Tuesday 5 December 2017

Sexual Harassment Reporting/Occurence: 11 Reasons Of Shame





1.       Women are considered as objects to be viewed, used and abused. Media, including Hollywood garbage films, fairy tales [including Grimes], religion, many institutions, and most businesses support this disgusting belief/practice.

2.       We live in very hierarchical societies. Men [some] are at the top. The rest of us are to strive to “get ahead” and strive for wealth, power and fame. Our schooling, work, cultures, religions again support this. People fear those “above” them. Most fear losing the approval of “superiors”.  We have no power and can lose our jobs due to some whim of the boss. This is very much the foundation of capitalism and what some call “democracy”.  We “need” a leader. What would we do if we shared power in all areas of our lives? Imagine.

3.       Age-ism still controls our societies. The young should [silently] obey elders. This is highlighted and esteemed in many cultures, including indigenous cultures – as a means of oppression. On the other hand, youth is romanticized and idealized in many respects.

4.       Civilization demands conformity. We are like herd animals. We fear not fitting in. While we pretend and fantasize about the lone heroes and rebels, they are rare and disdained on most levels. Again this is taught and reinforced in all groups, cultures, religions, etc. Many deny this, yet others, including indigenous and more traditional cultures esteem conformity. In fact, all groups are unified through this mechanism.

5.       Our world is extremely Macho. Men must not cry. Men can do what they want. Men are tough. Sports and the fetishism of sports reinforces this maladjustment! Note the millions or billions that follow sports that are violent and competitive. While competition can be healthy, when athletes drug up and do almost anything to win – to be the hero [with corporate sponsorship/endorsement] – something is wrong. Men still are praise to “conquer” women sexually. And both sexes are esteemed for dominating Nature: the destructive car is the weapon.

6.       We are insecure and seek the approval of others – even above the approval of our-selves. Putney has termed this “indirect self acceptance”. Some like M.Scott Peck thinks that the good father is good not because he cares about his child but to receive praise from his neighbor.

7.       We lie to justify silence. “Oh I don’t want to make the situation worse”…”I didn’t know what to do”…  As therapist Alice Miller states, we need to break down the wall of silence. Good luck everybody!

8.       We fear confrontation. While many clearly don’t, but some do. So we would rather be dishonest to ourselves and to others than be “uncomfortable”. Again we fear disapproval and being outcast from the group. The lamest attack on the victim is “you’re too sensitive” [when it is the other that really is…ie. Don’t reveal my faults or I will attack/belittle you].

9.       Imitation is the key to success in life. How oft is the different child and then later, adult considered “weird”, “strange” etc. They may have few or no friends because they don’t imitate the crowd. Perhaps they don’t think, speak, buy, wear, etc. the same as the rest. 

10.   Lastly, until we realize that most of the problems are structural, nothing will change. We need all levels of religion, culture, work, school to change. See my previous  article that discusses how religion tells women to cover themselves while men are free to do what they want. We also need to acknowledge that many men are verbally and physically abused. This barely gets discussed. Part of the problem is that men fear coming forth: they are told to be silent, “silence is strength”. There are very few if any supports for men. And a “real” “man” would never break the code of silence.

11.   The final is sexualization. This occurs when non-sexual needs are misplaced as sexual ones. Most men dare not ask for a hug when sad [most men never know/admit they have such a “weak” emotion]. No, instead, but most men and many women will gladly punch you in the face. To touch somebody in a sexual way should be replaced with a revelation of our true deep feelings and needs. Affection and empathy are most likely what are needed in such cases. But who has the courage to ex-press such needs and be vulnerable.

Monday 20 November 2017

Remembrance Day* Ode: What Happened To The War To End All Wars?



Let us remember those who died
In an-other "war to end all wars"
We keep hearing the same line
Yet  continue to line up

To die
"Defending" our country
More like the few who own
The country

It's not "our" country
It's the financial barrons who own all
It's the arms manufactures smiling as the Prez tweets war
It's the racist, sheltered, hate filled who ignore Jesus' command to "love thy enemy".


Big money in war
Big money in killing
Big corporations and small men making billions
Big devastation of bodies, families, land, water, present, future...

"I served my country"
Really? How? Why? Who told you that?
Did you question their ass-umpt-i-ons?
Did you question the motives?

I was told "We're blowing them up to bring democracy"
Wow, we are good people
Yet I see them devoured by our weapons of mass destruction
We are devoured by lies of mass destruction

Didn't anyone ever consider diplomacy?
Didn't anyone ever consider disarming EVERYONE?
Didn't anyone ever learn, as we did in Sunday School, to not retaliate?
Didn't anyone ever tell you that throwing stones [esp. super big ones] does hurt?

