The Liminal World

A REDESIGNED WORLD---COME VISIT

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:26:00 +0000

Well, hello...... The Liminal World went under some remodeling recently. I haven't transferred all the old post yet. But here is a preview, go ahead, its not going to hurt you...I promise... really [click here]. Oh, by the way you can change the look of the template, look for it in the sidebar under search..."

Leave the poor kid alone.

noreply@blogger.com (Wally Banners) — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:25:00 +0000

Single Ladies Please read!

noreply@blogger.com (Wally Banners) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:24:00 +0000

Guess this means Catholics and Jewish folk have less chance?
By MARIA CHENG

(AP) Scientists say conclusive data shows there is no question circumcision reduces men's chances of...

LONDON (AP) - Scientists say conclusive data shows there is no question circumcision reduces men's chances of catching HIV by up to 60 percent - a finding experts are hailing as a major breakthrough in the fight against AIDS. Now, the question is how to put that fact to work to combat AIDS across Africa.

The findings first were announced in December, when initial results from two major trials - in Kenya and Uganda - showed promising links between circumcision and HIV transmission. However, those trials were deemed so definitive that the tests were halted early.

The full data from the trials, carried out by the United States' National Institutes of Health, were published Friday in The Lancet.

"This is an extraordinary development," said Dr. Kevin de Cock, director of the World Health Organization's AIDS department. "Circumcision is the most potent intervention in HIV prevention that has been described."

Circumcision has long been suspected of reducing men's susceptibility to HIV infection because the cells in the foreskin of the penis are especially vulnerable to the virus.

A modeling study done last year projected that in the next decade, male circumcision could prevent 2 million AIDS infections and 300,000 deaths. Last year, 2.8 million people in sub-Saharan Africa became infected with HIV, and 2.1 million people died.

Experts say the breakthrough is a significant one on par with the identification of the virus and the use of lifesaving combination drug therapy.

The two U.S. studies confirm similar results from an earlier trial in South Africa. Given the recent failure of a microbicide trial in Africa and India, and the ongoing difficulties in developing an AIDS vaccine, the potential of circumcision as a new weapon against HIV has become even more significant.

But they caution solid evidence is not justification for mass circumcisions.

African health systems are already overburdened. Circumcision requires much more planning than, for example, an immunization campaign.

"It's a tricky one, but it's something we're going to have to move on," said Dr. Catherine Hankins, a scientific adviser at UNAIDS.

"Male circumcision is such a sensitive religious and cultural issue that we need to be careful," she said.

Several African countries have already met with U.N. agencies to explore new strategies for increasing circumcision services. Swaziland, for instance, recently experimented with a series of "Circumcision Saturdays," where existing health care facilities, normally closed on weekends, were opened by local doctors to circumcise approximately 40 men a day on certain Saturdays.

Providing circumcisions across Africa would not be the first time surgical procedures have been adopted by public health campaigns.

"Cataract surgeries have been carried out extremely efficiently to prevent blindness worldwide," said Dr. Richard Hayes, an AIDS expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In some places, the cataract surgeries are performed by trained paramedics.

In recent years, the fight against the AIDS pandemic has focused on the provision of lifesaving drugs. The circumcision data gives prevention, rather than treatment, renewed emphasis.

"Treating people with antiretrovirals is completely unsustainable unless we can turn off the tap of infection," said Hayes.

While circumcision may offer new hope, it is not a cure for the epidemic.

"This is an additional tool, and it must not replace other interventions," said de Cock, who added that there will be no push for universal circumcision. "There is no one size fits all solution for AIDS."

Together with the United Nations AIDS agency, WHO is convening a meeting in Switzerland in early March to evaluate the circumcision data, and to decide on the next steps in slowing the AIDS pandemic.

In the Kenyan study, 1,391 circumcised men were compared to 1,393 who were not. And in Uganda, 2,474 circumcised men were compared to 2,522 men who were not. After tracking the men for two years, scientists found that circumcised men were 51 to 60 percent less likely to contract HIV than their uncircumcised counterparts. Since the studies were stopped, all the men have been offered the opportunity to be circumcised. And all the men were warned not to lapse into sexually risky behavior, such as abandoning condom use.

Scientists theorize that women would benefit indirectly from lower HIV prevalence in men, and a study is currently ongoing in Uganda to determine this.

In areas where HIV is spread primarily through heterosexual sex, such as sub-Saharan Africa, male circumcision could theoretically slash the infection rate in half.

It is unknown whether circumcision would be equally effective in concentrated AIDS epidemics, as in Asia and eastern Europe, where AIDS primarily strikes gay men and drug users.

A REDESIGNED WORLD---COME VISIT

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:49:00 +0000

Well, hello...... The Liminal World went under some remodeling recently. I haven't transferred all the old post yet. But here is a preview, go ahead, its not going top hurt you...I promise... really [click here]. Oh, by the way you can change the look of the template, look for it in the sidebar under search..."

Part Three—Celebrity, Choices, Friends: A Study of Gang Culture (Death of Darrent Williams)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 08:00:00 +0000

There is an unwritten code; failure to conform to the group means one’s death. In the real world failure to conform meant to be branded as deviant, or as a troublemaker, or as a weirdo who is living outside “the normative” (what is normal) of society. Or the same deviant can be seen as innovative, groundbreaking, entrepreneurial, in that, the individual is seen as a hero. Or there is a possibility that can be in the crossroads of transition, betwixt and between; sometimes this status can be instantaneous, or either, a long conversion.

Darrent Williams was entombed in the long conversion. His shifting of his socioeconomics left him entwined with the old and new. Transitioning from a have not to a have; the inability of doing—and the ability of making a difference had a young Darren Williams, full of personality, wanting to please everybody, was beginning to find his niche.

But the leaving behind his core reality which shaped him, left him in a quarry, often chastised for choosing friends poorly—and sometimes making poor choices. He, Darrent William, placed himself, in the varying positions of danger, until his fate besmirched his potential and destiny. His public image of being the fan’s favorite; and, bit of “cheerleader” and “class clown” warmed the public hearts. His associations, however, with gang-banger hip-hoppers, only reveals an aspect of Darrent Williams personality. He was trying to move from a “cred” capital world to a “cultural” capital (Bourgois 1995) world to convert his life. The difference of the two: “cred” is the proving of oneself through “acts” often tinged with violence versus the “proper,” “civil,”
“lawful” acts in providing one’s skill and knowledge.

These cultural worlds are overlapping and are and was spoon-fed to us—as it was to Darrent Williams. In William’s youth, choices made by were susceptible by the lack of leadership and parentage of a father being present. One of the decision (according to hegemony) is the having children out of wedlock at the early age of sixteen. This is where one of his most vocal critics comes into play—Steve Seidenfeld, of Colorado 850KOA.

He, Seidenfeld, believes that the “over the top” lionizing was unworthy of Darrent Williams. Since he, Williams, association of neighborhood friends, which were in gangs, were still around, and that he “rapped” gang-banger hip-hop music, was vilified by Seidenfeld as being a “thug.” He, Seidenfeld, and his audience castigated aspersion against Williams for having children out of wedlock. Saying that he was not “smart enough” not get someone pregnant and to wear a condom. Fair enough.

However, Darrent Williams, was not trying to aspire to be an angel, but was trying to be best person possible. These sling-shots and negativity that spun outward from the radio host show, where his audience attacked Williams as “scum” and deadbeat, was also in the extreme and overstatement. The very radio host himself, who did not finish college—actually expelled—nor has gone back to finish his degree is not virtuous himself, and has made bad choices.

Whereas, Darrent Williams finished school, became one of the 1650 athletes employed in the National Football League, and started after three games into his rookie season, and was willing to learn and listen to veterans on his team, had a bright future ahead, but Williams intermittent lack of judgment cost him life—and he paid the price. In comparison to a talk radio host (granted an enviable positions as well), the radio host locked into mediocrity shrouded in bitterness, envy, and jealousy dies a thousand deaths each time he looks himself in the mirror. Darrent died brightly and furious, where insidiousness of the radio talk show host drones on instilling negativity and dearth on his audience—seemingly tearing down the possibility of good that might come out of the tragic death. Yes, Darrent Williams’ minor celebrity brought focus to gang violence and culture, and it is unfair that our own failure does not notice until someone of status is killed—but sometimes it takes a clarion call to shake up the hegemonic society to see the truth.

(End part three)

Two Days After-Part Two; Darrent Williams: A Study of American Gang Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 04:52:00 +0000

Two days after Darrent Williams death, a Denver Bronco, an American football player, was shot and killed, Denver Radio talk show hosts bombarded the airways, trying to figure out what happened. Two individual in particular stuck out: Peter Boyles of Denver 630 KHOW and Steve Seidenfeld of Colorado 850 KOA . These two gentlemen tried to bring perspectives other than the speculative what happened New Years Eve night.

