The Wal-Mart/development discussion has missed some general ideas maybe worth considering. Consumerism is a sacred cow, capitalism God. But how many understand their true nature? Consider money: basically an entitlement against labor. But is monetary value based and standardized upon labor? No, it's a crooked, sliding-scale confidence game, created and manipulated by banks, designed to enslave people and steal wealth via debt-inflation-growth. Consider capital--the earth's abundance, freely given for all by our beautiful Mother, who the capitalists have foreclosed, raped and despoiled (developed) by controlling money, brainwashing the consumer congregation, and standing on the backs of labor. Capitalism is predicated on subjugation, theft, waste, and pollution. It has never functioned, nor can it, without external, non-capitalist input. The British empire happened by colonization: exploitation of more "primitive" economies and their resources, and by military plunder. American capitalism was built using slave labor and military expansion into indigenous land, murdering at least 7 million Natives (an unpoliticized Holocaust). Land (of the) free, indeed. Today, we comfort ourselves that our SUV-infested roads, malls crammed with seductive commodities, and warehouses bursting with food are natural features of a superior social system. We don't readily see the connection to the subjugated places--the exhausted legions, many living in pre-industrial, pre-capitalist societies, and the besieged land (enormous unpaid debt to Earth)--which underwrite our licentiousness. America is the worst, but obviously not alone. Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's, Lowe's, developers--all earth-rapers standing on the backs of labor. The degree of theft depends on labor conditions (why greedmongers outsource), and environmental license, or impact. So when we unthinkingly indulge our conditioned consumer addiction and lust for "cheap" prices, some poor bastard somewhere pays the price of his life and land. He often appears to us as an immigrant. Attention, shoppers! The blue-light special is on... obtained from www.geminipress.com (Peter Tocci)
So go sell your computer (a product of consumerism), give the money to charity, and go live in a mud hut in North Korea. Idiot.
Kandahar, why don't you take that stick out of your ass? Your attitude sucks and YOU are the idiot. PaintingJames, I appreciate, respect, and agree with your analysis. Kudos!
Hey painting James, It's rare to find people who have an understanding of the situation that we're all in. I agree totally with your post and thank you for it. There is an old Native American prophecy about the time that Mother Earth is dying that says that "those who seek to end the destruction of Mother Earth will have to overcome mountains of ignorance to effect change. Don't let it get to you though. It does make a difference to some of us. Peace
Okay, we now understand your stance on global capitalism. Now, I have to ask, what changes to our economic system would you propose?
First off, To reply to the original post with something like what Kandahar has done is ridiculous, to say the least. He's onto something very strong and very much real. Judging from a lack of content on your part Kandahar tells eveyone that you don't know what you're talking about. Your only intent was to be a smart -ass and you acheived that much. Secondly, His avatar clearly states that he's against, what most aren't even aware of, and that is secret societies who's plan is global domination. A "New World Order" ... one world order... the mere thought of that really sickens and disturbs me. -- sorry for sounding bitter and self-rightous.... Kandahar just made me upset. p.s. the avatar referrs to a satanic cult known as the Freemasons. Do your research people before you flame another person. God bless everyone
Dude, I see where you're coming from in regards to this original post, but pleace, don't disrespect the sacredness of Native American culture. My mother is a Choctaw woman... and I know about the sacredness of both the Seminole, and the Cherokee tribes by speaking and learning from natives of both regions of Georgia... I've been to the reservations, and to be honest... they had some of the greatest civilizations known to man, but they were pagan and sub-human in the eyes of the self-righteous imposing European developers. They didn't do jack shit with the land because it was holier to them than Jesus is to Christians.... They despised, and continue to despise the sacrilege that has sprung up on the holiest of all of their holy relics, but fortunately for us... they didn't have the means to do what the Taliban and AlQueda are doing in respects to their holy lands, and their dire beliefs. All the Native Americans did was unionize to take Alcatraz, and that went awry in a hurry... I guess it was the times or something, but that movement wasn't a just and viable means of representing and understanding the truths that thousands of honest, hardworking, land-loving people died as a result of our imposition on their lands.... The holocaust was nothing compared to the slaughter, torture, and heresy that claimed the lives of so many people. Native Americans aren't simply limited to the United States either, you know? The Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, and hundreds of smaller tribes- some of who still exist in the Amazon, unscathed by our hands... and hopefully undiscovered- they are all Native Americans... The Mexicans that so many people are scared of... they're the same as the rest of us.... Apache, Choctaw, Cherokee (they had a union that went from the Iriquois League down to where Orlando Florida stands today... don't tell me they didn't do jack shit... the Kituwah (pronounced Gitoowuh) festival.... Asheville, NC.... go there and lean, my friend) .... all of these tribes existed, and they had great... unheard of and unrecognized respect and love for their environment and the land.... I doubt you can find a true medicine man... or wise woman who can really recall the legends that I heard as a kid on my grandfather's knee... but they did do more than jack shit, but NOT doing jack shit.... it was their ethical and moral decision not to do jack shit.. because that creates disharmony with the world.... and unfortunately.... this is what has happened.... All I'm saying is, there's more to the world than only the classes and ranks of society... There are more theological systems that simply those found near Greece, Rome, Israel, and the rest of the Middle East.... Chinese, Japanese, Celtic, and you can't even break those down into the individual religious convictions of the various tribes that we all, at one point, lived in... Please, show some respect for the people who's blood we walk on every day.... Not to say you are a jackass or anything, but please don't place yourself in a position to be seen as so ignorant of what really happened here.... The movies, books... all of it... as any true Celtic Pagan can tell you.... they were made by they who won the wars... conquered and slaid the pre-existing civilizations... the truth... the balance... that resides in hearing both sides... and we are not allowed that in our society... This is why I believe that the original post was created, but I believe both extremes are ignorant of the cultures that collided to create the failing systematic processing of humanity that we are all engulfed and enslaved by in this day and time... Even I am ignorant of some things... so don't think I'm holding my nose up high to you or anything.... I'm just asking for you to please recognize the sacred grounds on which our homes, Churches, and Wal-Marts stand.... I even found evidence (I'm a sociologist... not an archeologist, but I swear my last dollar I can prove this to the right people) that the Christian Camp I once worked for was built on the ruins of a sacred Cherokee settlement.... I found mounds of rocks in misplaced areas... foundations of huts, and so on.... I will one day document and record these and show them to the right people so that they can have some closure, but in the mean time... I have to drive now and feed a dog... Please, take care, and take a moment to recognize the sacrilege on which our society is built... perhaps then you will see through the eyes of the orignal poster in this thread.... bickering and testifying to your way of life is simply stagnating a provocative exposition... please contribute... and try to see through two eyes.... that is... afterall.... how we are made to begin with....
