Power has no religion...

I was enamored this evening with a program on Aljazeera...arguably the best objective news media source in the world today...with a program about the power of the Catholic church, the Vatican, and religion in general.  The program is called "Empire" (here is a link to the program which I hope remains long term) and much of the conversation was about the changes and "de-centralization" Pope Francis is extending via his new role as Pope of the Catholic church.

In this interview, we have a Jesuit priest, a media specialist and an secular author on Catholic issues discussing the possible changes to come in the world's largest religion and Christian denomination.  I believe this was one of the most objective interviews and discussions I have seen about religion, especially Catholicism, and the issue of power and empire building based on that religion.

Without reviewing the broadcast linked above, I want to comment on the basic issues that it represents. Anyone who has studied history from an objective and secular viewpoint must give credence to the role of religion in cultures and historic events of the past 2000+ years. We only have to go back a few decades in modern history to see and understand events such as "Vatican 2", the new Evangelical movements within Protestantism, and other religious movements to see its affect on modern day governments and civilization as a whole.

The first Vatican council was in 1868. The second ran for three years and closed in 1965.  My what a difference those 100 years made in positions and standards of the world's largest religion, Catholicism. Anyone who claims that religion has no affect or role in global events is simply misinformed or ignorant at best. Historically governments have used religious fervor as a preface for actions it wanted to take.  Why is that?  Because religion is the most fundamental emotion at the core of human behavior and action. Most people in the world have a fundamental faith of some kind...and this "fundamentalism" drives every decision and position taken by this majority of humans. While secularism is growing in the world...we must still take religion very seriously in world affairs.  After all, most politics, wars and economic divides are based on religious/cultural divisions that are used and manipulated by powers that be to deliver the subterfuge that those powers exist by.

Without boring you with a long historical rendition of examples, we only have to look back the last century to see how politics and religion have conspired together to affirm each other. Going back to WW2 and Nazi Germany, we see the struggle between Catholic and Protestant churches to survive during this political plague of extreme egotism of the secular Nazi state. It is obvious that many "accommodations" were made between political and religious leaders of the day in order to sustain power and influence on both sides of this equation. Neither side of this divide were honest or out front on their positions regarding the other, because both sides wanted to survive and found ways to manipulate each other to secure their powers and influence. Meanwhile, you had Jews and fundamentalists like German preacher Bonhoeffer who could not or did not change their "spots" to accommodate the powers of that day...and they paid the ultimate sacrifice for their identity or beliefs.

While I could go through many other examples in this current century, lets jump to today's reality of "church and state".  At the highest levels, today's international conflicts are being waged based on cultural and religious heritages midst the expanding melting pot of human migration because of globalism. The "western world", dominated by "Christian" traditions and values, is in direct competition and conflict with Eastern religions and/or Asian secularism. Today's conflicts are many...between Catholics and Protestants in many parts of the world, especially Ireland, and between Shia and Sunni Muslims in so many Middle East and Eastern countries. The religious "masses" are all laying claim to their dominance, or "future" dominance, based on the apocalyptic fundamental beliefs they have maintained for thousands of years.  Yet, as a growing secularist, one has to ask...where does this all end...and to whom goes the "spoils" of these conflicts?

I have come to the point in life and belief where I think this is all a game of smoke and mirrors played out by modern day "Wizards of Ozs" who make the masses think they have democratic control,  or should be "thankful" to be taken care of by the great ruler or government over them, which pays homage to a "God" of their persuasion. All the same, these "leaders" or rulers are playing a game of "Charades", using the media and financial backing to create an image of competency, belief or leadership that does not truly exist.  Yet, because of the ease of mass manipulation, these people get away with their roles of power and influence purely based on mass appeal versus true character or identity.  There is a caste system of "king makers" within most religions and governments.  They are about sustaining the status quo more than what is in the best interests of the masses.

In recent eras of American politics, especially at the the Presidential level, we have seen tremendous distortions and contradictions in statements of our aspiring leaders. Because most people have no true understanding of what real Christianity or Islam is all about...we really aren't clear on whether our current President is Christian, Muslim or totally Secular.  I get almost daily emails from various factions making claims on all sides of that equation for President Obama. In the end, I don't know and don't care. I just want him to be a man of his word and a true leader of the best interests of ALL Americans.

I continue to believe that power corrupts, and "absolute power corrupts absolutely".  I have seen it personally in religious and political organizations...and I also often see it in corporate or business environments. When humans reach a certain point of "success" or "following", they tend to meta-morph into authorities and ideologues whose positions and statements go largely unquestioned by the masses who follow them. Somehow, we humans just need someone in flesh and blood to follow and believe in to feel safe and whole in our vast universe. We love to suck on the hind tit of popular thought and reason to settle any mystery we have about life.

I believe that the influence of "power" supersedes all religions and governments. It is very difficult to find a truly objective or centrist leader in religion or government.  Contradictions exist everywhere.  Case in point the previously mentioned new Argentinian Pope Francis.  On one hand he purports an agenda of humility and identification with the poor masses of his following. At the same time, he continues to uphold centuries old and outdated dogmas such as prohibition of contraceptives and sexual abstinence of clergy in the Catholic church which continues the cycle of mass poverty and unrealistic expectations of human behavior.  When will a church leader ever step up and give human sexuality its due in the course of real human life, desire and connectivity?  When will we rid ourselves of the guilt complexes most of us continue to grow up with in this supposedly enlightened age?