Peter Boyles claims that his “sources” know who killed Darrent Williams, and the police were trying to connect the dots. He also, through the follow weeks, actually the very next day began to be critical of the politicos: city and state of their silent voices in regards to the killing. And then later, speculated the reason for this was the possibility of the upcoming announcement of the Democratic Party National Convention for the 2008 presidential race. It was the Tale of Two Cities: New York and Denver both vying for the privilege of hosting the convention (Denver won).

Boyles further speculated on the deviant behavior of gang-banger hip-hop culture. How this culture’s music, attitudes, socioeconomics, and unlawfulness recapitulated the violence against citizenry. He moreover stated the Denver Police was performing poorly due to the fact of the city politico’s silence, of the neighborhood tolerance, and the decried minority leaders that lack the nerve to speak out. And, by implication their silence was due to the fact that, gangs intimidated city official and witnesses.

He, Boyles, at times, addressed the fact of how the gang-banger hip-hop culture sees those who talk to the police, “tattlers,” or “snitches.” He had plenty of empirical data to make his case. For example, three witnesses ready to testify were killed on the eve of their testimonies just this past year. In fact, in the last year, the number of police officers, witnesses deaths has been on the rise, at the least since 2001. Denver Police lack of protection of witnesses can be attributed to the failure of their oversight, and failure to anticipate, or even take seriously the death threats of the gang-bangers.

This lack of foresight has made the city a dangerous place for witnesses. Public, very public drive bys-yet “no proof” or witnesses are invisible. The crips, the bloods, the ms13, to some extent, have quietly ruled the roost of Denver Metropolitan streets. However, let me not leave you with the impression that Denver is amok in lawlessness—far from it. There are certain spots “these gang-bangers” claim as their own—club and neighborhoods. The city is far from strife.

Arguments were made by Boyles that the intimidation by the gangs was keeping silent the witnesses, he also asserts that “music” of gang-banger hip-hop was some how encouraging children, minority children, to embrace the violence. In essence, the music instills the disrespect, the “villainizing” of authority, and the emboldening of cultural power through violence. In that, the only way to gain respect is through one’s violent acts—to gain “props.” Essentially, to prove one’s manhood is to either withstand perpetrated acts against oneself, or to perpetrated an act themselves. But there is darker side, a greater illusion, is that, gang culture believes that, through fear and intimidation that they can usurp authority. The second illusion gang culture tries to foster is a sense of family. The gang will take care of you. We will be the parent, the disciplinarian, the trust your own parent/s never gave you. As Boyles puts it, “don’t bet on it…”

Peter Boyles probing statement throughout the cadre of shows,” It is what, what it is”; or his other profound statement, “What does this mean?” Well, those are certainly statement and inquiries. He later parlays this tragedy into debate regarding illegal immigration. This is certainly an interesting perspective.

(End part two).

Photo credits of Darrent Williams is from his Myspace.com page and image of the limousine is from AP photo from a written article by Foxnews.

Darrent Williams: A Study of American Gang Culture—Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:19:00 +0000

Let me begin this way, by way of an admission, when I first heard about Darrent Williams, a Denver Bronco, an American footbal player, being shot, the farthest thought from my mind was that, his death was gang involved. In fact, I chastised a fellow blogger for bringing it up; and, for the record, I still would. I chastised them for it, because speculations were made before the facts were in.

Their “speculations” as they put it was “based” on athlete related violence. Maybe. Maybe not. My attitude was a wait and see. Let’s find out first what happened, then opine on what the state of athletics, and the culture that surrounds it. To recapitulate the obvious, the clichéd, hinders us, and ties us to unsubstantiated facts, and once out there can never be redacted out of existence. Their assumption, of this blogger, only indicated their own bias.

Admittedly, however, the end result of their “speculation” turned out correct, but it was not based on the normative idea, but on the multicultural assumptions, not raw data or presented facts, their assumptions were based on clichés and stereotypes—not facts. Furthermore, their “speculation” did not count or include the man, the type of man, Darrent William was, and yet to be ascertain the worthiness of praise or ridicule.

What is apparent is that Darrent Williams (dwill) was playing a dangerous game. He was trying to balance his popularity (locally) with his teammates, his fans, his coach, his old neighborhood, and his family with an outside the “normative” popular culture extreme known as “violent hip-hop.” Some call it gang-bang hip-hop; some refer to it as “keeping it real.”

Darrent Williams, ever the one trying to please everybody, with those from his own neighborhood, or former socioeconomic grouping, he was trying to remain with those in the hood. Unfortunately, for Darrent Williams, you can’t please all the people al l the time. Young male egos (whether white, yellow, black, or red) are hypersensitive—trying to prove their own value; and, often these egos become easily bruised. They are often emboldened, especially within groups, trying to prove their manhood, their machismo, their worth.

It’s not because they feel “inferior,” or “less than,” the individuals who they feel that have slighted are consider “beneath,” thus it is the attitude of superiority that belies their anger toward the person. The thought is this, “How dare you? Don’t you know who I am?” Or what I can do to you?” Their confidence is in their numbers, the group, and their family of brothers or sisters.

No Darrent Williams walked, no ran, into the piety of self-righteousness, arrogance of an attitude that believes that they are untouchable. And now, he is dead, because of a mistake by him. His own inability to say “no,” his youth, lead to his death—and always to wanting to please other had him cultivating a culture he should have walked away from. Nonetheless, I will not demonize him for it… (end part one).

photo credit by AP

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:28:00 +0000

The above words are from a traditional Christmas song often heard ad nauseam leading up to the very day, and thankfully dissipates afterward as the new year approaches. Well, the sentiment of it of snowing prior was brought forth, however, only days before Christmas in my hometown of Denver, Colorado.

The city, state, and the airport, Denver International Airport, which is 30 miles outside city limits, were brought to a stand still. The snow fell from the sky, growing higher, like a steady stream of water, ready to overflow. The wind blew, cars slipped, buses skewered sideways, down the streets as the day grew late. Our state planners, our city planners, and mayors, statewide, urgently, valiantly (ahem) tried to illustrate (and implement), that they had a plan. It (the plan) and they failed.

Not as costly as Bush-Rumsfeld-Iraq stay the course plan—in fact—not even close, but it failed. The storm cyclone its way across the mountains first, obviously, then backed up into the valley of Denver, and then across the eastern plains of Colorado. The radar screens of the hyper-excited weatherpersons looked like a hurricane on land. Inch by inch the overjoyed, seemingly, weather generals, the sexiest of them Kathy Sabine, had command, albeit short lived of the news and newscast.

The storm’s intensity gave the brave at heart pause; and, the foolish the moments for their stupidity, while the dedicated made their way to work—by any means necessary.

By mid-afternoon of the second day, cars went abandoned, bus service halted, even Denver’s “heralded” light rail choked, puttered to a stop. City and a state plows raced to the cities—and roads of the state. Their attempts were futile. Airport runways, taxi ways, exit ramps, the equivalent of a city, laid dormant.

Mere days following after the storm, critics began to pick on the carcasses of the politicos failure. It was as if they, the critics, took glee from the “state emergency” by giving them permission to cascade all their pent up venomous vitriol at the leaders of the cities and state. This whipped the public into whine and what about me mode. They decried the inconvenience and how the plows failed to come down their streets during the storm.

Passengers, at the airport, from all stripes, family with children, individuals curled in corners, asleep, waited to join their anxious family members and friends across the country.

Of course, no one had seen such a storm since the “blizzard of 1982”, or the abruptness of the storm “spring of 2003.” No, this storm was different; it left cars scattered—and adrift in snow. People in shelters trying to find warmth—and comfort as the Red Cross did its duty. The spirit of community and togetherness lasted as long as the clouds and blue sky were obscured.

Slush filled streets, which refroze nightly, greeted vehicles and pedestrians alike in the daily melt down. Cars splashed. Pedestrians stumbled, staggered, and slipped along side streets, main roads, and thoroughfares. Stepping over high drifts, falling in indiscernible sink holes as locals tried to return to the daily grind.

No, this storm was different yet the same. It reminded us, how vulnerable we are; how spoiled we are; how powerless we are in the face of nature; and, how we take things for granted as Mother Nature—yet again reminded us, like little children, who have forgotten their manners that she has command over us and always will.

All photos are by Site Administrator, except the United Airlines terminal which is done by George Kochaniec, Jr. © Rocky Mountain News, and stock photo of airport by Photovault Aviation Museum

Let Green Business be the Grinch

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:40:00 +0000

A fish out of water is how I felt. Out of place; struggling to recognize a single face from my Introduction to Politics class, and feeling that I had walked into an Amway meeting. I did not see anyone I knew, until the presentations were done. The ceremony was informal yet celebratory. The individuals and businesses who contributed to the “greening” the Earth’s ecosystem smiled broadly as each took their awards.

It is a new way of doing business. A new a type of currency, a new energy to be resourced, and it relies on an old tradition called the barter system. Essentially, I will do “X” for you, if you will “X” for me. Renamed, “Connectory,” allows businesses and individuals with something to sell or market, to exchange services in the forms of credits to have access to “local resources.”

