Most of us who are bi-racial, tri-racial and heaven knows what else are grateful to be seen as individuals on the basis of character.
The victory of Sen. Obama as our new President-Elect has set a new milestone in that direction.
As a Christian from a spiritual perspective, I think that the Bible gives us wise counsel about "digging pits for others that we may eventually fall into ourselves." The definition of who is "white" is so narrowly defined in this country that the White people who came up with this stuff have unwittingly defined themselves into the minority of the future and it was a pit they dug for themselves. Their own children with slaves were categorically treated as slaves and segregated for economic gain and not allowed to learn or live with their own parent in a loving manner except for very few. After all miscegenation was against the law but it went on anyway although on an illegimate basis. In order to be considered "white" you had to be eighth generation white washed or 1/16 "black". Now what if that definition had been just the opposite. We would not have a race problem in this country. We all would be "white" just like Arabs are white, Hispanics are now white.. by the capricious definition of a government. Well what does the Creator think? Probably that we have a lot of grandiose, vain imaginations about our own superiority and inferiority.
If we all had a DNA test to truly see what percentage of each race on the planet we have inherited from it would truly be amazing. A lot of people who appear "white" might not be even 50% white, and a lot of people who appear "black" might might actually be 60-70% white. So other than one gene of skin color determining the future potentiality of a human's contribution to mankind and neglecting to appreciate their genius and character, we as Americans have truly shortchanged ourselves of so much progress and advancement because of this retarded attitude of racism. And now we outsource jobs to people of other nations with less DNA in common than each of us, who never lived in this nation and never fought a war side by side with us regardless of race, who never lived here period and yet we expect them to have our best interests at heart because they sell us oil and keep our Dollar stores full of goods.
Universal health care and many other so-called "socialistic" programs are much easier to adopt in nations where racism is very minimal because you are caring for your extended family.. your nation. You respect that when they get sick that's your problem, that the fence is as strong as the weakest link and your nation's identity is measured by the weakest individuals in terms of its overall status economically, culturally and ultimately spiritually. If we have a nation where only 2% live well and the other 98% are just struggling to get by with a middle class that is shrinking than what does that say about America? I believe Sen. Obama sees the big picture and gets it. I believe he will do a lot to restore America's standing-- not as a shallow veneer of prosperity showcased by a few--, but a real prosperity that strengthens all Americans and is solid and more lasting. If you don't have a stake in this nation, why would you sacrifice your life for it? Is it any surprise that African-American participation in the Armed Forces has dropped from 25% to less than 10% in spite of the difficult economic times.
If college students at campuses as prestigious as Purdue University want to write racist graffiti on November 5, 2008, about President-Elect Obama and about niggers and lynching, well why would any person of color want to put their life on the line for these type of people except for the love of God that you love your enemies. What FOX news and others neglect to report about Rev. Wright is that although he exposes the hypocrisies, the immoral behavior of government which Rev. Graham and others have done as well, he also encourages his flock to love, forgive, pray, repent and reconcile and not return evil with evil, but to return evil with good, to develop the fruits of the spirit in one's character in having to be subjected to the persecuting ways of the world. If we weren't filtering his sermons through race-baited fear, we might be able to hear what the "Spirit of the Lord" is saying to exhort us to become better people. All the prophetic teachers in the Bible never sugar coated anything and they got stoned, drowned, locked in dungeons, heads cut off because they spoke the "truth". God sees everything. Nathan spoke to David about his adultery.. he didn't get the insight from the 6:00 pm news. We nowadays rely more on the media and our circle of friends to inform us, however, some of us dig a little deeper and through prayer see clearer. God does not need the CIA, NSA, FBI to show us reality or to inform us. People do and can manipulate and cherry pick the data they receive from these entities and turn it into what they want... misinformation, disinformation, manipulation... short of lying. What God sees and what we know is vastly different... God's ways are not our ways and therefore God's sermons through His servants may offend us, but that is par for the course. What use is "salt" if it has lost its saltiness and no longer disinfects and preserves the meat? That goes for Pastor Hagee, Pastor Tarpley who McCain eventually distanced himself from and the many others who faithfully teach every Sunday ... and for that matter the Pope as well who admonished us against the War in Iraq and all people of faith and non-faith who seek honesty, integrity, fairness and justice for all.
Thank goodness something bigger than us is pushing us to evolve past this. That something bigger lives inside each of us regardless of race, religion and socio-economic status and other superficial differences. This election victory is a victory for those higher angels guiding us all.
You have made a killing in the stock market, make millions playing football, etc., have a good salary as a CEO and don't want to pay taxes on your income, and don't want your company to pay taxes on it's earnings, and don't want to pay taxes on your profits from investing...
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T WANT ANY MONEY/PROFITS TRICKLING DOWN OUT OF YOUR POCKET via paying taxes to the government, aka the general public good,
then Vote for McCain but....
YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ASKING TAXPAYERS TO BAIL YOU OUT!!!
We know you donate a lot to charity to lower what taxes you do have to pay, and that those charities and foundations do a lot of good, but they barely do enough to really make a dent in improving the overall welfare of citizens of the USA. Charities incomes fluctuate at whims of private donors.
