Racism Exists Day to Day

Posted on December 17, 2011 by venagozar

A news story from New Mexico is unfortunately indicative of how far we are collectively from being human and treating those around us as the human we pretend to be. A racist remark was made. The practically forced apology that followed apologized only for the remark. No heartfelt attempt to apologize or acknowledge the person who the remark was apparently about was publicly made.

The remark spurring this post was uttered in Sante Fe, New Mexico, in the state capitol building during a committee meeting. The remark was unleashed in the middle of a ‘heated exchange’. The remark was racist and demeaning. It took two days for an apology to be arrive, and then in the form of a letter. The letter may be considered a veiled attempt to not apologize. Part of the apology reads, “I respect all elected officials and again I would say I am sorry…” The apology per my reading of it is for the verbiage used, not for the attitude and feelings behind it, nor for the unidentified person it was directed at.

In my opinion this person has held this belief for some time. If they never join in interaction with another with respect to race, the offending comment would never have been thought, let alone verbalized. Remarks of this type are normally kept under lock and key by people holding this belief. These types comments are not meant for general public consumption by the person holding them.

People holding beliefs of this kind allow them to simmer under the surface. This belief is a tainted lens of the ego which defines ones world by race. They view interaction not through the eyes of one human being looking at another, but through a value set which should hold no importance.

These beliefs are uttered by their holders only at ‘appropriate times’. Appropriate times being when demeaning racist comments will only be heard by others who are accepting and agreeable to this errant thinking and belief. In this instance, one’s true belief was unintentionally unleashed in a moment of anger.

I would hope any public official and educator would conquer this churlish and petty belief before embarking on a public life path. There is no good outcome ( as has been made obvious) for an individual to hold this type of belief, and resulting behavior to fester, and become the primary measure of another.

A Representative represents. The People being represented, the majority of them, never imagined these beliefs were present in their representative. They never imagined they would hear of a disparaging, racist, demeaning remark uttered by their Representative.

An Educator educates. An Educator also imparts in addition to the curriculum, their private attitudes and beliefs which are transmitted via micro signals to students in their charge. Personal beliefs can not be masked or hidden over a period of time. What was passed on to hundreds of students daily along with the official lesson plan? Does a belief that some people are less than others belong in public office or education?

It is too much to believe in the moment, the uttering party is ashamed of their action, and they would own up to it. It is a slap across the face of all New Mexicans, especially those being represented, should be offended this rhetoric ever took place.

Martin Luther King, who lost his life attempting to halt these acts of hate and hurt was forgotten in this debacle. Caesar Chavez in a different arena, fought daily for basic human dignity and respect for all peoples, and he too has been ignored.

Whether we agree or disagree with someone, whether they are a member of our race, a minority race, or mixed race, we must set race aside. One’s race has no place in a difference of opinion or other form of interaction between people. If you read any of my posts about growing EcoHeart, you may understand why this is an important issue. Our world needs us focused on our future, yet too often we behave on like petulant, self centered children acting in the moment.

An argument or disagreement is a difference of opinion. A disagreement should remain focused on the area or item of dispute, and not be allowed to drift into umbrage or lashing out. If there is fact involved then an argument is no longer an argument, but ones refusal to accept fact.

No reasonable argument or disagreement has anything to do with the color of a persons skin, ethnicity, culture, or world view. We each have right to hold our own beliefs. We do not have the right to belittle others. It is imperative for the well being of all of us our beliefs are not tainted by hate. It is time for this hating minority to become Human, and treat other Humans with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Spirituality Measured With a New Ruler

Posted on June 12, 2011 by venagozar

You have your own personal spiritual system in place. You know what you believe is true for you and not something you believe because your parents or friends believe it. You have strong reasons for what you believe you believe. You feel you have all your bases covered.

One small thought for you consideration. Are you spiritually any farther along than your local neighborhood Atheist who’s believes you live until you die? As far fetched as it may seem to any “True Believers”, it is time truth be heard over popular fiction.

Some people keep their belief system in a box, taken out on the weekend for an hour or so, and then put back in the box until the next week. Other people try to be spiritual daily according to their belief system, and for the most part they succeed.

We individually are sure we are the fortunate ones. Most people around us, family and close friends included are not in the same league as us spiritually. We do everything correct, and they do some things sort of correct. Due to our perception, we think we are correct and almost everyone else is wrong.

If this is true; if perception is stripped away, would we find each of us is pretty much the same? We all generally do the right things most of the time, and we individually feel we have the edge on everyone else.

