SUSTAIN YOURSELF!!!

     One doesn't have to be a "conspiracy theorist" to see there is more than meets the eye in today's world. After "waking up" it's easy to follow the money trail and the countless associations between politics and big business. It's getting to the point where it's obvious. No longer do the elite few even try to go to elaborate lengths to deceive or manipulate the masses. They don't have to...

     Look at the world around you. It is a product of human nature. People's choices have constructed a modern non-fiction novel without the vivid imaginations of George Orwell or Ray Bradbury. Their warnings have been ignored. They dreamed of it and wrote about it- we're living it. The gears of the machine have been turning, slowly but steadily, and it's pace has been quickened by our apathy and indifference. For we have become products of our time- consumers consumed with ourselves.

     Like Bob Dylan wrote, the times, they are a changin'. Seemingly overnight, without our conscious consent, our worst fears have unlocked the closet door. They don't have to say anything, our minds produce a terror unmatched to any script. The man in the mirror only reflects our perception anyway. Our cries in the night go unnoticed. We can only save ourselves. The call to action is our only resolve. Our survival depends on the stroke of our pens, pencils and keys- for we are the authors of this story, and we've got a deadline...

     Change is our agenda, let's look at theirs- the agenda for the 21st century: AGENDA 21. So what is "Agenda 21?" It started at the Earth Summit UN conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Since it's inception, it has been modified at subsequent conferences and implemented at an international, national, regional and local level. One hundred and seventy eight countries adopted the program, and there's only one hundred and ninety six countries in the world total. I believe with those numbers, if you are reading this, you are most definitely affected.

     So what is it? Well, by definition, Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations, in a 300 page document, divided into 40 chapters, with 4 sections, all devoted to "sustainable developement." Section 1 is directed at combating poverty, changing consumption patterns, promoting health, achieving a more sustainable population and sustainable settlement in decision making. Section 2 includes atmospheric protection, combating deforestation, protecting fragile environments, conservation of biodiversity, control of pollution and management of biotechnology and radioactive wastes. Section 3 discusses the roles of our youth, women, NGO's local authorities, business, workers and strengthening the role of indigenous peoples, their communities and farmers. Section 4 is the implementation of science, technology transfer, education and financial mechanisms...

     At first glance, this might seem like a good thing. I think we would all have to agree these are issues that need addressing. Of course, we've all heard you can't judge a book by it's cover and that wolves come in sheep's clothing. The Agenda for the 21st century has become quite the controversy over the last two decades. In our pursuit of truth, perhaps we should look at the "results" of such an endeavor, rather than just the table of contents.

     Have you ever considered that perhaps the UN bypasses our nation's laws? That perhaps Congress isn't involved for a reason? Could it be that the voice of the people has no affect there? Let's review the UN's stance on land for example... "Land cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market. Private land ownership is also a principle instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injustice; if unchecked, it may become a major obstacle in the planning and implementation of development schemes. The provision of decent dwellings and healthy conditions for the people can only be achieved if land is used in the interest of society as a whole."

     Hmmm... So this is starting to sound a little bit different than at the beginning. Many are arguing that this is just a well contrived plan to implement worldwide socialism. Mind you, entire books, publications, blogs, shows and other means are dedicated to this. This is just a scratch on the surface. If you haven't researched Agenda 21- you definitely should. Learning that there's a global plan to take away privately owned land is just the beginning. The International Council of Local Environmental Issues (ICLEI) is a powerhouse funding this project and it might serve you well to go to their website and see if your community is one of the 600 cities, towns and counties that's part of their network in America.

     The trail of money isn't limited to ICLEI either. We've talked about the Rockerfellers before, and we KNOW what their intentions are- remember Memoirs? They don't hide the fact that they have a plan for a New World Order, and they could care less what any person or government thinks or says about it. It might be a good idea (hint, hint) to start researching GMO's (genetically modified organisms), vaccines and chemtrails.

     While you're jaw's dropping, go ahead and research the Ludlow Massacre and the Endangered Species Act. You should not stop there. Perhaps you should look into Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer CropScience and Cargill- start with the money trail and look at your dinner plate. You might just start looking into foraging for wild, edible plants afterwards. If that doesn't sell you, check out our national healthcare statistics in relation to causes of death and diseases over the last few decades.

     It might interest you to find out there's a global plan specifically targeting the U.S. to control the population numbers with the very things they depend on everyday to sustain themselves- like food, water and air. Did you know GMO's are illegal everywhere EXCEPT THE U.S? Have you checked out the latest water reports to see a list of over 60,000 chemicals, whose properties haven't been tested for safety, which are polluting it? Did you know air is the most important basic need in a survival situation? Just three minutes without it- game over. Ever wondered about those jet stream lines in the sky? Better stop lookin down and start lookin up.

     Remember that these people are also responsible for the Federal Reserve and energy supplied through our dependency on oil. Petroleum products dominate our lives, and not just in our vehicles and houses- it's in more than you could imagine. Guess who owns Standard Oil? Guess who started and funds the International Service for the Acquisition Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)? Guess who established marijuana as a Schedule 1 Narcotic in 1973 known as part of the "Rockefeller Drug Laws?"

