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One side of a flyer circulating in the western suburbs boasts that Cook County recorder of deeds Eugene "Gene" Moore has brought major improvements to the office, which is responsible for documenting property transactions. Moore, the flyer says, has expanded Internet access to public records, installed an electronic recording system, and succeeded at "providing MOORE service with less employees."
On the other side the flyer invites us all to a lingerie fashion show.
The show, promoted by Click Click Productions and presented by "The Man in Black with Mary Shorter," will take place at Mariella's banquet hall in Maywood on Saturday, December 29, from 8 PM to 2 AM.
Moore, recorder since 1999, has taken a few knocks lately. Just Tuesday the Trib cited his office as an example of wasteful, out-of-touch county government. Many Cook County voters are oblivious to the post altogether. Certainly few are anxiously wondering whether Moore will ward off challenger Ed Smith in the February 5 primary. Some might even say it's time Moore drummed up a little good publicity.
A spokesman for Moore says the recorder's campaign didn't have anything to do with the flyer and isn't involved with the fashion show. "It's not the type of event he would associate himself with," said Askia Abdullah. "I just know that's not something Mr. Moore would support."
The man who answered one of the phone numbers on the flyer had a different story. Moore, he said, had underwritten the costs of getting 5,000 copies of the flyer made in exchange for putting his picture and message on one side of it. "We do this event every month," he said. "If you want to pay for the flyers, we'll put your stuff on it."
He identified himself as Click Click. "I've got another name," he said. "But Click Click is all you're going to get."
Mary Shorter, a fashion designer who's the event's other presenter, had yet another explanation. "Gene Moore is a relative of mine, and I said, 'I'm doing a party,' and I said, 'OK, we'll do a little campaigning for him,'" she said. "Gene Moore has nothing to do with our party. He's a cousin of mine, and we just want to get his name out there."
Moore has told Shorter he can't make the event because he'll be out of town, she said. "But I just want to show everyone that he's up for reelection."
We know this is for real, 'cause it's too funny to be made up.
What I wonder is, why would Moore pass up the opportunity to enjoy a free "...lingerie fashion show."?
And as possibly the 'guest of honor'?
Shit, I'll show up for free and I'll even pay for drinks!
Hey, I just noticed this:
"But I just want to show everyone that he's UP for reelection."
Get it?
REGISTER TO VOTE
VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION
HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
When given the chance, vote for any independent candidate.
If I can depend on you, I won't ever need to post a comment again.
And, no, I won't make any promises that I can't keep, as I do value my keeping word.
I take it you mean 'family' in it's general sense, as in 'we are all members of the family of man'.......
Shorter seemed sincere. Are we to vilify her for having good intentions?
'We' being who, 'vilify' referring to what and in what way?
Also, shorter is just that, shorter, as in 'more briefly'.
Longer being 'in greater detail' and/or 'more specifically'.
In the end, it is the thoughts that count.
Maybe vilify was an incorrect word choice. It felt right at the time, but I just looked it up, and it means, "to impute scandalous behavior, to say abusive things about."
I guess that question of should *we* vilify Shorter (because it- the flyer- was her idea, and it was her racy lingerie show) would be addressed to the "We" being defined as any parties that might be citizens of the puritanical clout busting enraged public that would find the flyers perhaps inappropriate, and that anyone *quick* to task, tsk over Shorter's behavior must look to her original intent, which was to help a cousin gain added exposure as re-election nears.
Does this make sense?
In reading over my last comment I see a lot of issues/flaws in logic.
I would never claim to make sense. Never really have, never really will... (The fact "Have No Doubt" is a regular poster actually gives me some comfort at times like these)
But back to the flyer... I think a burlesque show would be a better idea than a lingerie show if a politician actually endorsed/advertised on it. Seems a more fitting choice for a Chicago politician.
I know a lady that can print your endorsement on some fliers....
"In reading over my last comment I see a lot of issues/flaws in logic."
Please be specific.
"I would never claim to make sense. Never really have, never really will... (The fact "Have No Doubt" is a regular poster actually gives me some comfort at times like these)"
Please feel free to elaborate.
Please clarify what you mean by "...to help a cousin gain added exposure as re-election nears.".
Within the context of your statement, it might be construed to mean that Moore was going to be an active participant in the lingerie show.
No one is scarier than Mayor Mumbles.
'da machine' doesn't believe there are any significant number of "...voters with brains.".
What are you suggesting, when you say "The machine will not allow Loconate to win. Daley will not allow Loconate to win."?
Does Frank need to wrap up his affairs and prepare to 'meet his maker'?
'Cause that's the only way Frank is not gonna be around.
I will not let up until they do kill me. His son Patrick Daley is no different than any other gangster that steals the taxpayers money. He is still hiding in the service. About my campaign, I welcome the daley people to come into the 41st ward. John Malatestas son gave Mayor Daley's nephew the approval for the pension loan. John Malatesta collects 2 pensions from the taxpayers and is 41st ward Dem committeeman Ralph Capparelli's money maker! So , when I win this race, I will have the office to to build a opposition block to the Daley Organized Crime family.
