Truly Despicable!

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Despite silence from many religious leaders, I feel impelled to publicly decry the current policy (it is not the law) that has been implemented by this current President and his administration that results in innocent children, children of all ages and many national origins, being forcefully, physically separated from their parents and/or guardians.

It is my understanding that the illegal crossing of the national border is a misdemeanor offense at worse and a non-offense if the act involved the request of asylum in the United States. Imagine being pulled over for speeding and having your child taken as a result. No child should be used as a negotiation tool at any level. Our immigration policy is in need of an overhaul, complete overhaul, including border security along with the “legal” process of obtaining citizenship. However, this method of forcing change reeks of prejudicial treatment. Condemned by the UN committee for Human Rights, so, we will just leave the committee. How can we as a country then pass judgment on other countries for their inhumane policies and acts? Where does the line get drawn? (Never mind, we can just erase that line, too). We are sinking fast to the ranks of third-world countries when it comes to our political morals and ethics.

What is sadder is the acceptance and support of an egotistical man-child who has empathy only for his bank accounts. He acts like the world is the school yard and if he does not get his way he will either take his ball and go home or bribe the kids with a chocolate bar (aka money). The majority of Americans did not vote for him, despite his many claims. Did he win fairly via the Electoral College? Per the Constitution, yes, he did. (Russian influence or not) So where are all the non-followers? Where is the Congressional action? They have become enablers, just like his cronies. No checks and balances are in play.

Follow the money, as it usually answers so many questions, particularly the “why”. This money trail leads to ransom being paid for the release of the children in return for the coveted “wall”. Is that how real politics works?

Being in my senior years I cannot help but wonder wonder what the reactions would have been if this occurred in the 1960s and '70s. Action in any non-violent legal form at any level is needed to halt or redirect this maniacal regime. Enable or intervene?

The Language of Love

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The following was given to me by a friend with a request to post on his behalf. Please give it a read and feel free to leave some feedback. and, as always, don't forget to click that "Follow"button. Thanks!

Dear Heart!

In this day and era of 2018, we are experiencing the most aggressive changes we have ever seen.  We have witnessed technology take a step forward very quickly. We have witnessed moral values shift to a completely new set off rules and regulations. The mass media is trying to adapt and never before has the stress that steams from these changes affected our children as intensely.

One might ask, if these changes are for the better, or if they are for the worst. Opinions are divided and I have personally witnessed us abandoning our outdoors plans and enrolling in more activities within the four walls we live in! The natural balance has been disturbed by many and with no intention of trying to get it back. Mistakes are a part of being human, they are needed to promote self growth. However, we are suppose to learn from them, and then, embrace the positive changes that are innate.

 I would like to take this chance to send love and blessings to all those out there, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or religious beliefs, as everyone is be entitled to they liberty of expression, thought and belief. Many of us suffer on a daily basis as the society standards of “normal” and of “acceptable” are changing at the speed of light, much too fast for us to keep up. Some develop an emotional type of depression that will end up becoming a vicious cycle of lack of self esteem, a loss of courage, as we become beings that are lost, unbalanced and not even aware of everything that makes us unique. We think our qualities are flaws and all our efforts will never be good enough for us to be recognized as a valuable individual, special and Irreplaceable. My advice would be, look in the mirror, the fact alone that no one else looks like you makes you special and unique. Let that sink in if you feel it is a good idea to do so.
   
Let us all practice forgiveness, let’s love those who love us, and love the ones who criticize us even more, as they hide they own feelings of inadequacy by bullying their peers, their sadness, their loss of hope, take a toll on who they are meant to be. They are suffering, too, and maybe more than what we ever could imagine. Some things are easier said than done but with the proper discipline they are possible. There are very little things we cannot achieve if we have the compatible mindset. Once again, YOU are special, YOU are unique. Let that sink in, if you deem it important.

We might all be different in color, gender, and even nationality, but we should never forget we all have access to a universal language, the one we receive as babies, as we grow up…

Please do not allow yourself to forget this language:

The Language of Love & Forgiveness

Anonymous
   

   

Man's Inhumanity to Man

The phrase "Man's Inhumanity to Man" is first documented in the Robert Burns poem called Man was made to mourn: A Dirge in 1784. It is possible that Burns reworded a similar quote from Samuel von Pufendorf who in 1673 wrote, "More inhumanity has been done by man himself than any other of nature's causes."

In the U.S., overall violent crime levels were pushed upward in 2016 in part by the increase in killings in some major cities such as Chicago. That city saw a drop in both murders and shootings in 2017, according to Chicago police statistics.
What happened in other big cities last year varied across the country. New York City saw a remarkable drop in murders, shootings and crime, with all three numbers continuing to decline.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, had 317 homicide victims last year, up from 277 the year before. Baltimore ended 2017 with a record-setting 343 homicides, prompting the city's mayor to abruptly replace the police commissioner amid increasing pressure to combat the crime there.