In some small way those right things we do, somehow outshine our family, friends, and neighbors. Not to mention those people who live further away with whom we have no type of bond. Those far away people, well they live their lives in a way that does no good for anyone! Why do we think like this?

In truth, or at least my perception of truth, you and I, and everyone does what we perceive to be the ‘right thing’ as much as we are able. I accept I do not do the right thing all the time. I know no one who does do the right thing all the time.

Even people whom we pay to lead us spiritually, be they Guides, Guru’s, or Preachers, do not do the right things all the time. If they were interested in only doing the right things all the time, you would not be paying them for their services. They would be offering their services for free and working for a living as you are!

How many people out there, be they acclaimed Preachers, Guru’s or Spiritual Leaders of any type, offer what they know for free? They fall back, on the, “I need to make a living to you know” defense. I do not find that reason very defensible, having someone who wants to help me, demand money for improving me spiritually?

If there were no money involved, would these people still be there to lead? Some of these enlightened leaders are millionaires, and you probably have to watch your spending each month to keep your life on solid financial ground. There is nothing wrong with making a living, but not on the backs of people who struggle to find that space where they can become the type of person they want to be.

Which brings me back to the Atheist next door. Since Atheist’s generally believe we live until we die, there are no Guru’s telling any Atheist how to live a better life, and requesting payment in the process. Atheists do not need to review their belief system and see how it fits in any situation. Nor does an Atheist follow the rules and conventions of an organized belief system hoping for a reward in the after life.

The average Atheist is a lot like you or me with one small exception. When an Atheist does the right thing at the right time, it is done because they want to do the right thing, or think they should do the right thing. That one small difference more than levels the playing field of belief systems in the hope of living a better life, and having further reward at the end.

How empowering a concept that is? Having a belief system of nothing, no reward, no level of attainment, no eternal bliss for having a few boxes checked off a list of things we are supposed to be doing! Doing something good for another person because you want to, not because you may be punished if you do not?

Before you become angry and think I am promoting throwing away your carefully tuned beliefs, read to the end. The idea of holding up an imaginary Atheist as a spiritual leader for the rest of us to follow is an important one.

Not one figure who was/is seen as transcending the restrictions of living doubted for one second where they would be after their physical death. Few Atheists have any doubt about where they will be after physical death either. Grouped together, all these people did or do the right thing to make life better for someone else without any expectation of reward in the present or beyond.

All the rewards of this earth and beyond do not compare with doing service for another because you can and want to help someone who has a need. Helping someone not for the expectation of reward or advancement, but because you want to and are able to make a positive change in two lives at once.

None of us really have the ability to change anyone’s life. All we can do is place our intent with our action, and do what we are able to help people because we want to. The rewards that come from a life lived in this way are far greater than any checklist of actions to undertake than we would ever conceive.

Spirituality, Your Ignored Other Half

Posted on July 1, 2009 by venagozar

How great it would have been if through my life someone would have been there to teach me spiritual development. Not to be confused with religious education, or indoctrination if that is how you see it, but rather an age based life mentoring, showing my spiritual growth and possibilities.

That is not to say I would change any of my choices through my life. Generally, the only semi real attention concerns state of spirit from a religious perspective. It is possible that some religions are more holistic in their approach, but I have yet to encounter one at close range that is.

spiritual self Authority figures in our life do what they can to raise us to know right from wrong and how to stay out of trouble. Their purpose generally is to make life easier for themselves rather than for our own good, excepting parents and other close family.

We are also led into achieving a certain level of achievement in our educational curriculum. What that level of achievement is for us varies from person to person and individual life circumstance, but generally we are expected to start making our own way as best we can once we reach a certain age, or achieve a certain level of educational mastery.

In all of this, with all our adult keepers, and societies watchful eye promoting acceptable behavior, no one really cares about our spiritual life. Most families, do not have spirituality hour, and there is not time set aside in the classroom where children are shown their life from a spiritual perspective.

Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to receive spiritual training throughout our life up to this moment? Having a mentor, or many mentors explaining to us with words and ideas that we understand, what our basic human purpose is and why it is important we nurture our spiritual self.

We would not wake up one day as an adult after a period lasting from weeks to decades of never feeling really comfortable with who we are and not knowing how to fix it. When we do come out of our self absorbed life looking around as if for the first time, noticing something serious is lacking, we generally do not know what it is, or why we feel how we feel.

Right now, this instant wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to ask our spiritual adviser why we feel the way we do? I believe as children when we are not shy about asking questions, we are too busy learning about our world to think about our spiritual self. Along the way our spiritual self is hidden from us.

