The dumbing down of American education

It isn’t conceivable nor is it possible for America to continue to claim that it is the greatest country in the world when we find that its educational system is so inept, that the United States does not come close to leading in any of the major categories such as Reading, Math, or Science against other OECD countries.  Indeed, when it comes to Reading scores, the National Assessment of Educational Progress as reported by nytimes.com tells us that “The percentage of eighth graders who have “below basic” reading skills according to NAEP was the largest it has been in the exam’s three-decade history — 33 percent.”  So too, when it comes to Math, we find that as reported by thebalancemoney.com the “U.S. scored 465 in math, below the OECD average of 472.”  Finally, when it comes to Science, thebalancemoney.com reports that “The United States scored 499 in science, above the OECD average of 485 but still well below the top five highest scorers in science.” In summary, the United States does not lead any of its respective OECD countries in its aggregate educational achievements and is also considerably behind those nations that have the best test scores, which clearly indicates that on average, American students, despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on educating them, do not achieve test scores commensurate with the monies so spent, which is indicative that there is either something fundamentally wrong with America’s educational system, or the students just aren’t all that bright, or both.

 Look, it has to be said, if America really believes that it is the #1 nation in the world, it should therefore have the best and brightest students in the world, as well; and if not, then it isn’t the #1 nation in the world, because the people that populate it aren’t much better than average, at best, which is quite frankly, pathetic, since the United States is supposedly the destination of choice for those that are motivated to accomplish great and meaningful things.  This thus means that America is at the stage in which, it is resting on its laurels and its previous achievements, of which, clearly having reached its zenith, America is now in a state of serious decline.

 To believe, somehow, that education doesn’t really matter, as long as the few and the proud, are able to achieve great things -- gets it fundamentally wrong, because the more dead weight placed upon the shoulders of high achievers, the more difficult it will be to thus steer this nation into the direction that it ought to really go and continue on.  America is at that crossroads, of which, first it needs to recognize that it has systemic problems that need to be meaningfully addressed, and secondly, it needs to have the integrity of character to do something constructive about it.

 As it has been said, winners never make excuses but losers always have one.  The bottom line is for the United States to admit that they have failed their citizenry and that future generations are thereby subject to living in a nation that won’t be the epitome of greatness, but rather will live in the past, with the sure recognition that the future holds little overall promise because the aggregate population won’t have the necessary education to ever amount to anything of substance, unless this nation determines that not only that it will do better but that it will do better by doing what it needs to do, to get it done.

The 0 and the O are way too similar

At the present time, the differentiation between the number 0 and the capital letter O is that the number zero has more of an oval shape: whereas, the letter O is more circular.  While this subtle difference between the number and the letter may be somewhat obvious to the astute, it isn’t so obvious to those who not only can’t really tell the difference between the two but to the point, believe that the number 0 should look more like a circle, for a lot of reasons, of which the most proximate one is the fact that when people write down the number 0, they typically make it to look like a circle, as opposed to more of an oval look.

 In our modern age, keyboards and word processing programs that utilize keyboards can be designed to make the letter O and the number 0 more differentiated, and ought to do so.  So too, in documents of all types, it should be clear and obvious when a number is being used as compared to a letter, of which, one of the most annoying problems with 0 and O is the fact that there are, for instance, airplane ticket codes, that utilize interchangeability numbers and letters, signifying that those that are unfortunate enough to get a confirmation code that contains a 0, aren’t sure whether it is a 0 or an 0, especially when they are in a hurry to enter what they need to enter in order to get their seat assignment.  So too, passcodes to websites or email verifications may also have a combination of numbers and letters, leading to the same sort of issue.  It would seem that the best workaround is to either add a slash through the number 0 or even better to add a solid circle inside the number 0, to differentiate such, which thus removes any doubt between the two.

 It would seem that it would behoove governmental organizations of all types to make it their point, to see that the standard for the 0 and the O is structured in a way and form in which there would not be any confusion between the two, and whether or not private enterprise thereby decided to copy such would be up to those involved in those endeavors.  Indeed, governments the world over have a habit of creating standards, for the very purpose of removing confusion and to have enterprises of all types conform to those standards for orthodoxy and thus the utility of the greater good.  This is what needs to occur when it comes to the number 0 and the letter O for what we have presently, should be and needs to be improved upon, and there isn’t any good reason why this shouldn’t be done. After all, as it stands, serious mistakes can be made, for example, in the search of a document and similar, when the entry for what is being searched for is misinterpreted because it is assumed to be a number when it is instead a letter.

Political correctness and things of that ilk are oh-so-wrong

There are plenty of people who want to be politically correct in all that they do and say, or further to the point, make it their abiding principle that they are politically correct in all that they do and say.  To the degree by doing so, they are true to what they truly believe and are consistent with that belief by their actions privately and publicity, there can’t be much of a complaint by others of their behavior, for any time a person is true to themselves, then they are thus not false to others.  That said, it has to be noted, that there are plenty of people who are politically correct or desire to be perceived as being politically correct who are “apeing” the lines but are doing so primarily because of perceived social convention, combined with the fear that to express their true feelings might get them in some sort of trouble, or cause them to lose face.