The Freemasons, as much intrigue and fanatical hype they receive... are not a satanic cult. Pagan.... perhaps, but that certainly does not mean satanic in the Anton LaVey (sp?) sense of the word. I know many men who are masons, and I even almost became one myself, but I assure you... it is not a satanic cult... it is, however... rooted in some pagan beliefs regarding Platonic, Egyptian, and Germanic/Celtic metaphysical systems and traditions. That's all I have to say about that.... I did my research... and no... this is not merely some Dan Brown inspired rambling.... I have firsthand experience... and no... I would not cover up any shit... they have the best of intentions, but I do not agree with some aspects of the imbalance they create in society.... this... is why I am not a member... It's like a fraternity.... nothing more.... only this is pan-theologic.... simply diest... Ben Franklin... a mason, however... was into pushing extremes... so yes... there MAY be some disputable evidence tying him to the one secret society I think you may have stumbled across.... That, unfortunately, has been misconstrued by the History channel simply to increase ratings... and that channel alone is merely programed at a 7th or 8th grade level... The internet is a jungle of confusion regarding them, so the only real way to know is to go down to a pub... or stop an old man or sister of the Eastern Star, and ask them about their organization and what they do.... I plan on writing my aunt Othelle... who is a member of the Eastern Star... and yes... it is a pagan "cult" I guess you could say... but satanism is not what so many people believe... Satanism is more or less like Buddhism.... it's a philosophy more than it is a religion... and then some fundamentalists blew it out of proportion up in the mountains of Thailand and places like that.... Satanism... is simply self idealization and idolization.... getting what you want by any means necessary... I even have a copy of the Satanic Bible, and I have read it thoroughly..... am I a Satanist? NOT AT ALL!!! Pagan perhaps?..... well.... some of the metaphysical systems of the masons do seem to tread water in some aspects of life... but it's more like proverbs (even like the biblical book of Proverbs was meant to be).... and that's all I really have retained as probable in my realm of spiritual collection and connection.... Fire and Air do seem like masculine type elements to me for some reason... and Water and Earth.... rocks.... mountains... they do seem like feminine elements... even as a blind child... I felt these things as such without realizing it.... that's about all I can say, however... but please don't confuse the Freemasons with Satanists.... The symbols are similar... but it's like the Native American Swastika and the Germanic Runic Swastika that the Nazis used as their icon.... Similar meanings... but symbols do not tell the story.... they just show some eyecandy sometimes.... that's when a picture really is worth more than a thousand words.... it's words that become aeons of research an understanding... some of which I hope you will begin to take on for yourself after reading this... if you do, in fact, give me a chance here by reading my statement... Anyways, I'm neglecting the real world right now, so I need to go... but please try to stay away from compartmentalizing things as black and white like this.... most things, as far as I can see... are rather hazy and misunderstood.... but I'm only 21... so I've got a lot more sorting and life to take advantage of before I turn in for the final lights out.... Peace to all
Dude! You're turning 21! You know that that means??? Handguns AND Whiskey!!!" -December 15th,2004The end of the World. .................... im not sure about your state but here you can own a gun at 18 as long as you buy it from a private sale. gift, etc 21 if you want buy one directly from a license gun shop.
When I think of this "Globalization" forums, and This question in a certain context. No. Mankind isn't Raping Mom. We're killing her. Yes, I'm a Tree Hugger dammit! And PROUD of it.
lostblackdog has explained already very well, why the Indians weren't doing "jack shit", it was because of their believes and the respect for the land, nature, mother earth. These people, that many like to refer to as primitive cultures where imo in many ways much more advanced and intelligent than we are today, because they were living a sustainable lifestyle. If the so-called primitive cultures would have been using recources and polluted the earth like we do today, how would the planet have looked like when you were born? Not such a great place I'd say. But our society doesn't seem to care about the fact that the lifestyle we are living can't go on forever, simply because we will run out of recources one day. It also doesn't think about our children and grandchildren, about generations to come, but it only thinks about the maximum profit in the shortest possible time. I agree with the initial post of this topic and find Kandahar's reply rediculous too. There is no need that we all live in mud houses again, or abandon all technology, but there is a need that we change our consumer attitude, stop building our wealth on the suffering of others, overcome the thought that money is the highest good and start realizing again that we are all connected and part of something much greater than our individual beings.
Yes, but given the original poster's clear disdain for any technology whatsoever, it seems to me he'd be happiest living in a mud hut under a North Korean-style government.