Occam's Razor; or lex parsimoniae

Just to try and put our involvement in Iraq, and prior military engagements, into perspective for us "beasts," as Alexander Hamilton referred to the public majority, I want to use a heuristic theory proposed by a Fransiscan friar from 14th century England, William of Ockham. The theory states, "All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the right one." So when discussing foreign involvement and these supposed threats of terror to the United States of America that have been ubiquitous, at least, for 25 years, we may apply this theory to try and extricate the right answers. So I ask, "What is more likely? That poor, underdeveloped countries lacking the financial resources, military backing, and technological advances, (Grenada, Panama, Nicaragua, and Iraq), would pose a threat to a world power; and even if they did, were lacking in human intelligence enough to attack, or even provoke a war?" OR "By studying human history, and the ever presence of imperial powers with sights set on territorial/global hegemony and domination over the "weaker" states, and propagated by Machiavellian shouts of, "Might makes Right," would want to maintain their financial and militaristic strangle-holds, in said countries, with the notion of squeezing out all other competitors in this dog-eat-dog world in which we struggle to survive?"

How can we, as intelligent, thought provoking human beings sit here and believe all of the lies that have been regurgitated by Imperialistic nations, including our own, for centuries? If you don't enjoy studying history then you are only ignoring the facts. If studying historical facts in order to find the solutions in the present so that we may ensure a better understanding of the future is pointless, then we may as well continue living in this insular, protected bubble created by fear and competition.

Implementing the Truth in the Language of our Culture

To just turn on any news channel these days that support these, so-called, political pundits and experts has grown utterly tiresome. The rhetoric and political fear tactics that are used by presidential candidates, Republicans, Democrats, conservative media, left wing liberals, etc... proves only the ignorance and lack of knowledge and compassion that resides within our culture. "Should we pull out of Iraq, the the "enemy" will be victorious" or "by looking to remove our troops we are sending negative support for them." Look, everyone in this country agrees that those fighting and dying over in Iraq right now, albeit for an unworthy and unjustified cause, will continue to receive our support. How can we blame an 18 year old kid, who signed up for service because he lacked the finances for school and thought the Army would provide him with the means to do so at a later date? We understand they are citizens of this country. The troubling thing is that our Administration, or the "Establishment", doesn't seem too concerned for their rights. How can they purport to support them if they extend their tours of duty, thus extending their stay in a war that seems inert and unjustified?

The media and politicians want always to point fingers. What is needed are people working together to devise solutions. We certainly do not need combative and abusive language and literature, bashing each other and suppressing ideas and opinion. As citizens we were given freedom of speech, yes, but that freedom can be very damaging at times. Or to explore another aspect of free speech, who is to say those speaking from supposed expert fields really are knowledgeable or human conscious at all? Nobody knows. What we DO know is that the continual implementation of fear tactics and finger pointing merely skirts the issues at hand. Will anyone instigate free discussion that outlines solutions to our international involvement and foreign affairs? Will we the people ever hear even just a smattering of truth from the lips and pens of the U.S. government? While dollar signs and power trips continue to fuel the economy, these "experts" and leaders are all we are left with to decide some of the most crucial issues at one of the most significant and scary times in the history of this young nation.

Thoughts on....well, Thoughts

All sensations and their consequent effects upon the body and Reason can be compared to the mouth of any great river which empties out into a vast sea. Ideas flow freely upon the river, making their way towards the mass that welcomes them, sometimes slowing to a trickle, enabling us to wade long enough to engage in their meaning. Every citizen may sip from its waters as freely as it flows, and if so inclined, may sit nearby, under a shady spot, and contemplate its contents.

One only needs to witness the salmon swimming upstream once, however, to realize that not all of these ideas and thoughts flow as easily as prior Utopian feelings may have hoped for. The salmon work upstream, away from the mouth of the delta or outflowing of any stream or brook, in order to spawn and multiply their chances for its species' survival. Radical thought and ideas also wish to occasionally " swim against the current." We can all purge ourselves of every opinion and idea that arises in our brains , but can we also allow entrance of "external notions, apart from our foetal well of ideas and nourish them to become our own and One with the essence of Humans? That is, are we so egotistical, nay naive, to believe that all our opinions can be unleashed to the world but that there may be some eager ideas, (fighting the "bearish" tenacity of Society), that wish to find their home within us? Those thoughts not borne of ourselves, but rather, orphans to our souls to adopt and feed in order to culminate the Universal and "metaphysical animal."

