Why I HATE politics (cartoons)

Pat Macpherson, Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly (Posted June 7, 2012)

Hannity and Colmes, rabid right-winger vs. lefty Droopy the duped Democrat
 

I hate politics. Why? I hate them because I'm supposed to. I'm trained to. The powers that be wish it. What's an engaged Buddhist to do? What better way to keep things just the way they are?

No one makes them any more lovable with "corruption," a fancy way of saying corporate money and bribes. The Koch Brothers and the Republicans bought Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's allegiance then kept him in office in spite of what people wanted. He took collective bargaining from public employees because someone told him to. Yawn. Who cares?

(LINK) Koch Brother from another mother Walker survives recall in WI.

  

Destroying the unions means building up the 1%. Vee vill do vut vee are toldt, and vee vill like it! That's the worst thing, corruption. But the second worst thing is how disappointing and ineffectual Democrats are. Such weakness and powerlessness-when-in-power can't be real. B.S. Obama can't be that bad of a negotiator.

  

Any party in power is bad, but what "opposition" are we ever given? Does NPR raise a voice to do more than lean left on social matters while taking a hard swing to the right on all things fiscal? The whole country is socially liberal (whether they admit it or not) and fiscally conservative (as we get economically squeezed to the breaking point).

Let's make the bad times holidays so we can have guilt-ridden good times.

FOX News is the right wing, the Red Ties. MSNBC is the "left" wing, the Blue Ties. (Bloods vs. Crips). Because both parties want the same things, they never really work against each other's interests. Whoever wins, the most important thing is that the two-party system stay in place.
   
The mainstream media kills any third party dreams, any enthusiasm, any attempt to vote. We don't regard voting as a thing we need to do. We consider it a burden. So only activist old women of a particular race get excited about what "needs to be done." 

Rachel Maddow, corporate "commie pinko" voice in a short haircut

How did white Afrikaners keep black South Africans enslaved for so long? The same way the minority party (Republicans) keeps the masses (Democrats and Independents) confused and barking up the wrong trees. PR decides whom we vote for, not us. We do not decide what we do. On the bright side in California, after a gang of policemen slowly and brutally tortured and murdered a homeless/mentally incapacitated man (Kelly Thomas) in public, two gang members are being prosecuted for the "accident." And three Fullerton City Council members were thrown out of office for how they handled it.

Who will save us from GOP-TV FOX? Simpsons, suggests good Maddow.

Tuesday elections also saw the demise of LA City Attorney (prosecutor) Carmen Trutanich's ambitions. Trutanich, an enemy of the Occupy Movement and LA artists, lost his bid to become District Attorney in a stunning upset. He didn't even win a spot in the run off. Will racial profiling continue as police stop, frisk, and beat? Will Obama continue to act like a member of the Bush Administration? Is anyone enough to care?

If it weren't for Seth MacFarlane's humor, what would the country do?

News in paradise, FOX (Network) News, which is SoCal local news lite

Read More

I Hate Tadolf Swiftler (video)

Amber Dorrian, I. Rony,  and Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly

Mr. Hitler enjoying nice dinner party conversation (Hugo Jaeger/TIME/Getty Images)

 

Acting chops on Saturday Night Live

Tadolf isn't so bad. But Swiftler I cannot abide, as Jiminy Glick might put it, and I think he would agree, what with her smug poses, pretentious relationships, and overblown shows.

  

How long will the world stand idly by as she promotes her Naziesque patterns of behavior inducing teens to pout and break up with their boyfriends just to sing along with her ditties?

  

There's nothing like a really big show.

Speaking of ditties, Have you seen her ditties? She has none. She's a flat one-note ham who, apparently, is never-never-ever getting back together with 18-year-old Taylor Lautner or that poor Kennedy boy who hasn't yet read the writing on the wall to know what's coming. (Start milking your 15 minutes the way she is, Conor).
 

    

Tadolf Swiftler (morphthing.com)

Hooray, she dates young. Maybe she's a vampire on a quest to do some K-Stew damage, maybe she's an attention-[hooker], maybe she's just pandering to her teeny-bopping target audience?

