It has never REALLY changed..

In class the other day, studying Contemporary Issues in Global Politics, my professor made reference to the bombing of Dresden in World War II by British and American forces. The fire storms caused by these fires killed over 20, 000 innocent civilians in a matter of days. The drafts were so strong from these fires that people were actually sucked into them. While searching through various links and related web sites I came across and excerpt from "Rogue State - A Guide to the World's Only Superpower" by William Blum. Not unlike the sequence from Fahrenheit/911 which displays various pictures associated with the many questionable acts taken by former presidents in their foreign policy, this section of the book describes various acts of harshness by leading American figure heads, past and present. The list is long and disturbing and shows the length of time over which these atrocities have been taking place. As long as humans run our governments these kinds of things will take place, no doubt. I, however, often make the mistake of thinking that things must have been pretty peachy "back in the day" when the Allies stood for justice, freedom and everything good in the world. Whatever, one day I'll be the president, and everyone will eat chocolate ice cream for free!

A disability worthy of more attention?....

Today,
Sitting on the bus, coming home from school, a man in a wheel chair boards the bus. The process is long and arduous for all and it feels like most of all for those observing. I see faces wrought with concern and agony, almost more embarrassed for themselves having to witness this, than for the man doing what he probably goes through each and every day. Nothing out of the ordinary, although still probably exacting its toll on him just same, but for us a sudden wave of concern and shame at our unwillingness and shyness at offering some help or aid.
All the reason we should feel guilty for not doing everything in our power to make this person feel comfortable and welcome in our midst, instead of awkward and embarrassed for taking up so much of our precious time as he boards the bus. Then later, sitting outside the Laundromat as I read A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren, I glance up to see a woman, looking every bit the same as any other, limping up the street. As I feel my on cue emotions of sadness and pity for this person that's been so hard done by, it dawns on me. Why do we feel so much discomfort and sadness towards people who are physically disabled, when they themselves often adapt and function very well over time. Is it that we, as a society, value and worship the physical so much, that we find a limp, or the inability to walk, the most catastrophic affliction that one could suffer?
I feel no such feelings towards those I know or have met who suffer from A.D.D., Schizophrenia, bipolar, borderline, O.C.D., autism, or a learning disability. Further more, I wonder why we feel compelled to attach the word suffer on to these titles, and yet don't feel the same sadness for them as for someone who is disabled. Don't we all suffer every day. Arthritis, migraines, food allergies, asthma, are all so common, yet not considered nearly as horrible as someone who was born missing a leg or an arm. It seems to me that perhaps our society covets the physical being and almost brushes the mental off as being unimportant.
I've also noticed that throughout this posting I have used the term "we" when really explaining my own perceptions and feelings. This is likely not fair as there are people out there, no doubt, that feel as much sympathy for someone with a mental disorder as for someone in a wheel chair. Perhaps it is merely myself that needs to work on reversing my perception of what are really the most important things in life.

World War 3?...

Wow... it's all I can say in regard to what is unfolding in the Middle East. Israel, the symbol of American dominance in the Middle East, is currently bombarding Lebanon by air, see and land. Lebanese soldiers have been ordered not to respond to Israeli attacks, but many have been killed in the Israeli assault just the same. Over 200 hundred people are dead in Lebanon and Israel shows no signs of letting up, in fact now the Israeli prime minister is pointing fingers at Iran. Meanwhile, Hesbollah is launching hundreds of rockets into Israel that are aimed at none other than civilians. Israel wants it's soldiers back, Hesbollah wants prisoners released, neither is willing to budge.
If (and I believe it's likely when) Iran becomes involved, all hell will break loose. There is a chance we may still see large scale conventional war fare, which so many thought died away with the invention of nuclear, chemical and long range warfare. This war will not be over land, resources or strategic positioning, but will reflect the most dividing issue that faces our world today and throughout the entire span of our history, and that is religious belief. This is, however, not the only driving force behind this conflict and may even be less a cause then one other issue, racism. I believe that the western society has created a strong racism towards the muslim world, one that they now feed with the retaliating responses from the Middle East. The wrongs committed against the Arab world are too many to count, and so it is no wonder they hate us now, but to use there anger at us as a reason to commit more wrongs against them is something I cannot believe the U.S. has done. Anti-American sentiment has never been at a higher point than it is now. Some 10,000+ Iraqis are estimated dead in the last two months due to the fighting that still goes on as a result of the American lead invasion. How can "We", the Western World, ever make up for the wrongs that have been carried out against the muslim world, let alone even come close to healing the hatred so many millions harbour against us? It's a scary time we live in and it's never required our attention more than right now...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Time is almost up..