Yet we see the same profiteers jeering for more war
The lust for power, money and hegemony [ok, and oil]
Or is it the lust for blood
And the thrill of murder?

Or perhaps it's more
That those making the decisions
Are not on the front lines?
Like the poor who need a job

Put the presidents out there
Make him die for his country
Or for the corporation that pays him a hefty dividend
Money and corruption and corrupt souls are his buddies

Huh? An economy of violence: U.S. spends 60% of budget
On murder - More than the rest of the world
And who appointed a dotard as world leader?
We all need to be leaders/co-operators: not one man [or dotard]!

The romanticizes of war must end
The real suffering must be felt by the purveyors of violence
The truth that more war is not the answer must come forth
The blind sub-mission of soldiers, cops, all of us needs to stop!

If we refused to go to war
There would not be war
If we refuse to support this system
The system will shut down

It's time to stop being loyal to a party, ideology or a nation
And to unite with all creation: our human and non-human brothers and sisters
To bring life and healing and com-passion [feel with]!
To stop the hate and follow that Sunday School lesson!


*November 11 in Canada


Saturday 28 October 2017

Can A Doll Be A Muslim Or A Terror-ist?*



Governments are be-coming more right-wing and racist [along with fascistic].... Trump has led the way to hate - whether it be Mexicans or Muslims. He wants to force Mexico to pay for "the wall". Likewise, keep the Muslims out by an invisible wall.

Austria and Quebec are both discriminating against people covering their faces. While this may not affect huge numbers, it is clearly directed toward the Muslim population and unacceptable.

Interestingly, there are more terror-ist attacks in the U.S. committed by white right-wing "nut jobs" than Muslims. But it's easier to stir up hate for Muslims. Let's remember the attack on Iraq was essentially state sponsored terrorism: using violence to destroy another government, people, land, air....

While some Muslims in the West do "choose" to cover their faces or heads, in many countries they have no choice at all. This is not discussed. And why is it that only women cover? Why don't men? This applies to many religions and cultures. Is this not an indication of sexism? Is this not the result of living in patriarchal societies? It is quite astonishing that this discussion is rare-ly brought up.

We can justify any-thing when we are well indoctrinated. We see this in all areas of society, religion, culture... Just as many here are indoctrinate to hate people that are different, we follow along without questioning. When someone points out biases, sexism, patriarchy, etc. it is easy to run from these real-i-ties by the adage "I chose to think/do/wear..." . We see this in Evangelical churches in the West also, where women are considered less worthy to be leaders both in the home and church. When confronted, the chant is "the bible says...". Likewise others say "the koran says..".

It's easy to "point the finger" [or the gun] but when we do this, there are 3 fingers pointing back at us! Much of the problems begin with blind obedience to a text. To say a text is sacred and inerrant is itself inerrant! Reducing issues/life to black/white simple answers should make us all un-comfort-able. Yet we are told to seek comfort, security and peace in empty platitudes and obedience.

Rather, let love guide us. This includes justice, equality...which all must stem from Com-passion [feel with]. Only compassion can save us from dominating others. We also need to consider the domination of nature [which we are part of!]: the land, air, water, ... all the way "down" to micro-organisms: all of whom we are vitally dependent on.

* The pic is of a doll! and "she" is neither Muslim nor terrorist. She is just a little cold...it IS Canada after all! :)

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Science Fails The Science Test!



We are told that science is pure
We are TOLD that science is PRO-gress
We are told we would be "in the dark ages"[assuming/implying that would be "bad"] without science
Thank goodness we know climate change is real! Thanks Exxon! [Exxon and other Big Oil had the science to prove human induced climate change in the 1970s. They made changes to their rigs, etc. But they dared not tell "us".]

But is science really "neutral" and "value free"? Anyone that took a grade one science class - you know with play-dough and paint - knows that science is NEITHER!

As Kathy Greeley and Sue Tafler state: "The way science is used - the kinds of questions asked, the kinds of research funded, the application of scientific theories - is determined by those controlling the pursestrings and values of each society." We see in our society that this "pure and undefiled" striving for knowledge serves the class interests of a small elite group that values profit and private property over humans, nonhumans and their well-being. Not only so, but their very existence is determined by both the material and ideological class interests of the few.

Scientists are put on the pedestal - or, more precisely, behind the high priest veil of infallibility and wisdom. We must seek their blessings and submit to their prescriptions for a better world. The class nature of practice of science is blurred - not even brought "to the light" - as we are taught to follow their "expertise" without question.

Surely, they would do no harm to us! Hmmm. Who made the atomic bomb? Where did chemical weapons come from? Where did all weapons come from? Who/why were the #1 killer of kids come from? [cars - not to mention the formation of ISIS as a result of wiping out nearly 2000000 Iraqis, ad nauseum!...]. Who created the surveillance systems that are following what I am writing and you are reading at this exact moment? Who is benefiting from recombinant DNA [GMOs being one example of them]. Without the regulation of government and, even, the blessing of government, what will become of the above?

