Shattering the War Consensus
Why, for God’s sake, does nothing change? The war goes on, the money flows, the blood flows, the lies stay exactly the same. Have you noticed? Have you ever wondered, with a stab of transcendent confusion, why a self-correcting rationality hasn’t kicked in by now, why a saner awareness hasn’t made itself evident in the macro-affairs of the nation by now?
Folks, we have a seriously dysfunctional situation on our hands, more pervasive, I fear, than most of us realize. Deep into Bush II, our government appears to have taken on a crack house dysfunctionality. The institutional checks and balances that Americans are so proud of — including, of course, the watchdog media — have been so compromised by the war-junkie administration they’ve served and enabled they have almost no objectivity left with which to challenge or counter it. And thus the national war addiction permeates every facet of governance, and the media’s coverage thereof.
I say all this by way of talking about Cindy Sheehan, who has decided to run for Congress as an independent against one of the Bush administration’s prime enablers, Nancy Pelosi, the second- or third-most powerful Democrat in the country. Nothing in our political system — or rather, in the mainstream of political awareness as it now constitutes itself — is prepared to take such a candidacy seriously. This strikes me as a judgment on that awareness, not on Sheehan or her candidacy; and is a symptom of the dysfunctional system the antiwar activist has taken it upon herself to address.
If the dial on your give-me-a-break-o-meter is entering the red zone — if the voice in your head is saying c’mon, you can’t just run against somebody like Pelosi, and (if you’re a Democrat) what’s so bad about her anyway? — consider that our prejudice toward power, our inclination to trust it and let it have its way, is serving us poorly right now, and somebody has to take it on and spearhead, you might say, an intervention.
Consider this recent USA Today story, headlined “Dems Try To Load up ‘Money Train’ War Funding Bill”:
“Democrats in Congress,” the paper informs us, “are seeking to attach tens of billions of dollars in domestic spending to President Bush’s latest $108 billion war funding request, setting up a political battle that could put U.S. troops and their families in the middle.
“Plans to add money for such things as transportation, unemployment insurance, aid to states, food stamps, public housing and veterans’ benefits has prompted veto threats from the White House.”
Speaking about the same measure, an AP story adds: “The war supplemental appropriations bill is one of the few must-pass legislative vehicles to leave the station this year. That has lawmakers in both parties eying it as an engine to tug funding for their pet programs into law.”
Think about this. The disastrous war that the public has turned against by a huge margin — that we voted in a Democratic Congress two years ago to end — is not winding down or running its course but rather, in the accommodationist reign of Pelosi, defining the terms of government so completely that the ordinary appropriations of a viable social structure must attach themselves like leeches to the “must-pass” bill to fund that war or die.
All we are doing is waging war, in other words. The focus and function of government is to feed the war habit. Run-of-the-mill newspaper coverage has already accepted this as a given and casually ridicules the pathetic Democrats as opportunists — to put it charitably — for “loading up the money train,” slowing that sucker down, risking an imperial veto by seeking alms for “transportation, aid to states, veterans’ benefits” and so forth.
This is completely nuts. The Bush-Cheney-Halliburton-Blackwater war axis, hell-bent on dragging the country into the maw of its addiction, must not be accommodated any further. We need resolute, principled opposition to the whole game.
Pelosi, though she is, like the Clintons, sneered at by the thug right (and thereby gains street cred in ultra-liberal San Francisco, the district she represents), has paved the way for Bush’s war-funding requests to pass time and again with her political gamesmanship in the House. Among many other acts of accommodation, she was also secretly briefed, along with a few other members of Congress, on CIA torture practices in 2002, and in the spirit of bipartisan amorality saw no problem with it.
“This is a progressive, populist campaign. Every day that we exist and bring up these issues is a victory for us,” said Sheehan, the grieving mom who became the public face of opposition to the war in Iraq.
Now, with a staff of two, she is turning her challenge to that war into a political campaign. To the extent that politics is about winning and losing, yes, hers is probably a lost cause. But I see it as something else. I see it as a clarion stand for principle and rallying point for all who want to see the war consensus shattered.
Robert Koehler, an award-winning, Chicago-based journalist, is an editor at Tribune Media Services and nationally syndicated writer. You can respond to this column at bkoehler@tribune.com or visit his Web site at commonwonders.com.
