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The Presence of the Mechanistic World

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:07:00 +0000

Cosmology within its set definition is the examination of the universe involving all of its aspects. It is in fact a necessity to examine events that are associated with the development of the modern day world. The modern world is convoluted with a sense of humor, enveloped with antagonistic and regurgitated patterns that are not only meaningless, but all seem to point towards a heavy emphasis on providing more nutrition to the industrial machine. This industrial machine is simply the capitalistic nature of the modern world. Torn from its roots, the modern complex is fixated on production. The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing and therefore is focused on the production of production. It is automated and largely expected to be followed as the way society should conduct its daily life.

The ultimate goal is to produce more, sell more and buy more. However, the mechanical universe that is at the core of modern society has its roots far into the moving history of the human world. In order to understand it, it is best to know how certain aspects of this mechanized world evolved into being from previous cosmological notions.

The Babylonian Cosmology (1900 BCE) saw the world as a spatial connection between Heaven and Earth. The Babylonian deities, being born from the primordial ocean goddess, Tiamat, dictated the way the world was seen. More importantly, the Babylonian chief god, Marduk (male) dominating Tiamat (woman) would serve as a focal point for the Babylonians on how they were to treat gender. More so this cosmology is expressed in Hammurabi’s Code of law in 1900 BCE, defining that women for the most part were treated a little higher than slaves. Tiamat representing the female gender is expressed as something that man must dominate. The Babylonians saw the planets in a form of plurality, considering them to be their deities, displacing their focus of Earth. 2

The Atomist Cosmological view contains that the universe is simply made up of two factors, atoms that are seen as tiny seeds populating the universe and the infinite span of existence, more appropriately referred to as the void. This philosophy, in its natural conception refers back to philosophers Leucippus, 5th century BCE and his student Democritus. Leucippus is the earliest Greek in history to have developed the theory of atominism. Leucippus and his pupil Democritus theories are jointly recorded for the most part and extend into interpreting the world through a series of individualized seeds (atoms), which at times form clusters. Atoms are in a sense indestructible and appear in a variation with respect to size. They move through the void connecting and disconnecting from one another often bouncing off of each other and spiraling further into the void. This theory in concept is representative of how humans, perhaps a larger cluster of atomic composition bounces, connects or disconnects from other clusters (humans) within society. 3

Metaphysical cosmological view will dictate that the world and the universe is a sum (total) of everything within it. The Greeks for the most part did not differentiate between historical/physical cosmology and a metaphysical one. There are simply things that fall beyond the reach of a scientific explanation. Certain aspects of origin, such as questioning how the universe commenced, are perhaps elusive within their explanations. Origin stories still dictate that the Babylonian War God Marduk destroyed Tiamat and from her destruction the Earth, the moon and all other things came into existence. This cosmological view indicates that Tiamat, being a representation of the mother goddess of nature is something to be dominated. Perhaps extending itself to more modern behaviors of humans trying to control and dominate the Earth through machines and other mechanical endeavors. On the other hand the Hebrews claim that God, Yahweh simply thought, and thus existence came into being. To question even the origin of these creators of the universe can lead into blasphemed dead ends. Science however welcomes the questions and gladly does its best to answer them. 3

However, the rise and triumph of a Mechanistic Cosmology prior to the Industrial Revolution was the cause of this evolution in society. The Mechanistic Cosmology, through modern science came through Sir Isaac Newton’s essay, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Newton, was able to dominate the realm of science leading the Scientific Revolution. This is important simply because it implied that God created the universe and everything in it as a perfect mathematical machine. Everything could be calculated and nothing was left to uncoordinated chance. Though this philosophy clashed against Theologians and theories found within creation accounts, the idea that God was dead and that modern science was the new successor was adopted for the most part. This ideology was essential in the continuation of mechanizing all aspects of the world. If everything could be calculated through mathematics, then everything should be organized within a similar representation. Thus, the rise of organized industry found its place within the modern society. 6

The Big Bang event was the event that led into the very creation of all that is known. Associated with the aforementioned Atomist Cosmological view found that in the nothingness of the space, there was an explosion, which marked the creation of the universe. Atoms then continued to expand rapidly and creating everything within the universe.

In further analysis, one can contrast a sense of dynamic thematics that run rampant throughout these theories. The atom theory developed by Greek Leucippus and pupil Democritus holds much ground in theory. One can connect this directly to the Big Bang Theory in terms of seeds (atoms) spiraling throughout the expanding universe bouncing and connecting with one another. The same can be held with on of the earliest creation accounts from the Babylonians with the destruction of Tiamat forming the planets (Big Bang). The metaphysical cosmological view is in essence a fail safe, in regard that modern science or logic has not been able to define or find solution to questions, the metaphysical net will catch it stating, that there are things that cannot be explained. In relation to the principals and ethics of the modern world, these fundamental theories are the psychological basis of how the modern day human conducts its daily life.

The rise of the Industrial revolution in the 18th century greatly affected the former complex society by complicating it a little more. This being the first stage of capitalism changed the way the world viewed agriculture, technology and transportation amongst many other facets. The introduction of industry affected society more profoundly on a very integral focal point, which would be taking manual labor and turning it into a mechanical based system. The transition from manual into mechanical was seen and experienced on all levels including transitioning from manual tools to mechanical ones. The spread of industry sprawled through Europe and North America during the 19th century and eventually would consume the world in an automated reign of mechanical terror. The new way of the world was quickly becoming the only way of the world. This mechanized view of the world began to affect the treatment of the worker. 4

History has elaborated on the slave and master dynamic from the early era of Mesopotamian culture, Ancient Egypt and even more recent times with the Cotton States of North America. The dynamic of the employer and employee was no different. The employer is the owner, the master while the employee must do the demands of his/her master so to speak. Though it was not as obvious as its previous incarnations, the flawed relationship was still there. The workers during the rise of industry dealt with very poor working conditions, long days and reduced wages. Intellectuals such as Karl Marx, with his infamous political ideology of socialism inspired many to rise against the industrial machine. Though propaganda, government and other intellectuals would refute Marx ideas, the main ideology behind his socialist view was in a sense an equalitarian society, where the workers would run the factories in a co-op style effort. Before the Neolithic Revolution, such a society existed when both man and woman hunted on equal ground. Neither woman nor man dominated the other because they both practically conducted the same activities; they hunted to ensure the survival of the species. It is only when agriculture entered the hypothetical world stage that the woman, and in turn lesser men (those too weak to hunt or fight) were subjugated in working on maintaining their newly found cities. 2

Cosmologically, this is the way the world was being developed, clusters of atoms being piled together within factories in order to produce more and live less. Marxism was received and adopted by many, and in turn rejected by most. Capitalistic endeavors, having a good handle on media insisted that existence in socialistic based nations produced a poor quality of life. Socialism having evolved into communism was adopted by Russia through the Bolshevik Revolution, Cuba, North Korea, North Vietnam and The Peoples Republic of China through Mao Zedong. However, none of these societies embraced the true ideology that Marx proposed. None of the aforementioned societies have a system in which the workers truly run the factory let alone determine the outcome of his/her life.

In further analysis to the mechanistic nature of modern society, one can see how the thematics all combine together. Democritus along with his teacher believed in the value of atoms. The atoms scientifically can be seen through one lens, but can be acquainted to its representation of humans in their environment through another lens. Atoms for the most part are sporadic and uncalculated within their actions. Though there are patterns and rhythms within their behavior, it is simply an observation in control. The modern day man/woman has been placed under an ideological control that separates them from values that are profound to daily life.

In contrast, Peter Maurin a Catholic Social activist of the early 20th century provided a true account of Marxist ideology. Maurin exercises the thought of a green revolution in which he believes that humans should not only run the factories, but they should exercise personal and religious thoughts at the work place. This concept incorporates the idea that work should not be separate from the other aspects of human life. The reason why society has become mechanized and empty is because of separation, separation of home from work, of religion from work and so on. Maurin believes the human should work much closer to the Earth going back to a more involved angle of manual labor. For the most part this concept is not far off of what is actually needed. As the modern day society rotates closer to more empty space, the solution of how this needs to be dealt with can easily be packaged and sold as yet another product of the industry machine, therefore defeating the purpose of the solution. 5

The modern day society is a train without breaks. Eventually the tracks from under the ride will disappear and perhaps that will be the halt it needs in order to go back to more organic and less mechanical principals. This is not to say that industry is bad or evil. It is the way that it is seen and interpreted that is problematic. On one hand the concept of producing more is a problem. The idea that the modern man/woman is always buying something is a forced idea that has been formulated through media. The retail store year is based around Holidays that are supposed to have a symbolic meaning beyond capitalistic endeavors. These true meanings have been dressed, pushed and manipulated publicly in order to induce a sort of feeding frenzy for industry. Of course, industry provides job opportunities for the worker, which has been the plight since the 18th century and even before that. However, returning to a more organic and less cosmetic way of life would not only incorporate a sense of connection with the work being produced, but it will keep separation between humans at a minimum.

There should be a more profound connection between production and its outcome. The meaningless interaction of selling a product with no other purpose but to acquire financial stability is an empty act. It is unsatisfying within its end result and will only amount to more production. It is a cyclic mechanical back and forth without substance. If there is no meaning behind the act of production, then production and its end result is as well an empty shell that at best represents a workers thoughtless nature. Human origin in all its vastness holds a degree of answers and deep psychological roots that have formed history all the way to modern society. Within the same respect, modern society has the ability; through analysis and pure common sense to adopt a new pattern of living away from its mechanical platform.

Endnotes

1 Barker, Graeme. The Agricultural Revolution in Prehistory: Why did Foragers become
Farmers. 2001.

2 De Mieroop, Mark Van. A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000 - 323 BC. 2006.

3 Kahn. Charles H. Anaximander and the Origins of Greek Cosmology. 1994

4 Weightman. Gavin.The Industrial Revolutionaries: The Making of the Modern World.
2010.

5 Day, Dorothy. Sicius, Francis J. Peter Maurin: Apostle To The World. 2004.

6 Newton, Isaac. The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. 2010.

The Pentagon Papers

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:39:00 +0000

Recreating the United Nations

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:33:00 +0000

The world is a pretty big place. Even within our modern era there are still many mysteries left undiscovered and unanswered. Within our vast globes, there are multitudes of different cultures, different languages, different opinions and different ways of handling things. When one country talks to another country it’s much like two different planets talking to each other. In many ways, they are alien to one another. Bridges of communications need to be built, ambassadors and translators are then sent over in order to begin the communication platform. Without a proper mediator the two countries are left to fend for themselves. Communication in any relationship is crucial and very vital for its health. In 1919, precursor to the United Nations, the League of Nations was formed as a response to the Treaty of Versailles, which was one of the many peace treaties executed at the end of World War I. 2 The League of Nations primary fixation was on preventing wars between countries. It served as a mediating point for countries to settle disputes before tensions escalated into full-blown war. Unfortunately, the Leagues demise came as Europe spiraled into yet a Second World War. Obviously the League had done its job poorly. In 1945 the United Nations was assembled. 2 Its focus expanded not only to promote peace and prevent war, but also to solve humanitarian, social and economic problems around the world. 1 The United Nations became the new world stage. Its initial intention much like its predecessor was to serve as peacekeepers and as the new global center for all nations of the world. Perhaps the world before the First World War didn’t need a center of communication, but as technology advances, the world’s structure must be regulated in order to maintain balance. Communication is key in maintaining strong and healthy relationships. 3 However, the United Nations was built upon a corporate structure, which happens to be its downfall. The UN is a brand much like many other companies out in the world today. Its need for funding is its very own undoing. Money drives specials interests. It is a tool that can be used to sway decisions, buy friends and apply pressure. Though the UN has a ceiling rate so it never becomes overly dependent on any one country for it’s funding, it still does not mean that a non-paying country cannot apply pressure to the UN, in order to sway decisions made to favor said country.

It’s a double-edged sword.

On one hand, the United Nations should be impartial even to money. It should simply act as its intended purpose defines it; to keep peace no matter what, to maintain a positive economic and social environment and to uphold the respect and application of human rights. How can the original purpose of the UN be upheld if countries have the option of applying pressure to the UN by not paying, in order to push special interests? 5 Currency and the idea of needing a budget has no real place, or should not sway decisions in keeping peace within our world. In all seriousness, what is more valuable, a life or a dollar? Ironically, the proposed question will have a multiple of different answers. That is why the United Nations needs to be recreated.