In essence, to keep the local dollar with neighborhood, city, or state, it is a network of businesses, which embolden the philosophical idea of the local community first. Instead of “outsourcing” the dollar out f the sphere of local influence, it brings together, the talents within the community at a commodifed price in for the form of bartered price credits.

It also sets the “Connectory” and “customers” along the same path. As the purveyors of products, the consumption of doing business and doing the customers requires the necessity of talents—and adaptation of the “green consumer market.” This formula requires innovation as well; as this new form business seems to be taking hold in sweeping ethics in how the environment is treated.

This is what I mean, in the “green integral politics,” is having businesses adapt the practice/s of the how they use resources such as energy. For instance, Belgium Brewing Co., a local Colorado manufacturer of a local favorite beer—Fat Tire Ale—distribution is powered primarily by windmills.

By Belgium Brewing using windmills, to power their plants, it has contributed to the reallocation of resources—and energy transmissions. Essentially, they are not overtaxing, or overusing the energy from the power grid to make, or market their product.

But to return to the subject at hand, “green integral politics on small business is beginning to pave the way, at the least, the grassroots, to find support at the market place for the post-modernist environmentalist searching for a new way to be responsible. These companies try to establish themselves as leaders of conscious. They try to “integrate” all four quadrants in the political dynamic model: Upper left (individual emotion) and Upper right (individual behavior) as the lower left (social peer group that establishes cultural mores) and the lower right (which establish the rule of law and governmental systems) and evolving a global citizen.

By the combing of resources, such as sharing office space, networking with other business through the bartering for services on an alternate currency known as credits give power plants to redistribute energy transmissions elsewhere making for a more efficient use of the plants power.

In addition, referred to earlier as “Connectory,” a repackaged name for networking, part of this is an organization called MDB. They will help you, for a small membership fee, services to enhance cash flow, increase sales, reach new customers, and help reduce cash expenses. The Micro Business Development (MDB) group does this as way to keep local dollars in the community as well as offering lines of credits, merchants, and other global green integral corporations.

Nevertheless, the competition of green individual and/or corporation will be at the suffrage of globalization politics. This brand of diversity, innovation, and creativity will be a small subset of the globalized world—but as these companies compete and contribute to the betterment of—and for the environment, they will realize the inevitable conclusion that no matter how much one tries to localize community—one is still part of the global citizenry.

Finally, as for the feeling like fish out of water, out of place, and the impression of being at an Amway meeting, this emotion will soon pass; however, I doubt the Amway feeling will though.

A Review of Matrix Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:23:00 +0000

image by Warner Bros
by Greg Stewart

Editor’s Note: I originally wrote this review for my Anthropology of Popular Culture class in the December of 2003. At the time, I was at different mindset. Some of this will come across as agenda ridden from a liberal left perspective. Guess what? It was and is, but the cultural perspective from some will find it valid and a bit understated. So, I ask you for moment and step outside the box of rigidity and look beyond the obvious and view from “The Others” perspective.

I wanted to see the ultimate movie experience in special effects, martial arts, and conclude a storyline cliffhanger from the second movie, Matrix Reloaded; however, the epoch Matrix Revolutions was to be the definitive conclusion of the series, but left me confused. Why?

For the most part, the third Matrix movie wraps up the trilogy with very few open-ended questions. Yet, I am plagued with a single question about the series: the casting of the characters both— primary and secondary. It is subtle. I would like to think that it is unintentional, but my suspicions are that it may not be. What am I referring to? Even though the movie purports diversity, the hegemonic themes of Christianity are riddled throughout the movie (and the trilogy—to be honest).

Let me explain, in general, the cast of the characters in the film are minorities with a few minor exceptions, such as the main hero—Neo. Although liberating, the minority cast selection represents another level within the tale that is not immediately obvious because of the overlaying story. The basic premise of the movie was this: it takes place some time in the distant future when computers (and machines) have taken over the world and humanity is relegated as being batteries. The machines use humanity as Eveready batteries; they have to create a virtual world for the humans, a simulacrum, so that the human brain is engaged in choosing its own reality (Baudrillard).

Another within the story is the crew of the Nebakanezzer searching for the “One,” a.k.a. “Neo,” to save humanity; and the representation thereof—minorities (both ethnic and racial). Neo (played by Keanu Reeeves, who is white) was found in the virtual world of the machines (in the first movie), and for the most living his bland, vanilla existence one day at a time. When he wakes up (reborn), the world is dark and foreboding. The world is in the belly of the Earth awaiting for the city of Zion to reclaim and restore humanity from darkness.

In the second movie, citizens of Zion are a mullato racial culture, and interestingly enough are I n the minority. This is strikingly subtle message to the audience. Why?

Because Neo realizes and represents how sheltered he has been (in the world) not seeing the oppression of others (remember the first Matrix moving was in 1999 2 years before September 11^th). In essence, actuality of acknowledging the outside world parallels –United States’ wake up call to terrorism; as Neo sees the wrongs from the perspective of being a white male. Thus, the audience should connect that the United States has become more racially diverse and the institutions of the Caucasian retaining power, to some, are outmoded. Does this movie depict the United States institutions as machines?

Maybe, if one is inclined to think that the

United States

has and is subjecting its citizenry to a finite conclusion. Morpheus (played by Laurence Fishburne, who is black), in the second movie, answers the oppression of the machines through terror and death have brought. He says, “For one hundred years they have fought the machines.” They, the machines, have tried to kill them, squelch their spirit, and take their nature; he concludes dramatically, “that they, [human city of Zion], are still here!”

The image the came to mind to my mind when hearing the oration of Morpheus was the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr., speech in 1963, of the Emancipation of the slaves. Morpheus’ role is liken to John the Baptist despite embodying leadership, however, he is still subordinate to the One, but his resolve to is founded in his belief of a single savior—Neo; and, that he is messiah for humanity.

Ultimately, the multi-layered movie plot reveals itself through Christian symbolism. In the final edition of Matrix Revolution, Neo has to choose his path knowing that he may have to sacrifice his life along with Trinity’s (played by Carrie Ann Moss, who is white), the love of his life. As he tells her, “You are a part of me.” (Neo—“He” gives his life to save His people’s lives’ in order to make peace with the Father—called the Architect in the movie).

The Christian symbols within the movie are almost operatic and virtually predictable. The machines attack Zion as Neo (the Messiah) and (the) Trinity go to the Machine City to confront the Architect. However, Neo has a final destination; he first must face himself before he can face the waves of Sentinels (flying mechanized soldier machines), dark angels, if you will, to secure his destiny of himself, Trinity, and the last refuge of mankind. The “Messiah” and Trinity pay the price for Zion’s salvation. They fought the noble battle to save the worthy savage—humanity.

One final thought, it could be interpreted from a radical point of view that, the casting of Neo, being white, the true message here is: “I, the white man, am and always the savior of the masses, especially to the minorities.” Nonetheless, from a popular culture perspective, this movie is another reinforcement of traditional and popular ideals.

Editor’s Post Note: The issue of race has been forefront in recent weeks, with OJ Simpson coming to mind specifically. However, I would like to point out the treatment of Ed Bradley on CBS and other MSM outlets. The care and respect they showed Bradley was rather profound. For 60 minutes to do 6o minutes was a bit of a surprise, especially during the coveted sweeps period, but it is also illustrated the respect he commanded for his body of work. Like him or hate him, the quality of Ed Bradley work was of good measure. So do I think race relations have been forwarded and improving—emphatically yes! Nonetheless, the Matrix series of movie reflected the globalization to come and the realization that America’s ethnocentrism will be confronting more of the “Others” than “US” and for the majority we will not be dealing with “White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.”

Time to be Socialized

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 01:58:00 +0000

By Greg Stewart

It is time to be socialized. Question-why we are social beings? Why do we, as a species, feel compelled to discourse about how one and has become socialized? Why is it that, we find it necessary to impart our beliefs, dreams, and ideals, that are contained from within, in what we believe is the social fabric of reality? Why is it, that we explain the way we are, as an individual, or group? Why is it, we are not contented in just being? And, why is it that, we do not understand that we simply are?

The simple answer, of course, was best put forth by the philosopher Descartes, “I think therefore, I am!” which is the first step—to realize that we exist, and that we think. To question who, what, when, why, and how allows us the ability to have introspection. As an individual, it, being engaged in social relationships, allows us the confirmation of our perceptions. As a culture, made up of individuals, realized as a group, that we recapitulate the “social contract” in belief and the confirmation of perceived reality.

In essence, we are social beings not because we chose to be, but because we have to be in order to validate the essentials of who we are, we may, at times, want to stand alone—but the endeavor of doing so is frighteningly surreal that we must have confirmation in our perspective.

This perspective of knowing is referred to as the “culture”-at-whole, or one’s society. In anthropology, the study of the human condition, for instance, has six concurrent points. According to one Dr. Robert Carlsen from the University of Colorado at Denver, “culture,” is 1) a blueprint for survival 2) learned 3) adaptive 4) intangible 5) shared, and finally 6) integrated. On the other hand, according to Dr. Richard T. Schaefer in his textbook Sociology defines culture as “the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior (10^th Edition, p. 53). Although in political science, views culture as symbols, words, colors objects, and artifacts that are transmitted through “lens” and “frames” and is covered through a broad strokes of one’s culture’s identity through enculturation [1] and acculturation[2] that is transmitted (shared).