(c) 2008 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
The neocons have messed up the US economy to the point that the Iraq occupation is one of the few things keeping the economy from totally tanking.
Who cares about the occupation running up more government debt when the occupation is keeping the wheels of business turning ?
The upcoming Iran occupation will provide further economic stimulus.
Here’s a bright, new idea - stop calling it a f**king war already. THERE IS NO WAR!!! Understand? The USA is not officially, nor even technically, at WAR with any nation on Earth!!!
That is the intervention needed, first and foremost. People hear “war,” they fall into line. However, people hear the truth - ILLEGAL OCCUPATION - and they no longer fall into line. They get pissed off.
How crazy is it to keep demanding an end to a “war” that does not exist? Why do you think Americans have stopped paying attention? Because most KNOW there is no “war.” And they’re tired of hearing the lie - support the war, we’re at war, war this, war that.
One more time for full effect: THE USA IS NOT AT WAR. Period. “We” illegally invaded Iraq, killed and maimed a couple of million innocents, then proceeded to illegally occupy the country, and are presently killing any Iraqi who refuses to live under American rule. THAT IS NOT WAR goddamn it - so stop f**king saying it or nothing will ever f**king change!
In summary: THE USA IS NOT AT WAR WITH ANY COUNTRY. Repeat that over and over and over until it sinks the f**k in - it’s called de-brainwashing. And it’s our only chance.
Yes, illegal occupation, not a war.
My frustration is enormous with those who refuse to recognize we need to end the two-party duopoly by voting for so-called “third” parties. We have to say “NO” to democrats who keep on harming us (and Republicans, of course).
Why would anyone support Barack Obama? He has provided ZERO leadership towards ending this insanity. Good speeches don’t substitute for good policies. It’s time to make sure that Nader and McKinney (and perhaps Ron Paul; whoever can get 270 electoral college votes theoretically) be included in the fall debates. There will be a slim chance that these things will get a real airing then for joe q. public to hear and think about. It’s hard work, but we have to start somewhere.
With all due respect to the God-inspired chap with the flowery pen (who spent much of his time “speculating” on Indian lands) America’s so-called checks and balances don’t work.
Time for a rewrite.
Let’s hear that again: America’s checks and balances don’t work.
Your country is in crisis. A country based on murder, theft and lies has lost its guiding light.
No amount of bombs or tortured innocents can rectify it. Your country is no more.
Hint: Watch those voting machines next time round.
You watch in utter disbelief as the malignancy grows in this country and no one says a damn word. Maybe a good shocking expose’ could rock the consensus. Maybe if there were one good reporter left in the nation somewhere. As for the subject of such expose’, just throw a dart.
“…why a self-correcting rationality hasn’t kicked in by now, why a saner awareness hasn’t made itself evident in the macro-affairs of the nation by now?”
Because, as Thom Hartmann echoes in his book Breaking The Code, “feelings come first” - any rationality is based upon the feelings of the moment. The over riding feelings of the Nation are of fear and doubt colliding with anger, not much if any functional rationality will be harvested from such a culture.
Can you compose yourself enough to have a dignified human conversation? Yes. Do you know how? I doubt it. It’s difficult, you have to go into that touchy feely realm for which at this point maybe one in 500 million possess the skill.
But if even one in 5 million can figure that composure and language out, and apply it to the process of Impeachment, wonderful things can happen for humanity. But it has to be “for humanity” and not self-righteousness.
Among other things a composed and dignified process of impeachment will reveal that the situation in Iraq is an “occupation” of corporate privatization and not a war - at that point, with evidence presented before the American People - the 60 votes will be had.
So, for humanity, I encourage you to find composure and dignity, and along with a copy of the Constitution, start a conversation with your Congressional Representative and local Editors on impeachment.
Every Democrat in Congress who voted for the war and the awful occupation that followed should be challenged in a primary by a real peace candidate. The possibility of unemployment might just shake things up in Washington.
Right. The first step toward righting many things is returning to the US Constitution, which is at the heart and soul of the Republic.
“I pledge allegiance to the Constituion of the United States of American, and to the Constitutional Principles on which this Republic stands . . .”