Famed German philosopher Immanuel Kant, whose philosophies encompassed epistemology, history, religion and law wrote an essay in 1795 called, “Perceptual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch.” 2 Within the body of the essay, Kant proposes a peacekeeping program that consists of abolishing standing armies, states not interfering within the governmental structures of other states, and the opposition of larger states consuming smaller states. Kant’s essay served as inspiration to the League of Nations. 2 The concept of perpetual peace perhaps might sound insincere, but in actuality is what most governments strive for in their own manner. The United Nations, though shy to take its respected place as a would-be empire, has never fully stepped into those shoes. For the United Nations, walking the political tightrope on the world stage is a death-defying act. Not a single empire has ever been in a position to expand their influence over the entire world. Though many have come close, none have succeeded. In an attempt to stretch their wing of influence over the entire world, the Roman Empire 27 BCE comes to mind, the British Empire 1497 CE and in many ways the United States in our modern era through economic empiricism. 2 Amongst all of these would be world leaders; the United Nations is the organization closest in establishing a centralized global peace keeping program. However, the UN’s very own corporate structure keeps it from assuming its proper role in the world.

The United Nations is structure with five principal departments. These departments consist of the General Assembly, The Security Council, the International Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Secretariat. The General Assembly consists of all member states, which currently number at 192. 1 Membership is open to all peaceful nations, which accept the rules and bylaws within the UN’s charter. 4 Ultimately sovereign states are the only ones admitted for membership. Within the General Assembly the direction of general decisions are agreed upon, but not truly finalized. The Security Council serves the role of peacekeeper amongst the countries of the world. The Security Council enforces binding decisions made between countries. 5 The Security Council consists of 15 member states with 5 permanent members, China, Russia, United States, France and the United Kingdom. While the General Assembly represents the majority opinion, the Security Council makes the final call in all matters (welcome to their club). The International Court of Justice, located in the Netherlands is the UN’s judicial department where criminals are brought in to be tried for their crimes. ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council promotes economic and social developments while the Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General provides resolutions to international disputes, overseeing peacekeeping operations, and organizing international conferences to name a few of its duties. The Secretariat basically serves as the organizing component for the United Nations. 1

Uniquely installed within the United Nations framework are non-governmental organizations (NGO). These organizations, much of them being corporations are usually not directly representing any specific government. While the NGO’s exclude government representatives from having membership within the organization, their money is always welcomed. NGO’s are usually partially funded by governments or are funded fully by them. NGO’s have attached themselves to the main body of the United Nations as extensions that take care of very focused views. The focuses of NGO’s vary in areas of interest ranging from human rights, environment, and children’s rights to name a few. There are millions of NGO’s all around the world. Millions that serve a particular special interest that they lobby. 4 The NGO’s in many ways are misdirected parasites. They feed off of the UN and sometimes blur the intended vision to push their own.

As one begins to look at the structure of the United Nations and it’s attachments, an image of an exhausted Octopus handling many tentacles comes to mind. The United Nations is flooded by decisions on a daily basis. It appears to have become very convoluted in its practice. Politically and ideologically the United Nations has had an inconsistent track record on handling international conflicts, such as the invasion of Iraq by the United States in 2003 CE. 2 The idea of having 5 permanent members in the Security Council is also an unfair structure. These elite nations having originally formed the United Nations off of the cusp of World War 2, have been sitting in their seat of power for way too long. Any nation can be given a serving time on the Security Council but it is not permanent. The idea that 5 nations have the veto power to make any decision pass or fail is open to much criticism. “The Tower of Babble” is a book written by Dore Gold, a former ambassador to the UN that establishes how the UN possibly fuels global chaos. The book goes off to draw a comparison as to where the UN started, with its purpose to incite peace during it’s World War II years, and how it has become a convulsion of decision making in its current state. 6 The John Birch Society wanted the United States out of the UN in 1959, because it felt the UN’s secret goal was to establish a one world government. 2

The idea of a one world government is a complicated issue all on it’s own. I don’t believe that a one world government is where the United Nations should evolve into, as it is faced with much ridicule. Though the UN has been sitting in the best seat, it has not acquired any real authority in terms of respected decision. The United Nations has become a political disaster that simply seems unfair, the primary reason for this being its political and corporate structure. The UN moves like an oversized company instead of a peacekeeping organization. 5 There are innate problems, which seem to be swept under the rug. In order to recreate the United Nations, we must look at its initial purpose. That purpose without a shadow of a doubt is keeping a harmonious global environment. If we strip down the United Nations right down to the bone, peace is what we’ll find. From here, we can rebuild one of the most important organizations in the world. Keeping the peace is obviously not as simple as it sounds. Somehow the world has become wrapped up with the ideas of acquiring money and wealth. These things drive humans to the point of war and the abuse and disrespect of life. Further more, humans forget that we are in fact hanging out on a spinning globe in the middle of the universe. When we put it in that perspective, our bank accounts seem to make less of an impact in our lives.

Keeping the peace across the board should be its primary mandate. Looking at this concept in a more detailed level, establishing and maintaining peaceful interactions within all of the relationships on the planet is much more complex. We live in a world of relationships. We have relationships with everything around us, including other people, animals, plants, buildings, cars and so on. We communicate with these things on a daily basis whether we are aware of it or not. Relationships are tricky because they are based on understanding and communication. If either one of these elements is ignored, conflict arises. The same can be conceived within the relationships between countries. Proper communication and understanding of another country’s position is prerequisite before interactions take place. It is hard to imagine keeping a steady relationship between countries if we can’t even keep a steady relationship at home. 3

Smaller circles represent bigger circles.

In part, education, or re-education is in order. In order to recreate the United Nations, the foundation must return to the ethics it first sprouted from. The citizens of Earth would require a re-education to reprogram the value and proper communication of relationships. Let’s look at the old cliché, ‘do unto others,’ and what it truly represents. First off let us strip this cliché of any religious connection. Let’s simply look at the words and what they imply at face value. Treating other people in the same fashion that you would want to be treated seems simple enough. It is in fact riddled with its own fundamental tragedies. Under this ethical guideline, we will automatically determine that however an individual acts towards others is how he/she would want to be treated. On an individual level, this ethical guideline would work from person to person. Who wants to be treated poorly unless they were reflecting that emotion already? We can apply this ethical concept on a global level. How would countries want to be treated by other countries? I’m sure a smaller country would not want to be invaded and bombed simply because a bigger country has the power to do so. The answer would takes us to a ‘no.’ This universal ethical guideline would serve as the primary moral fundamental towards a ‘new’ UN structure. The rest, if followed by this ethic, would fall right into place. The world in a descriptive utopia would see a change in interactions between the nations of the world. The United Nations would now see a rejuvenated internal ethical structure. The trick from here is to keep it going.

The aforementioned concept of Perpetual Peace, as explored by Immanuel Kant plays with the idea of establishing a state where all nations form under one empirical banner. 2 Since no one empire has ever endured forever, perhaps many nations working together can. What would keep nations from truly working together is the concept of financial gain from activities that integrate to the caring of Earth and all its inhabitants.

The corporate structure that the UN carries now simply holds it back from taking its center role on the world stage. A mishap in bureaucratic decision making that ultimately leads nowhere. If the UN is the umbrella organization that houses all the countries of the world, then it should share resources and level out the playing field. Of course, the very sound of this proposition is laughable when viewed through the perception of economic dominance.

He who has more numbers in their bank account wins.

Ultimately they are simply numbers.

When compared to restoring our Earth and applying a proper universal ethical structure numbers simply do not outweigh it. So the new UN, much like the rest of the world should run on resource sharing as a form of payment, rather than financial trade. Economic dominance is why the United Nations lacks mobility, it has too many attachments and regulations to deal with. Money speeds things up or slows things down. It is the reason why the UN walks on that narrow political tightrope. To do away with this part will allow the UN to take its proper seat in the center of the room.

So far, we’ve reasoned a new ethical application and payment method to the restructuring of the United Nations. Now we will restructure who runs the United Nations. As mentioned before, the General Assembly includes the one country, one vote rule, which applies to all member states. This assembly however is simply viewed as suggestions given to the Security Council. 4 This is where we can see the holes within the UN’s structure. The five permanent members to the Security Council make room in their private club for ten additional temporary seats. However, as mentioned before the five permanent chairs hold absolute veto power over all decisions and circumstances. So even if the General Assembly agreed on something, the Security Council can go the other way with the decision. The General Assembly should be regarded as the final word, and not five distinct nations. It is impossible to conceive that five nations would lead the rest of the world without special interests clashing and dominating their views. However, if these five nations were to be reset and funneled back into the General Assembly’s new ethical position of ‘do unto others’, then the decision making process slightly changes as well. 1

What is being proposed here is the complete reinvention of the United Nations, starting at its very core by installing a new ethical fundamental (do unto others), how people are paid (resource sharing) for their time and how the operating platform of the UN is structured. From here, the United Nations does not have to walk so neatly in terms of being afraid of a contributor not paying because they are lobbying special interest. The UN can be left to do what it was formed to do, upholding and keeping the peace as a global initiative as opposed to a viral condition.

Endnotes

1 “The United Nations Today.” United Nations Publications. 2008.

2 Blackwell Reference Online. “http://www.blackwellreference.com.” 2010.

3 Newman, Dr. Justin. Escandon, Robert J. “Banyan Medical Archives.” 2007 - 2010.

4 United Nations. “http://www.un.org.” 2010.

5 Dr. Willi Scholl. “United Nations.” (lecture, Miami, Florida, 2010).

6 Gold, Dore. “Tower of Babble.” Three Rivers Press. 2005.

Applying Revolution to the Modern World

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:41:00 +0000

“Applying Revolution in the Modern World”
by: Robert J. Escandon

Revolution is romantic. It unites and forces change on the multitudes under its glorious banner, much like the armed revolt led by Fidel Castro against Fulgencio Batista under the banner of revolution. 5

It’s romantic because it’s tragic. It’s tragic because at times, many die at the hands of the revolution, some are arrested, ridiculed and ostracized all because they oppose a group that represents the majority within society. The majority by all means is never entirely correct. Sometimes, views and opinions change. Martin Luther, responsible for the Protestant Reformation is a rounded example of someone being ostracized because of his views. Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church because he demanded change. 5

It seems like revolutions happened much more often in the past than it does now. The current state of the world lends itself to a sort of discreet suppression of ideas and/or any type of revolt through military or intellectual means. This leads to make any attempt at a revolution to roll over on its back before any real momentum is gained. As it is, we simply don’t hear about revolutions in our twentieth century world, especially when we are so far from world conflict to actually care or get involved in it. 7
Throughout the body of this text, we will learn how to incite a revolution within our modern world by looking at how it was done in the past, and by analyzing modern tools that can assist in organizing and executing a revolution.

Thematically, most revolutions are born from a particular discontent towards the mainstream ideology. For the purposes of this essay, we will simply refer to this mainstream ideology as the ‘state’. The state can be any type of collected ideology. For example, the United States represents a profoundly rooted ideology, which manifests within the daily lives of its American citizens. The state, by default is a group of people that have agreed to live under a particular set of rules and regulations. This group is usually composed of high profile, respected figures within society. The psychology behind it communicates that if these professionals being, doctors, lawyers, professors and so on, agree upon a list of rules and ideas, then they should be followed. It becomes popular because more and more people agree upon them. If more people agree upon them, then it becomes the majority rule and therefore implemented as the way things simply are from that point on. 8 The state regulates its followers by enforcing the ideas that have been agreed upon.