 Look, it has to be emphasized, that what we believe to be the truth of our perceptions, should be what we should express to one another, though not in a dogmatic or narrow-minded way, but rather as an expression of what we believe.  Though we may well be mistaken about a given subject, we are entitled to our opinion, which may or may not have been formulated with enough pertinent information to come to a sensible conclusion; yet, it is our opinion, and when expressed, those that supposedly know better are provided with the opportunity to correct what has been perceived as being wrong, if they are so inclined, by expressing their counterpoint individual perspective, which itself may also be distorted or wrong.  In other words, communication with one another should be done in a manner in which we say what we have to say without overtly worrying whether or not it pleases the other or offends the other, but rather as our expression of what we believe, without self-censorship or compromise.  Indeed, by so doing, this permits the free expression of ideas and thoughts, of which, not every idea or thought has merit or is correct in its substance, but we are entitled to express these, especially when done so in a sincere way.

 To believe that somehow the better part of valor is to always shut our mouth, and to keep our opinions to ourselves except when we are among either very open-minded people or true friends or good family is to betray our freedom of thought and of speech, for the supposed greater good of society.  While civil discourse teaches us that there are certain people who are so adamant in their opinions that to confront them reasonably is an exercise that may well result in lost friendships, hurt feelings, or ugly confrontations, we should though recognize that closed minds that have no interest in a truly open forum of free-thinking, aren’t the type of people that we should necessarily be transparent with because it doesn’t serve any good purpose, because those that are fixated that they are in the right, and all else must therefore line up per their perception of political correctness are the very same, that believe that labels trump our individuality and care not to hear anything that contradicts this.

Fairness in disputes, arguments, and war

Regrettably, we still live in a day and age, in which, far too often, resolving differences results in serious trade disputes, harsh argumentations, or outright warfare.  Further to the point, which side prevails in a dispute, does not necessarily mean that justice is actually on their side, for those that are better positioned, richer, more powerful, or more capable, may well win the battle, but not necessarily deservedly so, for there are plenty of countries and nation-states that end up being defeated, though their cause was more the righteous one.

 When it comes to that stage in which one side will obviously prevail over the other, it is prudent that the winning side be magnanimous in its victory, as opposed to being unnecessarily vindictive or harsh.  Sure, wars will bring out the worst in societies, but that does not necessarily mean that the end result cannot consist of being reasonable from one to the other.  Additionally, it should be acknowledged that those who corner their enemy in which that enemy is left in the unenvious position of being completely humiliated, often means that the enemy will not ever forget what the losing of face so represented to them, and will, given enough time, determine to find a way to make amends, not so much because the outcome will be different, though it might, but as a way and means to regain face and to thus take back what has been taken psychologically, if nothing more, from them.  This so signifies that in any battle or argument or disagreement, it is important to provide the other side with the means that they will still have self-respect, for to take that from the other, everything, is to take too much, for those that have nothing left to lose, are the very same, that will do what they perceive that they have to do, to make those that have something to lose, to lose that something.

 Indeed, whenever we get our tails up so that we are intent on making the other side suffer, we find that when we get back to our calmer frame of mind, we must realize that fairness and the purposeful suffering of the other do not often mix well, together, for if we are intent upon truly winning the argument, we should make it our point, to demonstrate our moral superiority, if it so exists, by demonstrating through our behavior to the other, that by being gracious and cognizant of who and what they represent, that they have value.  On the other hand, simply using our wiles and force to get the other to submit to our desires, seldom resolves the true issue at hand, though it does serve to resolve it at the moment, of which, in remembrance that turnabout is fair play, we need to, if possible, try to see the perspective of the other side, so that we can better understand the other, and come to a reasonable arrangement, so that each side, has something of substance to hold onto, which makes for a better construct that allows for more civil discourse and less outright war.

The monster within

There are a fair amount of children that have gone through that stage in which because their room is dark and their mom and dad are not in the room with them, they thus fear the darkness, and even believe that there could be some sort of monster in their room, even though there is not.  Truth be told, children outgrow that stage, though, there are plenty of adults that still have a basic fear of darkness and of being alone, but they no longer believe that when the lights are out, a monster may appear.

 On the other hand, however, those who battle against addictions of all sorts, and especially those addictions that seem to have taken control of their mind and body so that it would appear that they don’t have the volition to do something constructive about what they are addicted to, have a very strong tendency to see their addiction, at its worse, as some sort of monster within, that thereby wreaks havoc upon who and what they might be.

 Those who are addicted to drugs or drink, typically don’t see their addiction as being something that gives them comfort but rather see it as being something that is overruling their good sensibilities so as to become something which is troubling to their being, and because they seemingly can’t conquer it, that trouble becomes a beast of burden, that will not apparently let them go.  That is why so many people correctly see their addiction as an entity that is not their friend, though it may act as a friend, from time to time to keep the addict believing that friend or fiend, the addiction at least provides them with the pseudo-satisfaction that they are not ever really alone.

 Those though who desire to overcome their addictions must first of all recognize that whatever that they are addicted to, which provides relief to them, at least part of the time, is not ever going to be their trustworthy friend, and when they recognize that their addiction is the enemy and that the addiction serves no good purpose, this can provide them with the impetus to attack the monster within, for until such a time that they determine that they will no longer be subservient to the monster that has ahold of them, nothing much will change.

 To conquer an addiction requires not only willpower but also requires the determination to face our demons in a way and manner in which we will not compromise, but rather, we will take no prisoners, because there cannot ever be peace between that which ultimately makes us to suffer, and will not ever make good on what we need to have for a decent and satisfying life.  Those with a monster within must find the strength through their own initiative or with the help and aid of valued friends and organization to slay that monster and when accomplished, to replace such with something else of merit that fills the void and thus brings serenity.

