Unhealthy bodies

America prides itself on the fact that it represents the best of the best in just about everything that it does.  Yet, when we take a look around at the body shapes and body sizes in America, we should be absolutely dismayed, because American obesity as well as those who are just overweight, is at serious crisis levels, which impacts negatively not only the physical aspects of living in in a body that is out of shape, but also the quality of the life of those people that suffer from all the attendant disadvantages of not having a healthy body.

 Look, it has to be said that the proximate reason why there are so many unhealthy bodies in America is that Americans do not eat the right foods and are content to eat way too much of foods that are overly processed, as well as being often nutritionally poor for them.  Further to the point, a lot of Americans do not consistently exercise, which means that they don't work hard enough and consistently enough on exercising the most important muscle in their body which is their heart --- and in considering that it is the heart that delivers oxygen and nutrients to our cells, this is a fundamental mistake that definitely hurts our physical form.

 While it is true that we should not prejudge a person by their physical characteristics, and that different environments, different genetics, and different backgrounds are going to make a difference in the body shape that we tend to obtain, it is though, up to us, as individuals as well as a society, to take responsibility for the decisions that we do make.  This signifies that we need to do more to ensure that we are doing our fair part to maintain a healthy body or else we will have a strong tendency to devolve into having an unhealthy body.

 Additionally, the very least that the governance of this nation could and should do would be to wake up from its collective lethargy, and recognize that for peer nations, America's health status does not hold up well to other Western nations; and that those then that are living lives in which their health has been compromised find thereby that their enjoyment of life has been negatively impacted, which should be properly seen as a priority that needs to be addressed for the better by the influence that governance, as well as other engaged organizations, can provide on behalf of the people.

 Indeed, our mirrors and how our body reacts to our physical movement do not deceive us, whatsoever.  We are, collectively, unhealthy, and it need not be that way, for America is the wealthiest nation in the world, and thereby needs to treat the disappointing poor health of its citizens, as a true crisis, that is worth resolving, because the direction that America is currently trending on, isn't healthy, nor is it written on stone, which is why we need those that would be our leaders, to actually lead, by fundamentally getting across to the American public, that a body that looks good and feels good, makes for a better long-term quality life.

“No universal selfishness can bring social good to all”

The above quotation comes from the esteemed mind of W.E.B. DuBois, and clearly speaks to the fact that capitalism without the powerful enforcement of vigorous governmental rules and regulations, as well as appropriate taxation enforced upon those that have more than enough money to buy the taxman, will not ever bring forth the type of society, that makes for human inclusiveness and the caring for the good of one another. 

To somehow believe in trickle-down economics and other insipid lies along this line, are going to somehow be beneficial on some level to all the people that make up this land, is a delusion, which nobody with any sensibility should ever believe in.  Indeed, those who have money and/or make good money have a very strong tendency to desire to keep as much as they can or to invest such to make even more, and though they may well have an interest in doing their part to bring forth social good, that typically isn't going to be their prime interest, at all.

It has to be said, that there are plenty of people that believe that because they earned it, or they have it, that they then should not be compelled to give up much or any of it because they feel that what they have is theirs, and fairly theirs.  So then, in consideration, that there are only so many pieces that a pie can be divided into, those who are reluctant to give up any of theirs, reflect that other people are going to come up with the short stick, time and time again.

So too, any time that an economic system is structured around winners and losers in what is principally a zero-sum game, which seems structured to downplay collaboration and cooperation, then the game is going to favor those that are well-positioned, clever, ruthless, determined, and selfish, over those that aren't as well prepared, aren't motivated primarily about money, and don't find that competition should be the be-all and end-all of our existence, at all.

A far better and a far healthier society is going to be one in which while there will still be rich people, they won't be insanely rich – and while there will still be poor and helpless people, they won't be so poor and helpless that they won't have a safety net to be there as an ever-present help in danger.  What we should desire as a people is to see more people, simply have the accouterments that make for a good and stable life, of a good job, with decent pay, and a nice home, in a safe area, along with the infrastructure that consists of good schools, and social inclusiveness. 

In any nation, in which the abiding interest of those that are the elites, is to “lord it over others,” then this is not going to produce a healthy and stable society, because that type of domination, necessitates the structure of governance exclusively favoring those elites, over the people,  which reflects thereby that this is not the land of the free and fair opportunity for all, but rather this nation's governance is clearly own by the few at the expense of the many.

End of empire

There is no other nation that has the global footprint that the United States of America so represents, and there isn't any other nation that even holds a real candle to the size, strength, and wealth of America.  This signifies that Russia, which is a nation that has a population that is less than 150 million people, while also having a GDP that doesn't even rank in the top ten, is not a real and present danger to America.  As for China, while it must be admitted that it is far more populous than America, as well as being second in GDP, it still is years away from being a true threat to American hegemony, of which, China may not be inclined to do much of anything in that area, as China smartly believes that being patient and non-bellicose is the better frame of mind to project.

The main issue as to why the American empire is in decline, really comes down to the fact, that America directs way too many of its resources and its military into areas of this planet, that doesn't really need or necessitate direct American involvement; and by doing these very things, puts America more deeply into debt, while also upsetting country after country that America does flex its muscles and bosses around, as opposed to America representing itself as a bastion of freedom, liberty, meritocracy, and opportunity through good diplomacy.