Forget flags and phoney lapel pins.
consider that our prejudice toward power, our inclination to trust it and let it have its way, is serving us poorly right now
Hilarious! As if an “inclination to trust power” has ever served people well! That would be delusionville!!
and thereby gains street cred in ultra-liberal San Francisco, the district she represents
Hold your horses. This is 2008, not 1998. “ultra-liberal” no longer describes San Francisco. For San Francisco to be legitimately “ultra liberal” today, the people would have poured into the streets and shut down the city, until the occupation was ended. This hasn’t happened. San Francisco is NOT “ultra-liberal”.
San Francisco is now nothing more, nothing less, than COMPLICIT. Cindy Sheehan has a formidable task - to pry San Francisco away from its military industrial lifeline. Can she do it? Maybe with a lot of help from her friends!
www.CindyforCongress.org
to pry San Francisco away from its military industrial lifeline
We can only assume you are jesting.
dearrow April 24th, 2008 2:23 pm
Right on track, but our flag represents our Republic, our country and ourselves. So I don’t think its a good idea to disrespect it.
Lapel pins don’t mean anything one way or another. Its not the same as not removing your hat during the national anthem.
You are right though a return to the Constitution would be most helpful to restoring what Bush and his boys have soiled and thrown in the dirt..
War?
I thought this was nothing more than forced liberation.
B.S., folks, you are all wrong. We’ve COLONIZED Iraq. We illegally invaded a sovereign if misguided nation for the sole purpose of stealing its natural resources. Judging by our investments in bases and embassies, we have no intention of leaving.
Let’s call it what it is, shall we?
vinlander wrote:
Every Democrat in Congress who voted for the war and the awful occupation that followed should be challenged in a primary by a real peace candidate.
—–
In all fairness. The Congress didnt vote for war. They transferred the authority to do so to BIWH (Bandits in White House)
Sice then Cruella De Pelosi and her puppets have been busy washing iraqis blood from their hands.
Im looking at US of Amnesia from without-and I cant believe whats happening. The Christianzionist-media-militaryindustrial conglomerate is creating a fascistoid regime-and anybody speaking up is ridiculed and marginalized.
freeheeler is correct……bush\cheney want iraq to be a jump off point for any other incursion into the middle east……hopefully,the next president will have a hard time trying to convince the american public…..UNLESS SOMETHING IS MANUFACTURED ON FALSE PRETENSES….HEAVEN HELP US !!!
“Why, for God’s sake, does nothing change? The war goes on, the money flows,”
Could have stopped right there … .”the money flows”. That explains it all.
With over 100,000 excess deaths per year due to war in Iraq, it is a war against the civilian population, not just an occupation.
When Congress voted money for the war, it voted for war. It still does. For the vast majority of them, hangings too good.
Congress did vote for the war. To claim otherwise is just semantics.
The Constitution clearly gives the power to declare war to the Congress. If the Congress then chooses to ‘authorize military action’ or whatever else they want to call it, that does not absolve them of the responsibility. Even if they cede their authority entirely to the executive branch, that still does not absolve them of their responsibility.
The founding fathers wisely put the responsibility for starting a war in the hands of the most democratic branch of government. That was supposed to help avoid abuse. This puts the responsibility for this squarely on Congress.
Likewise, the founding fathers put the control of the money in the hands of the most democratic branch. This is supposed to keep the ultimate authority again close to the people. This puts the responsibility for this war continuing every year squarely on the Congress.
They can try to con us into believing that its someone else’s fault. But the power to begin this lay directly with the Congress. And the power to continue or stop this every year lies directly with the Congress. They are conning you if they try to make you believe anything different.
To me, the most disappointing thing of this year so far is the complete lack of any primary challenges (that I know of) to sitting Democratic congress-critters. The rank-and-file Democrats have failed to act. The only possible course left is to support independent or third party candidates who will oppose the war in the November elections.
A rape is not a war.
The left amazes me. Why on earth would the main question of the day be to argue about what to call this? Do you think the dead care?
The dead don’t care but the surviving family does. It makes a difference if you’re loved ones are killed in a war they chose to go to or are murdered in cold blood. There is a big and important difference there. Iraqis did not go to war against the US, they were brutally attacked with no justification. You bet it matters.
American soldiers, on the other hand, chose to go and kill without justification. Their deaths are not to be regarded in the same way as that of Iraqis.