As adults we have a self imposed rule about admitting we do not know, and asking others what they think. That is with the exception of asking our closest friends who are our closest friends because they are almost just like us, or as close as we can find.

Spiritual development does not have to be a process of rebellion against everything you believe, were taught, or think is possible. What your spiritual development should be is learning how you live your life so you recognize the face in the mirror as yourself. You do not want someone acting as you, as you peek out from behind deciding what kind of job they are doing for you.

When I was a child someone told me never to marry an actor, because you could never be certain if they were being real or acting. I have come to realize that it applies to each of us. Being yourself is the best gift you can give to you. Being yourself you may not know where you are headed with any certainty, but you can take comfort in knowing it is you and not some shell living your life for you on the trip.

I am still learning about my spiritual self, and I imagine I will for a long time. I urge you not to wait until you see your end out on the horizon to start filling in the blanks about what your purpose to being alive is and the amazing power of your spiritual self. Start learning about your spiritual side of you now, so you enjoy the trip instead of an unhappy spectator in your life.

Soul question, lengthy out loud thinking

Posted on January 24, 2009 by venagozar

Crisalonso asks interesting questions in his post “Can you see the future?” I was perusing blogs when I came across his post which I find very thought provoking. What is most interesting in his post is I too have pondered his questions throughout my lifetime. What I find surprising is my answers changed over time, and now have settled on a final answer.

Crisalonso muses, then states:

There has to be a soul, a coded form of energy which preserves identity during and after this life.

Wow, what a position! It is one of those ideas that mankind has struggled with for centuries and I have no doubt better minds than mine have attacked this statement with more determination and a better plan than mine. A few minutes of searching on the internet, for thoughts of the greatest thinkers of our time answers would be laid bare, or not depending on one’s interest in understanding what is really being said.

I find the best explanation is the proverb aphorism from the Gnostic gospels about it being harder for a rich man to get into heaven than a camel to pass through the eye of a needle fitting. How I think this applies to Crisalonso’s thought provoking statement is probably a little different than standard answers we would find.

As children growing into young adults we spend a lot of our time trying to find out who we are, and what we are about. We go through life trying to separate ourselves from everyone else, we want to be unique. I think this is where the eye of the needle comes into play.

If we truly believe we are separate from everyone, and everything else in the universe, then we are. We will never have moments of feeling we are one with the universe. If we happen to feel we are one with the universe, then we have never really been separate from everything, we only pretend we are separate.

If there is a universal something that keeps the universe as we know it, we are a part of it whether we like it or not. As we are a part of it, when we are done with our bodies, our souls must travel back to this all that is. I think the idea of standing in the middle of all that is, trumpet in my hand, proclaiming the glory of all that is while I am not a part of it, a flawed thought. Who would not wish to reclaim their part of all that is, was, and ever will be?

If we visualize a body of water large enough to jump in and imagine that body of water is all that is, what will we do standing next to it? Will we stand next to it, knowing that one step away we are a part of everything, and everything is a part of us, or would we walk away telling ourselves that we have no interest going back to being a part of all that is.

While a very few may decide, ‘I have no interest in rejoining all that is because I will lose myself as the water mixes in me and through me’, most people will be in the water as soon as they understand they can.

They will mix in with all the souls that are a part of all that is, sharing their lifetime experience, celebrating the feeling of completeness, mingling and rejoining all that is. All will truly be one with the universe as we know it, and we will know we have returned from our journey and experienced what we set out to experience in the manner we chose as we lived this lifetime.

As for Crisalonso’s question further into his post:

The question is, can we alter our past, present and future or is it all written beforehand?

I am of the belief we arrive with a specific plan, but we have the choice to follow it each step of the way, or not, as we decide. If this were not so, it would be a matter of randomness whether one turns into a saint or sinner to use common words for ideas.

Time has to be a human concept, there is no reason why we can not be born again in the same month of the same year in the same or different place holding the script we want to follow this time. To do any less would be a waste of our concept of time. Why would we want to wait who know how long for an exact set of circumstances to repeat themselves for something we want to experience when it occurred already exactly the way we wish it to?

On being perfect

Posted on October 21, 2008 by venagozar

When I was in my late teens I was very much into God. I wanted to become exactly what God wanted me to become. Hedging my bets, I used to ask for proof. Proof would show up. I would ask for more proof, and more proof would happen.

Then one day I realized that no matter how much proof I asked for, and how many times in a row that proof would be given, proof made no real difference.

Trying to become something I was not did not make me a better person. I wasn’t any more popular. I never had a change of opinion on any subject that mattered. I realized little by little that asking for proof was like arguing with the wind. I could make a lot of noise arguing with the wind, but the wind would never care.

