“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – The version of the Serenity Prayer adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous.
“Do. Or do not do. There is no try.” – Yoda
Updated on 11-8-2016
A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth, both for those who wish it to be the truth because it fits their (programmed) mindset, and those who practice what I describe as ‘garbage in, garbage out’ non critical thinking. Setting aside the desire to expand upon the definition of ‘truth’, if the purpose of the lie (and the intent of the liar) is to shape reality via propaganda dissemination (basically to gain advantage) might not the lie also be directed towards those who know it to be a lie?
As silly as that statement may appear on the surface, it is reasonable to inquire exactly how a known or suspected lie may significantly shape the reality of those who at a minimum may not know the truth, but can smell a lie a mile away. The answer comes by way of how we react to the lie and not the lie itself. Continue reading Seeking Calm in the Middle of Chaos→
(Plato had much to say about modern day ideological blindness.)
Nearly everyone thinks of the United States of America as a place, a physical location, some place you can live, visit, touch and see. And nearly everyone is wrong.
The United States of America is an ideology, a thought meme, a belief, a political religion, a concept and an idea. I am reminded of this every time Mrs. Cog and I head southeast down the mountain and cross over from Virginia into North Carolina. Other than a few road signs and a change in the pavement (clearly two different companies at two different times from two different directions paved right up to the border and no further) there is no discernible difference. Continue reading Shadows on the Cave Wall→
Like so many others who have followed a slow and rocky path towards a greater awakening and understanding, certain key events tend to be remembered more vividly than others. However, this doesn’t mean a particular event or awareness was our first or initial exposure. On the contrary, similar to Chinese water torture, it’s not the first drop that drives your awakening, but often the hundredth, the thousandth or ten thousandth.
It was 17 years ago that this particular noggin’ knock shook me to the core, mostly because it showed me how blind I was to the world around me. When deeply and seamlessly immersed within the altered realty we believe is normal everyday life, so much is readily apparent only to those who are actively looking or genuinely receptive. Continue reading For Domestic Consumption: Divide and Control Is Working Brilliantly Once Again→