With those definitions in hand, we see similarities of their terms, but the nuances of how they are perceived and utilized. For instance, anthropology, sociology, and political science have one essential point they agree on, in order to have a “culture” must be “shared,” thus, requiring that two (or more) persons be in attendance in order for the ideals, beliefs, values to be transmitted (shared).

The sharing, if you will, creates an opportunity for others to share their aspect of reality. In truth, the narration of perceptions helps establish the “norms,” “sanctions” (both punishments and rewards), whether it is from the aspect of politics, music, art, or controlled through the guise of social control and order.

In political science speak, this social control and order is sometimes referred to as quadrants, broken down into four separate entities: upper left (psychological inside, why I do what I do), upper right (individual behavior and appearance, what I do), lower left (cultural values and meanings, why we do what we do), and lower left (natural values and social systems, what we do what we do).[3] The bottom two quadrants are from out of the person lower left is primary social control is performed from the mass media “primarily” meaning that there is overlapping in each quadrant. While the lower right systems of control are both from the outside by cooperation and coercion, through the participation in the “social contract,” in this quadrant we are reliant on the “rule of law.” We also in this contract are reliant that the governmental institutions will not abuse its power.

In the terms of power and abuse, the mass media-at-large would have one believe that it is not part of the institutions, but more in the bottom left—a reflection of the people. Needles to say, it is one of our primary institutions in a democratic republic. In so being that, even Marshal McLuhan[4] saw mass media as the over saturation of social control of the culture. He particularly found this true of the electronic media and the commodification of consumerism. The food products and consumer goods have been “branded”[5] to be integrated in the everyday “subsistence” of American life. One such purveyor of this over saturation, consumerism, and branding is McDonalds.

McDonalds as one of the “founders” that exemplified business model for chain store, franchises, of commodification of a product, and certainly an identity. See the examples of Kmart, Target, and the current king of the hill—Walmart. In the worlds of McDonalds, most everything is about “instant gratification” of what one wants: “I want what I want when I want it” is the mantra of the American consumer. In the movie Super Size Me, the protagonist Morgan Spurlock, tries to illustrate the “addiction” of convenience to both the product—and the consumerism of the individual. Furthermore, this “convenience” (the ability to have what we want when we want it) has led us to be more of net-debtor nation[6]. Investment foreign dollars outweighs the net domestic investment. Americans personal debt is consuming yet we are spending uncontrollably, for instance, in a recent Reuters report Americans feel “swamped” and are “nervous” about their debt.[7] However, Americans willingness to accept debt has fed their need for overindulgence and created children of entitlement. As an example, in the movie Super Size Me, stated that children view more than 10,000 food and products toys advertisement.

Advertisement geared toward children in order to adjoin the parents to buy the product for their kids. This is a form of socialization, by implicit peer pressure, or reverse enculturation. The begging of mom and dad of “this is what I want” creates hyper-consumerism and entitlement. Some social critics say the root cause of this overindulgent attitude is the welfare state, education, and the lack of god in schools—including the latest reports of the lack of work ethics—“of being slackers” has led it to its coming “Fall”[8] in values, ideals, morality, and again, lack of religion.

The prestige of America has fallen. The “beacon on the hill” has been dimmed. The American dream has been tarnished. The previous statements have been the sentiment of some of the social critics. Let me explain, as I return to the topic of culture of socialization, one steps outside their familial setting into the influence of others, inundated with differing perspectives. Those of one’s peers from school, from work, from mass-electronic media, which includes the Internet, education, and governmental institutions, shape one. Moreover, the “rule of law” through cooperation and coercion has one participate in their own acculturation.

For instance, in a book by Philippe Bourgois called In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio tries to make the case for crack dealers that by definition are individuals who have been marginalized socially, economically, and culturally have had negative long-term relationships with mainstream society. In his discourse, Bourgois suggests those who are perceived outside of the “norm,” shunted away deliberately and are the pariah to the culture, to the society-at-large, become marginalized and ignored. This is another form of socialization known as isolation. The social control of the culture has determined what is acceptable, and what is not: to be a drug addict and a drug dealer is deviant and considered out of the norm. Furthermore, this is defined as being “labeled” and “framed” because of the user and dealer compunction for instant gratification so that the normative can ridicule and excoriate those who fail to take initiative for their lives (also known as personal responsibility—the behavior quadrant, upper right).

In other words, their type of self-indulgence is outside the line of normalcy, even though one can make a case with all the drug advertisement on television that Americans have drug addiction problems albeit legal one because it is with prescription drugs: have a headache—take a pill (Excedrin). Have back pain—take a pill (Advil). Have a sexually transmitted disease—take a pill (Valtrex). Can’t get it up—take a pill (Viagra). So, one version of perversity is accepted, even blended within American toleration, from the political lobbyists known as “Big Pharma” (pharmaceutical) to the instant gratification of the individual to cure quickly the pain or illness that one has been suffering from. Meanwhile, the illegalities of illicit and undesired drugs are condemned.

Therefore, the one aspect of socialization affects the entirety of the “group” and illustrates how and individual can be skewered to one aspect of correction, while another could be compelled toward insurrection, because of “socioeconomic” conditions and the influence of their peers.

Earlier I made the following assertions that the society-at-whole was a confirmation of the individual—but let me add this, that the individual gives credence to the society by reaffirming, recapitulating, reenacting the values, ideals, beliefs, philosophies—and structure of the culture. By doing so, the socialization of the individual through immediate influences of their parents, who have been indoctrinated by the culture values from previous influences of their family and outside culture of their time. This is known as passing of traditions. It is also known as transmission, or better put retransmission of social instruction (values, ideals, beliefs, and of structure).

The social instruction can be termed as “culture,” which by this author preference as defined by anthropology. It allows for the encompassing “intangibility”—which adjoins that statement of culture and is shared, integrated, and connected to that culture in order to socially instruct the blueprint for survival, while obviously being learned—and is adaptable. Sociology and political science do not necessarily account for these aspects and are not ordinarily apparent within their definitions.

Human creatures can associate the definitions of the abstract, but needless to say want clarity. This can be seen in the compunction for it, the “War on Terror” as an example, shows the public cognitive dissonance of “who attacked us” versus “who is believed to have attacked us” (by the way this author will not restate the obvious—and the facts have been catalogued by history and has been “pretexted” [9] by the extremes on the both sides).

This author also asserted the nuances of the term “sharing” and that “reality is the narration of perception.” Let me further define, it also mythologizes it. Joseph Campbell, the once great storyteller and interpreter of western mythos see this as necessary to embrace, the acceptance of one’s place within the community, and the acceptance of one’s culture milestones (sweet sixteen, eighteenth birthday to mark adulthood, college, marriage, children to name a few).

Let me further state the assertions this paper makes are to challenge you—“the reader” perspectives and for you to recognize one’s identity within the examples of abstraction. I have also given grand sweeping illustrations to associate with, such as “The War on Terror,”—what emotion was attached, or felt, when read by you? This too is a form of socialization. Keywords, symbols, ideals, values—or key phrases can relate a shape of emotion. This is the quadrant of what I feel—upper left. This has been described by Sherry Ortner, an anthropologist, as summarizing and elaborating symbols as a necessary function of culture—and indeed a form of social control of how one perceives it.

For example, how one views the American flag is a summarizing symbols, it has mean that has been innately taught by the parents of how they react to it, while elaborating symbols via root metaphors (one personal myths are learned via family and social connections) and key scenarios the cultural scripts (prejudgments and stereotypes). This is what I mean, Vine Deloria Jr., was a history, law, political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, advocated in his book Red Earth White Lies that anthropology has marginalized Native Americans through its bias—bigotry. While there is no mistaking his position, he says

“The bottom line about information possessed by non-western peoples is that the information becomes valid only when offered by a white scholar recognized by academic establishment; in effect, the color of skin guarantees scientific objectivity” (p. 35).

But then he earlier relays the story of Immanuel Velikovsky, who published Worlds in Collision which promulgated the theory that “Earth had been subjected to several catastrophes of an extraterrestrial nature. …and based on Old Testament memories…” (p 31) was “overall’ ostracized by other scientists and academic community. In other words, he is trying hard to impart the hostility and dogma of the sciences as a way to illustrate the groupthink. This too is socialization.

In essence, these two examples, as the others are perspectives of socialization from the coercive point-of-view. A shaming mechanism or marginalization of deviance (being different), outside of the norm, ideas not readily shared within the “in-group” of culture.

To be sure the “in-group” implicates that there may be and is an “out-group.” This author can relate; as a teenager and well into adulthood I have been science fiction fanatic—a geek even. I still from time to time can be “geeked out” for the latest science fiction film. See Star Wars—pre trilogy and fantasy genre Lord of the Rings trilogy as examples. These movies are cooperative socialization and are transmitted by the bottom left—the socialization of “art” but with an exception. The science fiction nerd views the world from the outside in and considered deviant—out of the norm.