So it is with trying to become what I was not. Change did not make me perfect no matter how much proof there is to support my belief. Change did not really make my life better. Change did not really change anything that was important.

So it was with trying to be perfect. I chose to live the life I was living instead of the life I thought I should be living. I found that all trying to live the perfect life did for me was make me feel guilty.

I felt guilty about so much some days. I would feel guilty about how I felt about all the women I saw each day. I would feel guilty about wanting more in my life. I would feel guilty for not being satisfied with the way I looked. I would find myself feeling guilty for feeling guilty when I had so much and everyone else had so little. I started feeling like an pious fake, and that would make me feel guilty too.

Over the years I realized it is a study in futility to try to change me into something that may be more perfect for what I believe.

I am what I am, and that is enough. I am a perfect me in fact! Whether I am the picture perfect idea of what my belief system thinks I should be, or something less, I am what I am. What I am is the perfect me with my own uniquely perfect faults and flaws.

Competing with an ideal is a competition I could never win. God, and no one else should ever expect me to be different than what I am. If it was necessary for me to be someone else I would not be here to begin with. Someone else would be here, or I would be different. If I were indeed different what would be the point of being the original me to start with?

When I am gone from here…if I find out I am wrong about all this, I will have to cry foul. Nothing of such magnitude such as God – and I do not pretend to comprehend even imagine a sliver of the whole of God – would create or allow me to be created only to be changed into someone else. What would be the point?

But of course, this may be higher level spiritual thinking, or fooling myself, believing everything is perfect as it is?

Hmmm….or maybe Ommmm.

Thoughts about God, belief, church, and the universe

Posted on August 31, 2008 by venagozar

My belief system has changed over the years in interesting ways. As a child I had no belief system. How could I? I did not know belief systems existed. I was taken to church every Sunday by my Mother, but I never thought anything of it. I was to sit and be as quiet as possible for an hour or so. I had no real idea what was going on or what church was all about.

I remember the first time I had a religious conflict was when I asked the reasoning behind a story the class we were told by a Nun. I was sent to the priest for my indiscretion. As a Teenager, I had a lot of questions, and some answers were missing logic, common sense, or were not bible based. During my teenage years I drifted into something resembling animism. Little pieces of God sprinkled all over my little piece of the world, and across all earth and space.

Of course some people were not too happy with the idea that I could possibly think that God is everywhere, and not at some far off undefined spot watching how I spend my life, adding and removing weights to a scale whose purpose determines where I will spend eternity. My own life was complete though, because if I could see God in weeds growing in the yard, I could certainly imagine a little piece of God living in every human being in my world. That thought did not make some people happy, they felt I must be awful full of myself, to think God resides in each of us.

Slowly in the following years, God retreated from my life and reformed out in some distant undefined place. As this slow retreat happened, so did my dissatisfaction with organized religion which started looking more like a combination of a clique and business. Where belonging meant upholding the party line, and belief system, whatever it was depending on which church. The Church party line changed depending on where I went. This constant changing of ideology did not mesh with me for a church trying to have one unified face.

It certainly started looking once more as if God was in each human, plant, animal, rock, and piece of sand. Perhaps there was more to the idea of God than God hanging out somewhere far away waiting to decide my eternal fate. What if everything I knew or could conceive about my physical and spiritual self was because God had a thought once upon a time and I am a result of that thought? The idea seemed to tie up a lot of loose ends for me. God simply had a thought and everything I know is a result of that thought whenever and wherever it occurred.

I tried to put God on a scale I could comprehend and relate to. Something that was not as magnificent as the creation of the universe and distantly experiencing everything in it. My pets were a fair starting point. I decided yes, I do experience more with them than I could without them. Whenever I am around them I am part of them and they are a part of me as we share almost the same space. I saw them young and happy, I see them sick, I see them as they grow older. In a small way I experience their life as they live it.

I do not stand with a clipboard with a sheet of paper on it and a line drawn down the middle, one side good and one side bad, keeping a running tally of how I perceive them. My pets are, and they do not decide what is good or not. I do not have the trouble of trying to decide whether they are more good than bad, or bad than good. I do not have to consider whether they do something because they are tired, sick, distressed, or just mean and angry.

After I worked my way through this, I decided this must be how the world is from God’s perspective. It is not important whether I think God is in everything in the universe, that God is in some distant place, or whether God lives in me or not. Deciding those ideas is not important, and something that I can not really determine no matter how I try. Once I arrived at this thought, my beliefs became simpler, yet more encompassing.

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