A BLUEPRINT TO GOVERN OUR FUTURE .....

 

Traditionally and through historical discussions the process by which the wish to create and or defend God or the gods with reason, would turn invariably into a wish to displace god with the same reason , further on, the world's ability to continue making new discoveries and the advance of sciences in general were proof of more order in the universe, backed by our ability and confidence in our own powers. The fit between those powers and the natural world, looks more confidently to a future without the injustice and misery of the old regime, that someway or other, science and our intellect and morality would find the hidden link between happiness on earth, and in our lives, and virtue that past and current theocratic experiences failed and continue failing to materialize. 

Isn't the world acting more intelligently all the time ?? Isn't it clearer that the gods whose only basic task was to create a perfect world might be in real and serious danger of disappearing from it, as well as from our lives. Shouldn't we fear an incompetent God as much as an omnipotent and omniscient and omnipresent one. Sapiens throughout had the tendency to assert the unbroken goodness of creation as it stands, through the various prophets and messengers, accepting through rote learning the existence of an order behind the appearances which assures that unbroken goodness. And a presumption of a disastrous ignorance of anyone who dares to suspect or suggest the world could be improved on its own. 

For long centuries, humanity, through theodicy devoted a great deal more attention to divine freedom, rather than human freedom and liberty. Claiming that only faith can resolve our problems of evilness, and denying us the power of understanding ourselves, our passions, our morality, brutality and our possibilities. Many philosophers argued that a world which works according to general natural law and rules, is better than a world requiring constant interventions in its affairs. As it would turn the place into a chaotic situation, as indeed it was and is in our present times. The world historically lived and still lives in a state of permanent anarchy and irrational brutality and greed governing our lives. 

We generally observe only two forces governing our lives in this universe, one of good and one of dark evil, and we don't always have sound explanations, Augustine gave humankind responsibility for evil, it seems more appropriate to assume he gave humankind the blame for evil. If humanity introduced evil in this world, and not God, then it might also be eradicated. We cannot deny that human beings developed over time, both as species and individuals, human nature has been altered, but not so much his or her behavior. We should work toward making our actions more intelligible without being totally determined, and we could aspire to a different world, where we are the authors of our own suffering and could and should be the source of our happiness. 

God is benevolent, but we do not need him in our daily lives, we should be able to manage our own affairs and govern our lives all by ourselves, our morality and our laws. The need for god was when we relied on him to control the world and nature and even our bodies and instincts for us. God's role in the world is in decrease, he is more of a shadow than anything else, and as the Muslim prophet intentionally restricted the divine and humanity of coming up with a new messenger by declaring himself the last prophetic messenger, it is high time we end the entire message as well, and start anew on our own. It is time to admit that God would have had to arrange the world differently if he had been concerned about his creation and man. 

Let's start by looking at and condemn some of the bigger actual problems threatening our world peace, harmony and advancement in this 21st century of our existence and beyond. Let's condemn all aspects of colonialism, fascism, apartheid, hegemony, let's condemn hatred and racism based on color of skin or ethnic origins, religiosity and different sects and denominations. Let's openly criticize adventurism and unnecessary wars and futile killings and mass stealing. Let's condemn dictators and dictatorships, and stop encouraging them and allowing them to increase in numbers, we have so many of them around our small globe, here in America, in Russia, in Hungary, in Israel and Syria, in theocratic Iran and Saudi Arabia, in Turkey and half of Africa, in fascist corners of Europe and south America, in Korea and elsewhere, plus of course all the aspiring ones mushrooming here and there. 

Let's regulate and put limits on corporate power, and their uncontrollable ownership of the system and entire countries whereby they are the real political governing institutions and the real profiteers of the common wealth.

If we can eliminate these 21st century political and social ailments and deceases from our world, I'm sure we will attain and achieve a much better world, a more peaceful  one and a happier future to us and many generations to come. Why is it that most of these serious illnesses are invariably hiding behind Gods and religious dogmas, and seriously trying to convince their populations that they represent somehow the Divine, and get their messages and policies from above, if it's only a coincidence, then what a damning coincidence it is. 

                As always, my many thanks to all, stay safe.                     

AMAZING HISTORY ......