The insidious cell phone

We live in a different age in which for many a person, communicating in-person has taken a back seat to memes, social media, text messaging, and things of that ilk, as if whatever has gotten our exclusive attention on our cell phone, trumps all.  There is nothing worse than seeing people who are at a restaurant, in which, it is assumed that they like one another and who want to be together, but who aren’t actually having a conversation with the party that they are with, for rather they are each busily involved endlessly scrolling on their phones.  To believe, somehow, that whatever is going on with our cell phone is somehow always more important than in-person human interaction is to get what life is about, fundamentally wrong.

 The thing about cell phones is that the most appropriate way to deal with such is to see our phone as a versatile tool that can provide us with an online encyclopedia, along with contact with our friends or work, take pictures, keep up-to-date on events that interest us, provide us with entertainment, while also serving as an emergency tool should we find ourselves in a situation in which we feel quite uncomfortable or are lost.  Indeed, cell phones can provide us with a lot of aid and pretty much represent something that has considerable value, but we do so find that certain people treat their cell phones as if it is, the be-all and end-all of their existence, and therein lies the rub.

 It has to be acknowledged, that there are those situations in which too much of a good thing is no longer good for us, such as way too much dessert at one time, for once we get well beyond moderation and suffer from a lack of self-control, we can find ourselves seemingly addicted to stuff that really isn’t worth all our time and energy, and thereby to do so is to our detriment.  So then, those who become habitually attached to their phone, need to recognize that there are other things that life consists of, besides what is on their screen, and if they lack the self-discipline to do anything constructive about it, they need to recognize that if they are unable to regain control, that they will hurt themselves by putting front and center their online phone interactions, above family, friends, work, and other in-person social interactions.

 While we can applaud the genius behind cell phones and the applications that go with such, it has to be acknowledged that this thus serves to entice far too many people to see whatever that is happening on their phone to be the most important thing, even when it really isn’t.  So then, there is a need to take the time to evaluate as to whether our lives are actually better for all the time that we spend on the phone, or whether by the indiscriminate usage of such, we have done so to our lasting harm.  That is to say, at the end of the day, we need to understand better that having our eyes solely on our cell phone basically signifies that we have traded real life for an artificial construct, and in that, we have lost what we could have more of, which is all the advantages represented by healthy human interaction.

The unfair property tax

The one important thing about any taxation is that it should be fair.  That is to say, those who can opt out or get special consideration, or simply are held to another standard, present the proximate problem of taxation as being unequal and thereby unfair.  As it stands, property taxes are needed to properly fund schools, law enforcement, first responders, and other governmental agencies.  So then, to the degree that certain entities, whether universities, churches, nonprofits of all types, or special dispensations provided to for-profit corporations who thereby don’t pay property taxes, signify that more of the burden of having to pay those property taxes, will thus rest on the shoulders of homeowners.

 Indeed, when it comes to property taxes, not only should all property taxes, be absolutely transparent, but also it is necessary to have visible all those who own property that don’t pay taxes, thereby providing the general public with knowledge of which of these entities are not pulling their own weight, because whenever certain peoples, organizations, and corporations are accorded special consideration whereof they don’t pay their fair share or any share at all when it comes to property taxes, there needs to be a clear understanding as to why this is so. For instance, for-profit corporations should always have to pay their fair share and should not be permitted to exert pressure upon governmental representatives that because they will, in theory, provide local jobs, they should be exempted from such.  So too, when it comes to universities as well as all non-profits, each of these should be examined very closely, and audited in a way and manner, to determine as to why these are exempt from the payment of property taxes, as opposed to the belief that just because they are non-profit that they shouldn’t need to pay property taxes, because not every non-profit or university is in and of itself, doing enough for the community, at large, that they should be able to avoid paying their fair share, or some portion of such in property taxes.

 The thing about property taxes, unlike other taxes that are based upon capital gains or income, is that whether or not the property that is owned, still has a mortgage, property taxes are assessed to such, each and every year, signifying that when it comes to property taxes for regular folks, even when they no longer have a job, or no longer have a mortgage, those property taxes still are mandated to be paid.  So too, for those who own property but are still paying their monthly mortgage, having to pay property tax, is just one more burden upon them, that most people, would prefer to see such as being fair and equal for all.

 In sum, all those that are exempted from paying property taxes or get such reduced or abated for some period of time, should not only be public knowledge, but it also should be periodically reviewed or examined in its totality because the fewer entities that pay their fair share into the common welfare of a given community, the more the burden rests on those that are not exempted from such, which is unfair and unwise.

Problems are meant to be resolved

In this life, we will be confronted with challenges, and how we react to those challenges defines who and what we really are.  This thus signifies that those who try to escape their challenges, problems, and issues with drugs, drink, or mindless entertainment, rather than confronting them, will not only not make progress, where they need to, but are clearly not accomplishing what they were set upon earth to overcome and to accomplish.

 While some problems that we are confronted with, seem insurmountable, it has to be noted that as Rome was not built in one day, we thereby cannot resolve everything that confronts us in a short period of time, either.  For some of us, overcoming what we need to overcome, will require us to develop a certain skill set that will permit us to utilize this to make the progress that we need to make.  For others, it may necessitate the help and aid of friends, and so on.  Each of what we have to face is personal to our own cause, and therefore it is essentially up to us as individuals, to take on the responsibility to do what we need to do in order to conquer what has to be conquered.

 Regrettably, there are a fair amount of people who in one form or another, simply give up, whether they desire to admit to such or not.  Thus then, those who give up, even to the point of death, do so in the wrongful belief that by dying or conducting themselves in a way that they have surrendered to that which they believe that they cannot overcome, become the very same, that have placed themselves in the somewhat unenviable position that having failed at their task, they will have the burden of tackling that task, again, until such a time that they eventually pass their test.