And if you do get taxpayers help, then do your patriotic duty after our sons and daughters who make a whole lot less money as soldiers put their lives on the line for the capitalistic system to have safe markets, transfer of goods and resources and pay some TAXES for our soldiers to get decent health care and the citizens who work for your companies, and build the roads, and teach in the schools can make enough money to save and maybe buy some of your products or invest in your company. Don't ask taxpayers to subsidize building fancy football stadiums either and your players don't want to pay taxes and say so on national television.
Don't call it socialism, liberalism and communism when you are asked to pay taxes and give back something to the government (all the people of the USA) and call it free enterprise capitalism when you rip off the public at the gas pump and usurious interest rates, get in a financial bind when the fraud backfires and ask the government to help and do not want to pay taxes on top of that by sending your corporate offices overseas in the Middle East or Cayman Islands!!!! .. The same government which you despise its oversight and monitoring .. as McCain said "too much alphabet soup - SEC, FDA, FICA, SPIC. Yet the current complaint in reality is there has not been enough monitoring of all the fancy new products - derivatives and mortgage backed securities packaged by hedge funds, or usurious interest rates and fraudulent practices causing foreclosures on millions of homeowners. You don't want taxpayers aka "the Government" to protect taxpayers aka "the general public and citizenry of the USA" by passing legislation to create oversight on business dealings like it will cramp your style - you won't be able to make money. Yet Exxon Mobil has made the largest profit of any company in corporate history, billions, but don't ask them to pay any windfall taxes, that would just hurt their ability to do research and development and weather the lean years. But taxpayers have to clean up their oil spills and rescue their crews at sea and fight wars to protect their economic interests with their "taxpayers" blood and treasure.
Our government on George Bush's watch with only a 50/50 Congress has been gridlocked and has done nothing to prevent this financial meltdown even though the President was warned on many accounts this was going to happen years ago. It started with his best friend Kenneth Lay, ENRON, was making energy policy for the USA secretly behind closed doors with Dick Cheney. The discussions have been under Executive Order banned from scrutiny for perpetuity. So the FOI Act, won't apply to find out how they hammered out ripping off Americans for charging electricity at exorbitant rates and monopolizing the energy grid. AIG has been in trouble for years for scandalous practices, but no real oversight kicked in under this Republican Administration. We need to get a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress to turn this mess around and get to the bottom of it. All investigations have been stonewalled by the Republican Congress, Senate and Courts.
Gov. Scwarzenegger, a Republican governor, over the 8th largest economy in the world, the state of California, refuses to increase taxes and has a bankrupt state. Electing McCain would be more of the same mindset. This attitude of Bush/Cheney, and many republicans all over the nation who need the government to bail out their states who are flooding, and destroyed by hurricanes, and need infrastructure to their state like Alaska, but don't want to pay taxes, but have their hands out for earmarks and pork... well, put something in the pot so you can get something back and stop taking, taking, taking, taking. Rebuilding burnt down cities, towns, asking firefighters to volunteer from different cities and states... that is funded by taxpayers money. Using prisoners in CA as firefighters that is an efficient use of taxpayers money, as taxpayers pay for these people to be housed in jail at the tune of avg $40,000/year.
And definitely don't ask the general public to PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY WHICH IS PAID DIRECTLY BY TAXPAYERS OUT OF THEIR PAYCHECKS when you can't even run companies without getting bailed out by the very government you put down; can't run a business, can't make a good healthcare system, even the auto industry got bailed out remember - Chrysler and Lee Iaccoca.
I guess the government could take its hand at universal health care and probably do a better job than the private sector - looking at the private sector's track record leaving 47 million uninsured, medicare/medicaid rip-offs and turning down people who need life saving operations. If you haven't seen SICKO, by Michael Moore, we as Americans can really do a lot better with our tax money to do something directly for us like giving us decent healthcare as in other civilized nations like France, Canada, Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, etc., etc.. as well as decent infrastructure, etc. Today the news was cost for gas heat is going up 125% this winter. How has technology been used to keep the cost of anything down recently? It's a dog eat dog economic world we live in. The pigs and the dogs have taken over the Animal Farm. And if we elect a pig that wears lipstick, it still is what it is.
A vote for Sen. Obama is a vote for a common sense, and fair policy which can be hammered out with the best minds in government on both sides of the aisle and in the business community. Sen. Obama can comprehend the details and talk to people with the expertise in these fields coherently and make changes in our economic system that will propel this nation forward to stability with integrity. Yes, he will ask for taxes to be paid for by the top 5% which have had tax cuts the last eight years. Did the Bush tax cuts really work? No.
So a vote for Sen. Obama makes sense and paying taxes is patriotic and makes sense for the overall prosperity of America for all Americans.
As a life-long learner, I have been sifted and tested by life as to what kind of mettle I'm made up of. When the dust settled it was pretty obvious my righteousness was like filthy rags.