This is simply referred to as Nationalism. Think of Nationalism as a gang that is always accepting new members as long as they are willing to abide by the rules and ideas of the gang. Nationalism keeps its citizens regulated through media, propaganda, educational facilities, authorities, specialists and other instruments of the likes to enforce the key ideas that keep the state working properly towards its goals. These instruments are the tools of enforcement and in many ways guarantee that the citizens of the state remain on track and passively obedient. 8 Randolph Bourne, a writer and intellectual is of the opinion that the state is led by intellectuals that seemingly care for the interest of it’s citizens while secretly pushing and forcing secret agendas without any resistance. 7 For those citizens who begin to think outside of the laid out path and fall out from the popular ideologies housed under Nationalism, there are facilities that provide further conditioning to get them back on track. Some of these facilities that are used to reprogram the fallen citizens are, hospitals, jails, educational facilities, rehabilitation centers, psychologists, and psychiatrists to name a few. The idea behind this is that if a particular citizen does not agree with the mainstream ideology, there must be something wrong with them. So by natural logic, if the state and its officials feel that there is something wrong with one of their citizens, they send them off to one of these facilities. For the most part, a criminal who has raped a woman or a child deserves to be rehabilitated with a jail sentence, because they are causing moral harm to others. A citizen that suffers from schizophrenia perhaps needs to see a psychologist or hospital depending on his or her own individual needs. These types of scenarios are self-explanatory. But as we can see, every state, country or established community develops special interests, and thus is where the problems usually begin. Before the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro was jailed because his ideas differed from the practiced ideologies of the state. 2

The every day citizen dictates their world partially as seen through the media. The reason for this is simply because humans rely on information from others way too much. Funny enough, Historians, the famed composers of our historic timeline value primary sources of information when in actuality, if the Historian wasn’t there to experience it themselves, it is by default a secondary source of information. If this is the prevailing fact, then the citizen must trust in his or herself as experience dictates life. Very little questioning happens because the citizens are usually kept entertained and preoccupied by the diversity of life, bills, death, illness, movies, news and so on. In our contemporary world, citizens are merely handed information, which they willingly accept without thought. However, the special interests developed by the state’s intellectuals are the very divisions that give rise to discontent citizens. We could see a similar event happen with Pol Pots revolution in Camodia. Pol Pot led an Agrarian revolution in order to return his country to more ancient times, simply because he did not agree with direction the leader was taking the country. 5 This can be attributed to a mere difference in opinion, as which is the case with most revolutions.

A citizen, who feels that the state does not represent them fully, might begin to think outside of the mainstream ideology. At first, they might question why it is that they view society differently from their hard working comrades, and indirectly blame themselves for thinking differently. Perhaps there is something wrong with them personally, as opposed to thinking that there might be something wrong with the system they live in. 8 This discontent citizen might begin to develop a new ideology. Sadly, the state will usually not welcome new ideas that can potentially overthrow the established system. It is difficult for the state to welcome new ideological changes simply because they can be construed as revolution. 8

A revolution of any sorts will face public suppression and most likely be forced into an underground movement. The Cuban revolution of 1959 was an armed assault, but it was in fact an underground, guerilla movement between 1956 and 1958. 2 The years leading to the actual engagement between revolutionaries and government were necessary for the Cuban revolution to stick. These years build momentum, strength and more importantly a structure for the new would-be government. After the revolution gains enough wind and enough followers, the revolutionaries must now decide if they will implement their ideas through a peaceful transition or through warfare.

Throughout human history, revolution has always been present, seamlessly forever cycling through our many great societies. Let’s take a quick glance at some of the more ancient revolutions in order to show how much this concept of revolution is embedded within human life. In 2380 BCE we see one of the first revolutions in documented history conducted within the ancient city of Lagash, which resides in Sumer. Unhappy with the actions of King Lugalanda, Urukagina put forth reforms to combat his corruption. Urukagina’s revolution crowned him new king. This revolution also gave birth to one of the first legal codes in history. From a discontent of the established system, a group of revolutionaries, in this case led by Urukagina not only initiated a change in government within the state, but also paved the way for new laws and for a new way of life so to speak. 6 At times these changes are good and perpetuate through the reign of the new empire and at times they fall, much like the new empires. Regardless, the cycle of revolution throughout human history is always very present. In 615 BCE we find the Babylonians who had acquired an allegiance with neighboring states inciting a revolution against the dominant Assyrian empire. Here we can see a revolution conducted by a collection of oppressed states against its domineering parent figure. 5 The Ionian Revolt that ended in 493 BCE was a revolution led by Greek states whom broke free of Persian rule. The Intellectual Revolution that took place between 600 BCE and 400 BCE, was a pre Socratic period in which a particular speculation over the nature of things occurred. In this example, we see a revolution not against another army, but against the oppressing forces of the natural world. In many instances we see success in revolutions, however, we also see many revolutions, which have been subdued. In 181-174 BCE saw the Celtiberian revolution in Spain, which was later thwarted by the Roman Empire. The Roman slave rebellion of 71 BCE, led by the famed gladiator Spartacus was also a failed attempt to over throw Rome. 6 In 18 CE, discontent with the way the system was running, the Red Eyebrow agrarian rebellion took place in China. It was aimed at overthrowing Wang Mang’s Xin Dynasty to reestablish the former Ham Dynasty. The Red Eyebrow was only one of many revolts conducted under the collective name of Chimei. The world’s human history has seen countless of revolutions throughout its course, some of them successful and some of them not so much. The Great Jewish revolts of 70 CE against the Roman Empire, the Nika Revolt of 532 CE in Constantinople, the Saxon revolts against the King of Franks, Charlemagne of 785 CE and even the Wars of Scottish Independence that were waged between the Scottish and the English in 1328 CE are just a few examples of the revolutions waged throughout history. 5 Thematically, these revolts are all part of a desire to change what is established, for something new.

We can see that the concept and implementation of revolution has been a part of human life for centuries in some shape or form. It seems almost natural to rebel against mass opinion and seek change that represents new ideas.

Like anything else in life, revolutions use certain tools in order to implement the intended change. More modern revolutions such as the American Revolution conducted between 1775 and 1783 CE are clearer examples of a revolutions main premise, ‘change.’ However, the way change is actually implemented is an art all on its own. The Americans in an attempt to establish their independence from Britain, were able to give birth to the republic of the United States of America. 5 Using the American Revolution as a tip-off point, we can see how early use of propaganda influences, empowers and justifies a revolution. For one reason or another, the American colonists had contempt for the British. There were arguments and fights that occurred throughout their time together, but for the most part, nothing too disrupting in nature. When the Boston Massacre occurred, an incident that led to the death of five colonists at the hands of the proper British, everything changed. Five people being killed, does not constitute a massacre in any way. However, the Americans used this incident as fuel for their rebellion. Revolutionaries like Paul Revere and Samuel Adams used the Boston Massacre to inspire those who would normally not join their plight for freedom from Britain. 5 Illustrations used at the time will show an army of British soldiers standing in single file line taking their shots at five helpless Americans. When others saw this illustration, they had no problem to find a little hate for their British counterparts thus innately leading to the American Revolution. 1 We can see how propaganda empowers ideology and the impact it has to those who gaze upon it.

1848 was the year that Prussian born Karl Marx and Friedrich Engel’s published the Communist Manifesto. In many ways, this manuscript was another form of propaganda inclined towards the intellectual. This is important because intellectuals are the ones that develop new ideologies. Ho Chi Minh, famous leader during the Vietnam War was an intellectual inspired by the work of Marx. 1 The intellectual propaganda of Marx and Engel’s researched the theory of how the working class affected society and showcased the initial problems with a capitalist structure. The bottom line is simply that the Manifesto was food for thought for many upstart revolutionary leaders. It provided them with a stepping-stone as to where to start. As most revolutions are based on a particular philosophy or a line of logic, the Manifesto inspired the communist revolution of Russia in 1917, China 1926-1949, Vietnam 1945, North Korea 1948 and Cuba in 1959 just to name a few. 2

Another tool used to implement and enforce revolutionary movements is propaganda. The October Revolution, or collectively known as the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 was an armed insurrection led by Vladimir Lenin, whom was the leader of the Marxist Socialist Party. Lenin is credited with having created the very first modern propaganda machine. Lenin’s use of the simple poster was astounding. 3 The posters used to support the need for the revolution were subtle with their presentation, but very powerful in their use of colors and dramatic engagement. Lenin even used postage stamps, sculptures and even marches to enforce the Bolshevik movement. 1 In fact Lenin used these elements of propaganda through the Bolshevik Era (1917-1921 CE), in which he infused the propaganda with revolutionary justification and empowering symbolism. The New Economic Policy (1921-1927), which served as an era of recovery and freedom for the war torn Russia inspired the masses by using a sort of constructivist feel and style. The two part Five Year Plans led by Stalin were used to push Russia into a full blown industrialized country, using elements in its propaganda that invoked a sense heroism and leadership. 3 The Great Patriotic War (1939-1945) found its propaganda reviving the Bolshevik Era through its use of empowering symbolism, inspiring patriotic responsibility.

Revolutions find much of their roots in intellectual pursuits. As discussed before, propaganda is perhaps the most powerful tool in any revolution. Following this logic, a person that does not know that there is something wrong with the way of things will simply continue to live in the manner in which they are accustomed. This particular citizen might be too busy working and maintaining a daily structure and does not have time to think about the things that might be wrong within their governmental structure. Propaganda is used to inform this citizen of the atrocities being conducted by their government and encourages them to join the fight for change. The support of the masses is only as powerful as the propaganda used to bring them on the bandwagon. 2

In our modern world wars are not only fought on the battlefield, they are fought through the printing press, emails, websites, conversations, televisions, movies and any other media you can shake a memory card at. Propaganda is how an empire retains control. Nationalism, representing the collected ideology of its followers reinforces its ideas daily. Think about America for instance and how every car dealer has a huge American flag waving on its parking lot reminding you where you are, just in case you forgot. Television reminds us of what American families should be striving for, the white picket fence, the dog, the marriage and the kid. Through this use of propaganda we are pushed into a dream that never really seems to develop. This type of propaganda is in many ways is anti-revolutionary propaganda. It is used to reinforce and to establish invisible boundaries as to which citizens are allowed to tread on. Any revolution that is conceived automatically faces the inexhaustible propaganda machine. 1

Taking arms and marching in the name of revolution is perhaps more difficult today, than it was in the years aforementioned. The twenty first century seems to be revolution free for most parts of the world. However, it does not mean that it’s impossible. First and for most let us take our lessons from our global forefathers and think about the need for change. If there is anything that needs to be changed, then a revolution is in order. The scale of this particular revolution is always debatable, but is always linked to the justification of the cause. If the revolution waged is to take down an established government like in the American Revolution, then a larger group is needed to incite it. If the revolution is perhaps less involved, such as a change in corporate structure, then a smaller group is favored. All in all, the justification for any revolution is established through either a philosophy or a logical structure of grievances. Once this is established and justified, then the seeds of change can be planted and grown. Once this is done, the information must be passed on to all who meet the targeted demographics. 2 Any who are affected by what the revolution is going against will most likely jump on the bandwagon.

Within the structure of the twenty first century, the internet is a tool that can be used to peak interest. However, nothing can truly beat a statue that represents a particular array of symbolism, even a billboard and snail mail holds more weight than the information highway. The reason for this logic is simple. When a normal everyday citizen is on his/her computer they are bombarded by information. They are checking their email, watching a video, listening to music, talking on the phone, surfing the web and so on. With all of this going on, the information absorbed on the internet is as important as a Saturday morning cartoon, momentarily vital but dismissed soon after the credits. Digital means are supportive of a revolution but are not final nor beginning turning points. Physical real world examples hold more ground because revolution purges on emotional and logical factors. The digital world at times is seen as ‘not real’ and can be dismissed once the computer is turned off. Propaganda is passed around, followers are gathered and the revolution itself begins to face the opposition of the established ideology. If the revolution is strong, then it will prevail. If it is weak, then it will fail. 1

More importantly, revolutions can be conducted in a peaceful manner.

Endnotes

1 Goldstone, Jack A. “Revolutions: Theoretical, Comparative and Historical Studies.” Wadsworth Publishing. 2002.

2 Defronzo, James. “Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements.” Westview Press. 1996.

3 Pipes, Richard. “Concise History of the Russian Revolution.” San Val. 1996.

4 Gaddis, John Lewis. “The Cold War: A New History.” Penguin Press. 2005.

5 Blackwell Reference Online. “http://www.blackwellreference.com.” 2010.

6 Harman, Chris. “People’s History of the World.” Verso. 2008.

7 Bourne, Randolph. “The War and the Intelectuals.” http://www.bigeye.com/thewar.htm.

1979.

8 Luttwak, Edward N. “Coup d’Etat: A Practical Handbook.” Harvard University Press. 1979.

The Earth Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:47:00 +0000

Throughout the mysteries and dynamic encumbrances of life, humanity has triumphed over a self-sustaining planet. We have managed to enslave planet Earth to do our bidding. The list of duties goes on and on as we pressure it to provide us with water, dirt, oil, fruits, vegetables, animals, land, trees and many more seemingly inexhaustible supplies. The Earth being a mother above all other things treats humans with respect, dignity and provides without judgment or question. The sons and daughters of Earth in their own respect, and much like impolite child simply takes and takes, giving very little back. One should perhaps think, when enough is enough?