The current flows in one direction, completely in it of itself, and always in our own finite conception of Space and Time, however notions struggling to make their way to the source, fighting the current, must also have their moment in the sun. Never shun that which doesn't derive from you merely because you distrust it. Open up to every possibility, especially those that have been fighting an upstream battle for all of eternity, and engage, (perhaps for the first time), in a more worldly, a more global, community. If given the chance, this society can multiply and live in the realm of tangible dreams.

Some Thoughts on Revolution

Revolution arises when a particular class of peoples, or cultures, reaches the point of enslavement, oppression and depression, that it fights to annihilate those oppressing and attempt to abolish any remnants of a culturally divided society. This is a social revolution. Political revolution is intertwined as well, to give a voice to the otherwise muffled mass. What is need here in the U.S. is a cultural revolution. For too long now our pop culture has weakened the spirit of the American people by subjecting them to mindless and mind-numbing television, internet and music, all contributing to a dissected mind and unfocused thinking. No longer do Americans feel the need to do much because so much is already done for them. Why study history when you need to pay bills and when the stress of everyday working life allows for only weekend picnics and prime time television? Why write passionately of our wants and hopes, or about morals and ethics, about the need for change, when www.justsitonyourasscuzweprovideeverythingyouneed.com exists? Why make music when Apple furnishes us with a gig of memory to listen to other peoples' songs? And what could possibly be the reason for us to travel in the Outback or Amazon or South Pacific, when "everyday" people are doing it for you on CBS? The reason is simple. As our political hold slips in the world our culture will be all that we have. Just as the early American Republic was founded on revolution and the search for better representation as humans and a nation, so must we fight again to achieve that status.

The economy and money-making should not make the American. Politics does not represent the people, even though our ignoramus of a leader projects a most damaging image of our citizens. It is the people that make up this culture. Black and White. Mexican and Native Americans. Asian and Euro immigrants. Are we to stand by while, not only our political, but cultural position turns sour and misrepresents who we Americans really are? Parents, educate yourselves each day so that your children grow into worthy citizens who are AWARE. Too many families are based on those individuals searching for their place, too afraid to educate themselves on a human conscious level, and as a result, procreation becomes their validation; their reason for being here, if you will. What happens is a cultural circle that revolves around itself, egoistic and selfish in nature. If parents do not take chances by travelling the world or even just questioning their surroundings, what, pray I ask, is the percentage their children will?

Revolution starts by grasping the root, but perhaps we must not, first, plant the seed until all aspects of photosynthesis are understood. If not, a fecund-less, synthetic society will continue to exist, and that prolific America idealised by Franklin and Paine will never again be realised.

The Conquest of Happiness

After having finished reading the above mentioned work by Bertrand Russell I felt the need to reaffirm the sentiments espoused within the essay. We all suffer from lack of thoughtful moments in our lives when reflection and awareness of our own happiness is the main priority. We feel that just by going to work, or feeding our children, or kissing our spouse and loved ones, a productive and practical day has been achieved. What we tend to forget, (or perhaps have never known), is that there exist much deeper levels to personal happiness; the deepest being that which contributes to the overall happiness of others. My position in this world has been one of leisure, thoughtfulness, and reflection. Due to the fact that I have not inundated myself with overwork or stress, and also because I am single and have no one to provide for but myself, I understand my point of view may be quite different than many others. I only wish to relate that happiness is all about passion for life. Happiness is all about positivity and projecting its essence into/onto all that you come across on your journey. Happiness is also about a multitude of varied interests that may occupy the mind instead of thoughts that are of a work-related or stressful nature.

We have all heard that saying, "Life is short," but have we all really taken in the true meaning of it? What is our place here on Earth? One of my coworkers and I had a discussion recently on why we, as privileged white Americans, were not born into a depressed and poverty-stricken 4th world nation? Whatever your beliefs may be, that of a transmigrating soul, Heaven, the spirit, you can still question why others must suffer and many others live a privileged and oblivious life. It is not too much to ask this question in order to become aware of the many aspects of living that surround us. With an oscillating mind and piercing eye we can begin to comprehend just how lucky we are. Perhaps these thoughts and emotions will begin to grow into practical living to ultimately reshape this egoistic, capitalistic, and selfish culture, here in the United States.