tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190954652024-03-07T10:57:11.348-08:00Seal of AbrahamReligious/Political/DialecticalRev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-15525911971022603602011-10-27T17:10:00.000-07:002011-10-28T01:19:54.647-07:00Learning To Take What You Want Lawfully: Better Than Begging and Sit-Ins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajo1G1_YjcUuWZ9D0rhWMzIU6aiuhqFIEBBLx2ao0lEE5nsRP9RQAl515GqmlBEPW9-nRh8XoAa45-uAWt92yTrS1YR5ZE26UoyDg9E43Plq48LiGUrKFQYz79nKoXq_9TDz4/s1600/1211101603.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajo1G1_YjcUuWZ9D0rhWMzIU6aiuhqFIEBBLx2ao0lEE5nsRP9RQAl515GqmlBEPW9-nRh8XoAa45-uAWt92yTrS1YR5ZE26UoyDg9E43Plq48LiGUrKFQYz79nKoXq_9TDz4/s320/1211101603.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668329504030115618" /></a><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Altering the status quo: A new paradigm and way of operating (for Americans in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century Global Economy and World): </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>Subject: A Lesson Yet To Be Learned By Dependent Americans</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Americans, must learn how to get what they want, desire and need for themselves as opposed to asking permission, begging or depending on a 3rd party or institution, government or private, to give or to get it for them. I will begin with this, if the late infamous sociologist E. Franklin Frazier were alive today, he might be surprised at what transpired a half-century following the 'Southern Migration'. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">It was at a time in America, during the 20th Century, when many Americans who lived in Southern cities migrated from the bucolic South into the northern industrial centers, ostensibly to find work and to establish a better, creative and more satisfactory standard as well as a way of living.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Initially, not only did they find that there were in fact good jobs and plenty of them in the north, many members of the transplanted farming workforce were eventually able to purchase automobiles, homes, their own businesses (not enough of them), send their kids to school and to travel back and forth at will, between the north and south. For many of them the north was Xanadu, and they returned to visit family members and friends that were left behind, and to bring them to the north to live with them, or to eventually get a start of their own. And at the same time, some of the new transplants, migrated to other regions in the northern United States, many as far away as California and Oregon.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">And who wouldn't applaud the spirit of frontier individuals who got up, out and did something for themselves, by relocating, in hopes of improving their lives and the lives of the individuals that were closest to them, that they loved. However, as it turned out, 50 years turned out to be a short period of time than was expected and everything did not go according to plan. Why? </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Many of the migrators unwittingly gave up their independence, and instead became dependents on a system that would one day soon fail them. Eventually, modernization, specialization, globalization, extirpation and greed altered the landscape in the new frontier, just as industrialization once did . AND BOTH HAVE come back to bite them, the ones who are still around. So now what happens to the migrators and the ones that they left behind?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">At our organization, HOP, we recognize that substituting long-term independence for short-term gain, only resulted and results in, another form of dependency. We also learned and are teaching anyone who will listen that dependency of any sort is never a good, <i>unless you are an infant, invalid or are past the prime of life and require assistance from some other person or institution.</i></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Many of the former migrationists, who have not or are unable to return to the modernized South, and have been 'left behind', along with their offspring likely rue the day that they left what they had before, <b>something that belonged to them and gave life to both them and their loved ones</b>. I wonder how many of the prodigals who returned home, have run into “I told you so brothers and sisters”, who are no longer willing to share the family plot? </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">In San Jose California, the black population in a city of 1 million has shrunk to 2 percent of the total population. Why? Because the cost of living is extremely high, and unemployment is of the highest in the nation, especially for minorities, some say. Depending on who you believe, the unemployment rate for youngsters in California, hovers at somewhere around 30 to 40%.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">What is the lesson that needs to be learned? I believe that it is this: never, ever put yourself in the position that many of us did before, by outsourcing the responsibility for our outcomes and placing them into the hands of 3<sup>rd</sup> parties. The latter made us slaves to a system and individuals that eventually abandoned us. Was that their fault? </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Did family or other sociological conditioning play a role? I am certain that it did, but on the other hand, we had choices to make and many of us made the wrong choices, and that was to become dependents as opposed to independent.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">My dad always said this: “you have to learn to make it for yourself in this world, and to save money, don't spend it”. I can't say that I always listened, instead, I, like many other Americans did, placed too much trust in an illusory economic or better yet macroeconomic system, that eventually changed and left many of us out in the cold. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">To be blunt, too many of the descendants of former social Darwinian migrators to the north as well others like them have gone back to the future in this sense: they are simply pursuing and waiting for the next wave of geniuses, new technologies, the government, a philanthropist or another individual to rescue and provide them what they should have learned to provide for themselves.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">I remind you that prior to the time of the Southern Diaspora, many of the Americans who followed the migratory path to the north, <i>had up and until that point in time, relied on their own ingenuity in most instances, to cut out an existence for themselves and their families to survive.</i> Sadly, many of these families even considered themselves to be backwards, and some behind at the times, according to northern standards. However<u> the truth is that they were as out front and on the cutting edge as any other modern entrepreneur happened to be.</u></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">By contrast, what today's Wall Street marchers are doing, in my opinion, is to continue to ask someone or some other institution to give to them or take care of them when really all that they they have to do is to go and get what they want, and to do so without asking anyone for permission. This same misguided and misinformed behavior, in my opinion, is being repeated all across the nation it would seem. Are the banks corrupt, is greed rampant, is the government likely complicit? I could answer yes to every one of these questions. However, is the solution to go and demand or beg the government, purported crooks, thieves and scalawags to do the right thing, or to risk being arrested? </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">To me the right thing to do is for these and other Americans, who are waiting for Superman, or to be rescued by some government agency, is to instead go and use your knowledge and brainpower to change the direction of the economic stream, and to get what you want, as opposed to begging for what someone else has, and does not intend to give or share it with you.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">The American economic prosperity stream, has been mostly headed in the direction of the watershed that benefits a few Americans, particularly in the the last 2 decades. So what do you do when that happens? I believe that you go downstream, head off the waterway, and get some buckets of water, in this case currency, for yourselves. Why? The truth of the matter is that in the final analysis, the majority of Americans will have to make it for themselves, and the sooner that they come to grips with the fact, the better. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">The former dependency paradigm', which has been relied upon in this nation for over the past half-century is outdated. And today, living under that kind of conditioning, operant or classical, take your pick - has been the bane of the American citizen-worker now going on 5 or 6 years, if not more. It has been time for Americans to take responsibility for their own destinies and to become independent entrepreneurs.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Interestingly enough, and a half-century after following the northern migration - for a myriad of reasons, many of the former road warriors and their descendants are headed home in order to reclaim what was there's in the first place. And what must they think, the ones who have returned home to cities where a couple of decades ago manufacturers from the north uprooted too, relocated, followed the path to the south and built factories in southern states where labor costs were cheaper, the places that the northern migrators abandoned in the first place?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">The shelf life for the Hi-tech worker, on average, appears to have been less than that of workers in the former industrial and manufacturing trades. Specialization in the Hi-tech industry has in fact eliminated banking, newspapers, journalism jobs too. So what is the answer, and what does one do when the jobs are going away, or fell to pay a living wage.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">At HOP, we believe that it is time for all of us to go back to the future, and what we are doing is to teach individuals who have fallen out of the system, and some through the once vaunted social safety net, to reframe their thinking, and that it is time to go back to the future. In other words, those Americans that have been conditioned to believe that someone has the responsibility for taking care of them, will have to alter their ways of thinking and doing things. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Another part of the conditioned response and expectation of most Americans is that without capital, they cannot create a start for themselves. And that we believe is categorically untrue. In fact we believe that all of us are social capital, which is the kind of capital that is needed to get going again. The facts belie the notion that without “capital”, nothing can be formulated or started. You cannot do anything within reason, it all depends upon what you believe and if you really intend to do it.</p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span">Many successful entrepreneurs began operating, without capital, what have become some of the most successful enterprises and multinational enterprises that have become the envy of the world, and some of them have become some of the most successful business people rightly or wrongly in the world.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span">And there lies the rub, too many of the other respondent and brainwashed Americans are simply waiting for the government, private industry … to do for them what they have not understood yet that they need to do for themselves, that is to take control of their own destines, and to learn to do for themselves again, or for the first time, regardless of what the government, private industry, an investor or anyone else does or does not do for them.</span><p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Remember that famous line from the movie Jurassic Park, when Ellie Satler's character, expressed to Jurassic Park's creator, John Hammond, this sobering line: “that's the illusion, you never had control of this place”. Most Americans, labor under the illusion that they are in control of this place, America, and they simply are not - at least not at this time. And the reason that they are not in charge, is because they have never taken charge or understood that they could be in charge!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">On the other hand, American can be in charge, if they ever decide that they need to be in charge and did something about it. Right now, Americans are content to simply complain to someone who will listen like a Representative in Government, a President, a radio talkshow host ... and afterward they hope to experience a different outcome. But how long would it last, if a modicum of change were to occur at all. We believe that it is time to 'get in the real world', and to stop begging, marching, sitting-in and instead to go and get what you want or need.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">What we are doing within our organization is to reteach our people about a paradigm that works, in other words to step back and away from the conditioning that they received before, the dependency dynamic is what I called it, and instead to move to the front and to take charge of your lives.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Also we ask our people to do this, instead of focusing on finding a job, step away from that kind of conditioned response too, and instead create an income producing opportunity for themselves. Once enough people engage in self-creation as opposed to dependency-waiting, marching, sitting-in or begging the government, an individual or any one else, the landscape of the current American economy will be transmogrified. Also, the average American citizen will have new trading partners inside and outside of the United States of America, including his peers and new associates and partners, speaking of social networking. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And if adhered to, eventually the new American entrepreneur will reclaim what had been unwittingly handed over, and the people again will have reclaimed the housing industry, manufacturing, technology, agriculture, education, hospitalization, indemnification, and this nation will finally be what it was purported to be from the onset. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">The American GDP, hovers at right around 14 to 15Trillion. All that one really needs to do is to 'change the change', that no longer works, beginning with the space that is in between their ears. Next, Americans must refuse to give change to individuals who refuse to change or give into change themselves. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">In other words, it is a new day so let's create a new economy, one that will eventually outstrip the incumbent one and allow some individuals and corporations to either go out of business or survive, but no longer with our hard-earned money.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">A thousand mile journey begins with one step, so step by step, as opposed to outsourcing the responsibility for your and your family and friend's future to someone else, we can climb out of this hole that we temporarily find ourselves. Finally, learn that whenever you operate under the existing paradigm, you empower the person, government or other organization that you are begging or expecting to give you something in return that altogether are the sources of your current pain., and you let them.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">And what have we learned again, in summary:</span></p> <ol> <li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Never outsource the responsibility for you or your families future into someone else's hands. </span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">That the motivation behind most capitalists, was and is to ultimately create income producing opportunities and wealth for themselves as well as income for their shareholders and their families. </span></p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lord, what might E. Franklin Frazier have advised the former road warriors, if he had a crystal ball and could have peered into the the future before they struck out on the clay. He too might have warned them to “go or stay and whatever you do create opportunities for yourself and others because otherwise, I see you returning by the way that you left, with very little to show for all of your trouble. Wake up Americans, even the ones who have jobs, incomes, savings and investments, for as you can see you are not secure either!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Peace and Grace</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">P.S. If there is a mistake that came out of the Civil Rights Movement, other Americans have learned to march too, instead of learning to create positive social change themselves!