Social Pontification – Page 6

Note to Millennials

November 10, 20161zenwomanLeave a comment

After screaming, crying and going through the various stages of grief (about the 2016 election), here’s the bottom line: it was all over in 2000.

When America ended up with Halliburtin’s Dick Chaney and “W” Bush over Al Gore (in an election that was “rigged” and stolen, IMHO), we missed our last opportunity to make real progress on climate change. The “Inconvenient Truth” was more than a movie, it was also a political metaphor. America took the dark path of propping up the “war machine” (the military–industrial complex, an unholy alliance of the U.S. military and defense industry.)

It had been “peace time” under President Clinton and America would have been not only peaceful and prosperous under Al Gore, but climate concerns were at the top of his agenda.

Why this history lesson? Because you can’t really grok what’s at stake until you look in the review mirror and see how we got to this point. I’m not blaming young or first-time voters (for protest votes or sitting it out) because you have to live through some of the horrors and consequences to really understand what’s at stake. Trust me, if we make it through the current national nightmare, you’ll know what I mean.

It’s not a “coincidence” that the 9/11 attack happened soon after Bush took office. Elections have consequences. Big Daddy Bush (“41”) wasn’t all points of light and kumbaya, as he’s often portrayed. He was the former CIA director and a Texas oil man. More importantly he invaded Iraq with our U.S. military and literally “bombed the shit” out of the Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) with thousands of rapid air strikes, then left quickly leaving a wake of death and destruction that created tremendous hatred. So when America elected “Son of Bush” President in 2000, vengeance was definitely on the mind of the Middle East. (I’ll come back to that concept.)

The current refugee crisis and ISIS can be traced directly to our long involvement in Middle East (which of course dates back to the 1950s) and our need for cheap oil, at ANY cost. It’s been an OUTRAGEOUS cost in lives lost and Trillions of tax dollars (taxes that DJT has not participated in, but that’s another topic.) Vengeance is at the root of all our problems, especially war. But, it’s also the reason Trump ran for office. He wanted to “get even” with President Obama for roasting him during the 2011 White House Correspondents‘ Dinner. (Unbelievable, but true!)

Many blame Obama for continuing the wars. I guess DJT will soon learn if he can end them. I’m just sick. When I hear that creeps like Jeff Sessions and retired general Flynn (who claims Trump “crushed the debates”) will be in charge of our military operations I’m NOT hopeful. This isn’t a game, our lives are at stake– particularly YOURS. I can retreat to a monastic life and leave Samsara (cyclical life) behind, but you millennials are stuck with war, our dying oceans, lack of water and food, and Donald Trump. If you survive, you will remember and want to warn others to vote for sanity and reason next time.

#NastyWoman

October 21, 20161zenwomanLeave a comment

I can’t speak for Hispanics, blacks or other minorities, when it comes to how offensive Donald Trump’s remarks have been, but I can speak as a woman. Calling Hillary or any of us a “nasty woman” is another attempt to belittle or reduce our value. “Just more PC BS” you might say, as many Trump Twits claim online. Well, labeling (as I just did to prove a point) in this day and age is ridiculous. Calling Mexicans “bad hombres” and women “nasty” (or rating us, as Trump is prone to do) is bigoted and sexist. If you don’t get it, then consider yourself “deplorable.” HA! Here’s why…

In the 1970s when Gloria Steinem was trying to raise consciousness about equality and human rights, men (and far too many women) were quick to label us and diminish the movement as “Women’s Lib” (liberation, if you’re too young to recall.) It devolved to disparaging name-calling and set back our efforts for equal rights. I was called a FemiNazi even into the new millennium, by creeps who followed Rush Limbaugh and the “AM talk radio” brand of politics. These are the folks who became “birthers” and now Alt-Right neanderthals. (See how NASTY it is to label and it’s not effective.) I lost all respect for them and still can’t hear anything they say.

Once the mud-slinging begins, we all tend to jump into the fray. Even Secretary Clinton who wants to “go high” found herself calling Trump supporters deplorable. Hard not to given the awful things they’ve said about her and anyone supporting her. I’ve probably posted 100 nasty, name-calling tweets this election cycle about Trump. I’m not proud of it, because I know it doesn’t work. I do it out of sheer frustration.

Those who most need to hear this message cannot hear me when I’m labeling and name-calling. It’s just that simple. We must find a way to restore civility to save our democracy. That “nasty woman” Rachel Maddow played this 2012 video of Republican Supreme Court Justice David Souter last night (Oct 20). The entire link is about 10 minutes, but forward to 4:00 in and listen to what David Souter said about ignorance and the death of democracy. This should be MUST viewing for anyone who calls themselves an American.