At the end of the day, I believe people who want power go in either of three directions...religion, politics or executive management.  In the pure sense, I have no problem with the human drive to lead and succeed and "making a difference" in humanity and progress.  At the same time, it is hard to find a leader in any of those three "practices" who is completely transparent about who they are and what they REALLY believe. It seems that to grow in power almost demands that we often must cover up our real thoughts or beliefs. We must be "acceptable" to the majority...which is not always the most moral.

I have met many Republicans who are closet Democrats, and vice versa.  I have met many Christian clergymen who quietly question the fundamentals of Christianity.  I have met many Corporate leaders who are all about their own egos, power and influence in the corporate environment. They will do "whatever it takes" to succeed or be  liked and supported.  In the end I believe they do this because they want to have power and influence more than even money.  They want this more than to be true to themselves.  They want this more than "truth" itself.  And many discover the truth about their beliefs or positions far too late in life to admit change or failure of those positions.

Power has no religion...and religion is extremely about power and control over humanity. Truth and "power" are quite separate bedfellows. Just study objectively your history...and you will see it too.

How Full is Your Cup?

While I make no apologies for no longer being religious...I continue to take instruction from many truths that are contained in the Bible and other writs of many different religions. It appears that in our pursuit of making  a "supreme being", we have stumbled upon some significant human truths that bear repeating.  As the old saying goes..."don't throw the baby out with the bathwater".

The Bible in various places uses the symbol of a "cup" to illustrate many points the authors were trying to make. Usually a cup represents the portion of life a person is given. Other passages talk about giving a cup of water to those in need while in other places it refers to the soul as in filling our cup of joy, grief, love, etc..  I have always liked the allegory of a cup to illustrate if our lives are full or not...or to measure happiness.

When we carry that symbol to our love lives...I think it takes on a whole other dimension. In this cause and effect world I believe in, I think the measure of our "cups" are directly proportionate to how we have been loved, nurtured or cared for. The nature of love itself calls on us to be sensitive to our own needs and the needs of others for positive reinforcement, encouragement and support of ones ego or identity. Unless you have enough self love to give from, you cannot love someone else effectively. Also, if your cup is so full of yourself that you have no room for others, you will not be able to receive from another person.

This also serves as the basis for "community" in my estimation. All normal humans in my experience respond positively to those who are affirming and uplifting of others while no one tends to be very comfortable around people that are negative, unhappy or bring us down. We tend to like genuinely cheerful people over morose or depressed ones, because they "fill our cup".  They make us feel good to be around them and even better about ourselves.

There is a Proverb that says "he will have friends who shows himself friendly".  Cause and effect. Another thing my grandfather used to say to me is "you will be known by the company you keep".  I extend that to the reality that we "become" like the people around us.  Therefore, we will tend to be happier and content if we are around people with positive outlooks and energy.  Likewise, if we are always around negative, critical and even evil people...we will tend to become like them or at least brought down by them in our life experience.

In general, I believe that people with "full cups" tend to be those who have come from nurturing families and traditions.  Some people are just lucky enough to be brought up in homes and families that filled them with hope and positive energy...while others have had to suffer or find a way to fill their cups from other external sources or by removing themselves from their original communities or families.  I don't know about you, but I can always sense when I walk into someone's house whether this space is basically happy or sad, positive or negative.  This to me is "spirit" that is hard to quantify, but is nonetheless a result of attitudes and personalities that fill that living space.  I don't believe in ghosts...but I do believe in "essence" or "aura".  This essence is determined by the character and personality of the people in that house or room. It is a powerful entity. You also sense it when strong, self assured people enter a room or you observe them in the street. There is power in having a full cup and a healthy ego.

I do believe that love and happiness is a choice.  I don't think anyone can MAKE anyone else be happy.  It has to be a choice of an individual to receive or experience love and happiness. It is about being content and happy with the basic things and not always aspiring to that which we don't have.  Is our cup half full or half empty? Do we contribute to other people's cups positively by filling them, or do we take from them without giving anything back in return?

The most balanced relationships I have observed in my lifetime are between couples of similar personalities, backgrounds and outlooks. There seem to be less and less of these couples anymore.  In many cases there is a strong person with a weaker one.  There is a giving partner and a taking partner. It's called "co-dependency". Sometimes these relationships work for a long time or forever...but you never quite feel comfortable being around these types of "couples".  You would rather be with one or the other...because no one wants to see someone else s cup, or your own for that matter, being drained for no good reason.

I think human relationships at whatever type of love we are discussing are a balancing act. There is a time to give and a time to take.  There is a time to confront, and there is a time to forgive.  Everyone seems to have  a different capacity level to give without getting in return...but eventually even the strongest among us needs some positive reinforcement or moral support.  I have seen "givers" who after a while lose their essence.  They burn out.  They may still be givers...but the joy of giving is gone when people just take advantage of their generosity without reciprocating.