</span></p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-84924987522611109732011-10-06T12:25:00.001-07:002011-10-06T12:42:04.968-07:00The American Black Janjaweed and The Re-Elect Obama Presidential Election Campaign<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QjMiMLNzZl2YD0qU7NwL2z176K1rQhQJPT6nZrAAT3Ml4lRJccWc6D0uh7Iol_Fop0ssPEJviyD75yZquAQfM23KyRT2aKcgj6LEYdY1mXNsKmc302AcgHpCCAZksXet8udW/s1600/Lafayette+Minnieweather+940.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QjMiMLNzZl2YD0qU7NwL2z176K1rQhQJPT6nZrAAT3Ml4lRJccWc6D0uh7Iol_Fop0ssPEJviyD75yZquAQfM23KyRT2aKcgj6LEYdY1mXNsKmc302AcgHpCCAZksXet8udW/s320/Lafayette+Minnieweather+940.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660463540529188562" /></a>Picture on the Right: Current and former members of HOP: The Outdoor Citizens Coalition and Think Tank Of Santa Clara County California.<br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The American Black Janjaweed: That is how I ended up referring to black Americans, to their chagrin, who attacked me during the run up to the election in 2008, given my refusal to support or vote for the young neophyte, Senator Barack Hussein Obama, to become President of the United States of America. In fact, another African nationalist, who was living homeless in the country at the time, I might add,, referred to me as a gradualist, (in other words a person who was saying that it was not time for a black to be President of the United States yet).</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; ">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He also completely ignored my rational for taking the position that I did at the time about the young neophyte candidate, U.S. Senator Barack Obama Hussein. For me, it didn't matter who it would have been at the time, I would have said the same thing to or about them, if they were where he happened to be at that stage of the learning curve. Why? Because after engaging in extensive research about the young 'inchoate wanna be candidate', his policies, his capitulations and his mostly lack of experience and knowledge at that time, I was confident that he had not done enough to prepare himself for the job of being President of the United States of America, even though his heart was apparently in the right place. I suspect that any one of us has overreached at one time or another in our lives.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Approximately 4 years later, I still find myself fighting with remnants of the black Janjaweed in America, in this context, 'blacks who attack and kill other blacks', for economic and political reasons However, my prediction of 4 years ago, that it would take the neophyte, President Obama, roughly 4 years to come up to speed, in order to be a capable and effective President has been confirmed. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Nearly 3 years later, and having gained the experience and understanding that he needed before taking on the task of an Executive, he is starting to come into his own. At this morning's White House Press Conference, there appeared to be 'A Raisin In The Son'. Apparently, he has learned how, no more Mr. Nice Guy and Gal, Washington DC works. And as a result, he has begun to speak truth to venal American power brokers on the Right, and appears to be ready to steer the ship into a different and a better heading. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If he will do the following:</p> <ol> <li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Correct the juvenile mistakes that made before, with respect to enforcing the unfair and unsavory aspects of American domestic and foreign policy, that invariably end up unfairly favoring one group or nation over another, (specifically when either of the two are simply seeking what most Americans are seeking after, freedom, self-determination and equal access ...</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Continue to push back against the sophisticated but venal counter-forces around the nation in our nation's Capitol (in the manner that he spoke out to Mitch McConnell, John Boehner and the Republicrats this morning) and other individuals on the Right (and Joe Lieberman) who love to foment war, domestically and abroad, or could care less about freedoms and equal access by disparate people in America and around the world. </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Rebuild relations with individuals and groups that the other side may not care for, including the Wright Reverend and others, that he should not have discarded before, who shaped and stood by him, simply because members of the dominant culture were coming over to his house, get it?.</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Stop striking out at blacks and other suffering people, because he is frustrated with his white nemesis' on the Right, who are the actual 'complainants' in this nation, even after he has compromised with them for nearly 3 years now, and to no avail. They will never be satisfied!.</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If , when, and wherever he goes to town, take a detour from hobnobbing with the rich and famous, get out of the limousine and speak with 'outdoor citizens', homeless people ... about their concerns. And, please stop having, 'citizens of the USA, who are entitled to all of the rights and protections of the Constitution of the United States swept away from the streets, 'their homes', because their Presidential leader is in town. </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Stop the ignoble murder of freedom-fighters in this and other nations of the world in the name of venal American hegemony, Southern white supremacy and economic exploitation. Remember, these are individuals who are simply doing what most black Americans, including him, have had to do in terms of the fight for full justice and equal access to the opportunity structures of this nation... </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Stop being a puppet in the hands of the venal right and stand up for truth and justice like MLK did, even if it costs you. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"></p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I can sum up everything that I have written in a few words, “simply fight for justice for all people, even white people', in and around the world. For as a black American, it is not enough for me to say these words, that the President of the United States is black, and therefore, I will vote for him. I don't care what color the President happens to be, however, the President, whomever it turns out to be, ought to stand up and fight for freedom and justice, and manage the country with all of its citizens in mind. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Then, and as far as I would be concerned, I would be pleased to not only vote for the current President, I would also register and encourage others individuals to do the same. <u>It has been years since I have been a Deputy Registrar</u>. The President should remember that he had a mandate, and that most Americans and the world were with him. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">In fact, he can still get the majority of them back and trounce the venal Republican agenda once and for all,if he would remember and take charge of what was 4 years ago, an American styled world-wide People's Revolution. The latter could result in yes, a New World order, that would mean new friends for the United States, the cessation of hostilities around the world, renewed peace, trade, aid and cooperation around the world (even between nations that were once considered hostile or were hostile to each other). . </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The young neophyte President Obama stumbled before, however, he does not have to remain there, stuck in primordial mud. He stumbled before, however, he can get light the fires of a peaceful worldwide revolution again, if he were to stop doing business as usual. And this time around, he will have on board individuals who before, like me, that were skeptical of the leader of the of currently diffused Revolution.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We will see if the nearly 3-year old President, understands where he stands in terms of history, a person who has the ability and with a bit of courage, to change not only America's, but the worldwide landscape, to include support and participation from the emerging nations of the world. Imagine, America, China, Russia, Cuba, Bolivia, nations in the Middle-East, Israel, Syria … all friends and trading partners, and the end of control by Southern Strategist''s, that will become a part of America and the world's historical past. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">When they are divested of their racist and less than connubial power, the whole world can come together, I believe, and there will be peace in the world. Southern strategists, to include many Republicans don't want that, they want to dominate the world, its resources, its islets and its terrain and its people. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The question is does the emerging President Obama, understand where he is or could be, in terms of his place in time as President of the United States? And if the American people will wake up, those who are in slumber, the will understand that with the right motives, we can have peace, and we will no longer have to sacrifice our sons and daughters in the name of American greed and non-cooperation by the greedy American.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Peace & Grace</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">All of us together, can make a difference: America is the seed that can harvest justice in America and around the world!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Picture above are a few independent outdoor-citizens in the region, who are working, instead of waiting on Washington DC, in order to improve their lives, and those of other people in and around the world!</p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-27392805921468144272011-09-24T09:44:00.001-07:002011-09-24T10:41:23.178-07:00Justice Delayed Is Still Justice Denied: Obama v. The Palestinian People<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgsjvqpWrh4fS0JWmhdnM5WRphUiUAreJixEMWoM7ds0ijHVbkQkXDTy7Xd0k1jXJ8lkCgFzqyilGU0qqan1qWKcWLkWUdwbUKJWw78x-FMwpZGmhRdqduxeZjDYfh99Nhly0/s1600/0312111050a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgsjvqpWrh4fS0JWmhdnM5WRphUiUAreJixEMWoM7ds0ijHVbkQkXDTy7Xd0k1jXJ8lkCgFzqyilGU0qqan1qWKcWLkWUdwbUKJWw78x-FMwpZGmhRdqduxeZjDYfh99Nhly0/s320/0312111050a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655968915011409506" /></a><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Even when justice is being denied by a Scotch-Irish black President (note the Mayor of Dublin pictured in the booth): </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I haven't had time to blog lately, even to go back and correct the posts that I started before, however, I simply have to say something about the ongoing debacle that is currently taking place at the United Nations, Obama v the Palestinian People. The leader of the opposition, for entry into the United Nations by the Palestinians, is a descendant of people who were also often told, <i>'that it is not yet time for you to have freedom, the right to the franchise, education, access to public accommodations … and we will veto your every attempt to obtain those freedoms</i>', until we say that it is okay for you to have those freedom.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Will this man that the majority of voters selected and voted into office in 2008, whose ancestors experienced what the Palestinian people have been experiencing today, ever stand up for anything?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It is so ironic that a nation, that is currently being presided over by a descendant of former slaves who had to fight for centuries to obtain freedom and freedoms 'in the Land of the Free and the home of the slave', is the current leader of the opposition against the Palestinian people.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Most Americans know that America's foreign policy in the Middle-East is corrupt and favors Israel, God's chosen people, er herm! Ironically, the Apostle Paul, wrote in his letter to the Romans: <i>My earnest desire and prayer for Israel is that Israel might be saved, for I bear them record that they have a zeal, but not according to knowledge. And having left the righteousness of God, they have gone about to establish their own righteousness</i>. It would appear that not much has changed, 2000 years later, except today they have have access to weapons of destruction..</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">This former satrap of the Soviet Union, Israel, is currently a satrap of the United States government. And just as they have done before, they are seeking to establish their own righteousness with the full support and backing of the United States government, which is being Presided over by a descendent of former slaves in America, as well as on the continent of Africa, double-jeopardy. If anyone knew better, you would believe that he would know better.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And what is his message to the Palestinian people? It is the same one that slaves and black Americans received over and over again while pursuing justice and freedom, that is, '<b>not now, just wait, it is not the right time yet' </b>. The Palestinian people are not falling for this ruse, and neither am I and a few other Americans. Shame on Obama. I expect this kind of double-speak and non-sense from the Dick Cheney's, George Bush's and the current crop of candidates that are running for office in America, however, I would have hoped that the collective memory of what occurred with his own own ethnic people who were subjected to the same kind of experiences, would have had an effect. However, he has betrayed their memories and their struggles for liberation and freedom.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The man has no courage. He is not a leader and shame on him again! He is the gift that keeps on giving to the wrong side, at the same time that the nation is sinking economically and morally. This is not what the people who voted for him, 'a great communicator', expected. And Israel, especially its leaders will have to learn a lesson that its big brother supporter's never learned, the meaning of freedom and justice for all people.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And finally, Obama, for moral and ethical reasons ought to go and have himself fired, because he is a disgrace to freedom fighters and the collective memory of his ancestors - they died before they ever realized their freedoms, just as many of the Palestinian people will do!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And seeing how Obama want listen to the majority of the American people, perhaps he will go sit down and speak with the Mayor of Dublin, perhaps he can help President Obama to understand what justice is all about. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>Peace & grace, </b></p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-9299224802143983932011-08-22T11:17:00.001-07:002011-09-24T10:40:05.980-07:00Religious-Fundatmentalist Politics and Hegemony, America's and the World's Problem<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCoaHAxzX_Zh0B_ZzWWY_emMPiSqSCnDry067ODsRv60sNY1mpSTYSB7f0J8i_IXF5l8kRhUGePfMFN26tuCzyNJYmI6CJIUszs84gTJjmG8OM7TF9-xvc43xRQeo9dWfZspC/s1600/210629_108523449236296_100002359252801_92443_1415039_o.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCoaHAxzX_Zh0B_ZzWWY_emMPiSqSCnDry067ODsRv60sNY1mpSTYSB7f0J8i_IXF5l8kRhUGePfMFN26tuCzyNJYmI6CJIUszs84gTJjmG8OM7TF9-xvc43xRQeo9dWfZspC/s320/210629_108523449236296_100002359252801_92443_1415039_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643758320258299986" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Subject: Taking Charge of American Power The American Religious and Evangelical Right:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Stridency, an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">unwillingness</span></span></span></span></span> by individuals on the religious and political Right to </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">compromise within government, their communities, at church or anywhere else in the world, has led to America's current social and political divide as well as the political stalemate that persists in all 3 branches of America's federal government. Their behind-the-scenes control of politicians in Washington ... has also impacted how America is perceived in the rest of the world. I predict that the majority of </span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span">America's current problems will disappear, foreign and domestic, when the Religious Right and its sympathizers, are put back into 'the right place'. Together with the devil, they are responsible for the gridlock in Washington, America and other parts of the world. </span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">How do I know? These folks aren't praying, instead these folks have turned to politics, wealth, control of the media, a strong military to accomplish their agenda. At the same time they are hiding behind the bible, Christianity and their churches and pulpits in order to accomplish their political aims. The south, and southern politics, by using the church to do do, have risen again. And that I believe is the spirit of error that has been parading around in the name of the Lord!