion I realize that these guys are ignorant of their religion, I'm sure not all of them or just everyone I've ever spoken to, and I go out of my way to find them. These "professional converters" are just trying to get me to "sign on" so to speak, I usually can reference and quote the original and new testament better than they can. What's more is when I ask questions about their religious views in contemporary times I draw blank looks. The hypocrisy of proselitization is that the proslitizer's don't really care about their religion at all, they seek only to get numbers whether they are true believer or not. So what's the point? what is the point of getting someone to say "I believe this" if in their hearts it's not really true. Especially for the religions that believe in omnipotent God(s), The divine figure would obviously know the humans false belief, so again what is the point? For any of you who happen to read this blog and believe in the need to Proslitize or convert others to your religion at the very least consider a few simple facts 1. are you knowledgable about your religion to convert someone?2. Do you care whether they have any faith in what you say or do you just want another "player on your team"? 3. What gives you the right to force your beliefs on someone else?

Paassing the Buck

Everyone does it, you can see it everywhere, but what are the consequences? First of all what do I mean by passing the buck, I mean expecting someone else to fix you problems. When peopl hear something wrong with the world most of the time they think someone should do something, that's bull shit. People should say I should do something, if your not happy about something in the world and your not actually doing something to fix it what right do you have to complain about it. I hear a lot of talk about Obama, Not voicing opinions either way this is a neutral topic at least politically, but the talk is people expecting him to fix the countries problems. This is a much bigger version of what happens in peoples every day life. When did people start expecting someone else to do things for them? when did it become someone else's problem? If there's a problem and you don't do anything to solve it your just as much to blame as anyone, so either go out and work on the problem or shut up.

American literacy

Is a JOKE. If you want statistics put out by ineffectual agencies check them out online I think they are a waste of time an un-necessary. All you need to do to confirm this fact is to look around college campus' and see how many people are reading Harry Potter. Now Harry Potter is a great book for elementary school students who don't want to challenge themselves intellectually, but when Adults not only read Harry Potter but can't remember the last book besides that, that they read for themselves and not for a class. Don't take my word for it go out and ask around, ask your peers, ask people younger or older, I guarantee that the people you ask who mention Harry Potter first or close to first will have a skimpy list that is not on par with what their age group should be. Then look at the people who are quick to give a book, maybe even one you've never heard of. Ask yourself who would you consider a more literate individual?more intelligent? more enjoyable to talk to? I did this and the trend was unmistakable though I am unfairly biased. As a society we need to push more intellectually strenuous books on our young people at a younger age and we need to make literacy a core value, or in 500 years the world will look like IDIOCRACY and computers will either do everything or people will be stupid from never having to strain their intelligences. Wake up it starts with YOU, go out read a book if you need a suggestion ask a friend, don't have literate friend's ask me I'll help out. Do you want an America full of intelligent people? or an America full of individuals who struggle to read a Newspaper written at a 7th grade reading level, check which major newspaper do that, if it's not all of them it will shock you.

1% of people

50% of all people are below average, and 49out of the remaining 50% are only average. If you think this is wrong your not in that remaining 1% sorry buddy. That doesn't necessarily make you a bad person, I've already offended half of you, it's OK I'm really only talking to the non-offended one's anyway. One time I went to see a movie with my roommate, the movie started at 9 P.M, we walked into the theater at 9:02 there was a 50 person line to buy tickets from the ticket vendor. However my roommate and I quickly notice the ten machine's you can use your credit card to buy tickets, so we immediately buy are tickets and we are sitting down for previews at 9:05 while there are still 49 people in line. Neither of us are classified as genius' but how could no one else see the obvious answer? There was a fair mix of ages, races, ethnic groups, occupations, educational level a normal crowd but my roommate and I seemed to be the only one's able to grasp that simple solution. I wasn't shocked, because of the opening quote, this was one of the laws of the modern world at work. Sometimes I get a friend who asks me how so and so could let them down just by not showing up or by failing to see what was in front of their eyes. Time and time again the only explanation I can give them is people are stupid. I'm waiting for the world to prove me wrong call me a cynic but I don't see it happening.
The really difficult question is how can you know who is in that 1%? the best answer I've found is you get someone who knows what's up a.k.a. being in the 1% and they speak to an unknown individual and those people in the 1% know that within 2 minutes of conversation you can figure out how quick or worthwhile this individual is, for the most part don't flip out there are exception's to every rule. This isn't the only way sometime I read a book such as The Stranger by Camus, or The Watchmen and it's obvious the individuals responsible for writing those are brilliant, have a keener observation of humanity than most and thus are in that 1% some of you are pissed off about already.