posted August 16, 2009 12:39 PM         

poor people may envy the rich but they have no idea what they are envying. surface appearances are deceptive, but only 100% of the time! any judgement you have is a reflection of YOUR ego, not theirs.

posted August 17, 2009 02:33 AM         

Kat,

I would hate for anyone to feel judged. This is, after all, the New Age, and political correctness has attained the status of a dogma. God forbid any behavior, or anyone who practices it, might be called into question and pronounced unethical. So, how long will it be before child molesters are allowed to do as they please, because we would hate for them to feel judged? And the last thing any of us should ever suggest is that some class of people ought to feel shame for the ridiculous priviledges they amass, while others can't feed their children. As if shame were not, under certain circumstances, a healthy and necessary emotion. I have a lot of empathy and understanding for people in positions of wealth, as I do for all people. I also know what it is to be addicted to something, and unable to imagine changing your lifestyle; resentful of anyone who might suggest that you have a responsibility that transcends yourself; feeling so scared, insecure and alone that you seem to need an endless supply of insulation. My heart breaks for these billionares, it does. But then I steady my nerves, and I see how their suffering compares to the absolute desperation, disease, and starvation of millions and millions of others. And I think, "Whose rights deserve more protection?" Honestly, the notion that wealth ought to be checked (so that one person cannot be insanely wealthy while another freezes to death without so much as a crust of bread to cover his toes) is not some avant guarde heresy, but sense as old as time, and certainly as old as Christ.

You can judge me and my ego all day and all week, and suggest that I am superficial, hippocritical, judgmental, and whatever else your messy little mind can dig up. It cannot and will not change the fact that I am promoting ideals which are Christ-like, though hardly as severe as Christ's instruction to obey the law of poverty, and to give all that you have to the poor. Jesus tells you to be ashamed of yourself for holding any personal property whatsoever. I tell you to keep ten million dollars for yourself. I am as lenient as I can be, while still struggling to create a world where charity is taken seriously, particularly by the ones who have the most to give; whatever their gifts may be; whether they are in a position to make money, or to open hearts and minds through other means. I have gone within. I have dreamed further, higher, and deeper than most. And this is what I have learned. To speak my truth. To argue for the poorest, the most abused, neglected, forgotten, and abandoned ones. Believe me, I am not unsympathetic to the rich, and I know they are also lonely. But I know that money isnt helping them, because if it were they would be happy, and generous, by now. I would hold these people as they cried, but I will tell them exactly what I think of their behavior. I will tell them that a little honest shame would do them some good, and that there are people in the world who did not get the opportunities that they did, and who could desperately use the help that they could effortlessly give. If you think that makes me ego-maniacal, judgemental, envious, and all the rest of it, well... I think you are just a little bit confused. Please, take a step back, take a breath, and give me another chance. Give yourself another chance to see me, and this issue, clearly. We all deserve that.

posted August 17, 2009 03:15 AM         

quote:

---

the super rich have their own penance to pay as well. they may not want for anything material, but their life is filled with emptiness and deceit.. that is in itself a punishment.

---

posted August 17, 2009 05:36 AM         

quote:

---

We take the bare necessities from children in order to give absurd liberties to spoiled adults. Something is very wrong with this picture and anybody who says otherwise is mad as a hatter.

---

your point of argument (with the others who do not do standing ovation at your statement nonetheless not disagreeing with you) here seems to be mainly focused on this through all these pages, as you bold-fonted it yourself...

but none of the people who replied to you said anything of that sort... i really would like to avoid sounding judgemental, but i really get the feeling that you are not seeing the fact that no one disagrees, and you blow things into extreme proportion and accuse people of things they never said nor meant... and you are, probably without realising, offending and possibly hurting the feelings of many of us who said anything from a good heart.

all the things you are trying to "teach" us, how you say we should look within, we should change our perspective, we should accept, we should step back and relax... we should open up to accept your perspective...