Let us not forget that the majority of research if for the military or business [or the biz of military: the U.S. spends about 60% of its budget on military! Well they do have to "lead" the world in the way of peace, love and kindness!].

Seeking, demanding technological solutions to social and political problems, the establishment ideology continues to persuade us of our power-less-ness and the need for submission.

We will continue the discussion here and also look at, perhaps the biggest "un-scientific" area of science: nutritional science - at https://123EatMeOut.blogspot.ca  The idea of creating a hypothesis, testing it, retesting it, changing it, etc. is almost non-existent in many areas of science - especially that of "food", as we will see.

Tuesday 6 June 2017

You Ain't Notin' Un-less...

You ain't notin'
Un-less....
Less than un
A, One, No-thing

Unless you're published
Unless you're certified
By someone who is certified
Legitimized by a higher authority/power

Don't give up
Your authenticity
You-r genuine-ness
To be approved

By them
By some out-side body
Body of government
Body in hu-man form

Stand up
Challenge
Defeat
Bombard

The status quo
The celebrity cult-u-r-e
The "I'm no-body un-less you certify me to be some-body"
The "I'm accept-able because you approve of my words, thoughts, looks, style, car, job/no job, ...]

My American Dream is about trampling
Down the white picket fence to
Let the weeds grow and take over the world
While their yellow flowers pollinate and feed wild bees

While you trample the poor
I'll stand in your way
I'll get in your way
Come join

Once the road is closed
The flowers burst through
The smells over-whelm
Joy is once again lived through community

I turn toward you
I see the translucent colours reflected in your eyes
The flowers blowing through your hair
The setting sun's glow envelopes your long golden hair


Saturday 25 March 2017

Earth Hour: The Ultimate Lip Service

Driving to see a film on air pollution.
Turning off the lights for 1 hour.
Church and non-churchie people feelin' good
About doin' notin' [say in Jamaican accent]

Keep the same
Ting goin' [J accent continued]
Keep the same
'blind eye' not see-in'

Mean-while the likes of Trump
deny human induced climate change
as he flies his jet every-where
as his hair [read: squirrel {sorry squirrel}] flies every-where

John Duffy congratulates Trudeau for 
"a position that allows it's oil to be digested
ethically by people who are concerned
about environmental issues". 

Ethical destruct-i-on
[Yes "I", you, us...]
of the air, water, land, soil

But it's ok: 
you are ethically doing the right thing

You care about the environment
You are a good person
honk honk
wake up!!!

But it's ok
The pipeline is shiny
We aren't burning the filthy gooo
Some-body else is

We are good people
Vroom .... watch me go
Oops I left a light on
Better drive home to turn it off!

Wednesday 4 January 2017

The HIDDEN Mean-ing of "Happy New Year"


"Happy New Year"
"Merry Christmas"
"Have A Nice Day"

What do these mean?

Be happy
Be merry [a word never used except at Christ-mass]
Have a nice day as I go back to my crap job

I asked a guy what he meant
He said it's a phrase for between Christmas and the new year
I laughed

But he was caught off guard
Like robots 
People regurgitate what they are told to

And expected to say
Without thinking
Without heart

Mind-less dribble
Heart-less dribble

No soul
No love
No substance
No feel-ing

Shallow words 
For 
Shallow people

Shouldn't we strive for meaning in our
Words
And lives?!

How 'bout changing things up:

Suggesting others care for the air
We breathe

How 'bout caring about the rights of workers?!

How 'bout caring about equality, social justice, peace...?!

How 'bout saying something that might make people think?!

That might change their/our way of thinking
Our way of living
Our way of be-ing

To be more in harmony
With one an-other

More harmony
With
Nature

[We are part of/
Dependent on
Nature]

Should we 
Be happy
If we cause suffering?

Should be having
A nice day
As we yell at our child?

Are the dead humans and non-humans
Killed out of our greed and convenient life-styles
Happy?

Are the war policies that increase our wealth
By selling armaments to Saudi Arabia
Helping those attacked by Saudi Arabia
Have a nice day?

The super-ficial platitudes
Must pass away
Like an approaching cockroach

The empty words
By-pass
The heart and the mind

Let's say something
A little less
Self-indulgent!

Let's challenge
One an-other
To be/do better! 

We need 
To stop fear-ing
Others 

Time to grow up
And stop wanting others'
Approval

We need to speak out for the voice-less
And the weak

Do the right thing
Say the right thing

Have a nice day 
{While you ...}
 



I