In spite of learning since my teenage years and adult life how to use my subconscious mind, reading books like Think and Grow Rich, and keeping up with all the new things like NLP and psychology by Deepak Chopra, as well as studying religions such as Buddhism and Islam, philosophy in college and going out on a limb following Rev. Moon, (not in this order), all this and still had time time to live a worldly, normal life. I had a very humbling realization. Intellectual knowledge alone will not make me righteous because within my heart are opposing forces and at times nothing I learned could make me do right and I sometimes felt like I was in a whirlpool being pulled down against my conscious will. I decided to really trust Jesus and it certainly isn't because I didn't check out my options. On the religious smorgasboard, by tasting, I learned what I needed and I could also see what the trend has been throughout the centuries of how God is working His divine providence, where my place is in the scheme of things.
As a fellow Earthling, which is what we all look like from the top of the Sears Tower - little ants -I can stare into the farthest corners of our solar system on a clear night if no lights are shining. That itself is a miracle that I am aware of our solar system and can peer through a microscope and look at paramecium and even atoms. But the greatest miracle in my life is knowing God's love and mercy for me.. a sinner. To some that may be a neurotic admission, but it is the key to my mental health which is joy, peace, love in the Holy Spirit.. a reality that can only be experienced. An assortment of spirits/muses/guides may empower or guide you subconsciously and unconsciously that you can contact consciously through religious ritual. But our motivations and intentions in how we understand and utilize these privileges and powers can never be more noble than our heart and character. I thank God for the Christian faith which challenges us to examine our hearts and walk in a newness of life with the mind of Christ - in love, fairness and kindness. Humility is a strength, it does not mean being a wimp. Jesus did chase the money changers out of the temple. We should exhibit righteous indignation to seek justice in our spheres of influence, that is not the same as self-righteousness.
It is incredible that man, physically composed of 70% H2O and 30% assorted minerals, can do with his/her mind and imagination. We can use these powers to solve the current problems we face and we can also use the same power of our subconscious for very selfish ends, criminal activities, success in immoral degrading enterprises to oneself and others and be highly successful mediocre failures. Some folks like to brag about their failures and lack of success, it is in fact becoming epidemic to boast of one's wickedness and criminality and dress accordingly.
What the Universe has wisely done is given us no real power over our unconscious mind, which is the next deeper level than the subconscious mind. We are warned that we will reap what we sow. In other words, what we consciously sow into our subconscious that gets worked out, also is a seed planted in our unconscious which will also return a harvest we have no control over.. "chickens coming home to roost" aka "what goes around comes around.' The fruit, our children, do not fall too far from the tree because they unconsciously imitate us. To make it plain, God will have the last laugh as He can withdraw His spirit from our conscious awareness. This is why the best laid plans of men often go awry. "Righteousness exalts a nation" The Bible, and America can use a righteousness check up right about now. So I can understand how the Religious Right can be manipulated by the neo-Cons to think they are the MINDSET to save America from itself. But, we must discern the spirits... even wolves can come in sheep's clothing and fleece the sheep.
The unconscious mind can link you up to blessings you consciously and subconsciously did not imagine or even hope for.. you were in the right place at the right time.. inheriting a legacy of blessing. You also can get under a negative pattern of misfortune that you can't wish, think or imagine your way out of. You can get from under this curse by going a step deeper into your soul to access the truth of your situation. Being in denial keeps us stuck in dysfunctional mindsets.
America has enemies that are sending imprecatory prayers for this nation's destruction with the strongest emotion and feeling possible because loved one's have become collateral damage in a war that did not "have a mandate from heaven", Sun Tzu. Those prayers release an effect in the collective unconscious of the world. Every thought has power. Prophecy comes true only when we make certain choices. If we do this, then this happens, if we choose a different action there will be a different result. If we choose to continue to consort with the W h ore of Bab y lon and drink of her wine... "Revelation,The Bible", we should not be surprised of what we see happening - global warming, famines, earthquakes, flooding, fires, economic decline, and war. But we can choose to bring heaven down to earth by loving God and loving our fellow man as we love ourselves and bringing that awareness to our families, communities and spheres of influence at the workplace.
The issues of abortions and gays are not what is bringing bad times in America. These issues are scapegoats and stopping both won't save America. The RNC has masterfully manipulated this false belief, as a delusion and distraction from the real problems through millions of dollars to fund talk shows that bombard people non-stop with these viewpoints. The increase of these societal issues are a symptom of a greater problem, joblessness, poverty, selfishness, immorality in music and tv which encourages people to be careless and reckless. Abortion is only the tippity tip of the problem, it is a symptom not the cause. Yet some very influential Republicans promote policies and practices which exacerbate these very things.. eliminating the safety net, war, low wages, underfunding schools, etc. and politicians cannot connect the dots because rich people are invested all over the world and have their bets hedged. They will survive anywhere in the world whether America does or not do well and many do not want to be taxed because there is really no loyalty to the U.S. Their loyalty as lobbyists is to their respective multi-national corporations/industries or respective nations. Thank goodness God doesn't think like that.