There are many people who don't know how to "receive" gracefully.  I think many people way down deep feel unworthy of being loved or supported...whether it be emotionally, physically, financially or otherwise. The inability to receive often comes from PRIDE...too proud to need anything or anyone. Or...it can be indicative of FEAR...fearing to receive because they don't want to "owe" anything in return or risk being hurt if the sharing shuts off at some point.  Some of us fear getting too close to others because we think we have to always be self sufficient...and we have learned unfortunately not to trust or believe in anyone.  These person's cups are continually low or empty...and they have nothing to give even if they may have a cup of abundance they don't even realize they have.

Sometimes it is as simple as a hug or a firm handshake between friends. I come from a culture that was never  very warm and affectionate physically. Much of our western civilization as a whole has become frigid and distant physically.  We don't think twice about sportsmen hugging each other as strangers on the field of sport, yet many of us feel funny hugging or being hugged by friends or family. I don't believe this is natural...but is learned behavior from those we have "shared cups" with. You can almost always tell when someone is uncomfortable with physical affection or proximity.  They stiffen or pull back. BUT...I believe over time, with consistent "cup filling",  these false barriers or limits can be breached in positive ways.

My father was internally a very caring man, but physically he was always a bit distant and detached.  Most of that side of the family and generation were. In my early 20s I spent a lot more time with him than I had in my childhood through my parents divorce at a young age. He was actually a bit down and out at that time and was living with me while going through another divorce. I decided that I was going to start hugging my Dad instead of our occasional handshake...if only a feeble attempt to make him feel not so alone or detached in the world.   At first he always went stiff and could not embrace back...but after months of doing this...slowly but surely...my Dad started hugging back. He hardly ever initiated this his whole life...but he got to where he would reciprocate. This helped fill my cup back...knowing that he was responding to what I was trying to demonstrate or express to him. A couple years later when my grandmother died...I was late getting to the visitation because I lived far away.  I hadn't seen much of him lately due to moving away and I wondered how he was handling or responding to loosing Grandma who he was particularly close to.  When I arrived, I went directly to my father and he immediately hugged me and broke down crying.  One of the only times I saw him do that in his life. My stepmother told me he had not cried until that moment...and I felt honored that he chose to do that with me.  I think it was because we had learned to fill each others cups.  And that is what this is all about.

Modern day Slaves...

I hate to be the one to inform you, but most of you reading my blog are living your lives in virtual SLAVERY.  You are not truly free or independent to live where or how you might like without permission from many of your "slave-owners".  Let me explain briefly how this has happened...and what you can do about it.

For most of us, this started from our first days after birth. We were brought into this world innocent and free to become whatever our individual potentials might have been. Unfortunately, most of our parents were unknowing slaves to institutions and governments who have for generations perpetuated an agenda for limiting individual freedoms in the name of God and country.

While we were yet infants we were taught, or it was demanded of us, to form our identities around a flag of nationhood and/or around symbols of a blind faith in God or his "representatives".  Day after day we were prodded and educated to replicate the behaviors and attitudes of our forefathers , pay tribute to our governments and to "put God first in our lives"...unless of course we prefer going to jail...or hell.

Our history books were written and edited with patriotic fervor...extolling only the positive actions and virtues of our national histories. At least in the USA textbooks, all our wars, invasions and conflicts were justified and moral. Plus...God was usually on our side and called upon by all our rulers to bless our wars and prefer our nation and race over all others. Freedom and honor was always the patriotic rallying cry from all institutions in one unified voice...military, political and religious. Amazingly, most other civilized nations had the same prayer towards the same God, but apparently some of them were not heard.

The unintended consequences of nationalist victory was more and more controls and demands from burgeoning governments and new global organizations such as the League of Nations, United Nations, World Bank, etc.. With the end of every major war in the past century, government leaders realigned borders and barriers to divide the world into separate "fiefdoms" of governmental controls.  Masses of the world were forced to align under despotic leader after power hungry leader who were often put in position by the big three global powers of the day to control the masses and force styles of government and trade mandated by those few empirical powers.

Taxation without representation became the mode of the day throughout the world...democratic and non democratic systems alike. Distribution of goods and services, money and commodities, were all controlled by a few hundred "leaders" around the world...most of them politicos, lawyers or bankers.  Without the general knowledge or consensus of common individuals, we now find our rights and freedoms to live and move about at will to be totally controlled by these mysterious and unnamed forces. "They" are the ones who issue us passports...or not...for leaving our countries of origin or residence or entering those we have interest in. "They" are the ones who control and manipulate our currencies and costs of food, gas, clothing and travel.  We have unwittingly become the "slaves" of large unknown powers...who we THINK we can vote in and out of power...but realistically we have no objective knowledge or power to determine our leaders/slaveholders anymore.

For the foreseeable future, gone are the concepts of laissez faire economics, free trade or free association.  Technology has become a double edged sword of giving us freedom of information and perspective, yet also that same technology has obliterated your privacy and freedom to come and go as you please or worse yet, move YOUR money from one place or currency to another.