     Could it be that hemp is a low maintenance plant, needing no pesticides or herbicides? Could it be that hemp produces oil, paper products, biodegradeable plastics, medicine, textiles, ropes, clothes, medicines and even be a "super food?" I didn't even mention it's effect on the the quality of the environment and our air. Perhaps this crop "threatened" a few industries owned by the Rockefellers? I once again return to page 405 of David Rockefeller's "Memoirs." I've said it before, none of this is a conspiracy against the horse, when it comes from the horses mouth himself... Read it.

     Speaking of the horses mouth, read this speech from Bill Gates. "The current population of the world is 6.8 billion people... that's headed up to about 9 billion. Now if we do a really great job on new vaccines, health care, reproductive health services, we could lower that number by perhaps 10 or 15%...."(Perhaps you should read that out loud one more time) If you would like to hear it, I encourage you to look it up on YouTube. Ted Turner has also been quoted as saying, "A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present level would be ideal." Need I remind you where these men stand in terms of wealth, land ownership and the types of businesses they own? Follow the money trail down the rabbit hole and watch your head.

     Here's some other quotes that might interest you:

-In order to stabilize world population, we must eliminate 350,000 a day. It is a horrible thing to say, but it is just as bad as not saying it. -Jacques Cousteau, UNESCO courier

-Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the third world, because the U.S. economy will require large amounts of minerals from abroad, especially from less developed countries. The world population needs to be decreased by 50%. The elderly are useless eaters. -Henry Kissinger

-Isn't the only hope for the planet that the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isn't it our responsibility to bring that about? -Maurice Strong, founder of the UN Environment Programme

-The Planetary Regime might be given responsibility for determining the optimum population for the world and for each region and for arbitrating various countries' shares within their regional limits. Control of population size might remain the responsibility of each government, but the Regime would have some power to enforce the agreed limits. -John P. Holdren, Obama's Ecoscience Czar

-We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right crisis and the nations will receive the New World Order. -David Rockefeller

-A reasonable estimate for an industrialized world society at the present North American material standard of living would be 1 Billion. At the more frugal European standard of living, 2-3 Billion would be possible. -UN Biodiversity Assessment

-The present vast overpopulation, now far beyond the world carrying capacity, cannot be answered by future reductions in the birth rate due to contraception, sterilization and abortion, but must be met in the present by the reduction of numbers presently existing. THIS MUST BE DONE BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. -Initiative of the United Nations, ECO 92 Earth Charter


     Did you know there is actually a U.N. treaty entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques Approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1976?" I suppose you might not have known, we have the ability to actually control the weather and use it as a weapon. You might be saying that's impossible, yet why is there a treaty prohibiting it? Imagine if we had close to 200 antennas capable of broadcasting a frequency pulse of BILLIONS of watts to heat the upper atmosphere? What if we had satellites capable of producing enough microwaves to... oh wait a minute... we do.

     Surely our government, or any other government, would never think of testing such a thing... You might want to research U.S. Patent #4,686,605 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Altering a Region in the Earth's Atmosphere, Ionosphere, and/or Magnetosphere by Bernard J. Eastlund. Then you might want to research HAARP and the RF signals recorded during Katrina and Rita. The information might just get you wondering. Surely they wouldn't use this technology as a weapon like they did with nuclear energy? Right?? I mean we have a treaty!!!

     It's no secret, there's a lot going on behind the scenes. Obviously, history reminds us with events like say, The Manhattan Project, that we are not always in the "know." That's easy to accept. It's not hard to deduce, not assume, that the government and big business are "holding hands." Remember when the housing bubble burst? The government was promoting home ownership with tax credits, subsidies and suppressed interest rates. The subsequent market bubble burst and the economy crashed. Imagine the hands of government on a much larger scale, with much larger consequences. Even our short history, reminds us what happens when government control increases. Are you really comfortable with an entity this large, with this much power, in bed with these kinds of people, with such a horrible track record, with these kinds of plans, to make these kinds of decisions?

-Obesity is at an epidemic level in the U.S. More than 66 million adults are obese, which is more than the entire population of the U.K. The result is diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and a multitude of other health related issues. The economic loss forecast for non productivity, is estimated to be between $390 -$580 Billion according to the Robert Wood Foundation. In addition, healthcare costs are scheduled to increase $66 Billion per year by 2030.

-Diabetes accounts for 10% of our total health care, and has a projected annual cost of almost $500 Billion by 2020.

-Heart disease is the largest killer of both men and women in the U.S. according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease kills more Americans than all other forms of cancer combined.

-Life expectancy is the lowest among wealthy nations due to disease in the U.S.  According to the National Institute of Health, in general, Americans have the lowest chance of surviving to age 50, when compared to all other wealthy nations. We also fared worse in nine other health related areas: infant mortality and low birth weight, injuries and homicides, teen pregnancy and STD's, HIV and AIDS, drug related deaths, obesity and diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease and disabillity.


