Life's General Sways

I am me.

osmosis83 — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:58:05 +0000

I am ME

I an aboriginal but sophisticated

Respect me for what I learn

I an ancient, yet current

Blasphemously untamed

Pray little for me

I am the product of my environment

And that is what I have chosen

Dear God

osmosis83 — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:56:52 +0000

As I look up

To see if you are still watching

I dream heavily

And hope you will catch.

Thank you for caring.

Thirsty Kids

osmosis83 — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:47:51 +0000

This world that we know as Earth would not be possible without a simple but effective chemical composition. H2O. Water is the basis for life. A dry planet is a dead planet. In this case, an unhealthy planet is a dead planet. While water has the potential to be the main ingredient for life, it also has an ugly face. Water is a feasting ground for pathogens. Distribution, reproduction, and infection are the only goals of germs. Water, being rich in oxygen and pH neutral, invites the spread of these bio-bombs. “One in four children who die before age 5 worldwide” quotes thewaterproject.org,”die of a water related disease.” Being a birthing place of life and culture, Africa has become a barren countryside. 16.8 million people in Kenya go without water, according to a wonderful project at http://www.water.org. Spread the love.

Kids are dying from the lack of clean water. Please help

fund a project to provide these children with life’s essential fuel.

http://thewaterproject.org/

http://www.h2oafrica.org/

Rhythm of the Soul

osmosis83 — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:18:56 +0000

“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul” -Plato

Growing up I was always interested in music and the arts. I joined the school band in 5th grade, but had to drop out in 7th grade due to athletics. My father had always been deeply moved by different variations of music. As I grew older, I found myself indulging in this interest. Music always has been, and always will be an escape for me. I only play the guitar off and on anymore, but the pure complexity of the field intrigues me to this day. During my high school years, I became more of a homebody. I had friends, but I generally preferred being by myself. It never bothered me. For one reason. Music. The sweet gentle sounds came not only from the instruments and tone of voice from the singers, but also from the reverberations that moved my soul.

There are some people who “listen” to music, and there are some that “hear” the music. The stroke of a perfect harmonic being played is not only played because it sounds serene, but because it is necessary. I envy those with perfect pitch. Throughout my middle school years and up into high school I began experimenting with different genres. My father was a rocker through and through, even to this day. At an early age I embraced his music such as Billy Idol, Metallica, KISS, and AC/DC. These were the roots of my love for music. At this time compact discs were not quite up to par yet, so we still used cassette decks. My father enjoyed Deep Purple, so I began listening to it. The catchy guitar riffs pumped my veins with testosterone. One night during my middle school years I had spent the night with a close friend. He had bought the Aerosmith album “Get a Grip”. We listened to that album for 2 days straight. It was a mind blower. So, to no surprise, Aerosmith became my favorite band of the time, which my father loved. I enjoyed every song from the band but was still missing something. The riffs from AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Metallica crawled under my skin. Maturity began to set in my last years of middle school. As with most kids at this age, you begin to question more things in life than previously. I knew that music soothed my soul. However, I was needing a more solid foundation through the incredible playing of Joe Perry, Angus and Malcolm Young, Kirk Hammet, and many others that deserve to be on the list of greats. I was striving to hear a story. I needed to feel the agony, pain, disgust, and anger of others going through times like me. On the polar end, I yearned for sappy love songs filled with compassion and desire for other human beings. I needed to relate my questionable feelings of puberty with a person who knew what it was like.

My father never explained the joys of love or the heartbreak of failure to me. So I had to go out and seek it. I wanted a story-teller. I was a very shy young man so I was afraid to reach out into the world and experience these things first hand. This is when I began to notice song lyrics. The writings of Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Steven Tyler, and even Eric Clapton seemed to close a gap of emptiness and interest. These were men who were sharing their deepest experiences in life. One of my most treasured times during these years was sitting alone in my room, listening to CD after CD. I would learn every single word to their songs. In this way, I could relate my life to theirs. Maybe only in an indirect way, because they had many more troubles than I did at the time. But sharing their inner most fears, bruises, and vulnerabilities earned the utmost respect. Granted, my list of great musician/songwriters here is quite small, I believe that people across the world would agree with me. There were many more men and women who threw themselves towards the wind in the name of music, and they deserve just as equal respect. But I am speaking of the ones that spoke directly to me. It was as if they were telling my story in a three minute song along with distorted guitar. As all humans do, our moods can change rapidly. This is where my alone time began. Fueled by my current situations of the time, I knew exactly what song would cure my mood. Be it happy, sad, mad, or just fed up. There were humans out there sensing what I was. Music was my escape. Music was my therapy. Music spoke to me. I could nearly entrance myself into the aura of the story being told to me. I believe that music combines knowledge, respect, and willingness to achieve a level of higher psyche. When I had not a single person to confess my troubles to, music always listened. However, listening was only half of the input. I will never forget these bands and musicians who changed my way of viewing the world through their power of measure. Thank you for your contributions to the world.

