What really does matter?

 

It has been so difficult not to spend endless hours bemoaning the current state of politics and society in the US.
As the Talking Heads said, "This ain't my beautiful house ..." How prophetic. Certainly, America is rapidly a palcethat is no longer beautiful, not the physical beauty, but rather a creeping ugliness in society, tearing at the seams and ready to burst.
This is a far cry from Leave It To Beaver and Happy Days. To be sure, those days were far from perfect for many in our nation. POC, LGBQT, the disabled, those with special needs, women, and others did not lead perfectly happy lives. Changes were made, there was, at least on the books, progressive legislation that sought to improve the well-being of most.
Festering between the pages of civil rights was a mold. One kept in check by a nation that elected officials who, even in the worst of cases, upheld the rules and laws of the land. The tide came in and out but the beaches were generally safe for most.
Now, we're being hit by a rogue wave that's feeding that mold and allowing it to spead everywhere.
Most of what we see and hear is beyond belief. This can't be happening, and yet it is. Forget the whys and hows, there are way too many theories to analyze and even if we settled on answers, it won't stop the spread of the social/political pandemic. There is only one immediate fix, the research can come later, this disease needs a hit of humanitarian vaccine, otherwise known as votes. After that, then the underlying problems can be addressed. But all the shouting and anger and head banging and depression will solve nothing.
So my question to you is, What really does matter?
An end to violence?
Helping the sick and elderly?
Quality education?
A safe and thriving environment?
Meaningful and enjoyable jobs?
The right to live as you desire, believe as you will, as long as it harms no other?
Fair treatment for all?
Free and open elections?
The right to get ahead but not on the backs of others?
The right to know?
Freedom from lies, deceit, and tyranny?
A world at peace?
Help when events beyond your control give you setbacks?
A safe environment free of fear?
A willingness to assist others escaping tryanny?
Equity in all matters?
A fair chance to be what you want, do what you want, live how you want, again, as long as it harms none?
I think you get the gist.
But really, this shit has got to stop. If not, the world as we have known it will surely end. The prophecies fulfilled, the end of times, all without a rapture, just one big rupture.

Two realities diverge in the woods

Which one will you take? How about the reality less traveled?





It is said that  "if the scientists or observer is expecting a certain outcome to his experiment then that in itself has a large impact on the final results, increasing that potential of that particular probability to manifest from the quantum field, from his 'desired or expected expectation'". 

This same principle holds true in every aspect of life and it is becoming increasing clear that reality is a function of perception and one that changes with each decision we make. We have all experienced waking up in a bad mood and the rest of the day goes to hell. Conversely, approaching a day with a light heart and a positive attitude creates a positive change in all of those around us. We have seen prophecies of doom and gloom come to naught, but perhaps this is really because the warning was heeded and changes were made. And yes, we have also approached issues with high expectations, only to see our hopes crushed. Creating a shared vision can sometimes be difficult. And yet, there are time when the greatest benefit arises from what had been perceived as the greatest disaster.

Throughout our socio-politico-economic systems, we see altering realities at work. Up until recent times, tell people that the economy is great and consumers respond with confidence and the economy improves. Tell people GMO products are wonderful and, at least for a while, everyone buys them. Tell people that the flu or some new manufactured disease is going around, and people respond accordingly-they get sick. Label a politician as too liberal and spend millions in attack ads and the politician is defeated. Each of these acts are reality altering events-conceived in the mind and created in the world.

In physics we have learned that if you measure an electron as matter, you get results for matter. But, measure it as a wave, and you get a wave. The observer and observed are one. So here we stand on a timeline, each moment making decisions that alter the reality. Turn left, you end up in Ohio, turn right and you end up in Maine. Be warned of disaster and expect it, and that's what you get. Be warned of disaster and refuse to accept it and act accordingly and the disaster is averted.

So here we are in the woods of time.  What reality, what path, do you choose to travel? It's really quite funny and quite simple. We each, and collectively, have the power to alter the course of all events. We know the 'secret,' but all to often, let others decide for us.

