CHOICES AND NATURAL CONSEQUENCES

                           CHOICES AND NATURAL CONSEQUENCES
AVITW

     I SEE WHERE THE FORCES IN OUR GOVERNMENT ARE NOW FACING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR DECISIONS IN RELATION TO EXPORTING THEIR OWN BRAND OF RELIGION AND POLITICS TO ALIEN NATIONS OF OTHER PERSUASIONS.  IT IS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THE INTRANSIGENCE OF THE UNWILLING RECIPIENTS OF THIS LARGESSE, IF ONE POSES THE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD BE THE NATURAL RESPONSE OF OUR NATION AND CULTURE, IF OTHERS, IN THIS CASE THE MUSLIMS OF IRAQ AND THEIR ILK, INVADED OUR COUNTRY AND PROCEEDED TO INSTALL “FOR OUR BENEFIT, OF COURSE” A THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY BASED ON THE KORAN?
     I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS AND EXPEDIENT FOR THOSE WHO FAIL TO PASS THE QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS IN LIFE, TO DENY THEIR GUILT AND BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR FAILURES. THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT SO!  SADLY, I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY INTELLIGENT AND WELL MEANING PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DELUDED BY THIS NOTION. WHETHER THE LEADERS OF THE PRESENT DAY WILL LEARN FROM THE RESULTS (NATURAL CONSEQUENCES) OF THEIR “CHOICES”, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.  ONE DOES NOT QUESTION THE NEED TO “INSPECT” AND, IF NECESSARY DESTROY, SUSPECTED CENTERS OF POTENTIAL DESTRUCTIVE FORCES TARGETING OUR NATION, BUT LEADERS CERTAINLY NEED TO BE PREPARED TO EXPERIENCE THE CONSEQUENCES OF, AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, THEIR ACTIONS.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED, MAY HAVE BEGUN AS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, BUT IT HAS CERTAINLY ESCALATED TO A FULL FLEDGED CRISIS, GROUNDED, APPARENTLY, IN THE PREJUDICES OF THE PERPETRATORS, THAT DEMOCRACY, SUPPOSEDLY BASED ON THEIR EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, DEBATABLE THOUGH THAT MAY BE, IS THE DEVINE DESTINY OF THE WORLD, OR, AT LEAST IS A GENERIC “ONE SIZE FITS ALL” PRINCIPLE OF WORLD ORDER.      HISTORICALLY, THERE HAS BEEN A CULTURE, NOT RESTRICTED TO THIS COUNTRY, OF BIGOTED AND PREJUDICIAL BEHAVIOR. HOWEVER, THE AUTHOR POSITS THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREJUDICIAL BEHAVIOR AND DISCRIMINATING BEHAVIOR, THE LATTER BEING BASED ON FACTUAL (OBJECTIVE?) INFORMATION, WHILE THE FORMER IS BASED ON AN UNSUBSTANTIATED SYSTEM OF BELIEFS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE.  THIS IS POSTULATED TO BE TRUE, NOT ONLY AT THE HIGHEST INSTITUTIONAL LEVELS, BUT AT THE PERSONAL LEVEL WHERE EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST MAKE DECISIONS ON A DAILY BASIS AND LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.  IT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL CONDITION OF LEARNING AND HOPEFULLY, PROGRESS IN THE ART OF LIVING.
THAT PREJUDICIAL BEHAVIOR OUGHT NOT TO BE CONDONED IS OBVIOUS TO ANY FAIR MINDED PERSON, HOWEVER, THE ABILITY TO BE A DISCRIMINATING PERSON IS WHAT SEPARATES THOSE WITH WISDOM FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THIS ABILITY. WHILE INTELLIGENCE IS THOUGHT TO BE THE ABILITY TO ASSIMILATE INFORMATION, WISDOM IS THOUGHT TO BE THE ABILITY TO DISCERN THE MEANING AND VALUE OF THE INFORMATION.  THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN PREJUDICIAL BEHAVIOR EXHIBIT PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE NEITHER FAIR MINDED NOR WISE INDIVIDUALS.  FOR SOME REASON, THEY FEEL ENTITLED, BY VIRTUE OF THEIR POSITION, TO FOIST OFF ON OTHERS THEIR VERSION OF TRUTH AND WAY OF LIFE.
