If anyone is a bit familiar with my blogs, he or she may see that my topics have ranged from natural earth changes, events, and disasters, to mankind's role in some of the earth changes that are taking place (fracking, oil spills, pollution, et cetera), as well as subjects relating to metaphysics, numerology, photography, poetry and prose.
The original blog, entitled, There Are None So Blind, (ref There Are None So Blind... ) was motivated by the July 3, 2011 oilspill in the Yellowstone River, courtesy of Exxon Mobil, and delt with several environmental and sociological issues.
This particular blog moves along to another important issue that has recently caught my attention and ire, because so many people seem so very apathetic about our current debt crisis and are seemingly allowing the government to do whatever it pleases. Take away this, cut that, et cetera. Most of which is going to affect a population of people that needs government help and assistance, and it may eventually affect people who 'today' think they are 'untouchable'!
However, at this point in time, I'm not quite sure if 'apathy' is the correct word to use. The word 'apathy' seems a bit mild! Especially when I take a look at all the heinous crimes that are being perpetrated by our government, not only on our planet and eco-system, but on others of our very own species as well.
Apathy may be defined as a lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of importance. Synonyms are: indifference, unconcern, lethargy, laziness, despiritedness, et cetera [Free Merriman-Webster Dictionary].
As historical tradition teaches us, this is supposedly a '...government of the people, by the people, and for the people,' (Gettysburg Address) not one 'of the government, by the government, and for the government!' Somehow it seems people have fallen back, and abdicated their responsibility in governance! Our elected representatives, are supposed to be 'our' representatives, and 'our' representatives do not, I feel, have most of the people's interests at heart, or any one else's for that matter, except perhaps the wealthy, banksters, corporates, oil barons, et cetera.
THE DEBT CRISIS: This issue has come to almost nausiate me, as it has gone on and on and on. All the blather about this or that, and cutting this or that. Anyone with a lone brain cell can see that the debt crisis has been perpetrated by this administration, and the preceding one.
• The real debt crisis began with the premptive war with Iraq, and the pouring of billions of dollars into that fiasco, as well as Iraqi nationals, such as Ahmed Chalibi who gobbled down millions of dollars with 'information' on Iraq. Chalibi was one of the key people who helped to perpetrate the hoax that Iraq was a threat to the US. An article on Chalibi came out in salon.com May 4, 2004; over seven years ago. Article: How Ahmed Chalibi conned the neocons
• In some way, shape or form, I am inclined to believe the neocons wanted to be 'conned' so their premptive 'little' war could be initiated. And let us not forget how the cronies in the Bush era came out of the woodwork and got contracts for their buddies; such as Halliburton. Interesting article of note here, on how Cheney was involved in this: Cheney Coordinated Halliburton Iraq Contract
• The ongoing amount of money that has gone into Iraq from the beginning is over $788,030,280,000 and Afghanistan is over $435,908,500,00. You can do the math and see what the total for these two wars amount to, or go to, which is really cool, a continual update on the money that has been spent on these wars: Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan to US
• So, what's the answer? Maybe, one, is to get the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan! Or maybe the Bush and Obama administrations should pay the amount of money they spent on these fiascos, back to the federal government out of their own pockets (they're wealthy enough to foot the bill for their wars). Then perhaps they won't have to rip social security, medicare, medicaid, and other social welfare programs away from the people!
• Another answer is to cut the pay and 'benefits' that our 'professional' politicians are receiving from the federal government. Most of these people are wealthy in their own right, and wouldn't miss the money they're paid. If I'm not mistaken, our early politicians maintained themselves on their businesses and not the government! As to health care, let the politicians pay for their own health insurance policies; they've got the dough! Note: 50 per cent of US Armed Forces quailfy for Medicad! Nice! Check this out: Government Spending: Congress Member vs Military
• Also, start collecting taxes from those corporations that are sucking money out of the US, and yet have their headquarters in other countries. Nice trick on the American people corporates, enjoy your blood money that you're vampirizing out of this nation!