The superconscious or divine mind aka the "tree of life" is blocked to us because the unconscious is taking us to task for the foolish things we have sown, our ancestors and our leaders .. we suffer collectively unconsciously. This is why "old school religions" had very harsh punishment for people who disobeyed certain laws, commandments, taboos, etc. The principle is the same for us in America even though we are such an individualistic society and increasingly secular. we are all tied together at the hip in the realm of the collective unconscious. We truly are as strong as our weakest link, but many are blinded to that fact living in their isolated gated community.
So to all of you who are out there praying, fasting, and humbling yourselves before God. Thank you. For those of you who realize access to the Tree of Life has been made possible by one who became a curse on a tree for us and are praying fervently.. Thank you. For those of you who realize there is a way that seems right unto a man.. but the end thereof is death, and have humbled yourself to realize you have both a carnal, sinful nature wrestling with your divine nature.. thank you for persevering in your struggle to fight the good fight. "If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves..." II Chronicles.
We have over 1 million people incarcerated in this nation. 1/3 women have been raped or sexually molested. 47 million people have no health insurance. The literacy rate is below 50% of Americans that can read, write, and compute on a high school level. There is a crime committed every 5 minutes somewhere in this country. Dope dealing and drug use is epidemic and an industry profitting over $16 billion annually in this nation. Divorce is at 50%, high school drop out rate 40% and climbing. So how are people using their subconscious minds? What are the effects on our nation unconsciously.. it has created a cesspool dragging everything and everybody down into its vortex. Mental health problems are now increasing exponentially.. 1/4 Americans iare expected to have a serious mental health problem at some point in their life. We dull our awareness by watching TV, sports, using drugs and eating food constantly .. but are we taking time to reflect how we are using our minds, what are we meditating on in our subconscious, what are the uncontrollable consequences that our unconscious minds are dishing out to us?
Many have made procuring "Mammon", wealth and power, their aim in life and the ends justifies by the means. They concern themselves with us four and no more in terms of sharing and serving their community. Us four could also be a small circle and clique of friends of similar elite status and club membership. We can see by the type of leadership we have and its fruits what type of mentality our leaders have .. look at their associations and follow the money. Look at the size of prosperity in their small community and the outlying poverty. The world sees it all. We only see what we want to see, drive the scenic route, take the expressway from cities past the poor neighborhoods to our suburbs of affluence. Again, we are only as strong as our weakest link, but we don't realize collectively we are tied together at the hip.
Sen. Obama has discerned by dealing with his own isses these deeper levels of being (as evidenced in his autobiographical works) and he is asking us to understand that we must discern our leaders more carefully. We are voting for a mentality in our future president that will influence all of us collectively profoundly for years. The CHANGE in Washington DC has to be elected officials with a different MINDSET. That is more powerful than I can clarify in this post but it is force of character and a mindset that has gotten Sen. Obama where he is today. We are all part of that force and mindset because it resonates with all of us who support his candidacy.. so collectively we can begin to make a new paradigm and unconsciously elevate our nation.
The campaign of Senator Obama has inspired us to trust, believe and allow our higher angels, better nature, to believe, hope and change the direction of this nation. Collectively we can in our respective spheres of influence and activity as business leaders, teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, auto workers, construction workers, homemakers, cashiers, truck drivers, entertainers, chefs, dentists and journalists, all in our respective houses of worship.. everyone is needed and necessary... but we all got to do a little individual mental and heart house-cleaning so that we direct our energies in the right direction. Without that process, we may only create an "Animal Farm" as Orwell fabled whereby we have elected or re-elected another four years worse than the previous, by electing persons even more controlling and conniving and misusing the powers of their mind for grandiose schemes that only benefit some at the oppression and exploitation of others, although they call themselves reformers. it is only a matter of time before unconsciously the schemes sown the past eight years begin to undo themselves and unravel right before our eyes in colossal failure. (i.e., Enron, Bears & Stearns, Fannie Mae, etc., etc.) That is true for each of us in our individual lives as well, so it behooves us all to work our salvation with fear and trembling.
By allowing our Creator to cleanse the unconscious parts of ourselves, however we do that in our respective faiths by personal reflection and meditation, we can all grow up and become better people from the lessons learned from our mistakes. As Christians, we learn from Jesus how to live on a superconscious level through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we can love our enemies, forgive those who have hurt and trespassed against us, we can learn even to forgive and love ourselves in a healthy way. God can then make us be at peace with our enemies, mostly family members who have disappointed us the most. We are to bless those who despitefully use us. As a taxpayer and American, for the past eight years I have turned the other cheek and done so. I love my country and I pray for my leaders and put them in God's hands knowing that "vengeance is the Lord's, He shall repay." In other words, the unconscious will take over and "all the king's army and all the king's men, won't be able to put Humpty Dumpty together again." I only need to be patient and not fret about evildoers, but persevere and not faint in doing good.