</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></i></span></span></div></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><br /></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>For having left the righteousness of God, they have gone about to establish their own righteousness,</b> and that is essentially what Pat Robertson and his crowd are doing, ushering in their own version of A New American Led World Order!</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">This deceptive group, that poses as being righteous are responsible for causing and sanctioning America's blue and red state divide; America's burgeoning and seemingly permanent underclass; American hegemony; America's high rate of unemployment; a world-wide economic crisis,, gender discrimination, the housing problem, Americans who lack <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">healthcare</span></span>, vituperation in America's airways...</span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">All of these problems will be dealt with or disappear, when the rest of America wakes up and forces 'the right people', pun intended, who are wrong, individuals who tired of what was taking place in America and the world, have seized control of America's political, military and economic power. </span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">A long time ago, wrong or right, they had simply had enough with the way that America and the world was operating, and as a result they decided to do something about it. The decision made was to take control of America, by wresting power away from the majority of the American people, and to place people into positions of power, who would obey their talking points. And every since, they have been controlling the American narrative, similar to the way that America was controlled in its beginning, prior to multiculturalism, immigration, liberal politics ... and for now, their strategy is obviously working. </span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">For while Americans were sleeping, not me, they wee busily sowing tares among the American wheat. But they forgot, that God has strategically placed watchmen among us, who have kept an eye on principalities, rules of the darkness of this world. Don Park, these people are not servants of God, they are servants of a right-winged conservancy. </span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></span></span></div></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Given the kind of power that they control, given the power of the pulpit, their control of the media, the billions of dollars they receive from an unsuspecting public ... right, now, they are controlling the American narrative and are winning nation after nation. </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>They have that kind of power!</b></span></i></span></span><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">As shocking as it may sound, if</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"> this group of self-righteous and self-directed Right-Wing Evangelicals ... wanted to, all of the suffering among America's suffering and struggling majority would have abated long ago. </span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">But instead, they stood by and watched America, Americans and many other people of the world suffer. In fact, these so-called religious individuals have not only stood by and watched, they have supported policies that have had a deleterious impact on a growing majority in America, when all they had to do was to snap their fingers and their sycophants and puppets in pulpits and all 3-branches of the American government would have backed off. They are not the people who followed the example of Jesus, that is to sell all that they have and give it to the poor. In fact, they, biblical <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">literalist</span></span>, rail against such a suggestion. Many of their churches leaders are multi=millionaires, and many of the subordinates are not far behind. Have they given some, the answer is yes? Have they followed the example that Jesus left when he instructed a wealthy ruler to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, and by the wife his coffers would have begun to be restored the day after he did? No, they </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span">do not understand that language of the bible. You shall know them by their fruits, is also recorded in the bible. And their fruits tell me that something is wrong in that force. </span></i></span></div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">How did <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Washington, and much of the rest of the nation </span> get that way, strident, uncompromising, irreverent and implacable? You might be surprised by my answer, however, you will soon understand that the real problem that is impacting the whole world, is not political, instead the problem is one-hundred percent religious in nature. Karl Marx, from the grave is shouting, Amen brother Solomon. Because one is religious neither makes him pious, loving, a keeper of his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">brother</span> and sister or a servant of God by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">definition</span>. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">We're are talking about American religious hegemony, or if you prefer, theocracy. The stridency that all of us have either experienced, personally, by one of their sycophants, or witnessed, coming from our government officials, is a direct result of the nature of the uncompromising policies, practices and teachings of, refuse to consider another point of view, hegemonic religious leaders, churches and other organizations that have exported their strident behaviors, rhetoric, threats and vituperative tones to members of our Federal Government who they control or oppose. Their objectives were and are to elect, appoint and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">coronate</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> individuals who will practice the art of non-compromise and totalitarianism in all 3 branches of the Federal Government. Already, they have the majority of America's governor's, mostly Republican, in their pockets. An American theocracy or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fatwah</span></span></span></span></span></span>? </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Where do political sycophants and far right puppets get their talking points from, sadly, they come directly from the Religious Right, who are in my opinion a fascist group of religious sycophants, who are often more wrong than they are Right. Why? Consider the spirit that is driving them. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">I can assure you that the Spirit and the motivation behind what they are doing has nothing to do with God. In fact, if they were motivated by the spirit of God, there would be full-employment, homeless (only by choice), equal access to the opportunity structures of this country and liberty.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>You'd better think about it. Does anyone recall when George Bush Jr. and other politicians, before and after him, suddenly began to wear their purported religious convictions on their sleeves? And if you believe that some of these folks were truly religious, the Republic of China, can fit inside of the state of Texas. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>In the old days, it would never happen, politicians were expected to pretty much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">separate</span> their religious and political convictions in the public domain. However, in today's economy, it is common place, in fact you had better talk about your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or admit to submitting to your husband. </i></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><div><i><br /></i></div></i><i>Isn't it a shame when any politician or official uses religion to inveigle an unsuspecting public in order to get elected. The politicians on the Right, are pandering to religious fanatics and fascists on the Right, who will make their lives hell, if they fail to do so. In other words, the pass card that a politician will need in order to get elected is to pretend to be a Christian, to know Jesus Christ and to believe in the Lord and Savior. Yet, their actions say different. </i></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">For if what is written in the Canon is correct, there were and will be many individuals who will name the name of the Lord, only to be informed that the Lord, never knew you. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">How is it, can anyone tell me, that Americans are so stupefied to fall for this kind of religious chicanery and double-speak.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hey Reverend Solomon, aren't you supposed to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">be a</span> preacher too? Answer: Well, I suppose that depends on who you ask. I consider myself to be a non-fascist Christian in deference to many of my counterparts on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">religious</span></span></span> or political right. I prefer the revolutionary aspects of Jesus Christ in this regard, he spoke truth to power, on both the religious and political right of his day. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">And the religious right of his day, some of them referred to him as </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Baalzebub</span></span></span></span></span></span>, as I am certain that some believers would say about me. Th</span>e question being, "what Spirit are they really of? I say that their spirit, or true motivation comes from a need to be in control, and to restore the country, this nation and its power, back into the right hands!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now, no one has actually called me the devil yet, well not to my face anyway, however, I know that some of my old friends in the Pentecostal church that I hailed from, believe that I have lost my way. A lot of religious people believed that Jesus had lost his way too, and referred to him as Baal-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ze</span>-bub!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jesus called Herod a fox, and he also had a lot of unpleasant things to say about the Right-Wing Pharisees of his day. Religion, as Karl Marx pointed out, is often an opiate that is used to dull the senses in order to control the masses. Just consider the number of Christians that supported Hitler's crusade, or the Christians that participated in the crusades. George Bush Jr., made a critical <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">faux</span></span></span></span></span></span> pas, when he referred to his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">blitzkrieg</span> in Iraq as a crusade. Ah ha, you can't take it back. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">In other words, similar to the manner in which their religious organizations and leaders behave,a group of individuals have been sent to Washington to take charge and to practice the, 'it is our way or the highway behaviors' found in most uncompromising religious fundamentalist and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">filibustering organizations</span>. The question is, would God employ the means that they have incorporated </span>in order to accomplish their venal aims? I don't think so, and that is why I hope to expose them! What do they want? I will attempt to answer that question to, if you haven't figured it out already. Does theocracy come to mind? Heaven help us if they succeed. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></span></i></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">The problem that exists in all 3 branches of America's Federal government today, is a direct result of of the skillful interposition of exuberant non-compromising and intolerant religious fundamentalist religious practices, values and behaviors, that are often found in America's fundamentalist churches, especially evangelicals and of late, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Pentecostals</span>. </span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Much like the intolerant and non-compromising religious organizations that these politicians (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">including</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">politicians</span> in the judiciary, this class of politicians were not sent to Washington D.C. to represent the people's will, they were sent to Washington or placed into certain offices with a prescribed and non-compromising mandate. And as a result America's government has reached nadir. </i></span><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The 3rd year of filibustering by Republicans, is a result of a calculated plan, and has been skillfully implemented by a prescription that was hatched in the fundamentalist right in America's purportedly non-political churches. The, we are right and if you are not with us you are wrong and will be relegated to the pro</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">verbial</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> scrap heat of political life, is the same intonation that is found is found in all fundamentalist and intolerant religious camps and congregations.</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">To be sure, the leaders, policy-makers and occasionally rank and file members, have given up on the typical methods that were used in the church to resolve the problems of humanity, like prayer. Instead, they have replaced the weapons used in Godly warfare, a shield of faith, salvation, loins girded with truth, the word as a sword ... and have instead adopted and replaced the former with direct <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">involvement</span> and control of the executive, legislative and Judicial branches of America's government. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Their attitude seems to be that God has failed, and if you can't lick them, individuals who see things differently than they do, then adapt, infiltrate and redact.<br /></span></i><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>What fundamentalists believe, about practically any other denomination or religious organization for that matter, and any form of governance that does not comport to their ways of thinking, be it in politics, with individuals, other religious organizations, morality, ethics, sports ... is, either you are with us, or take it to the highways. Or to be more succinct, religious Jihad and American styled political <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fat<span><span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wahs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Yes, it is the same spirit that you often witness coming from middle-eastern religious organizations. T</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">his kind of fundamentalist, fanaticism wholly derives from religion. Remember the crusades? All fundamentalist, are convinced that </span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">God is with them, they are the sole harbingers of truth and that it is their mission to infiltrate, convert or destroy the great unwashed, be they religious, political or neutral. </span></i></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"> To wit, they believe, that the rest of the great unwashed are categorically wrong about everything, and will never be right, until they join the crusade and submit to their theology whereby being taught 'the truth' as they see it. If you were to examine any of these organizations, across the board the behavior and practices are the same, even though there are often doctrinal differences. </span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And oddly enough, if you were to separate the different camps, the religious ones I am referring to, when it comes right down to it, they don't agree with each other and view each other with a jaundiced eye. However, and having said that, when it comes to politics, these intolerant separatist factions are willing to coalesce in order to form a strong common bond, one that enforces certain planks that are to their liking. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>The political stridency, anger, rancor and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">stubborness</span></span></span></span></span></span> that has been been exhibited in Washington DC of late, not only during 'the Raising The Debt Ceiling debates by Republicans', two weeks ago, is the same behavior that they have exhibited since coming into office, long before the Tea-Party had become a phenomenon. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And in spite of all of the political stridency, obfuscation, vituperation and non-brotherly like behavior, all of the guilty still proudly proclaim that they are Christians, who are pursuing a godly mission and mandate. And this behavior has been drafted and endorsed by the religious organizations, like the religious right, who dispatched or influenced the decision-makers and the public, in order to have them placed into office.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>However, what comes to mind for me is the scripture that reads: Your ways are not my ways. Any non-believer knows enough about religion to know that the individuals in question, are not practicing what they preach. This won't be the first time that God, Jesus, the canon have been known to condemn the behaviors of people, 'who are called by his name'. I will jump ahead and say that based on what I have observed from these religious-fundamentalist politicians and the organizations that they hail from is essentially, they have lost their faith in God, and have gone about to establish their own forms of righteousness by force and diplomatic, political and economic strangulation, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">filibustering</span></span> and shut-downs. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Oftentimes, when I observe the behaviors of these religious/political sycophants, I wonder within myself just how they can claim to be people of God, given the manner in which their stridency and vituperation differs far and wide from what Jesus taught. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">I have witnessed much love for one's neighbor coming from that camp, if anything, I have observed just the opposite, a spirit of non-compromise and I am not my brother's keeper. There is a lack of love being demonstrated for their neighbors, which begs the question, who is their neighbor? The answer appears to be, my neighbors are individuals who are members of my political party and my reckless, we are right and everyone else who does not see things as we do are wrong, fundamentalist church. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">I listened to a minister on the way to the office, who referred to his teachings as being 'the truth'. He and I have met before, and within 10 seconds of meeting me, and without asking or knowing a thing about me, 'He want</span>ed to know where I was being fed at". Frankly, he had a mission, and his mission was and is to build a trendy, uncompromising, intolerant mega church, where what he believes or interprets is 'God's truth!</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i> Some of the more infamous of the lot, and names of organizations that come to mind are Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostal denominations, Evangelicals, Mormons ... And shall I go on? This phenomenon is not unique to Christianity, may I add. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>There are many other examples, not mentioned here, however, they all have this in common, they believe that they have been uniquely endowed with divine truth; they are intolerant, uncompromising, unbending and at times vicious. Given the success strides of their efforts over time, members of these organizations have found their way in politics, and they are controlling the narrative in Washington DC, and filibustering when they cannot get their own way. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Why do they do it? They are convinced that God is uniquely with each of the separate groups, and no one else. In other words, not only is God with our group, God talks to our group. Now anyone who is in his or right mind ought to be self-deprecating enough to take a step back in order to admit that just maybe, I could be wrong about that. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>However, when you have been fed a steady God is uniquely with us diet, over time you come to believe it, and the next stage is, crusades to either convert or wipe out the great unwashed heathens. So Reverend Solomon, how can you be a Christian and admit this you're thinking, and what is your angle. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Well consider first that not all Christians are fundamentalists, we recognize that there are as many flaws in our theology, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">dispensational</span></span></span></span> and otherwise, as it is in any other group. And in order to cut to the chase, let me put it another way, 'love trumps doctrine and fanaticism <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">any day</span></span></span></span> and anytime! Most religious if you will talk about love, but not all of them believe that what they are saying, that love is superior to mental comprehension for example. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>I heard a man say to another person on occasion, if they took one of my thoughts and put them into your head, it would burst". Christians are not unique in terms of becoming fanatics, however, speaking in this context, and why he have been witnessing what we have been in Washington DC, with the uncompromising Republican Right, T-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Party</span></span>, n<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">eoc</span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ons</span>, going all the way back to Ronald Reagan, is the spirit of fanaticism, that is found in most fanatical churches has been brought to Washington.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Clearly, whether you believe in God, Jesus Christ, the church ..., you will recognize that spirit of the bible teaches one to love, listen, be willing to hear, avoid self-righteousness, and if nothing else, there is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof is the ways of death. Most religious people would laugh if you tried to convince them that that scripture might be speaking to them, the holier than holy. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>I have a lot of friends who wonder what is going on with me, have I lost it. No, I never had it. And what is it. The spirit of cockiness, arrogance, intolerance, my mind is greater than all before me and those that will come behind, and therefore, I know that I am right when everyone else is wrong. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Does Reverend Camping, a fundamentalist, who needed only the Canon and his great mind, who predicted the end of the world, and a resurrection come to mind. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>You can read and digest something long enough until you will come to believe your own press. Now, imagine what happens when that spirit gets into enough powerful individuals who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">aggregate</span></span> their power, and combine it with the power of a strong military force, what you get is crusade, jihad, extermination, blitzkrieg, ... and typically, in every scenario you will discover some fanatical religious component involved. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>This spirit is entrenched in the fabric of Washington DC and its ruling government, the spirit of the fundamentalist church. Many of the fellows on the right are crusaders, not only in America but around the world. Senator John McCain will criticize a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Moammar</span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Qadafi</span></span></span>, and refer to him as a dictator, or he and others like him can see a strongman, warlord under every rock. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>However, John McCain, a man who claims to reject the fundamentalist religious spirit is unable to see the similarity between an American Jihad and a Middle-Eastern one. Folks, how many nations of the world are there, which have lived under a threat that is far greater than a Middle-eastern one. America invades sovereign nations at will, strangulates their economics, isolates their people, and we have been doing so since the end of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">WWII</span></span>.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>However, there is no shame in the name, because most Americans believe that they have been chosen by God to order the world. Perhaps they are right, just think about the ancient Chaldean's, and the biblical writers interpretation that God chose the warlike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Chaldeans</span></span></span> to order the world, to the chagrin of the people of Israel, but afterwards he destroyed the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Chaldeans</span></span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Hmm</span></span></span>.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>I use Senator McCain as an example of the similar clogged thinking that I see in proud fundamentalist on the Right. John does not believe that he is a fundamentalist,m however, the truth of the matter is that he harbors the same spirit, politically. He and they are both unbending, I am right no it all, and the rest of you will come over to our way of thinking or else. Else what, we will control the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And most of the people who who see causing trouble in Washington, or are in the majority on the Supreme Court, who often vote in a bloc, are fundamentalist, even though they would deny it. Antonin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Scalia</span></span>, is a dyed-in-the wool, I am right, fundamentalist. He hails from an area 35 miles from where I was born, an area that has been referred to as the Rubber City, of late Jamestown (thanks <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">ot</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Lebron</span></span> James) an Action Ohio. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Scalia's</span></span> world-view had been shaped long before he came to DC by the area that he was raised in, the Catholic Church, and perhaps by his own stubborn love that he has for his own mind. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>It troubles me that they individuals who live in a Representative Democracy, or how about a Republic, where representatives are sent to represent the will of the people, do just the opposite. Okay, I know, let's put it another way - they find individuals who believe as they do and represent or force their wills upon other people. What a bunch of knuckleheads. John Bonner, Mitch McConnell, Lindsay wagoner, shall I go on? </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>These fellas and many like them are ideologues, they have taken a position and they are fighting for that position, not for the will of God, or the American people. They remind me a lot of Governor Pilate of scripture, they listen to a minority who shout, crucify him or them (the rest of us in this context), and sacrifice what we believe in, freedom, love, kindness of our maker among other things, but instead we have to deal with this nut jobs, and still self-proclaimed righteous, all the time. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And again,where did they learn the art of noncompromise, they learned it at church. I could see way back in the 70's that America was heading in the wrong direction, however, the problem with Americans as I saw it then, and see it now is that they are too comfortable with outsourcing the responsibilities for their lives too other people, so that they can get on with the business of making money, buying homes, taking their families on vacation, going out to dinner or the old ballgame ...</i></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">However, during their Rumplestilskin type sleep, the power of the nation, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislative branch ... was stolen right from under their feet. The legislatures have turned their backs upon, their churches have veered off and come up under the controls of wealthy dictators, the corporations that once put them to work serve only the interests of their shareholders, and could care less about them. America and the American Idol, is now 'The God that Failed'.<br /></span></i></div><div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Why do I say that? I will tell you. Too many Americans over the course of America's prosperous history have confused the American Idol with God. Why? For awhile, prosperity was every where, and to borrow a phrase from the Canon, the land flowed with milk and honey, and on top of that Americans believed that they were free. However, a group that was as powerful as the Pharisees of Scriptures were, have taken control of the land. They filibuster and still come out on top. Ask President Obama about that!</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Part II. In effect, they are behaving in Washington, on the floor of Congress, in the Executive Branch (George Bush Jr. did), on the Supreme Court, in the manner that fundamentalists behave in their churches - I am right, it is my way or the highway. Comport, or be tossed, voted out or excommunicated.</span><span class="Apple-style-span">If you have never been raised in a fundamentalist church, you won't fully understand what I mean. If you have been raised in a fundamentalist church (especially an evangelical one), then your reaction will be what's the point, we are doing the work of the Lord. If you are a non-evangelical fundamentalist, you are worn over by political evangelicals whose crafty use of scriptures in order to put their political agenda in place, you are completely confused, and understandably so. No one is better at using scriptures in order pursue a political agenda.</span></i></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Most Christians, are influenced by the Bible, or what most Christians will tell you is "the unadulterated word of God". Who then can argue with that, or when someone invokes the 'unadulterated word of God', for political gain.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>I was amazed several over a decade ago when Christians that I knew, supported the George Bush Jr.-Dick Cheney ticket for this reason. Most non-believers do not believe in homosexuality, and they will tell you that it is an abomination against God. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And what was so shocking about their behavior was, Vice-Presidential candidate Dick Cheney, invokes the rights of the states, interposition and nullification to decide. If you will recall, he never spoke out against homosexuality, and could it be because his daughter was purportedly a lesbian.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>My point: Christians are fickle, confused and most of them don't know what they are doing when it comes to being inveigled by shrewd Republicans. Within their think tanks, their strategy-makers, know that most Christians know what buttons to push, in order to get a sufficient number of Christan<span><span></span></span>'s to vote their way, without considering what is behind the scenes. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Next, you must know something about the spirit of fundamentalism, not just about its text, but more its praxis. When you are taught that you have uniquely received and understood God's will, and you are obligated to follow, support and practice it - that spirit soon comes to organize and direct your lives, in terms of everything that you do. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>even when something doesn't make sense, you have already been taught that what God wants does not always comport with human logic, therefore not to be surprised when what you are told doesn't make sense. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>So what happens to a fundamentalist, be he an evangelical or other, you learn to dispatch with reason, logic and common sense. Someone preaches a sermon or teaches a lesson, that you are not permitted to interpret, and you adapt, subscribe to and begin teaching what you have heard. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>A pastor, who i sat under before, and I love him by the way, would often make statements lie, "OH, You have got some sense now", if you did not accept wholeheartedly what he was teaching or preaching. In other words, you were not supposed to think. Why not?</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>The reason that was that God was talking to him or his board of Presbyters, and they in turn would tell you and you were simply to obey. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Sadly, most of us did it for awhile, until "we got some sense". The problem with America today, in my opinion, particularly Washington DC, and every branch of our federal government is this: Fundamentalist, are pretty much deciding who is going into office. And how are they being so successful, they are using 'fundamentalist tactics', the same that are used in their churches ... in order to get their way in Washington.