If we were to simply take a moment and look back at this collective history, there are congruent themes that consistently appear within human life. We’ll take the very base thematic of those who have power, those who want power and those attaining power. There has always been an innate struggle to strive for this. Throughout our history without naming specific examples, there always seems to be one group of humans that believe themselves so righteous and proper that they have to destructively transform others into the ‘right’ way of doing things.

Nationalism comes to mind. Isn’t a state defined by its popular ideology? The unification of outward single thought process, while keeping originality and abstract thinking within the confines of the skull. It is outwardly encouraged to be original while that very same suggestion is suffocated from within. This majority rules thematic has been the very cause of much of the world’s discontent. Our jails, asylums, rehabilitation centers, educational facilities, churches, hospitals and so on are ways to keep things in line by placing those citizens that fall outside of popular ideology in for a reboot. It is in a sense, a mechanized process that is void of any organic human respect. A few who hold power, wield to transform others with it. This endless quest for power has led humanity to develop selective deaf and blindness toward key issues. We seek power in whatever form we can attain it and will step on whatever stands in our way. This idea has led humans to stray from the natural environment towards an automated, self-standing existence.

Our world now reflects time management to get the most productivity out of our days. It reflects detached workers that rather confide in machines than their fellow neighbor. A society where the ultimate goal is to increase the number of zeros on the piece of paper one gets bi-weekly to congratulate them for their labors. Where happiness can only be attained at the end of the work cycle through the boredom of retirement.

The mechanical world, in which we live in now, is represented by the ice-cold machines that have replaced the jobs of humans, under the banner of making things easier to manage and produce.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?

The question here is simply the following. What has pushed humanity from a rooted Agrarian society to a travel to the moon and beyond society? In a more natural perspective, human life, much like trees, were at one point rooted to the earth. Humans used the materials around them and that was that. If they did not have oranges in their general area, they did not import them from half around the world. Through exploration, humans traveled outside of their villages to search, hunt and investigate. Through this measure human society expanded and integrated themselves with Earth’s other inhabitants. There was tranquility within the satisfaction of simply ‘being.’ Shortly after, science makes an entrance and begins its contamination within human thought. All of sudden, the process behind all things is important to us. Humans begin to look at the logical explanation to a world better felt within our hearts rather than with out brains. And slowly, as the world is broken down, categorized and placed within the boundaries and limitations of definition, things begin to complicate themselves. Before, when a human that figured out to grow crops would plant them, they would place their faith either in the Earth itself, or perhaps in God. Back then, we didn’t know, or perhaps didn’t care about the genetic structure of a seed. We simply trusted that this thing, once placed into the ground would produce what we expected. The whole process was magical and glorious. Through science, we now know why this process happens. We can logically base our assumptions within an estimation backed by supposed facts. It is a mechanized process void of faith, surprise and belief.

Some will call on science as an evolution. For the sake of this argument, let us call upon Darwin’s theory of evolution. Humans, some not all, will identify this theory as truth in some cases. Placing the word evolution aside, the transition from monkey to man is simply a change. There was nothing wrong with the monkey prior to this change. It is simply something different, a new form of life so to speak. Science in the same respect is not an evolution either, it is merely a different view of the world. The introduction of science does not mean that the perspective of looking at the through a natural lens should be abandoned.

So why has it?

We go back to nationalism and it’s general push to get citizens on their page.

We have a choice in the matter, though it might seem that doing so would mean going against the grain.

Knowing too much is a crutch in many respects. Let’s take the example of the film, ‘The Gods must be Crazy’ in which a bushman living outside of the restraints of the modern world is introduced to an empty glass bottle of coke. Never having seen this object before causes him and his village major problems. Technology here is seen as a great evil with no place in the bushman’s natural world. The film will go and show us a contrast between the complexity of the modern world versus the simplistic nature of societies were ages ago. At first glance, it’s nearly impossible to view this comparison free of our inherit judgments. But, for as unnatural as the world of the bushman seems to the person sitting in traffic in his/her brand new car, the bushman would look at the pre-described scenario as unnatural aswell. It is all a matter of perspective. The things we do, are the things we do. We do them because within our environment, it is natural, nothing more and nothing less. It is for the individual to decide what he/she does with their lives. But within that same respect, we must keep in mind that the world, whether it is the fading natural one or the mechanical one, there are natural rules at play here.

The rules are quite identical across the board.

The world simply asks us for common respect. If we are to give this common respect to the Earth, humans, animals, food and even machines, things would go a lot smoother.

For a moment, lets forget about economics. Let’s forget about it because does it really make sense to steal the natural resources of our planet to turn around and sell them? If the money humans gain from the selling oil for example, is used to by a car, what good is that car when there is no more land to drive it on?

Numbers are mechanical and are very much a representation of how the world has become automated so to speak. Dates, currency, years, hours are all a form of logical measurement. Humans live their lives on the clock, punching in and punching out.

So, is it a mechanical world or natural one?

From what I’ve learned thus far, a marriage of both at this point is the only way for true change to take place. Returning to our roots with machine guns is not really the answer without applying the natural rules of things.

Treat others like you would be treated and the world will turn a lot smoother. Then and only then can we truly find this so called human evolution.

Then, and only then.

Chasing the Same Tails (Tales)

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Globalization is now the new market in which capitalist pirates can seize the new economic boom. Since the world seems to work around money, and the goal of attaining more of it, our true purpose has been slighted by this misrepresented concept.

He who has the most numbers wins?

I don’t think so.

We must simply begin to question the very ideas that are presented to us by our fellow mainstream innovators. Why push globalization now? Why not one thousand years ago? Why are we even counting years to begin with? As a human, we are connected to everything around us through emotional strings, strings we are obviously not using. What we feel is very real, even though we have been taught to not trust our feelings and seek advice from so called experts. Feeling is an organic and natural process that has always been with us. If we feel the heart of others our connections to those people will never be severed. But it’s scary to feel isn’t it? Lets think about it this way, when we are born, we are told that one day, past the great question mark of life, we will grow old and die. A malicious factor that has been taken as fact that inhibits us from feeling.

I can love my neighbor, but only 75%. The reason being is that if I love my neighbor a full 100% I risk getting hurt because one day he/she might leave or die. So I limit my love for thy neighbor and for myself. I find that I have created an invisible cage around myself and my heart. I find myself destroying the very thing that makes me, me…. my feelings and emotions that fuel my very existence. If I am the creator of my reality, then all things are a matter of my choosing.

Inevitably, death is a choice.

We rely on the internet, cell phones, email, telegrams and other such devices simply because we are afraid of an emotionally connected relationship. What these devices do for us, we have always been able to do through our hearts and minds, our very own organic technology. Globalization has been around even before the word was invented, the modem our minds, the power our hearts.

So why is it that we are now only talking about this global unity, and only now noticing that most of the world works on a mechanical reaction to the things around us? Perhaps the church has the answer? Perhaps the Psychologist that works within certain measures of nationalism will know? The fact of the matter is that it is placed in our path now because someone perhaps is banking on it, maybe not. The idea here is to recreate the World as we know it as creators. Government and its multiple political smiles are a falsehood of special interests that sustain economic gains. We live our lives thinking that we have limited choices: choices such as having a vanilla milkshake or a chocolate one, large fries or onion rings, a three-bedroom house or a four-bedroom one.

There’s a lot more than just that, and I am not simply speaking about a choice in car colors or the coffin that you’ll be buried in one day. I am speaking about the choice of immortality, the choice to change the world and the choice to truly feel the emotions that we have suppressed for most of our lives.

We have a choice in all matters.

Humans have tried to reconstruct the tools they have already possessed through structures and technology, in the name of advancement. The further we venture passed our true origins the greater the divide becomes. Not only does our world become more mechanical, but so do our responses and feelings to that mechanical monster.

What can we do?

There is not one community out there, authority, specialist that would know you better than you would know your self. You live with yourself 365 days a year, 24 hours a day and so on. You are aware of every change, of every thought and every evolution you go through. Based on this truth, logically it is impossible for a doctor or a psychologist that meets you for 5 minutes to know more about you than you already know.

It is time to give credit to where credit is due.

Time to start fully trusting yourself and take responsibilities towards the world around you.

These ideas such as global unity can serve for a great conversation over coffee but can easily die with the last sugar packet.

It is simply time to connect not through internet or mobile phones… but to connect with the emotions that can and will surpass the mechanistic society which we have created for the sake of advancement. Advancement we’ve been equipped with since day one.

Gods and the Madness of the Human Condition

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:49:00 +0000

The Gods Must Be Crazy, a film directed by South African born Jamie Uys is an allegorical journey of how drastically unnatural our technology has become. The film in its essence is a story about discovery and how the world has steered from its natural origin.

The story starts with the introduction of the natives, the Bushmen or Sans people of the Kalahari. These natives survive in the Kalahari as hunter-gatherers. The Bushmen also survive picking wild berries and other methods of gathering water and such. One day, the pilot of a passing plane decides that after drinking a thirst quenching ‘Coke’ it’s better to throw it out the window than recycling it. This empty bottle of ‘Coke’ becomes the trigger reaction to one mans epic journey of curiosity and discovery.

Like who have seen this particular film, the story is self-explanatory. It draws a comparison between technically advanced civilizations and the non-technically advanced civilizations. At first thought one would immediately think that a civilization that has not been introduced to technology would be backwards. But is that truly the case? For example, giving a person of lesser intelligence a wrist watch that can calculate the most complex math within seconds, tell you your exact location in the world and even tell you the perceptual calibrations of the sun does not necessarily make this person smarter or by any means more advanced than the next. In fact, the chance that this technology is actually used for its intended purpose is slim. Imagine a baby being sat down with no one around to explain to them what a ‘jack-in-the-box’ is supposed to do. This baby would sit down and investigate the box, pound on it, shake it and throw it. As the baby builds his/her understanding of what this mysterious box is without prior explanation, something wonderful happens….

They form their own reality of what the use and purpose of this box actually is. What if they eventually discover the handle and begin to turn it? A few seconds of careful turning would reveal this painted figure popping out of the box at the baby.

What then?

The baby, following his/her natural inclination will make a self-determining judgment as to what this thing truly is. It will decide whether it is evil, good or neutral. This process is by far more interesting. I mean, lets think about it. From the moment that the human being is launched into this layer of reality, he/she is told what things are and what these things do. It is in fact a matter of suggestive perceptions that construct most human’s lives. These suggestions, being simply suggestions are taken as fact without question. Others give us the unwanted gift of their limitations. We simply take them as truth and never question them.

Everything is multi-dimensional.

Now, technology necessarily does not make situations better. In many ways, technology takes what already has a natural structure and dismantles it hoping that in the reconstruction of such a structure it can make it better.

Hope is nice and essential, but if a society or thought is not broken why would it need to be fixed? This ironically is the main problem with technology and forced advancement (evolution for the sake of evolution).

The bottle (technology) when introduced to the Sans people is welcomed at first. However, eventually this technology brings the Sans people a particular sense of disruption in the form of jealousy and anger. The bottle is then viewed as a great evil and is taken from the village to be destroyed.

Much like the baby analyzing the jack-in-the-box, the Sans people, void of any suggestive measure interpreted the bottle as something they did not need nor want.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could simply make decisions on our own natural inclination versus the forced inclination of others?

“The Progression of Human Thought in the 50’s and 60’s”

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:03:00 +0000

Spiraling through World War I and II, the United States of America found themselves in a silent war filled with threats, espionage and a race to establish themselves as a superior world power. The Cold War all on it’s own engaged the US to begin a forward thought process that would eventually open their awareness to think outside of the proverbial box. The Cold War was a global scenario that pushed the multinational citizens of Earth to reconsider their approach and overall view of life. Lets think of it this way, World War II, was quite straightforward in terms of categorizing the bad guys from the good guys. The Allied forces were seen in its majority as the good guys and the Axis powers were seen as the bad guys. There was an overall air that the collected nations stood against Germany in their advance of achieving world domination. The thinking at this point was very straight forward even in terms of how the enemy would attack and what strategies would be used to thwart their efforts. Upon Germany’s defeat, the world found itself in the clutches of the Cold War, allies soon turned into enemies and the methodology of how to implement and execute a silent war went into effect, and thus human awareness began to escalate and build. This catalyst began in 1945, would be the encouraged the worlds people to think about their circumstances a little differently.

