Who are we Americans makeing the next super power with our consumerism?

           

            Watching a documentary today on the Dali Lama really put into perspective goods that come from China and the true cost of whom I am supporting by buying things made there. China shows not just intolerance for Buddhism and Christianity, but intolerance for all religion, making religion a crime punishable by prison. State sponsored racism, as was evident last year with the minority population of Uighurs. China's complete disregard for human rights and free speech. China's genocide of the Tibetan peoples killing by some estimates 1.2 million. And let us not forget that China still is a communist government, a political system that we have spent untold dollars fighting and for the sake of commerce now ignore and support. All of this makes me wonder, just whom are we making as the next super power with our insatiable hunger for cheap goods, I myself include, I am no better, I am sure that if I looked on the tags over half the things in my house have “made in China” written on them. This brings me to my next point.

             Everyday I have more and more compassion for the immigrant. Again I have to thank Lowell Grisham for changing the way that I think. To open my eyes to the truth, my views have changed and they are still changing, I am not perfect. Sadly I admit that I have held some very racist views in the past towards those who recently immigrated here. I only saw them as people who hated America, who were only here to work without paying taxes and abuse the school, welfare, and food stamp programs. I still don't think that many immigrants from Mexico have America in their heart. However, at the same time, I would find it hard to love a place and people who's majority population didn't want me here. Who had not embraced me, and whom I felt looked down upon me, Lord knows how Martin Luther Kings heart was filled with love and not hate ( I don't believe that I could of had his grace, forgiveness and fortitude, a true modern hero and role model for us all ). I know that most are here for better jobs and a better life for there children and are not raising children who are gang members as it is easy to stereo type the few. I still see a lot of them still flying the Mexican flag, abusing the welfare system, and the youth become part of the thug, gangster culture. Still I know that most are good people who just want a better life on the other side of the fence.

            This whole subject makes me thing of how we could solve this problem on both side of the border and still keep American dollars on this continent, not sending them overseas. I see no reason our cheap goods could not be manufactured in Mexico. The peso is still 4 or 5 to one to the dollar, the people are in dire need of jobs and the country of modernization. They are our neighbor with a ready and willing work force, why are we ( we being Walmart and the other titans of consumer goods distribution ) not embracing them. I know that Jos A. Bank certainly has, look at the stock market, they are doing very well. If we provide the jobs everything else will follow, better schools, public programs such as health care, and all infrastructure. If we have to have cheap goods why not get them from a free, democratic government that embraces our own ideas and way of life?

            I would like to make a promise to myself that I will no longer buy anything made in china, not for hate of the Chinese people, but for fear of who I am empowering, yet I know very well this is not a promise I can keep. It's like saying that I'm going to buy only goods made in the USA. I do try, I go so far as to buy Florida orange juice because I know the oranges were grown here, not imported, and the company is farmer owned. I do the same thing with Borden cheese, knowing not only is the company farmer owned, but the cheese is made from real milk from hear in America, and that Velveeta is made partly from imported dried milk proteins. Yet I find it impossible to find a microwave made in the USA or even a pair boxers or underwear, so I know sadly, it is a promise I cannot make. We as a whole must come together and demand the companies we buy from, buy themselves responsibly. That they only purchase from countries who conform to the basic rights of human beings. Only when we come together as a whole, as we are slowly seeing with the responsibly of the green movement can this movement happen. It starts with caring and awareness, even Walmart will cater to the mass if the masses demand it, as we are seeing with the organic movement. We need a ethical consumption movement.

Behind Closed Doors

      I dont usually watch TV in the morning before work, but I was late shift today so I thought that I give it a shot. As it rarely is for me I liked what I saw on the TV. It was the Steve Wilkos Show ( You know Jerry Springers Bouncer who now has his own show). He called a guy out on the treatment of a 2 or 3 year old boy, who through a DNA test, he now knows is his son. He was beating him with a belt out of his own frustration while potty training him, and it made me think of how WE ALL act when our actions are not known by others, and when we are faced with them in front of a group of our peers how what is right and what is wrong becomes crystal, and the shame that we have when confronted with these truths. I wish that I could think with this sort of clarity in all of my actions.

      We are all forgiven, and this is what Gods grace is for. Because we are all imperfect in our actions, thoughts, words, and deeds, we all fall short of perfection. It also reminds me that nether should any of us cast the first stone. For who among us, if all of our actions were disclosed in front of audience of our peers would not shutter, cry, and feel an immense amount of shame. WE ALL fall short. So we should all see the same faults in our brother are the same faults that are our own.

      This give me (us) something to strive for. Wouldn't it be such a better life for everyone if we all conducted our lives as if every action that we take was to be seen (and I believe that it is by the divine) by all. All of those prejudices that we have towards our brothers would be put to the smelter and our conduct, our thoughts, and our actions would be rightly lived ( as we all know what these truths are deep down inside).

To deal honestly with every person. To not pass by the poor, the neglected, or even the lonely without a sympathetic hand or word. Let us strive to live as if all will be known, Won't it make the world and we ourselves happier and better?