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Even when they lack a clear majority, they have used their church-learned tactics to conscript, manipulate and and cause others to join 'their way or the highway tactics". Fundamentalism, teaches you that you are right and everyone else is wrong. It is one of the first tenets if you will of the faith. To be sure, you are intolerant and proud of it. You alone, are God's chosen and everyone else is going ahead. Poor fools you are taught, they simply don't understand and they are wasting their time, even the other ones who purport to follow God. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And what's wrong with them, they simply don't have an exclusive relationship with God as you have. Now, how do I know this. I know it for 2 reasons. One, I was raised in a fundamentalist church that believed in and taught intolerance. The second reason that I came to understand the totalitarian spirit that operated within our churches, and I witnessed that same spirit being used within fundamentalist politics.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Just as fundamentalists are taught to be unyielding, unbending and uncompromising, and in church no less, they have taken that spirit to their homes, in the streets and now we can clearly see it taking place in Washington DC.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>No, they don't call themselves fundamentalists in Washington DC, they use fancier terms like conservative, the Right (not there is a play on terms that is accompanied with a deeply rooted psychological message). And along with everyone else, even in Washington DC, everyone understands that these individuals are Christians and therefore they are doing the work of the Lord.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Poppycock folks, it is a bad spirit that we are talking about, that has confused its stridency with that of fulfilling God's purposes, when most thinking Americans know that the individuals, particularly on the Republican, so-called Right are pursuing a political agenda that favors their interests.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>For America and Americans to solve its problems, its citizens are going to have to realize that politics per se is not the solution. The solution will come when Americans learn to look at what's underneath and to do something about it. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And what lies beneath, it is a venal use of Jesus Chris, the Church, the Christian in politics, being done by politicians on the Right, who have tried and failed using other methods of stridency, in order to accomplish their one-sided objectives. They are using what works and is at the core of every Americans belief system, whether they agree with it or not. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>God is being used in order for some to accomplish a Republican agenda. Wake up dummies. If it was God, would the uber rich v the urban poor and America's permanent underclass be the current reality in America?</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>What a certain elite group control the power stations, like government, in our nation, or would the true spirit of God drive this nation? Would their be a spirit of Koinoia, read Acts the 4th chapter be in place, not a giveaway program, but a program that takes into consideration the needs of the common wealth. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>I have had a few of my religious friends to distance themselves from, even clerics, and I know why. What I am saying flies in the face of what every Evey evangelical is being told that they have been taught, the truth. Evangelicals are no different from anyone else in this regard, except for one thing, they will use God in order to accomplish their political aims, to include enriching themselves, including preachers, to include owning the finest homes, automobiles, clothing, accoutrement, church buildings ... while the people that they are indoctrinating with their forms of the truth, are suffering like they were in time when there was no America. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And the people, all I can is at some point you have to wake up and smell the roses. I can recall years ago when Jim Baker was beginning to go astray. During a television interview, members of his congregation were asked if they were aware of the rumors about their pastor and his lavish lifestyle. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">One gentleman responded: We don't care wha</span></i>t Jim does with the money. I bet those words came back to harm him. Does my point have to do with ministers only. No, however, they are the shepherds who are leading their flocks to follow a venal political agenda that has resulted in their being ravaged by the wolves. And these wolves, that their shepherds have lead them to are shearing these poor babies in terms of unemployment, a refusal to share the wealth, sub-standard housing and living -- shall I go on. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Fix the church and you will fix the problem in Washington DC. And this phenomenon is not new. If you are smart enough to, read the canon. There you will find that it was customarily the shepherds, the spiritual leaders, who ended up leading the sheep to the slaughter. Jesus taught, that he was uniquely the good shepherd. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Jesus does not lead his people to a place to be sheared by the vehement and the evil, he leads them besides still water. And if you will look at the leaders in the T-Party, on the Christian Right to include many evangelical and pentecostals, inquring minds will inquire and ask themselves, how come they are doing so well, and the majority of us are not? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">You may not believe it, but this is a Love Message. Wake up little lambs and sheep, you are being fleeced everyday, and your spiritual leaders, are much in part responsible for it. They are leading you in the wrong direction. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And don't forget that during Jesus' time, the religious establishment taught the problem that he was the problem, when they were the problem. Watch these religious right-wingers, especially when they come to you and lamb's clothing or purportedly in the name of the war. For them, it is really all about 'The American Idol', and ironically the same, I am right and everyone else is wrong, fascist spirit, that gave us Hitler and the third Reich. How long will it take for these knuckleheads to wake up and change their behavior, brother, don't hold your breath. Eventually they will have to be overthrown both at church and in the political arena, by individuals who are simply seeking to follow after truth, while caring for his fellow woman and man. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Instead, these individuals are employing worldly methods to accomplish their purported spiritual objectives. It has been done before. It was wrong before, and it is still wrong today. Wake up people of God, you are being deceived. And do I believe that religious people can be as wrong as non-religious people are, the answer is , yes, albeit many times they are sincerely wrong, and have simply been brainwashed, as a result of being intellectually lazy, or willing to change the powers that be, even the ones who wear a Rabat, a Robe, a Mask or diamond rings while driving a Ferrari, Rolls or Mercedes Benz. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Thee folks might be quoting scriptures from the Bible, however, their agendas differ by and large from what is written in the Bible. Try the Spirits, and you understand how good people can be deceived by misguided or intentional rel</span>igious sycophants. Has anyone seem Abramoff or Tom Delay around lately!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Solomon</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">1st draft</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-50779160402050012152011-08-13T10:14:00.000-07:002011-08-22T23:15:43.435-07:00The American Capitalist Church and World Monetary Political System?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJ-IGqwt3-NmbaOSlIgD7RiP9d3l71-5aJhYATh8DoSM5ieZkbYsuKIViv8kHylk6insp-1Nn3VchZ-iJnY8PoUwhobciNqBV7aE2A-UKMVdj9VXwjnqQBbdJtmBZzOu35u6g/s1600/Christ_stilling_the_tempest.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJ-IGqwt3-NmbaOSlIgD7RiP9d3l71-5aJhYATh8DoSM5ieZkbYsuKIViv8kHylk6insp-1Nn3VchZ-iJnY8PoUwhobciNqBV7aE2A-UKMVdj9VXwjnqQBbdJtmBZzOu35u6g/s320/Christ_stilling_the_tempest.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640390827820718098" /></a><p align="JUSTIFY" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><span><span ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Perhaps the 666 Beast (Bull and Bear Market System)?</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> You've heard of Star Wars before</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">? Today, I will introduce you to the political infighting that is, surreptitiously and quietly taking place between factions within the American Christian religious community</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">. The opponents are the true conservatives, that follow the principles of Jesus Christ, and the modern-day pseudo-religious conservatives, often referred to as evangelicals. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>At times, it is hard to tell the two groups apart, however, do not be deceived. One group with all of their foibles and impotence, I believe, are harbingers of the spirit of Christ, and the other group is a modern day pseudo-Christian American political capitalist organization. The latter is pursuing a political agenda under the cover of following Jesus Christ. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Even though churches are restricted by Law from endorsing political candidates, many 501(c)3 churches permit politicians to stump in their pulpits, and to endorse politicians as much or more than any other non-political or special interest groups does. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>However, keep in mind that some churches openly ignore the laws on the books that pertain to churches, invoking their first Amendment right which states that the government shall not make any laws pertaining to religion. The Tom Delays of the world (is he still in jail), have exploited this law, along with other Christian leaders, more than anyone else has done. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>He and ilk were permitted to use the church as their bully pulpits, in the manner that many other famous protestant clerics, use their media time, Radio, TV and the Internet, to get their message across to their followers. It is understood that the politicians that they helped to elect, will remember and pay their political debts to their churches, once they get elected. Again, keep in mind that the Tom Delays of the world, and other Christian conservatives on the American political right believe that they are above the law!</span></span></span></p> <p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>______________________</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>There used to a time when the church taught probity and encouraged religious values among its followers. However, more and more the church that has become settled in the world, that is more and more an integral part, as well as a supporter of the American Capitalist Church Political System agenda, has lost its way, that is if it ever found it. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>For having left the righteousness of God, they have gone about to establish their own righteousness, having been influenced with Dominionism and white-supremacist cultural values and a dream of American-Christian conservative superiority. To them the former is synonymous with the vision of Jesus Christ. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>I am convinced that Jesus Christ might repeat what was written before, and tell them to depart from [you had an agenda of your own], I never knew you., and you never knew me. Instead, you created an agenda of your own, which is far from God's. And from that agenda, you set out to, and almost succeeded in creating what looks like instead, an American capitalist military-political-economic theocracy.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>The church world, once considered to be a unified body of Christ, has of late been divided into 2 camps, the true conservatives, individuals who adhere to biblical principles, and the pseudo-conservative church, that more and more is a growing Evangelical real time monetary-political group, that has its own theology. In fact, one of its stars, Bishop Jakes said, and I quote, 'the church is a business'. The new conservative America church, more and more, looks just like that, a business, as opposed to a spiritual organism. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>The sheer size, accumulated financial resources and media exposure for churches in the conservative Right, has been and still is responsible for drawing millions of church members away from smaller, less than 100 member conservative church congregations. Many of their former members, could not resist the allure of being members of larger, more prosperous looking, wealth carrying, entertaining, camping trip going …. and in many ways, everything that is offered in the world church centers.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>The strength of these organizations, lies not only in their crazy numbers, however, but in their ability to construct a large political bloc in order to pursue a political agenda, by teaching, preaching and translating scriptures in a manner that bolsters their political positions. And even though, people of color are being attracted and added to their memberships in large numbers, make no mistake about the political agenda of what the political agendas of these churches is what members from minority groups will be expected to follow. And if they don't, they won't be considered to be 'good evangelical Christians'. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Typically, minority pastors that join these alliances will fare better for a time, many of them will even be asked to come and to be teach or preach to these more conservative congregations, although they will be summarily ignored, corrected or chastised if they were to veer from the proscribed script. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>And even though members of minority churches, join in with these larger mostly white conservative conventions, other than the pastor and a few members of the inner core, will continue to languish in poverty.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>The conservative faction of the church (the ones who do not believe in the American Christian Political Church) v. the pseudo-conservative faction, is comparable in many respects to what Jesus encountered, when faced with the the Pharisee/Sadducee conflicts found in scripture. The Pharisees, a powerful group, were rebuked by Jesus, and told that not only would they not enter the Kingdom, they were keeping others from doing the same. The question today, is the same as it was then, which group is really following God. And, which Kingdom have they become a part of, God's or the American Capitalist Christian Church system</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span >It is easy for a church and its leaders to go astray. In fact the scriptures warn believers to beware of false prophets ... to test spirits, and to know them who labor among you in the world. Why? Because according to scripture, our wrestling is against the spirit, that is behind a movement or leader who may not be aware of what motivates him or her. And Solomon explained in the book of Ecclesiastes, that the end of a thing is better than the beginning.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_1"></a><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_2"></a> <span><span><span>And I believe that we are beginning to witness the beginning of the end of the dangerous Mega-rich, religious political church phenomenon. Interestingly <span style="background: #ffffff">enough, Bill O'Reilly and other TV commentators on the Right, were instrumental in having the Federal government to go after the N.A.A.C.P., Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton , NAACP … and other non-conservatives for 501(c) infractions when campaigning. And at the same time, other political candidates on the Right, who used 501(c) organizations to stomp, they summarily ignored. </span></span></span></span> </span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span >To boot, the whole crop of 360,000 or so conservative ministers who signed on to a petition to stop the so called liberal agenda ... and to have it and them condemned, spend every day, engaging in mixing in conservative politics and politicos. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington DC, sound legitimate , has been instrumental in disseminating fascist religious materials and positions, from Washington DC, that favors the right, to the rest of the American Religious Capitalist Church System.