Meanwhile, in other Hitler-related news, Mr. Shah of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, has offended sensibilities and created a lot of free buzz for his fashion boutique. He named his shop "Hitler" dotting his i with a strategic swastika (normally a beloved Indian religious symbol seen on many entrances, but in this case he used the corporate Nazi symbol).  It worked.

  

Shah claims "Hitler" refers to his strict uncle.

A vocal minority was offended, and Shah is willing to accept a trivial 150,000 rupees ($2,700) to withdraw the name and related launch materials. But he'll be keeping all the free publicity created in the process.

  

This is clearly a case of highway robbery; I had the same idea for Bridezilla's shop in Manhattan called Eve Brown's, a tribute to the unmarried Eva Braun, with a tailor adjoining tailor shop for grooms called... you guessed it. Now Shah's taken the wind out of my flowing gowns.

Exhibit A at the "Anti-I-Heart-T.S." trial to come

But I'm America's sweetheart!

Real fascists (literally, those who marry corporate and governmental power) hold conventions, offer cake and parades, and no one says a word about what is happening. Who questions the Tweedle Dee/Tweedle Dum system forced on us? Did no one notice what happened to Republican candidate and former third-party advocate Ron Paul? He was drummed right out and denied a voice at the GOP ("Grand Old Party") convention.
 

In our Reds vs. Blues -- Bloods vs. Crips -- world, Pres. Obama is no better. He is in some ways worse for being a wolf in sheep's clothing pushing through the most draconian Bush era policies a Pres. Dick Cheney could never have gotten passed without soldiers on the streets. It's no wonder Democrats get blamed. What's the only "legitimate" alternative proposed for voters?
   
Republican racism and sexism? We do not even get the token gesture of marking "None of the Above" on our ballots or the ability to leave our chads hanging. It's a false dichotomy because BOTH parties are flipsides of the SAME coin, the moderate and extreme wings of the Republican party. Go Green. Go Libertarian. Go Anarchist. Anything would be better than following the next Hitler the Diebold/Sequoia/ES+S corporations are told to "elect".

• Clint Eastwood channels Charleston Heston
• VIDEO: CODEPINK crashes Romney race rally
• Taylor Swift (Inc.) delivers massive spectacle

Read More

Social strife in US, UK, and MX (video)

Wisdom Quarterly; Plan B; Mexican Institute of Sound; LifeAfterHate.org; Occupy LA

Plan B's "Ill Manors" (translation: "bad ghetto housing projects") illustrates that England's problems are rooted in class warfare. Socioeconomic status trumps race as a cause of social strife. The US masks our class warfare as a correlated racial issue.

Sikh vigil, Madison, WI (LAH)

The post-racist organization and magazine "Life After Hate: A Journal of Basic Human Goodness" shares the pain of the Sikh Community after the tragic violence in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. LAH outreach Kindness Not Weakness is honored to bring Wisconsin Wars B-Boy/Breakdance Battle, a statewide tournament celebrating B-Boys and B-Girls and the healthy challenge they engage with. Support this magnificent example of diversity, inclusion, and fearless creative expression! More

SkidRowFilms Police attack Occupy Movement for chalking

 

Police state to crack down on Occupy Art Walk

(OccupyTogether.org)

Art Walk chalk protests, using the concrete jungle that is downtown Los Angeles, are being given a chance to usse a wall with LAPD provided chalk. This is in marked contrast to last month's Art Walk that was met with arrests and beatings. What is the crime? Chalk is messy and requires precious water to rinse off, so naturally Special Weapons And Tactical (SWAT) forces have to be deployed to tamp it down. Otherwise, who knows, Occupy activists might get carried away and start playing unauthorized games of hopscotch. Public order and what Shephard Fairy calls "obedience" must be maintained at all costs even if civil liberties are exchanged for the veneer of "security."

• Occupy LA's Art Walk protest

Mexican Institute of Sound's Mexico illustrates that its problems are rooted in the false US "war on drugs," a hypocritical campaign aimed at arresting and imprisoning racial minorities while simultaneously militarizing civilian police agencies and destroying neighboring Mexico from the inside out by increasing demand while pretending to exhaust all avenues to reduce it.

