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 28 Jan 2009 @ 18:25
I am moving this discussion on consciousness to a new article and comment stream in order to keep continuity and to stay on track. I am also moving A-d's comment to this log to start the discussion.
Many (including myself) have said that we are all one and from the same Source. This is the Truth, however how many have actually explored what that really means. What does the Source consist of? What are we made of?
I offer you here a clear explanation of what Consciousness is and from Whence we come and what we are made of. I invite all to meditate on this and see what insights come up. This is the most fundamental item ever offered and it is truly exciting and True!!
Please take the time to meditate on this and post your comments for further discussion.
Love, clarity and peace to you,
Spells/Sandi
**
The Attributes of mass consciousness and its relationship to Intent
Consciousness may be discussed using the analogy of a flashlight. Consciousness is composed of three elements which are; Energy, Awareness and Intent. Awareness is like a flashlight at night. Through this medium, whatever we focus our attention upon is illuminated and revealed. Our energy is the light itself, and that which points the flashlight is Intent .
Consciousness, and how it organizes group minds
A group mind is analogous to a cluster of cells which compose a body. Each cell has its own individual consciousness, (composed of intent, awareness and energy) which has its specialized function for the organism of which it is a member. Multi-cellular organisms exhibit far greater capacities and abilities than do single celled organisms, for the simple reason that there is vast power inherent in cooperation and specialization. A group of like minded individuals is essentially no different, in that each person contributes the essence of their focus, (awareness) will, (intent) and force of motivation, (energy) to the group effort. For this reason groups of persons are far more powerful by potential, than a collection of separated individuals. Their "group space" or mind, is geometrically more powerful than an equivalent number of individuals who are not aligned in joint purpose, and indifferent to one another.
In any group setting, be it cellular, community-wide or in such a case as international relations, any task may be more easily carried out through cooperation. At each level, group mind effects are observable. The advantages of cooperative action have to do with the principle of natural law known as specialization. When the members of any collective specialize in their functions, the distribution of "labor" in the accomplishment of any task is made more efficient. The reason for this is simple. When a group is composed of specialized individuals, then all are freed to perform their specialized duties without distraction by other considerations.
Non-cooperating individuals who act alone, are forced to do everything in life for themselves, which means they cannot afford to specialize (and do one single task extremely well). They must address all the tasks of life simultaneously every day. This tends to be an inefficient method of living.
In a situation such as a tribal village however, specific duties are carried out by certain members for the good of the whole. Some are involved with catching or growing food, others with its preparation, as well as the making of clothing, building, organizing and conducting spiritual events. An individual must do all of these things to stay healthy, which is a comparatively enormous burden of labor. To be singular is to waste energy, and to have ones' attention (awareness) divided into the diverse categories of many daily tasks. Cooperating individuals become like the organs of a greater body thus formed, whenever those of a like mind come together. Cooperation affords many more advantages than does individual effort for this reason, because the load of essential tasks is divided up interconnectedly, with the good of the whole, (the many) being the first priority. From such an arrangement each individual is vastly benefited and strengthened by the collective. Ultimately, and by taking the example of nature, this is the Intent and method we must employ on a social, planetary basis.
We are as cells in the body of the World Mind. When we come together as groups with a specific focus, we form what is analogous to tissues, muscles and organs within the planetary body. At present, there is a particular need for groups, (organs) of persons who specialize in that aspect of consciousness expansion known as clarity. In other words, there is a great need in the world for certain of its members, to take on the function of the "higher brain centers", for this World Mind to which we belong. Our species needs a specialized organ or "brain", which is capable of psychically guiding the rest of the body of humanity into a future that is not only inclusive of enlightened intentions, but also our continued evolution and true spiritual progress.
Our spiritual progress also depends on a planetary "heart" being formed by individuals who radiate love. Our mutual love can be so strong that its effects defy the imagination. Both of the above types of psychic specialists, will act in unison to "channel" and transform the mindstates and Intent of the rest of humanity. Through this psychic channeling the Body that is our species will be moved in unison on a psychic, (unified field) level. The Intent of world connectivity via spiritual Intent, will be manifest on higher and higher levels, as the continuous standing reality.
The group mind principle, (of natural law) is as follows, "the resulting force generated from the combining of like minds, is geometrically greater than the sum of its parts". In other words, minds which are focused together upon a common theme, create a mutual force which is not merely additive, but vastly more powerful than any one individual or group of individuals. Group mind influence is in fact, a multiplying effect, expanding by factors of ten or more.
It is a mode of relating that is mutually beneficial and spiritual in nature, as distinguished from the usual person to person separateness or loneliness seen today. For this reason, our need as a species and as individuals, is to recognize that our society functions according to the group mind principle. Every couple, family, neighborhood, community, region, city, company, sporting event, nation, music band, meditation group, and meeting of two or more persons in like cause, exhibit group mind phenomena to a significant degree. Given the prevalence of group mind influence, we must make best use of its love and clarity-multiplying effects, if we are to realistically expect to survive the new millennium. We must come together as groups of spiritually minded persons, who employ the Intent of mutual benefit, the awareness of our global community, and the direction of inner energy for the sake of building a better world.
Groups of meditators may specialize in their function/intent for the good of the local group mind, (which they form while in meditation). Two or more persons may meet and first meditate, (see GM series #3 in the WMS Library, ([link] ). They may then send feelings of love and clear seeingness/wise understanding, (clarity) to all the other participants. These other participants will in turn send their love and clarity to each individual. A psychic "area of effect" then arises, surrounding the group as a type of collective aura. This aura is similarly composed of love and clarity, as a result of the projected intents of each meditator. At a critical moment the group will see itself as one singular, conscious entity, which is capable of rendering simultaneous action, through the medium of several meditating body/minds. This is known as "group casting" or "group manifestation". Groups should use the Intent of "raising the world" via the mediums of love and high feelings, as well as clarity. The World mind collective intention, may in this fashion be raised, (in levels of consciousness) via the Intentions of such groups and individual meditators around the world. We must Intend a critical mass type of transformation, whereby the mindstates, feelings, intentions and thought patterns of our collective are shifted. The body of humanity must be coordinated and transformed by those who are willing to specialize within this body, “to perform such functions” as the generation of Love and Clarity for all humanity.