your mention of Mother Teresa, Jesus, Child Molesters, Billionaires, MLK jr.... i will say no more...

i start my mornings and sit to rest in evenings and check at Lindaland and still see this thread keeps coming up, and i cannot help reading it because i followed through it so far. it really gets me down... (i'm not accusing you it's just the fact of my personal reaction) having said that, i really prefer you just ignore this post and not mention me. i'm really sensitive and i really feel afraid every time i read this thread that you might condemn me by stating i disagree with you and i support the fact children are starving to death.

and no, i'm not trying to have the last word. i do not like competitions. all i wanted to say was just one thing, "we do not disagree with you, Valus, we never did anywhere in this thread".

posted August 17, 2009 07:54 AM         

anyone can do their part to alleviate poverty, abuse, etc etc. It need not be the super rich if they do not want to. You can't take them by force and then shift away their property. the laws of the earthy/material universe works in strange ways. You are speaking in spiritual terms, and spiritually speaking, I feel that the poor and starving as well as the rich have their individual lessons to learn.

as well, the well-to-do, or semi-well-to-do can play a part in saving the poor children, as well as government legislations.. it should not all go on the shoulders of the super rich, because they are entitled to their right of free will as to how they would distribute their money.

posted August 17, 2009 11:43 AM         

but you are so far above the rest of us that you are in danger of alienating anyone who might help in your cause. so i will take my "messy little brain" elsewhere and wish you good luck with that!

ps. when jesus got mad at the rich he LOST it! a well-worn quote from the man himself:

posted August 17, 2009 02:12 PM         

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posted August 17, 2009 02:35 PM         

So Valus, I totally hear you, what you are saying. It bothers me too.

My feeling is that the professions who should be paid higher salaries are NURSES, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, TEACHERS. I am sure there are more I cannot think of right now.

posted August 17, 2009 04:41 PM         

quote:

---

Valus, I totally hear you, what you are saying. It bothers me too.

My feeling is that the professions who should be paid higher salaries are NURSES, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, TEACHERS. I am sure there are more I cannot think of right now.

Our society is very twisted. Yes,

---

Thanks, Nepthys.

I'm glad somebody is listening,
and realizes that we have the power
and the right to make laws that
support everyone, without giving
absurd liberties to billionaires.

Right On!

posted August 17, 2009 04:49 PM         

I know its been a while,
but maybe you remember
this golden oldie:

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to cause a b-big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

posted August 17, 2009 05:12 PM         

Do you all agree with me?

posted August 17, 2009 05:17 PM         

...................................

i cant get no
satisfaction
i cant get no
satisfaction
but i try
and i try
and i try
and i try
I CANT GET NO
when im driving in my car and a man comes on on and tells me
how white my shirts can be
but he cant be a man
cuz he doesnt smoke
the same cigarettes as me..

i cant get no....NO NO NO
(number one song the day i was born)
__________________________________________

and even though we aint got money
i'm so in love with ya honey
everything will bring a change of luck
and in them orning when i rise
bringa tear of joy to my eyes
and tell me
everything is gonna be all right
pisces virgo rising is a very good sign
strong and kind
and the little boy is mine
see the girl who holds the world in a papercup
drink it up
love her and she'll bring ya luck
and even though we aint got money
im so in love with ya honey
everything will bring a change of luck
and in the morning when i rise
bring a tear of joy to my eyes and tell me everything is going to be all right.
_____________________________________________

your a rich girl
and you gone too far cuz ya know it dont matter anyway
you can say money money wont get ya too far get you too far

___________________________________________

MONEY
its a gas
try some lie some but keep your hands off my stash
MONEY
its a hit
dont give me that good good good bullsh!t
im in my high fidelity first class travelling section i think i need a lift
____________________________________________

MY MY MY MY MY GENERATION GENERATION
MY MY MY MY GENERATION GENERATION
yeah my generation BAYYYBAAAYYYY!