     THE EXISTENCE OF UNFAIR PRACTICES IN SOCIETY IS NOT EASILY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THOSE WHO PERPETRATE IT, AS HAS BEEN SHOWN IN THE DIFFICULTY ENCOUNTERED IN ELIMINATING SUCH INFLUENCE, WHETHER IT FLOURISHES IN LAW, THE COMMON CULTURE OR IN PERSONAL BEHAVIOR. HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THIS FIGHT.      HAVING HAD MY “BLINDERS” REMOVED MANY YEARS AGO, I RESOLVED TO SUPPORT THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, BUT ONLY IF THE WORDS "EQUAL RESPONSIBILITIES" WERE ADDED TO THE LANGUAGE. SINCE IT WAS NOT, IT BECAME QUITE CLEAR, THAT THE PROPONENTS OF "EQUAL RIGHTS" HAD THEIR OWN UNSPOKEN DEFINITION AND ULTERIOR AGENDA OF CHANGING THE STATUS QUO INTO ONE THAT WOULD NOT RESULT IN EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL, BUT ONE THAT WOULD CONFER "SPECIAL PRIVILEGES" ON THEIR PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE REST OF SOCIETY.      ONE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THESE EFFORTS CONTINUE TODAY AND HAVE ACHIEVED A LOYAL FOLLOWING WHO BENEFIT BY PUSHING THIS AGENDA. AS A MEMBER OF THE LAST SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION BEING "DISCRIMINATED" AGAINST, IT SEEMS PRUDENT TO SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF EQUAL RIGHTS ONLY WHEN THEY INCLUDE EQUAL RESPONSIBILITIES, RATHER THAN ACQUIESCE TO THE EXISTING PRACTICE OF DESIGNATING CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHICS AS ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL ADVANTAGES. IT IS NOT A GENETIC DEFECT TO BE BORN A WOMAN OR MINORITY, ALTHOUGH IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ECONOMIC AND/OR SOCIAL HANDICAP.  NOR DOES IT NOW REQUIRE SPECIAL DISPENSATIONS TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, AS THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED IN LAW, IF NOT IN PRACTICE BY A MINORITY OF HOLDOVERS OF ARCHAIC BEHAVIOR FROM THE PAST, BUT I DIGRESS.      IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRESS TOWARD THE CONCEPT OF A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, WHICH, IN MY PERCEPTION, WOULD BE THE CORRECT GOAL FOR A FREE SOCIETY, ONE NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MUCH PROGRESS HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE TOWARD THIS GOAL. WITH RESPECT TO PROGRAMS OF MITIGATION, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THE BARRIERS TO ACHIEVEMENT ARE NOT NOW PREJUDICES, AT LEAST ON THE LEGAL LEVEL. PEOPLE ARE NOW LEGALLY ENTITLED TO BECOME ALL THAT THEY WISH TO BECOME, “IF” THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AND ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE. THAT IS TO SAY THERE ARE FEW EXTERNAL LIMITATIONS PLACED ON AN INDIVIDUAL. WHATEVER LIMITATIONS EXIST ARE GENERALLY THE RESULT OF INHERITED CAPACITIES AND PERSONAL DECISIONS. CONSCIOUS PREJUDICIAL BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE IN ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS. THAT INDIVIDUALS CHOOSE TO EXERCISE PERSONAL PREJUDICE, IS A RIGHT PROTECTED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND IS MORE PROPERLY SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION BY EDUCATION AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, NOT BY EXTERNAL FORCE. PERSONAL CHOICES ARE THE HALLMARK OF A FREE SOCIETY, EVEN IF OTHERS DISAGREE WITH THOSE CHOICES.      IT IS THE THESIS OF THIS ARTICLE THAT MOST PERSONS ARE CAPABLE OF LEARNING FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES. OF COURSE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO DO SO AND THEREFORE, WILL NOT, NO MATTER WHAT TRANSPIRES. EVERY FREE SOCIETY IS PLAGUED WITH THESE TROGLODYTES, BUT MUST TOLERATE THEIR BEHAVIOR, AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION, EVEN THOUGH IT SHOULD NOT BE CONDONED. THESE EXTREMISTS EXIST IN EVERY RACE, EVERY RELIGION AND IN EVERY ETHNIC GROUP.  NEITHER THOSE ON THE LEFT OR ON THE RIGHT WILL EVER ACCEPT ANYTHING LIKE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. THEY WANT ONLY FOR THEIR ILK TO GAIN ADVANTAGE AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. ALTHOUGH THE PRICE IS HIGH, FURTHER TIME, MONEY OR ENERGY SHOULD NOT BE WASTED ON THESE INDIVIDUALS, AS IT IS ASSUMED THAT EVOLUTION WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, PROVIDED THESE BIGOTS DO NOT INCULCATE THEIR PROGENY WITH THE SAME ODIOUS BEHAVIOR.