I have worked faithfully for the same flat-lined pay even though I have asked for raises, I continued when no raise was forthcoming to work an honest day's work as a substitute teacher with no health insurance exposed to all kinds of germs. Can we all simultaneously affirm better pay? That subconscious desire of working Americans would create inflation and give Ben Bernanke a major headache is the general belief. However, it is okay to believe and accept the idea that CEOs should be compensated 500 times the average American worker when in Japan 50 times is tops and in Europe 25 times is the average, not to mention what we pay athletes and entertainers who admit they don't want their taxes raised on their salaries which are fortunes. Why do we believe this obscene extremity of haves and have-not capitalism is the only way to keep inflation down and hire good talent to run our companies and play sports or sing? "Foolish Galations, who has bewitched you?" The Bible
Since God has poured His spirit on all flesh at times throughout history, all faiths have ways and means to draw closer to God and learn the lessons of the unconscious. I share Christ because I know that path and I know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I needed a Savior because my heart's imaginations I have found to be at times deceitful and subtly wicked and selfish. I definitely would have lost my mind a long time ago. and would not have become a productive member of society or a successful parent if I didn't examine myself constantly. I have been prone to wander and I certainly do not want to seem self-righteous, only aware, self-conscious. You learn from your mistakes, you learn from the mistakes of others, and you can avoid a lot of mess by trusting the wisdom of the ages taught in the Bible in Proverbs for starters. Some may argue I have lost my mind to believe in Christ, but that's just fine with me.
Having said all that. I don't think the economic downturn is my imagination or something that folks can say positive affirmations by doing the same things to get out of, although we will need a positive attitude to turn things around by doing things differently. We as a nation need to do so some soul searching, taking responsibility for our hurtful actions to our family, society, community, business partners and customers, harmful influences in what we dish out to millions as entertainment and definitely in the realm of using force pre-emptively to start wars. Mother Nature is buffeting us to remind us of who is ultimately in charge and we need to wake up and smell the coffee. We may have to relocate cities, replan transportation systems, go solar and build cities differently as we adjust to our changing environmental realities and we will have to shed selfishness, racism, and self-indulgent attitudes for starters. Both Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain are asking us to think in terms of giving service to our community, over and above our job,... that call is coming unconsciously from both of them because for us to collectively survive... that is what we will have to do.
I grew up in NYC and many of my friends were Puerto Ricans. They are very loyal, love very deeply, very passionate and strong-minded.
They loved Bill Clinton, I liked him as President too in spite of the impeachment proceedings, and they admire a woman who sticks by her man and weathers the storm of infidelity with forgiveness and renewed respect from her husband. That's loyalty which Hillary exhibited and they understand that kind of loyalty and devotion. As a predominately Catholic nation, they value family and are not really moved by pro-choice.
Should Sen. Obama become President and serve our nation in an excellent manner and wins their love and respect, they will be loyal supporters if he should run for a second term.
It would have been nice for Sen. Obama to have carried Puerto Rico but truly I understand and respect where they are coming from. He's the new kid on the block that they are not familiar with him and they are going to support the Clintons whom they love and respect. They remember that things were a lot better when the Clintons were in office before Bush came in. Many Americans are nostalgic for that time again although the world we are living in today is very different indeed and Americans are craving a different kind of leader - no more partisan, divisive politics.
Still, many did support Sen. Obama just the same because they have caught the vision for CHANGE and UNITY in our nation and clearly outlined goals to move our nation forward in a positive direction. They made all the difference in the world. Thank you Puerto Rico for your support!
Si Si Puede
Barack the Vote!
Here's the link.
http://www.c-span.org/Politics/candidate.aspx?ID=16
If the link doesn't work, just log on to C-Span, Politics, Obama's picture, and the speech event to the Associated press will be listed.
This is substantive and inspiring.
Check out Father Phleger's interview with FOX defending Rev. Wright.
FWD to me:
My comments:
I attended Father Phleger's church as a parent when my children attended Little Flower Catholic School which he pastored. I walked with him through the neighborhood on Friday nights to "Stop the Violence" and attended Mass although I am a Protestant. He is real, genuine, and very caring about the community. St. Sabina Catholic School has offered a first class education to many African Americans on the southside of Chicago. I also attended Rev. Wright's church as a visitor although I didn't hear any fiery sermon that day. Many members of his church are upstanding community leaders and he is very well respected in Chicago. I agree with Father Phleger that much of what Rev. Wright has been taken out of context and I have heard fiery speeches condemning America's sins from Rev. Billy Graham, Rev. Roy Parsley, Rev. Hagee and some outrageous comments from Pat Robertson about assassinating President Chavez which he had to apologize for. The Pope condemned the invasion in Iraq and God does not bless ugly and is no respecter of persons. If we have a foreign policy that is ungodly, perhaps 9/11 was a wake-up call, and Katrina, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. As Zora Neale Hurston put in her book title "Their Eyes Were Watching God."
It takes only 2 minutes to see Sen. Obama's response as he is speaking to folks here in Terre Haute, Indiana. I have been watching the pundits this morning on Fox with Chris Wallace and Meet the Press with James Carville and his wife Mary Maitlin trying to discredit Sen. Obama. They are definitely misrepresenting the context, the intent and the meaning of his comments as IF PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS WON'T BE SMART, INTELLIGENT AND SPIRITUALLY DISCERNING ENOUGH to see through their manipulative tactics of mass disinformation about Sen. Obama. The Mayor of Philadelphia is definitely a democratic machine operative for Sen. Clinton and his blinded, bias is very obvious... but he is just doing his job, just like James Carville.