Regrettably, since America feels the need to get its hands into as many pockets as possible, and to intertwine itself into the affairs of many a foreign nation, it has exposed itself to the type of vulnerabilities that are sure to have the type of unintended repercussions which have yet to be fully realized.  Look, it has to be said, that as strong as America is, the fact of the matter is that America has neither the population numbers nor an infinite amount of military might to impose its will upon every other nation in this world, and those that America believes are on its side because of NATO, or other agreements that have been ratified, don't seem to comprehend that history is replete with nation after nation that breaks treaties at opportune moments, which thereby changes everything.

The thing that America does not seem to be fully aware of is that there are those tried and true friends, and then there are those fair-weather friends, or even those that pretend to be our friends but really aren't; so that, when the American empire beings its collapse, it isn't going to just come out of anywhere, but rather the seeds of its own destruction of that empire have been already sowed, and when that harvest comes in, the dismay that Americans will feel will be palpable, along with being quite concerning, of which, unfortunately for Americans, by the time they figure out what is really going on that empire will no longer be gradually dissolving, but will rather be subject to a very sudden and disastrous catastrophe, which will, when the dust settles, put America back to where it formerly was, or perhaps far worse, because payback is an incredibly terrible thing, but what will be, will be – because even a great empire, must in the end, pay in full what they do so fairly owe.

God willing. Are you sure?

There are plenty of people, from various religious faiths, that make it a principle, or a ritual, to mouth the saying that they desire to do something or have something happen to or for them, “God willing.” The thing about saying those words is that the person so speaking, needs to be, or should be, absolutely sincere in what they have so said, because if they are not, then they aren't really willing to have God's will be done, and instead, they seem to be behaving in a way in which God has been reduced to nothing much more than “wish fulfillment” or a security blanket.

Indeed, what we get out of life, has an awful lot to do with the effort, persistence, dedication, and the ethical foundation which we have built our life upon, and those who do a better job in accomplishing the building of this edifice, are going to often find a much more satisfying life, than those that claim to rely on an outside source, that they apparently desire to do the will of, but are typically themselves not clear or are confused about what that will actually is.

The logic of what God wants from all of us has not ever changed, for it forever remains the same, which is to be good to one another, and to properly honor God for the beneficence and wisdom that is ours for the taking, if only we would get our house in order.  In truth, to know God's will is to understand that God always wishes our good, and is pleased when we take the necessary steps to get to where we were always destined to be, no matter how tortuous the pathway has been, for God wills us to come back to the fold, for until we do so, we will in perpetuity be restless, unless we find that sanctuary that we eternally belong to.

It would seem that especially in Western nations, that there is a high degree of people who desire to have freedom, and even when that free choice and free will place them in some sort of troubling circumstance, they still won't let it go.  Yet, for those that truly do desire God's will, it has to be admitted that at the end of the day, the satisfaction that each of us dearly wants, comes forth only from being in harmony with that which is ever wise and ever loving, which will necessitate the corresponding reduction of our ego and the increase of our recognition that everything that really matters is already ours if only we would gravitate to those wholesome attributes.

In life, we should be careful about what we ask for, because those who unwittingly take our God's name in vain, have done so to their own spiritual diminishment; whereas, those who invoke the will of God, wittingly, should first make sure they comprehend the very essence of God and then do their level best to align with that, in which, by doing so, they will find that more and more of what God wills for them, is the same as what they should aspire to become and be, which makes for eventual unification back into the One.

A more comprehensive vision for religious institutions

There are an incredible amount of religious institutions in America, of all sorts of different denominations and faiths, which presupposes that this is indeed a religious nation.  The thing about religious institutions is that the governance of this nation has benefited them by exempting most churches from property taxes, along with being exempt from Federal, State, and local taxes, so done under the belief that religious institutions are providing a community service.  Still the question needs to be asked as to whether or not this is really true, and further to the point, whether many churches could do more for their communities than they currently do.

Indeed, most religions, have a specific time set aside for worship within the sanctuary of that church, of which, while some religious institutions have a daily mass, as well as those that have specific times for their congregants to pray daily, there are plenty of other religious institutions though that have specific service times, on a particular date of the week, and seemingly are quiescent as an institution for the greater balance of the week.

What more religious institutions should be encouraged to do, is to engage the communities that they are an integral part of, to provide services that will be of good use for that community.  This would represent things such as after-school care, meals for children, tutoring, wellness checks, job fairs, and pretty much anything that would help provide support for the community.  Further to the point, for those religious institutions that claim that they do not have the resources to provide such aid, it would behoove them to consider outsourcing such to those entities that would be happy to assist, especially when they can avail themselves of the utilization of the religious institution's facility space and infrastructure.

The fact of the matter is that the business of saving souls has got to include having the type of hours and commitment in which the doors are open, for as long as they can reasonably be open, to accommodate the needs of the community and to be a helping hand to that community, as well as being a sanctuary.  Indeed, the areas that a given community does not do well in, as regards to education, mentoring, and opportunity, necessitates that religious institutions step into the breach, because if this is not done, then those that are already under-served and under-cared for, will find it difficult to make progress without concentrated and dedicated aid on their behalf.

Our religious institutions represent our best hope, in many a community, in helping to build up people, who need the attention and care, that the best of our religious institutions represent, and when this is done, it is done to not only for the glory of the nation but to God, which is why in this era of frustration that our governance has let us down, that we need to turn to that which has our vested interests in mind, best represented by religious institutions within our community, that are focused upon doing right through their good actions for the people of that community

Might eternity be an absolute bore?

On this planet, we live in a construct in which not only is time real, but the changes that happen to us as well as to others, are real.  So too, within life in this world, there is the constant interplay between right and wrong, good and evil, and light and darkness, which provides us with the opportunity to rise up thereby to the occasion and to do the right thing or to fall.  So then, for those that pass from this dimension into the next, one would have a tendency to believe that eternity might be rather boring, for after we get done reuniting with our loved ones, there just doesn't seem like there would be a lot more to do, or to accomplish, or even to think about.

