Facebook and google?

I came across an anomaly. A cross over of sorts between Facebook and Google, who to my mind were different companies. There is a contact of mine located solely in Google Mail whom has never contacted me other than through email or phone. Somehow, this contact ended up being a Friend Suggestion on Facebook. hmmm. Why would that happen? They shouldn't be affiliated, not to my knowledge. I didn't see anything in the EULA that said they were allowed to acces contacts of the other party (site/domain). Are they sharing databases or something? This seems really odd.

the cell

We cover all of these
memories in gloss.
so when we recall the
past
they shimmer.
Surely and slowly
it fades leaving the
starkness that once was
a little dustier than
before.
Like a room seldom
Entered, webs
cover the rosy hued
dressers and frames
of your life.
Perhaps our dreams
contain a broom
and a feather topped handle
to rile up
what has settled
to give a simple smile
or a heartache.
Truth hurts,
and dust (our defense
mechanism)
is stronger than our will
to hold on.
Simple Simon
collecting water in a
sieve.
We all wear the dunce hat.
No camera to capture
But film to enslave.
Release me!
And give me the key
to free
my brothers and sisters.
Our chains
,self imposed or demanded,
have held far too long.
O,
When will they rust and Crack!
Come Rain!
Wash away my pain
And oxidize this
steel.
We just want to breathe
Life
Again.
It is so very cloying in our dust filled rooms.

The American Shame

The American Shame

For good reason, many Americans are rejoicing! Why? President-Elect Barack Obama! That’s right the 44th President is not white! I myself am very pleased, no, proud that we have come far enough as a society to see beyond race and put a black man in charge. We may disagree with some of his policies, that is to be expected but let us keep our criticisms to that. A challenge of his character will probably prove he has the stuff. Will he heal the nation? He might help, we have already sent a message to the world that change is possible, that we can rise above, that you do not have to accept a fate not due you. The onus to heal, to change, to improve is on us as individuals. A great many things have also been exposed- America’s dark secret. A sickness so penetrating, it is in our very marrow. Racism.

Tuesday’s excitement was nearly squashed for me. I had my heart broken, smashed by this hideous plague flying through the air. Text messages abound from all over, I chanced to receive one from a good friend of mine. A man I have not seen in quite some time but have a strong bond with none-the-less. He is a man ahead of his time in many ways. He contains a spiritual insight that few I know possess and has gone through crisis and come out on top. His view on religion and historical amnesia are advanced, to which I give kudos. His political leanings however confuse me, especially coming from a person light-years ahead in the aforementioned areas. Difference in minutia aside, Tuesday was alight with digital messaging and the topic … well what else. My friend was certainly not shy of it but I noticed something peculiar, his texts had a very colorful way of expressing his displeasure. I am a huge supporter of venting through humor but something told me “things aren’t looking good, they are replacing the rose garden at the White House with a watermelon patch” doesn’t qualify as satire. I couldn’t believe my eyes. This is 2008, right? I decided to let it go as I was pretty involved (having company over and the results pouring in). Then another “repeat after me- wheres da baffroom at crakker ass crakka”. It hurt. Deeply. I responded “you’re better than that, bro”. Nothing for the rest of the night. Then history happened.

The next day I got similar texts from another friend of mine on my way into work (something about aunt Jemmima and the Statue of Liberty…uggh). I decided to call her up. Now, she’s a sweetheart so I didn’t want to be harsh but I couldn’t let it pass. She answered, I said “come on, what are you (name of a good friend [who is a good man but a known racist]? What was that?” (it should be noted that I not once raised my voice or became angry, but carried a concerned tone throughout) “Oh, I didn’t mean to offend you. I didn’t mean to send it.” But she did send it. She said she’s not a racist, hell she even voted for him (him= Obama). I probed a little bit, said she was better than that. She said it wasn’t a big deal but she would stop sending them (to me at least). I was terribly let down. Not her, I said to myself. Then the words “I’m sorry. I know I’m being uptight” came out of my mouth, from whence the came, I know not. “That’s alright, everybody is entitled to their opinions” said she. Wait, am I missing something here?