The worst slavery is that form where the slave does not know he is kept. Its like raising rats in a large cage featuring a maze where their whole short lives are spent trying to figure out how to find their way out...but they are never allowed to succeed.  That is how many of us are living our lives...trying to convince ourselves that the institutional "mazes" we live in are truly for our own good and the masses around us.  Heaven forbid should we ever find ourselves truly free from the masses to operate on our own levels of freedom and self determination.  We might never survive without all these controls over our lives. We are forced to live like Sméagol in "Lord of the Rings" who had been deformed and twisted in both body and mind by the corruption of the Ring. His chief desire was to possess the Ring that had enslaved him, and he pursued it for many years. To me he is simply an allegory for how so much of the human race lives on a daily basis...our lives of "quiet desperation".

The saddest fact of how most of us live our lives is that we do not realize we are enslaved.  We do not know what it is like to take 100% responsibility and control for our existences. A majority of the world lives totally dependent on one system or another of mass domination and manipulation. We are not allowed to see or know information about the conflicts and economic policies of our governmental rulers.  We are not encouraged to know or understand the history of the religious books so many of us base our lives on. We simply accept the social handouts and "guarantees" of basic survival and are so proud of how we play our various systems to get more of a handout than our neighbor next door.  We compete in the feeding troughs of the masses while never discovering the riches to be had outside of the system/maze we are in.

So, what are our alternatives?  If we suddenly wake up to these realizations, what can we do?  In my mind, we basically have two choices.

One, we simply escape the systems, recede to some distant, more basic style/standard of living where money is not an issue or an object.  Like the heroes in "Atlas Shrugged", we need to discover the secret and lost community where we can live and express ourselves freely and not depend on the machinations of the mainstream systems. OR...

Two...we must strive and grapple to get more than our share of money and power in the current system.  If we become part of the bankers or politicos who control the system...this is the only way we are above the rules and regulations of that system.  We need to become part of the "crony" network to succeed with this option.

Sorry...I wish I had more options, ideas and hope for getting out of slavery...but until more of the masses realize just how captured they are...there will be no strong movement towards a truly free and independent way to live. Until we get out of the control of mainstream media, educational systems and religious programming...we will never know our true selves, potentials...or the TRUTH.

Militants and Patriots

It is increasingly becoming difficult in this world to know who the "good guys" are.

Since the recent bombing at the Boston Marathon, we have various government and law enforcement people coming out with sensational views and twists on this perplexing situation.  While it is obviously sad to have experienced this dire act that killed and maimed so many at the finish of the race...I fear our government and others are hyping this situation to accelerate their own agendas which will truly mean more CONTROLS on the American public, throwing out the Constitution of the USA and turning the USA into a "military warzone".  After all, this is the easiest way for a government to LEGALLY have free reign in exercising power to control the masses. When you see militarism directed at a government's own citizenry, you are seeing the end of liberty in that land.

We have suspension of rights or due process that have happened at various points in US history, and in some cases for good reasons.  President Lincoln suspended Habeas corpus twice during the Civil War. It was suspended in Hawaii for the whole of World War 2 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the "corralling" of thousands of Japanese Americans in California and elsewhere. I am not sure those actions were necessary, but again, it was fear of the unknown that instigated these limitations of freedom.

The November 13, 2001 "Presidential Military Order" gave then President George W Bush powers to detain non-citizens simply based on SUSPICION of terrorist links or being "enemy combatants".  This allowed indefinite suspension of "due process" of law in detaining or prosecuting "persons of interest" as then Attorney General Ashcroft liked to call them.  While it was understandable that the USA government and its citizens wanted to control and defend our borders from terrorists after 9/11...many of us believe that our government was over reaching in its grab for power and controls apart from a Constitutional approach to investigation and apprehension of criminal elements or terrorists.  The insidiously named "Patriot Act" by the Bush administration post 9/11 contains numerous clauses and points that are in direct conflict of Constitutional authority of the Presidential office and of Congress as a whole...and while some Democrats and the current President spoke out against it over the years...they now have taken no measures in over 5 years of majority power to cut back its provisions.  This to me double underscores the hypocrisy of political leaders and the allure of power.

During the current administration in the USA, we have seen the persecution/prosecution without "due process" of the young soldier, Private Bradley Manning, who participated in the "Wikileaks" affair which spilled the beans on so many politicos world wide with "classified" information that was taken and released to the general public. This has created a firestorm of intergovernmental wrath probably never experienced before in modern times.  There is no rage like a bully...revealed for the liars and cowards they are. We are now seeing our government, tied to many of their statist allies, persecuting the soldier and Wikileaks founder with no due process of law and using trumped up, military style rules of law to punish these individuals for simply disseminating truth. Most of what was released of these "leaks" are in my opinion things that should always be open for the citizens of our country to review or know about.  The absolute power of leaders to hide or "classify" information has been taken to an extreme that is intolerable by responsible citizens who should be more informed and aware of how they are being governed. History I think will deem Private Manning and Mr. Assange as freedom fighters and global patriots even if that may not have been their principle intention. Yes, it is very embarrassing to my country...but more than deserved.

