Where will it end?

All around us, there are truly remarkable stories about people who care. There is much love in this world. In hours of darkness, we need to hear their stories and lift those values of compassion, dedication to humanity, and service. These stories are not fewer but the ugliness has grown larger.
What have we become as a nation?
Instead of being a nation of innovation and moral leaders, we are becoming a nation of defenders - warriors.
In the 70's a deranged person tainted a bottle of medicine. As a result, every container we buy with consumable product is now double sealed.
Shoplifters steal millions of dollars worth of items and now we have product packaging that requires heavy duty scissors to open.
Deranged people used airplanes to kill masses and now flying requires body scans, luggage scans, shoe removal and long lines at check points.
We've suffered through dozens of mass shootings in multiple settings. Now, public buildings, schools, and hospitals have guards and scanners. Worst, is a call for armed guards in places of worship.
The nation once viewed as the world example of compassion and welcome for immigrants - exemplified by the image and words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty - has a leader calling for building a giant wall and who continually attacks immigration.
What have we become?
Where will it end?
We cannot get angry enough to overcome the forces of evil.
We cannot build big enough walls or fortresses or weapons to overcome it.
We cannot react as defenders to change it.
We have to stop magnifying dangers to a point of ridiculousness.
We have to start thinking differently, speaking differently and acting differently.
The answer is to think bigger, talk softer and determine to understand deeper. What we need to build are broader relationships not bigger defenses. We need to be better problem solvers not bigger, louder bullies.

I don't get it?????? Please explain.

If you heard your neighbor bragging about groping women, you knew he paid off women with whom he had an affair to keep them quiet, and you knew he cheated on 4 previous wives, would you take your children next door? Would you hold your neighbor up as an exemplary example of behavior for your daughters and sons? Really? Would you?
Would it matter how much money he claimed to have in his bank account?
Is that the measure of esteem for you? Really?
If your neighbor was known to lie thousands of times, would you choose to believe his words? Really?
If you knew your neighbor was aiding and admiring local bullies who harassed, tortured and even killed those with dissenting views, would you endorse them? Really?
Are your ethics tied to your personal pocketbook and ego? Really?
Do you think the line of subjection will not touch you? Really?
If that is really what you believe, please explain it to me in terms that make some sort of sense. It makes no sense to me at all.
I see folks proud to be introducing children to this frame of ethics. It makes no sense. If the words of this one were in the mouth of anyone labeled in the other party, there would be great outrage and rightly so. But somehow this "brand" is accepted and I don't get it.
I've even seen that "God" ordained all this madness. Really? Explain this God to me.
I see love of subjugation, exploitation, greed and a level of dishonesty/corruption that rivals no previous administration.  I see absolutely nothing resembling any teaching of Jesus - NONE. No humility, no truth, no compassion, Nothing!
The money changers are enabled and protected. Those throwing stones at the under protected are rewarded and applauded. Those challenging the powerful are stifled and/or silenced. The "least of these" are dismissed. Those seeking asylum are driven away. I see absolutely nothing resembling any teaching of Jesus - NONE. No humility, no truth, no compassion, Nothing!
i don't get it. If you believe you can, please explain it. It cannot be simply that you believe it would be so much worse if, if, if. I need to hear what you believe is actually working to anyone's benefit. Surely, you believe something more than THIS and must think THIS will SOMEHOW lead to that SOMETHING better. Please. Please. Please. Explain how this will happen.