• The 'trickle down' philosophy is a bunch of hoo-hah! Money trickles upward from the people who are spending their hard earned money on various products, state and local taxes, et cetera, et cetera. There are virtually taxes upon every thing one can think of. Even when a person dies they're required to pay taxes to! What a bunch of hogwash is that? This country was born out a war about rediculous taxes being levied upon the colonials from the British crown, or have we forgotten?
• Another issue connected with the debt crisis is the 'Support Our Troops/Vets,' slogan, and a slogan it is, as another crock from our governement! Our veterans are being supported alright, and not in a good way! Check this out: National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
• Speaking about homeless people, might as well take a look at those people who are homeless in America. The latest assessment is there has been a 9 per cent increase in homless families in the wonderful U. S. of A. Homeless Families Increase In America
• Along with homeless veterans and families, there are also homeless kids in this supposed nation of wealth and money. Oh, there's money for stupid wars and the likes of Harmid Karzai of Afghanistan, banksters, corporates, and tax cuts for the wealthy, but we have kids going hungry, with no health insurance and no homes. Something wrong with this picture? U.S. Homeless Kids
Enough is enough! It's time to stop the insanity in America. This article has only touched on the surface of some of issues involved in the debt crisis, there are many more!
• The time is NOW, for people to start working together for the benefit of all people. The feudal regimes which are re-emerging must come to an end! Many nations were born under the banner of liberty and equality, but we now find them slipping back into a two class society of wealthy and poor, and the wealthy are squeezing the once substantive middle class into the poor.
• The answer to this nation's debt crisis, as well as others, lies with it's people. It is the people who have the 'real' power, not the phony baloney emperors, prime ministers, kings, potentates, et cetera, if, and that is 'if' they will only exercise that power responsibly for all mankind!
• The power lies within and with you!
Roger Allen Baut
光:: Falling ░ falling ░ in slow motion ░ the emperor ░ falls ▒ Falling ░ falling ░ in slow motion ░ the empire falls ::光
KING CRIMSON: Epitaph
"The fate of all mankind, I fear, is in the hands of fools." King Crimson
We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea breakers, And sitting by desolate streams,-- World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers, Of the world for ever, it seems.
Arthur O'Shaughnessy (Initial lines)
As I awoke this morning, I felt very motivated to write this blog about One Stop Poetry (OSP) since I had participated in some of it's activities; namely One Shot Wednesday and One Shoot Sunday. I had also been interviewed by Adam on one occasion, and with Chris on another, with some of my photographic images being shown, along with one image that was used in the Sunday challenge. What a great and positive experience that was!
The following are some of my personal sentiments regarding OSP:
• One of my primary beliefs is that our species, if it is going to survive, is going to need to bring people together, and work for the mutual benefit of everyone. Our forefathers knew this, when they said, "United we stand, divided we fall."
• This, indeed, is what I saw in OSP. People working together for the benefit of all participants and co-founders alike. To me, OSP brought bright and talented individuals together and provided an online experience that addressed the several aspects of the Arts.
• It was absolutely amazing to see how these Arts were presented, and that presentation must have been pretty darn good to pull me in. Especially, since I'm one of those rather selective individuals about what I do, or participate in. I look for quality, and I do mean high quality, and OSP manifested that!
• Everything about OSP was a cut above anything else I had seen regarding the Arts. Pages, layout, graphics, images, Mr. Linky (methinks) for participants to link their sites to an activity, programming, et cetera, was literally TOP OF THE LINE! Whomever did all of this work (and I think I have an idea of who it was) certainly should have been given more than a Shorty; preferably an Emmy and a cash bonus in gold; not paper!
• As I participated with OSP, I became acquainted with, and was fortunate enough to interect with some very extraordinary artists and a few of the co-founders associated with it. I really enjoyed this intereaction, as visiting their sites expanded my insight into how some of them presented their work, and how they did things. I also appreciated comments that were made from other participants and co-founders, when I wrote a poem for one of the events. I found the comments to be a wonderful tool to help me take a second look at what I had written or presented.
• So, it was, I felt a bit of sadness when I first heard about the departure of co-founders, and then to learn later on, that others were leaving too; especially since OSP had only recently celebrated it's one year anniversary. One short year, and so much accomplished. One short year and a concept that was so very much needed in today's materialistic and tired society. One short year and a model that is hopefully an inspiration to others. One short year and a Shorty for a job well done for the co-founders.