Whenever the idea crosses your mind, send forth love and/or clarity to the world. During this moment, Intend love and clarity be sent to each person who has read this article. Don't over-analyze how to do this sending of love and clarity just yet, merely have confidence that it will be sent, and in turn received from others. Just relax, feel, and visualize an interconnected web of light, between the readers of this page. Let this visualized network(ing), which extends around the world, represent pathways whereby love and clarity are being mutually transmitted, jointly received, and then re-transmitted at an even greater level of intensity, with each minute that passes. Let love and clarity grow among us throughout the world in a domino-like succession.
Let these qualities travel from person to person like a great interconnecting wave, which mutually reinforces and builds.
We will in effect, "raise each others consciousness" daily in this way. The effects of this meditation will be increasingly potent and cumulative to a high degree. In the mean time, study the GM series in the WMS library, [link] to learn more about the specifics of group mind and Intent.
Matthew Webb visionquest@eoni.com The World Mind Society [link] More >
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 11 Sep 2003 @ 14:35
by Greg Palast
The surprise resignation of the forty-third President of the United States, George W. Bush, on the second anniversary of the terrorist attack on America, was hailed by chiefs of state throughout the world. Mr. Bush announced that after, "two years of bloodshed, economic devastation, and spreading fear in America and abroad," he saw no choice but to accept that, "I have held a title which I did not win, and for which I have proven unqualified."
The text of the former President's September 11 address to the nation follows:
"My fellow Americans:
I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. Two years ago today, thousands of innocent Americans were murdered by terrorist maniacs.
In the script I've been handed, I'm now supposed to tell you that America is safer today, and that the world is kinder and nicer and happier, because of I'm such a brilliant general in the War on Terror.
But who are we kidding? Yesterday, Osama released his new hit video. The terrorists are having a picnic ever since I turned over our foreign policy to Saudi Arabia and Exxon-Mobil.
And here's the point in my speech where my handlers would have me tell you about how I've been praying hard, making it sound like I just got off the phone with the Lord. I don't know about you, but I find it pretty darn offensive, downright blasphemous, to drag the Lord's name into every cheap campaign speech and chest-pounding war threat. Osama says he talks to God too. Let's leave Him out of the politics from now on, OK?
Look, in my speech this past Sunday, I used the word "democracy" about 11 times when talking about Iraq. It's democracy Florida-style, I suppose. Except we're not fixing the vote this time . we aren't letting these people vote at all. "Iraqis aren't prepared for democracy." That's what Dick Cheney and Saddam Hussein told me.
So we're blowing 100 billion bucks we don't have to colonize a country we don't want. Rummy tries to explain it to me each morning -- oil this and oil that -- but I just don't see it. And one of our kids dying there every day - where are their parents, anyway? My dad didn't let that happen - he got me out of the service. Didn't I look neat in that fly-boy suit?
And, let me tell you, I just looked at our nation's piggy bank. Uh-oh.
When I arrived, the last guy left me $4 trillion and said, "Be careful with all that cash in this neighborhood." Well, I have to level with you, America: it's all gone. The cupboard's bare and this year alone we blew half a trillion more dollars than we have in our bank account. Man, I can't believe I went through all that dough stone sober.
And what did we get for it? A Fatherland Security Department that's trying to read the labels on everyone's underpants. Think about it, all this Total Information Awareness KGB stuff: two years ago Americans were the victims - but my government has made Americans the suspects. I don't know about you, but this guy Ashcroft scares the bejeezus out of me.
And today I'm told that over nine million Americans are out of work. That's not so bad: I haven't done much work in my lifetime either. But my mama explained to me that not everyone's daddy can lend them an oil well to tide them over.
It's like I can't get anything right. The lights are going out in Ohio and the North Pole is melting. I don't get it. I appointed all those regulators that Ken Lay told me to, and I got rid of all the rules that got in the way of patriotic Polluter-Americans .. and what's the upshot? America the Beautiful is looking like she's had a pretty rough night. Won't be long before the whole country smells like Houston.
And now the stock market's floating face down in the swimming pool -- despite everything I've done for those guys on Wall Street. Even my plan to give every millionaire an extra million seems to have backfired. Greenspam says I've created "business risk." Says I spook investors. But when I asked Greenspam for a solution, all he did was hand me a bag of pretzels.
Hey, I can take a hint. OK, I'm over my head on this one. I look back over these last years, and what have I got to show you for it: two years of bloodshed, economic devastation, and spreading fear in America and abroad.
When I ran for this office, I said the issue was, "character." And just look at the characters around me. I've gotten all their resignations today. And while I've got some character left, here's my own good-bye note too. Let's face it: I have held a title which I did not win, and for which I have proven unqualified. You know it. And I know it.
It's at this point in the speech where I'm supposed to say, "And may God bless America." God better, because Dick Cheney won't. Don't panic: I'm not turning over this sacred office to Mr. Contracts-R-Us.
Instead, I've petitioned the United States Supreme Court to pick a President for us. Those guys picked the last one, why not the next one?
And so, my fellow Americans, you can take this job and .."
Here, Mr. Bush's words became unintelligible. As usual. More >
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5 Feb 2003 @ 18:51
Hi everyone,
It is truly amazing to me that the most profound and relevant (or just any) response I received from all the mailings I have sent out in the last year, was from someone I have never met in England. I say this because I have sent out important, factual and truthful information to you, my acquaintances, friends and loved ones, and never received an honest response once. An honest response would be one that addressed the facts made and discussed and/or debated these points for one purpose....to find out the truth, no matter what that meant to us personally.
I do realize that most of you probably delete my messages before reading them, but the only one you are hurting or fooling is yourself. You can hide from the truth for a little while, but that will not make it go away. We are headed for disaster, and it is by the hands of the leaders of this country and all those who follow in silence and self imposed blindness.
Just take 5 minutes away from your busy, hypnotised lives to read the following letter. You are running out of time to wake up.....the snooze button on your alarm clock just fell off....
***
From “Ian”….deepart2000@hotmail.com
Dear Editor,
As regards Iraq, -if it wasn’t so serious; it could be a silly farce or some music hall routine, enacted by low-grade comedians. But it’s deadly serious. There’s a madman leading more than one country in this world, and America is no exception. Bush, no matter how the obsequious Blair talks him up, is crazed, maybe he always was, or maybe his previous alcoholism left him devoid of some crucial brain cells? Either way, he epitomizes much that the USA and the West has wrong with them, the selfishness, the greed, the smugness and the bullying.