 Indeed, there are far too many people who seem to believe that drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs will solve their problems, or if not, to successfully mask such, but just as in the movie, Groundhog Day those that will not pass the level that they are at, are doomed to face it, again and again, until they do pass.  So too, those who believe death will bring them a full release from their troubles, aches, and problems that this world has presented to them, have it partially right, and partially wrong.  What death releases us from is the constrictions and restrictions of this world and our relationship to it, but what it does not release us from, is our character flaws that we have not amended or corrected.

 To believe that death brings a disappearance of all that ails us, is wrong-headed, for death is merely the transitioning from the raiment that covers our spirit, to pure spirit, but when that spirit is not in harmony with God, it must correct itself, or it will not be able to ascend to those heights, that only those that are truly enlightened have reached. This means that one way or another, one dimension or another, we must assert ourselves to be what we were created to be, or else cycle through that which will not present us with everlasting peace until we resolve that this, above all, we must have

The correct purpose of the law

We are taught to obey the law, but this simplistic command is not nearly comprehensive or vetted enough, for us to thereby blindly follow, for the law as written and enforced by the societies that make up humankind often has its own purposes which can be in serious conflict with what the law should and ought to be.  For instance, all of us understand, that there have been laws, such as the law that permitted human beings to own other human beings, and to treat them as property, which though law, was not good or fair law.  So too, when the law as implemented is unfairly applied so that some must suffer the ill effects of that law; whereas, others are positioned to be above the law, this is not good or fair law, either.  This thus signifies that for any law to be truly correct, it must adhere to core principles that are consistent, fair, ethical, and that together serve the highest good purpose, possible.

 Indeed, the law as written and implemented must be enlightened enough to recognize that human beings not only have a strong tendency to be flawed in one way or another but to also be corrupt, especially in their desire to see that the law is enforced against certain people or principalities in a way and manner that punishes those that they do not like or that they don’t respect their beliefs -- rather than recognizing that the law must be in harmony with natural law, which is beyond and above the vicissitudes of humankind.

 To believe that the law should reflect or imitate what is perceived to be the natural order of human tendencies, as opposed to the law reflecting or imitating what human beings are supposed to be about, is a mistake because to believe that, in essence, the best law is a law that mirrors what has occurred, thereby signifying that an eye for an eye, is what should be enforced upon the disobedient members of society, without exception, or nuance, is to misunderstand what law should be about fundamentally.  Rather, the correct purpose of the law is to hold humankind to a higher standard than like-for-like or to impress punishment without a pathway for reformation -- for the correct purpose of the law is to overcome humankind’s frailties and mistakes, by molding human nature into what it is supposed to be, which is to be in harmony with the ethical standards which represents humankind interacting with one another at its best.

 Each of us is a special creation of God, and should not be seen as being just some sort of advanced animal, and nothing more.  So then, the purpose of our free will that we have been bestowed with is to use this gift in its proper way, which is to rise above human frailties and bad tendencies to become what we were meant to be, which is moral agents of good, thereby signifying that the correct purpose of the law is to correct our mistaken selves, to reflect that as equal creations, we are all equally entitled to the same unalienable rights, that we are meant to honor by our actions, above all.

Learn to see the human being in all

Regrettably, wars and ongoing battles of all sorts, promote far too often essentially the very same thing, which is that there are certain humans that we do not recognize as being human. Therefore, when we dehumanize them, it makes them far easier to deal with in the most violent, torturous, and aggressive manner.  That is to say, whenever the other is treated as something that is less than what we believe that we are, and therefore not deserving of their unalienable rights, because they don’t apparently have any unalienable rights, then it's easier to do all sorts of nasty things to their person, mainly because they aren’t looked upon as being fully human, or even human, at all.

 Indeed, the danger of today’s high technology is the fact that the further distance that we are from what we are trying to kill, as in when we are situated in a remote room or are using a drone, or things of this basic sort, to target and thereby to kill a human being, and further to the point are prone to the utilization of words that do not even describe the killing of another human, as such -- but rather has been replaced by targeting the enemy, and then neutralizing them, thus seeks to absolve those that are participants in this killing, as actually not being killers, though they are.

 So too, anytime we dehumanize the enemy in order to take on the mantle that we are the righteous ones and that our mission is one so needed to protect our people and our nation, then what we have to accomplish may become a slippery slope, since those that we are killing aren’t often considered to be fully human.  This thus signifies that as long as humankind continues to dehumanize one another, wars and violence will continue along the same course that it is, presently, because without respect for one another, the pathway for this sort of violence is wide open.

 The tragedy of this day and age is no matter how demonized a person becomes, they are, in essence, still human, and therefore those that encourage such demonization or buy into such, have done this to their own psychological detriment, if nothing more, because the taking of human life, should never be something that is seen as some sort of game, or is something that is welcomed, but should be seen for what it is, an event to avoid unless it must be faced, and when faced, done so for the necessity of that time and place.

 The human race has existed too long for it to continue to play mind games with one another because it doesn’t like another society’s race, creed, or habits, and instead to understand that each of us is fairly entitled to the same unalienable rights, and those then that uphold those rights, for everyone, are expressing what humanity correctly represents; whereas, all those that do not, have failed to recognize that when we take away the humanity of the other, we do it also to our self.