posted August 17, 2009 05:34 PM         

I'm not a capitalist. If the voicing of socialist ideals sounds to you like speaking in spiritual terms, I cannot entirely disagree. It is my understanding that socialism, if not anarchy, comes closest to a social structure organized on the highest spiritual principles. When one person has an enormous, government-given advantage over another, its hardly "free will" when they exercise that advantage at the other's expense. If certain people can only be motivated by the dream of personal material success, then these are not the sort of people I want to see motivated in the first place. We need people in power who will not promote materialistic, but spiritual values, if we would ever like to see an entire generation of people motivated by something other than money. You say it would be wrong to deprive them of their assets, but do you understand that those assets are not rightfully theirs to begin with? And that, in order for them not to be "deprived" of some portion of their million or billion dollar capital, other people, with far less to lose, must be deprived of even the barest necessities. You cannot just give the strong, or the advantaged, free reign to exploit the weak, or the disadvantaged, and then call this "free will". Or "free market". Freedom must begin with the freedom to drink a glass of water everyday, and to eat a solid meal. These are the freedoms that need to be restored, before we bother to preserve materialists' freedom to own a 20 million-dollar private jet. Is this really so unreasonable? I happen to think that 10 million dollars is a lot of money, and plenty to motivate a person who values money, without being insanely -- criminally -- materialistic. If the billionares of today could not be motivated by less than 11 million dollars, then perhaps they will have to become the slackers of tomorrow. Its a sad thought, but not half as sad as what we see happening today.

posted August 17, 2009 05:39 PM         

But I'm at a loss at how to cure the disease myself. The only way I can see it happening is if enough of our species becomes more lucid. This isn't something any government can change (especially given how scum rises to the top), but has to come from the heart of many people. Even if, for the sake of argument, everyone but the billionaires were to "wake up to what's really important," the billionaires would find themselves changed, too (even if kicking and screaming over it) because the rest of the world would essentially boycott them out of existence...or, if adaptable, the said billionaires would adapt to service life on this planet in a friendly, holistic way in order to retain as much as they can. This is why I personally don't see billionaires as the problem, but more of a symptom.

posted August 17, 2009 05:39 PM         

Nothing teaches,
and nothing prejudices,
like experience.

Some people know what its like
to walk around with holes in
their shoes.

And they think you
could never understand,
if you have never had
that exact same experience.

Though you walk around
with holes in your aura,
and the feelings of the whole world
flow through your soul
like the coldest rainwater.

posted August 17, 2009 05:49 PM         

I hear what you're saying, and I usually get criticized for focussing too much on those higher principles, or causes, as you put it. Here I am attempting to focus on a real manifestation in the world, in order to bring those insights down to earth, and now I'm criticized for focussing on symptoms, lol. So be it. Some symptoms get so out of hand that they prevent the treatment of the disease itself, and must be addressed before any deeper healing can begin. I do not claim to know how or why this disease began (although I believe a sincere seeker will find evidence in Riane Eisler's book, "The Chalice And The Blade", to support theories of when and where it began). I can only do my part in identifying and combating symptoms. Particularly, symptoms which so many people cannot even recognize and admit to being symptoms.

quote:

---

one of the biggest mistakes our species made is the creation of corporations.

---

Amen

quote:

---

Repealing the right of corporations to exist (so that all biz is "small business" no matter how big it is) would do a lot, I think, to stop a lot of the abuses Valus talks about, and this is perhaps one of the few ways governments could make a positive change (though they'd never would as they sympathize more with the billionaires than they do with anyone else).

---

You are absolutely right, that restricting the spread of these corporatations (or viruses) would be a HUGE step in the right direction. When there is a change in mass consciousness, the governments will have no choice but to conform their policies to the rising conscience of the collective awareness. I hope to play some small role in raising that conscience, and I'm pretty sure you are with me on that.