Vulgarity vs. Reality

October 10, 20161zenwomanLeave a comment

It would be more fun to rant and rave about the outrageous video of #theDonald bragging about how he can grab women and f**k them, or how pathetic his so called apology was during the second Presidential debate. But I would be resorting to the same juvenile antics of this 70 yr old man who clearly is not suitable to be President of our U.S. government in 2016.

People are fond of saying “size matters” but what really matters is the state of our minds and the date on the calendar. It’s 2016 folks, not the 1970s (over 40 years ago) when Hillary represented an Arkansas man accused of rape. Read the FACTS! (Trump supporters love to create their own reality in their fact-free world. It took me less than 2 minutes to find the true story. ) You may ask why it matters that it’s now 2016. Here’s why…

Time passes, we evolve, and societal norms change. Sure there are still people who chain up dogs, or even KIDS, as they used to chain slaves, but in 2016 none of those actions are the “norm.” This is what I suspect Hillary was trying to convey when she called Trump supporters “deplorable.” Labeling people won’t work either — it’s just as passe as chaining up “property.” And that’s my point. Women were chattel (property) in the not too distant past, as were slaves. Many still consider their children and animals to be property that they can treat in any manner they want. Cages and chains, whips and beatings are deplorable behavior. Trump supporters are wearing that label like a badge on twitter. (Search “Deplorable” and you’ll see what I mean.) Name-calling is not a successful way to raise consciousness. I know that and yet find myself so frustrated at times that I still do it. (Even His Holiness the Dalai Lama, our standard-bearer for compassionate behavior, poked fun at Trump for his outlandish behavior. That is a rarity!)

I’m sure more videos and testimony about Trump’s behavior will emerge. He was famous for being a playboy “back in the day.” I already wrote about him and “Slick Willy” in my last post (Sex, Lies and Video tape… or simply scroll down 😉 ) That was THEN and this is now. Former President Bill Clinton simply hangs his head, having been through impeachment hearings 20 years ago mostly for LYING rather than his actual behavior. IF Trump had truly apologized, we might have moved on.

The real problem is that Trump has not moved on. He can’t seem to move on.

He’s stuck along with his 40% (give or take) of “deplorables” and cannot (thankfully) win. That’s because more of us (and I hope this is true) have moved on. Call us “elites” but I prefer to say enlightened. We know that animals have feelings so we don’t chain or beat them. We know that all men (and WOMEN) are created equal and that we all make mistakes. The trick is not to wallow in our past or try to defend it. We learn and move on. Forward, as President Obama said. If we “search our heart” as GOP VP candidate Pence suggested, we might acknowledge that we are less angry, more compassionate, and more aware in 2016… or as Hillary says “Love Trumps Hate.” So, hopefully the majority of voters will SEE Clearly (shameless plug for my book) and we truly can become Stronger Together. No one person can fix the world and to my eye at least Hillary has learned that much.

Sex, lies and video tape…

September 30, 20161zenwomanLeave a comment

Yeah, old and over-used title of a 1980s movie, but spot on for current news. Republican Presidential candidate Trump was ranting and tweeting in the wee hours about a sex tape involving the now famous Miss Universe (Alicia Machado) and still threatening to drag Bill Clinton’s 20 yr old sexcapades back into the light of day. Please don’t. We all remember too much about Slick Willy’s wild ways. It’s one of the main reasons I didn’t want to see or support a Clinton campaign. I knew we’d hear about cigars, blue dresses and probably worse. Returning the Clintons to the White House was sure to be a rough ride — not only the campaign but these tawdry reminders from Repubs will go on and on throughout Her administration. BUT, Trump is so UNFIT, ignorant and disgusting, he makes supporting Hillary pure pleasure! We certainly can’t have Trump in charge of nukes or our nation. (Update: Yes, Trump did go “there” for the second debate and there is no doubt that more vulgar video will emerge about him and probably the former President, too. YECH! I’m addressing old sexual behavior in a new post now… 10.10.2016 )

I called the Orange Goof unfit weeks ago, but now many major newspapers are on board warning readers “anyone but Trump” including USA Today which has not endorsed or opined on a Presidential selection in 40 years! Even more staggering, Trump is now busted for creating a FAKE CHARITY!! That is BREAKING NEWS! (elaboration below) Plus, the bonus admission Thursday, by his PR flack, that Trump spent corporate funds in Cuba back in the 1990s. Newsweek broke that story, but his Campaign Manager (one of the Krazy KayLees as I call his various female PR surrogates) actually tripped up on ABC’s “the View” admitting Trump spent corporate money. While trying to defend the fact he had not “invested” in Cuba, she confirmed he illegally spent corporate funds (nearly 70 grand) on the island when it was totally illegal. Twitter, MSNBC and CNN were on fire Thursday evening over both of these stories which SHOULD finally end the Trump run. He’s more than a liar, he’s embroiled in illegal activity! No wonder he won’t release his audited taxes.