In my opinion whether someone “puts on the uniform” for an education, to see the world, escape poverty, escape jail or as the true Warrior to protect their family and Nation, they have still taken a courageous noble stand for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It is the noble stand, that cannot be taken away or minimized, to which the validity of the mission is measured. The mission in Iraq and the Middle East has not been truthfully stated by the Bush/Cheney administration, and is why to me the question and discussion of occupation, colonization, war, etc. is an important one; especially once the argument is honed, and the Troops and Youth of this Nation are saturated in it’s words.
Vinlander - “…the war and the awful occupation that followed should be challenged in a primary by a real peace candidate.”
To run as an Independent one needs 2,000 signatures by July, 17.
One reason the occupation continues…..
I too, am ashamed at this countries government, “For the people by the people”. What a load of ….
The U.S.A. is nothing more than a fascist dictatorship led by the elitist few.
The Gov (Federal Reserve) owns everything. Ongoing since 1913, every tax dollar we pay in federal income tax goes for paying the interest on the loans we get from the Federal Reserve (a private organization). The Federal Reserve has held us in a state of slavery thru Washington for years.
“The rich will strive to establish their dominion and enslave the rest. They always did. They always will… They will have the same effect here as elsewhere, if we do not, by (the power of) government, keep them in their proper spheres.” (Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania)
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies … If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” In addition, “I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution - taking from the federal government their power of borrowing.”(Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826)
“Controlling our currency, receiving our public moneys, and holding thousands of our citizens in dependence… would be more formidable and dangerous than a military power of the enemy.” (President Andrew Jackson - July 10, 1832)
“Whoever controls the volume of money in our country is absolute master of all industry and commerce…and when you realize that the entire system is very easily controlled, one way or another, by a few powerful men at the top, you will not have to be told how periods of inflation and depression originate.” (President James A. Garfield, 1881)
“A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is privately concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men … [W]e have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated, governments in the civilized world–no longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men.” (Woodrow Wilson, The New Freedom: A Call for the Emancipation of the Generous Energies of a People)
“When the Federal Reserve Act was passed, the people of the United States did not perceive that a world banking system was being set up here. A superstate controlled by international bankers and industrialists acting together to enslave the world for their own pleasure. Every effort has been made to conceal its powers but the truth is - the Fed has usurped the government.”- Louis B. McFadden, Chairman, House Banking Committee, 1933
“The current Federal Reserve banking system is modeled after the European central banking system Americans revolted against during their War of Independence.
Every dollar created under the present monetary system does not represent a tangible asset. It represents an I.O.U. from the government, and therefore the people, to the central bank. After three failed attempts, central bankers finally gained control the monopoly on the issuance of American money with the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913.
There are two unavoidable results of the Federal Reserve System: (1) devaluation of the dollar and (2) accumulation of debt.”
Devaluation
Since the establishment of the Federal Reserve, the U.S. dollar has lost over 95% of its purchasing power.
Every dollar created is an instrument of debt lent out at interest. The extra money required to pay back the interest can only come from one place, that being the central bank. As such, the central banks must continuously increase the money supply.
http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/dollardaze/2007/1020.html
Mike Hewitt, dollardaze.org
October 20, 2007
We should all be angry; we should all be disgusted with our government’s tactics on foreign relations (stop the damn occupation). The initial question should be “When will Americans get angry about the war?”
The few elitist that control the money supplies of the world also control the power to create wars. In just about every area of the life that they chose for us, we have become a country of people who owe the elitist. The occupation of Iraq is simply another example of how America has opted out of its responsibility for a moral, charitable mindset that this country should have. We have all been paid off. I cannot help but wonder what country in the world will nuke us first?
I know we the people have dug a deep one, but we must take responsibility; as a start we could:
1. Write the Congress and the House of Reps.. Demand that they cease, and desist all hostilities; at home and abroad.
2. Eliminate the Federal Reserve, and start printing our own money again.
3. Pleasantly ask them to return to the f.cking gold standard!
Or we could always revolt, but that has always been messy.
It is dysfunction by design.
The dysfunctionality is a cover for the crimes of the Bush administration.
The occupation of Iraq was, from the outset, intended to be lengthy and expensive.
The goal is to grind the Iraqi people down to absolute submission by arming all sides (at a profit, of course) and encouraging them to kill one another.