Switzerland’s 1,000 franc note

In America, the highest denomination of money which is still being printed and is common to see in circulation is the $100 –  though $100 simply doesn’t buy nearly what it used to buy because of inflation.  Indeed, there are many fairly common purchases such as done at a nice restaurant, or for fashion accessories, that $100 just isn’t going to come close enough to paying that bill.  Yet, the United States isn’t going to change to printing any bill higher than $100 anytime soon, not only because the United States is continuing to use less and less physical cash in financial transactions, but also because it doesn’t desire to print anything higher than $100.

 What we do so find is that not every nation has the same sorts of beliefs or fears that America demonstrates, in regards to its physical currency.  For instance, Switzerland has the 1,000 franc note worth about $1090, and this 1,000 note is also quite popular in Switzerland.  The two main reasons why Switzerland embraces its 1,000 note is that first of all, Switzerland does not suffer from the same degree of inflation that the United States suffers from, and therefore, a 1,000 note is thereby seen as being a safe store of value.  This signifies that the second reason why the 1,000 note is liked so much is that, unlike something like gold or silver or diamonds or cyber currency, a 1,000 note is not only convenient but also because its value is implicitly recognized this thus serves to make transactions of any sort, straightforward, which provides comfort for those that have those notes, in the sure recognition that in an emergency or an electronic data meltdown, that they have ready access to money which is universally accepted and appreciated.

 While the United States can decry all they want, that only criminals need access to large dollar denomination bills, it has to be said, that there is a significant amount of licit people and organizations, that prefer to conduct their business in a way and manner that the government is not able to track what they have transacted, which is why bartering still has its place, along with cash transactions being the preferred way to conduct certain business dealings. It should be at a given person’s prerogative how transparent that they are or are not with their transactions, thus indicating that those who prefer privacy and discretion over full disclosure should be permitted to do so, without “Big Brother” seeing and knowing everything that people do when it comes to their personal business.

 No doubt, America isn’t going to come out with a $1,000 bill or even a $500 bill because American governance claims that such isn’t needed, though, in truth, these bills, if they existed, would actually be popular, though not as popular as the 1,000 Swiss franc note, mainly because of America’s persistent inflation. Yet, it has to be noted, that people have an abiding desire to store their wealth in one form or another, and storing such through the medium of the dollar or the franc can be sensible, given the right circumstances.

Ignore what people claim to believe and look at what they do

Just about everyone desires to make themselves look better than what they really are, which is why we see some pretty stark inconsistencies between certain people who profess to be one thing, but by their behavior, belie that in their subsequent actions.  To know what we ought to do, and to claim to others that we do those very things, but in actuality, not to do what we ought to do, despite knowing better, designates that individual as being someone who lacks the discipline and ethical courage to do the right thing, despite knowing better.

 We are, in essence, the things that we do, of which, to fairly evaluate anyone shouldn’t be done on the level of what they say, or what they profess to believe, but rather should come down to pretty much what they actually accomplish, for in the end, words are just words, beliefs are just beliefs; whereas, what we do does in actuality, tell the tale of what we really are.

 This thus signifies that we not only should not judge a book by its cover, but we shouldn’t judge a person by strictly what they say, for rather we should be determined to discern as to whether a given person’s actions are consistent with what they profess to believe and thereby adhere to, and when there is an inconsistency in this, we should recognize that one’s actions speak louder than one’s words.

 Indeed, there are plenty of people who have sensible beliefs, and express the right words on how we should conduct ourselves, but when push comes to shove, or for other reasons, unknown, they push aside that sensibility to do stupid things that are unbecoming of someone that really knows better, but somehow can’t seem to do better than what they end up doing.

 In this world, it isn’t good enough to say the right words or to even have the right thoughts, because the way that we express ourselves through our actions, demonstrates whether we have taken to heart, what we ought to do.  So then, those that lack the discipline to do the right thing are the very same that either need to amend their character or if lacking the moral rectitude to do better, lean upon others that will help them to stiffen up their spine.  There is no shame in asking for help, for that is what a society is made for, to help and to aid one another, so that together, we can help make society a better place for our good participation in it.

 As they say, talk is cheap, for talk does not in and of itself get anything done, which is why what we do is so important, of which, the first step is knowing what we ought to do, and the second step is to go about to get it done, because in those accomplishments, we prove to ourselves as well as to others, that we mean what we say, and we say what we mean.

The wounded and the maimed

The thing about war, in any of its myriad forms and titles, is that while there are invariably those who are killed, through battle, disease, or as unintended victims, there are plenty of other people who are wounded, of which, oftentimes there are those that are so severely wounded that they are maimed, in which, by definition, to be maimed is to have part of one’s body that will either no longer work as it should, or simply have a body part that doesn’t exist anymore, such as a missing arm or leg.  Further, it could be stated, that those through battle who no longer are right in their mind, could be seen as also being maimed in the sense that their brain and thereupon their thinking have been seemingly permanently impaired.

 So then, it would make a whole lot more sense when classifying those who have been wounded, to see that the powers that be are more cognizant of how many of those wounded, are, in fact, actually maimed.  The reason that this is so important is that while we can mourn the loss of somebody who has died, it could also be said, that those who have been permanently maimed, are entitled to be mourned, as well, for now existing in a society in which they are handicapped as they are no longer physically or mentally whole.

 Indeed, war is a terrible thing, in which, one of the things that should be better disseminated must be a greater emphasis on addressing those who have been wounded -- for being wounded can be not only quite serious and debilitating but especially in the case of those that are maimed, something that permanently affects the person in a way and manner that they will have to conduct their life without the usage of an appendage or a good mind to make their way in the world when they come back into civil society.