     Now with statistics like that, what can we logically deduce about the state of American's health? Common sense would dictate that American's are getting sicker, not healthier. Is the Agenda for the 21st century really helping our sustainability? We're just looking at statistics here. Are American's breathing better air? Are American's consuming better food and water? Are the advances in the medical field really benefiting us in the long run? Has technology really increased our levels of exercise or promoted laziness? Is taking away our land supposed to "benefit the whole?" Are increased restrictions really going to help? After two decades, just exactly what have been the benefits of these plans for "sustainable development?" If results are everything, perhaps there needs to be some changes.

     Numbers don't lie, people do... Don't be dependent- be self reliant... We have the power of choice... We're giving away our freedoms and killing ourselves... We fund the very companies we're supposedly against... Can't blame them... We can only blame ourselves... Start researching and educating yourself... Make better decisions and choices... Start preparing... Get involved... Exercise and eat right... Grow your own food... The key to a healthy mind is through a healthy body... Don't just survive- thrive... SUSTAIN YOURSELF!!!
   

   
Sources:
UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat 1), preamble to Agenda Item 10 of the report
David Rockefeller- "Memoirs"
Rosie Koire- Behind the Green Mask: U.N. Agenda 21
www.sustainabilitydevelopement.un.org
www.naturalnews.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.theblaze.com
www.infowars.com
www.youtube.com
www.livestrong.com
www.huffingtonpost.com

The U.S. Government for the "Common Man"

     To make this more interesting, we're gonna label "the people" as an abused partner in a long standing relationship. We were sick of being abused by the King of England, so we got Thomas Jefferson to write a "Dear John" letter, known as the Declaration  of Independence. "Enough! You suck, here's why and bye!" We definitely didn't have a clean break, but we survived- some of us anyway. Obviously we were a little scarred from that relationship, and it showed in our first Constitution- The Articles of Confederation. We weren't so interested in giving away our power, and like a rebound relationship, it failed...

     After a few years of nursing our wounds and boosting our confidence, we got our act together, and decided the best relationship would be one where the power was divided equally. So we drafted the 2nd Constitution. It was better, but we were still a little bit scared, so we amended it, and added the Bill of Rights to "ensure" our freedoms- you know freedom of speech, our right to keep and bear arms, freedom of religion etc. Since the first ten amendments, we've added a few, and slowly but surely, because we weren't paying attention, some of our most basic rights are being threatened and taken away. Before we repeat history again, perhaps we should review a little how things are set up...(I'm thinkin' we might wanna keep the "house" this time.)

     Our government (Federalism-Division of power), is divided into 3 categories. The Legislative Branch makes laws for the nation. The main body of this branch is the Congress, which is divided into 2 parts- the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Executive Branch makes sure the laws from the former, are followed. The President, Vice-President and the "Cabinet" (15 members who offer advice on "important decisions") head up this branch. The Judicial Branch is made up of a series of courts- the highest court is the Supreme Court, which interprets the nation's laws and acts accordingly...

     So what are the "laws" and how are they passed? National Laws are laws everyone has to follow, while individual State Laws are only good in those individual states. National Laws are passed in Congress, and then signed into law by the President. In order to make a law, a "Bill," or draft is written of a proposed law, and then passed out to each Senator. A "Standing Committee" (legislators) review the bill and does one of 3 things: 1. Sends the proposed Bill back with no changes. 2. Makes changes and sends it back. 3. Tables it(does nothing). If there were no changes, the proposed Bill gets penciled into the Senate's calendar, and the majority(over half) have to agree for it to slide to the House of Representatives. It then goes through the same process before it gets a date with the President. He can pass the Bill or reject the Bill(veto). If he rejects it, the Bill can still become law with 2/3rds of the Senate and 2/3rds of the House votes(super majority). It can also become law if the President doesn't sign it for 10 days...

     Obviously, it's important who makes up these Bills and who passes them into Law. So how does that happen? The President is Commander in Chief, and is a pretty important person, so we control who gets that esteemed and powerful position with our votes right? Wrong. Say hello to the "Electoral College." Under Article 2, we have an "Indirect Democracy." In other words, this power doesn't rest with the people, it rests with "proportional representation." Since 1964, the first candidate to get to 270 Electoral College votes, wins. The "popular vote" doesn't elect the President, the Electoral College elects the President.

    Only in theory does the "popular vote" elect the President.  Doesn't matter if the scales are off. A President can still win even if he doesn't win the "popular vote." Remind you of any past election?.. In short, our forefathers always knew the country would be divided into "factions" in some way, and they didn't want to give any certain "faction" that  kind of power- so they compromised, and set up a "filter." This power is reserved for an "elite few." Technically, the Electoral College doesn't have to vote with the "popular vote"- only the "Unwritten Constitution" states that... If no candidate gets 270, the House of Representatives votes in the President- this shows our forefathers lack of "trust" in a true "democracy." Better get that in your head. You live in an "Indirect Democracy." Look it up...