1. The logic flaw is that there was a projected vilification of Shorter in my comment, whereas Mick was just stating facts. It was not a good use of the communual 'we' on my part- if the we was not me, not you, than whom? It's almost like I was projecting what the response from a general public could be, and then debating against it.
2. No elaboration. So you can breakdown my comment, offering no insights of your own but just more questions? Your questions are sound, that's the only reason I'm answering them, but I won't elaborate on why I feel like I make no sense sometimes. I'll save that for therapy. Make mental note to see if insurance covers it.
3. Yikes. I did not mean that at all, and yes I see now how it could be misconstrued. By added exposure I meant advertising. If one side of the flyer advertises a show, and the other a politician, there is an implied endorsement on the part of the reader, is there not? Isn't this what this entire blog posting is about, trying to get to the root of why Moore was on this flyer?
And you say "I would never claim to make sense. Never really have, never really will... ", yet proceed to make sense.
No need for therapy, just a bit more confidence in yourself.
After all, we, as in each and every one of us, live our lives as we see fit, even when we are choosing to occasionally allow others to define what is, or is not, fit.
That is the joy and challenge of being free.
Sentient Beings.
We Think, Therefore, We Are?
Are What, as in What might we be?
We know They are, but What are We?
Who, What, Where, When, Why, How.
To Ponder, To Wonder, To Think.
To Consider, To Question, To Muse.
The Image-Nation.
To Feed, To Rest, To Fight or Flee.
Create, Destroy, what matters, me?
Begin, Decease, some time to see.
And then we start all over again.
The Infinite Puzzle of Existence.
We are nothing without thinking
Yet w/ thinking
We
Sense
We
Could be
Might be
Nothing
Or…. less than
Or….. more than
Or… too much
Or…. too fast,
Introducing Thoughts!,
A unique by-product
Brought to you by Thinking
We know what we Are
Do They?
If we Think
Enough
We are They
& they are Us
Are We More
Or Less?
Who, What, When, Where, & Why
Fact! Facts! Facts!
A Dickens reference
In a Dickinson World
Face the Image-Nation
With Imagination
& Be left
With Cents
In a pocket
Jingle jangling
Leaving a penny,
Taking a penny--
Free trade.
"The living knew themselves just sentient puppets on God's stage" (T.E. Lawrence).
Perhaps all we can hope for is that God is enjoying the show...... whether we are or not.
Tell your plumber friend, thanks for the Xmas Ticket list from Jimmy Stroden. I'm going to use that list to send out invitations to my Fundraiser at Brian Burkross house in DesPlaines.Thats just across the street from 1964 Everett. You know that! IG does too!
So, the mayor can own multiple residences, the aldermen can own multiple residences, many appointed and patronage 'workers' can own multiple residences, all claiming their city property as the place where they 'live', yet, when someone who has been, is, and will be so effective at exposing graft, incompetence and corruption dares to own more than one piece of property, he's presumed to be 'in violation' of city residence requirements?
Sorry, Charlie, only the BEST get to be Star Kissed.
"it's another thing to lie!!!!"
You mean like the mayor, when he says, more often then one can remember, "I don' know nuttin'!!!"?
Or the aldermen, when they say "We are looking out for the best interests of the citizens."?
Or you clout hack flunkies, when you say "Da Mare is da bestist Mare evah!!"?
Is that what you mean?
We don't have to enjoy the show, just go through the lines/motions, exit stage left, then do it again the next show, kind of like puppets. God is the director in the back row wondering why he picked the cast he did. I doubt he's praising any of our performances.
"I doubt he's praising any of our performances."
That would depend upon 'his/her' preferred flavor of entertainment.
If we simply use our actual experiences, we might conclude that 'God' is entertained in every which way, given the variety and range of our experienced realities.
I've got this funny feeling that, being an infinitely complex personality, God enjoys everything we do, whether for each other or to each other.
It's we who have a penchant for discriminating between what we like and dislike, want and don't want, and choose to do or not do.
At least we might be sure we never disappoint.
By preferred flavor of entertainment are you referring to religion?
I just don't think God would be too impressed- by man/woman. I would think he'd look at us all like works in progress, a 'bad rehearsal makes a good performance' kind of thing... maybe this is a harsh view of God- a God more of Judgment than mercy.
What happens here on earth is not to be overblown. We are not to think too highly of ourselves. When reality is good to us we need to not let ego get the best of us. When reality blows we need to look past it and not fall prey to vice and excuses.
"At least we might be sure we never disappoint."
Please clarify. Never disappointing whom? Ourselves? Those close to us? God?
Unrelated but kind of related news: Just watched the documentary, Bonhoeffer, about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was an amazing man. He was the first to speak out against Hitler, in a radio speech called "God is my Fuhrer," which was cut from the broadcasting airwaves as he spoke... What gave me the chills was the footage of the era, and the fact that the economic conditions leading up to the war in Germany were not much different than what's happening here, right now, slowly, and on a much larger scale...
"By preferred flavor of entertainment are you referring to religion?"
No.