Even though some big cities were still seeing more violence in 2017 than the year before, the Brennan Center for Justice said in an analysis last month that it expected the overall crime rate and violent crime rate in the country's largest cities to decline slightly. Mass shootings, however, especially in schools, continue to rise at a meteoric rate.

What is the root cause of man's inhumanity to man? According to Michael Mason, there are several misconceptions that cause man’s inhumanity to man:

1. Ego identification: we often view ourselves as are our ego. How many disputes between individuals and nations stem from our ego need to be right? This causes endless disputes from quarrels between loved ones to wars between nations. Our ego is the the adversary. If there is a devil, it is our uncontrolled ego.

2. Individualist mentality and separation: We see ourselves as being separate from everyone and everything. ("We Are All One" @ http://liomsaland.blogspot.com/2015/10/we-are-all-one.html) How can we do unto others what we would not have other do unto us?

3. Lack of self-knowledge: We believe that we die. ("Who are You?" @ http://liomsaland.blogspot.com/2015/12/hello-who-are-you.html) This stems from the perception that we are our body. We perceive incorrectly everything and every one outside of ourselves as separate from ourselves. This is because we limit our perception to our physical senses: sight, sound, smell, and touch. These senses tell us, incorrectly, that there is physical space between ourselves and others. Therefore we are obviously separate individuals. Based on the limitations of our physical senses we behave accordingly. We categorize and separate into categories and subcategories that are almost endless: individuals, family, siblings, mates, relatives, friends, neighbors, religious groups, ethnicity, members of our city, state, country, language, professions, gender, age groups, hobbies, belief systems, and on and on. Labels that are stereotypical and misleading at best. Labels that separate us rather than unite us in our commonality. (http://liomsaland.blogspot.com/2017/08/during-these-times-of-internal-conflict.html)

4. Bravado: We lack the fear of pain, fear of failure. Ultimately, all fear boils down to fear of death. This gives us a false sense of security and and invites us to carry those chips on our shoulders.

5. Supply and demand: there is a belief that there is not enough for everyone: not enough food, not enough money, not enough resources, not enough space, housing, healthcare, medicine, clean water, clean air, clothing. This list goes on and puts us immediately in a fight for survival mode, us vs them. One counter measure, the "Universal Law", states that to give is to receive. It is our willingness to give what we wish to receive that keeps the abundance of our existence circulating in our lives.

We can overcome all these short-comings. A start is to return to the so-called lesson of the "golden rule". To do so, however, others must not be really perceived as others”, but, in truth, another part of you. Then the golden rule can be perceived as it was meant to be perceived: do unto that part of you what you would do unto this part of you.

As you perceive the person with whom you are having a dispute with, imagine perceiving the spark of divinity that is the true essence of that person, for Deity is in all of us. As you perceive that spark of divinity, imagine that it is connected to your spark of divinity by an indestructible golden energy beam. Then imagine a powerful magnet that instantly pulls the two sparks together, eliminating the concept of duality as you become one powerful spark of divinity, becoming one with that person and no longer perceiving them as separate, understanding them and their perspective.

Peace and Blessings as you contemplate your daily actions and interactions relative to the ideal of world peace and harmony.   

Imagine a Garden

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During these times of internal conflict, bullying at all levels, bigotry, hatred and divisiveness, please, take a moment to consider the following and by all means like and share.

“The flowers of the earth do not grudge at one another, though one be more beautiful and fuller of virtue than another, but they stand humbly, kindly, one by another, and enjoy the virtues of all. If we, too, were to all stand humbly in the field” (Jacob Boehme) imagine the world-wide peace and harmony that would prevail.

Like each flower, we are all unique, but, hold a beauty and talent of equal caliper. A garden of people, different heights, different colors, different aromas, some colorful, some fancy, some plain, all with a life's purpose, would be a wondrous sight to behold. Perennials next to annuals, blues next to yellows, all shouting out in their glorious uniqueness and beauty. They would stand so tightly together that the “weeds” (haters?) would not penetrate, but enough space allowed for growth of roots, branches and the dropping of seeds for future crops (youth?).

A garden of such kind would require a tremendous amount of care at first, finding the right fertilizing balance of compassion, forgiveness, humor, acceptance, support, nourishment and spacing.  After awhile, the act of caring for and nurturing the individuals would become second nature and not feel like an effort of work at all.

Such a garden starts with one individual seed, sowed into a fertile soil that has been patiently, repeatedly prepped by the gardeners of the world, watered and given norishment of compassion, acceptance, hope and tended to by loving hands of humanity.

Would such a garden need a fence protecting it? Perhaps at the onset, but once it is well-rooted and recognized for being the standard to achieve, it would be secure and free to grow without boundaries." What a Wonderful World It Would Be"! (Thanks Louis Armstrong) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU

Regret

 

 Regret: re·gret
 –verb (used with object)
1. to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.): He no sooner spoke than he regretted it.
2. to think of with a sense of loss: to regret one's vanished youth.
–noun
3. a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction, etc.
4. a feeling of sorrow or remorse for a fault, act, loss, disappointment, etc.
5. regrets, a polite, usually formal refusal of an invitation: I sent her my regrets.