The Path of Democracy

The greatest threat to our democracy is the loss of balance of power between the three branches of government; executive, legislative and judicial. The three must work independently to ensure that the democratic process remains intact, to ensure that the minority and less fortunate are protected, and to ensure that the greed of the powerful remains in check.
We're watching a giant shift tilting toward the executive branch with the legislative and judicial branches aligning with a primary focus of protecting the executive no matter what the action or activity may be. Ethics, protocol, standards of practice, decorum, transparency and issue focused debate are sorely lacking and falling by the wayside.
The erosion of this balance of power has not happened overnight. And it's actually not the first time in our nation's history that power and greed dominated the legislative branch of government. Following the civil war and into the early 1900's senators openly claimed affiliation with the powerful industries that bought their votes. Newspapers of the day were full of stories about scandals and, as is true today, relentlessly reported on political misconduct. It was statesmanship that helped shift the balance.
What seems different this time is the depth of influence in both the legislative and the judicial branch. It's reported that our legislators must spend as much as 30 hours a week "dialing for dollars". An enormous amount of money is required to gain and retain office. Where there are large sums of money involved, a system is rife with corruption and potential corruption.
Now many of our prisons are privately owned. An entire industry has been built around incarcerating people. That drives a need to support the "business" of incarceration. We've seen an unbalanced increase in the number and types of people being jailed. A 15 year old poor kid from a particular neighborhood who steals a lawn mower, will likely serve more time than the top executive who embezzles tens of thousands of dollars.
As all three branches of government align to protect the rich and powerful, the power of people's voices will continue to diminish. It's disturbing that millions of people are willing to overlook and excuse corruption, rudeness, hostility, and crude behavior because they believe that person will do good things for them. However, they would never accept these from someone coming from another population.
If democracy is to survive, we need to ensure that the three branches are co-equal and serve largely independent of one of another. Loyalty must be to the country and the democratic process not to a person or party. This requires open and issue based discussion. It requires input from all corners with protections for the least powerful. It requires long term focus and educated decision making. It requires thoughtfulness and reserving judgement until all voices are heard.
Read. Study history. Learn what has happened before that relates to the issue at hand. Check your personal bias that may lead you to overlook details. Focus on the long term good for the country as a whole. Seek a path of clarity, integrity and honor.

Who are "they"?

Who are "they"? And how are "they" sending us rapists and criminals?
I've been pondering those questions since the first time I heard the then presidential candidate, say it and now he's repeating it in current rallies.
If "they" are sending these people, shouldn't "they" be the focus of efforts to stop it? How do "they" get people to walk for months to cross our border? Or is there some other method "they" are using that's not reported?
If we build a wall, will "they" stop?
I keep trying to imagine how we could take rapists and criminals and force them to go to another country. It makes no sense.
Forget the rapist and criminal part of the statement and use a little logic in this. If you really believe there is a problem and you want a solution, focus on "they". Who are "they" and how are "they" doing this?
If "they" are powerful enough to force people to flea (rapist, criminal or not), after a wall wouldn't we have to secure all water access and tunneling possibilities? What about the Pacific coast, Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes? "They" must be very powerful and very dubious.
Who are "they" and what are "they" capable of doing?
Why are "they" unnamed and not the priority?

No, I am not your liberal enemy

"Are you a liberal?"
These days I'm not sure if that is a question or an accusation. Recently after having it again directed at me, I decided to give a new answer next time.
'I like to view everything through a spiritual filter. How will this action/policy affect the spirit of those affected? How will it affect my spirit if I support it?"
Much of what is happening today is hardening hearts. It's guiding us toward caring less about one another as we apply labels to one another. We need a spiritual filter.
Christianity, Judaism, Muslim, Buddhism, Toaism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Native Teachings, - all have common threads within. Where they all intersect lies truth. There lies the spiritual path that will resonate universally. That's the spiritual filter.
Universal truth IS universal. It's not about doctrine or the right book or the right ritual. It's just true - universally. It is true when it sustains. It is true when it creates something better. It's true when it grows love and is based in love.
No, I am not your liberal enemy. I want to see your spirit lifted with mine. How are your positions affecting you spiritually? How are the actions/policies you support affecting others - spiritually? We cannot hate each other to spiritual well being. And the world problems cannot be solved without spiritual understanding.
No, I am not your liberal enemy. You are not my enemy. If we can be spiritually focused, we can challenge one another in a way that lifts us both. That's what I am seeking. Are you?