 This thus represents the dilemma that temporal life, structured linearly, seems to represent; and if eternity was indeed something like that, it would be boring, because without the previous interplay of good v. evil, and things of that general ilk, there is only so much interest that a soul could sustain without having a desire for some change of pace, or some activity to be engaged upon.

 In truth, time does not exist outside of our earthly existence, and once we comprehend that time is not our master, but is rather an artificial construct, we then begin to understand that being outside of time and space, presents an entirely different perspective, which changes everything, and therefore because we actually exist in the eternal now, there isn't room for boredom, because our true existence is outside of time, and has always been so.  So then, on this plane, the challenges that we face in this world, are structured in a way that will provide us with a testing ground, to challenge us and for us to thereby prove our mettle, which makes for a compelling battle.

 The then necessary information that we need to take to heart will thus enlighten us so as to acknowledge that eternity really isn't going to be about being inclusive to just those that we have known and wish to reunite with, but rather, it is actually going to be a recognition that we are not our ego, that we are not even who we think that we are, but rather we are an essential part of the One, who is indivisible, immortal, impregnable, and unchangeable.  This signifies that all that we see and have been a part of, as real as so appears to us, here, or even as believable as we are sure of, has been created into existence through the vision of God, of which, out of the One there was begotten the many, with God knowing that within this game of God's mind, that those many would return to the One, through the master play of the Master of it all. 

Indeed, the only possibility that eternity would not be in its own way unendurable, is the elimination of the illusion of time and space, which permits us thereby to initiate our reunification into the bosom of God, our eternal sanctuary, of love, justice, light, deliverance, and peace. 

The best and brightest should not just be about the money

There isn’t any doubt that America has some of the finest young minds in the world if not the very best of the very best, along with having higher educational institutions that represent the most prestigious in the world.  All of this is for the good, but it starts to go bad, when the finest minds amongst us, either gravitate on their own to an overriding desire to simply make money, or are redirected to do so, by enticements so large and lucrative that it serves to corrupt their decision making, and therefore these young brilliant minds buy into it.

The crux of the problem of the best and brightest desiring to work with private equity, hedge funds, and things of that ilk, is that these very institutions aren’t actually benefiting society, at all, despite whatever protestations that they may make, but rather they are experts at exploiting inefficiencies, and taking advantage of those that are not on the same sophisticated wavelength that they are.  In this world, so much that goes on with private equity has a lot more to do, with manipulating the game to benefit a very select few, at the clear expense of the many, which is not good for the health of that society. 

What this nation does not need more of, is more billionaires, with more concentration of capital and money in the hands of a very small elite of people and institutions, that because of that money can game the system even more to favor their interests at the expense of this democracy and the people.  To believe, somehow, that what we were born to do, or that our highest purpose, is to make money hand over fist, is a very sick philosophy.  Rather, this nation should make it a point, to see that money made without extracting a corresponding benefit to society, should be taxed at a very high level, because those that are all about the money, should pay for the privileges that permit them to make that money.

Indeed, it is a sad state of affairs, when those who seem to get an inordinate amount of good press, aren’t our greatest scientists, teachers, scholars, and the like, but are people who when we take a look under the hood, just want to make oodles and oodles of money, and do so, with the employment of very few people, while utilizing a lot of powerful and sophisticated software.  That is why, this government needs to reenergize itself, to do its best to see that more of its best and brightest develop their skills for things that have a good purpose for society, as compared to simply making money, through angles and manipulations done at a very high level.

Indeed, when we hear sayings such as "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country" -- this seems out of place in today’s society, and apparently has been superseded by the belief that making as much money as you can, as long as you can, for the good of one’s own person, is a good thing.  In other words, to believe somehow that great nations are created by great selfishness is belied by the very fact that great nations are actually created by great sacrifices and by great visions enabled on behalf of the people by the leadership of the best and brightest of that nation.

Being true to the Constitution

When it comes to social studies and civic duty that all citizens owe their nation, the very first thing that would come to mind would be our own personal fidelity to that Constitution. In other words, in order to appreciate the freedoms and rights that we have, we need to recognize that the seminal document in America, is the written Constitution, so ratified, which is the Supreme Law of this land. So too, one would think, therefore, that those who are our elected representatives, would be, absolutely faithful and true to that Constitution, but regrettably, we see demonstrated at the highest levels of governance in this nation, far too often a betrayal by those legislative representatives, as well as by judges, and even including the Executive Office, to that Constitution – not to mention peoples and enterprises that actively work to subvert such for their self-aggrandizement.

This is supposed to be a land of, for, and by the people, of which, the objective of having the Constitution that we so have, is to defend and to protect our unalienable rights. Yet, we seem to have a situation, in which, those who should know better, aren’t interested in the people and their rights, but seem to be by their actions and by their words, interested in seeing that the population is manipulated and controlled through that governance for the benefit of institutions which when properly defined, represent the military-industrial-technology complex, which is frequently detrimental to the freedom and the rights of the people.

While there are those people, that prefer to be told what to do or are only too willing to time and time again, to trade their freedom for security – that isn’t what the Constitution was structured to enable. In fact, the Constitution is clearly a document that defines what our government is, and how it is structured, and thereby limits the government in what it can or cannot legitimately do through that Constitution. For those, then, who are not satisfied that the government does enough, there is then an Amendment process to that Constitution, which can be availed of.