     Sooooo, let's talk about Presidential power- specifically "Implied Power." When the President does something not specifically delegated in the Constitution, they can claim that power IS derived from something that IS delegated. For example, something perhaps in the interests of "National Security." Some of us may not realize it, but the President doesn't declare war. Congress declares war. There hasn't been a declared war since WWII. So how have we gone to war so many times since the last major world war? Executive Power is the answer. Have you looked at the list of Executive Powers? You might want to go read my other post "Fire in the WHOLE!" to find out exactly what kind of power the Commander in Chief really has. It's very important that you know this. I repeat, this IS VERY IMPORTANT.

     All of us need to gain a better understanding and perspective of our government. The "voice of the people" does need to be heard, but it needs to be heard by educated minds. Our forefathers set up a form of government with several checks and balances, in an effort to keep America safe from itself and what it would become. It was a step in a different direction. They knew there would always be difference of opinion. They knew there would be separation and factions. They knew there needed to be change and the need for change would always be. They also knew, that change was up to us- the people.

     We also need to gain a better understanding of the people who founded our government. Twenty four of the signers of the Declaration, were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, while nine of them were farmers and large plantation owners. They were men of means, yet they all accepted penalty of death for their actions if captured. Many of these men died and many of them suffered- greatly. We don't hear or read of their sacrifices enough. It would serve you well to research their lives. They valued liberty with their lives for our future security. We should honor their deaths with our very lives. It is our turn. This is our time. We have been sleeping, and the rooster beckons us to wake. Time waits for no man...

"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family or class of men; therefore the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity and happiness require it." -John Adams

"A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government... The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first... I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." -Thomas Jefferson

     I would encourage you to read our fore-fathers words and works in your journey to understand more about our government. Read the Federalist Papers. It will open your eyes. You will see how they looked at us, government and our future as a nation. Don't limit yourself in the process either. Keep an open mind. Understand things might not be the way you were brought up to believe, or even want to believe. It's a hard pill to swallow that our fore-fathers didn't trust a true "democracy." It's difficult to believe your vote doesn't truly determine the outcome of the election of the highest position in the country. Does that mean you shouldn't vote? Absolutely not. Energy flows where attention goes. We need more people to understand not only the workings of our government, but it's history as well. Don't take any single person's word for it- find out for yourself. If you don't trust the government, you don't trust yourself. At the core of the institutions of man, is man himself. If we want change, we have to change- Revolution begins with us.

     The fate of our future, lies in our hands. Everyday, we are losing more of our freedoms from a machine our founders tried to slow down. They knew if we became complacent, the worst could happen. It is happening. Don't fool yourself into thinking this doesn't deserve your attention. IT DOES. There will come a time when you will have to make difficult decisions and you had better know where you stand when you have to make those decisions. Make sure you review history- It is the forecast of things to come. The state of the world is at critical mass. Whether you to choose to face it or willfully ignore it, is up to you. Make sure that YOU WILL BE AFFECTED WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE OR NOT. Get involved and make a difference while you can. Don't worry about where you start or how you start. Start somewhere. Start now. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Ghandi

Sources:
www.usa.gov
www.wikipedia.com
www.bensguide.gpo.gov
www.dojgov.net
www.youtube.com -Hip Hughes History
The Declaration of Independence (found in a series of books by the Great Books Foundation)
The Articles of Confederation
The United States Constitution
The Federalist Papers (specifically Fed 10)

Progress Report

*According to Pearson's Education Firm, in their global report on education, the United States places 17th in the developed world. Finland ranked the highest, followed by South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

*According to PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), who compares the knowledge and skills of 15-yr.olds in 70 countries, ranked the U.S. 14th for reading skills, 17th for science skills and 25th for mathematical skill. The report on the U.S. reveals we have fallen behind in the percentage of 15-yr.olds who are enrolled in school, ranking third from the bottom, above only Mexico and Turkey. The report also shows only eight countries have a lower high school graduation rate than the U.S., and as far as college graduates, the U.S. has slipped from 2nd to 13th.

*In 1966-67, of the 1.4 million students who took the verbal section of the S.A.T., a score of 700 or better, was achieved by 33,000... In 1986-87, of the 1.8 million students who took the verbal section of the S.A.T., a score of 700 or better was achieved by less than 14,000 students.

*In a recent Newsweek poll, 30% of the U.S. citizens didn't know who the vice-president was, and almost 50% of the U.S. citizens could not describe the Bill of Rights.

*According to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affair's civic education poll for public school students, 77% didn't know George Washington was the first President; couldn't name Thomas Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence and only 2.8% actually passed the citizenship test. Along similar lines, the Goldwater Institute of Phoenix did the same survey, and only 3.5% of the students passed the civics test.

*According to Gallup Polls, on the eve of the Iraq War, 69% of American's thought Saddam Hussein was responsible and/or involved in the 9/11 attacks. After four years, that number didn't even decrease by 50%.

*The Global Education study places 16 other industrialized countries higher than the U.S. in science and 23 other industrialized countries higher than the U.S. in math.