(If you want to have a small taste of what the Wikileaks affair is all about or have never checked their website for yourself...just check out this interview with founder Julian Assange...and do NOT believe all the hype of world media against him.  While he may not be a saint, he is not a fool. )

Now we have people like our "good" Congressman Lindsay Graham  wanting to rewrite the constitution in order to give the government blanket powers for detaining or prosecuting ANYBODY, citizen or non. Why is it that every time some shooting or bombing happens inside the USA, government continually calls out for MORE controls and/or limitations on everyone's freedoms?  In light of today's conflictive world, I would suggest that we have a relatively SMALL amount of such incidences under our current laws and resources for enforcement. Now that we have captured two delusional youngsters in this action, our leaders continue to call for MORE powers or limitations of freedom for citizens.  Where does this come from?  What is the logic?  As we have seen time and time again throughout history, when a government assumes absolute power over it's citizens, it's citizens have arbitrarily given up their personal and collective freedoms.  When this happens, as our wise forefather Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one".

My current great fear and observation is that our USA government is using these terrible events to position themselves into more autocratic powers. These are the same tactics used by all previous empires to rule and dominate the masses...from Rome to England to Hitler to Chavez in Venezuela.  They demand that the poor and uneducated give their leaders the absolute power to "provide for them and protect them" from the evils of those mysterious outsiders and terrorists who would seek to take away their freedom and safety.  While it is very human to want to be protected from calamity and loss...if it means I have to live the rest of my days in a virtual prison bound by borders and ruled by absolute powers that be...I prefer to take my chances in the street as a free man.

I am not convinced that these two young Chechen brothers who apparently committed this travesty in Boston should be a catalyst for our government pursuing suspension of rights or Habeas corpus for ALL citizens of our great country. The government and media readily admits that these two young men were working alone and probably in some fantasy world of their own making that unfortunately was acted out in this hideous manner. Yes, we are happy that they have been "taken out". Yet...we have these asinine politicos now raging for MORE blind power, LESS restraints on militarization within our borders and they are basically saying to us that ONLY THEY can protect us from this happening again and again.  They need our guns controlled...but they need freedom to use theirs without question or limit.  This is a very scary proposition for the citizenry of the USA. 

I for one believe we MUST return to Constitutional controls on our runaway big government...from taxes to entitlements to warfare.  I would suggest that most people who now vote...especially the younger generations...have no clue what the Constitution of the US says.  They do not understand "limitation of powers" or the provisions so widely distributed between the three main branches of federal government, and the reasons for those limitations. Many of them could not tell you what those three branches are. Most could not name one Amendment or Article thereof...yet these are the people voting on the issues and leaders to enforce that very Constitution.

If we continue to drink this bathwater of fear and relinquish our controls due to disinterest in the facts or lack of understanding...we citizens will soon find ourselves part of a nation-state that is no longer "of the people, by the people and for the people"... and we will deserve our lot.

Morality is Relative

In what there is of my spare time, I tend to read instead of watch TV for escape.  But then, when I read I am often thrown into unexpected turmoil by studying historic confrontations over relative morality.  Not very relaxing, huh?

The last two books I have read are bios on President Harry Truman, and most recently Winston Churchill.  I found both works to be quite balanced in the treatment of two of this past century's most influential leaders of the Western World.  Both of these gentlemen, along with the Russian dictator Stalin, were primarily responsible for the defense of the world against Nazi Germany, and thereafter the carving up and reallocation of most of the boundaries and governments in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Northern Africa.  For me, reading the background of thought, nationalism and "convenient liaisons" that became the cause and effect of our most recent global boundaries and battles between the world superpowers double underscores the fact of relative morality as it defines these actions on the world stage.

There is no doubt that these men fell into their positions of global dominance by a combination of fateful circumstances and being willing and prepared to step into the vacuum of leadership the world had for them at that moment in time. It seems historically that war and conflict brings forth the demand and testing of "men of the moment" who are forced or willingly step up to lead their countries or cultures to battle.  I think some sort of "Darwinian" force is at work in the world that creates these combinations of leaders to reinvent the world time after time and supposedly assure the "survival of the fittest".  At the same time, an honest and educated person must recognize in this process the inconsistency and imperfection of any man, or country for that matter, to rule or control with objective morality at its core.  If we recognize that no man is perfect, we must also recognize that no body of men making or governing by laws are going to be perfect in enforcing or interpreting those laws.

As you read these histories, you realize how power changes the man. Once someone has tasted the heady nature of power and control over other men...that person will never be content to return to submitting to another's authority.  They will always be devising a way to stay in a position of influence and effect with the powers that be.  There are very few "Cincinnatus'" in the history of the world, and even Truman thought he WAS a Cincinnatus type leader...though his ego and post presidential actions or attitudes say otherwise.

There are so many cases of subjective morality that we could discuss about both Truman and Churchill. Some decisions were made based on Judeo-Christian ethical thinking tied to the cultures of the day, while other decisions could be argued to be totally contrary to such beliefs. It is quite easy to point out the contradictions of many decisions these leaders made compared to the moral or religious backdrop they were ruling from.  They obviously had to make decisions that were very difficult...from the bombing of innocent Germans in Dresden and other German cities to the Atomic bomb development and use on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  From a Darwinian point of view it is easier to understand these decisions than it is from a Judeo Christian point of view. So, it seems much of our culture's morality is fundamentally based on convenient application or interpretation of those philosophies or religions purported, and frequent departure from black and white interpretations thereof.