"Every day, the United States consumes close to 21 million barrels of oil, the majority of it going into transportation." (1) We make more products from oil than one can count. Anything from the gas we drive our cars with, the soles of your shoes to the plastic bags we use every day. 21 million barrels a day is a lot, how much can there be left on the planet. Bicycles all the way baby... yah!


(1) Quote from - http://www.participate.net/oilchange/issue

Resources: http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/10/02/global.warming/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3777413.stm

The Car

It seems to me, correct me if I'm wrong, that the invention of the car and all subsequent developments associated with it (traffic, highways, stop signs, red lights, the horn), has led to the destruction of "community" as humans once knew it. Road rage, which when thought long and hard about, seems at first almost comical and then quickly ridiculous and infinitum. People getting out of there cars, enraged beyond understanding, and beating another human being, who they've likely never met before, within an inch of their life, or sometimes taking it for that matter. This is something that you would assume the lowest form of intelligence might partake in, but no, the most intelligent form of life on the planet will kill for being accidentally cut off by another driver while coming home from work.
Then we have the horn, an insult to the very fabric of humanity, a device made solely for the purpose of making everyone else in a square block radius want to throttle you and possibly drag you into the street for a good disciplining. It is a form of speech that is simple and it's sole purpose is not really known any more, it seems to start more fights than anything. Come to think of it, I can't think of the last time I remember a horn being used in a constructive way.
The car has lead to the development of the suburban sprawl, a curse to the human race and all that lives on this earth. It breads obesity and the consumption of products such as the Suburban and the H2... enough said. But most of all the car has created a gap between people, where people used to wave and exchange pleasantries on the street, they now honk and pull the middle finger while passing in SUVs. Instead of holding the door for the next person entering the corner store, we fight for the best parking spot. When was the last time you were smiled at from another car while you were in yours, cause all I can count are the numerous frowns and glares I've received... even as a passenger.


YAY FOR CARS (especially SUVs, I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur of the larger ones, the more gas consumed the better I say!)

Am I saved?...

First of all, how can someone define a certain point of time in their existence where they were suddenly saved from eternal damnation and were guaranteed a spot in Heaven with God. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of living the rest of your life? If you have been saved, lets say at 2:00pm Thursday the 19th of June 2005, and your sure that you have been promised this eternal life of bliss, then where is the struggle. Would this not cancel out any possibilities of you ending up somewhere other than heaven, and in the process cancel out the need for you to try being Christ-like any more? What's keeping a Christian motivated to be Christian when they're convinced that there is nothing they can do to get them out of Heaven, because they're saved.
The second issue I have with this, is that the idea of being "Saved" only leads to a judgmental attitude. A Christian who believes themselves to be saved will judge others, based on a certain set of criteria, to be saved or not. "Have you offered your life to Christ yet?", and if the reply is no, then you are certainly not saved and are going to burn in hell, unless the words are uttered and fast! Well, who do we think we are to judge others in the place of God? What point in time was it that we got the bright idea that we could decide exactly what it takes for another to get into heaven? It seems to me like a lot of people are missing the point, and should most likely reexamine themselves before being so willing to make these finger pointing statements towards others. So tell me, does this whole saved issue really mean that the Good Samaritan is going to burn in hell for not repeating a certain set of words?

So Lazy

A very large number of people throughout the span of this world's history have achieved amazing accomplishments. I, however, am not one of them. The potential is there... if anyone tries hard enough at something they can usually come up with some impressive results. Laziness is such an appealing alternative to hard work and achievement. Just for arguments sake, lets take the example of Winston Churchill, a man of great achievement no doubt. Could he have not decided to sit at home, drink delicious thirst quenching Guinness and smoke fine Swedish cigars? Undoubtedly he could have, so what is it that motivated him to reach all his life for something new and to never settle for self satisfaction in laziness? All I know is I can be very lazy, and one day I'll regret the days wasted doing nothing, and thinking of the great things that could have been achieved with a little perseverance. It's a shame.