*According to the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 68% of public school children do not read proficiently by the time they finish the 3rd grade; the U.S. News & World reported that barely 50% of students are ready for college level reading.

*Of the 21 countries participating in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, American high school seniors did better than only 2 countries- Cyprus and South Africa.

*According to the National Endowment of the Arts, 40% of Americans under the age of 44 did not read a single book, fiction or non-fiction, over the course of the year. The proportion of 17 yr. olds who read nothing (unless required by school) doubled just between the years of 1984-2004.

*MSNBC posted that of the high school seniors who took the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 13% showed academic performance in American history.

*According to Common Core, only 43% of high school students knew the civil war was fought sometime between 1850-1900, 25% of high school students thought Christopher Columbus made his famous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean after 1750, only 60% of high school students knew WWI was fought between 1900 and 1950 and 33% did not know that the Bill of Rights included freedom of speech and religion.

*According to the National Geographic Society, one of their surveys revealed only 37% of Americans between the ages of 18-24 could find Iraq on the map and 50% couldn't find the state of New York.

     Based on the above mentioned statistics and numbers, one could argue that America is becoming "dumbed-down." Of course, look at what successive generations have been arguing and stating for years on end. Statistics are just indicators. Rarely do people challenge the sources of statistics, data or the information presented. One could spend their entire lives assessing, comparing and arriving at conclusions based on that information and it's sources. In short, people look for data to support their way of thinking. So, in our search for Truth, what do we think?...

     One could definitely argue, based on statistics, that people are, in fact, becoming more dependent, and less self-reliant. This opinion could easily be supported based on current trends in the country. Common sense would dictate, that with the birth and growth of technology, one doesn't have to be as self-reliant as his ancestors. Obviously, with evolution, we gain both advantages and disadvantages. Our modern society simply traded one set of problems for the other. We have advanced in some areas, but we have definitely fallen short in others. Solutions may have been provided for past generations, but in turn, problems have been created for future generations.

     People often wonder, are we better off with technology? This is a double sided question. People back their opinions on average life expectancy numbers, population numbers etc., but does that really encompass the Truth? Haven't our problems just increased at the same rate overall? Are we, as humans, capable of evolving as fast as technology has? We could use our advances to solve a number of issues, yet we don't. In fact, a lot of our problems are easily solved, but controlled by other factors- on purpose. Have we used technology to our advantage, or proportionally disadvantaged ourselves at the same time?

     The institutions of man are corrupt, which means man, at the foundation, is corrupt. As long as man is corrupt, so too will be his society. Education, has always been a subject of great debate. Perhaps we're teaching the wrong subjects in school? Perhaps we're teaching subjects in the wrong order? Perhaps we're not self-educating enough out of school? The quickest way to a healthy mind, is through a healthy body, but is that belief held and practiced by the majority? Experience plays a major role in the development of one's morals and ethics, so is this factored into our educations? What about our children's educations?

     Which classes do you wish you could have taken while in school? Would they include courses in any of the following: Common sense, Logistical Reasoning, Critical & Forward Thinking, Self-Reliance, Preparedness & Survival, How Debt & Money Really Works, Developing Codes, Virtues & Ethics to Live By, Balance & Moderation in Life, Time Management, Reciprocal Relationships, Spiritual Development & Awakening, A Practical Approach To Living Within Your Means, The Pursuit of Happiness, Civil Disobedience, Environmental Awareness, Knowing Thyself 101...

     The list of things we learn through experience is quite long. We can't really appreciate what we're learning until we realize how it really affects us. If we don't use it, we lose it. How much of our education do we really retain? I would venture to say those numbers are quite astonishing and embarrassing at the same time. Of that which we do retain, how much do we "willfully ignore?" Those statistics would indicate how "dumbed-down" we really are as a whole. For example, the World Health Organization and the Academy of Sciences state beyond a shadow of doubt, cell phones cause cancer, yet statistics on this blog state that over 50% of the views come from cell phones, as opposed to other devices. We know beyond certainty, the food we consume is starving and killing us, but how many of us are actually changing our eating habits? Statistics prove not a lot of us have for sure...

     It's ironic our level of understanding as we age. Certainty turns to uncertainty. The more we seem to know, the more we seem to "not" know. What we were once so confident about, later leads way to doubt. Knowledge alone does not indicate wisdom or understanding. What works on paper, does not necessarily work in "real" life. Theoretical knowledge is vastly different than practical application of that knowledge. It's been said by our greatest minds, that our real education comes after we unlearn all that we have learned. We were taught in science about the existence of solids, yet the more one studies the universe, the more we realize that solids are simply not evidenced here. Shouldn't our opinions, thoughts etc., mirror the same universal Truth?

     So how do we measure our levels of education today? Do we base those levels on the amount of worldly goods, possessions and power we gain? Do we measure it by the world's definition of success? Is it represented in popularity? Is a privately educated student "smarter" than a publically educated student? Is a person holding multiple degrees, smarter than a person with a G.E.D? Are there "common sense" statistics available to distinguish our levels of education in our society? Even with our level of education today, history reminds us that far less advanced societies fared better than we have. Are we truly "smarter" than previous generations? Are we even smarter than our pets? I'm sure a debate could be waged for either side of the opinion. Ignorance seems to be rather rampant these days...