1955 introduced the world to Herbert Marcuse’s work entitled Eros and Civilization. This book, fundamentally is a logical marriage between the philosophies introduced by Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. 1 The composition argues that the very nature of capitalism is an instrument that is used to prevent society from reaching its expected non-repressive plateau. Marcuse states that there is a defined struggle between what is known as human instinct (common sense) and the repressive nature of social standpoint. 1 The breakdown of our society in the eyes of Marcuse is as follows; there is a major conflict between workers and the capitalists that put them to work. 1 The problem has and always will remain within the philosophical practices of capitalism. However, this idea of capitalism has many forms, one of them being the idea of a segregated United States. African Americans for a long time were simply viewed as labor and nothing more. Within this viewpoint, African Americans were often viewed as instruments rather than human beings; expendable and for the most part inferior to their capitalist masters. Repression is part of histories repetitive cycles, but within the stage of the 50’s and 60’s it was one that would be challenged and ultimately changed.

Coincidentally, the American Civil Rights Movement began in 1955. African Americans introduced the fight for equality through non-violent means. On it’s own, the choice to express their discontent in a peaceful fashion perhaps confused the White segregationists that probably expected a violent rebellion. The White segregationists were most likely prepared to fight off the rebellion of their slaves using guns and violence were bested with a rebellion based on intellect and strategy. African Americans and their leaders used demonstrations such as boycotts, marches, speeches and a general attack on the flaws of the very system of America and the illusion of its freedom. As the human expansion continued, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination within areas of public accommodations and employment. 2 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was followed by the Voting Rights Act and the Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965. 2

White segregationists saw the world as equal and fair before the American Civil Rights movement began. Their perspective of the reality that surrounded them was one justified by what they perceived the truth to be. However, as the saying goes, there are two sides to every coin, and the African American side of this particular coin did not share the same perspective.

Change was needed.

In order to expand, change is required. Without change, a human being cannot hope to expand and learn. Without change, a stagnation of life occurs. While change is always thought about and mentally welcomed, the true motion of change is often repelled. 3 This primarily deals with Human comfort zones and how we will do everything in our power to remain within them. An all out war between the United States and the USSR would have easily answered the question of who was more powerful in a faster manner. The same can be said about the White segregationists and the African Americans involved with the Civil Rights Movement. However, while violence would have declared a victor faster, the time period of the 50’s and 60’s promoted a different type of wind. The world hot off the hells of World War II required a different approach to the presented problems. The world was unknowingly developing a multi-angled view of the world and of life itself.

After being involved with the Vietnam War for 3-years of endless battles, 1968 introduced the American’s to North Vietnam’s Tet Offensive. On January 31^st, the Tet Offensive took place and was a major turning point in the Vietnam war. The day was declared to be a cease fire due to a national holiday. However, things did not go exactly as planned when the North Vietnamese commenced the unexpected attack. It demonstrated to the US that the so-called enemies were not only well equipped, but also far smarter than the US had anticipated. The affect of this attack was not in the actual physical fight, but rather the involvement of the media throughout this matter. For the first time ever, families in the United States had the privilege of watching slaughtered bodies on prime time television. Thousands of families watched as the bodies of dead soldiers from both sides of the lines were seen and presented to a public audience. In a way, the North Vietnamese won the war because of the outcome that ensued after the offensive. For the first time, the war was real and President Johnson was then faced with a very unhappy American public. 4 Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the North Vietnamese forces, was a misunderstood countryman that within his justification, wanted the French out of Vietnam in order for the Vietnamese to lead the country themselves. 5 Ho Chi Minh was well aware of the political and social dilemmas within the US during this time period. The information highway of the time was television, and through television the American public was swayed to turn against their own government, as they rallied for the troops to come back home.

Information is power.

Within the United States, the justification for the war was to suppress communism. This was the main idea for the US, to stop the red threat. That’s why the USA joined France against the North Vietnamese. It is the same reason, why the US was involved in the Korean War, and why they stood against the small country of Cuba. They were fighting the red spread. If one looks at the Communist Manifesto by Marx, it strictly states the perfect conditions for a true communist state. A country that is ripe for communism is one that the middle class holds the majority of power within an industrialized state. 6 The process of industrialization took Europe almost 150 years to achieve within its own Industrial Revolution. 7 These other countries that claimed communism, China, North Vietnam, USSR and Cuba were in reality using a version of communism that they adapted to their own construct. While the seeds were dropped, the cultivation of such a system would never truly reach its true form. However, such an understanding could only be realized by stepping in the shoes of another, something perhaps that the US was not entirely ready for, or was it?

2001 a space odyssey was a film directed by the great Stanley Kubrick, which depicted the ascension of man through the known world and into the unknown space around us. The film was released in 1968 and marked an eye-opening spectacle of the senses. Before this, there was nothing quite like it. This film exercised the thematic of this time period perfectly, the exploration of the new. Art represents life and life is represented within art. As the space race continued within the frostbite of the Cold War, the Americans, very anxious to beat the USSR to the moon launched their Apollo 8 shuttle, which was the first manned vessel to leave the gravitational pull of the Earth. 8 Life representing art and art representing life took on a whole new meaning. The base mechanics of the Cold War and the achievements of the US thematically relied on establishing the undeniable power of one country over another.

This time period was one filled with questions. Black Panthers alongside Hippies questioned the systematic structure of US society and politics. In a book written by Alan Watts entitled ‘The Book on the Taboo Against knowing Who You Are’, he illustrates that the very nature of man is one based on the conflict between the illusion of the self and the ego. 9 Humans are always looking for the ultimate answer to life and the question of origin. Alan Watts, who published this book in 1966, worked with the concept of the universal whole. The universal whole is an idea that consists that everything in existence is interconnected and is actually one in the same. It provides one with an unannounced respect for all things around us and within us. The idea developed within Watts book, is one that encapsulates the signs of the time. In this irrevocable understanding, ego is the true enemy. Lets look at this theory within the construct of the Cold War. If this philosophy were to be introduced to that scenario, the US and the USSR would see that they are a part of one planet. Within this one planet, it is better to live in harmony versus a futile attempt at demonstrating who’s more powerful. The struggle for power is a meaningless entry, but within a male modality, it is an extremely challenging detail to change. 3

This era in American History is the catalyst for everything that is experienced in modern day. It shows how innovative human thought has become in comparison to the 50’s and 60’s. It is a growth within itself not only intellectually, but spiritually as well. The thematic of being part of a whole is one that is still exercised in many circles today. It is what the Civil Rights Movement was fighting for, what the North Vietnamese were trying to express and one that is still an important aspect in human life today. If we truly saw ourselves as a sum of whole, which is simply divided into different aspects, we would be able to truly live within a harmonious understanding. But the seeds planted back then are still being cultivated today. Much like it was back then, patience and the understanding of the different perceptions and justifications with our world are very much needed and in full effect.

“Cutting Through Health” - The Effects of Male and Female Modalities on its Patients

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:55:00 +0000

It was a beautiful near perfect day. A boy by the name of Steven was riding his bike along with two of his friends, a girl named Alice and another boy. The smell in the air stamped the day with a peculiar odor. The trio passed through the comforting shades of residential streets into the sun beaten roads that spill into the overcrowded beaches. Taking a shortcut down an empty construction site, they felt the sea breeze against their faces as they hurried to reach the water. Quickly tired from the rush, the trio stopped for a small, momentary break. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a car speeding through the supposed empty lot was heading straight towards them. Steven, with seconds to spare pushed Alice out of the way of the car and took the hit to save her. The car, which was later discovered to have been going over 55 mph smashed against Steven. Upon impact, Steven flew into the air and smashed the left side of his head against a concrete pole and fell to the ground. 1 This moment, lasted forever. The other boy, quickly rushed over to Steven as did Alice to check their friend. Steven felt no pain. The shock of the accident immediately sent him into a state of numbness. His body was practically destroyed. Alice, crying over the body of her friend, thanked him over and over for his sacrifice. The other boy called the 911 and pleaded for help. Steven smiled and kept asking Alice if she was okay. Eventually, Steven closed his eyes and the world he knew and loved, disappeared. 3

On the way to the hospital he died twice. 1

Steven was taken to the trauma center of a Hospital, in which he had the second highest number of tubes (10) inserted within a human body and survived, the leader having 11 for the purposes of draining, feeding and respiration. 1 During his subsequent 9-month coma, he received slight physical therapy at the persistence of his mother, who found herself visiting her son everyday. The Doctors wrote him off and moved on, but his mother did not. Her patience brought her to see her son emerge from the coma. As bittersweet poetry goes, Steven immediately asked if Alice was safe, not knowing how much time had truly passed. Steven’s mother, overjoyed to see her son’s eyes open once again, knew that the hardest part was still ahead of him. The moment of joy transitioned into a dark new reality, from what he had remembered. His friend Alice, tired of waiting for Steven to wake up, moved away and forgot about him. The other boy did the same. If it weren’t for his mother, the world would have seemingly forgotten the heroic actions of this boy. Steven had lost the ability to stand or walk. In addition, he lost his basic gross and fine motor skills from the left side of his body, experienced atrophy, memory loss, constant tremors, moodiness, depression, and other difficulties associated with overall brain damage. Steven had reached the proverbial rock bottom and only had the long, desolate road of recovery ahead of him. 1

Steven’s road to recovery had many obstructions. The first and most powerful obstacle was the very healthcare system that had brought him back to life. Typically, traditional western Hospitals are dominated by a male modality and philosophy. This method consists of a rough and detached mentality that deliberately relies on the techniques of hunting the problem, cutting, and extraction of the problem. Steven went through a series of different Doctors during this ordeal. Just to name a few, he saw a Podiatric Surgeon, Neurologist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Family Primary Care Physicians and many others. All who diagnosed Steven concurred that he had reached maximum medical improvement.

Early in our recorded history, there was man and woman. The need to survive through the consumption of the things around us was dominant. Men, were responsible for exploring the world around them. As men explored, they hunted and extracted their prey from the natural world in order to bring the game back to their villages to consume. Man kills and dominates nature. This practice of hunting and extracting never really stopped for men, it simply evolved. The hunter-extraction methods were adapted to mostly all industries in which man is involved. We can see heavy practice of these methods within the western medical industry. There is a patient expressing symptoms, the Doctor addresses the symptoms and hunts down the infection or the cause of the symptom. From there, the cause of whatever ails the patient is extracted, burnt, cut out and blasted away through the use of pills, injections or surgery. The male modality of healthcare does not truly care for the patient itself. It simply cares for the self-serving achievement of the conquest. 2 If the Doctor is successful, then he/she is praised in some fashion. If the Doctor fails, then he/she denounces the patient as incurable. The male modality is cold and uncaring. It does not express the emotions of the heart. Take for instance something called bedside manners. In the case study of Steven and his accident, the mother expressed that the bedside manners of some of the Doctor’s were poor, as they constantly spoke about him in third person and often making statement about how he would never recover. 1 A Doctor in western society is placed on a pretty high authoritative level. Usually, most think that the Doctor’s words are final. With this being the case, wouldn’t the most important and critical factor in recovery be the bedside manner of the physician? Think about this through the eyes of a child. You develop a cold and begin to feel horrible. Dad walks in the room and tells you to buckle up and sweat it out, while mom brings you a cup of hot soup, brushes your hair and hugs you. Dad leaves to work and mom stays with you throughout the day to make sure you get better.

A typical dad simply might not get it. The child, much like the patient needs attention. They need to be supported and reinforced, not reprimanded and broken down.

Steven, was reprimanded and broken down. Throughout his time in the hospital, he was told that he would never walk again and would live the rest of his life partially alive so to speak. 1 The bedside manner expressed by the Doctors towards Steven psychologically impacted him in ways that the Doctors themselves would never know. Their words and lack of support were planted within Steven’s mind and began to sprout roots. Steven constantly expressed to his mom and his physical therapists that he would never be able to walk or be normal. When asked where he got these ideas from, he responded that the Doctors told him so and that they were always right. 3

Seven years later, Steven’s toes began curling up due to lack of movement, giving him great discomfort in his legs and feet. Steven’s Podiatric surgeon proposed to make multiple slices in his Achilles tendon hoping to achieve a greater range in motion and insert steel rods into his toes in order to permanently straighten them out. 1

Before Steven’s proposed operation, there were some sampled concerns over his deepening state of depression. He was then referred over to Dr. Justin Newman of the Banyan Institutes, a licensed physician who specializes in holistic healthcare, using methods such as acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. Newman, proposed that through the use of acupuncture and other holistic techniques, he could not only improve Steven’s mental state, but also help with the overall circulation of Steven’s body. At this point, Dr. Newman was the only one who told Steven that there was hope. Most of the sessions with Steven involved conversations about daily things, like television, world events, and wrestling, in order to focus on other aspects and not just on the problem. During Steven’s treatments with Dr. Newman, a startling thing began to happen. Not only was Steven’s mental state improving, but his physical body was also recovering as well. 1 To note, the method that was initiated was a female modality. It was a caring engagement filled with possibilities, rather than the male modality used throughout his stay at the hospitals that all led to cold dead ends.