This article today on our "inconsistent ethical instincts" questions how firm our principles are and underscores much of my thinking in relationship to leadership and morality.  How good "Christian" men can push the buttons on Atomic missiles ..or even develop such a weapon...is a contradiction to me.  How "Christian" people can be so hateful and vile of Liberal presidents or people of different sexual orientation is a contradiction to me.  Its not that I don't understand why and how these things happened...but it still points out to me the "convenience" of moral principle as it plays out in real life. At the end of the day, the future IS more about survival of the fittest versus some Utopian dream of global equality or rule of law. Law it appears is based on who can afford to fight for it or manipulate it...while in general "lawlessness" prevails, even under the banner of nationalism or religion...or fatally both.

When people so flippantly label a country like the USA as a "Christian" nation...I simply revert back to so many major events in our country's history where that moral code was missing in action and one has to question the true motivation behind the claim of high moral ground.  In the balance of good and bad deeds, what percentage makes a man or country "moral"?  If I kill 5 people and save 5 people, am I a killer or a saint?  If I feed 5 white poor people while ignoring 5 black ones...am I good or bad?  Do "Christian" nations endorse slavery, invade other countries without provocation murdering thousands of civilians, or fuel the majority of armaments to the world?  How far are you willing to go to label your country "Christian"?  Some of the most liberal, secular Western Countries could teach the USA a lot about equality of rich and poor, taking care of the needy and living at peace with your neighbor.

Actions speak much louder than words when it comes to ethics and morality.  "Doing the right thing" has become a matter of convenience versus a black and white code of conduct.  Today's leaders of governments and religions stay in positions of power by fear-mongering and keeping their followers ignorant of facts...in other words, dishonestly. Wars and conflicts are started on a whim or based on flimsy philosophical or religious theories that have very little fact behind them.  The masses of men are easily called to battle over flags and books that they have little understanding of.  EVERYONE finds some moral rationale to justify anything they want to do.  Very few of us are willing to "call a spade a spade".

I am not sure of all the answers on this...but I think it more dangerous to THINK you have an answer that in actuality is either false, irrational and/or unreasonable. Its time for a bit more objectivity in our thinking and decisions as humans.  Blind following of false moralities will only make us ignorant participants in the demise of the human race. We can do better.  Think about it. Read about it.  Then take action with the "power of one".

Insanity...

I love Albert Einsteins definition of insanity.  It helps explain so many things...

We see this insanity playing out in our contemporary lives in many ways.  Here are just a few examples from recent life experiences...

It is a human tendency, for whatever reasons, to be attracted to or pursue relationships with types of people who end up letting us down or not fitting OUR needs.  People marry poorly, time and time again, to the same type of person.  Often these relationships are defined as "co-dependent"  relationships based on NEED.  When one or the other person doesn't NEED anymore...there is usually a breakup, heartbreak and disappointment. Then...we go find the next dependent person we can "take care of" or who will take care of us.  INSANITY.

Quote to self: "Love is the expression of one’s values, the greatest reward you can earn for the moral qualities you have achieved in your character and person, the emotional price paid by one man for the joy he receives from the virtues of another...To say “I love you” one must know first how to say the “I.”"

Everyone loves the concept of "unconditional love", and religion and other societal institutions instruct us to be generous with our selves and our resources. Altruism seems to be the highest calling...and governments and religions continuously together call for "self sacrifice", whether it be "serving your country with military training" or giving more and more of your productivity to cover those who are unwilling to produce themselves.  When altruism without responsibility becomes the mode of human society, that society will crumble to the ground based on its lowest common denominator of weakness and dependence.  When it takes guns to force natural distribution of goods and services...our world is doomed.

Quote to self: "Do not ever say that the desire to “do good” by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity are good motives...The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live....I swear by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine..."

There seems to be no consensus or reason in most governments of how to "balance a budget".  Numbers no longer have to add up and money has become meaningless.  Credit rules the world, especially governmental credit. This cycle of political insanity has come down to simply promising the masses most anything they want in return for their vote...without the funds or resources to fulfill those promises apart from taking from someone else. First world systems are now based on trillions and trillions of untamed spending to meet political and social commitments that never should have been made in the first place. And yet, we continue to elect the same types of inept leaders to positions of power and persuasion in our governments who want to redistribute by force the gains of one person or company to cover the sins and failures of another. Somehow, having wealth has become a "sin" and subject to attachment. Insanity...

Quote to self: "Watch money. Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue. When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion — when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing — when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors — when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you — when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice — you may know that your society is doomed. Money is so noble a medium that is does not compete with guns and it does not make terms with brutality. It will not permit a country to survive as half-property, half-loot."