Some view the science fiction nerds, geeks, as the deviant who is lost in whimsy that they are only connected to robots, busty science fiction damsels, pristine utopias, dark dystopias, and magical elf fantasy worlds of realities. I see them, of course, as wondrous possibilities. I see them as a way transform and transcend the politic, social, and economic woes—and I see it as world centric, universe centric, view, with a twist of western-American centrism, that believes in the freedom right standards and combined with leanings of the bottom social left and bit of bottom order right. However, the social control of the bottom left and the bottom order right are too dogmatic at the extremes, and I find them too polarizing. Meaning that trying to legislate morally and behavior is nonsensical, not pragmatic, and certainly uncontrollable. Unfortunately for me, the polar extremes believe one can—and once again, I am considered deviant and a voyeur, looking into the world of normalcy of and for the extremes, of the bottom quadrants.

The bottoms, social left and order right although diametrically opposites cooperate through social control and governmental systems of the citizenry have their uses. Upon reflection however, there is one certainty—television. The electronic media’s altar and institution aids in the installation or instillation of culture is never ending; patient (after a fashion); caring not of consequences; and, is the ultimate “socializing” entity. Speaking of which, it is time to be social and turn it on. Click! Of course, McDonalds Egg McMuffin being advertised, huh—I am hungry for McGriddle though…. And so it goes this socialization...

Bibliography

Bourgois, Philippe, “In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio” Cambridge Press (1996, 2003).

Campbell, Joseph, “The Power of Myth.” Anchor Book (1988, 1991).

Deloria, Jr., Vine, “Red Earth, White Lies: Native Americans and the Myth of Scientific Fact” Fulcrum Press (1997).

Lambek, Michael, editor, “A Reader in Anthropology of Religion” (Sheryl B. Ortner-- “On Key Symbols” p. 158) Blackwell Publishing (2002).

McLuhan, Marshall, and Fiore, Quentin, “The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects,” Ginko Press (2001).

Schaefer, Richard T, “Sociology: Tenth Edition” (1983, 2005-2007).

[1] Enculturation is being defined as to instill from within the familial unit” the ideas, beliefs, and religion from one’s parents and immediate social groupings (which includes close-considered friends).

[2] Acculturation is being defined as to “instill from without the familial unit” the ideas, belief, and religion from the perspective of social control, through the “rule of law, education (schools), and mass media.

[3] These perspectives are from class lectures by Professor Harv Bishop from the University of Colorado at Denver.

[4] A social critic of mass media.

[5] “Branded” has been defined as market place familiarity with its products that its name replaces the actual name itself.

[6] Edward L Hudgins wrote a memorandum September 24, 1985 that US had move to a debtor nation. See http://www.heritage.org/Research/Economy/EM92.cfm

[7] In a Boston Reuters articles touches on consumers feeling of debt. See http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2006/07/20/poll_americans_nervous_about_high_levels_of_debt/.

[8] Some social critics such as Jim Nelson Black, discourses in his book “When Nations Die.” See the review at http://www.probe.org/content/view/783/91/.

[9] This is the new word for “lying.”

Pardon Our Dust

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 21:02:00 +0000

by Hari Seldon

Okay, okay, okay....If you have visited this site before, you may have noticed some changes. Well, like life itself, change is a part of it, in fact, change is necessity. We do not stay infants in the physical, or, hopefully, mentally--this site has changed its appearance to get a different feel. It loaded slowly and was a bit insufferable with some browsers. Part of this is Blogger itself, and how it works with pictures and others application, and other was this site itself. So, over the next couple of months--the new plug-in will be fully functional.

In additiom, this site will also be running contests and asking for guest bloggers to post, from not only here locally in the US--but also from outside the US-- especially outside the US. One can not have a world view, if one does not hear from the world. As a result, this site administrator of policy change for the use of pen names has changed. It was thought this would create a more open discourse among the panalists. However, all it created was a discourse between this site administrator and one other panelist --for the most part--if you wish to use a pen name so be it, if not--feel free to plug your site and name.

The purpose of this site is to have active discourse from varying perspectives. One comment to this site, not to long ago, accused this site of not being so open to discourse, this is simply not true. It has been this site administrator failing in not promoting the primary purpos of this site. And, that purpose is discussion on topics that affect us globally.

Although this site is based in the United States, and the majority of the issues will be US centric, the purpose of this site is to see the world outside of the American culture. Note, this site administrator will not censor any topic, say for one, pornography, this is not a site for pornography promotion, but the subject of pornography and the effects on culture is open to discourse. And, finally, the site does reserve the right to ban a posting that commit or promote criminal activity of any sort.

This site adminstrator is surely forgetting other minutia rules, but for now, this is all. So, enjoy the new look and feel to rate this blog. In fact, your feedback is much appreciated--and you do not have to member of Blogexplosion to do so.

This is your site administrator and I appreciate your help--will keep the site up--and pardon our dust.

Superman Returns Review—Part One*

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 01:23:00 +0000

I have been told that I write long posts. Yes. Yes I do. What of it? So in the effort of brevity, and for those with attention span of gnat you have been warned this is not a short blog! I will be breaking up into parts until my muse has ran out.

On so many levels, one can see where the debate regarding Superman Returns as a messianic figure can be connected. It has also been stated, falsely, that United of America was founded as a Christian nation.

Yes, the US Constitution and Declaration of the Independence values, ideals, and principles were Christian based, but it was not found as a democratic theocracy—if there is such a thing. The “Grand Experiment” was founded in the form of a democratic republic. Yes, it we are a representative government that covets the peoples participation in the form of “rule of law.” And, yes this Grand Experiment is not perfect.

So, what does this have to do with Superman Returns? My standard answer is “nothing and everything.” However, the truth is that how we define ourselves as a people is as important to our perspective reality as the denials.

This is what I mean, Christians insecurity, albeit the hegemonic religion in America, finds the necessity to proclaim itself as being victimized. To bark at shadows that may or may not be there. So, when Christians see their allegories of its symbols, their Christ figure, the Christ messages, Christ’s philosophy they get hyped. Their message is retransmitted over and over again in order to co-opt another generation into the fold of belief.

In a nation, whose hegemony is Christian in various forms and sects (including Judaism and Catholicism), in whether their “message” is heard or not, Christian insecurity belies the importance of telling their narrative to the population in the overall images and symbols of the Western-American culture. Christianity presence in the West is well rooted in its core foundation. Our mythos, our stories, legends, fairy tales, and western-folk lore have often been used to retransmit these symbols.

Nevertheless, some feel that Christianity dominance is overbearing, overburdens, overindulgences, and preoccupies itself with reaffirming the message of the religion. Some have come to view as fanatical, and look upon it as divisive and dangerous for the modernity of our culture.

For instance, one late night radio talk show host, Steve Seidenfeld of 850 KOA, finds the usurpation of Christianity co-option offensive. In my many conversations with him, he felt that the Christian hoopla regarding Superman Returns Christ signs as overstated and corruptive. He felt that Superman’s representation as the messiah figure delusional. He asked, “Isn’t Jesus enough? Do we need to make Superman into the Messiah?” He then proceeded to list the various pros and cons reason that Superman and Jesus were not the same and could not be: X-ray vision, flying, from another planet no comparison. His litany of reasons of why Superman could not be the Savior of man was that they were mutually exclusive. One is a God figure and the other is a comic book character.

True. Yet, that is the movie, Superman Returns, presupposes…

End Part I
*Images from Warner Bros.

The Ever Changing World

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:10:00 +0000

The picture has no relation to the story below. It is picture I found on my Dell computer hard drive. I am using it to symbolize what some of us may think an American family may look like. Or, should look like. Again, this is NOT THE FAMILY OF THE STORY BELOW.....

By Hari Seldon

It is not often that I react on impulse. However, click on this link here>> CNN News story makes me wonder what is happening to those values, ideas, and beliefs. It makes me question who we are as a people. This is what I mean.

Is the story a symptom of the times? Or have we as a culture, as community of individuals just hidden these perverse crime stories? Has the Internet change the nature of secrecy? Has the Internet changed the expectation of privacy? Or are we and do we expect the same level of privacy with the Internet? Can we? My immediate reaction to these are—No. But on some level, the Internet can be a closed community. Groups, cultures, and counter-cultures, and corporate entities and interests are a mixed in this convoluted world of globalization is responsible for this type of pandering. This couple felt comfortable enough with the “perceived virtual world” of the Internet of “anything goes” that they thought a raping of their three year old child was acceptable.

So, what I am going to do here is instead of letting myself expound on this issue, I will let you, the community of bloggers, speak of this issue. What do you think this means for our culture? What does it say about us as a nation? Is this acceptable behavior? Etc….. I will publish all comments. If you wish to do a post, or to add additional information, email me at gksden@gmail.com, and I will send you an invite from Blogger.com and I will give the first 20 persons to do so 30 Blogexplosion credits.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

A Possible Middle East Solution?