Early in our recorded history, there was man and woman. The need to survive through the consumption of the things around us was dominant. Women, were responsible for the care of the young and the maintenance of the village. As women harvested and cared for the natural world around them, they established a harmonious understanding with nature and it’s inhabitants. The job of women was to create life through birth and nurture the world that men explored. The 10-months of pregnancy that a woman encounters, gives her a particular intuitive respect for life as she practices patience and understanding of not only her body, but of the life she now carries within her. This caregiver method, much like its counterpart, also evolved and found a restful place within the various industries of the modern world. We can see the practice of these methods within the western medical industry through its nurses. 2

For example, there is a patient expressing a symptom. While the Doctor hunts down the symptom through pre-formulated systematic methods, the nurse, which is a role that fundamentally exercises the thematics of the female modality, engages the patient in conversation and stays with the patient long after the Doctor leaves the hospital. The female modality is warm and caring. However, because the nurse is not seen as authoritative as the Doctor, many of the nurse’s efforts are often times crushed by the Doctor’s diagnoses of the patient. The female modality is essential to proper recovery. Once again. think about this through the eyes of a child. You develop a cold and begin to feel horrible. Who would you want to care for you? 2

Seven years after Steven’s accident and of being treated under the male modality of healthcare, Steven began treatment under a female modality of healthcare. Steven’s treatment while under the care of the Banyan staff was conducted in parts. The first area of focus was to stabilize his mental health and reduce the tremors he was experiencing. After that, the treatments focused on Steven’s core (center of his abdomen) in order to build strength enough for him to stand. 1 Though western Doctors concluded that Steven would never walk or stand again, Dr. Newman felt otherwise. Within a two-year span, of just being treated with Acupuncture, Steven was able to stand and take few steps, an amazing feat by any measure considering his prognosis indicated that he would never walk or stand again. 1 Now three years into his treatment, Dr. Newman and myself, have been seeing Steven on a weekly basis. His ability to stand and walk has greatly improved. Currently, the focus of his treatment is to establish his own independent living skills. He was 16-years of age when the accident occurred and left him with a lack of basic gross and fine motor skills on his left side, atrophy, memory loss, tremors, moodiness, depression and severe brain damage. For the first seven years of his recovery process under the male modality of healthcare there was simply no real recovery. Seven years after the accident he was introduced to the Banyan Institutes offering a female modality of healthcare where a true sense of recovery took place. Barely under 3-years of treatment at the Banyan, Steven had regained his ability to stand and walk, regained his basic motor functions on his left side, improved his memory, reduced the tremors, and established solid sense of humor towards life. My work with Steven under the methodology of Meditative Therapy, accessed the roots of the accident. Why he thought he would never walk again and why? Reassessing these prescribed determinations, is key to a full recovery for Steven. In earlier sessions, Steven was unable to visualize himself walking, standing or running. After about one-month, he was able to see himself walking, running and standing. 1 Since he began to believe this possible reality in his mind, his actual standing and walking strengthened by leaps and bounds. This is similar to the approach taken by professional athletes who for example, visualize the perfect dive, the perfect free throw, or that proverbial hole-in-one. The brain and nervous system do not distinguish between actual walking and imagined walking, it simply responds accordingly.

It is important to understand what truly happened in Steven’s case and the modalities used and how they affected his recovery process. Firstly, a male modality is a system much like the female modality is. It has nothing to do with actual gender other than the origin of the modality. A woman Doctor is as prone to follow a male modality of healthcare as much as a man. It stems from the classical training given to these people throughout their education. As say a male nurse is more inclined to a female modality of healthcare as much as a woman is. It’s all in the education prior to the actual practice. In Steven’s case, he was exposed to the cold hard world of textual fact, which by default is limited by logic. It is heartless and void of emotion. Steven was hit by a car and smashed against a concrete post. The Doctors under this particular belief structure saw the hard reality in front of them and wrote him off as never being able to fully recovering. They immediately limited Steven through their own belief and educational structure. When Steven was introduced to the Banyan, he was also introduced to the first set of people that told him there was hope. It is not that one modality of healthcare is better than the other. It is the attitude that makes the difference. The Banyan told Steven “yes”, while the hospital’s told Steven “no”. One limited him while the encouraged him to spread his wings and fly. That is the main reason why Steven was able to recover while under the Banyan’s care. Other reasons are attributed to the practices of the expressed modalities. The male modality exercised within the hospitals are invasive and uncaring, while the female modality is non-invasive. The proof is in the actions conducted while Steven was recovering. Just taking the example of the Podiatric surgeon that wanted to slice up Steven’s Achilles tendon and install steel rods to straighten out his feet while still embracing his limitation to never stand again, versus a series of minimally invasive. Acupuncture needles that ultimately enabled him to stand and later walk. Though it is hard to see Steven’s perspective on the matter, one can remotely access that one procedure might be more uncomfortable than the other. One has an immediate outcome (steel rods) while the other is based on patience and the will of the patient. 1

I propose a marriage of both modalities. Much like the concepts of Yin and Yang that rightfully declare balance of all things, the same goes for the male and female modalities of healthcare. When, Steven was hit by the car ten years ago, Acupuncture needles would have done very little in his favor. The need to enter a western healthcare facility was unavoidable. There, he was reconstructed so to speak. However, the limitations the Doctors placed on him were a negative note to his recovery process. By the time I was able to see Steven under the practice of Meditative Therapy, he had heard the word “no” too many times. The amount of time it took to uncover the possibility of “yes” took a long time, and in many respects is still a focal point in Steven’s recovery process. What if Steven would have been told yes from the very beginning? Perhaps instead of ten years, he would regain his ability to stand and walk in five years.

What if Steven was never introduced to the Banyan Institutes and their Holistic methods based on a female modality? What would have happened to Steven at that point? It is important to view Steven’s case in particular with “what ifs”. Within the care of the male-based modality of western healthcare, it can be concluded that Steven would not have made as much progress, if any at all. He would have never walked or let alone stand. Steven would have endured countless of surgeries not limited to inserting steel rods in his toes to keep them perpetually straight. A marriage between male and female modalities within the healthcare industry is necessary to guard against the potential “what ifs”, to secure that both patients such as Steven and future cases are handled properly and not simply thrown into the air for chance to care them.

Endnotes

1 Newman, Dr. Justin. Escandon, Robert J. “Banyan Medical Archives.” 2007 - 2009.

2 Dr. Joe Holland. “Male and Female Modalities in Healthcare.” (lecture on male and

female modalities, Miami, Florida, 2009).

3 Perkins, Steven. Personal INTERVIEW. 5^th November 2009.

The Creator Creates - Philosophy

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Existence is an ironic twist of metal, flesh and concrete. Human beings have steered further and further away from the organic roots that once made the world turn. The world now turns with machines, money, laboratories and chemicals. As humans venture towards this constantly expanding verse, they turn towards the ultimate artistic canvas, the creation of human beings through non-natural means. The concept of human dignity and equality is a drowning effect in a world where humans are identified through id badges and numbers. Not too long ago, though the existence of time is debatable, African Americans pushed through a Civil Rights Movement throughout the 50’s and 60’s that is very much relevant today. The new human movement is not so much to attain civil rights, as much as it is to attain and understand a profound sense of universal and planetary respect for life. As human beings constantly seek for truth, they come across many tests of ethical morality. Sometimes they pass with flying colors, and sometimes they fail hard. Of course, let it be understood that passing and/or failing is an abstract concept, much like our very own existence. There is something always to learn whether pass or fail. Human history illustrates a series of circular conditions carrying the thematics of equality and the struggle to reach such a thing. Our modern world will tell us that not everyone is equal. Our media will also tell us that some of us are meant for greatness while others should be disposed of through systematic killing. The dignity of human life and its preservation seems to always be in some sort of peril. If superheroes existed (and I’m not saying they don’t), their battles would be against scientists, doctors, insurance companies, corporations and some of the very humans they are sworn to protect. The very things humans create are ironically the very things that endanger them.

Eugenics anyone?

A quick definition of Eugenics will tell us that the selective breeding, when being directly applied to humans is a function to improve the species. Through our microscopes and Bunsen burners, we can see new possibilities in playing God within the universe of genes and atoms. Perhaps through cloning and genetic manipulation, humans can create a new and improved version of themselves. Perhaps, if taken globally, we can create a new class of soldier, genetically modified to be faster, stronger and endure pain in a logical manner. Think of the possibilities. Through the concept of Eugenics, humans can create improved classes of clones that can clean for us, cook for us, work for us, a class that would never become sick and so on. If one were to simply think of this concept, one can’t help but to trace this idea back to genocide. Perhaps it’s a stretch, but we can also excuse those citizens that aren’t up par and systematically kill them as well?

Utilitarian beliefs will lead us to understand that the worth of an action morally, can only be measured by the outcome of such an action. Meaning that if killing one, will save one hundred, that life is worth less than those of the others. This is a fine and accepted concept, as long as you are not that one individual being sacrificed in the name of others. How can one life be put on a scale and weighed for its worth? Aren’t all humans microcosmically connected through the stream of life? If this idea is so, then even a murderer is necessary for those who need such a thing in their lives. That means, that the mentally retarded, the lazy, the uninspired, the rude, the hopeless all play a part within the collected lives of humans and non-humans alike. The thing we do to animals and trees is the thing we will begin to do to the copies of ourselves. Eventually, Clones will be manufactured to serve as the obedient socio-economic class known as slaves.

Haven't we seen this cycle before?

What happened to the golden rule of universal ethics?

There are various philosophical theories that excuse universal ethics all together. The skeptic, who is wary of all things that have not been branded into their unconscious minds, is a good beginning example. Skepticism in practice will portray all given in information as questionable. This on it’s own account is good and bad. It’s not so great when new, potentially dangerous solutions are applied to existing problems. These particular thinkers will question the very value of the presented solution. Skepticism anchors us when historic information is presented that may shed a light into the grand human mystery of origin per se. This on it’s own is the doctrine that does not embrace true knowledge. In fact is a doctrine of constant doubt. Relativism, another set of philosophical theories will tell us that decisions, thoughts and actions are relative. This will propel us towards a particular line of thinking that states that there is no absolute truth. The truth is relative from person to person and from thing to thing. In this theory, which is very much absent from any Universal ethic, gives carte blanche to all human behaviors regardless of esteemed morality. It justifies all behavior pitting human beings as acting and reacting in relation to their environment and cultural upbringing. Ultimately, everyone could be right, as long as they conduct themselves relative to their environment. As we glide over the concepts of Nihilism, which at its base understanding is the theory that life is without purpose and meaning. Morality is a vague concept as it takes the extremes of skepticism and relativism in an unlikely marriage. Since it holds morality as nonexistent, it states that there are no preferred actions or proper choices. With this being said, these philosophical theories leave life empty and in much more danger than the followers of such concepts would believe.

We’ll circle back to Utilitarianism, which places the true moral worth of an action by its outcome. Leaving scenarios like killing one to save one hundred as an open play so to speak. Accompanying Utilitarianism, we find Formalism, which on its own account limits outside perspective when looking at particular fields of study. For example, a Formalist sees a painting as having no real meaning beyond the intent of its creator.

Limiting isn’t it?

Voluntarism states that the very will of an individual is and should be the only driving force in ones life. While this in terms of open freedom is much more inclined to view the universe through ones own will. But isn’t this on its own account an entrapment within the aspect of limited perspective? If one is guided by their will, and their will alone without the application of the ‘golden rule’, one is found once again making decisions based on their belief system, their moral etiquette within their relative existence.

What about Natural Law?

The philosophy of natural law will dictate that the world naturally has certain inclinations. Through those natural inclinations our world sees definition. Natural law, within the doctrine of the Catholic Church holds the views set forth by their model teacher, Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas organized that humans crave social structure. They naturally want to be accepted by others and strive to live amongst identifiable points of reference. Aristotle, being a great inspiration to Aquinas, saw man-made cities as living organisms. Much like humans, the very cities they live in are very much alive, forever evolving and moving forward. Through the concept of objective reality, truths are objectively discovered rather than simply created.