Benevolence is not a bad word or concept.

benevolence  (bɪˈnɛvələns)
1.	inclination or tendency to help or do good to others; charity

It is my profound observation in life that true benevolence is innate in most of the animal kingdom. There is an inbred nature even in humans to join together in community to survive and to be happy in relationship to one another. "Birds of a feather flock together". There is no greater sadness than to see a person totally alone, shunned from societal acceptance and therefore subject to peril and inability to survive physically, emotionally or spiritually. I don't pretend anymore to know where human spirit comes from or if it goes somewhere at death. Yet, I believe in spirit because even if invisible, I see its work in the uniqueness of every individual I have known or will know. I don't have to tie that observation into some mystical belief or claim to know its origins or destiny. Yet...such as in benevolent acts of kindness, I can see its positive effects in helping those who are less fortunate, less educated or who are truly handicapped, aged or struggling. No natural person wants to see suffering and dying animals...or humans. Yet today, we see on the news everyday the willful neglect and suffering of millions in our small world. While it is a big subject, my biggest generalization of this problem is that the individuals of this world have relinquished benevolence to governments and religions...who actually work hand in hand to PERPETUATE these immoral, inhumane conditions even if through ignorance or simple lack of willpower. When we see pain or suffering, we wait for these institutions to do something about it...and of course many of us think our taxes and religious donations should be plenty to "do our part". This has obviously not been working for centuries now...and it is INSANE to think it ever will.

Quote to self: "I worship individuals for their highest possibilities as individuals and I loathe humanity for its failure to live up to these possibilities...There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil. The man who is wrong still retains some respect for truth, if only by accepting the responsibility of choice. But the man in the middle is the knave who blanks out the truth in order to pretend that no choice or values exist, who is willing to sit out the course of any battle, willing to cash in on the blood of the innocent or to crawl on his belly to the guilty, who dispenses justice by condemning both the robber and the robbed to jail, who solves conflicts by ordering the thinker and the fool to meet each other halfway. In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit."

Finally...I have had more than one friend in the past few years take their own lives. These were not people who were under educated...who never experienced the joys of family, success and happiness. Yet, I think in most cases these individuals became entangled in the insanity of "false expectations". I think perhaps they felt it very important to "measure up" in the eyes of society or their families. Their meaning and reason were given over at some point to external powers or influences.  When they came to those moments of despair and panic that they were not "measuring up" to the world's view of them, they lost the meaning of their own selves and their spirits were crushed. They lost their reason. Could those of us around them have helped more? Maybe. Could we have been closer to see these things coming and perhaps intervene? Perhaps. But at the end of the day, I believe it is up to each of us individually to hold on to our own reason and sanity. We should not allow the institutions of our world or the simpletons of society to "give us" our respect or due. The goal as I see it is to grow within our own reasoning and convictions...live according to OUR dreams and ambitions...and to hell with the false and unrealistic expectations of the manipulating world around us. It is INSANE to follow their continued cycles of doom, despair and falsehood. As long as our minds can reason, we can find solutions...and even if we don't find them, it is better to die trying than to give in to failure.

(Assorted quotes to self from various works by Ayn Rand)

Further notes on Panama living...

(This is a 4th in my series on "Panama Living" issues.  See previously "Is Panama an Illusion?" , "Pros and Cons of Living in Panama" and "Is Panama Safe?"  )

Here is a link to a recent International Living article of interest. This blog today is based on an email exchange I had with an American couple who are coming to Panama to look at investing and retiring here. 

While there are many positive and truthful points about the International Living article...it is another example for taking caution in believing everything you read about Panama living and retirement. Some of what I take exception with is "living on $800 per month" and electricity costs being $50 per month. Cost here totally depends on lifestyle and location. For my wife and I, we spend around $800 per month just on food!  probably $100 wk at the grocery store and $400-500 month at restaurants. That's our lifestyle affecting costs, plus food costs for most everyone has increased 5-6% per year in the 8 years we have been here.  Does your pension or retirement income take that amount of increased cost of living into consideration?

If you run air-conditioning at all frequently, your monthly electricity bill is going to be anywhere between $140 (for our 1200 sf condo) to $300+ for larger homes or condos. And believe me, if you live in the city or at the beach, you will want to run AC to live in comfort. For allergy sufferers, AC is another major need here as molds and bugs proliferate in humid tropical climates inside your home. AC keeps those bugs and molds more under control. Perhaps this couple lives in the mountains above David where they say they live...but even in David you would be challenged to live as you do in the USA on $800 per month. So, as you can see...one has to read between the lines.

I also need to mention the risks when locating to another country regarding "political instabilities".  While historically Latin America has been a hotbed of leftist and socialist governments or outright dictatorships, USUALLY the domestic affairs do not affect ex-patriots or foreigners in said country unless it comes down to blocked roads for the frequent demonstrations against the latest government in fashion or frequent power and water outages based on inadequate infrastructure or lack of maintenance, and the simple lack of attention to trash pickup in the streets.  These are realities you WILL deal with in Panama like most other Latin countries that are based on poor leadership of the powers that be in these third world countries.  And lets not forget it was a little over 20 years ago (1989) the USA government/military invaded Panama for political reasons which cost well over a thousand lives in this relatively small country...the real number of which has been covered up by those "powers that be"..