     In conclusion, I have determined that I came into to this world knowing nothing, and I will depart from it knowing even less. In educating myself, I can inspire and educate others through example and create positive change in the world. True education exists not only in theory, but in the application of knowledge through experience. The education of others, strengthens the whole. The level of education in a person, lies not with pieces of paper or length of time in institutions, but the effect one's education leaves in his wake. Education is merely the gateway to possibility- the possibility of learned positive change. To deny an education, is to deny myself and the lives of others. One should continually educate themselves so their education lives, even after their death- for the lessons learned in education are realized afterwards by others, and seldom by ourselves. Perhaps it's time to review our "Progress Report..."


* "Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation." -John F. Kennedy

* "Education is the progressive realization of our ignorance." -Albert Einstein

* "In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply." -Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

* "Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each." -Plato

* "The secret in education lies in respecting the student." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

* "Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity." -Aristotle

* "Education has opened many, many doors, there are still innumerable doors shut tight- unopened yet. Theses are the doors of the future. Perhaps one of my children will open one of these doors- I shall give him the key. For our children are the future..." -Unknown

   

Sources:
www.psychologytoday.com
www.gallup.com
www.americansforprosperity.org
www.endoftheamericandream.com
www.huffingtonpost.com
www.proverbia.com

Occupy Anonymous

 

        Henry David Thoreau once said that disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. He reasoned that the obedient must be slaves. He concluded that if the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then the only course of action is to break the law. Martin Luther King Jr. agreed with this way of thinking, by saying it was a "moral responsibility" to break unjust laws. Ghandi stated civil disobedience becomes a "sacred duty" when the State becomes lawless corrupt. These three men are just a few, in a long list of people, that not only believed this way, they all demonstrated their beliefs with their actions. I believe that everyone from the greatest Greek philosophers and religious leaders, to the common man, would all agree that we have a moral obligation to disobey anything which is of an immoral nature- and that would include, and not be limited to any institution of man. The only real question, is how?...

     I would challenge you to re-read the Declaration of Independence and really ask yourself why our fore fathers wrote it. They found it necessary to not only separate themselves from their government, but to "declare" why. I believe it is of utmost importance to reason dispassionately in order to define who you are and what you stand for. When it comes to drawing lines in the sand, one must know their position on the shore. For the high tide will come in, and you better believe those lines will be washed away with force. Better to carve your foundation out of a mountain, than in the sand. You must be firm in your beliefs and resolute in your mind. The waves of time will come, and the time to decide is now. In order to live, one must decide for what they would die. This isn't a story, or a parable for entertainment or mere education. This is your life. What are you willing to live for, and what are you willing to die for? Perhaps it's time to declare your independence in life. Overcome your fears and accept your freedom. It is your inalienable right.

     I can't stress how important this is. The beginning is the most important. Make no mistake, everyday we are being tested, tried and pushed. The enemy does not take a day off. They are determined and they are very patient. Whether you want to be on the chessboard or not, you are. Just because we choose to practice willful ignorance, does not mean we are not affected. Doing nothing, is doing something. Every single choice affects the outcome of our life. In this stage of revolution, our battle is a mental one. You do not have to believe in, or resort to violence to fight. Ideological resistance and civil disobedience are the precursors to prevent and avoid violence. Our enemy needs to know we are not afraid of physical war. They need to know we will fight back. Our mental stance is important, and is in fact, more important than our physical stance in this stage of revolution. Brains beat brawn. We can overcome our adversary with the power of our minds alone. Do not mistake the power of your mind or of our minds combined.

     To illustrate my point, I will use a symbol of the Cree Indians. On one side of an oar is the picture of a lynx. On the other side is the image of a rabbit smoking a pipe. (In the movie "The Edge," the lynx is replaced by a black panther, but the actual Cree Indian parable uses the lynx, as it is the rabbit's natural enemy.) One would have to ask why the rabbit would have the presence of mind to smoke a pipe in the face of it's natural predator. The answer is simple. The rabbit is unafraid, because he knows he is smarter than his enemy. There is an incredible lesson to be had in this illustration. The moral of the story is this: One does not have to have to be as strong or fierce as it's opponent to live unafraid- one only has to be smarter. Do not allow fear to intimidate you. The greatest weapon our opponent has is our fear. In order to defeat your enemy, you have to "know" your enemy. But first you must know yourself...

     In Aristotle's "Politics," he states there is a difference in being a good citizen and a being a good person. In order for there to be "excellence" in a society, there must be "excellence" in it's citizens. In order to create positive changes in our society, we must first create positive change in ourselves. As Ghandi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." We cannot control every situation that comes in our lives, but we can control every reaction to every situation in our lives. Consider this: How do you defeat a bully?... You certainly don't defeat  the bully by giving the bully what they want. If you take the bait... If you give them a chance... If you taunt them... The bully gains the advantage. Don't give the bully the opportunity. The bully wins the second you lose control. Be sure the principle is the same in our situation. The moment we lose control, is the moment we give it to them. We cannot expect to have control, if we choose to give our control away.