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Let's be honest, right now the Conservatives, have the power , religious, military, political and economic power, and they also have the wealth, however, when you consider the condition that they country is in today, given the candidates that they are responsible for having placed into office and on the Supreme Court, in Judgeship …, I believe that the Beast, that has risen up from among the Sea of the people, is about to have its legs cut off. Why? The people of the sea, have become restless, and even though for a time, many of them drank the conservative Kool-Aid, more and more thinking Americans, are beginning to recognize how poison it is, and that it is flavored to represent only a few on the Right. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Investigative and inquiring minds recognize that the political Rightest-Church is as responsible for America's political problems , as is the T-Party along with other conservative Republicans politicians.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>The incredible transference of wealth from the people, since the Right, with the aid of the Rightist Church, disposed of Bill Clinton, recovered it and placed that wealth solely into the control of a minority group of conservatives on the right, has begun to awaken a sleeping giant. Four hundred Americans, currently have the equivalent wealth of 60% of Americans on the bottom rung. In other words, 400 Americans have the equivalent wealth of 180M other Americans, who are mostly laid-off, underpaid, living outside, on public assistance … So what God was the conservative church on the Right praying to, given their participation, direction and support in such a debacle?</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Now, do I have a personal dog in the fight? Factually, I like some of these fellows personally, and others I find to be amusing. And before you say, “you are being disrespectful”, I am a minister, pastor on hiatus too – so I can talk about my fellow members of the cloth. Some of them are political, others greedy and extravagant, and a few I believe are genuinely confused. In my opinion, too many of them gave up on Jesus Christ a long time ago, and are following after the spirit of this world.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Why the comparison. Because there are many ministers who, similar to Jesus, languished in poverty, while preaching to their small followings (while they went about doing the work of the Lord), having watched their brothers in Christ, amass large land-holdings, wealth, huge followings and bloated salaries (not to mention that they stole away the few members that they had), decided, well, if you can't lick 'em, you might as well join them.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Suddenly, the liturgies in these once traditional churches changed, to a rocking, finger-popping, hand-slapping, joke telling, rapping, preacher driving Benzes, Airplane flying, and other luxury car, living in near mansions … while other people suffer, has became their new reality. Go and sell what you have today, give it to the poor, and your income stream will be replenished tomorrow - oh come on! </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_3"></a> <span><span><span>And their new sermons became, money-oriented, God wants you to have money, and show me the money sermons. And guess what, for a while, it worked. What brought people into these churches, is what I believe in the end will lead them back out of the door, money and the lack of many. Already, some of these mega-<span style="background: #ffff00">moolah</span> land churches that succeeded for awhile, are being fore-closed upon, and I suspect that might be a good thing. The teaching, training and personal attention that these parishioners once received, was forfeited, for fast-singing, hand-slapping performance oriented Sunday morning weekly presentations. The better you are at telling jokes these days, the better you happen to be as a preacher. David Letterman, could make more money if he were to crossover as a preacher, than 20M or so that he makes a year, working on the television. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Based upon what I have observed, the people are not being taught to follow God, they are being conditioned to pursue wealth through religious means, and to support a white American political agenda. Okay, I said it!</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Now here is what is so ironic, on the way up, the wealthy politicians who required the help of the church to make their ascent, are beginning to abandon the mega churches, during these church groups time of financial need. Good I say, that is what you get for getting in bed with the devil in the first place. Besides, conservative churches were paid back given President Bush's Faith-based Pay-off initiative. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>I can recall several years ago, when Senator John McCain, switched sides. At first he stood for principles, and recognized that when it came to political and religious issues, that the two should remain separate. It is a part of the American implied social contract, that is that the two would remain apart. He insisted that he would not be dominated by the Religious or Christian Right, pander to the Right, Bob Jones University … but later, when he needed the support of the Religious Right, off to Bob Jones … he went. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>He is making similar comments about the T—Party today, but trust me, that craving to get elected, will eventually lead him to give in again, but this time to the T-Party faction of the Rightist Christians, mostly members of the evangelical church. In some circles, Klan members, would be wise to abandon their robes, and to join mainstream evangelical churches. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>You might not get to burn a cross anymore, and you might have to admit invoking the name of Jesus, while at the same time that you hate Jews, but on the other hand, you will be a part of a group that will legitimately keep minorities in their place. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_4"></a> <span><span><span>People who believe in what is real ought to pursue what is real, I believe, And much of the American church world, especially political evangelicals, are a part of one massive money-making <span style="background: #ffff00">religio</span>-political organizational stream, and their politics are both local, national and international, and I do not believe that Christ is at the center. Remember, conservative Christians in Germany and Hitler, individuals who had similar views as conservative churches in America have, supported Adolf Hitler. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Be careful folks, and trust me, I don't believe that a lot of these guys and gals are bad people, I believe that the majority of them have simply been seduced, or have been sincerely misdirected! Their ways and their words, are neither the ways nor the words of Jesus Christ. Show me the money Christianity, that is not the power agenda that Jesus pursued or recommended for his followers? </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>The rest of us must continue to pursue what is real, and to beware of false prophets, even the ones who are simply misguided it would appear, and have good intentions. What they are saying and doing in practice, are often 2 different things.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>What is my motive: It's simple, as a minister, I have a responsibility to warn the innocent and misguided to be careful of trends and what appears to be God. What is taking place in America today, giving the mixing between evangelicals especially, and the church ,is a dangerous phenomenon. Isn't it amazing that Christian churches criticize the Theocratic forms of governments that exist in other parts of the world, while sanctifying the spirit of a conservative theocracy in the West, that is driven by monetary-power values. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_5"></a><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_6"></a> <span><span><span>Never forget, no matter how they use the Canon, to make their points that Pat Robertson, Late Jerry Falwell, John <span style="background: #ffff00">Hagee</span>, Dr. <span style="background: #ffff00">Dobson</span>, Parsley, Perkins, Delay … shall I go on,? All of these folks are, or were in bed with the politicians on the Right. And look where they has got America, following 8 years of George Bush Jr., and obstructionist Christian conservatives on the Right. They might as well as had a seat on reserve in the House. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>And Pat Robertson, actually tried to run for President, a couple of decades ago? Of course, God, told him not to, but he attempted a reprise a few years afterward. And he wanted President Hugo Chavez knocked off? Folks beware of wolves who come to you in sheep’s clothing. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>And I expect that you will be told that I am the wolf in sheep's clothing – but I am not one. However, Christians, ought to remember what happened to Jesus and others in the Canon, when he and they spoke truth to conservative religious power – in Jesus's case, he became a picture hangar with nails in his hands in feet, a sentence that was insisted upon and carried out, as a result of a conservative religious poltical agenda, similar to the one that America has been confronted with, 2000 years later!</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Much like the Klan did, these churches are white supremacists organizations (that includes minority members), and they are still following and supporting a white supremacist-capitalist agenda) . “The end of a thing, is better than the beginning”, Solomon wrote. And in time, the truth will be revealed, or better yet understood I believe. In the meantime, and I repeat, the rest of us, let's pursue what is real and at the same time do all that we can to repeal, repel and stand up against the spirit of error that operates in a church world that supports an agenda that favors the few and the privileged.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; ">
<br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>And before you think it, I do not believe that all whites are white supremacists, on the other hand, I believe that there are whites who are, but do not know that they are, they simply believe that they are right!</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span> </span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span>Peace and corrections and revisions later - 2<sup>nd</sup> <span style="background: #ffff00">draft.</span></span></span></span></p><p></p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-77194891922971155232011-07-12T17:43:00.000-07:002011-07-22T07:53:29.294-07:00A Change in Direction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU7c0UsHlvd1CQvajtYwd17V05D3hsy1zta3z5MrUKXxMHtctDqhZHnuNRfURH6p2SAargddzrQbTv_8Mb3hjlTU_xOeZpDcGcYnUAdAj1Puk0pi2hipikPjEDvidlUeAfxnM/s1600/0205111117.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU7c0UsHlvd1CQvajtYwd17V05D3hsy1zta3z5MrUKXxMHtctDqhZHnuNRfURH6p2SAargddzrQbTv_8Mb3hjlTU_xOeZpDcGcYnUAdAj1Puk0pi2hipikPjEDvidlUeAfxnM/s320/0205111117.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628631488033411474" /></a><p style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><b></b></i></p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></b></i></p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span><span><span><b>Social Engineering:</b> What is the explanation for, and the solution to the current on steroids supply-side poverty policy paradigm in America - seeing how it has failed to produce the desired yield and ROI for its investors, the American people. Frankly, and in deference to all of the planning, resource allocation, capital utilization and sweat equity that has been applied (the results have been disheartening, with regard to the issue of homelessness)!</span></span></span></span></b></i></p><i><b> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Could the answer be, that an antipodal, non supply-side empowerment paradigm, that permits equal access, by all Americans (even the ones who lack capital and fixed assets), to the opportunity structures of this nation, should replace the one that is currently in place? Hegel comes to mind, i.e., </span>"Man's inhumanity to man is based on the ownership of property, and the pursuit of power through class struggle"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">At HOP, the outdoor citizen's think tank and coalition of Santa Clara County, we will attempt to answer the question, and fight to change the current dynamic.</span></span></span></p> <p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><b>_______________________________</b></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">First of all, in terms of a cost benefit analysis, have the trillions of dollars that have been spent already, by concerned taxpayers, faith-based organizations, government and charities yielded an appropriate return-on investment, ROI? The prevailing wisdom would seem to suggest that the appropriate ROI, has not and is not being derived for every dollar that has been and is still being spent to address the phenomenological American-homeless, social pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">Instead of a decrease or improvement, there has been a substantial expansion of the outdoor citizens demographic, here and elsewhere, among the well-fed clothed, temporarily sheltered ... attendant outdoor citizen's demographic. If the overall objective is to keep the outdoor citizens where they are, seeking handouts, then the plan in place is working.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><b>Westerners may 'put their money where there mouths are' when it comes to confronting social issues and war, (behavior that is often a substitute for direct involvement), however, can or will money alone, "answer all things", in this context?</b></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">The phrase, "Money answers all things", ironically, is taken directly from the Christian Canon, Ecclesiastes 10:19. Even though most westerners are not aware that this scripture exists, too many Americans, including religious organizations, often practice 'money as a solution problem solving techniques' - churches all too often practice it!</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><b>The author, apparently King Solomon (we are not related), </b>may have been correct, whatever his pretext may have been at the time. However, we believe that out of context, the author was wrong. In fact, money does not answer all things. Human and other social problems, require more than money to deal them. For example, if your infant child were crying, would a five-dollar bill placed into tiny hands, appease him or her?</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">Or, might a gentle touch, a bottle, pacifier, love or touch, satisfy the infants longing or hunger? Other means or methods need to be employed besides money, to answer some things, including what is already in place, to address, not confront, the byproduct of other issues, that results in one ending up homeless in a rich western nation.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">The failure to attenuate the root causes, has resulted in a larger problem, that has resulted in too many individuals and families, in a land of plenty, falling outside of, a non-existent safety net, but rather an inclusion net, in the expansive American 2-classes system.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">The author of the book: The Greening of America, Charles A. Reich, recognized and wrote about the insidious nature of this phenomenon, just over 4 decades ago. And what should we conclude and interpolate, with respect to this 'living beside the housed', growing phenomenon 40 years later - and the dollars being misspent to address it.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">Americans have historically attempted to address the issue of homelessness, in a similar manner that America has often addressed other issues, that has often resulted in America's engagement in war, with so many other nation's of the world. One has to wonder just just long will it take before F14, F16, F18s, drones and satellite surveillance, appear over the growing number of homeless camps, that are popping up, many of them ironically being populated with American war veterans, all over America.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">It would be interesting to see if we could, what America's domestic policy for homeless Americans happens to be. Sooner or later, we all know what 's coming, Project Apache for outdoor citizens, perhaps? Sooner or later, someone will recognize, besides HOP and few other individuals and organization, that the expenditure of dollars alone, as opposed to to addressing the the insidious root causes of homelessness as a condition, will have to be addressed prior to sending in the Marines to "get her done".</span></span></span></p> <blockquote style="text-align: left; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><b>We have thrown money at this expanding problem, to the tune of trillions of dollars being spent, without achieving the desired result.