     HOWEVER, WITH SOME SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY FACING ANNIHILATION AT THE HANDS OF RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS OF THE MUSLIM PERSUASION, (IN THE PAST, OTHER “PERSUASIONS” TARGETED OTHER RACIAL AND ETHNIC POPULATIONS), ONE QUESTIONS WHETHER THIS IS VAIN HOPE. BIGOTS SEEM TO THRIVE ON TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN TO HATE, TO THE POINT OF KILLING, PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SEE THE WORLD IN THE WAY PRESCRIBED BY THE LEADERS OF THEIR SECT (S), BUT, THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.
     AS I REMEMBER, THERE WAS A LINE FROM THE RATHER BENIGN PLAY "SOUTH PACIFIC", WHICH WAS THE FIRST ENCOUNTER I HAD WITH THE CONCEPT OF PREJUDICE, WHEN IT WAS SAID, THAT THIS IS A TRAIT, WHICH MUST BE "CAREFULLY TAUGHT". EVEN AS A CHILD, IT WAS A CONCEPT THAT COULD EASILY BE UNDERSTOOD AND ABHORRED.  THEREFORE, IT MIGHT BE WELL TO EXAMINE THE LEARNING PROCESS IN OUR OWN BACKYARD AND TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO AVOID THE SAME ERROR OF CONFUSING INDOCTRINATION WITH EDUCATION.      AS ONE WHO WAS RAISED WITH SOME PREJUDICES, IT SEEMS THAT ONE CANNOT ERASE THESE "TAPES" FROM THE MEMORY, BUT ONE CAN CONTROL BOTH THOUGHT AND BEHAVIOR IN AN EFFORT TO BE FAIR TO ALL. WHEN I FINALLY PERCEIVED THAT SOME MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY WERE BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY, I WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO AGREE THAT ALL SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR INSTITUTIONS AND LEGAL SYSTEM. I WAS "NOT" WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT SOME SHOULD BE GIVEN SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR THE PAST MISTAKES OF OTHERS. THAT ONLY CHANGES THE NATURE OF THE INEQUITIES WITHIN OUR SOCIETY AND DOES NOT SET THE SHIP OF STATE ON THE CORRECT COURSE.      WHAT SHALL WE, AS A SOCIETY, DO? FIRST, WE MUST SEPARATE THE CONCEPT OF DISCRIMINATION FROM PREJUDICE. REFUSAL TO DO THIS LIMITS ANY HOPE OF IMPROVING OUR SOCIETY. DISCRIMINATING INDIVIDUALS OFFER SOME HOPE FOR THE ELEVATION OF THE HUMAN CONDITION.  INDIVIDUALS, WHO DESIRE TO PERPETUATE THEIR PREJUDICES, WILL SURELY LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HUMAN RACE.   SECONDLY, WE MUST PERMIT PEOPLE LEARN FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR DECISIONS AND CONDUCT. ANY PROGRAM THAT "SHORT CIRCUITS" THIS PROCESS ONLY IMPEDES REAL PROGRESS. OF COURSE, IN THE REAL WORLD, IF OUR CHILDREN ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT ENDANGERS THEIR HEALTH OR SAFETY, THEN WE, AS ADULTS, MUST STEP IN TO SAVE THEM FROM POTENTIAL DISASTER.  WHEN OUR LEADERS ENGAGE IN SIMILAR BEHAVIOR, THEY OUGHT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, E.G. EXPERIENCE THE "NATURAL CONSEQUENCES" OF THEIR ACTIONS. ONE OF THE MAIN ACTIVITES OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL, AT ALL LEVELS, SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO EVADE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR "CHOICES". SADLY, MANY SUCCEED.       