Did Blair, Bush or Israel’s Sharon never hear or understand Bob Dylan’s lyrics in the song “God on our side”? And why did America learn nothing from such escapades as Vietnam? And part of this tragic farce is the blind western allegiance that favours Israel, alongside our disgraceful prejudice against all things Arab or Moslem. Israel is but a little state, with incommensurate influence in the world, it is beleaguered by blind Old Testament style hatreds, by a very divided, intransigent and retributive people. No paragons here! And yet they have such undue sway in world affairs.
One of the factors that really intrigues me is the influence of religions in our world. This applies as much towards Moslem, as the Judaic and Christian religions. In the case of Judaism, apparently God has decreed that people of Arabic descent are on a par with animals or insects, and as easily disposed of, -being little valued as human beings. This is so redolent of Nazi attitudes, -has nothing been learned? In the case of Muslims, something twisted has entered in; whereby some of its adherents have conjured that it’s somehow okay to slaughter, (with God’s grateful blessings), his creatures who hail from other parts of the globe who have Christian crosses or Stars of David, in place of crescent moons, atop their temples. Then there is the closer-to-home example of Christians. I ought to state here that I am of no one religion, -or of them all, so am not partisan to any. But I do respect the founders of all true religions. So it is with profound dismay that I see supposed followers of Christ, -such as Bush and Blair, behaving in a way that completely ignores the words of their professed teacher.
Christ never once endorsed bullying and aggressive warfare. He never said that one state or a single race was superior to all others. He never advocated murder as a way to solve human difficulties. Neither did he, (or any other saint worthy of the title), ever suffer from the dismissive arrogance and egotism that our present ‘statesmen’ display on a daily basis. I think he said things like ‘Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone’, and ‘Ignore the speck in your neighbor’s eye and behold the beam in your own’ etc. Far from warfare, Christ, (as Buddha et al), were strong advocates of peace and humility - and love for others. They were ardent protectors of the poor, the maligned and downtrodden, -were critical of materialism and recommended that we focus on spirituality as a way forwards.
If we look today at Western societies, where exactly can Christ’s teachings be seen being genuinely followed? In the case of the USA, we see the materially richest nation on earth, waving jingo-laden flags in the faces of the world’s poor and ill-used, with a paucity of compassion. We see them greedily guzzling the resources of this planet and tearing up ‘God’s creation’ like there is no tomorrow, and with no reverence for anything other than the dollar. We have the spectacle of the USA reiterating a nauseating patriotism that borders on an obsessive-compulsive psychiatric disorder. We see their (as well as our) youth sliding inexorably towards a way of life that is the very antithesis of everything that Christ recommended, -in terms of a drunken, drugged, sexual hedonism, where sport, shopping, over-eating and electronic amusements are the nearest they or we get to anything resembling devout dedication. And yet? And yet, the USA is full of this pride (a.k.a. ‘a sin’!) about itself, -it wallows daily in selfishness and self-congratulation, it has little respect for human life, unless that life happens to be Caucasian, affluent and with an American accent.
Raised as they have been on the entirely contaminated philosophy and values promulgated by Hollywood and the NRA, their guns equal instant ‘justice’ and ‘liberty’, disregarding all biblical commands, -including that very inconvenient ‘Thou shall not kill’ dictum. Can this really be called Christianity? Were Christ to appear amongst us today, can anyone seriously believe that he would quickly side up with America and all she does and is? Not a chance! He would, -as he did years ago, align himself with the sick, the poor, the downtrodden, and the spiritually pure of heart. He would praise those who work with compassion for humans and animals. He would castigate those who display all of what America and the West stand for today. In short, he would disown the ‘Christian’ USA and UK, and he would likely prefer to spend time with blind Moslem beggars, Columbian street children and Buddhist nuns, than our pompous churchmen, or the aggressive, duplicitous, self-aggrandizing world leaders, -much to the latter’s chagrin...
And one thing is absolutely certain. There is no way Christ would be advising Blair and Bush that they ought to go out and slaughter hundreds or thousands of Iraqi citizens in a senseless, meaningless war that solves nothing at all, but will undoubtedly evoke the (understandable) wrath of those people who the West has blatantly bullied, tricked and ignored for so many years, -causing yet more mayhem and loss of peaceful coexistence amongst God’s creatures in this world.
Heaven only knows what the present incumbent of the Whitehouse gleans from his daily bible readings! Has he got beyond the publishers preface yet? Certainly if he had read as far as the actual teachings of Christ, he might find out that Christianity centers on ‘Loving one's neighbor’, not lacerating him and her, (-and their rag-clad children), from the skies with devilishly designed million dollar armories. Bush would discern that distributing bread for the hungry is more truly the Christian way, than leaving landmines in the ground, which later blast the limbs off blameless shepherd children. He would also cut the crippling debts. The President of the USA and the Prime Minister of Britain ought to take on board that Christ’s message was ‘Suffer ye the little children’, not, ‘Ye ought to make the little children suffer’.
And Bush and Blair could usefully study passages that laud humility and readiness to bow to spiritual wisdom, -not self-righteous arrogance, mendacious diplomacy, and bombastic braggartism.
I don’t have privy information from God, nor a personal hotline, but from everything I can glean, I seem to discern that he or she sees our planet as but one entity, and has no personal favorites among the races. Apparently s/he loves us all equally, -be that black, yellow or white, and his greatest wish is that we all coexist peacefully, revering more that which is spiritual and alive, than worshiping dead material objects and things. We are but one family, called the human race, who, at present, are better at recalling ancient feuds, than remembering the words of the wise. Nietzsche once said: ‘The strong man is good at forgetting’.
Let us not forget that borders between countries are man-made, not God decreed. National flags, general’s uniforms, archbishop’s robes and brass nameplates boasting status, affixed to certain doors in Rome, Paris, Beijing, Baghdad, Whitehall and the Whitehouse are not dropped from heaven by God’s angels, but are made in factories by human hands and machines, -exactly like toilet rolls, baby wipes and pooper scoopers, -which are probably far more valuable to humanity than the former artifacts.