</b></span></span></span></blockquote> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">Could the money have been better spent, and can the dollars being thrown at the problem, be better spent today? At HOP, we believe that it will take more than money to address not only the issue, but the root causes that result in too many individuals who choose not to do so, ending up living a homeless, not just out of doors, lifestyle!</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">Part 2</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">When I, and a group of outdoor citizens came together to form a badly needed self-help empowerment organization 2 years ago, among the yet to be named 'outdoor citizen's demographic', we did so with this idea in mind: We recognized that an army of helping organizations and individuals were already in place in the Santa Clara Valley that were in need of conversion. We also recognized that an incredible amount of resources were apparently being misspent to address the problem of homelessness.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_1"></a> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">We immediately recognized, that although dollars were changing hands that were to be used to address the problem, that not much had changed for the targeted group of outdoor citizens. In fact, the majority in the outdoor citizen's demographic,were still living in cars, camps, parks, ravines, backyards, garages, foyers, floors, standing in food and feeding lines, or riding buses and the lite-rail into the wee hours of the morning.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">In the land of plenty, there have been an abundant amount of resources, financial and other, spread around; who can deny that? However, given the current state of America's, and the worldwide economy for that matter, in the final analysis, those scarce resources have begun to slowly dry up, and in some instances, and in some instances have ended up in the pockets of the few, at the top.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt"> Where there used to be a flood of available resources being spread around, today the Ronald W. Reagan styled trickle down system- dynamic, is firmly in place – something that the misguided late President, worked hard to achieve for his favored class group.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_2"></a> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">It kind of reminds me of what the Prophet Elijah experienced, when the brook at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kidron</span> begin to produce a trickle, and subsequently dried up, read the old testament scriptures. Can a ocean, river or stream of dollars ... dry up altogether? The answer is in the question my friends, and most Americans are painfully aware that the stream is no longer trickling in some neighborhoods. Nevertheless, the late President, posthumously, got what he wanted, a massive transfer of income for his favored group of Americans!</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">At HOP, we are hoping to motivate the 2 interested party groups, both the providers and recipients to change course, rather than adopt or adapt to <b>Ronald Reagan styled trickle-down/voodoo economics, (</b>something that his successors are championing to this day). If we succeed in changing the mind of the misinformed, I can envision living in a time when there will be a policy shift in the massive compensatory bureaucracy, that manages supply side programs. Meager resources that pacify the the under-served, will be replaced with opportunities for the under-served, to become viable self-supporting individuals again.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_5"></a> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">With respect to the outdoor citizens demographic, the recipients of the dwindling welfare streams, we are hoping that each one of them, will recognize the value-ad, in terms of buying into our proposition. We reject the legacy and the current proponents of the Ronald Reagan voodoo economics paradigm. , And as a result, we are teaching outdoor citizens to begin thinking outside of the customary dependency box. </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">The policies of the former president, have resulted in what appears to be an expanding and firmly entrenched 2-part, haves and have not system, with subsistence programs for a permanently unemployed and underemployed underclass - and at the same time a boundless, unlimited financial opportunities cache, for a near wealthy, wealthy or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">uber</span>-wealthy tax-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">avoidant</span> upper class.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_7"></a><span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">We believe that waiting for the recipients of Ronald Reagan's voodoo economics largess, to alter the course of Ronald Reagan styled trickle down, for veterans and other excluded Americans, is simply a waste of time. Instead, HOP has been aggressively moving in a radically different direction. We have been reaching out to other organizations, and outdoor citizens, encouraging both groups to change their missions as well as their strategies. We have asked all concerned, on both sides, the would be helpers and those who are need of help, to <b>HOP</b> on board, before it is too late to change course!</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_8"></a> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">reification</span> of the 2-classes, welfare-state dynamic, that is to continue subsidizing the welfare state and its expanding permanent underclass, is neither the correct response nor the answer to the expanding problem. HOP hopes to pull the rug out from under the harbingers, as well as the protectors and protagonists for the current paradigm. We hope to have them to join with us, and to funnel wasted resources into recovery initiatives, instead of permanent underclass maintenance programs.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">The latter will result in dynamic retraining programs being put into place, also to underwrite the new emerging working class of former outdoor citizens ... who will rise from the ashes of despair, and become contributors in the new inclusive American economy, perhaps an economy with a 30 trillion dollar GDP.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "> <span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt">The time has come for all reasonable Americans to not only think outside of the box, but to get themselves out of the box, that has been and is being imposed by the privileged in America, once and for all. We need to work on reform, and whatever is done, in the meantime, please government officials: don't send in the Marines. Besides, someday, many of them will likely end up living in civilian homeless camps themselves, when you are done with them!</span></span></span></p> </b><b><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2; display: inline !important; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt; "></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt; "><b></b></span></span></span></p><span><span><span style="font-size: 11pt; ">Solomon</span></span></span><p></p></b></i><p></p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-12851127890471011562011-07-08T09:11:00.000-07:002011-07-08T22:23:50.426-07:00America: What Does Its Future Hold?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF5SJOHtPZ3SeSFZHRcM1-vbhDGvWLQAzmB9ybKtxxPr3NAGh-XMZSzQA6aQjbLwQEBDT4bugNlOO772nHD-DTkJValta7kG7j2W4liflNy4HBtw_7-F-wRuYgnu_prOZlWEb/s1600/0312111117a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF5SJOHtPZ3SeSFZHRcM1-vbhDGvWLQAzmB9ybKtxxPr3NAGh-XMZSzQA6aQjbLwQEBDT4bugNlOO772nHD-DTkJValta7kG7j2W4liflNy4HBtw_7-F-wRuYgnu_prOZlWEb/s320/0312111117a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627016624189066658" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">Anarchy or Another American Revolution:<br /></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span">The problem as I see it, with the 235 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">year old</span> American experiment, is that America and the majority of its people, not all citizens mind you, are being held hostage by a powerful minority elite. This closed and conniving power elite, the tail that is wagging the American dog, is in control of the reigns of power and wealth in this nation.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The former includes America's political systems, the judiciary, the executive branch, the military, the police, the media, America's financial systems, the American capitalist church system, the American people (and a a burgeoning group of undocumented aliens).</p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; ">_____________________________________</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And when you factor in the recent Supreme Court decision that pretty much sanctified the political relationship between the wealthy and corporations, the fate of the average American citizen has been sealed, at least for the time being. What the Supreme Court ruling established was this, that an American corporation has pretty much the same rights that an American citizen has (within the American political process). And, seeing how major corporations in America are owned by the wealthy, well, you do the math. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Is it any wonder then that the majority of Americans are in financial trouble, while members of the minority elite have never fared better, financially and politically. If the majority of America's citizenry continues to accept the current arrangement, and fails to wrest power away from the closed powerful minority elite, the majority will continue to struggle under a venal arrangement that favors the few. The latter is what occurred with America's founders, a legacy that was restored in modern times by late president and reformer, Ronald W. Reagan.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Ronald Reagan. after being elected America's 40<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span></span> president, immediately began his reign of terror by consolidating military, economic and political power, and concentrating all of it into the hands of a favored few. He also began implementing his redistribution of wealth, scorched earth policies that favored the rich, and began busting and taking away the power of unions. By terminating <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">PATCO</span></span></span> employees, and subsequently going after other major unions that fought for working class Americans, (something that the government failed to do under his leadership), a new corporate elite aristocracy was born.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And as a result of weakening the unions, concentrating wealth in the hands of a chosen few and mitigating the power of the people (the proletariat to dissent) an immediate transfer of power and wealth in this nation, from the majority of the American people to his favored power group, white American conservative males, ensued.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Also, as a result of Reagan's institutionalized favoritism towards the wealthy and corporations, coupled with his catastrophic leadership, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">reification</span></span></span> of a self-centered power elite; in just under 4 decades, the American economic and mercantile system, along with America's citizen-majority teeters on the brink of economic disaster. At the same time, the beneficiaries of Reagan judicial and political reform are enjoying incomprehensible wealth and power, at the expense of the majority. Reagan's policies were halted, for a brief period of time (during the Clinton years), however, President George Bush Jr., followed by President Barack Obama have replaced prosperity for all American's with Reagan's, and the founders doctrine.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And as a result, when you think about the group of Americans who will soon represent America's future, America's children, young adults, adults and a burgeoning group of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">septu</span></span></span> and octogenarians (who will have outlived social security, their savings, 401K plans, Roth IRAs and other investments), they will continue to experience what they are beginning to experience now, living in deep Republican <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">doodoo</span></span>)!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The remaining citizens of the not to distant future, both young and old, will continue doing what they have begun doing of late, standing in unemployment lines, begging on the streets, going hungry and depending on unemployment, medicare and medicaid. And at the same time, a small group of Americans will be living in the lap of luxury, and enjoying the kind of uncommon wealth that was realized by America's founding class. Is it any wonder that the members of this group and their descendants, have hated any policy that even hints at the fair distribution of America's wealth?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Jealous? No, I am not jealous at all, however, a system designed to reward the few, while a growing majority suffers, is a broken system as far as I am concerned. And these people call themselves Christians. Come to think about it, many of America's founders considered themselves to be Christians too, having escaped from the kind of oppression that they currently practice against others in the United States. And in the words of a former southern executive from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Buckhead</span></span></span> Georgia, who provided our organization with an executive briefing just over a decade ago, </p><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><b>"THAT DOG DON”T HUNT"!</b></blockquote><p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The continued failure of the American sleeping dog, to wrest power back from a rich and powerful closed group-elite, once and for all, will result in bankruptcy for the masses, and instant failure for the majority of America's citizens. And what will have to take place to change this dynamic?</p> <ol> <li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Americans will have to learn and practice a new economic paradigm, and that is to stop believing that America cannot exist without self-serving corporations or by subsidizing them and their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">condigned</span></span></span> power. Corporations will continue to prosper, only as long as the majority provides them with protections under the law, or by purchasing their goods, products and services. Every dollar that you spend with self-serving corporations, represents a vote for corporate supremacy. It is time to revert to mom and pop stores, and cottage industries.</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Americans will also have to learn to exist in a reformed society, one in which small businesses provide income-producing opportunities for the average American citizens, and a living wage for all of its participants. There will no longer be a gap between the rich and the poor. </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Americans will have to wrest power back from the 3 existing branches of power in Washington DC, and to put teeth into the laws, and power back into the hands of the majority. </p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If we fail to make these and other changes soon, the space shuttle generation along with the space shuttle program, will also come to an end, only to be replaced by commercial interests of the rich. Or in terms of a phrase, that President George H. Bush Sr. once made famous, the majority of Americans are going to find themselves in <b>"deep doo doo"!</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Americans also need forfeit their desire to get rich or die trying, and instead to work to install the kind of commonwealth where all Americans, prosper. The latter will not only dispense with the current gross economic disparities that currently exists between different class groups, but will also result in each individual or family, being empowered in a way to take care of itself, and to eliminate inflation, reduce the crime rate and the number of criminals who participate in the American underworld economy.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Otherwise, if the majority of Americans, continue to sit on their laurels and view American capitalists as heroes, while doing nothing for themselves, it won't be long before America, as we know it, will cease to exist -and we are almost there now.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And what are the chances of change occurring? Actually, the chances are good. Why? Because the group of angry Americans who recognized, during the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">run-up</span> to the 2008 election, that there was a need for change, are still out there. The only mistake that they, an activist majority made before, was when they selected and elected the wrong candidate, Barack Obama to lead a populist people's revolution.