Opinion: One’s belief on a fact or subject.
Are we entitled to our own opinions? Of course! Every human being has the right to believe whatever the hell he or she wants, not just in this country but in this universe. That does not make all opinions substantiated or valid. Believe what you want, even if you are probably wrong. I will be the first to cast a rock at myself as I have been humbled many times over for my notably invalid beliefs and stances (and I am positive it will happen again). But I can’t be wrong all the time, right? (of course, right). I am pretty sure I am in the right here. Her statement about opinions (hers being it is ok to tell racist jokes, as long as they are not coming from an all out racist is ok, and let’s be frank that is what they are, racist jokes. Mine is it is not ok to tell racist jokes, or anything dishonest at anytime, not because you might offend someone (offence is a choice and not really mine to take) or because you might get caught but because it is wrong. And it is wrong because it is both dishonest and furthers the agenda, ignorance and hatred of those who actually hold such nonsense to be true and you are spreading it unknowingly).

After our conversation ended I went on to work and the day carried on as any other. Later that night I sent her a message on Facebook saying something along the lines of if I came across uptight of superior, it was far from my intention. I value her friendship. Her response, “thank you for apologizing”. I scanned the rest of the message for an apology from her, nothing ( shouldn’t expect such things, I should know better than to keep my hopes up or be so selfish as that). I became angry. I admitted my wrongs, why can’t you?!?! I felt remorse for my actions, where’s yours? A lot of time has passed and many a deep breath exhaled and yet I still feel let down. I found out from a mutual friend that she felt I came across high and mighty. Is that so? Am I? Do I believe I am superior? The answer will surely come back No. Well, that is if I ask myself. I have noticed that I used to in the past as was pointed out by several people prior to now. Am I wrong in asking others, especially those I love dearly, to improve themselves or challenge themselves for betterment? I challenge myself rigorously and daily (and in much stronger tones than those used to others, she included).

We must ask- why do people justify behavior they know to be flawed? If someone went around with a razor and randomly slashed people across the face because it would produce a laugh, would you do the same? And when confronted would you say “I’m not a sadist”? This analogy is extreme, granted, but the principle remains.

This behavior is so deep seeded in this country, it is unbelievable. I am personally ashamed of it. Are we a nation of drunk racist uncles? You know the kind, you love him but damned if he doesn’t drop the n-bomb at thanksgiving and embarrass you in front of friends and family. If we are honest with ourselves, we know this behavior is shameful and wrong. Don’t we?

the song that sweeps
through your head
as you carry
about your
day
is the rhythm of
your dreams
awake
that is surely
to break as the
tempo brings
the hostile world
in a new

sway.
the stillness that remains
from your slumbers
is the hardest
to maintain
as the steel-clad
in numbers
run you through
with their
digital sword.
it seems

the music

has carried you
back to your dreams
and slumber
your reward

To the stagnant old-heads:

Despite what you might think, your additional years on earth do not make your opinion superior to mine. I would go a step further and say that your inflexibility and unwillingness to accept the views of others due strictly to age might just make yours worthless. Don't discredit yourself by being haughty. Our views are different, that's it. Evaluate each on their merit, their logic, and their heart, not their seniority.



Now there is something to be said for longevity and there are indeed lessons learned through age and experience, age is not the deciding factor: understanding your experiences is. There are follies in youth, this cannot be denied. Among them are: rush to judgement, eagerness, thirst for destroying the old, ignorance, etc. Interestingly enough, these are similar to the follies of the old, the main difference being yours are firmer and believed to be earned (though are they, or did you get tired of searching?. I will not tire in the search for Truth, Beauty and Love, just change my approach). The young are malleable, willing to change their ideas in search for the Truth (that's Truth with a big T). Did you give up? Were you exposed to horrors that made you fear change? Could it also be said that the old are jealous?



My statements are not made through haste (even if sometimes I run my mouth) and I reflect often on what it is I believe and why I believe it AND the external causal factors that produced me in order to understand myself. So when you come at me with "You'll understand when you are older", it leads me to believe that you have forgotten your own history and have no concept of having a world-view. Mostly, you don't know me at all. I often miss the zeal and exuberance I once had. The difference between the old-head and myself is that I believe it can come back, and not through tossing caution to the wind or buying a flashy car or the like. It comes from being able to let go and accept your life how it is in this moment. Balance the exuberance and love of life in youth and the foresight that comes through honest experience. The universe orchestrated it, you acted in it and here is the result- Your life. Another part is accepting that life is transient and always changing. That goes for you old-heads as well! We were all once children, lest we forget. We have all made mistakes (I do daily, I admit). Be honest with your approach. If I am wrong in my accusation here, I will stand down, being wrong does not make my opinion worthless, nor does it make it a lie. My approach is honest and made with all of my heart.