 

Below is an excerpt of an article written by David Swanson on February 4, 2021, although I'm not at all a fan of the Iranian theocratic regime, which resembles many other regimes in the area, in their colonial ambitions and hegemony, in their narrow minded brutal religious superiority,  this article portrays very well the historical American relationship with Iran and its responsibility to Iranian behavior.

 All regimes in the area of the Middle-East without exception, are and portray a wave of colonial fundamentalist terrorism I'm hardly inclined to accept or excuse, but it will not be uprooted without a thorough understanding of the ways our own policies contributed to its growth. 

" Why would I say such an outrageous, treasonous, delusional, OBVIOUSLY-funded-by-Putin thing? Am I hoping to enrage war-crazed sadists who’ve seen too much television “news”?

Not at all. I want them to still be around when I say that it would actually be preferable for the United States to pay reparations to the entire rest of the earth.

Well, then, why would I say such a thing, and exactly what type of mental disorder would allow me to believe the Iranian government to be saintly perfection?

Ah, that’s the key question, isn’t it? Because, as we all know, in every court that has ever ordered anyone   to compensate someone else, it’s been necessary to prove that the someone else was a flawless embodiment of paradise. Proving that someone was harmed has never been relevant at all. Nope. The burden of proof has always been on the victim to show that they have never once done any unpleasant thing to anyone. This is why reparations and compensation and restitution never ever happen. In fact these things don’t even exist as concepts. If they did, the following story might matter.

In the 1720s, the newspapers of the colonies that would become the United States wrote positively about the Persian Empire, that place that 2500 years ago held some 60% of humanity. Various U.S. “founding fathers” like Thomas Jefferson sought models in Persian history. From the 1690s to 1800s, based on their school books, U.S. children were unlikely to think of “xylophone” with the letter “x” and likely to think of “Xerxes.” In a staple of U.S. education for generations, Abbott’s Histories, four non-Westerners were included. Three of them were Xerxes, Cyrus, and Darius. Examples from Persian history were tossed around in Congressional speeches. U.S. towns named themselves (and they still are named) Media, Persia, Cyrus.

From the 1830s to 1930s Presbyterian missionaries from the United States lived and raised families in Persia with the goal of converting Christians there to a preferred flavor of Christianity. In that, they largely failed, but they succeeded in providing schools, medicine, and generally positive ideas about the United States.

From the 1850s to 1920s Persian newspapers promoted the United States as a model. Right up through the 1940s the Iranian government generally sought greater U.S. influence in Iran, and the U.S. government usually refused, usually contemptuously."

To continue reading the entire very interesting article, click on this link:

https://worldbeyondwar.org/u-s-should-pay-iran-reparations/

As always, my usual many thanks to all my good readers, stay safe. 

FACTS ARE FACTS .....

 

In a paper released Jan 12, 2021 the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem broke with its own tradition of keeping a low profile or completely avoiding the issue, now they stated unambiguously that the entire area compromising Israel, the West Bank, the occupied Golan heights and the Ghaza strip, is an apartheid regime of Jewish supremacy. 

B'Tselem status as a leading Israeli human rights organization is inviolable and untouchable both in Israel and America, while their research, reports and papers are regularly and often being used by other human rights groups and governments agencies including the U.S. rendering their last paper about the apartheid nature of the state of Israel and the occupied territories very significant, and it cannot be overstated nor ignored, at least by officials of our State-Department and new administration. 

B'Tselem has since its creation in 1989, focused almost exclusively on the problems of the occupied territories, mainly the West Bank, the Golan heights and Ghaza. Reporting mainly on problems regarding the military total supremacy and occupation of vast portions by a supposedly democratic country. As well as the settlers huge impact on its policies, the stealing of lands, water and wealth of Palestinians and Syrians. The combined voluntary efforts of both, settlers and army, in humiliating, destroying and imprisoning thousands of civilian defenseless indigenous people weekly for years against all civilized norms and in flagrant violation of international law and human rights accepted rules. 