     Every time I teach or discuss survival with someone, I stress the most important aspect of any survival situation- a positive mindset. Preparation is the key to confidence. The most important tool you possess, is your mind. You may have every modern day solution and gadget in your store, but be sure they may not always be available when you need them. Your mind goes with you everywhere and is with you at all times. Mental preparation is more important than any other form of preparation, period! You have to know and believe in yourself first, before you can make use of the other. With that in mind, let's examine some of the forms of resistance out there, to prepare our minds for what's in front of us...

     "Occupy" is an international protest movement against social and economic inequality. It was started with the belief that large corporations and the "wealthy elite" control the world's financial system, and as a result, only those at the top of "the system" benefit. Occupy believes this undermines democracy and therefore, makes our society unstable. Characteristics of the Occupy movement include; occupation, non-violent protest, civil disobedience, picketing, demonstrations, Internet activism and general strikes with action. It's commonly used slogan is, "We are the 99%." Globally, the movement has been called "the reinvention of politics, revolution, and utopia in the 21st century."

     The first protest to gain world wide coverage was Occupy Wall Street, which began on September 17, 2011. Since it's first inception, protests have occurred not only in the United States, but in dozens of other countries, across every continent except Antarctica. At first, the movement was tolerated by authorities, but as it gained momentum, protesters were forcibly removed from their camps and/or evicted, and there were 7,700+ arrests. In the process, 400+ people were injured, and 32 deaths occurred. Due to forcible action of the authorities, multiple lawsuits have been filed, and others are being planned as well. The impact of this movement, is ongoing, and be sure that it will have a big one. It is one of the largest protest movements in our history.

     "Anonymous" is a multiple use, loosely associated, decentralized affinity group name associated with voluntary hacktivists in the virtual community. Their primary purpose/focus is anti-cyber surveillance and censorship with Internet activism, trolling and vigilantism. It represents the concept of many online and offline community users existing as an anarchic and digitized global brain. Anonymous is also considered to be a blanket name for certain Internet subcultures, and a way to describe the actions of people in an environment where their actual identities remain unknown. Images commonly associated with Anonymous are the "suit without a head," representing a leaderless organization with anonymity and "Guy Fawkes" masks, popularized in the movie "V for Vendetta," to hide their identity.

     The Anonymous Organization's slogan is, "We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us." Anonymous has been called the "Freedom Fighters" of the Internet, a "Digital Robin Hood," and "Anarchic Cyber-Guerrillas." In addition to opposing Internet censorship, they also oppose Scientology and homophobia. Anonymous has proven their abilities by shutting down the websites of the F.B.I., the U.S. Department of Justice, the Motion Picture Association of America and Broadcast Music, Inc.. They have hacked the phone lines of Scotland Yard. They have attacked Mastercard, Visa, Sony, Paypal and other big business corporations and major security companies as well. They have hacked into all sorts of media and live broadcasts, both locally and abroad, and have created problems for governments, organizations and individuals all over the globe.

     Make no mistake, Anonymous is a very powerful group and even with dozens of arrests, convictions and ongoing investigations, their impact and numbers continue to grow. They are popular and unpopular, loved and hated, and welcomed and feared by many. They are loosely associated all over the place, with big names like WikiLeaks, Encyclopedia Dramatica and a host of other forums and websites. They are a force to be reckoned with, and are not to be taken lightly. In 2012, Anonymous was named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential groups in the world.

     Anonymous and Occupy joined forces in the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York's Zucotti Park and the May Day Occupy protest outside the London Stock Exchange. Both worked to organize the protests, and Anonymous used social networking to urge protesters to "avoid disorder" in an attempt to keep the protests peaceful in the interests of a common goal. At first glance, one would think this was a notable cause. But after diving into investigate, one might have have a few questions and reservations. There is no doubt, both entities are not to be ignored. Despite collaborating their efforts together, one can not examine both groups together as one organization. Their overall goals may be similar, but their approaches and methods are very different. One exists in the open, while the other is not. They may work together, but they are not to be confused as one entity. It's been said that one side of these protests is the voice, and the other side is the muscle. At any rate, they are loosely associated, and in our observance of information, facts and data, we must pursue Truth by looking at them separately, and not as a whole.

     We can all agree that not only does this country need change, the whole world could use some change as well. How we go about creating that change is where we differ. If you listen to the people who were part of these protests, you will be find that a large majority of them present, really didn't have their facts straight and/or a strong position on what needs to happen in the interests of positive change. One doesn't necessarily have to have a complete understanding of the events that got us here, to know we need change. This is understated and quite obvious. However, I think we are seeing evidence of our country being "dumbed down" at the same time, and this needs to change. The people need more solid education which encourages them to think, rather than agenda based propaganda and fear based tactics taking advantage of ignorance.