Humanity is in a mess because it pays more attention to Warner Brother epics, than the ethics of brotherhood and the epics of saints, -as once depicted by those who had better credentials to teach us the proper way to live, - (decently and peacefully), -than do the dollar-hungry moguls who own and control the shaping, yet warped, mass media.
So, as ever, the key issue is ‘Choice’. We have the choice to be swayed by the crazy and demented, -as did the people of Germany in WW2, or to decide that our reprehensible leaders be changed and that meritocracy ought rule the day, -electing those who promise genuine ethical reforms that benefit the whole world, not sleazy tax reforms that benefit only the already very affluent in some select mansions of the West...
As we vote, as we protest, as we write and speak out loudly, (or stay quiescently indoors, glued to our TV murders and fictions) so do we create either the prospect of future disasters, –involving pain and ruin; or the saner option, -that of a better world. let's choose, and act wisely and soon!
With hope... " More >
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20 Dec 2002 @ 11:57
Dear NCN Members,
Here is my "Holiday Gift" to you. Although most or, at least some of the members here believe themselves to be "Spiritual", they still get caught up in the "Holiday Rush", and forget what our true goals on this planet are. (Evolution as Conscious Beings, not good obligational "Consumers" spending money)
For this reason I offer my gift of truth and reality about this so called "Holiday Season".
Enjoy,
Sandi
******
Re-defining What is Normal
Let’s take a look at what is considered “normal behavior” during the so-called “holiday season”. The entire Christmas and New Years hysteria, is really a facade which covers up the reality of our out-of-control, materialistic culture. It is a microcosm that represents all the falsehoods of consumerism, and its shallow fixation on material things. What could more easily demonstrate this shallow unnaturalness, than the consumer-orgy we see happening every Christmas? Does anyone every really wonder why these certain days of the year, are so stressful and personally destructive? Isn’t it a little odd that a holiday that is supposed dedicated to Christ is so materialistic, when Christ himself completely denounced materialism?
The following excerpt is taken from an issue of Great Life Magazine, a prominent health publication. It describes what is considered “normal” by this society at the “holidays”…
The article is entitled, “Give stress a vacation” and begins as follows…
“Life’s hectic pace takes a toll on our sanity from time to time especially around holidays, when demands on our time and energy push us into overdrive. When our minds perceive a challenge or threat, catecholamines are released into the bloodstream. They, along with nerve impulses, prepare the body for fight or flight, the survival mechanism humans have relied on for thousands of years to prepare the body for physical activity. Following the response, the body typically returns to its normal state.”
No one ever seems to ask the essential question here, when talking about “lifes’ hectic pace”. Why is life’s pace hectic? Was it always that way for human beings? No it wasn’t. We ourselves make it hectic and insane. Why do we do this? Because we have all been convinced by the cult of materialism, to “perform” and “consume”. It is not life that is inherently hectic or insane, it is our materialistic values which make it so. As the article points out, this lifestyle “takes a toll on our sanity from time to time especially around holidays, when demands on our time and energy push us into overdrive”. Whose demands? Answer…Our own. As “consumers” we feel a constant social pressure and emotional craving for material distractions. We’re so hollow inside (society) we need something to fill us up, if only for the next hour or minute. We feel this because as a culture we’re out of balance, and teetering on the edge of collective insanity. The modern lifestyle is indeed a “challenge or threat” posed to both the body and mind. This threat deranges the mind with artificial stresses, and destroys the body with cancer and various other diseases and nervous disorders. We literally put ourselves in a circumstance of “fight or flight” every day, but particularly at the “holidays”. Why do we do this? Because we have forgotten what life is all about, and that happiness is not found in a pill, an herb, or a box of plastic playthings.
The article goes on to say…
“But the stresses we undergo in modern society rarely require such a physical reaction, and they don’t always have a definitive outcome that causes a return to homeostasis. As a result, we are perpetually ready to fight or flee, but are not truly relaxed or active enough to release the stress. This state can contribute to high blood pressure, inhibited immunity, heart problems and other maladies. So, coping with stress before it all gets the best of us is key.”
Isn’t it interesting how, as a culture, we only think of “coping with stress” rather than just not being stressed to start with? We assume that stress is a given, because we assume materialism is a given. Why are we ready to “fight or flee” and yet are not “active enough to relieve the stress”? Because we’re too busy doing the 40-60 hour work routine behind a desk, worshipping the Dollar as God, and never questioning the values that have been handed to us by an insane society. We wouldn’t need to work like this and “fight or flee”, if we adopted natural values and lifestyles. But it would seem that simplicity and practicality are not enough for the average American…or at least so we’ve been told by the television. We are stressed because we lack the courage to think for ourselves, and question all this nonsense of a credit card, “for a limited time only” world. If you want love and light, then stay out of debt, quit your job, and develop some natural values that place love above the dollar, and your own en(light)enment above a so-called “carreer”. Let the deed fit the word!
The article continues…
“Prescription drugs, such as Valium and other benzodiazepines, are often prescribed to treat moderate anxiety, but they have sedative and addictive effects…”
Sure, why not pop another pill or take an herb, rather than change what is causing stress and death on a mass scale. Take the easy way out, and try to believe that God is coming to clean up our mess for us, or that just saying the words like “love and light” will somehow change a miserable lifestyle without ever having to do anything practical in your life. Spirituality is not just about saying nice things! It’s about living it out in your daily routine! It means questioning what is false regardless of what the neighbors might say!
From the same magazine and month, another article entitled “Why am I Blue?” begins as follows…
“It’s the holidays and you know you’re supposed to be happy, but SOMEHOW you’re more melancholy than merry.. Fortunately St. John’s wort offers a simple way to beat the blues. More than 25 studies have concluded that….
There is no “somehow” about it. We are living the wrong life, and trying to apply ourselves to lies and consumer fictions! Ok, you want love and light? Then just don’t participate any more in the darkness and despair of the dollar-as-God world! Think about the essential meaning of the word “sincerity”! In other words GET REAL about your spiritual practice, rather than just giving concepts you read somewhere a little lip service, through placating pleasantries. Go beyond just words, and actually change your lifestyle, (or not if hypocrisy suits you just fine).
The REAL spiritual practitioner questions everything, and blindly accepts nothing. If you are interested in being REAL, then try not doing Christmas any more! Realistically speaking, how SINCERE is it to give “loving” gifts and “heart-felt greeting cards” to others, just because the calendar says it’s December 25th? Love is not contained in wrapping papers or credit cards! Plastic trinkets and obligatory present-giving are not worth spending months in debt just to pay off. Fulfilling the consumer ideals of the corporate world is not worth suicide via stress.