The statement states: "The Israeli regime which controls all the territories between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean sea, seeks to advance and cement Jewish supremacy throughout the entire area. To that end, it has divided the area into several units, each with a different set of rights for Palestinians and other under occupation populace, always inferior to the rights of Jews and Jewish settlers. As part of this policy, Palestinians and other non Jewish people are systematically denied many or all rights, including the right to self determination, or even basic judicial equality & fairness. 

The international criminal court in defining apartheid states clearly ; "The heinous crime of apartheid means inhuman acts...committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racially motivated group over any other racial group or groups, and committed with intentions of maintaining that regime and state of affairs."  

Within the borders of the West Bank, Ghaza or the Golan heights, conditions on the ground clearly fit the definition of apartheid under international law, and it only gained momentum after many tens of thousands of settlers families have been given a green light and free hand to brutalize, annihilate and usurp their native neighbors, and treat them all as inferior beasts. While the governments of Israel and the U.S. are still trying in all possible ways to portray Israel's acts and the state itself as a modern liberal democracy, a country of laws, and a country that passes as a less racist society. 

Both countries, and their administrations and political supporters, will have to accept and seriously consider  the reality that the country they have admired and blindly backed for long decades, has been labeled officially, by its own agencies and people, as an apartheid state. 

Watch the mouth, it reveals what the eyes try to ignore and hide, if and when you tell the truth, people tell each other about it, word of mouth is very powerful. 

                       My usual thanks to all, please stay safe.                  

M. L. K. ......

 

Few days ago America celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm using some of his words : "There must be a recognition on the part of everybody in this nation that America is still a racist country. Now however unpleasant that sounds, it is the truth. And we will never solve the problem of racism until there is a recognition of the fact that racism still stands at the center of so much of our nation and we must see racism for what it is..... It is the notion that one group has all of the knowledge, all of the insights, all of the purity, all of the work, all of the dignity. And another group is worthless, on a lower level of humanity, inferior. MLK said these words few weeks before he was assassinated some 50 plus years ago.

Racism is based and built on hate and disdain, that denies people their full humanity, essentially questioning whether people of different colors or different ethnic backgrounds, or different religious affiliation or even geographic origins have a right to even exist. This is why in America, a country built on a wide variety of immigrants, it was essential to declare that Black lives matter. And in Israel they keep reminding the world that Palestinian lives matter as well. 

We now face a choice, if we want sincerely to tear down this hate from the fabric of these countries, we must first acknowledge the problem. But instead of acknowledging the hate and racism, the brutality, the colonialism and apartheid that continue to exist in our countries, as well as our under vulgar occupation territories, there has to be some accountability, some serious recognizing of what we are and what we do and the results of our actions. There can be no unity or healing without a notion of truth and accountability. 

An article in the Washington post started saying :" Many have said that what transpired on Wednesday Jan 6th, was not America, they were wrong, this is the America that black people know." It's the same reality in Israel, this is the reign and attitude Palestinians only know too well, and live under its rules their entire lives. It is the same with any newly arrived legal immigrant of different skin color or religiosity or shape in both countries, no wonder we're so close allies, friends and cousins, half of Israeli citizens hold an American passport, while more than half American Jews hold an Israeli passport. 

Again the reverent Dr. Martin Luther King words at the time said : "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that, hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." And certainly dark times in our countries have been the norm and the rule. The recent storming of the Capitol by an ultra right white supremacy mob, all pro Trumpist fascism and their version of tight religiosity and skin color. As well the Zionist Israelis be them settlers, or brain washed soldiers and citizens. with devious brutal expansionist plans and hegemony, all this will not make the world a safer place. 

The mentality of both countries and the absolute power of the war machine and the arms industries are the furthest away from war and peace issues, and definitely not defense, we are indeed slaves to our strategies and tactics of living with eternal wars and brutal interference in everyone we can intimidate. And always creating new enemies, we have learned to strive only by aggressing and destroying others and achieving an arrogant pseudo superiority over all others. 

Again MLK expressed it correctly by saying :"All of this leads me to say that the principal objective of all nations must be the total abolition of war. War must be finally eliminated or the whole of mankind will be plunged into the abyss of annihilation." We know as Dr. King did, that racism, militarism, colonialism, apartheid, expansionism and economic exploitation, still plague our societies and our countries' politics, we call it in most cases "defense".