Ahh, Christmass

     Loveing the Christmas for the fist time in a long, sucks not having dad around for it, but hey its still Christmas and it will be so long after I am gone too.
     Presents are good and I gave and got a few, but the most important thing is to remember what this day is all about, Christ. That is the greatest gift of all, for someone to give their lives for you. Christ is the one thing that I am most grateful for. God came to earth in the form of a man and laid down his life so our wrongs could be wiped away as clean and as white as a winter wonderland snow, beautiful isn't it. No matter what happens, we always have that and that is something to be joyful and thankful for, I know that I am. With so much commercialization it's easy to forget what this holiday is all about. I guess a reminder of that truth has probably been worn out and commercialized in of its self but it is valid non the less.
      I didn't have much to spend or give this year but I hope that I put a few more dollars in the salvation army pale than I did last year while out shopping, I hope that I thought of those that have less than I a little more than I did last year, and I hope that I was a littler more forgiving, compassionate, and empathetic towards my fellow man than I was last year. Every year should be a step forward not backwards so I and everyone else can be more compassionate, loving, forgiving and kind to our neighbors when we reflect back again to this time again next year, for who is your neighbor and who is your bother, why everyone.

Thanksgiving

            It's that time of year again and it is that day again for over indulgence in turkey, stuffing, yams, pie, and just about every other food that one can think of, but more importantly it is time to reflect on what it is that we are grateful for, even when it may seem that there is not that much right now to be greatfull for. Maybe today is the one day that for our own sakes to lay down all the bitching and moaning and realize, hey maybe there is much to be grateful for, and in comparison to many others, even others right hear in the good old US of A, how well off we really are.
        I am grateful for my freedom, not that red white and blue freedom but but to be outside of the walls and slavery the red, white, and blue has created inside its own boarders for millions. To lay in a bed that is some what soft, under sheet that no one else uses. A light and fan I can turn on when ever I choose. I have food that I choose, and can eat at my own convenience. A window to open and breath fresh air, or even a door to walk out of if I want to be in the fresh air. Water that is both cold and hot for showers that last as long as I choose. I am grateful for the coffee that I am sipping on at this moment that is not freeze dried instant coffee resembaling something closer to liquid mud or motor oil. Yes I do believe that I am greatful.
       I am grateful for the church that am going to attend in just a couple of hours to give thanks with others to my God for his grace and generosity in our lives that are so bountiful it seems hard sometimes to be grateful for anything at all.
       I am grateful for my health when so many others around me are sick,cancer, depression, aids, any number of illness that have done nothing less to deserve than those who have been stricken. I am over weight and have I high blood pressure, I don't sleep well, but to day is about being grateful and in comparison, yes I should be.
       I am grateful yes I am. We are so spoiled that at times even in great abundance small formalities make it seem that there little if anything to grateful for at all. We need days like today to reflect what am I grateful for? When it my past has my life been much worse? What do I have that my neighbor does not, and in this global world that is becoming ever small it seems easier to forget the neighbor just down the road whose job isn't paying well, his or her hours have been cut short, if employment is available at all. When life has been going decent, we are working harder than ever, but not getting ahead as we would like, we cant afford the car we want, that 60" tv, it is easy to become callous, I'm working my ass off, why can't they, they are just lazy, and we forget that we once needed a helping hand, if we lost employment or our car died and a chain of small event occurred we too could easily be standing with open hands at the mercy of the generosity of others. So let us be grateful what we have and not bitter over what we do not, lets us not forget our neighbor, to offer him or her a helping hand, share what little, or from what abundance we have, for the same God that made him your neighbor,  made you too.
         Blessed are those who show mercy, for they will be treated mercifully Matt. 5:7
         Love thy neighbor as thy self Matt.22:39
         Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Matt. 5:3

A word on Homosexuality

     These are just the fact, the way that I see them. First of all, if you hate people because they are gay it is more than likely that you hate your self, it is more than likely, it is you that has something to hide.
     Secondly, I would like to say to all those guys out their whom hoot and holler about how they hate fags but they love lesbians. Here is the truth, for every lesbian out there, there is at least one less woman out there for you ( and your not gay right? So this would be a bad thing) and for every gay guy their is one more woman out their for you, bettering your odds, so in truth, shouldn't you be hating the lesbians and thanking the gay guys? Just a little something to think about when your on an anti homo rant.
     My last and final point, remind you this is just how I see it. Women look good, they smell good, if you find the right one they even taste good, and the fact that a beautiful woman does not turn you on, but the thought of a hot stinky asshole does, is it just me, or is their something wrong here?
     Do I understand the gay man? No I do not, but is he a threat to me, or someone I should hate because of his personal preferences? Absolutely not. If and only if I have any beef with the gay man, it is this: wanting to repeal the don't ask don't tell policy, because believe me if I get drafted for some stupid war, for some stupid reason, for some stupid government war pig, you better believe I am going to tell them ' I'm queer as a three dollar bill!"