Well from what I see in this video, in spite of all the above,
Sen. OBAMA is a MAN, who can take a STAND, for us and himself and do it very well.
Thank You!
Check it out!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9PepjyDow
YouTube - Obama videos - Terre Haute, IN if the link doesn't work you can search for it!
Keep HOPE Alive!
BARACK the Vote!!
Katloverindy
If you are in the Indianapolis area, please join us at the Chatterbox Jazz Club on April 22nd between 6 and 11 pm to watch the returns and lend your support.
Stop by and say "Hi" and meet other supporters and make new friends.
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I thank all of you who have sent me clips of news video, news articles and YouTube videos to see about Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I have only visited his church once when I lived in Chicago. After evaluating many of these various sources, I have reached my own conclusion.
A minister, "The Priest," and a comedian, "The Joker," carry archetypal energies that provide a valuable service to any society and civilization. Whether the priest is of any particular faith or tribe and the joker is any particular tribe or ethnic group, they serve the same function in their respective roles. The Joker is the only one who can make fun of the king, president, leader in charge and get away with it. His humor diffuses the tension and anger that may be present with those who disagree with the King over a bad decision or character flaw. He enables everyone to see that he is aware of this and he pokes fun, and if the King is a good sport about it, that makes everyone feel that the king is human and can be forgiven if he can laugh at himself.
The priest puts the fear of God in the King and the people, and lets them know when they have crossed over the divine lines of right and wrong. The Priests, Shamans, Ayatollahs, Monks, etc. can say what they have to say without fear of repercussion from the King or the people because of their spiritual and moral authority. They can shock and awe by healing the sick, casting out devils out of people, causing rain, prophesy the future, read people's minds and true intentions, bless or curse an individual, channel a spiritual guide, enter the holy of holies without dying, counsel and settle disputes, oversee rituals of worship and cultural celebrations, officiate over funerals, marraiges, initiate and train novices in spiritual matters, make potions, drugs, sentence lawbreakers to death, etc. Some of these roles are severely curtailed in secular society.
Now there have been kings who did not like what the priests had to say and may have called for their heads to be chopped off or banished from the kingdom. When the Anabaptists and Catholic Church and other faiths were persecuted in England and Europe for criticizing the King, ie. Henry VIII started his own Church of England, King George started persecuting the church - Pilgrims, Puritans, Baptists, etc. ran to America for religious freedom.
What we as Americans say we stand for is freedom of speech - let the Joker do his job, and freedom of religion - let the Priest do his job, without fear of repercussion from the government. However, there are laws which set limits on what can be done to eliminate dangerous, superstitious practices and racist, offensive remarks on behalf of the Joker are also not tolerated.
Now it is up to the American people who in the past 50 years have become an increasingly secular society to sort all of this out for themselves individually. Many people have no religious faith whatsoever and many people that do have faith - are of faiths of many different persuasions. Therefore, anything Rev. Wright has to say has to be weighed in secular terms as well as spiritual terms. He, like many ministers and as an ex-Marine, feels he has the right to do his duty with a clear conscience before God in following God's orders and therefore what people think is not as important as what God thinks. God's ways and viewpoint as the Bible says is not the way that man thinks.
To a secularly trained mind, this all seems far-out and the Joker has to be the release valve of tension through humor, wit, satire and truth. We watch Jay Leno, David Letterman, etc., to laugh about George Bush's failed policies and leadership and then go to sleep and forget about it. Our anger and frustration has been diffused by humor.
The prophectic teaching of a minister like Rev. Wright has to be discerned through a spiritual mindset to be clearly evaluated. God never used a prophet that sugar-coated anything. In that regard, Rev. Wright's fiery speeches, like many other ministers - white, black, African, European, American, etc. may be offensive to the secular minded as has been the case since the beginning of time, but is very instructive to those who see a multi-dimensional universe. The Prophet/Priest stirs people to act according to conscience, not complacency as the comic does.
The law of Karma that the Hindus speak about, or reaping what you sow that Jesus speaks about, and the Golden Mean as Confucius taught are universally understood as spiritual laws that govern the spiritual world of causation. To a secular, materialistic mindset, those dots are rarely connected and one does not get past the causation of their own impersonal sub-conscious mind which they believe is the beginning and end of everything. That is the essence of Baal worship which was popularized in Babylon with Nebuchadnezzar and infiltrated Ancient Egypt under Aknehaton and other Pharoahs, Jewish kings like Ahab and Herod, and the Roman Emperor Caligula. These leaders eventually became very egomaniacal and full of themselves. The shift of a civilization's prosperity and success is determined by the MINDSET of the next generation of leaders which is affected by their spiritual wisdom or lack thereof. No different are leaders from other cultures, Mayas, Aztecs, Europeans, Africans, Asians. Today in America, our civilization has reached the pinnacle of financial, techological, and military power. Like past world leaders, some of our leaders have become full of themselves, corrupted and have begun to exploit and oppress others (i.e., everyday taxpayers) for their own advancement of how the world should be. A new generation can swing the pendulum back to equilibrium and the beat goes on. Some civilizations never ever recover from inner corruption and decadence but become overrun by a foreign power and cease to exist as they become assimilated. That's history, both secular and Biblical accounts attest to this principle.