And the American Fascist’s goal for the US is the same goal they had for Germany when they backed Hitler in WW2 - to use the Military-Industrial Machine of THIS nation as a battering ram to get their “creative destruction” of the Middle East (it was the “creative destruction” of Europe then, as you recall) AND devastate the US economy, so they can “rebuild” the US later - at a profit, of course.
IT AIN’T NO MISTAKE BOYS AND GIRLS.
OldRascal — Scary truth,
but there is always more to the tale — than the first few chapters.
Of ALL that IS
This just in: US Defense Secretary Gates is accusing Iran of killing US troops in Iraq. This amounts to political exploitation of troops’ deaths, given the White House’s frantic search for pretexts to bomb Iran, and its undisputed imperial agenda in Iraq.
This just in: The White House accused North Korea of helping Syria with nuclear development “not intended for peaceful purposes”. The White House’s accusations against both Iran and Iraq are now fully discredited so its latest accusation against Syria is as good as stillborn, ehh?
The war consensus is becoming more brittle with each passing day.
Until every man, woman and child hits the streets in protest….until businesses shut down for a day or two in protest (on the same day)…until Americans pursue a general and nation wide strike against this corruption and outrage…nothing will change…
The corporations are scrambling for the last surge on the middle class…they will feed on one another at some point, but not before this country is a third world existence.
We will have our war with Iran, whether we want it or not…the boys and girls in Washington will guarantee us that.
Life as we know it is gone…because people don’t have time to protest and speak out past their living rooms while they watch the propaganda newscasts.
Sorry, I wish it were different. No one even pays attention to the war these days…unless and until they are touched by it personally.
I don’t know how to wake people up…get them to act…get them to care.
We are going down…down….
A noteworthy article:
PEAK CIVILIZATION AND THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONNECT, By Carolyn Baker
http://carolynbaker.net/site/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=463&pop=1&page=0#
” frank1569 April 24th, 2008 12:14 pm
Here’s a bright, new idea - stop calling it a f**king war already. THERE IS NO WAR!!! Understand? The USA is not officially, nor even technically, at WAR with any nation on Earth!!!
That is the intervention needed, first and foremost. People hear “war,” they fall into line. However, people hear the truth - ILLEGAL OCCUPATION - and they no longer fall into line. They get pissed off.”
It’s an illegal war to begin with, and it remains a war, as well as illegal occupation, even if it’s not officially declared to be ‘war’. And it’s clear that you prefer to stick to the letter of the book, whichever law one it is.
Unofficially, it has always continued, only the official label was removed I suppose when Bush and the ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner were shown on the USN ship in May 2003. Officially, there has not been a single legal day since this war was launched, but the aggression against Iraq, and which has continued throughout, just that it’s very underreported, well, the aggression [is] ACT OF WAR.
The war ends when the side that is aggressed succumbs or wins, one way or another. Once you aggress someone, then that person decides when and if the fight is over, if the person has the capability of lasting.
Muqtadr al-Sadr and his Sadrists still demand an end to this illegal occupation and for complete U.S. et al withdrawal; and most Iraqis have the same demand. The USA clearly refuses to listen to MOST Iraqis, who have a good leader with al-Sadr, so the act of continued war happens to persist.
It’s an officially unauthorised, by either Congress or the UNSC, war of aggression, aka war against peace, the supreme international crime. It’s not totally, but still very unilaterally launched war of aggression and fully based on lies and grotesque distortions; and the Congress has had the Constitutional duty to end this the second it knew of the war being launched, so preferably sometime before.
Plenty of official obligations have been disregarded or bypassed, Bush has done it several hundred times, he was unofficially appointed, officially elected by a small panel of right-wing Supreme Court judges, etc.
How many ways shall we consider ‘official’ and ‘non-official’; 100, 1,000 times?.
Officially, it’s not war the US is committing on Iraq, but reality differs from the piece of paper you refer to.
You’d like a job as a govt bureaucrat.
Ever hear of freedom of speech? Well, we don’t have to stick to ‘official’ and ‘non-official’ blindly, either.
Yes, we are saying lots of words, but how many are listening? The general population needs some kind of shock to wake them up.
The outrage of the author is touching, if naive. For those (like andersdl, freehealer, and CoMarc) who understand the big picture in imperialist America everything is coming up roses. George W. Bush is the greatest President since Abe Lincoln. Lincoln held the union together and Bush II has held the economy together.
