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"Peace on earth would mean the end of civilization as we know it" -- Joseph Heller
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 Update (Iraq)
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:49am
At present, the whole world stands in "shock and awe" of the ineptitude of the US military and the whole debacle that is the Iraq intervention. Every military cadet is taught the strategies of all the great military battles of history. Napoleon, who brought the greatest ‘military machine’ (of the period) to bear on Russia was defeated by an enemy that would not capitulate – an enemy that deployed guerilla tactics and drew the world’s most powerful army into a quagmire (from which it could not recover.) The imperialism of Bonaparte was crushed soon after.
international /
imperialism /
opinion/analysis
 Train
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:09am
But who is it that actually ‘won’ the elections (regardless of the ‘face’ or puppet that is shown to the world?) There was never any doubt, the Corporations win every time in the US. There is no real opposition in the US. Bill Clinton, the last Democrat US President stated in an interview, "don’t forget, I’m an American first." Nationalism is divisionism pure and simple – the fundamentalist ideology of the "America Way" remains unchanged regardless of the veneer of ‘leadership.’ (story and 1 image)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Comments re: Train
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:06am
I have received numerous responses relating to the article "Train." A variety of issues were raised; however, all essentially relate to the fundamental issues of division, fear, violence, unity, peace, and harmony (as is always the case in the affairs nations.) In the affairs of men, there is nothing new under the sun (how could there be?) We are either one harmonious human family or divided opposing groups.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
The American Dream
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 8:18am
People familiar with the US would also be familiar with the myth of the “American Dream.” It means many things to many people but in order for us not to be misled or deluded by the myth, a closer examination of this ‘dream’ is warranted. (story and 2 images)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Comments re: The American Dream
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 8:08am
I have received numerous comments from my American friends relating to my article, "The American Dream." I am always happy to address issues raised – discussion is always a better option than waging war – don’t you think?
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Debacle
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 7:51am
Does anyone remember Paul Wolfowitz stating plainly to the world that the Iraqi people would welcome US invaders with open arms and bouquets of flowers? [This statement will probably go down in history as the most lunatic assessment of one culture by another.]
Do you recall Donald Rumsfeld touting the superiority of the US ‘fighting machine’ with colourful cliches like, "shock and awe?" [The only one in shock is Rumsfeld and his military.] As for "awe" – the whole world is in awe of the stupidity and gullibility of the American people for believing the spin and other fabrications created by the neo-cons.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Dick Cheney
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 7:50am
A recent news broadcast regarding bombings against US occupation in Iraq depicts Dick Cheney and George W (parroting the same remarks) "they’re testing our wills." (story and 1 image)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Genius
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 7:45am
Regardless of methods of analysis or the opinions and deductions of all the think tanks and geniuses there is no escaping the conclusion that even a child could draw. Peace and Love are the solutions for the ills that beset our world (and ourselves.)
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
George W Bush and the Christian right
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 7:34am
Christianity teaches that people will turn away from the essential message of Christianity (Peace, Love and Unity.) Jesus himself stated that in the future many would use his name to justify their perverse ways. He emphatically called them false. We do not have to look very far to verify the accuracy of those statements.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Comments re: Bush and the Christian right
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 7:24am
Due to the number of responses relating to the above article, I am obliged to elaborate on some of the points raised. I hoped that enough information was initially supplied; however, it would seem that a more reactive rather than analytical understanding occurred. Nevertheless, I am always happy to respond to all criticisms, they are all constructive regardless of the intent of some. (story and 1 image)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Illusions of Power
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 7:16am
Power is process not object or thing – it manifests solely in relation to something – it is a relative social dynamic constantly renewed as process. This process is simply the surrender of self-determination to the determination of another. This ‘other’ then (temporarily) becomes endowed in direct proportion to the number of people who have surrendered their sovereignty.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Illusions of Wealth
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 7:05am
With the exception of the simple necessities of life, nothing has any intrinsic value whatsoever. We are born in societies and socialised by the values of those societies. Consensus is the imperative of ‘value’ – the majority in any society must first agree (consciously or unconsciously) that something is valuable in order for it to be endowed with ‘value.’ The custodians of ‘wealth’ are therefore the masses! The wealth of a nation quite literally rests with the people. The smallest shift in the attribution of value by the masses can reduce the existing ‘rich’ to poverty and can devastate a capital oriented society. Therein lies the ease with which social transformation can occur!