My WaPo Hero (Washington Post reporter) David Fahrenthold (future Pulitzer winner 😉 ) has exposed that the Trump Foundation was never established correctly and is NOT certified as a charity. You can’t make up this stuff! After wasting our time for months with his incessant whining and complaining over the Clinton Foundation (which actually does charitable work worldwide, and is properly certified and registered), Trump is now busted for running a FAKE CHARITY. Read David’s story HERE!!

I had planned to title this “Let’s ALL lie… and cheat our way to the top” even before Fahrenthold posted his fabulous findings Thursday evening. I was going to document more of Trump’s pathological lying, or as Fareed Zakaria (former Time Magazine editor and currently a CNN host, author and WaPo columnist) famously called him a “BullShit Artist.” He is, but no need now to focus on Trump’s con jobs, fake polls and fact-free campaign… he’s exposed as a full fledged criminal and liar. Stay tuned for more fireworks. Let’s see what happens next!!

Gary Johnson & Thoughts

September 7, 20161zenwoman1 Comment

I said I would post about consciousness and examining our thoughts, and I will. In fact, I want to begin with my own obsessive political thoughts. Even though I know it’s unhealthy and damaging to my spiritual practice to get so wound up about the upcoming US Presidential election, I often cannot control my compulsion to tweet about Trump. I can’t seem to refrain from name calling, basically reverting to his childish behavior, when watching CNN or other news updates. After all, he is all they’ve talked about for the past YEAR!

His obvious manipulation of the media was driving me crazy. Trump was able to garner around 2 BILLION dollars worth of free publicity, thanks to the ratings grab and greed by the network and cable corporate executives. Talk about “quid pro quo” and “pay to play” schemes! Enter my solution: #TeamGov — the Libertarian team of two former governors, Gary Johnson from my state of New Mexico and Bill Weld, the admired former Massachusetts governor. I never thought I would support a Republican, but both guys agree that Libertarian values are socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I can go for that. Johnson is less hawkish than Hillary, and light years beyond Trump on every issue.

Best of all, I want to support Gary, and that’s so much better than voting against Trump. That’s how I felt about Bernie Sanders. I admired his honesty and integrity and enjoyed his campaign. I wanted to contribute to Bernie’s cause. I feel the same about Gary Johnson. He is not hypocritical, certainly not racist, and Libertarians are not into controlling our behavior. I fear Trump would impose HIS values on everyone and what could be worse? His values are a confused mess. Hillary and hubby Bill are not much better. There has always been a cloud around them, something that is not the case with Gary. I don’t know much about Bill Weld. I suspect he’s had some personal battles, but who hasn’t?

And that’s a perfect segue to the topic of consciousness. It’s a pretty deep subject to tack on in a paragraph or two, but perhaps I can offer a tease and elaborate next time. The most significant insight Buddha had (under the Bodhi Tree in India 2500 years ago) was how our thoughts rule us. He realized that demons, torments and even pain can be banished by gaining control of our thoughts. We don’t have to be slaves to every crazy, impulse that pops into our head. “Seeing Clearly” is when we realize we are more than our thoughts. My own “ah ha” moment came when I realized meditation is not a technique to purge our thoughts immediately, but rather we start by observing them and finding the gap between them.

It’s enough at first to notice that we are not our thoughts. If we are aware of our own ideas and thoughts, then who is the observer? This is where the discussion can get deep and lengthy. So, this is the place to stop for now and leave you with this: in quiet and stillness (meditation) you become mindful. Mindfulness reveals the way. It’s the same with any practice or trade, in doing you learn. Artists and authors were once dabblers, and professional tradesmen were once tinkerers.

Oh, I didn’t explain the image. Trekkies/ Trekkers will recognize the scene where Frank Gorshin (best known for playing the original Riddler on the TV Batman series) on the left, played the bigoted half-whiteface, half-blackface. The half-whitefaced hated the half-blackfaced. It was satire about left/right political arguments. Enough said 😉