Thursday, January 15, 2015

France Shows Need for Compassion, Integration

Here The New York Times discusses need. Income inequality, and tolerance two defining issues.
Most people and parents and families would rather put down guns (than have firefights with their neighbors over religion) and are peacefully educating their next generation, and share in the mutual prosperity of modern nations.

But, as throughout history, there still there are violent and extreme people existing on the margins of all societies. Who now can take up guns and 'adopt ' 'holy war' in their search for power and/or destruction/retribution. Using the Koran as an excuse (like Boko Haram, largely ignorant thugs).
It's important to separate the most fringe element -- who are already by an unlucky combination of genes willing to kill or be killed for no apparent good reason, from those who are lacking anything better to do (apathetic youth in cultures without much opportunity or individual expression). See my post here "Antidotes to violence..."  http://colbyallerton.blogspot.com/2012/12/hollywood-responds-to-deadly-conn.html

Modern Muslims condemning the violence and urging a peaceful path are taking an authentic spiritual path that can inform all societies.

We all must support, tolerance, compassion, and income equality. And peace.

NYT has interesting take: I am not Charlie Hebdo. About personal responsibility, satire, growing up, and what kind of content a modern culture might be better off surrounding themselves with.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/opinion/david-brooks-i-am-not-charlie-hebdo.html?_r=4 

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Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here