I'm referring to everything we are capable of perceiving, everything every other life form is capable of perceiving and everything only God is capable of perceiving, which, presumably includes all of our, as in human beings, potential, and actual, perceptions, experiences, sense based, thoughts, feelings, etc., and all of every other form of conscious life, down to the last sub-atomic particle, of the last atom, of the last molecule, ad infinitum.
Everything.
Everywhere.
Infinity, being a concept we are, by definition, incapable of experiencing, (being we are observably finite), yet we somehow have the concept to consider.
So, God has the mother of all cable services.
"At least we might be sure we never disappoint."
I hope we, as in all living, sentient beings, having been created by God, would be able to be confident that God, being perfect, has made us just as he wants us to be, in all our various forms and with all our various activities.
To wonder if God is displeased, with the uses to which we have put our 'free will', is to believe it possible for God, a perfect being, to have NOT created what, to God, IS perfection, (regardless of how much we, as created-by-God sentient beings, find this world to be imperfect, our fellow created beings to be acting imperfectly, all, perhaps, the result of our perceptions being from our imperfect perspectives.)
Thus, while we often disappoint each other, (whatever definition of each other one chooses to embrace), it is unlikely that we disappoint our perfect creator, with the presumption being that our creator is God and that God is perfect and, thus, has created a perfect creation, (we, being an incredibly small portion of same.).
In a very real sense, to God, everything IS beautiful, in it's own way, period.
Everything.
Everywhere.
Throughout infinite time, with the concept of time being an invalid reality to God.
It's just we, (those sentient beings created by the perfect God), who, (from time to time, situation to situation, experience to experience), find that some experiences are more welcome than others and some are much less.
What we may take comfort in, in times of experiences less desirable than others, is that, sooner or later, we get to exit the stage, at least for some time, to catch a break from being the apparent performers we've been created to be.
I wonder if God offers a decent retirement plan.
"I wonder if God offers a decent retirement plan."
Hopefully, although I would not bank on any decent retirement plan in these times, even those offered by God. He might convert to euros, too.
Thanks for the response. I wish I were clear-headed enough to understand it completely, but after some sleep I look forward to re-visiting your comment in the morning.
By the way, the "perfect" soundtrack to reading and re-reading, and trying to make sense of your comments is Jeff Buckley's, "Hallelujah."
Moving on...
By wondering if God is displeasing I am- by your philosophy- almost insulting God, as even though some of us may consider ourselves imperfect on this apparent stage we are actually, in fact, all perfectly flawed in God’s eyes, with an emphasis on the perfect part.
Masochistic people envision God as displeasing because if a Bit o' God really is inside each of us (which i believe), than those of us that do not love ourselves enough also might have that feeling that the God within us does not love or approve of us, either…
This brings up the question of who/what exactly is God. If Jesus is God’s son, than those that obviously want to feel close to God would worship his son, the closest human form to God that walked the earth.
To Christians, Jesus is the messiah, yet for Jews, they are still waiting for the messiah. They set a table setting for Elijah the prophet each Passover, hoping he might stop in (he doesn’t), and they are in fact a people still searching for the messiah, which in many was I think is a very good thing. It keeps Jews on their toes, not having this messiah, and it inspires Jews to be ever questioning, and debating, and philosophizing, etc. This lack of a messiah and inner peace that supposedly comes with knowing a messiah is probably also why Jews can be restless, and a bit neurotic, which like I said, is a good thing on many levels.
“Throughout infinite time, with the concept of time being an invalid reality to God.”
I think we as sentient beings subscribe too much meaning to the concept of time. If it’s invalid to God, time should be an afterthought to us!! Many are obsessed with growing old, fearful of dying, and dreading that inevitable “exit (or exist?) stage left” that will come to all of us. We wonder if we are “wasting time,” or if should be doing something else with our oh-so-important lives, or speculate if time has been good to us or bad to us. We dread the fact that time has passed and we are not where we envisioned ourselves to be at a certain point in time…. It could go on, and on, and on…. But I’ll just end with a quote from the French novelist Colette, who said, “What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”
(fyi: Colette also had an affair with her stepson. What would God say to that?)
To have a 'philosophy' implies having reached a set of final conclusions, such as 2 + 2 = 4.
In a world of less complexity, authentic final conclusions can be reached.
In a world of infinite complexity, finality is not determined by individual, finite, sentient beings, only presumed to be determined by same.
Each individual sentient being, of whatever human-observed category, conducts their business of living according to their individual 'philosophy', said philosophy being defined as whatever each individual determines it to be.
Given the observable reality that there are numerous individual sentients beings physically existing, in any given geographical area, at the same 'time', it is reasonable to conclude that conflicts, between said individuals' conducting of the business of living, will arise.
Conflicts between individual philosophies, collectively shared philosophies and individual/collective self interests.
It is for the resolving of said conflicts, in the arenas of human beings, that governments, and religions, were created, be the creators of same an all-knowing God or a variety of human beings.
There are essential aspects of consciousness that one can observe, consider and understand, within one's self and about others.