     A large number of people went to that protest, under the pretense that Radiohead would be playing. Radiohead denied it, and it was later discovered, it was a rumor created to increase attendance. The result was a mass of misinformed people gathered together in a fashion resembling Woodstock. Not to say, these misinformed people wouldn't agree with the protest after self-educating and gaining a better understanding. Yet, their ignorance showed in interviews and documentaries, and that takes away from the cause. In my humble opinion, manipulating the minds of impressionable minds is in no way honorable or acceptable, and should not be tolerated.

     Despite large numbers of ignorant protesters, many big names, were present as well. There were also many there who had a much better understanding of the concept of peaceful protesting and knew exactly why they were there. Many were well educated and expressed their opinions and solutions quite eloquently, in a civilized demonstration of the "non-aggression principle." Yet, the media tended to focus and highlight other aspects of the protest instead. In the uninvolved eyes of the public, this turned out to be another failed attempt at Revolution in America. It was the right idea, with the wrong execution. In a period of "ideological resistance," education is extremely important, and it's up to us to spread the word. People need to understand what their protesting against, be firm and confident in what they believe and stand for, and they need to have their act together when presenting alternatives and solutions to our current state of affairs.

     I wonder if Martin Luther King Jr., Plato, Henry David Thoreau and other greats from our past were alive, what would they say about the actions of Occupy and Anonymous? I can't speak for the dead, yet I deduce from their writings and their notable examples, that they would most definitely never hide, and they most definitely would never resort to the tactics of intentionally deceiving impressionable minds to support their causes. These icons believed in freedom of speech and freedom of religion. They believed in the "non-aggression" principle, and stood firm in their beliefs and demonstrated those beliefs with their actions. They fought the law, within the means of the law, and peacefully accepted the consequences of disobeying the law. They certainly were respectful of other's beliefs and without doubt, demonstrated the change they wished to see in the world.

     I would have to say that I agree, those we oppose, need to be aware of the capabilities and potential of the people. They need to see we are willing to take the time, make the sacrifices and join together in peaceful protests. They need to see the strength of our unity, our communication and our determination. In addition, I also believe that governments should govern the people, for the people, by the people and with the governed's consent. I believe that governments should respect their people, and in return, people should respect their governments.  If the people oppose big business corporations, they need to do their research, stop funding them and protest peacefully against them. We can't be against something we continue to support. People tend to forget the power of their purchases and the butterfly effect of their spending.

     Any reciprocating relationship must be founded in trust, and trust is a two-way street. Unfortunately, the people have lost the elements of trust and faith in our government and in our financial system. This is a deadly combination. In order to reach a peaceful future, we need to walk a path of peace to lay a better foundation for that future. Repeating our sins will only yield more of the same. The results of us "taking the bait" from those we oppose, "taunting the powers that be," or "giving away our control to the Bully," are catastrophic and counterproductive. If we support this type of behavior, we should expect more of the same and much, much worse to follow.

     Tiz' true our rights have been systematically taken away. Our government and financial system are far cries from what our fore fathers intended.  There is no question. There is no doubt.  We are all being attacked, repeatedly, from different angles, on a daily basis. But, to whom do we attribute the reasons and blame for these atrocities which plague our lives?... Anyone and anything but the one's truly responsible.  We, as a collective group,  are responsible for the state of our affairs which exist today. This is our responsibility. It is our duty, to seek and create change in the "status-quo," if that is, in fact, what we truly desire. In our hope and desire for a brighter future, we must cultivate that future together. We possess the tools and capabilities necessary to produce a more positive future. A different future, far from the one to which we are currently heading.

     Until we can all come to terms with the faults and idiosyncrasies associated with our human nature, we are all doomed to repeat the same mistakes of history, and we will arrive in our future, that we have determined, by repeating those very same mistakes. We must not just speak of change, we must be the change, and the time to change is now. The time to act is now. It is not enough for only a few to hold on to this belief. For we are all links on the same chain, and the strength of our chain lies in the weakest link. Our world is supported by the strength of our connection, and our very lives hang in the balance. If only one link breaks, we will all have failed, and we will no longer serve the purpose for which we were intended. Better to strengthen the chain, than weaken it. Separate we are weak. United we are strong.

      You may disagree, but be sure, our ways of thinking and acting out those thoughts, are what got us here today. The present is the sum of all of our past thoughts and actions. Our future will be the sum of all our present thoughts and actions. Common sense dictates that, in order to create a different outcome, our thoughts and actions have to change. We are all part of the same equation, and no matter how small the factor, every factor determines the balance of the equation. In an effort to balance the scales, we can't keep adding more negativity to the negative side.  What we resist persists. It is time to redirect the nature and focus of our deposits.  Of this, I am most positive.

Sources:
"Civil Disobedience" -Henry David Thoreau
"Apology" -Plato
The Declaration of Independence
www.goodreads.com
www.wikipedia.com
Facebook-Anonymous
"Occupy Unmasked" Documentary

Too many Youtube videos to even begin listing