This concept also pits us within the realm that all things, even those, which are discovered, are created in some fashion. God, in his/her all-knowing stance is simply a creation of the original thinker, is he not? Within this parameter, we can feel that a particular need for universal acceptance is needed. If we are to advance throughout the timeless linear cycles of existence a particular amount of responsibility and respect is required.

How can we enslave the very things we create?

In its timeless cycle, the master of something always becomes the slave and the slaves become the masters. Thus the cycle, while endless, is not without its perfect sense of irony. As creators, being made in the form of our own creator, we are responsible to everything around us. Our reality, though perceived through the sockets of sight is individual from person to person. Meaning, there is not simply one reality to perceive. There are many realities all layered endlessly one on top of another. Those who follow a particular philosophical doctrine are in the right place for them, while others sitting on the other side of that particular angle view them as being wrong.

Ironically, they are both right. What a person believes to be true is in fact true. Much like the concept of relativism, person’s personal truths will be a compliment to their accumulated life. The idea is to search within and find that undeniable source of universal love and appreciation for not only the things around us, but for the very love one has within their hearts.

Then, and only then can true universal respect and understanding can be attained.

Iraq, The Land of the Gods - History

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:26:00 +0000

Amidst the war and turmoil that stamps the Middle East as a hot bed of activity, we can find the rich mythology of Iraq taking a back seat. Iraq is scarcely known as the cradle of civilization. If we look back at the year 3,500 BC, Iraq was then known as Mesopotamia. Southern Mesopotamia gave birth to the worlds first complex civilization, which included the technologies of science, mathematics, cosmology, worship, economy, government, written language and architecture to name a few. Mesopotamia, whose first civilization was Sumer, is a mystery to human beings even today.

For years, the west had believed that our civilizations were directly taken from Greek and Roman cultures when in fact, it all stems from the very first civilization, Mesopotamia.

The brief history of modern Iraq is one of constant conquest and turbulence.

Once the Middle East has been settled, how will future Historians interpret the occurrences and events that are taking place within Iraq today? Within the heated mystery of the Middle Eastern desert, a question arises, why are the US troops so involved in conducting the pacification of this particular part of the world? There is a brief part of the Mesopotamian mythology that covers the God’s creation of the Human Being. Originally, according to Sumerian myth, Anu, the supreme God and Ki, the Goddess of Earth gave birth to a set of lesser Gods called Anunnaki. These lesser Gods, the Anunnaki were meant to do the daily work of the Gods, much like slaves. The Anunnaki, unsatisfied by this lesser work, demanded their own slaves to do their work for them. They assisted the greater Gods in the creation of yet another race to work the daily chores, much like slaves would. This new race was ironically the Human Race.

Funny, humans originally were created as a slave race. Which on its own account would explain a lot about the very nature of Humanity and their actions.

Eventually, much like all subordinates, the humans, much like their predecessors the Anunnaki, rebelled. After this rebellion, it is said that Human Beings lived in the cities freely, though the Anunnaki remained involved in daily human activities.

Perhaps, the resistance and tension that is felt in the Middle East today, is simply an echo of the enslavement that had occurred in Ancient Iraq years ago. Though this proposed pacification might never be attained, the fact of the matter is very apparent.

Modern day Iraq is as much a puzzle today, as it was in the days that sprang forth the complex civilization of Ancient Mesopotamia. It can be hypothesized, given the mythology of Iraq that they would fight a war of freedom against what they view as a potentially oppressive force, the United States. Perhaps modern day Iraq, reminded of their indentured origins, simply view the United States as a modern day collection of Anunnaki masters trying to once again enslave them.

Perhaps, this is the case.

Novice Intro Chapter - Tales

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:45:00 +0000

It was all at cause of a fatal introduction.

The mind perceives particular events in certain ways. Some events however, are always perceived the same. This happens regardless of condition, rather it is a form of some greater design. Perhaps this design is so grand, that only glimpses are we allowed studying. In pieces, these events mean nothing. Together however, these events paste into one big master puzzle that’s even more mutilated than one’s own perception of what really is. It’s the great scheme of things that’s incomplete, that’s why it’s open to interpretation. Nothing that has ever been done right is open to interpretation.

I remember a black Jaguar, a 1986 model to be precise. To further the description, I’ll add that it’s faded black, with a sun beaten leather interior. I’m sitting next to the Driver, and a friend in the back seat with nothing much to say. I believe that we’re in no condition to speak; nonetheless, we drive at sixty down a residential. Something has scared us bad. Either that, or the paranoia has settled in once again.

Before I got into the Jaguar, I was at this party. The party was at the Kernel’s house. It was a name that they called him from childhood. He’s one of those people, which could be confused for anyone. He is no one and everyone. He’s that guy that everyone knows. The guy that is always around at a distance. He lived in this apartment complex built for college kids. Ten years ago this would have been right for the Kernel. Right for that moment, but not for this one. He throws parties as if it were still 1992. Somehow, amongst all of the Kernel’s festivals, this one felt special. This one in particular felt like a mistake in timing. Something had happened, and I really couldn’t tell what it was. I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to know.

I arrived at the party in my white, 1985 Oldsmobile. It had tints to shield me from any unfriendliness. In darkness of the car, I sat as an observer. Watching those who walked in and out, very carefully. The strategy of arrival, determines the outcome of the evening. The radio was playing one of its generic numbers. Either way my interest was in the people outside. It was odd, the people entering or exiting were, in some way, familiar to me. Even though I didn’t know anyone at glance, they still gave me a feeling of comfort.

I stepped out of the car. Everything halted for a split second. It felt uncomfortable and uneasy for a solid minute. What I knew then, but can’t feel now, is that it was the wrong moment. I felt the pain of realization and the sting of a quiet lack of ignorance. Perhaps the gods would show me favor tonight and let me go. Let me go back into the car, with no one calling out my name in recognition.

“Hey you!”

I was spotted in a moment where choice had left. This moment I now call ‘Circumstance B.’ The glow of this moment in particular, is outlined in my mind. The people that were calling me were complete strangers. I smiled at these people and waved. Their inviting warmth left me with the lack of choice. If I had just sat in that car, I would have been beyond fine. Instead, I decided to go to the other side of the spectrum.

You can pick up a copy of Novice which is included in my book Dope at amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/DOPE-Robert-J-Escandon/dp/1420844253/ref=sr_1_1/002-9743662-3148812?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188695901&sr=1-1

A Revisionist - History

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Revising History

When Historians look back into the very books and stories that make up the construct of our society, they look back through their own life perspective. As we know, someone looking back at the events of 1968 for example from the year 1969 will have a different interpretation than that of a person looking back from the year 2008. Perspectives change through 'time' and so does the way we interpret them. It is inevitable to look back into history without having our own perspectives influence how we interpret the material.

Revisionism is the ability to change how we interpret history. Much like revisions of a book, this is the case. History is constantly changing. Funny to hear, but very true. For example, there is a book called "The Tragedy of American Diplomacy" by William Appleman Williams. This book is constantly revised along with the state of the nation. It is always being expanded and added to in order to reinforce the presented argument. The same way this is revised, is the same way Historians and Philosophers apply historical revisionism within the annals of History.

As our minds and perspective change, so does the way we interpret old material.

Lets think about it momentarily, within the dynamics of the Civil Rights Movement of 1896-1954 that ultimately roots within the American Civil War of 1861-1865. Back then, in cases such as Brown v. the Board of Education that overturned segregation within Educational facilities, they seem fairly easy to figure out from the viewpoint of one standing in 2009. Integration seems like a logical choice while segregation does not. Our views have expanded and the difference between right and wrong have completely been altered from past popular beliefs .

Facts are facts. But the interpretation of those facts is bendable through perspective. It's important that this realization truly roots itself within Historical Scholars today. The structure that is presented to us is simply that... a presentation. It is flexible and can bend as it is viewed and studied.

We can look back to the Cold War from the viewpoint of our relative year, 2009. We can see an aspect such as the Space Race as positive. If the cold war would have continued, we would have perhaps made it to other unexplored planets. The tension created within that time frame was needed in order to expand the global perspective. Apollo 8 was the first spacecraft that reached the gravitational pull of the moon. First within its history to do this. The Cold War could be thanked for initiating this type of action. Advancement through global stress. If looked at during the year 1968, it was simply seen perhaps as the Americans beating the Russians. The viewpoint back then, simply for our example was seen as a simple competition between feuding countries for dominance. Now, we view it differently.

Sitting in 2009, we might view that Pressure and Tension are ingredients that are necessary to accomplish particular goals.

Let it be noted that History is a living and breathing thing. It is organic and built upon Human interpretation and perspective, nothing and nothing less.

Perhaps History itself is always waiting for one to properly interpret it and will never rest until it is rightfully understood.

Cloning the Human Condition-Philosophy

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:29:00 +0000

The idea of cloning is at first perceived as Science Fiction. Science Fiction is a way of sometimes hiding deep seeded issues as fantasy. The very idea of cloning myself, excavates buried thoughts of life and death. Why would a clone be necessary if all life is interconnected energetically? Energy is everywhere and is interpreted through our own life filters and perceptions. Consequently, cloning human’s stems from a much deeper emotion hidden within the human condition.

The concept of death and its falsehood.

We have been programmed since birth to believe that death innately is unavoidable. When humans are born, they are given what is believed the only certainty in their lives, the guarantee of death. This idea is a very deathist mentality.

To clone or not to clone?

To live or not to live?

The fight for life is the human struggle and a programmed part of the human condition. Humans try to understand the body on a genetic level through the logical mind. Which results in some answers, but a thunderstorm of questions. Much like any exploration, once one is too deep into the cave, remembering what the surface looks like is relatively hard. It’s safe to say that it is easy to become lost within the very structure of the analysis being conducted. Another cause of this idea of cloning is the concept of the oppressed versus the oppressors, the masters versus the slaves. Unconsciously this thematic is very present within our society today and stems back to the very cradle of civilization.

If we create something, are we the masters of these things?

The answer to this is found within oneself, the individual. It differs from person to person simply because reality differs from person to person. In scripture and loose notes, the living God has taught us that humans were created in fact in his/her own image. As God is creator and humans are created in his/her image, by taking the angle of logical breakdown, humans are creators as well. We can feel and see that God holds no interest in controlling the actions of humans or any other life on earth. He/She simply allows the creations to live off the land and essentially live a free life. In this relationship there is neither master nor slave. There is simply life and the pleasures of existence so to speak.

Life is life.

Whether life takes the form of a human, a dog, a lamp, the chair you sit in or whether it’s the computer you work with. Life is formless, it is only the human mind that perceives life in definitions due to the constant need to understand our surroundings with the logical mind. Existence exists and everything is alive. Life is felt rather than seen or heard. Conclusively, the logical mind truly plays a small part in understanding the very essence and structure of life. Life is felt through emotion, not analyzed through logical and conformist thoughts.

Clones are people.

Simply because we have the means of recreating life, does not mean we hold dominion over such things. A creator is by default an artist. An artist respects his/her work. The same goes for the creations we make as scientists, doctors and painters… they must be respected much like God respects his/her creations.

Chinese Communism - History

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:11:00 +0000

In 1950, Mao Zedong’s communist forces defeated the ruling Nationalist party. The communist philosophy was introduced into the Chinese government much like oil to water, hesitant, but they'll hang out if need be. At the time, it was perceived that the Communist party was working in the best interest of the people, which for the most part they were. The communist philosophy was taken and interpreted by individuals that perhaps missed certain points of the overall design. Marxism was intended to be an open ended philosophical system based on the advancement of the working people. To say that communism changed China is perhaps not adequate. To say that China changed communism in order to properly adapt its philosophical structure to it's own needs, is much more accurate.