• To Adam, Peter, Leslie, Brian and Claudia, Chris, Gay and Jessica, some of you I know a bit better than others. I want to say to each of you that I am sure your efforts with OSP have touched the minds, hearts and lives of more people than you can ever imagine; I know it did mine! And, in touching those lives you have made a difference in them, and I am certain it is a positive difference.
• So a BIG personal "Thank you," is in order to each one of you, for giving me the opportunity to encounter One Stop Poetry! The path each of us travels is often a "pathless path" whether we realize it or not, but that path takes all of us to the same place at journey's end.
• FINAL THOUGHT: The sad thing is, that I do not feel One Stop Poetry had to end when it did! I think there were some other dynamics involved that brought OSP to its conclusion. There were enough people involved who could have carried on the torch of OSP, even if some other individuals didn't want to. OSP could have continued bringing people together for the benefit of the Arts and people everywhere...Think about it...Did OSP really have to end so abruptly? And why does it seem that our species keeps doing this sort of thing to itself...over and over and over...But it is over...sad...Sayonara to One Stop Poetry. Perhaps Sayanora to Homo sapiens..."The moving finger writes, and then moves on." Kahlil Gibran.
There is an old saying that comes to mind, as I think about the latest eco-disaster in America, and that saying is "There are none so blind as those who will not see!" With the oil spill in the Yellowstone River, in Montana on July 3, 2011, courtesy of Exxon Mobil, we now have one more episode in a long list of environmental disasters, that is adding to the contamination of our land and bio-shere. For further information on this and other stories, please go to the following link http://www.projectworldawareness.com/
We have only to look about us, watch the evening news, or read the newspapers, to see that our planet is fast becoming more of a toxic dump every day. As a hiker and photographer I get to see many out of the way places, and believe me I am always surprised to see plastic bottles, papers, and refuse laying about in the most unexpected places. It's always hard for me to believe what other hikers, backpackers and "supposed" nature lovers leave behind. A sad statement about mankind.
What I do find really interesting, however, is the focus of the media, on how eco-disasters will be cleaned up, or how this or that will be done to remedy the situation. In reality, folks, there is no way, for anyone, to clean any of these messes up 100%!
It also surprises me how blithely people just go about their daily lives as if nothing has happened in the Gulf of Mexico, Kalamazoo River, fracking, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, et cetera, et cetera. Simply go on as if nothing has, or is happening in their world. We are at a nexus point where people have a great opportunity to stop all of this insanity and make our world a better place, or watch it desintegrate day by day before our eyes. John Major Jenkins has written, "The materialist delusion has run its course," which I hope is true, but it seems like it's still hanging on in Washington, D. C., and other major cities.
Some time ago, I watched a program based upon a book entitled, The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman, which addressed the idea, of what the world might be like, if mankind were suddenly no longer on the planet. I heartly recommend this book to anyone interested in our environment, and how the planet might correct itself without the intereference of mankind.
Homo sapiens has been contributing to the demise of our eco-system, and itself, for hundreds of years, but now with all the chemicals, pollutants, GMOs, radiation, weapons, carcinogins, and toxins it has developed, it is speeding up the process of changing the planet and itself in a negative way that may go on for many years. I sometimes wonder, if that's what occurred on the Planet Mars?
As I have written before, mankind, for the most part, is the only species I know of that not only maims, kills, poisons and tortures others of its own kind, as well as the flora and fauna of the planet it lives on. It almost seems as if our species is innately destructive.
Osho says, that "99.9% of the people living on the planet are either asleep or drunk," which might explain why we seem to be living in a Dark Age of intolerance, ignorance, bigotry, hate, and greed. A time when little is done to help the millions of homeless verterans, youth and families that abound. A time of apathy and uncaring. A time our forefathers might not have thought could ever occur, but in their wisdom said, "United we stand. Divided we fall."
One day, and hopefully soon, people will begin opening their eyes, and start working together for the benefit of everyone, and the old phrase, "There are none so blind, as those who will not see," will be a thing of the past!