 So too, because of medical advances, we find that the type of catastrophic injuries that would have easily killed a soldier or civilian years ago now provide those who would have lost their life, with the continuation of their life. Still, sometimes that continuation involves having to compensate for a very serious wound that has maimed the person.  This indicates that probably more needs to be done by a conscientious government to see that those who are amongst the living, but have been wounded in action, are accorded the vital material support that they need, so that they can have a fair opportunity to have a good life, because to not do so, shows an uncaring regard to those that have been wounded.

 In short, nowadays, humans can sustain some very serious injuries, of which, that person will still live, but when their body or mind is not whole, then some entity needs to step up to the plate, to make good on seeing that those who are wounded can still have viable and quality lives, which is the duty that this governance has to all who have faithfully served them.

The favored race and getting into trouble with minimal consequences

Those who clamor the most for more law and order are typically those who don’t need to worry about law and order negatively affecting them all that much or even ever.  Further to the point, the reason why they need not overly worry about police officers causing them personal trouble is the very fact that the favored race often sees the policing arm of the state as their friend, willing to come to their aid, making them therefore not to be their enemy.  Indeed, those of the favored race, almost by definition, are provided with the type of courtesy by police officers which labels them as the type of people to protect as well as to show consideration to, as opposed to being seen as targets that need to be dealt with by the criminal justice system in a harsh and unforgiving way.

 To live within an enclave in which interaction with the police, is not something to be afraid of, is a real privilege because the police when interacting with these people are going to give the benefit of the doubt to those that live and congregate there, mainly because the police know that these juveniles and young adults are the products of good families, so that those that are privileged need not worry that the state will impose their will against them, and because of that, they have more room to breathe and to make juvenile mistakes because they will not have to pay the fair price for their misbehavior.  On the other hand, not being the favored race, and living within an enclave that has a bad reputation, places a high degree of stress upon juveniles and other young adults because they know for a certainty that police presence in their community isn’t there to serve and protect them, but rather often serves as something to be feared, for the punishment that they could be susceptible to, in which, the wiggle room to get out of trouble, is minimal, if it even exists.

 In life, there are going to be growing pains for a significant portion of juveniles, in which, mistakes and misdeeds will occur, that could by the letter of the law, get these juveniles into some serious degree of trouble, so that, to be in that privileged position, in which, bad behavior is forgiven is going to be a heck of a lot better place to be, as compared to that place in which forgiveness is not in the equation.  Indeed, those who are the favored race need not overly worry about trouble affecting them, because they are protected and given plenty of space, by the policing arm of the state; whereas, those that are not protected, are quite vulnerable to the very same, and therefore need to tread a heck of a lot more carefully, because their lives can be turned upside down, in a blink of an eye, which will place them upon a pathway which has a very bleak outlook, mainly because the trouble that they get into, has the type of consequences that make them pay a very heavy price.

Build underground!

While virtually all homes and buildings are built aboveground, it has to be noted that oftentimes aboveground structures necessitate the need of the underground for items such as pipes, cables, general utilities, sewage, water supply, structure stability, gas, electricity, and just about anything in which traveling below ground, will result in having to deal with fewer obstacles, problems, or interferences, along with the fact that by being underground this alleviates having to deal with extreme or dangerous weather events, in addition to the superiority of the underground for its being quite robust in the accomplishing of these tasks.

So too, when it comes to transportation, while it is common to travel aboveground, as well as to use the waterways or even the air, there is something to be said about the brilliance in the construction of the underground subway system, which first began in London in the 1860s and is fairly commonplace to be constructed in cities of high density that need to move people from one place to another, thereby helping to alleviate the suffering from undue and undesirable gridlock aboveground. 

 While it might not be easy to build underground, it is typically well worth the effort, especially when taking into consideration that what needs to be constructed, has a purpose that will help serve society well over a very long time.  So too, we can see that ancient civilizations understood the value of underground structures for their protection from outside elements, in addition to the fact that underground living often does not necessitate the need for much heat or cooling, providing those with the foresight to understand that underground living is a safe and valued refuge to lean upon.

 Indeed, while it is fairly common to dig underground to extract minerals of all sorts, and to move soil around for the construction of buildings and the like, there isn’t all that much building underground by the general public, except essentially for the support of utilities and occasionally for transportation needs.  However, it is also true that defense ministries understand well the value of building underground for the protection of valued defense infrastructure, as well as for the storage or the use of offensive munitions that are thereby available for retaliation, to a military attack.

 Still, the overall usage of what the underground could be, in the sense of constructing a true underground city is not something that is done presently, but should at least be considered more forthrightly, for that which is built aboveground is always subject to the ravages of weather events over time; whereas, that which is built underground is not only a lot more energy efficient, but also provides a more stable and sustainable living space with far less maintenance and upkeep to contend with.

 As it stands right now, pretty much only the military has gone forth and constructed underground living quarters, specifically to support the military in their defense of this nation, but this shouldn’t just be happening in the domain of the military, for the will and the drive to build skyscrapers and the like, should be diligently applied to build the very same in its own way, underground.

"Heaven is our heritage, Earth but a player's stage”

Heaven is our heritage, as expressed above by the poet Thomas Nashe, of which, we find that the more people that actually believed in the truth of this sentiment, the better perspective we would have on what life represents in this world.  It is rather sad, that so many people and the societies that are made of those people are absolutely serious that everything that occurs in this world, is the most important thing going, but don’t behave accordingly.  Indeed, it would be one thing, if those who espoused that belief, thereby lived their respective lives with purpose and principle, but alas, many a person who knows better, isn’t able to follow through with interacting consistently with people by being kind, considerate, and caring.