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 01:17:00 +0000

by Hari Seldon

<--Hey if these two opposites can get along there is always hope for the Middle East. Image by Suganspice. She informed me that before and after the picture they were biting each other. taken. Nevertheless, their subconcious gives them away in their sleep and dreams.

The “War on Terror” has a new player, actually an old player that has restrained itself considerably—Israel. However, this restraint has led to it to respond in an unbalanced fashion. This is what I mean.

The decisions of past American administrations and other Western powers not to invest fully into Lebanon, so the moderates as such, could fully exert themselves over Hezbollah radicals who have 21 percent of the elected parliamentary seats and three cabinet postings should have been able to be squelched by other 79 percent who, at the least, wish to exist with Israel.

In other words, since the day President Eisenhower sent troops in to Lebanon, in the late 1950’s, has been our responsibility. It has been built and rebuilt twice, once considered the jewel of the Middle East, rich in history—and well educated population—but the rebuilding of Lebanon has been decimated in less than 13 days.

The infrastructure of Lebanon has once again been set back 20 years, and has created nearly 500,000 refugees according to reports by Israel for essentially a “counting coup” tactics employed by both sides—as viewed by some.

This is not to say, Israel does not have the right to defend itself, and its citizenry has been certainly victimized by Hezbollah, but only to point out that Israel, and yes, the US and the other Western powers missed an opportunity to put pressure on Hezbollah. This is in turn would have put pressure on, although indirectly, on Syria and Iran. By fully backing and arming the moderates and creating a “coalition of force," the moderates might have been able to stomp out the radical arm of the Lebanon’s government Hezbollah sooner.

Instead, this latest round of violence beget violence may have or has created more members of Hezbollah—and at the least—sympathizers. This is an unfortunate circumstance. True, as reported “willing” to set the buffer zone they are creating with “international coalition troops”—after the fact. However, this may fall on deaf ears as the tension builds with both sides shooting at each other.

Nevertheless, Israel must pay reparations for their incursion into southern Lebanon, and the bombing of Lebanon’s infrastructure. In order to have Hezbollah disarmed the coalition force to secure the borders of Israel and to deflate resentment and build peace with Lebanon with the expulsion of Hezbollah out of its government.

This may shift Hezbollah into Syria and Iran—but so be it—a nearly established democracy that has been working through the growing of a people government is certainly allowed to make mistakes. We, as in the US, certainly have—and it has been practice in various forms more than 30 years. And, Lebanon was on the brink of success until the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri in 2005.

Nonetheless, these proud people have continued to strive for a better life and are trying to coexist despite its tolerance of Hezbollah. Hariri’s assassination should have emboldened the West to do more. On the surface has failed.

This suggestion of reparations is not a permanent solution—but to put a further death nail into the deconstruction of terrorism.

Question, should Israel pay reparations once a peace agreement has been reached?

Question, should the Lebanon expel Hezbollah and sanction the cabinet posting belong to them?

Question, should the US and the West powers put their full support into moderates so that Hezbollah can be removed?

For those who wish to comment or wish to post a response, please send your commentary in a MS Word file to gksden@gmail.com. Or ask me for a blogger.com invitation by sending your email address.

Those from outside US will be posted first. This site after all, is searching for a global perspective.... not just an American centric one…

Thought of the Day #1

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 01:04:00 +0000

I like your Christ,
but I do not like your Christians,
They are so unlike your Christ
~Gandhi

Confession of a Site Administrator: The View of Charity Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 09:19:00 +0000

The third blogger I am sponsoring this year is known as Bozette in BE. Boze was one of the first bloggers to openly welcome me to BE, and in my humble opinion, one of the best photo bloggers in BE. She like all of us has been met with challenges of late, but our common link is our love of sunsets and wildlife. As a native Coloradan, I appreciate her love for nature, wildlife, and family.

Sunset by Bozette

She is one of nine children, Bozette’s talents stands out. I have been wondering when she will put together a book and publish, but it is understandable she is a diary farmer by day in “Wis’cow’son” as she puts it, and blogger by night. I say however, do a book now—life is too short. She has two blogs Pictures From My World and Life My Way.

She is sponsoring the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) during the Blogathon 2006. My memory of this organization is the “Smackdown” it gave the World Wrestling Federation (now the WWE) over the initials of their name, WWF, nevertheless, this organization does good work.

In closing, I will leave you with this thought that our own view of paradise comes through the actions of participation. “Corporate Responsibility” as business owners, as individuals, as the popular mass is beholden to us—and unto the government (as well in order to facilitate leadership from the citizenry and is not to become arbiter of expansionism, and or intrusion), but to aspire, inspire, and conspire the forward and evolving motion of humanity. Simply, we need to be more kind to one another, and to follow the examples of Gandhi, Christ, Mohamed, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Confucius. And, furthermore to understand that, sometimes as a nation of individuals we will revert at times. Knowing this, will lead to shorter conflicts in the future as a nation—as a planet. As for individuals, more tenderizing of the hearts will come in time—and being charitable to our fellow citizens is the seasoning we need to do so.

Confession of a Site Administrator: The View of Charity

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 09:16:00 +0000

Editors: I have decided to break this confession into two parts in the interest of brevity.

This site administrator has a confession: I am a Libertarian. Fiscally conservative and for the most part, socially liberal on the left—I am a middle of the road type person. I am a pragmatist. This drives my friends and colleagues to explode in anger at me often.

Well, not necessarily explode, but we have very heated debates. I don’t be believe, I know anybody who is an IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder).

I am believer in self-promotion, and personal responsibility with the “corporate entity” of society, of the people, to sustain the rule of law. In essence, that we, as a culture, define our character, as a civilization, by the deeds we do as a people in terms of the social contract by the treatment of each other, well or poorly. We, (the collective), as individuals, as groups, as “corporate interests” ought to try to aspire, and inspire to be better than the “we” both the group and the individual aspect of the word.

This is not always possible. I certainly can attest to that, however—and what is important—is that we try. Sometimes a person’s may be hurt by a simple misunderstanding. We, they, or I may feel bad –but in the moment of controversy-we find the generosity of the heart. For me, this year it is the Blogathon 2006 on July 29^th twenty-four hours of blogging for charity.

To give to a charity is one of the most socially responsible acts one can do for their community. I do believe the government, at time, ought to lead the way to aspire, to inspire the citizenry to recognize and embrace the differences of individuality, expression, and the promotion of free liberty of “consenting adults.”

This means for me that, government’s role is limited to support its citizenry, to provide defense, and to impart and apply the laws put forth by its citizenry—and to know that it is tempered by the people who entrusted it with the power to enforce those laws. This temperament is not to be found by the Executive, or the US Congress—but the Courts.

Needless to say, and to return to my point, charity is best expressed through the individual. Recently, Warren Buffett, American investor, stock speculator, and entrepreneur will donate the bulk of his wealth nearly 85 percent of it to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (that dedicates itself with the disenfranchised and providing educational opportunities to all).

In my case, I am not a billionaire, not yet anyway. Not a millionaire, or a thousandaire, on a good month yes, but I feel compelled like Buffett to contribute toward my community en masse.

So, I return to Blogathon 2006 to illustrate the part of this participation with my community. At present, I have been part of the world of online blogging. I am addicted, may be compulsive, a traffic exchange site that I spend most of time with BlogExplosion (BE). This is a place where one is suppose to be able to view other blogs.

Although, at times, I haven’t always agreed with my fellow BE’ers or adjoin their perspectives, I do believe in their organizations they are representing and that trumps associations. In essence, to aspire and to inspire for a better world even if I do not agree with their politics or world view, what matters are those ideas, ideals, and beliefs that can move a community forward together despite polarizing differences. I have chosen the Maryland branch of SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), WWF (World Wildlife Fund), WHSA (television station) Crusade for Children.

First up, referred to as B, by most, and Ano by others. She has two blogs one of them as a personal journal, All-Nite.org and the other, a expose of serial killers, Dead Silence. She is also NASCAR fanatic—and she is an animal lover.

This is our common ground—the animals—not the NASCAR. A few years back, I had to give away my cats due to change of a living situation (too long to recount). Anyway, it is our love for animals that we share, she has expressed on a number of occasions, both public and privately, that if she had the money she would start a pet sitting service or an animal shelter. Recently, I found out the she is a bit of a crime buff. As I mentioned before, her blog Dead Silence, she does a very good job relaying the aspects of the crime stories of serial killers.

Needless to say, B’s passion for animals endears one’s heart, these are the words she uses to describe why her charity is the Maryland SPCA:

“Their slogan is “We are their voice” and I couldn’t agree more. Animals depend on us. They can’t tell us “hey, my owner beats me” or “I’m not feeling too well.” They depend on us to keep an eye out for them, to watch out for their welfare. I don’t see pets as just another animal. To me, they are furry little people and it breaks my heart to hear about abuse and neglect. The ASPCA website features many ways to help raise awareness about the abuse that goes on in this country. On their website, they list ways to help fight and prevent cruelty. The first thing is just to be aware of what’s going on around you. Does your neighbors dog look a little too thin? Is he/she outside 24-7 with no shelter, food or water? Have you actually seen someone hit or abuse an animal? Remember, if no one reports it, is it happening? No. If it goes unreported it will continue to happen. Step up and report it!