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Disintegration
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 6:53am
Need we wonder why the modern age is now a global insane asylum and worsening by the day? This is the reward for a population that would passively accept flagrant hypocrisy, contradiction and deception from the institutions that are supposedly the custodians of the highest ideals of society. Apathy, selfishness, lack of vigilance, denial, fear and our cowardice are to blame. These ‘noble’ qualities have allowed the situation to deteriorate to its present state. Faced with the breakdown of the institutions of morality, should we remain passive or do we change course for the better?
international /
theology /
opinion/analysis
Over
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 6:46am
Think for a moment of the elites who rule but never dirty their hands; that set whole populations against each other – those self-styled arbiters of division who profit on the misery of others? Give some thought to the huge profits made from conflict of all types, from the small social conflict of someone's dog soiling a neighbour's lawn, to all-out war of nations. Then ask yourself who profits?
international /
social equality/unity /
article
Antithesis
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 6:28am
The slave trade is alive and well. Who would fight the wars of businessmen if slaves didn’t exist? Who would work for Corporations for a pittance if slaves didn’t exist? Who accepts disparity and inequality if not slaves.
international /
social equality/unity /
opinion/analysis
The Singularity of Being
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 6:12am
Infinity is inclusive not exclusive – there are no ‘others’ in infinity, all becomes One. How are we (including mathematicians, physicists, astro-physicists, philosophers etc.,) to gain an understanding of a process if we separate ourselves from that process? Infinity is an all-encompassing singularity; there are no two infinities – a perfect philosophical contradiction would exist otherwise. So how can there be a subject or object, observer or observed, a thinker and thought etc., without division of the continuity of One? If continuous singularity (infinity) is the ultimate living reality then the aforementioned dualisms exist outside of that singular reality, as such they are relegated to transience and unreality (illusion or dream).
international /
philosophy /
article
Slaves of Love
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 6:03am
Western students have immense difficulty understanding the very Eastern concept of Karma. Too often Judaeo-Christian (Zoroastrian originally) principles of light-dark, God-Satan, good-bad and all the other polar and binary oppositions pollute perception. Had Newton been a philosopher instead of a mathematician and physicist he would have made an even greater contribution to Western society. His understanding of the Laws of action/re-action are very close indeed. (story and 1 image)
international /
personal development /
article
 The Guru
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 6:00am
The opera singer and a champagne glass – interesting association considering the title of this piece. Yet as an analogy it is difficult to beat. Most of us are familiar with an opera singer hitting a high note and creating a sympathetic reverberation in a champagne glass until it too starts to resonate and produce sound. The singer, in harmony with the frequency of the resonating glass, increases vocal intensity until the glass shatters into pieces! Here we have the perfect analogy of the guru and disciple relationship in a perfect world. But we are all too familiar with the imperfections of the world and unfortunately most ‘gurus’ fit into today’s world comfortably! (story and 1 attached file)
international /
personal development /
article
Monism and Pluralism
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 5:48am
Religious texts from various cultures all seem to falter when attempting to integrate the homogeneous infinite Oneness and the heterogeneous multiplicity of phenomenal existence. The heterogeneous is easily apprehended by all as the world. The difficulty arises when reconciliation is attempted between what appears on the surface to be two disparate states ie, singular monadic continuum and transient temporal multiplicity. The Scriptures are usually emphatic regarding the ‘sameness’ of these two disparate states, which would appear to the rational mind to be paradoxical or contradictory descriptions. Nevertheless, the position of the Scriptures remains firm though unclear. (story and 1 attached file)
international /
philosophy /
article
Jnana
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 5:42am
One of the most valuable contributions that India has made to the world of (practical) philosophy is the discipline of Jnana Yoga – Oneness through knowledge. However, in today’s world of fads and quick fixes Jnana Yoga has been relegated to relative obscurity and has become an object of scholarly pursuit rather than a practical system. Yet its credentials for effectiveness are impeccable. (story and 2 attached files)
international /
philosophy /
article
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