In truth, everything that the general public really needs is contained within that Constitution, for the purpose of this governance, is to provide fairness and equality for all, and that therefore having provided a level playing field, it is thereby up to the individual or that society of individuals, to make good on the opportunities thus presented to them. That is to say, the Constitution protects the rights of the people, but it is up to the people to make something of their own self, and not the burden of the government, to manufacture that for them. Indeed, the Constitution is meant to assure justice for all, never to be a respecter of any person or entity, for only through the law and services of the government, being non-favorable to any and non-prejudicial to all, is that government being true to the roots of its Constitution. So then, this is why the government has certain specific powers to assure the general public that those powers will be prudently exercised for the benefit of the people, in whole, fairly and transparently exercised.

The insanity defense should be abolished

The thing about criminal behavior is those that who commit crimes, often do not want to be held to account for those crimes – therefore, not too surprisingly and in consideration that lawyers can be quite clever, at some point in jurisprudence, we find that an innovative defense for a crime having been committed, was the insanity defense, best defined as being germane to the case when the perpetrator committing a given crime, lacked the mental capacity to comprehend the nature of the act that they had committed, through an incapacity of their mind to correctly process and perceive reality.

While it is true that not all States permit the insanity defense, it is also true that the vast majority of States do, as well as the fact that on the Federal level, the insanity defense is also valid. Of course, in our jurisprudence, some specific conditions must be met for an insanity defense to be sanctioned, of which, when those conditions are met, then another avenue is created, in which, depending upon circumstances, could amount to the defendant being found not guilty by reason of insanity, or if the defendant is found insane to thereby be not competent to stand trial, as well as other various exceptions.

Look, it has to be said, when it comes to a criminal trial, that trial should be exclusive as to whether or not a crime has been committed, and in regards to the defendant’s state of mind, that should only be addressed when it comes to the sentencing aspect of the case. In other words, a trial should determine the guilt or innocence of the person so accused, and if there appears to be a question as to the mental capacity of the now guilty party, that should be a separate process, which should only determine whether or not the guilty party spends their incarceration in a prison or in a mental facility. What should not ever happen though, as has happened, is those that are deemed insane, and at some future point, but well before what the crime would have called for in regards to incarceration time, are released from that mental facility, for they have now been “cured.”

Indeed, when jurisprudence determines that those who lack mental capacity or are considered to be insane should be treated differently in a court of law, as compared to everybody else, then we do not have equality under the law, but rather some people are treated differently with the attendant outcome being different, which isn’t fair. The point of a criminal trial should be to ascertain guilt through a jury of one’s peers, and after that has been determined, the mental capacity, or the lack thereof, can be debated. As it stands, there are plenty of people that aren’t really right in their head or in their thinking, but when their actions, are criminal and harm the other, then they should fairly face the consequences of that action, and to the degree that our institutions can help alleviate mental illnesses, so much the better, but this should only be in conjunction with the penalty for a criminal action being fairly paid.

“We Repeat What We Don’t Repair”

It has been said that “we repeat what we don’t repair,” which represents thus those words of wisdom that all of us need to take to heart, because that which we don’t correct in the here and now, is surely going to come back and revisit us in an inconvenient and unwelcomed way. So then, the best plan of action when it comes to character faults of all types, that we are consciously aware of, is to get our mind right to resolve to correct what needs to be corrected. No doubt, there are going to be those troubling items that are definitely in need of repair, but when we do not have the wherewithal to actually remedy such because it is so overwhelming for us, we need to understand that in those types of cases, it behooves us to recognize that climbing a steep mountain, requires, not only time, determination, and energy, but also the wise use of those resources, done consistently over an extended period of time to reach the pinnacle. After all, bad habits of long-standing, which being in need of repair, are seldom going to just disappear because we wish them to be gone, but are going to necessitate a valid plan of action, and then the persistence and determination to pull it off, without wavering in our drive to do so.

Then there are those others, who either wittingly or unwittingly, don’t bother to repair what needs to be repaired, because either they are blithely unaware of there being a problem, or they don’t feel the urgency or need to repair it. Indeed, in those situations in which we have no interest in repairing our character faults, because we don’t perceive them as actually being faults that need to be corrected, just keep those faults ever more ingrained within our persona, and therefore when it comes time to repair such, to do so, will require even more effort from us. After all, the best time to take care of a problem is before it becomes even more of a problem, and so our procrastination or unwillingness to do the right thing will end up making us prone to repeating the same types of mistakes, that we should have already learned our lessons from.

In life, there are slow learners, as well as those who will not change what they need to change until they are dropped to their knees, and even then, their resolution may waver, when they seemingly get a reprieve from the suffering that they had been experiencing. To believe somehow, that doing the same sorts of things which bring results that are not beneficial to us, is somehow going to change, when we change nothing in our character, is foolishness. In order then to make progress to get to where we should go, we need to do the very things that will accomplish that task, and therefore to stop circling back to the same sorts of errors, we need to recognize the pathway that our decisions are taking us, and if we aren’t making positive progress, then resolve to do so, for at the end of the day, the destination that we arrive at, is ours to own, and those that don’t repair what has to be repaired, are essentially left well behind.

A $100 bill just isn’t high enough

What a lot of people don’t know is that the United States, used to have denominations of bills higher than $100, for it had $500, $1000, $5000, and even $10000 bills, that were legal tender, which are still legal tender but have not been printed since 1945, as they were all discontinued in 1969. The thing is that inflationtool.com, tells us that the value of $100 back in 1945, would be the equivalency of $1752.83 in 2024, so our eyes do not deceive us, for inflation has taken away the value of $100 considerably in the interim. Quite frankly, it’s fairly common for people to spend over $100 just for groceries, and well over $100 for entertainment, as well as restaurants, and even filling up the gas tank can approach nearly $100. This would presuppose that $100 just isn’t a high enough denomination when it comes to cash, and while in many a case, people are utilizing non-cash instruments such as credit or debit cards more and more, there is many a person that likes to or prefers to spend actual cash, instead.