It will continue along like this until two things happen: Our youth refuse to “fight” wars on behalf of this beast we have become and the rest of us drop out of the economy therby proving that our “way of life” is as non-negotiable as that of the sneering Cheney and his village idiot, George W. Bush.
Until war is something that Americans can’t avoid by turning off thier TVs it will continue. If Americans ever had to really experience war they would know enough to prevent the next one.
Hoa binh
The egoic consciousness is one of domination, and as long as the desire to dominate remains mankind will always have war and discord. We must understand and address ‘evil’ in a broader sense:
Forget what the silly psychologists say, and know that human (egoic) nature is INHERENTLY evil. Buddha, Christ, J. Krishnamurti, and other mystics have known this for thousands of years–a thousand Freuds would not equal the understanding of one elightened mystic. Here’s a post from another site that examamines the problem of ego. In an unenlightened state we cannot help but bump into and be mean to one another:
Evil is a vast subject with, really, one core manifestation. Like an
unfinished building we all start out with a conditioned mind. The
influences and powers that be want to put it in a mold, according to
the church, family, culture, etc. As we get older, if that
conditioning goes unchallenged, the mold hardens because the
conditioning reinforces itself. This is exhibited, outwardly, as a
separate identity, a filter, as it were, that all the time
says: “this is mine, not mine; me, not me, etc..” It lives in
constant unconscious comparison (judgment). Thus, duality is running
at full speed, and what we normally call individuality (egoic
individuality) is really an illusion.
This is the ‘core’ from which ‘evil’ arises–a separate self that
wants to do what it calls ‘good’ or ‘evil.’ Both are evil because the
purpose, either hidden or overt is self gain, whereby the false
center is strengthened or hardened. Further, this process is ALWAYS
an UNCONSCIOUSNESS one. Why? Because a broader understanding of the
nature of being and one’s relationship with it is absent. The self,
ego, (unconsciously) seeking more of itself must, of necessity, be a
process of isolation–the outcome of which is a greater and greater
feeling of separation– of loneliness.
One of the major problems we face is that we’re so deep in the cave
of self (some have called it spiritual sleep) that we deny that there
is anything outside of it. We do not know that we do not know, and
often deny that there is anything outside of the cave to know! And
the density of darkness grows, along with increasing inner
fragmentation and plurality. This assertion seems to disturb some
here, and Conrad has called it my ’scary bears’: “Vernon Howard has
said that ‘evil’ can be likened to weed seeds. The weeds grow up and
choke off the Light, until finally the false self falls so in love
with the thrill of the choking vines, it denies that there is
anything outside of them.”
Essentially, this means that when the ego is almost in total control,
the filter is cemented in place, that it is highly UNLIKELY or
IMPROBABLE (not impossible) that an individual will move toward
spiritual enlightenment. He has permitted the darkness to close him
off, and becomes dedicated to promoting more of what he secretly
loves: egotism. Ever see this manifested? You suggest to someone that
understanding yourself is what is most important and they say:
“Oh, don’t think about yourself so much, that will just make you
crazy; go out and MAKE something of yourself!”
“If you’re so interested in spirituality and religion, then go into
the seminary or become a priest!”
“The doctors and psychologists always know what is best, listen to
them!”
“Watch out for that silly enlightenment stuff, they’re just a cult..”
These are some of the more obvious responses, but there are many more
subtle ones that are meant to discourage one from inner
investigation. At times, a look or a gesture may be enough.
Krishnamurti once told Aldous Huxley (a professed humanist and
pacifist) that he had a mind like a wastebasket; it was so full of
junk that there wasn’t room for anything else. Did he mean that
Huxley was so in love with his own intellect that he could no longer
transcend it?
Now, I should probably make it clear that I am personally
investigating this charge, meaning I do not yet perceive enough–
i.e., understand it from the spirit of awareness–to make a
declarative statement. Though from reading other scriptures and
listening to mystics of note, I see a similar thread running through
their teachings.
The Bible:
“Blaspheme the Holy Spirit,” meaning if you reject Truth and/or
strike out against true teaching enough, you will lose the
possibility of being ‘born again’ (enlightenment) .