 So too, the sadness that so many people feel when they lose a loved one or see an injustice played out again and again would be better mitigated if we were to understand that this world, represents a proving ground, that tests our character in the “stress tests” of life, which enables us to prove our mettle or to be found out to be untrue with what we should be about.  However, the crux of the matter is, that as players on a stage, each of us has a role to play, and as long as we desire to participate in that play, we will have the fair opportunity to take on many a role, thereby giving us the fair chance to prove that we will have not only learned our lessons well but also, more importantly, that we have applied them for a useful and good purpose.

 Indeed, all the unfairness that we perceive, of how some people seem to have it so easy; whereas, others, have it so difficult, should provide us with the first clue, that the object of the exercise is to do our level best with the tools that we have at our disposal.  So too, the temptations that we encounter are there for us to contend with, so that we are given ample opportunity to prove that our strength of character is greater than what is tempting us, which thereupon affects the role that we are playing.

 Additionally, the interplay of good and bad is necessary, or else this world without any evil or free choice would be a construct of boredom and tedium, serving no good purpose, of which, when there comes that time when there truly is peace of earth, the earth, itself, will no longer exist, for it has truly run its course.  So then, the times on earth that we are an integral part of, are our opportunity to have our say upon the player’s stage, and those that are up to the task, are the same that graduate into being what they were always meant to be, which should be the abiding desire of all those that are sensible and perceptive, for that which is our heritage, is never going to be earth, for the earth is no more than a player’s stage, which in due time, the final act will play out and the curtain will close.

Alcohol at stadiums and arenas

There are plenty of people and do-gooders that don’t really want alcohol or liquor to be served at sporting events, for some pretty good reasons, such as reducing bad crowd behavior or perhaps also as being a bad influence for those that are underaged.  Yet, the thing about permitting alcohol and liquor is that there is a specific meaningful segment of fans that associate having an adult drink with being part and parcel of experiencing the sporting event and their reasoning really comes down to the fact, that they are of legal age, and should be permitted to enjoy their entertainment without some sort of nanny state dictating to them, that they cannot.  The bottom line therefore is that most stadiums and arenas sell alcohol and some also sell liquor, obviously done in the pursuit of extra income and profit for the stadium operators.

 In regards to young fans and those that don’t particularly care for alcohol, most of these people, don’t mind that alcohol is sold at sporting events for various reasons.  One of the reasons is as straightforward as when it comes to seeing beer hawkers that go up and down the stadium stairs, selling bottles of beer that they pour into plastic cups for the patrons of such. Indeed, many a person admires the strength, grit, and overall hustle that these beer hawkers display, because carrying lots of beer, especially when it is hot and humid is no easy task to perform, so the sweat generated is honest sweat that a hard-working man emits while performing their duty, and therefore patrons and others see them as being deserving of the compensation, appreciation, and tips that they get.

 So too, there is something to be said about a fan that comes into the stadium, apparently sober, but as the sporting event goes on, proceeds to get intoxicated, of which their behavior typically does materially change, which to the uninitiated is a lesson to be observed.  First, there is the fact that for some drinkers their face begins to get flushed, and their eyes begin to look less focused, in addition to their general demeanor changing, which for some of those that have been drinking, turns to disgust, frustration, despair, self-deprecating humor, or resignation.  To a certain degree, fans who have been drinking, especially when the game is no longer relevant, become the entertainment for those who are young, uninterested in the sporting event, or just curious, for a significant amount of people who are impaired by alcohol, have an entertainment value to those that haven’t been drinking.  So too, there is another lesson to be learned, that alcohol definitely seems to change people’s behavior, not necessarily always to make them uncivil, but seemingly to make them seem different than what they had previously appeared to be, all from the drinking of alcohol, which is an object lesson, that the imbibing of alcohol, does indeed modify people’s behavior, providing those that do not indulge or have yet to indulge, the opportunity to learn firsthand whether they desire themselves ever to be a spectacle, or would prefer instead to watch the spectacle unfold.

Extraordinary rendition and the selling of America’s soul

In the United States of America, this nation is supposed to obey the highest law of the land, which is its Constitution, and to the degree that it does not, it has betrayed its own principles.  We find that extraordinary rendition is essentially the practice in which America forcefully snatches a person, typically accused of heinous crimes from wherever they are currently, by any means necessary, to be rendered to a pliant nation, that will thereby permit the United States or those that are working in conjunction with United States’ interest, the opportunity to abuse and to torture the individual so captured.  In other words, extraordinary rendition as practiced by America means that certain individuals as determined solely by the United States to be terrorists or to have engaged or aided terrorist organizations or other things of this general ilk are taken from wherever they are, no matter the cost to other individuals or the damages done, to innocent or non-involved parties or not, and no matter the sovereignty or freedom that the nation-state that is being invaded represents, they must therefore kowtow to the sole superpower of the world, so that the United States can do whatever it so desires to this person that they have captured, without limitations or law being fairly applied.