As a new year and a new administration are emerging in America, many dangers as well as new possibilities arise, let us join in re-dedicating to the struggle for a more peaceful and just societies. Peace is more than just nonviolence, peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the existence of justice for all people. 

                       My, as always, many thanks to all my good readers, stay safe.                    

THE NEW NORMAL .....

18 U.S. code # 2384, seditious conspiracy.  " If two or more persons in any state or territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority there of, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority there of, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.  That's the law of the land, period. 

With 2020 behind us, Donald Trump, hopefully, on his way out of office, and Democrats poised to control Congress, there's lot of talk about going "back to normal" in 2021, healing and reuniting America, but honestly, there are serious problems with all of that way of thinking in our present times and situation, as  "normal" isn't enough . 

Our nowadays normal is a system where peaceful coloured and black, and poor protesters are tear gassed, beaten, condemned and arrested, so Trump can have his photo op, holding an upside down Bible, or police brutality can be camouflaged, while violent mobs of white supremacists attempt a coup on the Capitol, and several other states public houses, and all are welcomed through front doors and allowed to leave without consequences, people responsible for these events, civilians, party members, security and officials should all be held accountable. 

Normal is a health care system that, in the middle of the gravest pandemic, leaves tens of millions without coverage, and fail to provide hospital care and vaccine to most. Leaving many to choose between paying for life saving medicine or buying food for their families or having a roof over their heads. America needs healthcare for all now, as well as a reasonable public housing strategy. 

Normal in our 21st century is a student debt crisis that's ballooned to well more than 1 trillion Dollars, and is held disproportionately by the poorer strata, and minorities of all colours. America needs now a tuition-free college system, and a fair cancel to most if not all student debt. 

We need a congress mentality that understand the depth of the multiple crisis facing the American people, and a serious realisation and assessment of our wealth unequal distribution, and the ever increasing corporate power and vulgar huge wealth. A Congress that will work for the people and not for the lobbies and special interests and war machines. 

Americans of all walks of life should join in this fight for justice. The system is rigged against so many people and citizens of this country, especially blacks, brown, indigenous, poor, and the unfortunate honest workers and small business owners of all colours, it is rotten to the core, but together we could unrig this system and build on it. 

No wonder Mr. Trump, most of his official representatives, oligarchy and advisers, his lawyers and family, they all claimed so asservatively and surely that elections were rigged, it's because they were confident they built the perfect opposite, and were assured themselves of a perfectly rigged counter system of elections. So they were all astounded and fully taken aback when they lost the popular elections by more than 10 million votes, the masses spoke and the leadership still is in total disbelief and a chaotic disarray, trying the impossible, just to keep hanging to lost power. 

              

 As always my gratitude to all my good readers, please stay safe.        

A SAD AND DARK DAY IN AMERICA .....

 

Donald Trump has been attacking American democracy and values for much of his time as president, as a result of his propaganda and brain washing, we're seeing more and more citizens expressing openness to violence. The final result, and surely not necessarily the end of this situation was yesterday, when a handful of Congress members objected to election's results in several states and tried to derail the whole system, and an estimated 40 thousands thugs or more, stormed the Capitol trying as well to intimidate democracy and force change the course of elections. 

They are deliberately undermining the American system of government, and following direct incitement from Mr. Trump, his lawyers and sons. I'm copying here a short article sent to me as an email, as it depicts accurately the situation.

"Right now, there is an unprecedented crisis unfolding at the U.S. capitol. Demonstrators are overwhelming Capitol police after president Trump encouraged them to go to the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 election results. And they have succeeded. Violent protestors have breached the Senate chambers. People are escorting members of congress and the press out to safety. Meanwhile thousands are congregated just outside the building well within the security perimeter. 

This attempt to overturn a free and fair election is unconscionable. As Republican ex Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said from the Senate floor today;"If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral.We'd never see the whole nation accept the election again." This is a full-frontal attack on our democracy, built on falsehoods and disinformation. It's being called sedition, treason, domestic terrorism, but we must call this what it is, a coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol, a building and institution that is yours and mine, called for and encouraged by the U.S. president. 

