They're depressed, Word Herder. The world is a depressing place when you realize that being "American" or at least a Westerner isn't going to save you when the nuke bombs start raining down and cause a nuclear winter. It's hard to be cheerful when you see how psychopathic our leadership is in the West. But we can't sit and wallow in our sorrow--we must get angry and motivated and take these bastards down who would lead us into this armageddon scenario. Get out in the streets and start shouting your anger at the corrupt status quo TODAY. Others will see you and join in--we are the 99% and it only takes about 3.5% of us to enact change according to this article: The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
Just to be clear, my original comment that began the thread is not grounded in depression. It is grounded in realism, based upon history and the historical repetition we are seeing with collapse of empire. While some of that can bum me out, I am not depressed, I'm active and politically active where and when I can. I choose realism and action over hopeium.
But you must fan the flames of hope or faith in your heart while you tackle the reality we're living in is what I'm saying. Otherwise, you can get to the point and say, "This is how things are in reality. They suck. I give up!" way too easily. You must keep that spark of hope alive in your heart so you can carry on in the fight. Having worked with people who are deeply depressed and using chemicals to deal with life, if we can't continue to encourage one another and rise above the temptation to give up, we won't be here much longer. Laura K just had a baby boy the other day--let's keep fighting to keep the planet going for him and the other children even if we don't care what happens to us personally.
There's a concept in Buddhist psychology I used in my work as a psychotherapist with drug users: Radical Acceptance. Now the 'acceptance' is NOT, 'Oh well, things are bad, nothing I can do, guess I'll give up."
Rather it is the acceptance of, "Damn, things really are bad. Even worse than I realized. Okay, given that, now what is it I can do to change something now."
That's where reality-based hope and practical action begin. Anything else is walking on air.
Radical Acceptance is the understanding that no problem can be resolved until it is fully and completely understood and stated, AS IT IS. After that there are other aspects of Buddhist psychology that can help.
I see way too much of unrealistic hopeium on the left. I'm a realist. I've always told my physician to give me the straight up truth; no euphemisms. When the time comes I will not "pass away", I will "DIE" and that's the way I've asked my son to refer to it when the time comes.
That's my approach and most of my counseling clients embraced it and did well. It is true that some don't accept my approach and I -- naturally -- accept that!
“There are some things you just can’t excuse. Of these, genocide is at the very top of the list... Be truthful.”
This is the best quote of all time (and Caitlin has made some great ones). We need to be truthful--do we want peace in our time or do we want to nuke ourselves into nuclear winter? If we truly want peace, we'll work hard for it. We'll make diplomatic moves toward obtaining it. We'll stop giving arms to belligerants and genociders. But at the moment... It doesn't appear that we in the West are serious at all. The US is completely bewitched by the racist/zy0nist psychopathology of Netanyahu. God help us all.
It's too bad that people feel they have to do this! What a bunch of monkeys.
IT'S NOT "INEVITABLE," but it will be made to be so when everyone starts believing that it is, and then just pretend that we have no choice. War is HELL, haven't we had ENOUGH of it yet??????
It's a secretive corporation now. The president is like the WalMart manager and members of congress department managers.
The assassination of JFK followed by MLK, RFK, Malcolm X and Fred Hampton (and others) was a corporate coup. The CIA, NSA with the assistance of local police and investigators have facilitated it all. The CIA and a small group of corporate interests -- with ZioNazi direction run the show. Our elections are shadow puppet shows.
President Eisenhower warned us what was coming in his farewell address. He increasingly found himself sidelined by and hemmed in by the CIA.
The speech is education. The most important presidential speech of the post-WW II era. More people should know about. It would educate them to what has -- and is happening.
Mark, the sooner “humanity” is wiped out, the better it will be for Mother Earth to begin her reset.
I just feel sorrow for all the beautiful species—both flora and fauna—that will be taken down with us.
We are a plague, aren't we.
The good news is the planet has another 4 billion years with about 2 billion suitable for life. We humans have been like a minor skin rash.
NO.
We are NOT a PLAGUE.
WTF!?!!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I'm cutting off my subscription.
Yes…. WE ARE.
I can't believe this. What the HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS??
Sorry to see you go.