Further to the point, is that when it comes to larger denomination bills, there is a sort of bragging right that some people can generate by simply having a large amount of cash on their person. In other words, to show somebody one’s checking account with $5000 in it has little or no impressive value to other people, but when one fans out fifty $100 bills, it seems impressive. This would thus signify that to carry in one’s wallet, a $500 or $1000 bill would be quite notable in its own right, especially when nobody else has that on their person.

No doubt, the government printing office isn’t going to issue higher denomination dollar bills anytime soon, and would probably use the dual excuse, that higher denominations in dollars would be aiding and abetting criminal enterprises, along with the fact that cash use, is in steep decline. But what of it? The fact of the matter is that $100 is not a high enough denomination, to take care of certain expenditures, and there is that satisfying feeling that certain people get, from having big denominational bills in their billfolds. Additionally, let’s face it, inflation is not going to go away, so year after year, $100 is going to buy less and less, so that, why not have this government issue $500 and $1000 bills on a limited basis, in the knowledge that not only would these bills be put to good use, but also that certain people wouldn’t spend them at all, but would simply purchase these large denomination bills as a collector’s item, which basically would represent the government printing money for nothing, since to purchase a $500 bill would cost the consumer, $500, but since they aren’t going to spend it, that tradeoff would be beneficial to the government.

So too, it isn’t like this government hasn’t tried different denominations, such as the $2 bill, but that never caught on because it just wasn’t necessary, for it just seems like a weird denomination; whereas, a $500 or $1000 bill printed in a limited edition, would sell out immediately.

The decline of racism

While there are plenty of people who point out obvious things that prove that racism still exists in America, and is arguably systemic and persistent in nature, it has to be noted, that the racism that is experienced today, is far less invasive than it was back in the day. Indeed, the trajectory of racism in this nation, is clear, which is that racism is on the decline and will not ever make a comeback within this country. So then, what should be fit for discussion is the reasons for the reduction of that racism.

The first reason for the reduction of racism in America comes forth from Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, so issued on January 1, 1863, which was subsequently soon followed by the critical Amendments of the 13th through the 15th, which thereby laid the foundation for those that were formerly enslaved to have the same rights as those that white people had, who previously were led to believe through the notorious Supreme Court decision, that blacks “… had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.”

The second reason why racism was reduced in America, is from the Executive Order signed by Harry Truman in 1948, which mandated that all people in the military must be treated equally, which subsequently led to the actual integration of the military. In consideration, that soldiers are considered to be a “band of brothers,” this basically meant that reluctantly or not, whites and blacks, were going to have to learn to trust each other, and to have each other’s back, because in any military affair, those that are joined at the hip as a fighting force are going to be a heck of a lot more effective, than those that are loggerheads with one another.

The third reason for the reduction in racism comes to us via the sporting world, in which the color line was broken by each of the major sports leagues, most notably, with Major League Baseball, and Jackie Robinson in 1947. The thing about sports fans is that they are not only territorial in rooting for the team that they support, but they also have a great desire as fans to see that their team win, and when their team has a black man, they are thus presented with a dilemma, which when answered correctly, reduces racism, because it isn’t consistent to root for your team which has black men on it, but hate them, off the field.

The fourth reason for the reduction in racism is the passage of the Civil Rights Laws in 1968, which in consideration that the Federal government cannot itself be seen as racist, signified that federal jobs would be fully integrated, and thereupon those formerly precluded from private enterprise jobs, because of their race, found that the federal government, was a fair sanctuary for them, providing them with secure jobs and good pay, regardless of their skin color, or religious faith.

So then, what we find is that when the government, of, for, and by the people, secures the rights of all the people, and that those that provide sporting entertainment, employ those that will give their team the best chance to win, racism is reduced, because a more integrated society, makes for a less racist one.

Faith and reason

As might be surmised, faith and reason aren’t the same thing, and certainly we do so find in Western nations, that our educational system of what governance considers to be of import centers almost exclusively around reason, above all.  That is to say, we are meant to look at the world rationally, and thereby to measure and to learn what we need to learn through our rational mind, which thus brings us insights into the nature and being of things, and provides us therefore with the opportunity, to make progress, in the sense of not only ever improving knowledge, but also the modern-day conveniences invented and manufactured that so many of us, pretty much take now for granted.

While it is true that we should be appreciative of all the material benefits that we have accomplished and obtained over the last two centuries, it has to be recognized though, that despite all the growth in our economy, and all the accouterments added to our arsenal, that at the end of the day, people and the societies that are made up of those people, don’t seem to be all that much happier or satisfied than they were before these modern day conveniences came into existence.

So too, we are taught oftentimes to ignore our intuition, and basically all those types of things that cannot be measured by human instruments, and to concentrate instead upon that which can be reasoned upon, and reasoned out, as if this is the most important objective of our lives.  Regrettably, what has been left behind, in many Western nations, is our capacity to appreciate all that is beyond our material knowledge, that if we were to pursue, would be well beyond reason – that then would touch us intuitively and insightfully, if we were inclined to pursue such, which would fairly represent the pursuit of the meaning of life, and therefore of our true purpose and thereby the truth of our existence.