The blame begins at the feet of president Trump, and his willingness to shred the constitution and rule of law in order to keep power, but it does not end there. This madness is what happens when a political system ceases to function because we have ignored its flaws for too long. 

It's what happens when deeply flawed elections and campaign finance laws fuel polarization, extremism and corruption. 

It's what happens when we rely on "norms" instead of clear laws to check presidential power. 

It's what happens when digital misinformation is not sufficiently addressed.

It's what happens when democracy reaches a state of deep crisis.  While you watch this stunning and terrifying chain of events unfold, please resist the urge to simply hope that this thing will improve when this president is out of the White-House. 

These problems will only be fixed, and democracy will only be restored, by fixing the system itself. By changing how our politicians are elected, how they finance their campaigns, how they are held to account once in office, and how we ensure Americans have access to facts, not lies and political propaganda that fueled today's events. Our work as citizens has never been more important.  Signed by Josh Silver & Joshua G. Lynn. 

Finally, the reality of the matter shows clearly that there was no peaceful transfer of power, Mr.Trump goaded mobs into an attack on U.S. Capitol and did incite a violent attempted coup. Nothing less, nothing short of that. And there should be a price for that. 

                   My, as always many thanks, please stay safe.                              

2021 A YEAR WITH MANY POSSIBILITIES !!

 

This past year, 2020, has been incredibly difficult, misleading and treacherous for so many, Americans and around the world. Rich and poor, developed or developing, even failed states have paid an extra heavy price compensating for their failed politicians and corruptness. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, to those who have lost their livelihood, to all those who are still very worried about what comes next.

We are also overwhelmed with gratitude for all the people who continue to work throughout this crisis so that the rest of us have the healthcare, the food, medicine, vaccine and the basic supplies we all need and depend on to maintain, more or less, a normal life. I'm especially thinking of doctors and nurses, workers in healthcare and public safety facilities, of front line workers in grocery stores, super markets, of folks keeping child care centers and K12 schools running so parents can go to work and produce to keep the world spinning. I'm thinking of the frontline workers in pharmacies and factories, food processing sites and everywhere else we turn to get what we need on daily basis. 

I'm thinking of the farmers, and ranchers, of truck drivers and others in food processing facilities and different dairies, of delivery people working hard daily in unprotected areas to make sure we have food to put on our tables. I'm thinking as well of the public servants in states, cities and federal governments who have been dedicating all their times for the past year to respond to this crisis and its effects. 

It's only in times of great challenge like these, that we show our strength and resilience, and prove we are all in this together, who was it who rightly said;" We all do better when we all do better." It has never been more simple and more true. We should all be absolutely motivated to continue working in every way we know, in responding to this crisis and these harsh days, putting working families and small businesses first, and I don't want to sound pessimistic nor unrealistic when I say that the pandemic is going to be with us for a good time, it's going to get worse before getting better, before we can call it quits and back to normal. 

Every country has its own set of problems, political, economical, social, its own elections and dictatorships, secular versus theocratic, power grab, but now is the time to put our stupidities and political greed aside and start the new year with fresh advocacy on behalf of everyone, in all countries. I know we greatly need it here in America, but so does Lebanon, Palestinians and Israeli, Iranians and their neighbors, Venezuelans and so many parts of the world. We are not done fighting our present situation to afford going back to old politics and games as usual, let's attend to our priorities first, let's save ourselves, our children, our countries and economies and our planet, we have time later to go back to our childish and immature games and political partisanship. 

We have so much to do in 2021, we'd have to almost undo everything we did in 2020, and the previous years, that is of course if we honestly believe in saving the rest of the decade and beyond. If we fail intentionally or otherwise we will suffer a very ugly decade or more of our 21st century and our lives. We're going to need to be bold and not cave to fascistic, egoistic right-wing, apartheids voices, and that apply to America and many parts of the world. 

If anything, the entire world today is witnessing new battle grounds in the ever-expansive culture war between left and right, liberals and conservatives, progressives and traditional regressives, it seems to have enveloped modern politics, economics, and social life in many parts of the world, and revived old political ways and tactics unfit for our times.  

                            As always my thanks and wishes for a better and safer year to all, stay safe.