 There are several serious issues regarding extraordinary rendition, of which, the first one, is the questionable legality of such.  In fact, no matter what legislation or laws have been passed, extraordinary rendition, cannot be and is not consistent with the Constitution of the United States, which thereby signifies that all those that support, aid, and abet these measures, should be seen not as patriots to this country, but rather as criminals, committing acts which are anathema to the Constitution, under the guise that all is well and fine when it certainly is not.  Further to the point, the discussion as to who, what, and why a given person must be kidnapped and taken from one place to be tortured, is never transparent, it is never brought before a truly independent court and is typically hidden, under the excuse that to provide full disclosure would negatively impact national security.  Finally, those suffering from extraordinary rendition may not even be guilty of anything in the real sense, and additionally, they may not even be the right person to have suffered from this extraordinary rendition, because of a mistaken identity or similar, which is a terrible crime against humanity.

 The truth of the matter is that America consistently insists that it is above the law, which is why it seeks only its own approval to kidnap, torture, and to kill whomever it so desires, without limitations or penalties, which thereupon is indicative that America does not respect the law, but only respects its ability to impose itself upon any other country or territory that stands in its way of rendering its “frontier justice” at any given moment for any spurious reason.  Those nations that insist that they can do whatever they do to anybody at any time while failing to recognize the sovereignty of other nations or an individual are the very same as to why there is no true peace in this world because when the so-called leader of the free world, behaves in a manner in which moral and ethical law is disrespected, that nation has truly sold its soul.

Too many Americans believe that their nation is always the “good guy”

There isn’t any doubt about the dumbing down of Americans, in which, quite frankly, some of the stupidest and credulous people that the world has ever known, are Americans.  In fact, many Americans don’t question anything whatsoever that the government feeds them, seemingly always believing everything they have heard from their governmental representatives as thus representing the gospel truth.  Indeed, many Americans believe wholeheartedly that by definition, whatever it is that American governance does, it does so because America is always representing the “good guys” and those that oppose America are always, therefore, the “bad guys.” 

 This signifies that in every war and incursion that America thus gets itself involved in, it doesn’t much matter what the opposing side has to say because America is right, and always will be right, which is why we need to prove to the enemy, that by killing them, they will know that might makes right, which is why they were wrong to pick a fight with America, in addition to its being their fault that it had to come to warfare because they would not be obedient and compliant to American demands. 

 So too, when it comes to domestic issues, such as our historical slavery, America made sure to pass the Fugitive Slave Act, which stipulated that slaves escaping into free States or federal territories, were wrong in doing so, and therefore those free States and federal territories were mandated by law to return fugitive slaves, signifying that those adhering to such, were considered to be compliant with the law of the land, therefore making them good, and those that were in defiance of such, because they were non-compliant were designated as bad.  Additionally, the forceful removal of American Indians, through the Trail of Tears, was necessary and therefore good, because progress needed to be made which is good for society, and those that oppose progress by not assimilating into the American way and by making it more difficult to conduct business, are therefore fundamentally bad.

 In everything that America touches or espouses upon, America portrays itself as being forever good, and therefore any other entity that does not agree with such, is designated as being disgustingly bad, and will remain bad, until either they surrender or essentially integrate themselves into American norms and desires.  Indeed, the hubris of the American belief that they are perpetually good, and everyone that does not accept this belief as being the absolute truth is forever bad, represents the ethical and moral decay of this nation and therefore the abandonment of what this nation is supposed to stand for, because whenever a given nation will not investigate its own character, and will not make amends to what it is deficient in, then that nation is a nation that has deliberately blinded itself to the truth, and deserves the righteous blowback that it will certainly face as the justice that those that will not listen, must be answered to, sooner or later, for though America is mad as the maddest of hatters, that which judges us, is not.

The hidden agenda behind the endless war on drugs

 In June 1971, President Nixon declared a war on drugs, of which, we find that over fifty years later, this war still continues.  It would be one thing if the war on drugs could be seen as some success on some level. Still, rather it has to be seen for what it is, an absolute failure in its ostensible mission to interdict and to eradicate dangerous and illicit drugs from coming into this country.  However, as in many a thing, there is a hidden agenda behind the war on drugs, and on that level, perhaps it could be said, that it has succeeded in its mission.

 The hidden agenda behind the war on drugs is the fact that the American GDP pretty much dwarfs completely every single country that is part of Central America, or South America, with the sole exception of Brazil. This thus signifies that when the United States comes knocking on a country’s door requesting their aid and cooperation in eradicating the trafficking of drugs into America, that these countries that they are speaking to, don’t have a lot of good options, because being on the bad side of America, is not only bad for business, but is also bad for those that are the leaders of those nations, because the United States of America is quite capable of replacing, through by whatever means suits its purposes, those that would lead a small country with somebody else that listens and obeys American desires, without hesitation. 

 So then, one way for America to make sure that America gets cooperation from these much smaller countries in South and Central America is to have placed within those nations, a very impressive display of military muscle, that is ostensibly there to interdict drugs, of which, because of that might and with the sophisticated tools of the trade, American advisors, personnel, and weapons, can thereby easily be deployed discreetly or not, in the actual interests of United States global corporations or other entities, to effect policies which will be beneficial to America and those corporations.  So too, this muscle can also be utilized to help put down domestic civil unrest in those countries that are suffering from such, thereby signifying that the drug war, is basically just a front to permit American manipulation of these countries for the expressed benefit of America, while also benefiting the right connected domestic entities within that country, as well.

 As in any good mission, there is the overt mission, disseminated again and again to the credulous media, and then there is the real mission, which is for America to keep it straightforward and simple, which is that they want these small countries to be compliant to American interests, be it corporate or strategic, in which, those that understand well what they are supposed to do, benefit greatly, often though at the expense of their own people and their economy, but as long as that America muscle exists and persists, those that would rise up and rebel will be dispatched, disappeared and silenced, with the cover of the endless war on drugs, getting the blame.