They also list ways to help teach your children about animals. Remember, kids are the future and they need to learn to respect everyone, including animals. It’s well known that most serial killers started out by abusing and killing animals. Don’t take things like that lightly. Talk to your kids, teach them that animal’s breath and live just like we do. They need to be treated with kindness and a soft touch.”

I met this next blogger, in the BE shout box and she is one of the nicest persons thus far in the blogosphere. There are those who claim to be sweet as peaches, but are pitted people throughout even holding grudges from a third grade rival. Ahem, sorry I digress. She, however, is not as far one can tell these things over a cyberlink. Her passion is for children, our interest to help kids physically and mentally challenged, therein lays our common ground.

She is another blogger of the personal journal type, known as the Long, Slow, Beautiful Dance, has her, Laci, also known as ProducerChic, aesthetic design blog illustrates one of the childhood transition from the world of wonder to the world of change. The feel of blog is if one is pondering to go through the “looking glass,” but is waiting for Alice in Wonderland returns. Well, this Alice is all grown up. It has a populist Matrix feel. As for Laci, her personality is well communicated throughout her blog. She is an outgoing, no bull type that, encourages, and helps other bloggers when she can. She is a big hearted person.

In that vain, the charity she has chosen reflects that big heart, although it is related to where she works. She is sponsoring WHSA Crusade for Children. It was established by the local television station in 1954 that she works at, and has raised over $115 million during the years. All the money stays locally, in the state of Kentucky, and 100% of the money is used in giving children in need charitable grants.

As a Libertarian, this is kind of “corporate citizenry" I speak of, in which, the citizenry provides the services needed to the community instead of relying on the expansion of government to do it for the disadvantaged and displaced.

This past year, the station rose over $5 million in its annual weekend of fund raising. So, if you come across her blog send a contribution via her (link), or to the WHSA Crusade for Children directly.

End Part 1.

A Book Review of Chris Hedges’—War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 00:48:00 +0000

by Hari Seldon

One immediately knows where Chris Hedges’ stands on the view of war. One does not have to guess. Unlike some writers, who obscure their views in fluff and circumstance, Hedges’ treatise on war is cathartic as well as a “real life” experiential perspective and rational survey view of war.

Nonetheless, Chris emotes passionately in his discourse of war. He presupposes three points:

· The “culture of war” is a living organism unto itself that propagates and consumes.

· There is “addiction of war” once it begins, it is like a “drug addict trying to chase after a bigger high.”

· The “myths of war” is a narrative that is full of heroic epics, which hypnotizes the masses in popularizing unforgivable acts against another human being.

These are some of the organism’s parts that bring about the “fate” of the culture in order to secure the continuation of hostile acts. The twin sisters, if you will, are really subsets of the umbrella of the actual “culture of war” and they deepen and ingrain the institutions of wars, in which, it makes it easier to commit heinous crimes over and over.

For instance, the processing the extermination of a “prisoner” in a concentration camp, or the act of “ethnic cleansing” such as that in Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia relies on the surreal perspective of the “myths of war.”

The distinction is, in which, “the myths of war” relies on the “culture of war,” to impart the “lies of heroicisms” and therefore must be separated from those who have actually participated in a war, in order for the state, the government, to be given the ability to recruit and pander to the public and the creation of the “addiction of war.”

Of course, “the myths of war” lets those in charge change the language itself. Instead of gray broad strokes is the refinement of colors. Correction! Not colors, but are separated in two colors that of black and white. In that, in the terms of simplicity for the audience, their can be only two alternatives.

Essentially, it is not the party of “Left,” nor the party of “Right are most politically correct, but is right and wrong for the drug stupor mind of the addicted.

The argument, of course, for what is right and wrong shifts the entire argument of war into the realm of simple logic, morality, and ethics. The difference of the latter two; ethics is a representation of one’s personal code. The rules, in which, one aspires to live out their daily lives by an orderly construction of the self.

On the other hand, these moralites, if you allow, are those standards, in which, “we as a culture,” apply to the individuals, groups, or citizenry values in order to construct a more “orderly” civilization. However, these individualistic codes are consolidated into a social contract of behavior, of sorts, which seems to come to the people—divinely.

In Chris Hedges book, he speaks of a code that demands us coming to terms with the “sins,” some out of necessity admittedly, of war—but the ones that were not necessary during the commission of the war, their acknowledgment and the reconciliation thereof.

Furthermore, Hedge’s book is a revealing autobiography of his raw emotion; strike that, a cold analysis of his “sensory” perception of the events of El Salvador, Angola, Sudan, and Balkan Wars. Sensory is to mean in “real time,” watching events as they happen.

One would presume his passivism. Moreover, after his strident testimonials of the horrors of war that he, would, Hedges’, be yelling from the rafters for immediate—peace. Not so! His thesis, or treatise, in regards to how we hold dear those principles, moralities, and ethics, in which “we as a culture,” as a “nation” prosecute the war; in that, we remain principled in the discipline, in the remembering and reconciling our humanity, when the time to cease, or at least transform the “culture of war” into cessation of hostilities.

Hedges’ clarion call is foreboding, to foretell the possibility of darkness if we fail to do so, yet at the same time communicate about the “addiction” and “myths” in the culture of war. He wishes to remind of our own humanity, which in turn, will lead us “home,” and through to the eventual loving of ourselves and of the “other.”

I highly recommend this book to everyone, even for those who are the hardliner war types. It is a thought provoking book, which challenges ones perspectives, values, beliefs, and ideals. To me this is what a book is suppose to do, no?

Marine sings bout dead muslims lmao!

noreply@blogger.com (Wally Banners) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:54:00 +0000

Music Video About Marine Sparks Anger
Jun 13 1:58 PM US/Eastern
Email this story

Here is link to music video, very funny. Marine singing.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON

A music video posted to the Internet, telling a tale about a U.S. Marine killing members of an Iraqi family, is being condemned by an Islamic group and investigated by the Marine Corps.

The four-minute video, called "Hadji Girl," appears to be sung by a Marine in front of a cheering audience. The lyrics talk about the Marine gunning down members of an Iraqi woman's family after they confront him with automatic weapons.

Lt. Col. Scott Fazekas, a spokesman for the Marines, said Tuesday that the Marines were aware of a video posted on the Internet that "purports to show a Marine singing an insensitive song about Iraqis." Fazekas said officials don't know the identity of the singer or whether he is in the military.

The song was "inappropriate and contrary to the high standards expected of all Marines," Fazekas said. He said Marine officers are looking into the matter.

Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that in light of recent allegations of atrocities committed by Marines in Haditha and other towns in Iraq, the video should be investigated by the Pentagon and Congress.

"The inappropriate actions of a few individuals should not be allowed to tarnish the reputation of all American military personnel," said Awad.

The video was posted anonymously on the http://www.youtube.com Web site, but was removed. It is still available on CAIR's web site. A Hadji is a pilgrim who journeys to Mecca, but CAIR said the word has often been used as a disparaging term by U.S. troops in Iraq.

"The video is not reflective of the tremendous sacrifices and dedication demonstrated, on a daily basis, by tens of thousands of Marines who have assisted the Iraqi people in gaining their freedom," Fazekas said. "We agree with the executive director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations that the inappropriate actions of a few individuals should not tarnish the reputation of all American military personnel."

The singer is shown playing a guitar and singing about meeting an Iraqi woman and then being confronted by her brother and father, who have guns. The lyrics describe the Marine pulling the woman's little sister in front of him and watching blood spray from her head.

He then sings about blowing the father and brother "to eternity."

Defense officials are investigating allegations that U.S. Marines massacred as many as two dozen unarmed civilians in Haditha last November. Another probe is under way into charges that U.S. troops pulled an unarmed Iraqi man from his home in Hamandiya in late April and shot him to death without provocation.

The Terrorists at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 02:01:00 +0000

Well, that tears it! We have officially lost the “War on Terror”! Mark this day down, the so called argument “Fighting them over there, in order to protect us here” is done. And, you can thank the major four drug (link) companies for not only identifying the terrorist among us, but also finding a cure for them and terrorism a well. Hey, take these two pills and call your psychiatrist in the morning.

And, who said big pharmaceuticals companies don’t have compassion for their fellow man. The proof is in the pudding—yes? Essentially, a study clarifies by way of surveying over 9000 US adults on road rage, and as a result a new mental disorder: Intermittent Explosive Disorder and may effect as much as 7.3 percent of American adults (see June 8th Mayo Clinic online).

Hmm? We have IED’s in America! That tears it! It is time to kick all the bums out of office in charge of Homeland Security. To let such roadside terror to infiltrate the country, to terrorize Americans and to find “we fought the enemy and they are us!”