China’s political structure before communism was introduced was at best chaotic. The dynasties that ruled over China in the past were made up of individuals that presented themselves as servants to the emperor while their true intentions were that of personal gain. Through this exercise of gaining personal goals, the country had a self-applied strangle hold on its own throat. Suffocated by years of customs, bogged down by out dated traditions, China’s culture was for the most part suffering greatly. Its weakness came from the inexperienced leading powers who ran the country. Right before Chinese Nationalism came into play, the Manchu Dynasty occupied China’s leadership. The Manchu dynasty, better known as the Qing dynasty was a period when China was controlled by foreigners. 1

Manchuria is an area found in northeast Asia, falling right in between Russia and China. The people of Manchuria are called Manchurians and for the most part are not considered of Chinese descent. So when the Manchu came into power over the Chinese, it was considered, though not fully expressed, that barbarians were in control of China. The rule of the Qing dynasty stood from the beginning of the 17^th century up until 1911. One can't help but to ponder what could the Manchu leaders know about a country that they cannot call home? To the Manchu’s credit, they assimilated many Chinese traditions in order to fit in the skin better. However, they did not grow up among the Chinese, so their understanding would have been limited automatically.

By the time Nationalism rolled in, China had seen their last great empire crumble before their very eyes. A deranged dead empress immediately followed by a pre-mature child emperor that obviously lacked the leadership skills necessary to steer the country out of impeding doom.

The Nationalist movement is a structure with a heavy emphasis on cultural and political theories unifying China. The ideological basis of Nationalism draw on Marxist, Western and Russian intellectual thought as its contrasting base. This was intended as a way to reform the political structure of China. It based its primary focus on unity. Considering that the Manchurians drove China directly into the ground, any change was welcomed. China, now being directed by Chinese people as opposed to foreign rule, faced an unfamiliar new beginning. However, this beginning did not come without its bumps in the road.

In 1927, the Chinese Civil War between the Chinese Nationalists and the Communist Party of China erupted. 2 The war continued up until the Japanese invaded. The communist party gained it true strength and momentum during this time. While the Japanese marched forward into China, the controlling Nationalist government proceeded to battle the communists believing them to be the true threat. Members of the communist party spent their days getting to know the peasantry. The peasantry viewed this choice by the Nationalist as wrong and perhaps not acting in their best interests. If the Nationalists are trying to kill the Chinese communists, while the invading Japanese forces are allowed to walk through China killing its people and doing as they please, something is terribly wrong. Perhaps the echoes of the previous Qing dynasty reminded them what foreign rule was like. And like clock work, the communist party gained strength among the people.

Some time later, Japan was defeated in 1945, thus defining the end of World War II. The Chinese Civil war continued once again until 1950 when the Communist party finally took control. 3

Now, communism in theory cannot work in under developed nations. It took Europe to naturally evolve industrially throughout a period of over one-hundred-fifty-years. Though Europe was never communist, it was still fertile ground in which to apply Marxist theory of communism. China, was not very industrialized by the time the Communist party took control of the country. This on its own served is a major problem for the Chinese who are trying to apply these theories into practice. For the most part the ideology of communism is somewhat present in its application into Chinese society. Now whether all of its parts made it through to the whole is debatable. Communism suited the needs of the Chinese at that particular point of time. Coming from a series of bad experiences in leadership, the communist party was welcomed as the carriers of the Mandate of Heaven. It was logical for the Chinese revolutionaries to turn towards communism as an ideology considering that the Russian communists saved their country back from a similar circumstance. 4 Call it much needed inspiration. These men looked outwards in order to help the internal situation of their country. Interesting enough, this is very representative of the situation. There is a reoccurring thematic within ancient Chinese philosophy, which convey the principles of the external reflections of internal problems. The Chinese revolutionaries looking at the Russian revolution as inspiration to cure their own ailments illustrates this very well. 5

Much like the barbarians that ruled China throughout the Qing Dynasty, the foreign concepts of communism did not come without its own puzzles. It is exactly the same problem that the Chinese faced before, only this time the problem took a different form. It didn't come in the form of a conquering army thirsty for the blood of the Chinese, it came in the form of a foreign ideology that is believed to carry the answers to their problems. Perhaps if we closed our eyes, and looked at this from a different angle, we could see that maybe the ideas cultivated by Carl Marx had their own Mandate of Heaven? Regardless, communism was interpreted and adapted to the best of their abilities. But once again, as we previously glossed over one of the main pre-requisites of communism is that the country must be industrialized and that the working class must out number all others. So once again, the concept of communism is transformed, punched, mutilated and injected into yet another version of its former self. Though many still refer to China as a communist state, it truly is not. It is simply an interpretation of the ideology and nothing more. What is practiced in China today is a type of hybrid capitalism that mixes concepts as it pleases. But it is important to see that the change to communism was one made out of need and not of choice. Even though choice is apparent, Chinese history dictates that the Mandate of Heaven chooses its carriers at random.

Circles of Creation - History

noreply@blogger.com (Masterflowpilot) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:00:00 +0000

History is viewed through many angles and has various interpretations. However, the fact remains that while history is in fact an interpretation in itself, this interpretation comes from the perspective of a human. Simply put, the world as we know it has been determined, created and accounted for by its human inhabitants. With that being said, the creation myths that define our reality, the very beginnings of our civilizations are merely interpretations of events that occurred a millennia ago. Everything has a beginning, and when that beginning happens there are no witnesses, simply because things are still in the process of being created, nothing really exists other than creation itself. After the fact, the recently created civilizations interpret their surroundings, and much like ancient detectives, begin to gather clues and facts about how they came into being. Imagine it in the same respect as a form of mass memory loss. There are those who don’t know how they got here and don’t care. However, there were obviously those who questioned the method of their existence and arrival. Those very curious individuals are the ones that are responsible for giving us a window into how things in that particular culture and time period came into being. All around the world as civilizations sprang into existence, so did the creation myths that bound them. These men can easily be referred to as ancient historians of sorts, the original writers of time. They interpreted and recorded their findings and from there, their stories defined culture, religion, social standards and like-minded civilians that for the most part followed the stories as law. It is by far no coincidence that the different creation myths have very similar themes and elements. Perhaps humans share an invisible consciousness in which certain ideas, information and beliefs are stored. Though countries and lifetimes apart, the creation myths of Sumer, Greece, and even the Hebrews through their book of Genesis share thematics that are if not exact, are very close to one another. These shared thematics and elements imply a sense of circular understanding that help define the world we live in today. How is it possible for these men/women, to interpret similar beginnings without being in communication with one another? The world is dipped in mystery and wonder. Regardless, the creation myths of Sumer, Greece, and Genesis have similar events and themes, proving that there are elements within those myths that through constant reinterpretation of the same circular existence we participate in can be accounted for as truth.

The Sumerian creation myth is one of the earliest accounts of one of our main themes, the flood thematic. The story of Sumer’s creations is found on a single rock tablet, damaged and becoming more intriguing over time. However, the complete creation myth is not available as the tablet is broken and arrogantly begins when the gods create the Sumerian people and the animals of Sumer. 1 The actual text does not describe how the actual universe, or how our earth was created through the perspective of the Sumerians. However, the Sumerians made it a point to introduce their gods cosmologically, giving curious readers an idea of how events took place and unfolded. Everything started in the sea, which they referred to as Nammu, a god. From that point, the sea gave birth to the unified mountain of earth’s land mass. On that mountain existed the god An, which was heaven and the goddess Ki, which was earth. 1 This union, which was brought forth through the connection of the natural environment gave birth to Enlil, which was the god of air. This air god, separated heaven from earth lending itself to another concurring thematic which illustrates how humans separate themselves from the very chance of attaining the divinity of a god. 1 The gods, later decided to clean humanity in the form of a great flood. The god of the water instructs an Akkadian man by the name of Atra-hasis, to build an ark in order to save the pure. 1 While this bit of information is missing from the actual tablet, it is detailed through Babylonian mythology. The storm lasts for a period of seven days and seven nights. 1 The flood takes place because the people of Sumer angered the gods either through a form of betrayal or disrespect. The flood is initiated to cleanse the civilization until it once again becomes pure. In a sense, the flood thematic lends itself to the idea of rebirth and second chances. Though the people needed to be cleansed, this destruction was not without it’s gleaming sense of hope at the end of the tunnel so to speak.

In the beginning of the creation of Greek reality, there was a void of darkness. In this void existed Nyx, a black bird. The bird laid a golden egg and sat upon it until Eros, the god of love came into being. 2 The shells of the egg separated and created the sky named Uranus, and the earth named Gaia, both gods in their own respect. The god of love made the two fall in love and from that union sprang forth Cronos and his sister Rhea among many other siblings. 2 Much like the myths of Sumer, gods created gods through a union of the natural environment. Heaven, in this case identified as the sky unified with earth and formed a brethren of other gods. These gods, created other gods up until Zeus, who following in the steps of his own father Cronos, killed him and claimed his throne. Some time after Zeus’s rise to power, high on top of mount Olympus, he decided to severely punish humanity in the form of a great flood. Once again we arrive at the recurring dynamic of the ever-cleansing water in the form of another great flood. However, as Poseiden’s wrath was unleashed upon man, Zeus had mercy and called the seas to grown calm. This flood was foretold by the oracle of Delphi, which resided in the mountain of Delphi, which was called the navel of earth. 2 This navel of earth is similar to the Fertile Crescent, as described by Sumerian mythology in which it draws a comparison upon the physical beginning of life. Amongst the destruction of the flood, the gods had pity among men and the merciful Zeus stops the flood. The same can be seen within the structure of the cleansing of Sumer. The main difference between these two identical themes is that the gods of Sumer were much more lenient than Zeus was with respect to having pity towards humans. The Sumerian gods instructed Atra-hasis to create an ark in order to save a selected few. Zeus, was ready to destroy humanity as a whole with the promise of a better more obedient race. However, Zeus exercises mercy and saves the humans from a seemingly unavoidable death. Creation came into being by similar means through the connection of natural elements within the myths of both Greece and Sumer.

The Hebrews account their creation myth depicts god has having created the heavens and earth, much like the connection of heaven and earth in Sumer and Greek myths. However, god’s coming into existence is unaccounted for. The very beginning is simply a concept that is accepted, much like the incomplete tablet that accounts for Sumeria’s creation, and the given that the void and Nyx existed irrefutably within the Greek creation myth. Drawing contrasts between the three myths, one can see that the very beginning of any creation tale, starts with an unmovable element that serves as an ever-existing circumstance. In regards to genesis, this unmovable element is god. God is there at the beginning already creating, and ever so vigilant working hard. The idea that comes to mind is that god created humans in his likeness, a concept shared with Greek mythology that depicts Zeus and the rest of the pantheon in human form. Sumerian mythology does not lend itself towards this idea as their gods did not adopt the appearance of humans, for the exception of Marduk, which was the son of god and was better known within Babylonian mythology. 3 Another thematic apparent within Genesis is the exclusion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden after eating the forbidden fruit. This illustrates the separation of divinity between humans and gods. Almost as if it were an innate disposition for humans to divide themselves from their godly creators, even though they were formed in their image. This theme surfaces in Sumerian mythology by the birth of Enlil, which was responsible for separating earth from heaven. The Greeks place their gods on top of mount Olympus, a place where no humans are allowed to wander. Perhaps this separation is natural and can be viewed as the beginning of human struggle. Another binding element between these civilizations is the great flood, in which god, in order to clean the earth of its impurities, instructs Noah to build an ark in order to save those who are deemed worthy. This is shown in Sumerian mythology through the actions of Atra-hasis who also built an ark to save the pure. The Garden of Eden also represents a physical beginning to existence. The same can be found in Sumer’s Fertile Crescent, and in the Greek’s navel of earth where knowledge seems to spring eternal through the oracle’s unique insight.

How were we really created? Is the world simply a paradox of different realities and stories layered on top of each other in hopes of finding some negligent truth? We have drawn conclusions among three creation myths, Sumer, Greece and Genesis that show the same elements and themes. Though these reoccurring events are disguised to appear different, they are in fact the same. All three creation myths have a flood that cleanses the earth, the natural connection (heaven and earth) of the elements that in turn form life, the separation of man’s divinity from god, a physical beginning for existence (Fertile Crescent, navel of earth, Garden of Eden) and the overall fact that all these accounts originate from the perspective of a human being. One thing is beyond the shadow of doubt, these reoccurring elements can and can be held as truth in some fashion or another. Gods exist, they want to be acknowledged and respected. In a sense, the authors of these varied creation myths can be seen as creators as well. Without their interpretation of how things came into existence, we would not know, or perhaps someone else would simply step in and create another set of creation myths much like Charles Darwin did in the nineteenth century. History travels in a circular straight line. By this, we can see that while history and events unfold in a perpetual forward motion, we are simply traveling within cycles that we have yet to acknowledge, sharing similar events and constantly revisiting the same themes. The creation myths are no exception to the recycling process of history. Everything has a beginning, and the beginning is created by man.