Reading between the political lines

Fighting from the left and right sides of our politics is getting tiring. We see, every day, that people are getting fed up with politics that seem out of a different era. We find ourselves struggling for equality, pay and basic rights our forbearers already went to battle for.

So why is it now, more than ever, seeming we are losing ground in a seemingly progressive culture?

One of the biggest changes I see is the end of a generation's control on the world. The era of the world war children is nearing an end and the Baby Boomers are beginning to retire. These two generations seem to vote more and have more financial influence on a world they are now leaving.

Meanwhile those most affected, at least in this country, seem to be waiting the fight out while watching their rights erode.

But I want to give hope. Why? Because I believe the Gen Xers and Millenials are getting tired of waiting. They don't cater to the boogeymen of yesteryear. They don't care who gets married as long as the two want to be together and love each other. They know the truth about marijuana and want to stop putting people on jail over it. And they are becoming less loyal to those who use religion as a control mechanism and are searching for meaning in life rather than fear-based decision making.

I call this movement the "Great Transition." It is painful, in the beginning, especially when we see just how screwed we were from the get go. Here are some great examples:

-We were fed half-truths about our country since schooling became mandatory. Countless media outlets are shining the light on what really happened and, if we pay attention, we can learn going forward, not accepting what version of truth we were given.

-Wages at the bottom are starting to rise despite the desires of the barons of industry that do not wish to cede control. People see that the world needs workers, in all avenues, and that there is value to those that show up and wish to work, despite their economic class.

-The environment is becoming important to young people because they understand we don't need to destroy everything outside the borders of our towns just to turn a profit.

-Young people are embracing change, and rapidly. They are satisfied with being stuck in a certain era any longer than they have to.

The world is becoming a more connected place and we are making greater strides toward peace and understanding. Younger people don't wish for war for resources or the destruction of developing people like their scared ancestors did.

It will be a slow process but I want to stay positive despite the growing pains. I can see the good change coming and I welcome the dawn of a new era.

Growing and growth

The nearly past 40 years of my life are quite a story. Not the most compelling but an interesting journey, nonetheless.

The life I was given, the life that I've had and the life that I have chosen are, to those outside of it, sometimes rather interesting, even if I find it often pedestrian.

I have learned that I have experienced much, even if it takes me several years to truly appreciate what I have gone through. What I am really getting at is I don't take it for granted and I don't want to seem like I would really want to change it, even if I often mentally fantasize the "what if."

I guess that's what makes me a consummate dreamer and a searcher for purpose. I often feel so many are adrift and few truly even find peace once they reach their supposed destination. But that's what life is, right?

Over the past couple of years I have found fascination in the story of the world. As many of us before, I too realize what we are and how all play some role in this world and that, while it is not always compelling, it is our role to do with it what we like, much like improvisation.

Going forward I want to share more of my observations, as I am realizing that more of what I have learned makes sense in the "big picture," a very well suited term to how we have come to share much of what we have, how we observe it and how we want to compel others to see it.

And I still hope to grow more, in this world that constantly ask me to learn more daily. A frustrating passion, indeed.

Marriage

Marriage has been redefined over the centuries. Don't let the masses fool you.

But here we have the penultimate, the banning of the desires of competent adults to make a decision to combine not only their love but to forge assets and assume rights that only married people get.

Many, unfortunately, would argue that their could be an alternative, call it a civil union, that would allow marriage to remain amongst the heterosexuals of this fine country. Well, that is a half-assed attempt to pretend that it would be just as good to go back to segregated public facilities.

I like the half-assed arguments because, well, they point to the bigger problem: Tolerance. You see, if asked the question of whether gays should even be allowed to exist, I am sure many of the same people opposed to gay marriage would also outlaw gays themselves.

Their often misguided attempt at correcting the natural attractions of the homosexuals is, at the minimum, laughable. A homosexual, counter to popular (gag) belief, is not a choice. It is ingrained in these lovely individuals and should be celebrated as much as the ability to actually have the good sex.

Those that feel that allowing gays to marry also point to the incredibly false logic of bestiality, where, for some reason, they believe the animal consents to having sex with the human that controls them. Really? This is not a good equation, and not just because it is gross. It is because the animal not only chose not to have sex with them but would, more than likely given a human voice, would object to a lifelong bond of mutual love and respect. In fact, I would surmise that they would rather eat their dead corpse than attempt an illogical relationship.

But I digress. After all, it is often the moral set that wants their rights, just not others to have the same. They hold out their highlighted books of virtue, often unread and even more often misquoted, and pretend like it makes them a better person. Well screw them!

If anything, this country was supposed to be a do over in a world that was getting too constricted. I just wish that they could see that denying loving people the chance to share in matrimony will not end the world, can only make this a better country and can usher in a better place for all of us.