Vernon Howard:
See above. Vernon spoke much about this. Further, he said that the
very nature of evil is to attack the Light or the appearance of the
Light within an individual. Even when evil is rebuked by the Light,
it ‘wins,’ in that it feels more of itself [ego reinforcement] .
Guy Finley (In his talk, “The Evolution of Evil”:
…darkness has a density, and makes it difficult to see that there
is anything outside of it, or beyond it. This may lead to the belief
that there is nothing beyond it [a basis for the belief in atheism],
or a belief that there is something beyond it, but is impossible to
realize or achieve (like Christ did, for example) while still alive
(faux theism or Christianity) . Both beliefs are self-enclosing, and
prevent further investigation. What this really means is that it is
very difficult for the ‘conditioned self’ to see anything outside or
beyond itself. The greater the hold ego has upon the individual, the
greater the density of darkness, and the more he or she will resist
the importuning of the Light, or as K said “penetrating into the
darkness” [to go beyond it].
Let’s get back to what I think might be a fundamental
misunderstanding here. The question we often explore is: Are we
creators of the reality we perceive or conduits for energies that
operate through us? Physically, we know we are not creators of the
substance of the universe; we are part and dependent upon a bigger
whole. Point in fact: if we do not eat, we starve to death. So
physically our survival depends upon our relationship with objects.
Further, we all share this same dependency, correct? The physical
body ages, withers, then dies. Though, we can perhaps slow the
process, we cannot entirely prevent it. And even if we found a remedy
for aging and illness, we would not be immune from accidents, or from
the destruction of war. My point is that physically we all, more or
less, share the same relationship with the earth and universe at
large, agreed?
Psychically, or psychologically, relationship is not always so clear,
is it? If principles or rules apply, they are not readily apparent.
And we do not know the limits of our ability to perceive, though we
may think we do. You cannot know what you do not know until you know
it–or be aware of what you are not aware of until you become aware
of it–correct? What I mean is that the best we can do is SUSPECT
that we have only a limited awareness. If we know how to listen, we
can ‘hear’ or feel the pull of something else within us. Perhaps this
is the calling of our essence to complete itself.
Now, back to the subject of creation: are we conduits of creation
originating from a greater Source–a greater Energy or Essence–or do
we create independent of this Source? Asking another way:
Psychologically, do we possess the energy of creation, or does it
possess us? Vernon Howard once said we are neither our own strength
or our own weakness; they are energetic states that POSSESS us.
Thought, for example, does not belong ONLY to me or you, but the
whole of mankind. So even a false center contrived and maintained by
thought-energy is not unique to the individual, meaning ego is a
SHARED phenomenon; it involves the PROCESS OF THINKING, which is
common to all–all egos. Only the PARTICULARS are different, not the
principle of ego. Do you see this?
Then evil arising through egoic ‘will’ must use a false identity to
perpetuate itself. Without “I” or “me” evil cannot exist because
without “I” or “me” there is no self-will! This is very profound.
Individually, we cannot take credit or blame for the darkness or
light, but only ALLOW ourselves, either through ignorance or
awareness to be conduits–possessed by–one or the other, right?
This begs the question: are there forces, entities, energies that
have a motive to posses our psychic system, meaning to use us in some
way through possession, or do we originate these energies/entities?
We all know about negative states; they make us feel like crap, snap
at other people, be crabby, or jump into the ‘garbage truck.’ Same
with positive energies when the self is absent during a beautiful
sunset or scene, or we’re just feeling happy, generous, or at peace?
In spiritual literature we find mention of angels and demons. Are
these meant to be symbolic of positive and negative states/energies?
Even in Greek Mythology, there are the Muses.
What effect do psychic states in general have upon us at any
particular moment? They’re always changing! If we try to grab onto
and repeat a beautiful feeling, what happens? It eludes us, right?
The mystics tell us that it is IDENTIFICATION with various states
that reinforce a false center from which all evil arises. Modern
psychology talks a lot about self-esteem, which is really a process
of identification and comparison as well; therefore, either so-called
positive self-esteem or negative self-esteem are two sides of the
same ‘dark’ coin, are they not?
Krishnamurti asks:
Can the mind, with full awareness, enter into the darkness without
justification, condemnation, or identification and dispel it? Meaning
can we watch the states that possess our mind, just to be aware of
them without resistance, calling them good or bad, or seeking a
particular result?