The effort to do so is dependent upon the desires of each individual, sentient being.
"What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”
Appreciating what one experiences, as one is experiencing it, in the now, is the rare occurrence, thus, so much dissatisfaction being experienced by those conscious of their own existence.
We, as in those sentient beings conscious of their own existence, experience our existence in the now, experience our past now's as memories, and speculate on our possible future now's as imagining possibilities.
We seek to continue, to survive, to endure and, thus, we strive to learn from our past experiences of now, the now's that have been, through remembering, apply what we've learned to our present experiencing of now, the now that is, and plan/speculate on our future experiences of the now's that have yet to be.
Thus, we live our lives.
Religions and philosophies, abound.
Each individual sentient being determines what collectively shared philosophy/religion they choose to embrace, if any, and, thus, in reality, defines what they believe to be truth.
That is the nature, and responsibility, of 'free will'.
The results of our actions, based on our embraced philosophies, provide us with much evidence as to the nature and qualities of said philosophies/religions.
An examination of the contents of any given religion/philosophy and an observation of the actions of those who purport to embrace same, provide us with the possibility of determining any inconsistencies between the beliefs claimed to be embraced and the actions of those who assert said claims.
What might our living experiences be like, were we not so adept at deceiving ourselves?
And, what might our individual perspectives be like, were we not so attracted to only seeing what we want to see, regardless of whether or not we are seeing what actually is?
The concept of "Judge Not, Lest Thee Be Judged" comes to mind, as well as "Seek, and Ye Shall Find", "Ask, and It Shall Be Answered", "Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself" and "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You".
Religions, as philosophies or as faiths, fulfill their purported functions only to the degree that those who embrace them sincerely, and honestly, understand and apply their tenants.
Another observation, concerning the human species, is that there are, at any given time and in any given place, typically three types of perspectives, namely:
1-Those whose natures are primarily helpful
2-Those whose natures are primarily hurtful
3-Those whose natures are primarily opportunistic
Naturally helpful human beings are observably in the minority.
Naturally hurtful human beings are also, at this point in time, observably in the minority.
Naturally opportunistic human beings are observably in the majority.
Those whose natures are primarily opportunistic will choose to act helpfully or hurtfully, depending upon which behavior is, all things considered, the most beneficial to their individual desires.
Those whose natures are primarily helpful will, typically, choose to act to help others, even when the helping of others is not all that beneficial to themselves.
Those whose natures are primarily hurtful will tend to choose to act to hurt others, even when the hurting of others results in harm also coming to themselves.
Our experience of existence is always one of possibilities, even when the range of possibilities appears to be limited.
Since, in the 'end', we all must perish, one wonders why more people don't find it more desirable to 'be nice', than to 'be nasty', to 'be fair' than to be 'unfair', to 'be honest' than to 'be dishonest', to 'be good' than to 'be bad', etc.....
It may all come down to the blessing, and curse, of 'free will'.........
The blessing part of 'free will' stems from implied choice, and the gift/curse of a conscious means that we possess the capabilities to engineer our own unique perspectives, and base our actions on those visions of our reality, and where we see ourselves in the 'realm of possibility' aka the future.
Free will, at least to me, seems to be a curse (and a burden) only when we feel helpless amid the heaviness of living, which can happen to all of us at different points in our lives.
Religion, whichever one you subscribe to, if any, serves as a comfort and a guide in an optimal world. And yes, free will is also a responsibility/privilege, one that is meant (in an ideal world) to free the soul and not suppress it.
"The business of living"
I like this statement. It *is* a business. Our "returns" are measured in the depth and breadth of our experiences. Perhaps we feel 'bankrupt' when we have failed ourselves, or someone else. Yet we need those bankruptcies... Is there any true light without knowing darkness?
Tracy Chapman sings, "If this day was all that's promised to you, do you live for the future, the present, the past?"
It's an interesting question. Like Lord Byron wrote, we are a part of all we have met, and our perspectives on our past, our present/now, and future are shaped by our experiences and interactions with others, those we have met, and those we hope to meet whether or not they exist or are in fact just better versions of ourselves (Is that not the purpose of the new year resolution tradition- to engineer a better version of ourselves...?)
"Since, in the 'end', we all must perish, one wonders why more people don't find it more desirable to 'be nice', than to 'be nasty', to 'be fair' than to be 'unfair', to 'be honest' than to 'be dishonest', to 'be good' than to 'be bad', etc..."
Yes, one does wonder these things! By nature, however, we are opportunistic and selfish beings, as you more of less indicated, and much of our energy is devoted to trying to curb these selfish and opportunistic instincts, and to live lives that, in the 'end' we can be proud of.
Humans are motivated by 'Looking Good' and will do anything possible to not 'Look Bad.'
Why does a man who abuses his daughter sit in the front pew on Sunday? (looking good!)
Why does the guy who takes advantage of his date make a point of letting her know he's volunteering at a soup kitchen on Christmas? (Hey, I'm not really a creep!)
We are constantly shouting out messages to each other, through our actions, and ultimately our words and the words of whatever religious doctrine we subscribe to mean nothing without authenticity and follow through, and consistency between what we purport to be and what we are.