Beyond Weird

Things have gotten weird.
Once upon a time, the idea of any foreign country trying to influence our elections would have had us all united in a determined effort to stop it. But not this time. There is no question that it happened. There is no question that foreign efforts to influence us and undermine our system of government continues. But talking about it and more importantly doing something about it gets weird.
We know Russia was the most significant perpetrator. They have been at odds with us since the end of WWII. Once upon a time we were united in our mistrust of their motives. Once upon a time, we saw them as opponents of democracy. But now, things are weird.
The head of our nation now openly admires Putin. The investigation into Russian meddling is demonized and undermined by this administration and it's supporters. At the end of day, little or nothing is being done to stop future interference. The fear that "my guy" might have done something wrong (wittingly or unwittingly) is causing many in our nation to ignore the actual issue. Another country meddling in our election process - especially Russia - would have united us in outrage - Once upon a time.
Once upon a time, the hint of infidelity would have derailed a political campaign. Faith based voters expected the highest standards of family values. Not any more. That's really weird.
Once upon a time, we valued our allies and worked with them on world issues. We stood with them and they stood with us. Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany and France have been close friends of our nation for decades. Now we are at odds with them, pulling out of agreements and threatening trade wars with them. That's weird.
It's especially weird when the administration opens it's arms to not just Russia but other totalitarian regimes like North Korea.
The most heart breaking turn is the hardening of hearts toward the plight of innocent children. I've heard the weirdest things in response. "The law is the law!" "Well, the Obama administration..." Or the strangest "250,000 American Military children have been ripped from their parents." WHAT?!!? Thousands of children are being scattered all over this country and will possibly never be reunited with their families within our borders or outside our borders and this is your response? You really believe these children "got what they deserve" because their parents made a choice you hate. If that's your best answer, THAT's WEIRD.
I struggle to find a common theme behind these things. The only connection is admiration and loyalty to one man. These things defy religious teachings as I've understood them. They all pose long range problems that will grow exponentially. They are all painful assaults on our democratic system, values and our place on the world scene. I look at the people in front of me (that I believe to be good and decent people) who are believing these things are ok and wonder where we are heading as a nation.
Historically, I see this time as similar to the McCarthy Era and the rise of the KKK. If there is a theme, it's strongman tactics and "we versus them" division. If that is true, it's beyond weird. It's frightening.

Why are there illegal immigrants?

What would cause you to pack up what you can carry, leave friends and family behind, and set off for a foreign, unknown land?
That's the question we need to ask and the root problem we need to solve.
If you believe "Illegal Immigration" is a huge problem, the answer is not to become a nation that no one would want to enter. Do we want to become such a mean, nasty, intolerant people that no one in the world wants to deal with?
We should be asking fleeing immigrants why they are coming? We should collect every story. We should document everything they have to tell us. Then we need to go to the countries and ask them why they are not dealing with these issues! Then we use every bit of leverage we have to force them to solve them. We need to take the money we are using to "protect our border" and use it to help create a safer world, safer countries around the world, and rid the problems that are causing people to flee their homes.
Lowering our standards of decency and compassion will not solve "illegal immigration". It will harden our hearts and destroy the very soul of our nation. It will create enemies that last generations. It damages us within. It damages all those who feel the effects.
We have historically been a nation that was a beacon of hope. We have sought higher standards of humane treatment. We have also experienced periods like this where a cancer grew within that attempted to move us away from the essence and spirit of what has made this country great. It's happening again. We need to return to our highest ideals and greatest virtues.
All of the institutions that have created the framework of our democracy are now under attack; public schools, the justice system (including the FBI and CIA), a free press, our system of governance, any public sector organization such as the VA.... There is now a push to privatize everything and what is not privatized should be placed under a very central controlling force. None of this is sustainable. It will crumble over power and corruption.
Then, we will be the ones fleeing.