Peace.

American Dreaming

Did you know that Americans, more than any other Earthly citizen, believes that things will all work out if they are patient?

While this positive attitude may get us through the day, the reality is that Americans might as well be Nero, fiddling as Rome burns.

The current state of this country smells of pre-revolution. The behavior of a few has ratcheted up a feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness that currently could cause the collapse of our republic.

As news comes across the wire of scoundrels getting away with gaming the system, and there being no justice to their behavior, the majority of us feel the blame is the self. After all, why would those that are deemed successful not have been saints in their methodology?

Alas, we are the dupes, and on a grand scale. We put the blame on the collective when we should be gathering torches and pitchforks and taking the scoundrels to the cleaners.

I surmise that we live in a society of addicts and pushers. We are so addicted to living a life of ease that few venture out to be self-made and even less stand up for the rights fought for by our previous generations.

Few would be willing to die for the rights of the collective good. Sure, there are the noble believing they die for vurtue, or "freedom," but few are willing to tell their bosses to stop treating them like cattle.

As disposable as our eating habits are, so are those in the labor market. While being addicted to working for others, feeling there is little choice, and wanting that which we are marketed, we excuse the dealers, or the established workplace, for doing whatever it wants, literally.

But someday we may wise up, take to the streets, and change things. I don't know how likely it will be soon, if ever, but it could come. And, on that day, I would not want to be one of the privileged, no sir. Because, if anything, we look for someone to blame and they have been overlooked for far too long.

The reality of reality

Here we are, on a planet, in a solar system, in a galaxy, in the universe.

We have senses, things that tell us, or are at least supposed to, how to function on this planet. They move us through time and space and are, essentially, our best friends.

But I wonder why we don't call our memory a sense. After all, these things are part of how we traverse in our universe, informing our decisions and enhancing our other senses so that we use them properly or improperly.

The rapid pace in which we use these tools is amazing. If you were to try and really think about what it means to be existential and aware at all times, one might not ever leave the confines of their room. After all, the knowing that the unknown lurks around any and all corners is enough to not want to venture forth.

And yet we do. On a daily basis, future unknown, sights unseen, we go out into this crazy world. We face an unknown reality. Sure, we can make good guesses, and are usually right, but not all of us will make it through that day, in that time or to that peace of mind that comes with another cycle survived.

As I go forward with this new blog, I want to explore what we are dealing with here, on this planet, during this time, and before my own card is pulled.

I hope you join me. We have a lot of fun to do.

GOP gets their message across

The GOP is at it again. Twisting the facts to get the ill-informed on their side. Using words like "common sense" to fool people is pretty damn despicable, if you ask me.

And what is their common sense? Like science and facts, right? Or is it opinion? Face it, folks, the GOP is so out of touch with the modern world that they want to give kings more ransom and kiss their feet, as if they will do good for one and all across the land.

If anyone believes that true small businesses profit what the GOP pretends they do, they are sadly mistaken. Only 2 percent of them would be affected by the lapsing of the cuts. Meanwhile, after nearly a decade, the supposed job creators somehow cut payrolls to bloat profits. Meanwhile they ax those that got them there.

I hate to think that voters could possibly believe that, by strengthening the wealthy class will mean that, if they get their someday, they will be welcomed into the club. Old money has no love for new, folks. Don't kid yourself.

Alone on a most day

I have figured something about the majority of my life: I have always seemed a loner. I don't necessarily like this feeling, since I am quite social everywhere I go, but I seem to like the soloist route, where ever it may take me.

And yet I am always looking for my tribe. Which one, though? I have tried, first, at the tribe of family. It seems like my tribe, since our similar blood runs through us, and the whole shared history thing. But I don't see a whole lot of who I am in their faces.

Then there is the friends tribe. I have spent many a day and night running about, looking for those that seem like me. I first searched the fields of sport but came up empty-handed. Then I searched the fields of play and noticed that no one looked at me with that knowing look. Then I looked into the theater and, for a moment, thought I saw my brothers and sisters. At long last, my search was over. But, as time went on, I realized that many of us are soloists. Sure, there is the similar stripe but it is oh so temporary.

I have stuck myself firmly to the cities for a decade, hoping that I would, one day, move on to find my people only to find that maybe it isn't so bad being a soloist. And, if I ever feel so alone, I can always wander about and meet people, even if for only a brief moment.

Our ancestors seemed destined to remain amongst each other until they weren't. That sounds simplistic but they could walk parallel for as long as they saw fit, or, as their rare few numbers did, venture beyond the safety of the knowing.

So, maybe someday, I shall pack what is important and head off into the world, riding it solo, keep searching for my tribe. But if I never find them, it is okay. I had fun while I was on the journey.