That being said, let us develop an argument (note that I am being very generous in developing an argument for you, old-heads, even though you have not one):

(1)Through age and experience comes wisdom. (2)Person A is young and has not aged. (3)Therefore Person A does not have wisdom.

Let us take a look at point 1, the premise: yes, there is something to be said for experience. We fall so we can learn to pick ourselves back up. This much is true. However, point 1 posits that solely through those two aspects can we truly gain wisdom. This is patently false. Any student of philosophy (schooled or not) can tell you that through good education of history and philosophy (with a good dose of many other schools of thought) is another path to wisdom and it relies not on age but determination to better yourself and expand your world view. Age is therefore only one factor in other possible routes to Truth and Wisdom. Point one discredited! Strike one!

Number 2, the qualifier. Shall we? Well, this is just a statement of fact. "this person has not been on earth as a human being very long" and it has more to do with "does this statement or point of evaluation qualify under the premise?" That's how simple Aristotelian Logic works. and then to point three (conclusion) where it is a yes or no to the qualification. But while on two, How about old-souls? Those who we say are wise beyond their years? Surely it isn't their age that has given them insight but something else.

Conclusion (three): the conclusion of the argument does not hold as the premise and qualifier have been discredited. (read: Eat that Old-heads!!!!)

All that being said, I still have the utmost respect for those who came before me (although it may not appear as such by reading this). Ask anyone with whom I have had contact. They can speak for me. I have a deep love of all people, and I consider this a challenge to you to be open and evaluate your world view and see how you treat others. Come on, if a 26 year old can, so can you :)

I keep faith

What does it mean to keep faith? What is faith for that matter? The word alone strikes immediate reaction. Positive and negative depending on your life experiences and world-view. Here we are talking about faith (not Faith). That is faith with a small f not Faith (notice the capitalization). To be sure, it is something that is lackingin this world. faith that everything will be alright, faith in other human beings. This is our scope. It is not withinthe scope of this adventure to tie in notions of a Faith, but faith alone.

We doubt. We do not trust a soul, not even ourselves (and sometimes with good reason). We live in fear. We live in dispair. It permeates our inner fiber like tissue in water. It will slowly take us over and disolve us, that is unless we have faith. faith in humanity, faith in our longevity as a soul. All one song. faith that things will turn out, one way or another. Perhaps not our will but the will of the universe (one song). Even the most minute speck of faith contributed could be enough. All people adding just the faintest touch. Before it was just a dusting, less than a flurry. We are hoping to see some accumulation. I want an arctic tundra of faith!Surrounding. Binding. Penetrating. Infusing. Infuse into us all! Make us all one again! Rather, may we all realize that we are dually all one AND individuals. Manifestations of the song of existence! Individuals cohesively forming the atom that forms the molecule that forms the cell that forms the skin of the devine. I keep faith. We keep saying, "ya gotta believe" and then push an ideology we should be required to hold to. faith might be just enough (or enough faith freely given would aid in our survival). The Cynicism intoxicates you and I into thinking and believing that things cannot change. That your situation, or the situation of your home or community or country or world is unmovable. This belief that You as a complex person cannot change. That I cannot change or that We cannot change (at least in any real fashion or noticeable difference). This pessimism, this cynicism, is a delusion. A common delusion.

Again I ask, what is faith? What does it mean to keep faith? Perhaps it is belief in betterment ourselves. That things can, will, and must improve. Accepting the world as it is, all of the awfulness with the greatness. The death and the life, everything as it is. Then make your stand in faith. Not in ideology but in humanity. When people don't change, they become stagnant, closed, compressed and narrow and unwilling to see the chain reaction of their actions or inactions. I say, let us change! Hold on to what is good and wash away the stagnant water of the past. All with faith! Perhaps I am taking a piss here but I don't think so. I ask you to help me elaborate. We need each other to grow, else we die. Don't you know it's gonna be alright!

He looks at the fire
and thinks
“it needs to be poked.”
We all want
to keep the flame alive
so we keep adding to it.

After the walls started
collapsing they
considered their fate
as a transient.
We all want
to keep the structure alive
so we keep adding to it.

As the train derailed
the conductor thinks
“my mortgage is late.”
We all want
to keep the traffic flowing
so we keep adding to it.

When did we start
thinking “destruction
is posterity.”?
We all want to
live eternally
so we keep adding to it.

Smash
your head
into
the wall
if that be your choice!
Gouge out
your eyes
to see,
if only in your dreams,
the only reality left.
The soul place
you have control
is slumber
and still
the Illusion lives on