And then there is “New Years” where everyone gets drunk and tries to pretend how “successful” and “happy” they are, while secretly drowning their indebted, stressed-out misery in another glass of alcohol and pills. Let’s face it, society is filled with lies and misconceptions. Bail out while you still can! Pull your kids out of the public brainwashing schools. Turn off the television, or at least see it for what it is. Quit your full time job, and only work when you have to live simply and naturally. Really focus your life on love, light, health and clarity, rather than “investment opportunities” and private empire building.
The “holidays” are perfectly representative of the whole ridiculous, materialistic way of life. They are literally brimming over with denial and absurd beliefs, such as the idea that giving of material objects expresses love. What bull. Why buy into such nonsense, and then spend the rest of your life fulfilling a shallow ideal, that is not even of your own making? As a culture and as individuals, we need to re-define what is “normal” living and what is not. You can talk about Love and God all you want, but how you live is what demonstrates what you REALLY mean when you say those words.
The only thing a materialist really loves is another paycheck… like a junkie wants just one more fix. We work endlessly to support our habit, not for any noble cause or basic need. That lifestyle is not “normal”.
Think about it.
Matthew Webb visionquest@eoni.com More >
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7 Sep 2002 @ 07:12
Got this in the email....had to share!
**********************
Confessions of an American
Ex-patriot
It all began about a year ago. I had just finished
watching the morning news over a cup of coffee, and
nothing felt quite right. Having dutifully pecked the
cheek of my wife with a kiss, I stood beside my sporty
new car with mug in hand. The engine was purring away
before my drive to work, and my favorite bumper
sticker caught my eye. “Proud to be an American” it
read. I paused for a moment, reflecting upon this.
For some reason it just didn’t set well, like a lunch
eaten too fast. On the way to the office I was at a
loss to explain, in fact, why it began to seriously
irritate me. I see statements like these on countless
other cars every day, and I wondered how many people
think for themselves these days. Then the question
arose…What are we so proud of? As I asked myself this
question over and over again, I suddenly couldn’t
think of a single response. So why did I have this
proclamation on my bumper, if I didn’t know what it
meant? Why does everyone else seem to have one too,
(or a flag or sticker in the window and yard). Do they
know something I don‘t??
My day at work was pretty much the same as always,
except for one thing. I seemed to raise a few
eyebrows over lunch with my question, “Why are you
proud to be an American”? The immediate reactions
were about the same as mine. There was also obvious
irritation about being asked a question to which
everyone is expected to know the answer. Each person
I asked had no immediate response, and their confusion
reminded me of my own. But then to my relief the
answer that was provided one way or another, was
something to the effect of…”Well, we’re a free
country. We’re a democracy, and the people decide how
they want to believe, and you know, that’s a lot
better than any place else in the world, right?” But
my sense of relief at this answer did not last. I
kept the thought that came to mind secret, which was,
“Yeah, you’re free to believe whatever you want, so
long as it’s politically correct”. Recalling recent
events and the sorry shape the world is in right now,
such responses seemed very shallow. They sounded like
tape recordings being played on cue. It was a little
eerie how everybody answered in the same basic way,
using the same words I’d heard on television so many
times. It would be interesting to know if everyone
would talk differently if the television and
newspapers were taking a different stand. I suspect
they would be.
When I got home that evening, I made my wife nervous
by talking about how the last presidential election
was a farce. George W. Bush is president today, but
not by a vote of the people. I said, “Yes, don’t you
remember…nobody ever talks about this now, as though
it’s ancient history. But George W. was put in office
by the Supreme Court, while the recount of votes in
Florida was actually prevented. How can a court
decide who wins the presidency in a democracy? She
did not seem to appreciate my new fascination with
being politically incorrect, and offered no answers.
Afterwards, other questions arose in my mind. If
we’re a democracy, then why is it that the important
decisions of running this country and how our tax
dollars are spent, are rarely a matter of public
knowledge, let alone votes? Do we really live in a
free country or a police state? Are we really
promoting democracy around the world as the television
claims we are, or are we just installing puppets who
do our economic bidding? I thought of recent police
suppression of demonstrations in Seattle, Portland and
elsewhere. Images of pepper spray, riot gear, Nazi
insignias, and countless people in prison cells filled
my mind. I thought about how the Justice Department
locks people up indefinitely now, without charges,
even if they are American citizens. Bank accounts are
frozen and lives are destroyed, just because George
and company says they have “ties” to so and so. Our
words speak of “nation building” but our actions
speak more loudly of. nation destroying. I remembered
hearing how the CIA meddles in governments the world
over, staging armed rebellions and the like, yet
without a single vote from the people involved. How
does one establish a democracy by installing puppet
dictators who are on the CIA payroll? I thought about
the “Patriot Act” which makes wire taps, e-mail
interception and house searches without warrants
“legal“. So much for the Bill of Rights. I
considered how it’s becoming more and more accepted
that neighbors report each other to the government for
“suspicious behavior”. What is “suspicious” behavior
anyway, not wearing green on St. Patrick‘s Day?? How
will this new “Homeland Security” office be used
against our citizens? Perhaps it should be called “The
Office of Suspicious Behavior”. I thought about
college professors being fired and receiving death
threats, for teaching that we should critically
examine how our Bill of Rights and Constitution are
being trampled on by recent legislation. We’re told,
“we have to give up our liberties for the sake of our
protection”. How is giving up our sovereignty and
freedoms protecting us from anything, and why does one
have to come at the cost of the other?
The more I thought about such questions the more
uncertain I became about how “proud” I am to be an
American. I certainly want to be proud, don’t get me
wrong. I would like nothing better than to believe
that my government is just and honest, that it
represents the people who pay for its existence,
(taxpayers) and which is a force for good in the
modern world. Yet it’s pretty clear that our
government is no longer for the people, but for money
interests. Ours has become a government by and for
the corporations, and as such how can it be a
democracy? The general attitude today seems to be
that the people exist to serve and obey government,
rather than the other way around. Media exists to
condition a response rather than to just inform.
Isn’t a government that has this attitude a parasite?