That which is philosophical or religious in nature, is seen by many a person, as that which should ever be shunted completely, or engaged only on religious holidays, or within the confines of a religious institution; for many a person,  perceives religion as nothing much more than a mythology or a delusion, meant to provide us with some general comfort, but because it is outside of reason, should be properly ignored or dismissed.

Indeed, each of us falls short of what we could be and what we should be, when we fail to properly comprehend that mankind is not the measure of all things, never has been, and never will be.  Rather, all of us have been created for a purpose, and that purpose presupposes that we search for the actuator of that purpose, which must, by definition, reside outside of time and space, be immortal, and omnipotent.  Those then, that have the faith to believe that their little world is truly and comprehensively superseded by a power that can provide true enlightenment if only we would seek that Light, are the very same, that walk outside of reason, to embrace what we might call “unreasonableness,” because it is by doing thus, that they find that which is everlasting, true, and revealing.

Teenagers and their pursuit of a driver’s license

We read at wsoctv.com that “In 1995, about 64% of kids aged 16 to 19 got their license to drive; by 2021, that number had dropped to under 40%.”  In consideration, that America is not known for having a very robust public transportation system, and also that in many communities, the ability to get from one place to another, through that public transportation is, with a few exceptions, not structured very well to move people rapidly from one point to another, it seems surprising that one of those seminal marks of freedom, of having the ability to get into an automobile with one’s own driver’s license, and thereby drive to a given destination, has declined significantly – yet, it has.

Look, it has to be said, back in the day, many a teenager, was absolutely obsessed about getting their driver’s license, for the ability to drive, meant that not only could they go where they pretty much desired to go, but also that they would be able to do so, in many a case, without direct parental supervision.  That, for most teenagers, signified freedom on a scale that meant a great deal to them.  However, in today’s world, the majority of 16-19-year-olds, actually don’t have a driver’s license, which is an astonishing change, especially for this nation, that is known for having a very strong love for cars and the independence that cars represent.

That said, the fact that fewer teenagers are driving probably does make the roads safer for other drivers and helps keep teenagers safer, as well.  After all, teenagers are prone to making the type of bad decisions that lead to very bad consequences, when getting behind the wheel of a car, and therefore insurance rates for those teens, reflect that they are a greater risk and therefore are priced as such.  So too, with the cost of cars, seemingly never being higher, it has to be noted, that having a driver’s license but without having access to a car, doesn’t do much of anything for a teen, especially when they know that they really can’t afford a car or the responsibility of such, in the first place.  Further to the point, it must be acknowledged that ridesharing is something, that simply didn’t exist back in the day, and many teens will avail themselves of ridesharing to get around, and in all candor, this might well make financial sense for them, because the expense of a car, insurance, maintenance, and the risk of a bad event happening to them that could result in a suspension of their license or make their insurance rates to go sky-high, will not happen when ridesharing.

Still, at the end of the day, it just seems different, when far fewer teens are driving, but the fact that there are more options available, along with having friends, siblings, or parents, that can take them from one place to another, seems satisfactory for many a teen.  Perhaps, overall, this is a good thing, and if teens aren’t complaining about not having a license, or don’t seem to have the urge or desire to get such, it seems to say that the kids are alright, with or without a driver’s license.

Revenge and suffering

There are plenty of people that have suffered in their life and are still suffering from actions taken against them, that were perceived as being unjustified, unfair, or just plain wrong.  One would think that whenever we suffer, that our best response would be to do our level best not to have others suffer the same way that we have, by therefore doing the right thing to others, of which, by doing so, this will bring us relief from our experiences of having suffered, while also making us feel good for having done right to other people.  While, indeed, there are those types of people who have suffered, that behave in this mature and empathetic manner, we do so find, that there are plenty of other people who having suffered, feel an urge to have others to suffer in the basic same way and manner that they have suffered from.

The proximate reason why so many people who suffer, want to strike back at others, so as to make them suffer, has a lot to do with that “eye for an eye” mentality, but regrettably, while it is one thing to strike back against the very person or entity that has made a particular person suffer, often though, when it comes to striking back, the person that is made to suffer, has a strong tendency though to hurt someone that is basically innocent of any crimes against the person that has suffered.  That is to say, some of those who suffer, seem to make it their point to attack those who are vulnerable or weaker than them, and therefore they make easy targets to attack, which while not taking care of the crux of the problem does seem to give the perpetrator some distinct relief from their suffering, because they feel the pride of having stood up for their own self, by hurting the other – no matter how wrong this is ethically and logically.

Indeed, those who suffer and desire revenge, prefer oftentimes to mull over in their mind, the future satisfaction that they will get when they enact that action that will hurt the other.  In other words, before a particular action is taken, those who are bent on revenge, will picture in their mind, what they are going to do, and dwell upon it, which helps them thereby to enact what they do so enact, with a concentrated fury which best gives them the satisfaction of a dirty deed, done well.

It is unfortunate, that so many suffer from various injustices of all types, of which, it would behoove society, in general, to do what it could to help alleviate or re-direct such suffering into a response that would be more in keeping with forgiveness and a conscience determined to do right, even when it is tempted to do wrong.  Yet, whenever there is a person or an area of society, that suffers as well as also feels hopeless, then the go-to response is going to have a lot more in common, with revenge and hurting the other, than forgiveness, and because of this, those that suffer will be prone to making others suffer, ad nauseam.