While they have had infrastructural advantages in Panama based on 100+ years of USA investment and support via the canal and other foreign payments to Panama that have helped build the bridges and tollways (most of those payments I call "international bribes" for access and controls)...there are usually very limited budgets or plans for maintaining those infrastructures. While electricity in Panama City is much more reliable than when we lived in Costa Rica or Mexico...there still is a lack of steady ampage in many parts of the city and country. If you do not run a voltage regulator in your home or office, over time your computers, TVs etc will probably short circuit or wear out faster based on frequent spikes of electricity to your location. This can have a variety of causes...from the main issues of power sourcing (hydro electric mostly in Panama) to simple lack of code enforcement of electricity in the building structures themselves. 

The past two years living in arguably the newest and most high-end area of Panama City, we have observed many 3rd world problems in this zone as well. The water supply for this area AND for our building has been very inconsistent.  Fourteen months ago Panama had some terrible flooding at the end of the rainy season in November...and it apparently overwhelmed the whole water supply system for IDAAN, the independent company that operates water supply in Panama. For over 2 weeks the main water supply was either shut off intermittently or totally unpotable.  We had to bring in drinking water and for flushing our toilets we even resorted to bringing up pails of water from the swimming pool.  Since the restoration of service, our water pressure has never been the same and the water is more contaminated than before this disaster. Where before you could drink water from the tap...not anymore without special filtering systems at the tap. Also, there has been so much "crud" in the water, it stopped up or destroyed many of our faucets... shower heads etc had to be cleaned or replaced. Oh...and in one instance when water service was restored to our building, "someone" decided to refill the pool before refilling the back up supply tank for the building...so when the supply went off again the next day...well, we had water in the pool "thank God". I have taken many morning showers at the poolside shower which apparently is not connected to the main building water supply. 

I go into more detail than you probably wanted to know only to illustrate situations that most everyone I know living here has had to contend with. You can pay as much or more per square foot for real estate in Panama than Miami or many other USA cities, but your service and finish level will not match up.  Just accept it as fact and you won't be surprised or disappointed.  Of course, taxes and holding costs on real estate are significantly less than the USA, but they are slowly catching up with increased taxes no one in Panama seems to want to talk about. 

And bank accounts for Americans in Panama?  Unless you have very good contacts and connections locally, it is going to be very difficult...and for some impossible. Based on the recent tax treaty with the USA, Panama has for some reason agreed to make the local banks liable for all IRS tax reporting for USA account holders.  That means that we American citizens have become a liability and extra cost to the banks...criminals until proven otherwise...for wanting to live and bank in Panama. Canadians, Europeans and other nationalities have much better treatment these days as their governments do not demand this of Panama to "do business". This is one of the political "unintended consequences" of Panama being so eager to please "Uncle Sam".

Lets go back to the political cause and effect of these "problems".  With the water and electricity issues in Panama...NO ONE steps up and takes responsibility.  For example, on the water issue the government blames IDAAN for not managing the resources properly or doing regular maintenance.  IDAAN fires back and tells the government they don't provide the funding or support for zoning and infrastructure changes to keep up with demand.  I'm not sure whose fault it has been, but it was also reported during this time that over 30% of the water   in the IDAAN system was stolen or simply not metered and paid for...even in some large buildings or projects throughout the country. THAT is probably why they had some fund shortages. Now what you see most often on the local news are poor local Panamanians screaming at the cameras that their water has been shut off,.. in some cases for MONTHS.., until "someone"  pays the past bill...often thousands of dollars they will never afford to pay.

Finally...if you get unhappy about something down here as a foreigner...what are you going to do? Are you going to scream, rant and rave until someone agrees to respond to your need or demand? Are you going to demand or ask why they don't speak or understand English?  I have news for you. The more you are aggressive or rant at a Latino most anywhere...the less likely you are to get your desired response. Everyone is nice and calm here...even when they are saying "F you". Even maids or other employees will find ways to get their revenge if you treat them with "disrespect".  They live for themselves...today.  Not for you or your future happiness.

Oh...and I love it when fellow expats say "I am going to sue _____ ". I'm sorry, but I do not know of one successful lawsuit between a foreigner and a Panamanian where the foreigner won.  The Napoleonic code of law in Panama and other Latin countries makes it very expensive and a long process to "sue someone" into compliance with an agreement. If you stay here long enough...you WILL be ripped off in one way or another...and you will NOT have any real recourse in the courts. So...just plug that into your expat mentality if you want to live or do business successfully in Panama.


Basically I think there are three kinds of foreigners that live in Panama.  There are those who have blindly invested their life fortunes and futures here and live everyday justifying and defending their decision through "rose colored glasses". Then there are many who have dealt with themselves honestly and decided they made a wrong move and have either moved back "home"  or on to other destinations that fit them better. Finally, there are those of us who have "made peace" with the culture, change of life and have decided to be happy and content with the imperfections that are Panama. If you are one of the later...I welcome you to Panama. But I still say..."try before you buy".

( Next report...will be focused on questions about the costs of real estate here, sustainability factors and my predictions for the next 5 years.  Hey, my crystal ball is as good as anybody's... :)  )