I developed a slide show/collage of some of the most influential musical artists and song writers in my life. It is hard to reward such people with this talent, but here is my small contribution. I hope you enjoy!

[rockyou id=157628982&w=324&h=243]

KEE3VDZAWXMZ

Baghdad: City of Life

osmosis83 — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:38:40 +0000

Today, the sights and sounds of Baghdad, Iraq, may seem like pure chaos compared to its historical roots. Once a center for learning and trade, the city is now the main foothold for the War on Terror. In 2003 the capital succumbed to the control of the alliance troops in the invasion of Iraq. The local regime, including President Saddam Hussein, was destroyed and is now in the process of rebuilding. The United States has led this new idealism on how Iraq should be governed. After the attacks of 9/11, the American public was informed that the groups responsible were terrorists, extremists, and Muslims. They were trying to spread their radical beliefs through fear and death. Immediately after this address, we were prepared for the next step. Destroy them. No excuses. No questions. They attacked America first, so they must be killed. President Bush even quotes from the Koran, telling that Islam is a religion based on peace and trust. The mainstream name for one of these groups was Al Qaeda. Led by Osama bin Ladin, this extreme group was leading a war against freedom and democracy. President Bush describes that he had a revelation from God that he must “go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan” and “go and end the tyranny in Iraq”. The general public was informed that Al Qaeda was stationed and supported from Afghanistan. In the same breath, the President accuses Iraq’s Hussein of possessing and collecting tools for weapons of mass destruction. Apparently, over the years, “Iraq has provided safe haven to terrorists”. The mixture of Iraq’s support for terrorists and their ability to create weapons of mass destruction is an Earth complication. Countries and regions will be taken over through warfare, and radical Islamic states will be created. President Bush at the time attempted to clearly state on the record that the American people are not in a war against Islam, but with those Muslims that are driven to create an Islamic world without regard to human rights. Yet, the words “Muslim” and “Islam” were being thrown around like a bouncy ball around the country. Americans at the time were aware of the Muslim faith, for there are 7 million living in the country. But the American people do not have any insight into the history and true faith of Islam. The only idea/vision that we had of a terrorist was “a dark skinned person, possibly with a rag on their head, following the faith of Islam”. All of this being said, we knew who the target was, and where to find them. But first on the agenda, was Iraq. At the time, I do not believe there were too many questions as to why we would invade Iraq. America was attacked on it’s own soil, Iraq has possession of weapons of mass destruction, and Iraq supports these groups that have just attacked. As time ran on, questions rang up about our actual occupation of Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein had small interest in achieving these weapons and even smaller abilities. So why do we have thousands of soldiers in this desert wasteland if we are chasing an invisible enemy? The answer lies in the history of the land and the present day West’s vision of Islam.