While the troops in Iraq blaze by the IED’s (Improvise Explosive Devices) on the highways of Baghdad, which are mechanical in nature, the citizenry of American highways are in danger by our IED’s; a seeing red, enraged, (mostly) male adult “blowing up” at us in our cars.

Huh, that certainly explains Jake Plumber, who recently had his IED moment here in Denver.

I can see defense attorneys throughout America already lining up to co-opt this latest mental disorder to protect their wayward “clients.”—hmph!

Whatever, happened to personal responsibility; and, being accountable for your own actions? Oh, yeah we gave up it to socialists, Godless nannyists, communists on the Left and the God fearing, authoritarian fascists, Neocons on the Right. Oh well, it is just another day in paradise and we now have our own IED’s to make it complete.

Find the Dead Terrorist in the Pizza Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Wally Banners) — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:16:00 +0000

Find the Dead Terrorist in the Pizza Contest!

Prize Winner receives a FREE Makeover of their Cave!

Admittedly Ann Coulter

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 20:20:00 +0000

by Hari Seldon

Dateline: June 07, 2006 Wednesday

Today, as I watched the evening national news (World News Tonight), an outspoken and most benevolent Anne Coulter was quoted as spewing her usual treatment of liberals. In this case, she pounded, nailed, stomped, berated, incited, demonized, and victimized four women whose husbands were killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center Towers. The following quote is out of context, but illustrates her perspectives and attitude of how she feels about her polar opposites politically, quoted as followed from the NBC, Today Show:

Lauer to Ann Coulter: "Alright on the 9/11 widows and in particular a group that had been outspoken and critical of the administration.’ These self-obsessed women seem genuinely unaware that 9/11 was an attack on our nation and acted as if the terrorist attack only happened to them. They believe the entire country was required to marinate in their exquisite personal agony. Apparently denouncing Bush was an important part of their closure process.' And this part is, is the part I really need to talk to you about. 'These broads are millionaires lionized on TV and in articles about them reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-arazzis. I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' death so much.'"

-Admittedly, her remarks are to be considered rude, sweeping, and are a hasty generalization of these women.

-Admittedly, this is only a small snippet of her book, and a viewpoint to create sales for it.

-Admittedly, this book will create an "active discussion" the role of the victim, nonetheless, the tone of her statements in the book makes one wonder about her true motivation.

-Admittedly, what is fascinating, is that, the gullibility of MSM (Main Stream Media) in the reporting of her "controversial statements" throughout her book has the extremes frothing at the mouth.

-Admittedly, this is truer of the Far Left than the Far Right.

-Admittedly, this outspokenness is her shtick (and to some degree tiresome) to generate publicity for her books.

-Admittedly, what is unfortunate that her tone and vitriol is necessary to be heard above the fray of the public minutia.

-Admittedly, such attitudes can lead to intolerance and can eventuate into fascism for the Right, and eventuation of socialism for the Left.

-Admittedly, with a Democratic Republic this will lead to a hybrid of "fascioism" (my term) where the "nannyist" on the Left and the "authoritarians" on the Right both meet at the edges and willing to restrain the liberties of the citizenry.

-Admittedly, this leads to the cognitive dissonance to schizophrenia of logic and the irrational emotion of the public forum.

-Admittedly, the social ills that Ann Coulter point towards with "doctrine of infallibility" of victims has been pierced but not destroyed.

-Admittedly, this may embolden victimization and set a new level for pity and "infallibility."

-Admittedly, Ann's remarks will do more harm than good in the public debate, in that, her ultimate goal may have been to undermine the "illusory" role if the "infallible" victim so that their "magical defense" can be pierced, but her divisiveness precedes her and lessens her credulity.

-Admittedly, this is because of the own groups that she represents has been guilty of the same tactic, the use of the "doctrine of infallibility" to their own political agenda.

-Admittedly, this is hypocritical, and marginalizes her, which eventuates in her own level of victimization aiding her to sell more books.

-Admittedly, that is and was her and her publishers point. After all, it is just another day in paradise....

Nixon spinning in Grave!

noreply@blogger.com (Wally Banners) — Fri, 26 May 2006 19:59:00 +0000

Dear Blogger: You guys remember Watergate? If I recall it was about Richard Nixon ordering a covert operation at the DNC. Purpose, to find out what the democrats were planning for the upcoming Presidential election. Poor Dick Nixon. All he had to do was ask Dept of Justice to raid congressional offices of Democrats. He would have saved his legacy. If you ask me; we as a nation have lost forever precious rights. All cause of Bush's love for Muslims.

We insulted out priceless allies in South America. We have broad washed a whole race of Americans as illegal aliens. We now raid congressional offices of the opposing party. Instead of NSA monitoring the Muslims in the Middle East, the NSA monitors U.S. citizens instead. Now soldiers, our sons and daughters are being framed for killing terrorists. The US Army charge is that they were innocent civilians. Have you ever met a Muslim that wasn't a terrorist?

Iran builds nuclear missiles and threatens USA daily, yet we are too busy admitting mistakes in Iraq and persecuting innocent illegals. Republicans goodbye. You will lose the house in November and the White house on next election.

When my Brother came home from Viet Nam. He had a few bullet wounds in his back. He also received a silver star. Mom hung him from the porch the next day. While he was swinging from rafters, Mom screamed at his body. "I didn't raise cowards." As I buried my brother, mom was whipping me in the hole all the while screaming " Swear to me you'll never run from a fight". I did. I will always harm and destroy Muslims no matter where they are. My heart is black and I bring death to every Muslim that crosses my path.

The Evil of Deception.....

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Stewart) — Wed, 24 May 2006 21:04:00 +0000

Image by 3dfiction.com

Updated May 30, 2006

This following post is response to a commentary to an author, who lacked the courage to keep their comment attached to a previous post. So I am going to repost it. So here it is entirety, say for one, the authors name. Observe.....
begin comment

I was called a racist because I don't feel like talking to people at the moment. I am 1/2 ojbue indian and Danish. I was called a 1/2 breed while in school. It hurt.I was brought up in a family the taught us that everyone is equal. I don't look at the color of the skin or what God you pray to. I have many dark skinned friend of a nationality's.

So a man is a man. No matter what color of skin he has. There is no room in this world for Racists people.
I am NOT a racist.
So I hope the person who called me that can look deep down and see that.God Bless"

end comment

Some of the biggest "I am not a racist" persons claim to "be this or that" or "have this or that," but they are, on the average, some of the most judgmental, spiteful, and bitter individuals. They claim that they will be always there for you, or claim that, they love you as a friend or whatever. And, they say that they will always be there for you when you need them. Nonetheless, when the moment of truth comes, they will stand over in judgment of you.

This may be because of one's acceptance of another, when they do not. Or, it may be simply that, one decision to stay neutral in the firestorm they may have for another. It is either see it their way or to be shunned, and begrudged forever and break the pledge they made to you. When person promises that, "that they will always be there"---that means something. It means always. It is not beset with conditions, exceptions, or buts --it means no matter what that one is there for each other.

Yes, racism also known as hatred comes in many forms. Any form of hate, against a person, is racism. Any! So, speaking the truth does not mean that ones has to be spiteful, angry, or bitter. The truth is the truth, and always it wills itself out, eventually. So, one makes a statement that, "they will always be there" and are not (absent of death) then it should be able to trust their truthful words--yes? Idealistic--you bet.

The philosophy of one such man espoused such idealism. He spoke of forgiveness. He spoke of setting aside differences. He spoke of "turning the other cheek." To be told who to hate or to dislike is the first step of racism and is the most insidious, "Dont like that person--because I dont!" And, if you dont see it there way, then, "You are not my friend, and I will hate you as well." This is the true form of racism.

And then to hide behind one's God to show one's worthiness is the first deception of a racist of not only of others, but to themselves as well. To claim that, "I have many 'dark skinned friends'" (why do they have to be 'dark skinned' friends. Why are they not simply 'friends' who would say otherwise) then set the condition of the friendship is another manipulation of a racist.

So, one does not like that person. So, be it (that is between you and that person). It does not mean it is a betrayal, if another does, or tolerates them, to be civil to them, or even befriends them. It is what is. Meaning, that each relationship is judged individually.....

There is certain clarity, a truth, if you will when those who espouse their love of their "God" and "equality," and then later set hateful words towards others, or hateful feelings towards are the true racist. So, look deep down and take note of their words and actions. It is insidious, deceitful, and most of all intolerate--and yes even racist.

Side-note: (I have not addressed this issue with other panelists that have posted or commented here, but I will when I return from Chicago next week. I was asked, why did I tolerate this panelist. Simply, to restrict their view points gives them more power to their argument. And, secondly this site is welcomed to ALL viewpoints. I may not like their opinions, and even disagree strongly, but they are entitled to have them. Let the discussion be judged on its own merits).

After all, racism is not limited to a skin color, or an ethnic, or relgious group it is the hatred of another human being that is part of the human race. It is an attitude. Don't think so? Look at this country state of mind regarding illegal immigration and where most of the hateful words and actions is pointed towards.....