The unfair advantages that Uber and Lyft have over taxis

There isn’t any doubt that most riders prefer the advantages that Uber and Lyft rides provide them, and consider them to be not only superior to a taxi ride but also cheaper in cost.  Yet, as good as this might well be for those that utilize these rideshare services, it has to be noted, that anytime there is a business in which some entities of the business are subject to specific rules and regulations that the other companies are not exposed to fully, provides, therefore, those that do not have to adhere to all those rules and regulations a massive advantage over the other.  When it comes to taxi cab drivers, those that are its drivers, have to, in certain cities, purchase a medallion in order to have the privilege to drive for a particular taxi company, and also there is the payment of additional fees to the county and other regulatory agencies so as to conduct business, and finally the price for a ride with a taxi cab driver, is typically regulated by the regulating authority and therefore not at the discretion of the taxi cab company.

In fairness to taxi cabs, there needs to be a meeting somewhere in the middle with rideshare companies, that permits taxi cabs to be the same sort of thing that they have historically been but also provides them with what they need in order to become more competitive, which in the end, is beneficial to the consumer.  So too, the protection for drivers of taxi cabs is far more robust than it is for Uber or Lyft because Uber and Lyft do everything within their power to classify those who drive for them, as independent contractors, which signifies that because they are not employees, they do not have the worker rights that employees would have, and further to the point, because they are typically not unionized, do not have a union to protect the drivers and therefore the stability of the work that they do for Uber or for Lyft.

Look, it has to be said, that the general public, for the most part, wants to take a ride with whoever has the best price and has the most robust app that works for them, and therefore they don’t really care about much of anything else.  This is thereby the nature of the beast when it is the price that determines who does or does not get the business of driving people from one destination to the other.  Therefore, this signifies that for taxis to compete against Uber and Lyft, it is in that pricing mechanism, that they need the rules and regulations that currently handcuff them in the doing of business, that need to be reconfigured so that they can remain competitive in this industry.

No doubt, things change in this modern age, and those who do not embrace that progress, are often left behind and thereby become irrelevant.  That said, when the playing field is uneven, then the end result will favor one side over the other, which isn’t good ultimately for the consumer, for robust competition should be the preference when it comes to rideshare and taxis, in which, rules and regulations, must therefore change with the times.

Western nations and the cause of the refugee crisis

Look, it has to be said that a significant amount of Americans do not desire to have refugees come into their country, legally or illegally.  Yet, hundreds of thousands upon thousands risk their lives and the little money that they have to try to enter this country, of which, because so many cross into the United States, who have not been authorized to do so, it is fair to say that these people, because of their quantity and their persistency, are in a sense, not only invading our country, by our doing so in a way and manner, that we do not know who and what they are.  Still, they will keep coming because the countries that they are emigrating from are nations that are often unstable, with poor economic opportunity, as well as being perceived by these people as providing no sure avenue for a better future, if not only for themselves, but also for future generations, so they feel that they must do what they must do to effect change for their situation by leaving.

It might seem to many people in America that this refugee crisis just needs to be wiped out by putting forth the manpower and infrastructure to do so. While we do have a southern border of hundreds upon hundreds of miles with our southern neighbor, it would not appear to be a daunting task if the powers that be were absolutely intent on eliminating such.  Perhaps this would take care of the issue of illegal immigration, or reduce such considerably, but what it would not correct, is the conditions that create such a high amount of people that desire to immigrate to America to begin with.

The issue that America and other Western nations don’t seem willing to address, is that their imperialistic ambitions and their interference in the affairs of weaker nations are a definite part of the proximate cause of the instability of these nations, and therefore ultimately of the peoples that become refugees.  Whenever any foreign government, must kowtow to American business interests, or suffer from being overrun by armaments and ammunition on behalf of one political side, which is essentially provided or funded by Western nations, this then is going to destabilize whatever form of government is in power.  Further to the point, when America determines to back an unpopular form of governance, because those who run that government are in America’s pocket, the end result for those subsequently disenfranchised native people is not going to be good.

Indeed, no matter how rich or poor a given nation is, most people have the desire to remain in their country of origin, no matter how untenable, until it gets to the point, in which their safety and their children’s safety, along with opportunity, becomes hopeless – then, they will desire to find stability and opportunity in some other land, and in consideration that it is the Western nations that have the monies, the influence, and the power to create a construct in which there is hope for a better life, then people are going to gravitate, no matter the risk, to those Western nations.

We find that at the end of the day, most people are content with just having a decent life, with an acceptable livelihood, and when that does not seem to exist where they are currently, they will therefore do what they perceive they have to do, to obtain such, by becoming refugees.

Inferiority, inadequacy, and lack of self-esteem

How we view ourselves as well as how we are viewed by others, is absolutely relevant to how we turn out as adults, for those who feel inadequate, abandoned, unloved, and marginalized, are not going to be in many a case, good and upstanding citizens, but rather they are going to be the very opposite of such.  Those then, who come from enclaves of poverty and hopelessness, are the most vulnerable people subject to living lives that are unsatisfactory and inclined therefore to join forces with those of the same general ilk to strike back at others and at society, for being placed in a position, in which, they feel nothing but hopelessness, oppression, and the nagging feelings of inadequacy. 

A lot of the problems that society suffers from have an awful lot to do with the construct that people live under, of which, those who live in households that are filled with unconditional love, patience, caring, and attention, are typically going to have quite satisfactory lives, and because of this will also feel good about their own character.  On the other hand, those who lack those very things, such as feeling that they are cared for, that they are valued, and that they mean something of substance to others that they look up to and respect, are going to fill that void with something that is often destructive, and typically not constructive.  This means the type of mindless violence, which seems endemic in many major cities in America, is primarily caused by those who feel that they must strike back at a society that has marginalized them, so that they can have their say, by any means, so perceived as being necessary.