I was raised in an upper middle class family, attended
a private school for “gifted students” and have an
excellent academic record. I hold Masters degrees in
business administration and psychology, having firmly
believed that such accreditation is essential for
“success” in this wonderful, modern world of
ever-increasing standards of living. I was employed
for many years in a significant middle management
position at an electronics firm based in Dallas Texas,
making in excess of $85,000 a year. My wife and I and
our two children, lived in a 5 bedroom, 3500 square
foot home, in an excellent neighborhood. Yet through
all these years I was never truly satisfied, and
didn’t know why. I didn’t know anyone else who was
satisfied either. After giving the whole thing some
thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that our society
is moving in the wrong direction. It glorifies greed
as the supreme goal in life, and egotism as the norm
for social interaction. I honestly can’t think of any
other reason at this point, why anyone would even
desire more than they need to live well.
But all that is changed now. The more I’ve learned in
fact, the more I realize the world isn‘t going to last
very much longer at this rate..
In the weeks following my initial “political
incorrectness”, I did some research on the internet,
and at the library. My mind was really opened by all
this information, but even more so by the implications
of what I was finding out. The following statistics
are fully verifiable;
As of August 2001, the national debt has risen to the
astronomical figure of over 6 trillion dollars.
That’s 6000 billion! I asked myself, “Good God! Where
has all this money been spent? If we’re supposedly
the richest nation in the world, with the highest
standards of living, then how can we possibly owe 6000
billion dollars?” If we’ve spent this much money,
then why is the quality of life for most people
continuing to decay? That sounds like monumental
mismanagement to me. This debt I’m told, increases by
an average of 1 billion, 111 million dollars a day!
As it is now, a child born tomorrow will be born into
debt to the amount of $21,438! Mind you, this figure
only reflects the national debt. If one were to
figure in state, county and city debts, the amount
owed by a newborn today is well over $100,000! And
the government has the nerve to criticize or penalize
corporations for their mismanagement of funds? Almost
as much money is spent on paying the interest to this
incredible sum, than is spent on the military! That’s
right, we all pay interest on this debt, in the form
of increased taxes and loss of social programs. I
read in the paper recently that budgets have been cut
so drastically, that grade schools can’t afford
construction paper, sufficient teachers to fill
positions, or even to fix their own computers. Social
welfare programs are evaporating like desert ponds in
summertime. The elderly can’t afford their pills,
consumer debt is at an all-time high, and thousands
get laid off every quarter. Meanwhile, corporate
scandals rage on, with a predictably higher level of
corruption than ever before to the tune of tens of
billions. Political campaigns and “political
contributions” run into the tens of millions of
dollars, while the local library can’t afford to buy
new encyclopedias. I wonder if it ever occurred to
most people that while we’re spending these
astronomical sums on the military and government,
we’re spending less on what matters in life. Why are
all the state budgets so strapped? Because the
government is no longer there for the people, that’s
why.
Proud to be an American? Yeah, proud like a armed
robber, leaving another bank with an armful.
There’s been a lot of talk about attacking Iraq for
months, and yet another war is not far away. Why is
it we always seem to be in a state of war? The
“debate” rages on, not so much as to why we should
attack, or what right we have playing policeman, (or
God Almighty) to the rest of the world. We seem to
assume that the whole world is ours to do with as we
wish, while punishing those who dare to manage their
own affairs. We hear congressmen screaming for blood,
and a president who consults “legal advisors” as to
whether or not he can go to war without the approval
of congress. Of course, there is a high public
approval rating for all this, if the news is to be
believed. You know, it’s really fascinating to watch
such events with an attitude of detachment. If for
instance you had just arrived on this planet and knew
absolutely nothing about “the war on terror”, how
would you perceive the American attitude? Try that
mental exercise and see where it leads.
In any case, we’re told by the media that it is our
dire need to immediately attack Iraq in a
“pre-emptive strike”, before they attack us or anyone
else. Because Iraq possesses, or might possess,
“weapons of mass destruction” we should do away with
Saddam Hussein. Hmmm. I guess that means it’s OK for
us to attack them, since we are morally perfect in
every way. It’s our self-assigned role on this planet
to define right and wrong, after all. So while it
would be “evil” (i.e. George Bush‘s “axis of evil”)
for them to attack and kill us, it is “good” for us to
attack and kill them. When ’they” kill it’s called
“terrorism”…when we kill it’s called “establishing
democracy”. Continuing on this line of reasoning then,
it’s called “murder” if anybody else kills, but if we
do it, it’s called, “preventing murder”. Confused? I
should hope so. If this makes sense to you I suggest
you look up the word “hypocrisy“ in the dictionary..
Imagine if our legal system adopted this same
reasoning. Picture the police driving around shooting
and killing anyone on the street who, “looks like they
might commit a crime“ or who, “appears to have an
interest in buying a gun” thereby preventing murder,
rape and other atrocities.. “Justice” could then be
dispensed at the humble price of a bullet, rather than
messy court proceedings and the silly presentation of
evidence. If we have such a foreign policy, devoid of
all due process, UN approval or international court
proceedings, then why not adopt such a policy at home?
That seems to be where we’re headed. Everyone is
assumed to be guilty until proven innocent, assuming
that is, you are even allowed to see a lawyer behind
closed doors, after the police beat you when they’re
sure no one has a camera aimed in their direction.
Also, if by merely possessing or hoping to possess,
“weapons of mass destruction” a country deserves to be
bombed and occupied, then almost all the countries of
the world will have to be leveled flat. What about
Russia, Canada, China, France or Great Britain? Hey,
for that matter, what about US? Nobody has more of
these weapons than we do, and nobody has sold more of
them to other countries than we have. Oh, that’s
right, we can do that because we’re “God’s chosen”.
Isn’t this the official line? Well, what other excuse
can one offer?
We spend about 300 billion dollars a year on the
military budget, not counting the cost of wars and
preparations for war. This is far more than any
country, anywhere, in the history of this planet.
That’s enough to completely transform the environment
and world poverty, in one stroke. It’s not hard to
see where our priorities are.
Proud to be an American? Am I proud about the bombing
of Afghanistan or Iraq for weeks on end, and at the
cost of a billion dollars a day? No, mass murder is
not something I cherish, nor is it a hobby of mine.