As Edwin Abbot put it, we live in Flatland. But in America you are free to be a one-dimensional person, two-dimensional person or grow up to be a five-dimensional person.. you are free to do so and you are free not to grow up spiritually and intellectually at all. Your God can be the dollar. Many worship it, the Bible says "money answers everything." Proverbs
Now how do you get a nation as diverse as the U.S., in every way conceivable, on one page without using military force ,but only reason and force of character? This is the ultimate test of true leadership for our nation today! Our nation has had 28 years of partisan politics with a majority of certain people in one party dominating the rest of the people in the other. This has been legitmatized, exploited and molded by the punditry of the likes of Rush Limbaugh and others. Rev. Wright and other pastors may believe that our nation has become too corrupt and has to face judgment. However, there is always a remnant that can turn the tide and repent for the sins of their nation so that God's mercy and grace can shine on that nation again. Jonah's message gave Ninevah a second chance. Rev. Wright's message may be the opportunity to get a second chance - to see our evil, repent and change to God's way of doing things. It is better we get correction "at home" than from "abroad". It is better you teach your children "at home" than let "society" teach them right from wrong in a jail cell. It is better we look critically at our foreign policy motivations and the cultural values that we wish to export through movies, music and television more carefully than having people frustrated with our nation, send airplanes into skyscrapers on our land to make the point they don't want our culture or our presence on their holy land which is why they call us the Great Satan. That attitude does not reflect true Islam, but a kneejerk reaction to the exporting of our secular humanistic values.
The Arab world has the same mix of secular and spiritual tension as we do in the West. They are really no different than us. We can't claim moral authority and higher spiritual values when our nation is apparently running a huge moral deficit as evidenced in over one million people incarcerated, a 50% divorce rate and more murders per capita than any other nation on earth. That's the tip of the iceberg. It is not said in polite conversation among diplomats just like one's racist views are not said in polite conversation, but that underlying fear and tension are real. Senator Obama is not afraid to address these issues within our nation and will address these underlying prejudices about our nation in the eyes of the Arab, Asian and European world as well.
I believe that Senator Obama has the gift of perception to bring our very diverse nation together even though he will be tried in the fire to do it. But after the fire drains the dross, he will be a stronger, purer, more viable candidate who can reflect the hypocritical self-righteousness of all Americans in a mirror to examine themselves as he has had to do. Our attitudes as Americans about race, gender, religion, the War in Iraq, terrorism, homeland security, sex and abortions, money, caring for the environment (third blessing), caring for the needy, handicapped, veterans, homeless, victims of flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, education, taxes, rebuilding our infrastructure, vulgar/violent entertainment, CEO compensation, bailout of private companies, foreclosures of homes, national deficit and debt, immigration, universal health care, credibility of news sources and credibility of politicians are all under the microscope during this historical presidential campaign and will determine how we vote. The idea of capitalism run amuck under the current Bush Administration will be an object lesson to monarchists, socialists and communists. Many nations under these systems of government are now bailing us out. The world is watching us and will respond to us accordingly. Each nation has their own ideas about all these issues and finds us lacking in many ways, and often times lagging behind them.
All of these topics give our Priests, Comedians and Pundits lots to ponder along with the poets and philosophers. But someone has to get everybody motivated and organized to roll up their sleeves and work together in a spirit of cooperation to do something about ALL of these issues or we will become extinct as a civilization. That's the role of our President.
Someone should have reminded George Bush we don't do "Kings" in America. Some of that running with the Saudis must be rubbing off on him. His, "It's my way or the highway," attitude displayed to all top aides who disagreed with him and resigned..translation "Those who are not with me/us (Bush Administration = us) are against me/us" has left a legacy of enrichment for very few. Even millionaires and billionaires are not better off after eight years of Bush - even with all those tax cuts. Humpty Dumpty is taking Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, and others down with him! Enron and MCI were just for starters.... All the King's Treasury Secretaries and all the King's Fed Chairmen couldn't print enough money to get the economy back together again. And FOX News could no longer credibly spin for him. It's time for a leader with a different MINDSET.
We call ourselves One Nation Under God. We sing and ask God to bless America. Well if God answers our prayers, and sends us someone who can lead us to a better future that came out of Rev. Wright's church... well it's been said God works in mysterious ways. The Jews wondered to themselves 2,000 years ago, how could anything good come out of Nazareth! We need a political Mozart, a political prodigy, who has mastered the nuances of politics no matter if he appears to be too young or inexperienced, but he has demonstrated he can handle the complexity of the job. The fact is ... when a prodigy plays the concerto, he plays it masterfully with no mistakes without practicing for years and years! That is a gift or a talent, to put this in a secular way, people in the world value and pay top dollar to see genius at the Philharmonic Hall. These talents come our way rarely, but accelerate mankind's progress when they do. Champion, a savant, deciphered the Rosetta Stone. Microsoft and Google were started by very young men with genius. The secular world capitalizes on these gifts without mystifying them even though they really are inexplicable from a purely materialistic viewpoint.