• AUDIO: From Mexico with Love and Beats (NPR)

NPR "Alt Latino" (Latin alternative) music blog 

Ranchera accordions. Romantic boleros. Maybe some sweet cumbias. Those sounds spring immediately to mind when discussing Mexican music. But Mexico is a playground for musicians of all genres and backgrounds. Dig a little deeper and you'll find sensual son jarocho stylings alongside astounding rock 'n roll and heart-accelerating electronica. Every week on the Alt.Latino podcast, co-hosts Jasmine Garsd and Felix Contreras explore the sounds of Latin America.

The Alyona Show (July 13, 2012) Occupy Movement LA Chalk Walk 1

Read More

The Three Buddhist Personality Types

Dhr. Seven, Amber Dorrian, Maya, Wisdom Quarterly; Wisdom-Books.com

The Couch, originally used for psychotherapy, Freud's office, England. Note Buddhist statuary.

  

Buddhist Character Analysis (Aukana)

Drawing from ancient Theravada Buddhist teachings, authors Robert Mann and Rose Youd present the three main human character types and their three counterparts.

 

This Abhidharmic "Buddhist Psychology" is preserved in The Path of Purification (Visuddhi Magga) by Buddhaghosa, All individuals possess each of the three traits and their flipside, but some personality types may be dominant in one or two.

 

These roots of character condition everything we do:

1. greed (craving) vs. confidence (faith)
2. hatred (ill will) vs. wisdom
3. delusion (confusion) vs. speculation (clarity).

Joyful novices (wellhappypeaceful.com)

Buddhist Character Analysis is the study of these psychological or "personality types." It gives greater insight into human behavior patterns, karmic habits, rebirth, and the nature of reality.

Observing how these roots permeate all aspects of our behavior -- mental, verbal, and physical -- we can begin to appreciate the depth and subtlety of the Buddha's insight and formulation of the Teachings.
   

The cause of and cure for suffering: ignorance vs. wisdom (balancedexistence.com)

  
Attraction, aversion, and delusion (lobha, dosa, and moha) are personality features we are all born with. They linger in our hearts manifesting to greater or lesser degrees.
  
Enlightenment is the result of attenuating them long enough for wisdom to uproot them. They are harmful tendencies, in an ultimate sense, although conventionally we may assume we are unable to do without them.
  
They have conditioned our karma for countless aeons leading to all manner of upset -- craving, resentment, wrong views, culminating again and again in disappointment and distress (suffering). So have their direct opposite categories: non-greed, non-hate, non-delusion. The positive personality types -- faith, wisdom, speculation -- are the other side of the coin. They are not ultimately good in and of themselves but lead to that ultimate good: nirvana as non-clinging because things are seen as they are really are and always have been.
 
We will not magically see things just as they are. We have carried the burden of delusion and ignorance for inconceivable lengths of time (uncountable maha kalpas). The Dharma, or what may really be called "Buddhism" is not ultimately a set of beliefs; it is a set of instructions on how to see the liberating Truth for ourselves. That knowledge-and-vision liberates. Faith, belief, allegiance, words, and books do not.

• Which Buddhist Personality Type Are You? 
• Transforming the Three Poisons (of the heart/mind)

(Khanh Hmoong/flickr.com)

Our understanding of human nature is considerably enhanced and much of the distress entailed in relating with people is smoothed out of our lives when we understand the types.

   

If we follow the "path of purification" laid out by the Buddha and gathered from wise scholar-monks by Buddhism's most famous commentator -- author not only of The Path of Purification but also the parallel work preserved in Chinese, The Path of Freedom (Vimutti Magga) -- we can utilize this increased sense of calm and ease as an essential step on the road to the beyond-beyond.

 

We can restrain craving, anger, and confusion; we can cultivate confidence (faith), wisdom (intelligent discernment), and speculation (clarity, non-confusion). And by developing understanding of the true nature of reality, we can finally transcend them all. Long before that, we can rein them in. And by doing so we reduce our suffering and increase the happiness and security of any realm we are in.

Read More

Intolerant Christians.

I recently read another article (see the previous one here) on The Buddhist Channel about predatory practices and bullying by Christians in predominately Buddhist countries.