I’m not convinced that the Afghan people had anything
to do with the events of 9-11. Nor am I convinced
that Iraq deserves to be singled out for execution, as
a “bad guy” with a black hat, amidst a sea of pearly
white morality the world over. And what’s this about
“IF” we go to war with Iraq? Don’t our warplanes bomb
Iraqi targets on a regular basis, even as we speak?
Right now there is an “Earth Summit” being held in
Africa by the United Nations, attended by most of the
countries of the world, with the notable exception of
the president of the United States. This is no
surprise, since as a country, we’ve also pulled out of
the Kyoto Protocol regarding greenhouse emissions, and
several other environmental treaties. I guess “green”
isn’t good for business. Bush and company have
reduced clean air and water standards, increased
logging and mining, given big businesses billions in
government subsidies, (free handouts) calling that an
“economic stimulus package”, while the Environmental
Protection Agency receives less than one percent of
the national budget. Again, it’s all a matter of
greed, not concern for future generations.
Did you know that out of the 6 billion people in the
world, over one billion don’t have clean water to
drink, and two billion don’t have access to adequate
sanitation? Four billion don’t have running water.
Two billion don‘t have electricity. 1.6 billion people
are poorer now than they were 15 years ago. Did you
know that one billion people live on about a dollar a
day, while we consider $20,000 a year underpaid? I
didn’t.
Americans comprise 5% of the world’s population, and
yet consume 30% of its resources. Does this make us
moral and good?
A child born in the US will use 5-20 times the amount
of energy of their counterparts in the developing
world, by the time they live to be 75. The 20% of the
world’s population which has the “highest standards of
living”, consumes 85% of the aluminum and chemicals of
the world, 80% of the paper, iron and steel, 75% of
the timber and energy, 60% of the meat, fertilizer and
cement, half the world’s fish and grain, and 40% of
the fresh water. At the same time they will generate
96% of the radioactive wastes, and 90% of the ozone
depleting chlorofluorocarbons. (source; Presidents’
Council on Sustainable Development). Millions of
third world children die of disease and malnutrition
every year, and our concern is how to make the next
car payment on that luxury sedan. Meanwhile the World
Bank and International Monetary fund, (in which the US
plays a central role) squeezes the poor even further
with “austerity measures”, so they can keep making
their national interest payments.
It’s not hard to realize how the lack of the majority,
is directly proportional to the relative greed of a
privileged few. How many acres of forest, tons of
coal and metals, megawatts of electricity and square
feet of sweat shop labor, did it take to build that
fancy house of mine in Texas? Or that fancy new car?
How much pollution was created to make and sustain
these things? I didn’t NEED a NEW car to get from
one place to another, and we didn’t NEED a modern
mansion to live happily. But then I guess “happy”
isn’t the point any more is it? The very thought
makes me nauseous in the realization that I
contributed to all that, for the sake of ego. And all
this is what is called “success” and “getting ahead”.
It sounds more like failure and falling behind to me,
when it’s considered in the light of spiritual values.
Calling this consumerist way of life, a “higher
standard of living” sounds nice, but another name for
it is endless selfishness. The more money people have
in this culture the more they want, (and the bigger
house and more expensive car that goes along with it).
They complain about not having enough, no matter how
much they have. But that’s not because they don’t have
enough, it’s because they waste what they have. The
more they have, the more they waste. And I confess
that I too believed THE GREAT LIE that “more is
better”. I believed that a person who owns expensive
things is a better person, someone to be admired. But
now I realize this is only a very shallow concept.
Only a misguided and selfish person spends their whole
existence accumulating more than they need, at the
expense of lives and the children of tomorrow. Only a
base egotist thinks that they must live to impress,
while hiding their real face underneath a façade of
“things“. My training in this culture made me a
glutton, an egotist and a fool. I admit this to the
world now. What a relief it is to be honest! My
humanity as a soul, and as caring person, has opened
my eyes to a more sane lifestyle.
Proud to be an American? Proud to value egotism and
image, over practicality and reality? The US spends 6
billion dollars annually on education, and 8 billion
for cosmetics! Any television ad should prove this
point to you. People buy things not for their
practicality but for their image….in other words, they
aim to show off, which reminds me of small children
trying to show “who’s got the best toy” in the
sandbox. That’s pretty sad. If this is all life is
about, then no wonder people are committing suicide in
increasing numbers. Never again for me. The American
Dream has become a nightmare for the world and for
ourselves.
And whatever happened to just being truly happy and
fulfilled, by living an uncomplicated life? Americans
are, for the most part, an unhappy lot. They don’t
look healthy, they thrive on soap operas and romance
novels, laugh nervously, smoke cigarettes, eat junk
food, talk non-stop trivia and need to take pills just
to experience some sexual appetite. In fact, we’re
becoming more unhappy by the minute, if one is to
understand what statistics and simple observation are
revealing. We’re taking more Prozac, Zantril,
vallium, alcohol and a million other antidepressants
than ever before, because of what they’re calling
“chronic stress syndrome” or “chronic depression“.
Our children are on Riddlin for the same reason, and
20 years ago that would have been unheard of. We’re a
nervous and suspicious people, never missing a chance
to dial 911 at the slightest provocation. We’ve got
more people in prison per capita than any other
country in the world, and we’re the most “medicated”.
It’s politically correct to call all this a “chemical
imbalance” but the fact of the matter is, our
lifestyle and materialistic values are KILLING us.
Our young people are suicidally depressed. Grade
school children carry knives and guns to school. Do
you suppose there’s something wrong with society,
rather than with these kids? You bet.
We fully expect to surgically remove this stressed
organ and that diseased tissue, and maybe our lives
will be extended, (though not improved) another five
years. And you know what? We count on being diseased
and incapacitated after 30 years of hard labor in the
9-5, (or is that 8 to 6?) routine. That’s why it’s
common to believe that we each need a million +
dollars saved up, to survive our self abuse in the
nearest rest home. We’ve become wage slaves who never
question what it’s all for. What is all this
“success” for anyway? So that somebody, somewhere,
some day might somehow admire you as a great person,
when deep down you know it’s all just a façade? We
supposedly work for all these material “conveniences”,
yet there is nothing convenient about living 30+ years
according to a job description. We’re destroying our
minds, bodies and planet to accomplish nothing more
than an extended hospital stay. I’ve noticed that
some people I’ve discussed these matters with call
such statements “negative”. But is the truth
“negative” or is it simply true? Is an ostrich safe
just because it sticks it’s head in the sand?