DISCRIMINATING PARENTS AND TEACHERS TRYING TO GUIDE THEIR CHARGES MUST RESTRAIN THEMSELVES FROM ENTERING THE FRAY OF EVERY MINOR OCCURRENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE. IT IS A GIVEN THAT GOOD PARENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD TRY “NOT” TO PASS ON THEIR PREJUDICES TO THE CHILDREN AND SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE CONSEQUENCES OF ADVOCATING EQUALITY FOR ALL.        NEVER WILL I FORGET AN EXTREMELY LIBERAL MOTHER ESPOUSING THE EQUALITY OF RACE, BUT, BEING SHOCKED DOWN TO THE TOES OF HER SHOES AT THE RESULTS OF SUCH TEACHING WHEN HER DAUGHTER BROUGHT HOME A "FRIEND" OF ANOTHER RACE, WITH WHOM SHE PROPOSED TO START A RELATIONSHIP. WHAT DID THIS MOTHER EXPECT?  NOR WILL I EVER FORGET HOW MUCH COURAGE IT TOOK FOR ME TO ASK A GIRL OF A DIFFERENT RELIGION TO ACCOMPANY ME TO THE HIGH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS DANCE. IT WAS NOT A MATTER OF HER RELIGION, I WAS JUST TOO SHY TO APPROACH ANY GIRL. AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT, WHEN I SHOWED UP TO TAKE HER TO THE DANCE, THE AIR WAS ALIVE WITH THE PREOCCUPATION OF HER PARENTS THAT I WAS NOT OF THE APPROVED FAITH. OF COURSE, THEREAFTER, THE GIRL WAS FORBIDDEN TO HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO DO WITH ME.  OF SUCH TEACHING, DERIVES THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD.      NEARLY TWENTY YEARS WOULD PASS BEFORE THE MESSAGE OF TOLERANCE, IF NOT RESPECT FOR DIFFERENT ORIGINS, BE THEY RACIAL, ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS PERSUASIONS, WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A CONSCIOUS WAY. THE RESULT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO READER, IF YOU CAME THIS FAR. ONE MUST SEEK TO OVERCOME PREJUDICE WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN WHAT IS RELEVANT AND WISE FOR ONES LIFE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO BE FAIR TO ONESELF AND IT IS “WISE” TO BE FAIR TO OTHERS.      FINALLY, SOCIETY, THROUGH ITS INSTITUTIONS, SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO FACILITATE WISE DECISIONS ON THE PART OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THEIR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE VARIOUS SPHERES OF INFLUENCE USUALLY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS WHICH ARE TO PERPETUATE THEIR PARTICULAR “SPHERES”, IF NOT TO INCREASE THEM, HENCE THE INDOCTRINATION OF PREJUDICES WITHIN THE HALLS OF RELIGION AND, TRAGICALLY, WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF EDUCATION.  ONE SUPPOSES THAT IS WHY BIGOTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS IN THE HALLS OF EDUCATION.  THERE THEY FIND FERTILE GROUNDS FOR RECRUITING "NEW BLOOD" TO THEIR PAROCHIAL IDEAS.  RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS EXHORT THEIR MEMBERS TO RECRUIT AS MANY SOULS AS POSSIBLE TO PERPETUATE THEIR OWN FORM OF EXISTENCE AND ATTEMPT TO USURP THE INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING TO FACILITATE THEIR ZEALOUS ACTIVITIES.  
     THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF RELIGION PROSELYTIZING THROUGH THE CONTAMINATION OF SCIENCE, WHICH PROPERLY STUDIES THE PROCESSES OF CHANGE IN OUR UNIVERSE, (THE “WHAT HAPPENS”? PHENOMENA) BY SEEKING TO INCLUDE THEIR VERSION OF THE ORIGINS AND DESIGN (THE “WHY IT HAPPENS”?) IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF BELIEFS INTRUDING INTO REALITY.  THOSE WHO CROSS THE LINE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND PROPAGANDA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM DOING SO, IN ANY SUBJECT AREA IN THE VIEW OF THE AUTHOR, UNLESS THEY CAN PROVIDE TANGIBLE AND REPLICABLE EVIDENCE FOR THEIR THEORIES.  SCIENCE DOES NOT DENY THE EXISTENCE OF A SUPREME BEING, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT ENDEAVOR TO PROVE OR DISPROVE THE THESIS, SINCE THAT IS, AND FOREVER MAY BE, BEYOND THE LIMITS OF HUMAN INTELLIGENCE AND ABILITY.  VAMOS A VER.      RETURNING TO THE TOPIC OF CHOICES AND NATURAL CONSEQUENCES, SORTING THE "WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF" REQUIRES ASTUTE JUDGMENT, NOT OFTEN PRESENT IN YOUNG PEOPLE, WHICH MAY EXPLAIN WHY THE INFLUENCES OF YOUTH TEND TO PERSIST INTO ADULTHOOD AND WHY THE “INFLUENCERS” SEEK OUT CHILDREN TO INDOCTRINATE BEFORE THE YOUNG GAIN THE MATURITY TO INTELLECTUALLY DEFEND THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING OBJECTIVE CHOICES AND IN ANTICIPATING THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES.      THIS BRINGS US, TO THE NEED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN FROM THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR DECISIONS RATHER THAN BEING OVERLY PROTECTED FROM REALITY. FROM THESE “NATURAL CONSEQUENCES” WILL COME THE LESSONS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE IN THE REAL WORLD. THIS IS WHY "SHORT CIRCUITING" NATURAL CONSEQUENCES IS SO HARMFUL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESPONSIBLE ADULTS. CONTEMPORARY YOUTH HAVE BEEN SO PROTECTED FROM THE REALITIES OF THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE UNPREPARED TO ENTER THE REAL WORLD WITHOUT THAT PROTECTION.  THE ASSUMPTION OF LIMITED RESPONSIBILITIES BY AGE 10 OR 11, COMMON IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY, IS NOW DELAYED TO THE EARLY TWENTIES, IF NOT LATER.      ALL ONE CAN DO TO FACILITATE DESIRABLE OUTCOMES IS TO "TRY" TO EXPLAIN THE POSSIBLE SHORT AND LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF ANY GIVEN SITUATION OR DECISION AND OFFER AN INFORMED OPINION AS TO WHICH COURSE A PERSON MIGHT INTELLIGENTLY CHOOSE. OBVIOUSLY, IF THE ADVISOR, BE IT PARENT, TEACHER, RELIGIOUS LEADER OR INDEPENDENT COUNSELOR DOES NOT PRESENT AN OBJECTIVE VIEWPOINT, THE LEARNER IS PLACED AT A GREAT DISADVANTAGE AND MUST STRUGGLE AGAINST THE PREJUDICE PRESENTED, AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL SITUATION. (NOTE: BIAS, OR DISCRIMINATION, AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, IS NOT PERCEIVED TO BE THE SAME AS PREJUDICE, AS IT HAS HOPEFULLY BEEN DEVELOPED ON RELEVANT FACTS.  HOWEVER, IT DOES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT, E.G. THAT OF PERSUADING THE PERSON THAT ONE COURSE OF ACTION IS PREFERABLE TO ANOTHER. GOOD “ADVISORS” KEEP THEIR PREJUDICES LOCKED UP; ADMIT THEIR BIASES AND PERMIT THE INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ACCORDING TO THE NATURE OF THE DECISION AND INDIVIDUAL MATURITY.)      THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF ANY ACTION WILL GENERALLY ENSURE THAT LEARNING OCCURS. FROM POSITIVE RESULTS COMES PERSISTENCE. FROM NEGATIVE RESULTS COMES CHANGE. THE UNCONTROLLABLE VARIABLE IS TIME. YOUTHFUL DECISIONS, BE THEY GOOD OR BAD, OFTEN DO NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES. THIS MAY HELP EXPLAIN THE CONSTANT SEARCHING OF ADULTS FOR A BETTER LIFE BECAUSE OF THEIR HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR PRIOR DECISIONS. THIS ALSO MAY EXPLAIN THE EXISTENCE OF THE SO -CALLED "LATE BLOOMERS".      IT IS NOT AN EASY WAY TO LEARN, BUT, IT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF LIFE ENJOYED OR ENDURED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, DESPITE THOSE WHO SEARCH FOR EXCUSES OR ATTEMPT TO SHIFT BLAME TO OTHERS. ANY SOCIETY THAT ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THESE PARAMETERS, DOES SO AT ITS PERIL. IF YOU DOUBT THIS, LOOK AT THE PLIGHT OF THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO ARE "PROTECTED" FROM REALITY, BE THEY IN A TOTALITARIAN COUNTRY, GOVERNMENT HOUSING PROJECTS, OR ENSCONCED IN A “MAKE WORK” POSITION TO REACH SOME ESOTERIC QUOTA.      IT MAY BE REDUNDANT, BUT GOOD CHOICES LEAD TO GOOD CONSEQUENCES AND BAD CHOICES LEAD THE OTHER WAY, BUT, ONLY SO LONG AS THE NATURAL PROCESS OF LEARNING IS NOT ARTIFICIALLY ALTERED.  WOULD THAT OUR LEADERS LIVED BY THESE PRECEPTS. PERHAPS, THE TIME FOR "NATURAL CONSEQUENCES" IS AT HAND.  MANY OF THE “DILEMMAS” PRESENT IN TODAY'S SOCIETY ARE AMENABLE TO RESOLUTION, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC. FOR THE PRESENT, A LOCAL NOTION IS ELUCIDATED. PERHAPS, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL USE IT WISELY. ENJOY, TOM

T.O.M.

INTRODUCTION 1 ET.AL.

WELCOME TO MY CURRENT ADVENTURE IN MENTAL GYMNASTICS. AS AN ONGOING PROCESS, THERE WILL SURELY BE ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS. SOMEHOW, THERE MUST BE AN ORGANIZATION OF TOPICS/AREAS OF INTEREST. I CANNOT CONCEIVE OF ANYONE INTERESTED IN ALL OF MY "MUSINGS", SO WHY NOT GO, MORE OR LESS DIRECTLY, TO WHAT YOU WANT TO READ. OF COURSE, IF CURIOSITY SHOULD PREVAIL, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO VIEW THE OTHERS AND SHARE. SINCE I HAVEN'T A CLUE HOW THIS IS DONE, (I THINK THAT IS THE JARGON OF THIS MEDIA) MY "LOCAL NOTIONS" OF POSSIBLE INTEREST TO OTHERS WILL APPEAR AS TIME AND INSPIRATION PERMIT. VAMOS A VER! TOM

ALL ERRORS IN SPELLING, TYPING AND PUNCTUATION ARE REGRETFULLY ACCEPTED. THE USE OF CAPS IS A CONCESSION TO MY EYES AND LACK OF TYPING (KEYBOARDING?) SKILLS. I'M TOO OLD TO BE MAD ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT THAT DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE FRUSTRATION OF LIVING IN A WORLD OF DAARS.
ADDENDUM 1:
MY APOLOGIES TO ALL WHO WERE VICTIMIZED BY OUR "DUMBED DOWN" EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ARE INTERESTED IN READING ONLY SIMPLISTIC ARTICLES OF THE TYPE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED IN THE "OP ED" SECTIONS OF MORE WELL KNOWN PUBLICATIONS. ONE CANNOT DEAL WITH SUBSTANTIVE TOPICS WITHOUT FIRST LAYING SOME GROUNDWORK FOR PERSPECTIVE; DEALING WITH SOME ASSOCIATED FACTORS; ACKNOWLEDGING SOME HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS; POSTULATING SOME ALTERNATIVES AND EXAMINING THE INTENDED AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, IF ANY VALUE IS TO BE DERIVED FROM THE EFFORT.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT A LARGE STAFF OF "GO-FERS" HAS RESEARCHED THE SUBJECT; PROVIDED EXTENSIVE INFORMATION FOR WRITING; ALLOWED THE AUTHOR TO ORGANIZE THE WORDS (IF THAT); AND THEN PROOFED AND EDITED THE SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION SO THE "WRITER" CAN PUT HIS OR HER MONIKER ON THE ARTICLE FOR PUBLICATION. I'M IT!