This fine evening I had an opportunity to accompany a family member and her friend to a casino resort hotel in Indiana. "You can read a book! Sit by the pool..." my family member eager to play the slots said, trying to cheer me up and sell me on this fantastic idea. Another friend told me about a dance called the "Matzoh Ball" for urban, hip Jewish singletons.
Yet, being mindful of my past
(where I learned through experience it's sometimes worse to feel alone within company than alone within one's surroundings), and present (I'm enjoying music and wine and yes I'll admit blogging at this moment) I decided to vote for none of the above and stay home.
It all comes down to choices, indeed, and in the 'end' we are a living by-product of our choices, for better or for worse....
"It is for the resolving of said conflicts, in the arenas of human beings, that governments, and religions, were created, be the creators of same an all-knowing God or a variety of human beings. "
i think it is *because* of such conflicts that govt, religion, and other institutions were created. None of these institutions have really solved anyhing, they've just re-affirmed that we need factions and camps and schools and teams of thoughts, as all of these constructions are really modern day forms of tribes.
The 'curse' part of free will is more often found in the uses to which others put their free will, as in those others attempting to impose their desires upon 'us', many of 'us' who may both not attempt to impose 'our' desires on others and simply seek to 'mind our own business', striving to live 'our' lives in such a way as to do no harm and to avoid being harmed by the actions of others. A difficult goal to achieve, but worth the effort, nonetheless.
While I didn't exactly intend for the word business to mean what you took it to mean, more like busy-ness was my intention, your understanding is an interesting one.
Light is real, and the absence of light is what we perceive as darkness.
Light has substance and darkness is the experience of the lack of said substance, even though said absence often feels as if it has weight and substance.
The simple adage of "It is always darkest just before the dawn", comes to mind.
So, yes, there is true light without darkness, (the absence of light), it's the appreciation of light that the absence of same is often needed to inspire.
There's a Spanish word, sabor, which means, I believe, to savor.
That's appreciation of life, the savoring of every experience, whether said experience was welcome or unwelcome, enjoyed or endured, sought after or fled from, desired or rejected, positive or negative, attractive or repulsive, etc.
Savor life, appreciate what has been and is, and strive to appreciate what may be.
We live until we die and then see what comes next.
It's all an adventure.
I agree. It/Life is an adventure, to be appreciated.
Mary Oliver says it better than most anyone.
I do not know exactly what a prayer is/ I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down/ into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,/ how to be idle and blessed,/ how to stroll through the fields/ which is what I have been doing all day./ Tell me, what else should I have done?/ Doesn't everyone die at last, and too soon?/ Tell me, what is it you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?
-by mary oliver
I like your interpretation of curse better.
Not as if I'm very far in this book, but I am reading Betraying Spinoza, the Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity, and it appears as if Spinoza was a big proponent of reason over religion, and not imposing one's views on others. He was also shunned for his views, and considered a heretic. He was not outspoken, and even went to help his father out in the dried fruit business after graduating from yeshiva. Spinoza also turned down a professorship, as he craved peace, which he felt he could better enjoy by not lecturing in public.
"The 'curse' part of free will is more often found in the uses to which others put their free will, as in those others attempting to impose their desires upon 'us', many of 'us' who may both not attempt to impose 'our' desires on others and simply seek to 'mind our own business', striving to live 'our' lives in such a way as to do no harm and to avoid being harmed by the actions of others. A difficult goal to achieve, but worth the effort, nonetheless.
Tell this to the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Mormons that baptize names of the dead!
"Tell this to the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Mormons that baptize names of the dead!"
Now that would be what those who believe they have a right or responsibility to impose their perspectives on others would do, not I.
I merely propose, leaving others to ponder, and possibly compose or dispose, as they wish.
Teaching by example has always been more effective than by "do as I say, not as I do".
Lessons learned from those who have done stay with us far longer than lessons taught by mere lip service.
As they say, talk is cheap and thoughts are priceless.
We could be a country of the richest people on the planet, if only we placed a higher value on thinking and an appropriately lower value on ignorance.
Just a thought.
Once again, I see your point. I won't tell you to forgive me for getting all excited about the witnesses and the Mormans, as that's just the way I am, in commenting and in life, but sometimes I should stop and filter my thoughts or risk a stream of ignorance commenting forth... Alas, this is the risk I take for being open.
Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. Thoughts are indeed priceless, and in our society increasingly rare. Or so it seems.
Oh my- the neighbors are beating the beejesus outta each other again as I type this. Yikes. I could have predicted this, after all it's a holiday.
To err is human, to forgive, divine, or so it is said.
Perhaps the hardest thing to do is to forgive yourself.
That's where 'Judge Not, Lest Thee Be Judged' comes into play.
Try to remember that rarely do people do things they do not, in some way, or for some reason, want to do.
It's when force is imposed upon others that free will is being misused, even, or especially, when done under the auspices of 'the ends justify the means'.
People will, in general, find a way to be miserable, if being miserable is what they desire, just as they will find a way to be happy, if being happy is what they long to be.