We all sit in front of television sets like zombies.
Televisions have become our closest companions,
instead of other people. And people will watch
anything, as an “escape”. If we’re so “successful”
then why is it that all we want to do is escape? Our
mental lives are like those of soap opera characters
concerned only with game show trivia. Our
intellectual standards have sunk to a point where no
one even asks “Why”? any more, and no one questions
anything. The words “truth”, “logic” “honesty” and
“reality” aren’t even in our vocabulary. No one dares
speak them because of the responsibility they might
imply.. Everyone has “their own truth” as though truth
is whatever you want to make up. We don’t really talk
to each other any more. It’s only polite smiles and
small talk, as though there isn’t anything more
important to talk about. We care more about our petty
emotional distress and what product to buy next, than
we do for the planet, which is being destroyed as we
speak. We care more for what goes into the engines of
our cars then our own bodies, while spending more time
taking care of the lawn rather than working out.
Don’t you see? Image has become far more important to
us than substance. Our lives are like a fancy box
with exquisite wrapping paper and bows, but with
nothing inside.
Wars are spoken of so casually that you’d think
killing another ten thousand or so had no more
relevance than a change in the weather. Perhaps less.
Every 20 minutes the world population goes up 3500
people, one species of plant or animal is destroyed
forever, and the average American gets fatter. We’ve
become the Feared, rather than the Just and the
Trusted. And does anybody really care? No. I’ve
noticed that such topics are considered impolite.
People react to such subjects like they would the
plague. We’ve become the tyranny and war mongering
imperialist which the writers of our Constitution
sought to change. The Revolutionary War was fought
over such issues, but the people have forgotten what
freedom really is. They’ve traded their responsibility
and freedom for a false sense of “security”. To quote
a famous dictator;
“Beware the leader who bangs the drum of war,
In order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic
fervor,
for patriotism is indeed a double edged sword.
It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the
mind.
And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch
And the blood boils with hate
And the mind has closed, the leader will have no need
of seizing
the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry,
infused with fear and blinded by patriotism,
will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and
gladly so.
How do I know? For this is what I have done.
And I am Caesar.
Julius Caesar
Nobody really wants to change how they live, even
though they don’t enjoy life. Why is this? Because
we’re all secretly terrified at what we’ve become, and
feel powerless to do anything about it. But in
reality that’s no excuse. The world situation isn’t
going to magically improve itself without intelligent
realism. Obviously it’s time for a fundamental change
of how we view life. Consumerism, militarism and
materialism just don’t work. Yet I don’t personally
know of even one person who will admit that there’s a
problem, let alone actually change for the better.
I realized that in our culture, when someone asks
“what do you do for a living?” they don’t mean how
spiritually you live, how socially conscious you are
or how you have contributed to the real progress of
the human condition. What they mean is, “What job do
you have and how much do you make?”. It all boils
down to dollars. They ask this so that they can
determine how worthy or unworthy you are to be in
their company. If you want to understand ANYTHING
about our domestic or foreign policies, just ask
“Where’s the money?” That will tell you everything
you need to know about when, what, how, where and why,
anything occurs as it does. Young people are
encouraged to go to college, but I notice that the
motive for this is not personal enlightenment, the
improvement of the human condition or the
understanding of life. It is for one simple purpose,
and that is to gain more “earning power” as a
showpiece on your resume’. It’s interesting how we’ve
reduced all the knowledge, spirituality and Universal
Truth to the lowest common denominator…dollars earned
per annum, as though God himself is nothing more than
The Cosmic Banker, and Reality is summarized perfectly
in the pages of tax returns.
Materialism and consumerism are eating us alive, just
as we are “consuming” the whole planet. Why shouldn’t
consumers, after all, not consume each other as well?
In the end, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Already the countries of the world are fighting over
what little is left, while people starve by the
millions the world over.
Proud to be an American? I’m not a consumer, worms
are. I believe that this is a very demeaning thing to
call oneself, and to call others. And I no longer
worship the dollar as God. So I guess that excludes
me from the club. I know, I know, it’s “unpatriotic”
to talk that way, which means of course, that the
truth itself has become unpatriotic. I guess the
universe will just have to change to suit our whims,
ay?
I’ve become disillusioned with “the American Dream”
and all that it supposedly stands for. Although I
care about the people, I care less and less for
governments bent on conquering the world to get their
oil, and anything else that isn’t tied down. I’m no
supporter of unprovoked war, or war for profit. But
disillusionment is good…the word means; “no more
illusions”. I don’t believe in raping the earth for
dollars. I no longer blind myself to the impact of
lifestyle on the world situation.. I no longer
believe that just because everybody else is doing it,
that this makes it OK. It’s not.
After realizing all this over a period of months, a
bought a packet of razor blades from the hardware
store, and scraped off my “Proud to be an American”
bumper sticker in disgust. I’m not proud of any of
these things, and frankly, it would be an
embarrassment to be identified as an American if I
were traveling abroad. I quit my corporate job
because I didn’t want to be a wage slave any more, for
people who don’t care about anything but money. And
yes, they’re being investigated by the SEC also, while
my former co-workers and I lose our 401K pensions. I
broke up with my wife who still, “plays the corporate
game”, having realized that she loved my money more
than she loved me, something that is taken as
commonplace these days. When I visit my children, I
try to explain to them why mommy is so stressed out,
and never has any time for them, (and never did). I
tell them that there’s a better way to live beyond
“happy pills“, that’s natural, simple and inexpensive.
I live and travel in an RV converted van now,
spending not even a hundredth as much as I once did to
live well.. In this way I’ve gone from “living to
work” to “working to live”. The apparent irony of
this is that I’ve never been happier, healthier or
wiser. I only wish I’d realized all this sooner.
I refuse to pay any more taxes for endless wars, and
trillions in national debt, while scoundrels sit in
places of government power. Give unto Caesar what is
Caesar’s? NO way. Death and destruction is what is
Caesar’s, not my money or my children’s lives..
I’m taking responsibility for the truth now, rather
than trying to live the absurd fantasy of the American
dream. It’s like waking up from a nightmare you‘ve
been trying to outrun. It feels really good. I
dearly hope the reader of this message will do the
same.
Yours truly,
A caring American More >
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