They're depressed, Word Herder. The world is a depressing place when you realize that being "American" or at least a Westerner isn't going to save you when the nuke bombs start raining down and cause a nuclear winter. It's hard to be cheerful when you see how psychopathic our leadership is in the West. But we can't sit and wallow in our sorrow--we must get angry and motivated and take these bastards down who would lead us into this armageddon scenario. Get out in the streets and start shouting your anger at the corrupt status quo TODAY. Others will see you and join in--we are the 99% and it only takes about 3.5% of us to enact change according to this article: The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
Just to be clear, my original comment that began the thread is not grounded in depression. It is grounded in realism, based upon history and the historical repetition we are seeing with collapse of empire. While some of that can bum me out, I am not depressed, I'm active and politically active where and when I can. I choose realism and action over hopeium.
But you must fan the flames of hope or faith in your heart while you tackle the reality we're living in is what I'm saying. Otherwise, you can get to the point and say, "This is how things are in reality. They suck. I give up!" way too easily. You must keep that spark of hope alive in your heart so you can carry on in the fight. Having worked with people who are deeply depressed and using chemicals to deal with life, if we can't continue to encourage one another and rise above the temptation to give up, we won't be here much longer. Laura K just had a baby boy the other day--let's keep fighting to keep the planet going for him and the other children even if we don't care what happens to us personally.
There's a concept in Buddhist psychology I used in my work as a psychotherapist with drug users: Radical Acceptance. Now the 'acceptance' is NOT, 'Oh well, things are bad, nothing I can do, guess I'll give up."
Rather it is the acceptance of, "Damn, things really are bad. Even worse than I realized. Okay, given that, now what is it I can do to change something now."
That's where reality-based hope and practical action begin. Anything else is walking on air.
Radical Acceptance is the understanding that no problem can be resolved until it is fully and completely understood and stated, AS IT IS. After that there are other aspects of Buddhist psychology that can help.
I see way too much of unrealistic hopeium on the left. I'm a realist. I've always told my physician to give me the straight up truth; no euphemisms. When the time comes I will not "pass away", I will "DIE" and that's the way I've asked my son to refer to it when the time comes.
That's my approach and most of my counseling clients embraced it and did well. It is true that some don't accept my approach and I -- naturally -- accept that!
“There are some things you just can’t excuse. Of these, genocide is at the very top of the list... Be truthful.”
This is the best quote of all time (and Caitlin has made some great ones). We need to be truthful--do we want peace in our time or do we want to nuke ourselves into nuclear winter? If we truly want peace, we'll work hard for it. We'll make diplomatic moves toward obtaining it. We'll stop giving arms to belligerants and genociders. But at the moment... It doesn't appear that we in the West are serious at all. The US is completely bewitched by the racist/zy0nist psychopathology of Netanyahu. God help us all.
It's too bad that people feel they have to do this! What a bunch of monkeys.
IT'S NOT "INEVITABLE," but it will be made to be so when everyone starts believing that it is, and then just pretend that we have no choice. War is HELL, haven't we had ENOUGH of it yet??????
Obviously not. Where are the people in the streets? Both parties are campaigning in lockstep with Israeli ZioNazis. Resist and persist.
Thanks Mark. I am glad to have found your work.
Let me know if I can be of assistance.
It's a secretive corporation now. The president is like the WalMart manager and members of congress department managers.
The assassination of JFK followed by MLK, RFK, Malcolm X and Fred Hampton (and others) was a corporate coup. The CIA, NSA with the assistance of local police and investigators have facilitated it all. The CIA and a small group of corporate interests -- with ZioNazi direction run the show. Our elections are shadow puppet shows.
President Eisenhower warned us what was coming in his farewell address. He increasingly found himself sidelined by and hemmed in by the CIA.
He lays it out here. Too bad we weren't listening... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyBNmecVtdU
The speech is education. The most important presidential speech of the post-WW II era. More people should know about. It would educate them to what has -- and is happening.
Possible hopeful news, especially given who the author is...
"US support for Israel is collapsing. And Aipac knows it"
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/07/us-support-for-israel-is-collapsing-and-aipac-knows-it
I keep thinking that the East India Company never went anywhere, it just found a new place to unhinged, set foot in the US and didn't even bother to change the flag too much. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_East_India_Company
Yes!!!