FINALLY, WRITING FOR PUBLICATION IS JUST THE REVERSE OF MANUSCRIPTS OR THESES SUCH AS THOSE IN THIS BLOG. THE FORMER PUTS MOST INFORMATION AND READER PROVOCATION IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH(S) AND THE FURTHER ONE READS, THE LESS INFORMATION ONE GAINS. IN READING THIS BLOG, AS ONE PROGRESSES, THE THE AUTHOR HOPES THAT THE OVERALL SITUATION WILL BECOME CLEARER AND THE IMPLICATIONS OBVIOUS.
UNLIKE CONTENT IN GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, AS WELL AS THE USUAL ASSORTMENT OF ARTICLES BY PROFESSIONAL "CRITICS", (A PART OF THE "PROBLEM", NOT THE "SOLUTION") AN ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE TO OFFER SOME POSSIBLE OPTIONS RELATING TO EACH TOPIC. ONE GAINS LITTLE BY READING ARTICLES WRITTEN BY THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER BUT CRITICISM AND COMPLAINTS WHICH THEY HOPE TO PASS OFF AS VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS (SOUNDS LIKE "DEMOCRACY" IN ACTION!). WHETHER THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO DISCUSS THE TOPIC DU JOUR IS SELDOM DEBATED. HECK! EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINION AND IT OBVIOUSLY PAYS VERY WELL.
READERS MUST JUDGE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE AUTHOR BASED UPON THE VERACITY AND EFFICACY OF THE IDEAS PRESENTED. THAT IS NOT AN EASY TASK, UNTIL ONE HAS LEARNED TO QUESTION ALL OF WHAT ONE READS OR HEARS. COMMERCIAL TOPICS FOR AIRING OR PUBLICATION, REGARDLESS OF THE MEDIUM, ARE SELDOM DISCUSSED OBJECTIVELY. THEY ARE USUALLY SLANTED TO GAIN MORE “EYEBALLS OR EARDRUMS”; SELL MORE ADVERTISING; OR TO PERPETUATE THE PURVEYORS IN POWER. PERHAPS A CLASSIFICATION OF "PROPAGANDA" WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. ORIGINALITY AND OBJECTIVITY, E.G. THOSE EXPRESSING IDEAS THAT STRAY FROM “POLITICAL CORRECTNESS”, SELDOM GO UNPUNISHED. BLOGS "MAY" SERVE MANY USEFUL FUNCTIONS, ESPECIALLY IF NOT CONCEIVED AS AN ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE. THIS IS BOTH THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF THE PROCESS. ENJOY! TOM

ADDENDUM 2:
THE MYSTERY, OF HOW TO CORRECT "ERRORS/OMISSIONS" FOLLOWING PUBLICATION, CONTINUES UNABATED. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR HAS NOT TRIED OR IS UNAWARE OF THEM, ALTHOUGH THAT IS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY. "WORKS IN PROGRESS" SELDOM MEET THE CRITERION OF PERFECTION. HOWEVER, TO "FIGHT" THE "SYSTEM" REQUIRES THE USE OF TIME BETTER SPENT (PERHAPS) IN DEVELOPING OTHER "LOCAL NOTIONS".
UNDERSTANDABLY, THE CREATORS AND MAINTAINERS OF THE MEDIUM SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE TIME(INTEREST OR ABILITY?)TO HELP THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE INTRICACIES OF COMPUTER PROGRAMING AND USE, OR THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO WRITE IN "PLAIN(U.S.?)ENGLISH" IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN HOW ONE MIGHT ACCOMPLISH THE DESIRED CHANGES.
OF COURSE, IT IS POSSIBLE, THAT "PLAIN ENGLISH" NO LONGER SUFFICES. THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION WITH PRIMATES OF OTHER SPECIES COMES TO MIND. STILL, WHEN VISITING VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS OF SUCH SPECIES, THE AUTHOR WONDERS WHETHER THE SAME FRUSTRATION MIGHT NOT EXIST IN THE MINDS OF THE PRIMATES. ENJOY! TOM