I find it more prudent to only interfere with the business of others when it's necessary to prevent loss of life.
Damaged property can be replaced and wounds can heal.
For some, their maximum level of misery must be reached before it dawns on them that they are miserable.
For others, the thought of potential misery is enough motivation to think about how to avoid same.
And we can always learn from the erroneous actions of those we observe.
If we're paying attention.
I agree with only interfering if there is a need to prevent loss of life.
Over the summer I wrote about these neighbors, and the title was, "Like a Good Neighbor, I Say Nothing."
Some people strongly disagreed. Others agreed. In any case, I do believe we can learn from observation/paying attention, and that for some people they must be miserable or act in such a way because that is the only way that they know. I would think that it would never occur to them that what's occurring is miserable, as it is their reality, and on their stage the brutality is perhaps "normal."
What is a maximum level of misery? Death?
"Try to remember that rarely do people do things they do not, in some way, or for some reason, want to do."
I am curious as to your thoughts on things that people want to do, and what it means if they are avoiding these things? Do you believe that if a person really wanted to do something, that he/she would find a way to do it? And what if they don't? What then does it say about a person?
And not to skip around, but yes, forgiving oneself if the most difficult thing to do. 'Judge Not, Lest Thee Be Judged' is sound.
Proverb 27, from the Hebrew scriptures, Kethuvim, pasted below. This is an excerpt:
Do not boast of tomorrow,
For you do not know what the day will bring.
Let the mouth of another praise you, not yours,
The lips of a stranger, not your own.
A stone has weight, sand is heavy,
But a fool's vexation outweighs them both.
So much wisdom, found in history, truly religious writings, and the like, and, yet, so little understanding and appreciation of same to be found in so many of our fellow human beings. (Your neighbors, presumably)
"I am curious as to your thoughts on things that people want to do, and what it means if they are avoiding these things? Do you believe that if a person really wanted to do something, that he/she would find a way to do it? And what if they don't? What then does it say about a person?"
First, recognize that the more intelligent a person is, the more complex, and potentially contradictory and potentially conflicting their mind, heart and soul will be.
Much easier to have a one-track mind, than to have a thousand + track mind.
Also, much more boring, or less interesting, if you prefer.
Without disregarding the obvious factor, of some people's propensity for finding it to be their self-appointed business to interfere with the lives of others, I've found that there is no higher authority defining what is right for me other than me.
As one important part of who I happen to be is my having respect for the right of others to be who they choose to be, (as long as who they choose to be does not result in their imposing their wills upon others, including me), I've found that the only internal obstacles to me doing, or attempting to do, what I find desirable to do, are those commonly referred to as 'morals', 'codes of honor', 'ethics', 'conscience', 'common sense', etc..
That being said, even when considering those values contained within religious writings, be they Christian, Judaic, Islamic, Vedic, Buddhist, Pagan, or any other of the many historical religious teachings, in the end, one decides what specific tenants one agrees with (and what specific tenants one does not), and, thus, one still remains the definer of one's beliefs.
Those religious belief systems that insist that one embrace all, without question or disagreement, I've found to be contrary to my own sense of reason and my 'feeling', if you will, of who God must be, for God to be God.
Insane interpretations of religious texts abound, not only concerning our present day experiences with examples within Islamic religions.
One's own, personal sense of Truth is the only thing worth trusting, that I have found, to guide me in determining what 'rings true' for me.
When you ask the question "Do you believe that if a person really wanted to do something, that he/she would find a way to do it? And what if they don't? What then does it say about a person?", the saying 'Man proposes, God disposes' comes to mind.
One can only consider what one wants to do, what one may reasonably, and pragmatically, expect to be the reactions and responses of whoever one's actions might have an effect on, and the actions one can anticipate being necessary to actually do what one wants to do, then, decide if the 'risks' or efforts required are worth the 'rewards' or results.
Whatever choices/decisions we make in life, we can be confident that what we've based our decision/choice on must be what is most important to us, otherwise, we would have not based our decision/choice on it.
I have found that the activities of living can be thought to be divided into three categories:
1- Those activities which include and require another, specific person, or persons, to achieve one's desired goal.
2- Those activities which require other people, but no specific person or persons, to achieve one's goal.
3- Those activities which do not require any other person to achieve one's goal.
Most of our activities fall into the 2 and 3 categories, with most being a combination of both.
An example: We are hungry, so we buy groceries, requiring many known and unknown persons to assist us in the complicated process which has enabled us to have the food we've purchased to eat. We arrive at our home and cook the food we've purchased, (depending upon others, unknown to us, for the electricity or natural gas we've used to cook with), and eat alone. (category 2 concluding with category 3)
It's when what we want falls firmly into category 1 that life gets challenging.
Because, just as we have our own perspectives, desires, likes and dislikes, wants and needs, so do others, not usually in substantial sync or symmetry with our own.
Thus, your peaceful evening at home.
If what you want to do is truly the most important thing, this will be proved if you, at least, attempt to do it.