I don't have the slightest intention to put one religion above another, to praise one and to blame another. I'm here writing about the attitude I'm expecting from somebody claiming to be a religious person, especially if he has much power in voicing his ideas. Then I came across Mr. Lothe's article in the UB POST and I did some small research about what the head of Eagle TV is writing about religions, and how much he cares about truth and mutual understanding – and I felt disturbed to see how he is trying to boast about his religion as being superior. Is this a way to solve the problems humanity is facing?

Mr. Terry is living in a country with a long Buddhist history (Mongolia) and where a majority of the people consider themselves Buddhists. He wrote on March 10, 2008: "Certainly I'm no fan of Buddhism. The teachings of Buddhism cannot hold a candle to the life of Jesus Christ. As I've written previously, Christianity is superior to Buddhism ethically, historically, and factually." Where is the respect?

In a previous article about corruption he wrote: "Mongolian society has primarily been informed by the world views of Atheism and Buddhism; but they don't seem to be able to affect the kind of character in society that makes corruption a source of personal shame. If these world views actually had that ability, then one would expect with such a long history here that corruption's acceptability would not be on the rise. The same is true in other nations primarily informed by these world views." Mr. Terry, December 15 2006 Then he wrote: "…they (Atheism and Buddhism) don't seem to be able to affect the kind of character in society that makes corruption a source of personal shame."

Only one remark: It's true that no religion and philosophical system can prevent people from unethical behavior. Just think about all the Christian priests abusing young boys (this kind of behavior can be found in any religion, unfortunately). And think about all the corrupt and cruel dictators, presidents and prime ministers, claiming to be a follower of their religion – for example Mugabe, being a Catholic.

The attitude of Mr. Terry is getting again very clear when he writes: "If a Mongolian wants to be a Buddhist and openly express his Buddhism, let him." What does this mean if he also wrote: "Christianity is superior to Buddhism ethically, historically, and factually." and "As one former Mongolian Buddhist said to me about why he finally rejected Buddhism in favor of Christ, 'In Buddhism there is no love.' Comparatively speaking, he is correct."

James: To say that there is no love nor ethics in Buddhism is to betray either 1). An extreme ignorance and misunderstanding of Buddhism or 2). A blatant disregard for the truth to disparage a beautiful belief system to manipulate people into following your own twisted version of another belief system. Sure you might get some people to follow Jesus but at what cost? Your zealotry has blinded you to the point of losing your spiritual integrity just to add a few numbers to the ranks for your religion. You are so blinded by your lust to prove everyone else's religion wrong and "save" them that you're willing to go against nearly every major tenet of that very religion you claim is so wonderful. Is it really that worth it?

In the end, who are you really at war with, the Buddhists or your own fears Mr. Terry? Somehow he's threatened by Buddhism and I'm not sure why. Maybe you're threatened that Buddhism doesn't believe in a "God" and that Buddhists seem very happy despite that belief. So maybe that shakes your foundation and forces you to face a profoundly deep fear that maybe there really isn't a "God" and that if such is the case that you wouldn't be able to control your unbridled desires/thoughts? But I'm not a psychologist and I don't really want to rip you away from your beliefs. All I'm asking is to be respectful and let people decide what to believe for themselves. If they want to know more about Christianity then let the come to you, they will if they want to know but please don't tear their families and society apart just to mark another "believer" onto your list. These people aren't numbers, they're people that want and deserve the same kind of respect that you want and deserve yourself Mr. Terry.

When Mr. Terry writes "let him be a Buddhist" it means 'let him be a Buddhist, but let him know that he is not that good as a Christian, and that he's completely mistaken.' This attitude is dividing human beings into higher ones and lower ones, into good ones and wrong ones. I think Jesus would be sad to see what kind of game Mr. Terry is playing – playing the 'competition game' with religion.

James: So what is that makes often makes Christians bullies? I know that every religion has them but there seems to be so many amongst the monotheistic faiths. It seems that the majority of religious strife in the history of the world has been caused by the three main monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam). Again, Buddhism has had its problems with bullying too but for the purposes of this post I just want to understand why the monotheistic ones are so often the most militant. I have my own views besides the ones I mentioned in the post but I'd like to read your views. Any insights?

~Peace to all beings~

Read More