We have all experienced a regret of some kind for different reasons and duration. Some are a result of a conscious act on our part while others happened either accidentally to us or to others with whom we empathize with. The key to dealing with regret is to take a positive from the experience and move on, not forgetting, but using the experience as a positive reference lesson in your future.  By replaying the event in our minds, we can choose a new ending using all that we now know. Holding onto regret is like dragging the weight of the past with us everywhere we go. It drains our energy, leaving less available for life in the present because we are constantly feeding an old issue. This attachment can cause illness the same way watering a dead plant creates decay. We know that something new and beautiful can grow in its place if we only prepare the soil and plant the right seeds.

We also know that we create our lives from our thoughts, so dwelling on the past may actually recreate a situation in our lives where we are forced to make the choice again and again. We can choose to move on right now by applying what we have learned to the present and perhaps even sharing with others, transforming the energy into something that is constructive and creative for ourselves and others.

If the regret is a result of our actions toward others, offer a sincere apology. It is then their choice to forgive or not. We cannot control the actions of others, only our reactions to them. So, if they choose to not forgive, you cannot control that. You can regret your act, offer your apologies and move on, with or without their forgiveness, learning from the experience.

Keeping our minds and our energy fully in the present allows us to fuel our physical and emotional healing and well-being today. This action frees our energy to create the dreams we dream for the future. By taking responsibility and action in the present, we can release our hold on the past and move forward to a positive future.

Blessed Be!

July 4th

On this day in which Americans celebrate their  independence, we offer prayers for our country and its leaders.

Though our nation is far from perfect, it has nevertheless been the source of much goodness, both for American citizens and for the world. We give thanks for the freedom we have to worship and to live out our faith without fear. In today’s world, this is nothing to take for granted and pray that tolerance and mutual respect will allow it to continue.

To our national leaders, political and public leaders of all callings, our nation faces such great challenges, both at home and abroad. May you have the wisdom and courage to seek and accept the truth that all are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Let us not take our freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May we always remember that a very high price was paid for our freedom as our freedom cost others their very lives. We thank those in the past, present and future who serve  to give their lives for our freedom. We are thankful for this nation and for all the sacrifices others have made to build and defend this country. May we acknowledge and be grateful for the opportunities and freedoms we have in the United States of America. May we never to take these blessings for granted.

To all Americans, come together in unity, not only on this day of celebration, but on every day on which we should be celebrating and experiencing our freedom, side-by-side, hand-in-hand. Act with mutual respect and tolerance. Put aside the differences, the hatred, the lies, the partisan politics, all the negative emotions that rise to the top and replace them all with the thread of commonality. May we all safely enjoy this 4th of July with enthusiasm, hope and togetherness! So Mote It Be!

The Basic Essentials

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“What is essential is invisible to the eye.” Saint-Exuprey in “The Little Prince”

Essential is defined as something very basic, necessary. It is said the essentials of life are food, water and shelter. But is that it? Will having those things insure one of a happy, complete life? To those struggling day-to-day to survive the answer is yes, indeed. For those not knowing where or how their next nourishment will be obtained those truly are the basic essentials of life. Those basic essentials are very similar to those in the animal or plant kingdoms, all living things have the same basic essential needs.

A percentage of the human population can survive and live happily as a hermit for example, the remainder are not able to simplify their lives to that extreme and be happy doing so. Those essentials are quickly taken for granted by those who are fortunate to have access to resources that provide these essentials seamlessly. For those, the bar is raised from basic survival needs to needs of fulfillment, happiness and satisfaction. Enter the needs of companionship, human touch, intellectual stimulation, compassion, love, a life’s purpose, etc. For example, a recent British survey (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339523/The-20-necessities-modern-life-simply-live-without.html) showed that Britons feel that a cup of tea, fast internet connections, television, an iPhone all made their top 20 necessities of life list. It should be noted that included in that top 20 list were cuddles, trustworthy friends, hearing “I love you” occasionally and a good cry now and then.

Per the Dali Lama, we are social animals who need friends. We need a community to survive. Friends are made on the basis of trust, which only grows if you are kind to people. Kindness and compassion gives rise to self-confidence, which empowers you to be honest, truthful and transparent. This self-confidence brings peace of mind, which also favors good health. That needed community surrounds us on a daily basis. We are all “One”, from the same source. Differences among us abound, but the commonality far surpasses those differences. They are not often easily visible and effort is needed to uncover them, but they are there everywhere. The same basic beliefs, likes, dislikes, fears are shared by many even if not apparent on the surface. These invisible commonalities are what bind us all together in this Universe of mankind. There is no need to wait for a crisis before uniting under a common cause. Make this lifetime a common cause and be mindful daily of the union of mankind.

May your every day be a blessed day!