Look, to believe that somehow, the prisons are made up primarily of those who are well educated, and who come from loving and caring families, is belied by the fact that those who are incarcerated are often, in fact, ill-educated, and come from environments which suffer from poverty, hopelessness, food insecurity, and the lack of opportunity.  So too, these areas of poverty often suffer from the policing arm of the state strong-arming them, with or without cause, which only adds to the frustration and anger that has been instilled within the residents of those enclaves.

So then, the violence of this nation has a lot to do with those that commit such violence not feeling that they will ever amount to anything, so they take their frustration out by hurting the other, in order to bring on at least a temporary basis, a feeling of power and adequacy.  This thus signifies that if this nation is serious about correcting the systemic violence demonstrated and displayed in our major cities, it must concentrate first and foremost on doing its best to see that families are supported in a way and manner, that children feel love, safety, and comfort, from those that they are closest to.  Additionally, it is vital that all neighborhoods, no matter the income or lack thereof, have as a basis, a good infrastructure of sound schools, as well as activities that engage the mind and body of children so that these children have thereby a fair chance to develop into good citizens.

Unequal justice

Look, it has to be said, with all the laws that the United States has, and the unequal interpretation and especially unequal application of those same laws, that the end result is that we have laws that are unfairly applied, in which the very people that can least afford to handle the impact of these laws, which are the disenfranchised and unprotected, thus feel the greatest weight and unfairness of those same laws.

For an absolute certainty, whenever somebody is in trouble with the law, they usually desperately want to get out of the effect of that law, because few people desire to sacrifice their freedom for imprisonment.  That is why, then, when it comes to the law, we find that those who are the richest and the most powerful who also make it a habit not to make a spectacle of themselves, can draw upon their connections, their money, and their status not to suffer therefore from the law unduly, for any time that somebody gets into what would appear to be trouble, but end up just essentially being inconvenienced, they are not suffering under the law, while such though swallows up whole, those that are the un-championed.

Indeed, there often isn’t a strong desire from those who are our lawmakers to make fundamental or wholesale changes to our laws upon laws, because these lawmakers know that the most important people and personages aren’t worried about having too many laws, for they have not only their avenues to successfully escape the harshness of such, but also because they know that the law as written is often not going to be applied to those that are the most powerful and influential amongst them.  Rather, the laws so stand as they are, as a way and means, to keep those who have nothing or little in their place and therefore for those who are in positions of authority to assert therefore that authority against those that they do not value.

Indeed, the United States has a great written Constitution and has some of the most well-reasoned judicial decisions that have ever been written, but the enforcement of those decisions, and the enforcement of justice equally applied to all, without respect for that person, is something that the United States deeply fails at -- because American justice either doesn’t take the time to actually analyze what is going on in reality with all the people, or doesn’t really care to discover such, because they, the lawmakers, do not live at that level, and therefore aren’t especially concerned about it.

All those who wonder why there are so many lawbreakers in America are asking the wrong question, for the question that needs to be asked is why is it, that the vast majority of those who do major time behind bars, all seem to be similar, in the sense of their ill-education, their poverty, and the hopelessness displayed by their actions.  That is indeed the question of the hour, and the answer to that question is that those that the American justice system does not wish to see in public must be locked away as if they don’t exist, even though they not only exist, but will continue to exist and persist until this country takes the necessary means to provide all those that are Americans with hope, opportunity, and impartial justice

“Well done, good and faithful servant”

We find the above passage in Matthew 25: 21 and Matthew 25:23.  The point of this passage is to have us know that we are supposed to be good stewards of God’s gifts provided to us in life, and in consideration that each of us has been endowed with talents, it is imperative therefore for us to use those talents faithfully and to be true to that which first created us.  Yet, how many of us, take what good talents that we have, and aren’t considerate in their usage, for we have a strong tendency to use such for our own self-aggrandizement or else to ignore our skillset and to let such lie fallow – thus to eventually fade away due to non-usage of such.

Each of us needs to recognize that life most definitely has a purpose to it, which indicates that we should first find that purpose and then to thus dedicate ourselves to fulfilling that purpose, and all those who do that very thing, will have the most satisfactory of lives.  Instead, far too many of us are headstrong and hellbent on doing whatever seems to serve our selfish desires, not seeming to recognize that gifts freely bestowed upon us, that are misused, misconstrued, or unused, are gifts that we have squandered in the very worse way.

Each of us is accountable not just for what we have accomplished but also for what we have failed to accomplish.  Additionally, we have attendant responsibilities regarding how our behavior has influenced the other, so that, it has to be recognized that it is one thing to ruin our own life, but it’s even worse to take down another with our bad decisions and poor follow-through that were detrimental to the other.

So too, it has to be acknowledged that the pathway of growth, necessitates our obedience to the good Commandments of God, and the more that we are in attune with our Creator, the more responsibility and opportunities will come our way, to make good on having been true to God.  This thus indicates that what we do, definitely matters, and matters not only for our own good but for the good that we pass from ourselves in assistance to others, which helps to strengthen our relationships and places us in the desired position to be seen as being faithful to the talents so bestowed upon us.

Look, the things that we think, say, and do absolutely matter, even when we believe that we aren’t all that important or valued.  Each of us must start somewhere, and every time that we take a step in the right direction, we get not only stronger in our faith, but we become a more complete person, in which the object of the exercise is to get to that promised land, done through our active participation in our valued interactions with others, but also through resolving to do our best to overcome obstacles, and by doing so, to prove our mettle that when put to the test, we did not waver, but were a true and faithful servant to that which is our Supreme Benefactor, above all.