"All things work for good for those who love God and who are called according to his purposes." The Bible NT.
So all of us that support the candidacy of Sen. Obama do so because there is a chord touched in our spirits, minds and hearts that rings true whether we are secular or spiritual. FOX can say we have been mesmerized by a charismatic leader, but that demeaning evaluation is far too shallow and simplistic to explain what is happening to all of us because we are so diverse. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" is what Jesus taught. The kingdom of heaven is within the heart - it's a mindset. He did not say blessed are only the Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs, or whatever .. but the pure in heart. It is just that simple. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto, forgive those who have sinned against you as you have sinned against others and God Almighty, be a good Samaritan." That's the essence of Christ's teachings which challenges us to be born again by the Holy Spirit to have a different mindset and heart attitude. Our enemy is not flesh and blood - each other - we wrestle not with flesh and blood but powers, principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places that can influence a person's mindset, a city's mindset and a nation's mindset. Carnal weapons like guns, torpedoes and bombs cannot defend any of us against the invisible evil enemies of our souls. We harbor our own worst enemy and it is not Al-Qaeda. However, God protects the weak by using the strong and knowledgeable who are pure in heart to fight in the spirit on behalf of everyone, in the same way our military fights on the ground for our nation on behalf of everyone. I see the purity of heart in all of you as I read your blogs, messages and posts that reflect you are yearning for a better America and world. We each will have to grow and become a better, wiser, more open-minded person to make that happen.
That encourages me to believe that America can be perfected as Senator Obama said in his speech on race relations. America is a work in progress because I see God in all of you as well as our shortcomings and sins as a nation, but we are now forced to examine ourselves and turn our weaknesses into strengths. The Priest has his job to teach us how to do that. The Joker has his job to keep us honest and humble with humor. There are psychologists, psychiatrists and self-help books for the more secular inclined.
However, we all will be governed by one president, working with Congress and the Supreme Court. I think Sen. Obama respects and understands all our different viewpoints, the great, the good, the bad and the dysfunctional. He accentuates the positive and seeks to eliminate the negative. He sees and focuses on what is good and true in us as Americans whether we are Republican, Independent, Libertarian, Democrat, Green, wealthy, middle-class, poor or clueless. That's why he has hope!
Keep the FAITH!
Keep HOPE alive!
Walk in LOVE!
BARACK the Vote!
You can access this site on CNN.com if this link does not work properly. Hillary has lots of negative punitive video clips on her website. She is really exploiting that SNL skit.
I had pretty much stopped watching SNL except during political seasons for the first 10 minutes. Now I am totally threw with watching SNL at all.
www.ExperienceProject.com
http://www.experienceproject.com/group_media.php?g=3589&t=video&gclid=COqRj7X4gJICFQH1PAodX2oU9A
It's no secret that the women producers of SNL are pro-Hillary and that skit on Mar 2 was very blatantly evident of that. There is no equal air-time in a situation to get an Obama rebuttal skit is there? So Hillary can quit her belly aching about the media being soft towards Obama. She was whining the other day about "I always get to answer the questions first." The skit was all about that. What a set'up for her to get sympathy. The truth is that over the past debates, Obama has been asked questions first about 11 times and she has been asked about 17 times. Now if he went first all the time, she would probably whine about that too. Which goes to show how slick, manipulative the Clinton's really are.
Although many voters in Ohio may have been influenced by the SNL skit, and women voters in TX probably liked it too, I hope that the rest of the country sees through this shallow charade and really comes out in gangbusters for Sen. Obama.
What's up with Republican Texans voting in the Democratic primary for Hillary based on Sean Hannity and others urging them to mess up Obama's chances! The kitchen sink is being thrown at OUR candidate and I hope we continue to muster up determination to stick it out to the end!
Below is a link to the transcript of Sen. Obama's speech to Planned Parenthood. The transcript was made by Laura Eschevveria who is Pro-Life and not supporting Sen. Obama because he is pro-choice. Read his speech for yourselves and decide. I think he is fair and moderate on this issue. I also made a response on her blog which you can visit at her site. Tell me what you think? Many Conservatives will support McCain just because of this issue. I think the Republican, conservative, (neo-cons) have used the abortion and gay issue to get conservative, Christian voters to vote Republican and for eight years of Bush, we still have gays and abortions. They have bamboozled the American public. They have seduced the Church to politically "strain a gnat - (gays and abortion - personal, private issues) and "swallow a camel" (the war in Iraq which affects every one of us directly by the cost in our blood - our beloved soldiers lives and limbs, and treasure - our tax money going to no-bid contractors who are robbing the Pentagon and us blind). Meanwhile look at our economy. Bush points to "look at Osama Bin Laden.. he's over there, while we are distracted, his oil buddies are cleaning us at the gas pump with ridiculous profits." I'm glad we are waking up to the "smoke and mirrors" of Washington. It's time for a change WE CAN BELIEVE IN.
"Press Release on Barack Obama Transcript":