You have a propensity for thoughtfulness, thus, you will, no doubt, think about what you value most highly and determine your course of actions accordingly.
Should you choose to apply the values gleaned from religious writings, know that your choosing to value them, embrace them and abide by them should, in my humble opinion, be because you agree with them, not merely because you feel you should believe in them.
But, pay no attention to me, I'm not you. :)
Need I say more?
Why am I paying attention to you, anyway? :)
Because it's a free world. And I can. And on this special day I do not have to work. I awoke this morning, made a pot of coffee, and chose to visit this blog. It is amazing.
The Internet offers a cloak of anonymity. When used to libel, to say mean things that one would never say to a person's face, it is truly disheartening, yet on a peaceful night and morning where I feel no pressure to do anything but think and read, maybe two of my favorite things, better shared than not, I am thankful that there are people in this world that also share a propensity for thoughtfulness, and try to channel their thousand + track minds into whatever one wants to call this: free discourse, musings, a virtual chat around a blazing monitor.
Whatever it is, it’s enjoyable. Your comments are interesting, and I'll even admit I am not even curious as to whom you are when not assisting me in hijacking a blog thread about a politician that is no longer about a politician. I like the mystery of not knowing whom I’m communicating with, as I feel that people can be more truthful when they are anonymous. It has always been much easier for me to express myself on the page than off of it. And yes, the page can sometimes be a security blanket, but we all have our blankets, do we not?
At any given time there are so many things each of us *could* be doing, and feel like we *should* be doing, yet as you indicated we ultimately find ways to do what we *want* to do. So much guilt can be ascribed to the fact we are not doing what we feel like we should be doing, in so many areas of our lives: relationships, career choices, etc. Yet ultimately we should know deep down that we *must* be doing these things because on some level this is, indeed, what we want. Otherwise we risk coming to terms with a nadir of despair.
Though I have been accused of being jaded of late, or of not living up to my potential in creative areas (a friend tells me that blogging is a waste of my energies/talents, yet this same friends reads my blogs and wonders when/why there is a lull, so go figure) I guess that my behavior is indicative of the fact I am living my life exactly the way I want to live and to love it, and yes as you indicated earlier sometimes the ‘activities of living’ #3 is justified.
However, as inherently social beings, and in an Internet age, we must be cognizant of the fact that a desire to indulge in activities that do not require any other person to achieve one’s goals can be detrimental to one’s mental health over the long term if there is not a balanced mix of other forms of interaction. How many of us reclusive types forever hear our parents pounding at our bedroom doors and telling us to drop the damn books and go out and play? Or call that friend back? Or just suck it up and go to that dance?
"I've found that the only internal obstacles to me doing, or attempting to do, what I find desirable to do, are those commonly referred to as morals', 'codes of honor', 'ethics', 'conscience', 'common sense', etc.."
There is an interesting quote of, "Some people live and learn. Others just live."
Having a thousand + track mind can sometimes make that latter category of 'just living' an interesting ride, and of determining what is moral and what isn’t a gray area. Yet it can only be sustained for so long, as the gray turns to bold red, and the red turns to the silence of alienation, which can be deafening, and awakening. I believe that morals, conscience, ethics, and common sense come into play in the learning stage, which some people, for whatever reason, are not inclined to explore (presumably those neighbors) even after years and years of living.
“My life is made of patterns/That can scarcely be controlled”- per Simon & Garfunkel.
Breaking those patterns, changing one’s personal “story,” is not easily done, but I believe that it can be achieved. If we will it, it is no dream…. Not a dream to be a free people in the land of Jerusalem, which is where this quote originates from, but a free people within the ‘realm of possibility’ that is, in fact, created by ourselves, for ourselves, and for the betterment of enjoying this one-way trip called Life.
There is no return ticket.
"There is no return ticket."
So it may seem.
Yet, so it may not be.
If one 'uses' the thought of life being a "one-way trip" to motivate one's self to live life as fully as one defines fullness to be, (avoiding the negative of dwelling on one's missteps any more than is needed to learn from them), one can find that thinking of life, as a one-time-only experience at consciousness, to be an encouraging force for finding satisfaction in one's life choices.
One can find immense motivation in doing what one wants to do, if one's life is viewed as a 'race to the finish line', though this perspective can also be the cause of many mistakes and regretful decisions.
The perils inherent in this 'one shot' perspective are many.
One peril is the tendency to view others as mere elements in the personal road you are both building and traveling on, useful to you only to the extent that they further your goals and advance your journey's progress. Not the nicest way to perceive and relate to others.
Another peril is the feelings of desperation and urgency that may arise, should one encounter the inevitable obstacles to one's desires, and the typically less than optimal choices that flow from desperation and urgency.
Add ambition to the mix and one can find one's self so far from where one envisioned one's self to originally be, that it becomes difficult to even remember where that was in the first place.
So, balance in all things is what is most helpful, even when balance does not appear to be what will get you what you want, the emphasis being on 'appears to be'.