K calls this ‘choiceless awareness.’
Through awareness, and only through awareness, can the nature of good
and evil be understood.
A nation founded on murder, pillage and colonisation of native Americans’ land probably (from historical analysis) cannot be expected to behave any differently to anyone elses lands.
I support the progressives’ efforts to change their nation’s behaviour, but I imainge it would be hard not to wish for its complete disintegration and SOON, by those it is attacking, or may attack.
No American can expect sympathy from the rest of the world when this finally occurs.
PEACE!
I fear since1492 is quite right, it will take the experience of war first hand by the americans to end the addiction.
namaste : thank you for ringing the “bell of mindfullness”.
For optimal human function we should really ring it before and after each article read, and ring it before and after each commentary posted.
This would give us a “Krishnamurti knife” to cut through the trash in our “Huxley wastebasket minds”, leading us to that most beautiful sight and scent of the blooming of true full human interaction.
Boing, bing, bong…
Running for office is exhausting, frustrating, potentially humiliating, incredibly expensive, and you have to deal with a hostile and sick mainstream media - the power of and the entrenchment of incumbency is so disturbing! Yet I wish more people would just do it, without worrying about “winning”; for now, it has to be enough to start talking about real issues - all we can do right now is to start waking people up as best we can!
COMarc: “Could have stopped right there … .”the money flows”. That explains it all.”
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042508M.shtml
…this is a great article on how intertwined “We All Are” with “the money flow”…this is not to invoke guilt or fear, but to let us know that by recognizing our part and our neighbors part in “The Catastrophe”, we can better figure out our part in indeed finding Happiness within it’s pursuit.
To me overcoming fear of not being part of “the money flow” is where we should stop, ring the bell of mindfullness, and come to all of our human senses - there we will see and come into contact with the Law of Universal Abundance, as oppossed to the absurdity of the following:
Microsoft launches Vista; business expert from the Wharton School of Business says Microsoft has every right to be nervous and fearful for it’s financial future…why? Because Vista cost $5 billion to develope and launch, and Vista was to bring in $100 billion to Microsoft…oh my gosh! I’ve got almost $95 billion free and clear…I have to change my underpants because I’m so scared!
Come on people now, smile on each other…bing, boing, bong…
Right on!…”it has to be enough to start talking about real issues - all we can do right now is to start waking people up as best we can!”
The fear of not being part of or cut off from the money flow (or being totally consumed within the US’s $15 Trillion/yr GDP! How can Paul Bremmer get away with giving out billions here and and billions there?…it’s a Universe of Abundance).
I absolutely gaurentee there’s enough for all of us, even a few more billion of us! Just one example that occurs over and over: someone explores living foods (Wigmore/Gerson) as part of their lifestyle, yeah sure, first of all they feel better and have better mental clarity, but then it never fails…”I gotta start giving this food away because there is so much of it”…
…be Ye not afraid…it’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away…We don’t need to murder in our pursuit of Happiness, a pat on the back and a soul hand shake will do just fine thank you.
Good comments by all.
UNCHAINED: You are right on the mark! I’m in total agreement with you.
A week from today, May Day, on the 1st, the ILWU (longshoreman’s union) are shuting down all 26 ports on the west coast for one day, from the Mexican to the Canadian border as a workers’ protest against this illegal occupation of Iraq. All working people are cordially invited to take that day off from work in solidarity. I’m taking off and going to the San Francisco rally next Friday. Without effort, nothing changes. The Republican/Democrat Crime Family loves the anti-war protesters that stay on the computer rather than take to the streets.
WE THE PEOPLE, the working class, have the POWER to create positive change by withholding our labor. It’s that simple!
R E N A M I N G __ T H R E A D __ N O W
T H E __ B_E_L_L __ T H A T __ T_O_L_L_S __ F O R __ M E
Bless you CHESSGAMES & PUCK TWAIN
The End of America
http://carolynbaker.net/site/content/view/135/
William Odom is a retired US Army three-star general, and former Director of the National Security Agency, under President Ronald Reagan. He testified on April 2, 2008, before Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Iraq. His statements are devastating to Bush’s failed war policy and the arguments for prolonging the war.
Here is the full text of his testimony
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2341971921/m/3640008771001