Baghdad was once the second largest city in the world, second only to Constantinople. The city boasted advancements and academics the world had never seen. Ideas, theories, and languages were exchanged in this crucially geographic location. Any merchant moving towards Europe or Asia would most likely have been exposed to the elegance of Baghdad. The Tigris River runs through the city, creating an oasis for the land in the 6th century. There was plenty of plumbing and water for residents which was uncommon for the time. The city was a center for growth and knowledge. Academics gathered here and exchanged ideas. Individuals with different backgrounds were also welcomed to attend. Jews, Christians, and Muslims retreated in Baghdad to try to further scientific theories. Inventive ideas fueled this drive. Texts from Europe to Asia were being brought to the city to be translated and dispersed for the scientists. This vast mixing sea of cultures and science brought about a new movement, the Renaissance. Products were being created by the Arab world that had never been conceived. Advances in chemistry such as pure distillation and water purification were born from Baghdad. Ethanol, organic acids, and mineral acids were being produced. The Islamic world opened their arms to scientists that would be considered blasphemous in the Christian world. Muslims see the parallels between God and laws of the natural world. Coffee was first seen ground and steamed in the Arab world. The idea of restaurants and the three course meal originated from this area. While growth and knowledge flourished in the Middle East, Europe was seeing it’s Dark Ages. The Roman Empire was on it’s downfall. The Byzantine’s were not nearly as powerful or global as these desert dwellers. The Islamic Empire stretched from Morocco to Eastern Iran. Sharing of thought and progress was the foundation of this empire. Silica glass was being produced. The kerosene lamp was introduced by Arabic people. Petrol was discovered from crude oil. The very idea of oil fields came about during this time. Even simple things such as lipstick and hair dye were invented. Soap, suntan lotion, and lotion were among many topical creams that were being found. They also established public hospitals, with the idea that people need to be quarantined before being treated. At these locations, normally medical scholars would congregate to heal people, while at the same time earning a degree. Most of these technological advancements took place during the 6th and 7th centuries. Not only did these discoveries propel the Islamic culture and lifestyle, but also had effects across the world even to this day. This was an establishment of Islam as a powerful new thought provoking way of life. Baghdad stands alone as a solid foundation to the empire.

This being said, I believe that the occupation of Iraq, and of Baghdad specifically, delivers a stunning blow to the Islam Empire. The War on Terror establishes that we are not at war with Muslims as a whole. Only against the radicals. The extremists. The blood thirsty. However, power not only comes from physical blows, but also cultural stability. While Iraq has not been all that stable in the recent past, I believe that most Muslims understand the role that Baghdad had played in the rise of their faith. Now the United States has control of the most cultural center for Islam. A staggering shot towards the Muslims. Almost a taunting. Having control over Baghdad is essential if we are to fight Islam, radicals or not. It gives a massive statement against our enemies. The terrorists of 9/11 destroyed 4 buildings that day, 3 of them in one of our most productive cities. Our response was to rob their most productive city in history. The National Library in Baghdad was looted and burned after the occupation in 2003. One of the earliest known volumes of the Quran was housed here, and more than likely is now all but ashes. An essential way to fight and win is to destroy people’s past and culture. This was achieved by taking and occupying Baghdad.

God be with us all…

Party with Tea?

osmosis83 — Thu, 06 May 2010 08:37:16 +0000

As of this moment, I am confused by this Tea Party movement. As they are now gathering in masses, and have recently been received in Florida as a new “Official Political Party”. It is now of one of the state’s 32 minor political parties. (cbsnews.com) The Oklahoma City Tea Party members are gathering at events with groups such as Reclaim Oklahoma for Christ and “We Don’t CAIR”. I assume that these two groups would walk jolly hand in hand down the yellow brick road towards The White House. However, there may be a speed bump. I know that Reclaim Oklahoma for Christ bashes gays when chance given, however, around the corner is Glenn Beck. Rise up. Know your rights. Glenn Beck. His status on gay marriage? Exactly. He seems to agree with Barack Obama on his gay right policies. His interview with Katie Couric was stimulating. How will ROFC and Glenn Beck have a similar rise up, if they cannot even agree on very serious issues that have risen recently. Such as, well, gay marriage. Glenn is known to be a definitive leader in the Tea Party Movement. I feel that there may be separatism when these titans clash. But they are on the same level as far as what they are screaming at Congress. They both believe that going back to those roots is going to revive this tax infested land. Founding Fathers. Constitution. Rights. Three big phrases being thrown around the neck with the Tea Party holding the rod and spindle tighter. I believe that these times were bliss in pure sovereignty. The colonies and states of the time came together at the time because they HAD to. Out of necessity. I’m not sure you can scream “Hey, we will rise up, against ourselves, AGAIN!” Tends to scare people. Just one reason that we had the Civil War. And be aware that civil and war should never be put together. More on this later…!

New Experience

osmosis83 — Mon, 03 May 2010 04:39:15 +0000

As a first time blogger, I am skeptical yet opening. i have views and opinions that have been crafted from numerous experiences throughtout my life. through blogging i hope to explain, exchange, and enhance these views. i hope to not only become more familiar with my beliefs, but to let them expand as they will. I invite most theories on a spectrum of subjects. In the jist of all of the blabber, I am to examine myself as a human being, all of the rights brought upon this, and then try to justify actions from all.

“Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it”- John Maxwell