I recall a scene from a Bruce Lee movie, Enter the Dragon, where Lee is doing what Lee does, namely, fighting numerous 'bad' guys. He's in a tunnel-filled environment and, at some point, finds himself proceeding down a single tunnel. Suddenly, a barrier drops down in front of him, halting his forward progress. He turns around, begins to go back the way he came and another barrier drops down, trapping him. What does he do next? He sits down and waits, because that's all that is left for him to do.
Sometimes in life, we find ourselves in this position, whether we know it or not, when doing what we may think of as nothing is the only option we have. I've found it more helpful, when faced with this circumstance, to utilize the pause in activity to think, rather than to try to force movement where no movement is possible. Thus, I am more prepared to move, when movement is possible, than I might have been, had I not used my circumstance-provided 'time-out' to think, to ponder, to consider, to review, to wonder and to 'recharge my batteries'.
It all comes down to 'What do you value most?', understanding that the what part is rarely ever a single thing, yet, must, in many circumstances, actually be a single thing, when a few of the many things you truly value conflict with each other.
It's the price we pay for not being simple-minded.
Thus, the saying 'Ignorance is Bliss', at least for those who can be ignorant and like it.
I hope that you understand that options are the grease that allows the machine of living to not come to a grinding halt.
And that there are always many options available to us, no matter how few we are aware of there being from our individual point of view.
I've found this little, mental exercise to be helpful:
First, observe an object, situation, idea, etc., from the perspective commonly referred to as 1:1.
Then imagine 'zooming in', seeing the smallest portion of what you are observing, (sorta like using a microscope)., in as much detail as possible.
Then, imagine 'zooming out' as far removed from what you are observing as you can imagine, seeing the big picture, the bigger picture, the biggest picture possible.
Then see if your perspective has been expanded and improved, if you can now see more options than you had seen, when you were limited to that 1:1 perspective.
Realize that, while some aspects of life can have definitive conclusions, others may not, may only have tentative and dynamically changing moments of apparent finality.
That's the adventure part of existence.
And, I find, the most alive, as well.
I try not to back myself into a corner, as life will present me with more than enough corners as it is.
Until that time, until that time... life goes on.
Oh, and it's been a pleasure, even though it's likely that this little hijacking will soon come to an end.
:)
All good things must come to an end. I'm :) that it was good, and
:( that tomorrow I go back to trabajo. My guess is that you are employed as well, and also recognize that we need to make a landing somewhere fast, or Kate and Mick will begin shooting at us, or simply kill the commenting with a swift push of the delete button, which is fine (and encouraged) by me.
I was going to respond in full, as I have many thoughts on your thoughts- surprise!- but will be editing photos soon. A friend called, and on the long walk over I decided to capture santas in captivity behind storefront windows.
Then I went on a cat-sitting adventure, where I realized my friend who is out of town for a week has a tree, and I am the only one (outside of her cat) on this earth able to appreciate her Christmas tree on this day, and so I felt the need to enjoy some cable television, and keep the tree company.
But this is all too biographical. A true hijacker never leaves clues.
"One can find immense motivation in doing what one wants to do, if one's life is viewed as a 'race to the finish line', though this perspective can also be the cause of many mistakes and regretful decisions."
I agree. Life is not a race, nor an express bus/train ride... opportunism and ambition do not have to be the same thing... mentors can be partners and not "stepping stones"... the 1:1 perspective exercise sounds helpful... the thousand + track mind needs all the help it can get... and “Ignorance is bliss is now!” was my mantra this past fall, though I was really half-joking, really. The field I work in encourages us to have a "sense of urgency" which can skew things, and promote an insta-grat lifestyle if one does not keep his/her actions in check.
“ Realize that, while some aspects of life can have definitive conclusions, others may not, may only have tentative and dynamically changing moments of apparent finality.
That's the adventure part of existence.
And, I find, the most alive, as well.
I try not to back myself into a corner, as life will present me with more than enough corners as it is.
Until that time, until that time... life goes on.”
Yes, it (life) does go on. I hope to look back one day, and marvel at what a long, strange trip it has been. It might just be about the journey, and not the destination.
"It might just be about the journey, and not the destination."
It can be both, if one recognizes, and chooses it to be so.
And why not enjoy both?
After all, both are life.
And each of our lives are defined by what we choose them to be defined by.
Be yourself, always.
Just remember this when you are being the self you never thought you could be, would be or ever wanted to be, as well as when you are being the self that you thought you always were.
Because, even you can be a surprise to you, surprising as that may be.
Vaya Con Dios. :)
Muchas Gracias, Monsignor...
And yes, life can be both a journey, and a destination, I suppose. You can have the last bit o' wisdom. After all, Bruce Lee could kick Tracy Chapman's ass. But this is not a fight, just discourse... Blogging is the new debate club. :)
I was thinking of the wisdom of the Brothers Grimm, as in, even Cinderella had until midnight.
Feel free to have the last word(s), as you've piqued my curiosity concerning "I was going to respond in full...".
Just remember one of us will turn back into a pumpkin in about 100 minutes or so......
pumpkins, hmmm.
sorry, my brain is fried from working on photos. it feels like a mushy pumpkin, but i will NOT be a pumpkin. :)
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