Domino Cards

Can you see it? Can you feel it?

Things have been happening around the world like cards strategically placed, falling like dominoes.

"The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses." -Malcolm X

To be honest, I have not watched television for about the last 4 weeks. I don't consider it a huge loss. I don't take the media at face value, as I hope the majority of you don't as well. From all the things that happen in our country, as well as the world, it says something about what "they" decide to show us and how "they" show us. Much more important is keeping into consideration things avoided or hidden. Read between the lines and keep your mind open. Be aware of a lot more.

Diversions and manipulations. A huge clue is emotion. How the information and situations emotionally affect groups of people. It can cause them to act or react. It is known that our power comes in numbers, and effort is placed in keeping our numbers low.

There are whole demographics that are indifferent, distracted, busy, and/or stressed. There are communities split by hate, fear, pride, and/or selfishness. The majority of these underlying issues are instigated and strategically placed. Why?

It is known what we can be when we are united for a cause. What is keeping us from being united in a cause? A question we can all primarily ask ourselves, secondly for those we associate with.

Once we are united, what is the best course of action? Effective and tactical. None of us should be imprisoned or injured, experience loss or death, especially when the cause is not behind you.

Food for thought. I hope that we all become more aware. We should be careful not to act on emotion, but intentionally and effectively. That we all read between the lines and keep our minds open to what we encounter in our lives and in our communities. We need to be able to reach out to each other, communicate, and make something happen. Something different.

Should Be. But Are Not.

A few things I believe should be, but are not: Justice. Love. Peace.

Why should they be? Well, if they are not, why did I expect to encounter them? Why do we teach our children this is what is important? Why are they universal ideals? I may be assuming too much. Either way, these ideals give us hope, give so many reason to fight and die to attain them. 

Justice. The quality of being "just." The definition of just: guided by truth, reason, and fairness. Such a beautiful concept! A concept rarely encountered sincerely. It's a virtue I have found to be professed widely yet, not practiced nearly as much. Too much favor is given, or not enough. I do know that money has a way of leveling out the playing field, or otherwise submitting in one form or another.

Love has been so blown out of proportion, it's a joke. The concept has been used so much to sell to us, we believe in "love" in such a selfish state. The initiation is based on pleasure, gratification, and comforting insecurities. Improperly filling in voids until it doesn't fit anymore, and then just "falling out of love." 

When it comes to peace, love is so twisted at an intimate level, how can it not be the case when it comes to the world? It is common for a person to be indifferent unless there is a benefit. The over-ambitious have no problem going out of their way to destroy peace to attain their desired benefits.  

I believe all that is has an origin. Anything and everything in our world, in our conscious, sprang from something that already is. Therefore I do not buy into justice, love, and peace to be false concepts. I also know that I am not the only one who feels that this should be, and could be, our reality. To be honest, there are times the condition of our world disheartens me greatly. It is horrifying to realize this is what it is; that there is an evil so ominous that exists. I refuse to submit to it.   

You Can't Change the World

I was once told a few years ago that I cannot change the world. I took this to heart since it came from a person I admire and look up to. Since all that I had done before that time had taken me nowhere but through struggle, I decided it was time to change up and make new mistakes. I buried my passions and dreams, and focused on making the ends.

Life has its way, and no doubt, it had its way with me. One thing after another, after another. A never ending series of storms I've never gone through in my life. Until it made me stop everything and sit. And as I sat, what I once buried came back to life. Now that I have grown, it has taken a new life. My passions and dreams must be an essential part of me that is full of purpose. Or else, why didn't my life lead me in another direction?

"You can't change the world." But if I deny myself, where will my power lie then? The last few years, I realize I was buried along with my passions and dreams. Doing what needed to be done mechanically. Maybe the manner in which I did it had a lot to do with how I lost myself. Maybe if I can change the way I did it, I can find a way to do both. Though, when you are working against yourself, how can you find a middle ground? One side or the other will always gain dominance.

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside while still alive. Never surrender." - Tupac Shakur

Do I accept that the problems of the world are too big for me and submit, or do I take it on despite that? I understand it is an uphill battle. Grenades of different types are constantly thrown my way in the process. Grenades of finances, family, health, etc. I guess it depends on what is more important to me and what I am willing to live with. 

"I'm not sayin' I'm gonna rule the world, or that I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world." 

-Tupac Shakur 

Involved; Wanted Or Not

"Why should I care what is going on with Muslims?" my son asked. 

"You may not be Muslim, but your people are. You may not know your culture, but you look like them. Whether or not it becomes your problem, it is something you should be prepared for."

I am not Muslim and I do not come from the Middle East. My sons were about 3 and 1 the last time they saw their father, the last time they were exposed to people of that culture. Even before that, my kids and I were "hidden" from their community, as his parents wanted to keep face. 

I had already left him and was living in California when he got in trouble with law enforcement and was deported from Texas to Pakistan. I don't remember the details. By that time I no longer trusted him; I no longer cared. 

And that is the extent of my children's experience of that half of themselves. 

But, when you look at them, you can tell that they're not quite Mexican. Though you could see the relation between myself and them when they were younger, they are steadily growing into their Middle Eastern features. Handsome young men, my personal opinion.  ; )

As the tension and fear increases subtly, I am no fool to the extent and audacity our government, and those who hide behind it, has for control. They have fully displayed over and over again what they are willing and capable of when they are scared. The media is persistent in specifying generalities. I am not naive to believe that appearances will not be generalized as well. 

My children's ties to this "war" comes from a part of them they have yet to acknowledge. I have no other ties to this "war" other than my children and the attack on peace and justice. With the threat against peace and justice, no matter where it comes from. 

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Complexity behind the bullshit... The bullshit behind the complexity! Puzzles. Can anyone fully understand? When we can be so blindsided by our own ego and shortsightedness? I like to think it's possible. Is that MY ego talking? Everyone thinks they're right. Are they wrong? I say yes and no. Very few are able to take a stand without being arrogant on their stance. Very few. For one to be open-minded, is considered to be indecisive, 'politically correct,' easily manipulated. 

Open-mindedness is the key. 

Compassion and understanding. 

The contrary is a block to progress and truth. To me, it is obvious that is what 'they' want." -March 12, 2014

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens. -Plato