A BANDAGE FOR A TUMOR?

A tumor has been festering in American society and the cure is not a bandage. There are those among us who want to sacrifice the populace on the alter of Wall Street. This disease wants to ensure that: banks aren't regulated; oil companies have unfettered access to anyplace; environmental concerns are trashed; profit is king.

This disease has no use for social programs. The elderly are a burden. The poor are a burden. The sick are a burden. The raped are a burden. Workers are merely tolerated as a tool to exploit.

Yes, Congress passed a temporary budget. But we know that this bandage will not cure the illness. Americans have to decide who and what we are as a nation. And, while all are entitled to their opinions and beliefs, the 'minority report' is not the dictum to the whole. The next election will determine if we want this nation to go into cardiac arrest, or, if we strengthen through exercise and due diligence.

LACKING VISION, NO DREAM

Well, not sure we have had one in recent times. When I was growing up, the American Dream was to have a house in the suburbs and a two car garage; a one car garage if you were blue collar; a house if at the bottom of blue collar; a meal if you were really poor. You were supposed to love your job, your family and you had to save to send your kids to college so they could one day get their house and two car garage. That was really about it. Oh, of course you went to church.

Hmmm, not really a great dream, is it? Americans have lost their vision and have no dream. We do not even seem to ask what we, as a people and a nation, want for our future. Instead, we are caught up in the mechanics of life and have lost the dream of life. The debate on gun control is not a vision, but rather a diversion from saying we want a society where we are safe from harm from one another. The debate over Social Security and Medicare/caid cuts does not say we want all to be able to have freedom to live a long healthy life. Those wanting to revise the tax code say nothing about what a tax system should be. The arguments over CO2 emissions does not say we want a pollution free environment. Our economic fiascoes say nothing about having sustainable economies in which all have free access to prosperity. The list goes on.

This problem is symptomatic of the loss of individual dreams and visions  which, taken together, create the national vision. Most just want to make it to the next day. Most pray they don't get sick or fired. Most would, indeed, sacrifice the environment for a job. Most hope their kids will hurry up and grow and move out.

Without a vision, a dream, a road map, there is no clear direction we, as individuals or the collective, wants to go. If you don't where you want to go, chances are you'll never get there. Battles in congress will continue to plague us because we are hung up on the mechanics of life. Wall Street will continue to rule our lives because we are afraid to reach for something different. Truly, there may be more than one road to reach a destination, but you have to know where you want to go. Until a destination is chosen, many will have us detour to places that simply make no sense, and that simply may be our downfall.

BLOGGERS: THE 21ST CENTURY ESSAYISTS

When you think of essayists names like Paine, Thoreau, Emerson or Elliot might come to mind. But in the 21st Century, the bloggers are the new essayists. Never before have so many been allowed to reach so many with new ideas, personal thoughts and commentaries on society. From supporting great human rights causes to exposing corruption, raising political awareness, providing alternative news, championing health issues or just being plainly anecdotal, bloggers are the new conscience of society.

In my new book, WHAT'S WRONG WITH US ANYWAY? COMMENTARIES ON A TROUBLED WORLD, I have compiled my blogs into major topics including: Politics, Religion and Spirituality, The Environment, The Economy, Society and Health containing over 60 blogs, essays, on my views of events in the world over the past year. In a sense, these essays are "blog-shots" of the world. The book, published by ALL THINGS THAT MATTER PRESS, is on Amazon and is also available as a Kindle Edition and E-Book. Hard copy can be ordered at this url:
http://www.amazon.com/WHATS-WRONG-US-ANYWAY-Commentaries/dp/1440436843/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229185659&sr=1-1

All Things That Matter Press will soon be publishing the collected blogs of Marvin Wilson, from his FREE SPIRIT blog site. Bloggers are welcome to submit a query to allthingsthatmatterpress@gmail.com and you can visit allthingsthatmatterpress.com