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">At the time, an overly confident neophyte, lacked the vision, skills, fortitude, aptitude, courage and conviction, to do what needed to be done at the time - to represent the majority of America's people, and to put the Reagan and founder's genie, back into its bottle. Fortunately, that disparaged group of voting American citizens, that was responsible for electing him in 2008, I believe, have since learned how to amend their ways. That groups is still looking for change, and they won't make the same mistake the next time, let's hope!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">All that needs to be done, is to stoke the fire that is still simmering in a wounded and disappointed majority, for with respect to neophyte President Barack Obama, we simply do not not have time to wait for him to come into his own. For similar to Ronald H. Reagan (his hero), George H. Bush Senior and Junior, the Republican presidents that preceded him - the needs of the majority were never his top priority.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Frankly, I am impressed with United States Representative Dennis <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kucinich</span></span></span> from Cleveland Ohio. I believe that if the majority were to elect him to be the next president of the United States, that we would <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">begin</span></span> to see abrupt changes in America and abroad, similar to what Secretary of State Hilary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Rodham</span></span></span>-Clinton proposed, and her husband President Bill Clinton implemented, when she ran for president of the United States. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Congressman <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Kucinich</span></span>, would stand up and fight, unflinchingly, for the needs of the majority, and against the vast right-winged conspiracy minority, that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">is</span></span> still holding this nation hostage. Keep in mind that Republican Presidents have controlled the American narrative and its military, economic and political power, for the majority of the past 30 years.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Otherwise, if America will keep doing what it has been doing in the past, it will continue getting what it has been getting in the present, disappointment among the majority.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I would love to hear your comments!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Solomon</p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-28381274323282231102011-06-11T18:26:00.001-07:002011-06-11T18:51:32.683-07:00The Supply-Side Poverty Paradigm in Santa Clara County and Beyond<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqvuNjHAWw3nPNs-DIngfm5Nt2oGcjNyaV0MmfjPazC0f2W0N-GlETTyUlo0Rl04uJFJSP68Qk4Nc0nbjeDQtLteQjF8v81tofLWZZyAgkk9PHjuEf560jMBCnmzp9IooDMkG/s1600/0209111704.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqvuNjHAWw3nPNs-DIngfm5Nt2oGcjNyaV0MmfjPazC0f2W0N-GlETTyUlo0Rl04uJFJSP68Qk4Nc0nbjeDQtLteQjF8v81tofLWZZyAgkk9PHjuEf560jMBCnmzp9IooDMkG/s320/0209111704.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617138839122771458" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">Part 3<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Prior to leaving Washington (in 1983), neither my first nor my last time working on social, urban and public-policy issues by the way at the Congressional level, there was a change of heart. </span></span></span>Many of the individuals who came there to bleed for America's permanent underclass, as opposed to coming up with some realistic proposals and solutions, helped to put together something with teeth before we left, that we could present to the politician</span><span class="Apple-style-span">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></b></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Initially, many of them wondered whether or not I had inadvertently joined the wrong discussion group - I sounded very conservative to them, at first. But soon, they felt that I made sense, and asked me to speak for the group.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>____________________________________________</span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>It is our hope, at HOP, that some of our bleeding hearts in the Valley will eventually recognize that they will have to do the same in The Valley, engage in introspection. Let me put it another way, 'stop enabling the able-bodied outdoor citizens, would you please'? </span></span></span>Many of our outdoor citizens need to feel the kind of pain that will shock their sensibilities, and hopefully, spring them back into action, so that they can jump start their lives. Pain, can be a powerful motivator for positive social change, and to reverse lethargy and inaction.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Given the number of individuals that are unhoused in the area and living on someone elses's floor... given all of the manpower and resources that have been expended and distributed, wouldn't you say at some point, that what has successfully worked before, is simply not working today? </span></span></span></span></span>The crisis is worsening, and the Republican House has already proposed to role HUD Funding for example, back to 2007 levels, as a starting point.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">It is time for disruption, and a change from the old ways of doing things to take place. For example, when outdoor citizens come to you and beg for handouts, either on the streets or at your agency: </span><b>“Tell Them Where</b></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; ">To Go"<span style="font-weight: normal; ">,</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">in other words where you send your money to in order to assist them and where they can be held accountable and put into recovery programs. </span></span></span></span></span>Explain to them that a organization with skilled personnel will help them to get going again. Whatever you do, stop supporting begging and dependency, you are reinforcing bad habits, which will only result in re-enforcing long-term chronic dependency. <u>Again, tell them where to go 'to meet your money'</u>, in order to get help!</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Jesus believed and taught individuals to be responsible. It seems to me that some of the faith-based groups, agencies, and recipients of all of the public's and their congregation's largess in this area, are intent upon doing just the opposite. </span></span></span>Many of them are busily maintaining the "we will take care of you status quo”. Let me give you an example. The outdoor citizens get everything for free in this area, to the extent that other outdoor citizens travel to this area from other parts of the state and the nation,because they have heard 'just how sweet it is in Santa Clara County'.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Even, San Franciscans travel down the peninsula (to the Southbay) in order to get what they can no longer get in San Francisco. Our current Lieutenant Governor, Gaven Newsome, when he was mayor of San Francisco, recommended that Bay Area cities, work together in order to deal with this cross-pollinating phenomenon.</span></span></span>Outdoor Citizens from as far away as San Diego... come here to take care of the area's largess, which impacts already limited resources.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>From all across the nation they come, knowing that if you can make it to the Bay Area's shores, that you will be taken care of, shortly, after you arrive. And even though I admire the spirit of giving in this area, I was even helped when my fortunes turned, however, with this caveat: I immediately engaged in a personal recovery plan.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>My plan worked for me, and now I am teaching other outdoor citizens how a well thought out recovery plan can work for them.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span><b>However, many of the helping organizations in this area neither understand when they are doing too much without a return on their investment, nor when the able mind and bodied outdoor citizens are not doing enough to help themselves</b></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>Many of our outdoor citizens have not sat down to consider or to construct a recovery plan for themselves yet, and some of their professional and semi-professional helpers don't seem to mind! And having said that, what they are doing is contributing to cultural dependency and social anomie. Outdoor citizens, ought to be required to take action steps themselves before receiving more than the very basic help.<p></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And afterward, when they are helped, benchmarks need to be set, with targets in mind, accompanied with frequent compliance reviews. Otherwise, permit the ones who refuse to do anything, to experience The Pain Station. Let them know up front that help will be measured, and it will be cut off in time. </span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The by-product of all of the, 'we will solve your problems for you'</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">, that too many of our chronic outdoor are experiencing, some for a decade or more, is that many of our outdoor citizens have remained right where they were long before I, and others like me, got involved in the fight.</span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">While being supported without condition, many outdoor citizens who lost jobs, homes, apartments ... did so before the most recent recession, and some before the recession in this region in 2001. </span></span></span></span></span>Has there been any accountability? What happened, given all of the resources that have been expended over the past 3 years alone. I can't see any results. We can blame what has transpired on the the economy ... however, that is not the whole story.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Reliance on a free-handout economy, with the expectation of a guaranteed job is the problem. It is time for a new way of thinking and reckoning to be put into action - consider HOP's model. </span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Sadly, </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">I can't seem to get some faith-based groups to understand that not even Jesus</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">, continued his 'miracle healing feeding crusade', once he realized that his program enabled individuals (who were merely following him in order to obtain fish food, and other miracles).</span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">At HOP, the Think Tank and Advocacy organization, one that is comprised of current and former outdoor citizens mind you - we are teaching a new paradigm. Hopefully, others will get on board and try something new for a change. </span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">One HOP member proposed a slogan 2-days ago that will be incorporated, with regard to street and other beggars, and it is: </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><u>REFUSE TO GIVE CHANGE TO PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO CHANGE</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span>This slogan compliments, the new <u><b>TELL THEM WHERE TO GO</b></u> slogan that we came up with!</span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>In other words, don't give any more money to anyone on the streets, or at the expressway exits.</b></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Instead, give the money to responsible and ethical organizations; and at the same time tell the beggar where to go where he can be helped, supervised, monitored and given a helping hand (if he or she will do what they are told in order to help themselves. Giving on the streets ... have only buttressed begging and the lack of accountability, but more importantly, the lack of effort and change in the lives of beggars.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We know some things that some don't know, because we've been there. Many of our team members are already working to turn their lives around - instead of being dependent on a system that doesn't work to help individuals to get up and to get going again, sadly. </span></span></span>During my last person-to-person meeting with late Congressman Augustus Hawkins of the 21st district in Los Angeles when in Washington DC and before he passed on - he told me something. He said, you can actually do more back at home by working with the ones who are in need in the community, than you can get down here in Washington DC …”</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span><span>Many other Representatives in Washington, for example late Representative John Seiberling of Ohio ... echoed the same sentiment and shared similar advice. Practically every Representative that I spoke with, admitted that Washington was in gridlock. </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Representative Conyers from Michigan, once explained to a group of us in DC, that a certain bill that he tried to get on the floor for 25 years, was never permitted to come to the floor, out of committee ... for a vote. Washington, as most Americans already know, has been deadlocked - well that is unless you are an organization that owns one or more of the </span></span></span></span><em><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>300,000 or more registered (mostly corporate) lobbyists in this nation</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal; "> (</span></span></span></span></em><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">who will do your bidding for you), then you will likely get you what you want.</span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Is it any wonder that many of the residents in the District of Columbia refer to it as 'Dodge City', not, because of the killing that goes on there. They are also referring to the crime that is taking place on Capitol Hill. There are hundreds of corporate lobbyists for every congressperson. </span></span></span></span></span>HOP, and several other well-intentioned institutions in America and this area, are not the place to go if one does not intend to alter their plight, and that is in consideration of individuals on both sides of the spectrum. At HOP, we are essentially teaching outdoor citizens, the ones who will listen to a new perspective, a new paradigm, and it includes the following:</p></div><ol style="font-size: medium; "><li><span class="Apple-style-span">That the world has changed since the Post WWII economic boom that America experienced (which lasted more than a half century).</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That Europe was devastated, and broke at the end of the war, while America's blue collar industry, factories, its banking and mercantile system, among other things, was booming.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>And as a result, there were jobs aplenty. (Many Americans in the rust belt where I hail from, held more than one job at a time). I can recall when I held 2 jobs and was working 16 hours a day around the age of 18.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>However today greed, coupled with globalization, corporate down-sizing, loss of market share to the emerging global economies, corporate down-sizing, the depression and the slow economic recovery (not to overlook the psyche of the entitled to a job Americans), too many Americans have lost that one well paying job - that they used to have. And more more and more of them are sitting in a stupor, while waiting for 'their job' to come back.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That the shrinking manufacturing base, currently at about 27% of what it was decades ago, has resulted in many of blue collar workers having been simply put, eliminated. And as a result, homes, apartments, rooms and families have been broken up and lost...</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That even if you were able to garner a job, typically short-term, you would not be able to earn a sufficient amount of money to cover your living expenses, particularly, if you live in northern California.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That the solution is within you coupled with solid supportive help, of the kind that teach and help you to take back charge of your lives, and therefore your destinies with this in mind; you must take the responsibility for your comeback, and create income-producing opportunities for yourself. In other words, you will hone and depend on your current skill-sets, return to school if you must, and use what you have already in your toolbox, to compete in the market place.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>We remind our people (outdoor citizens), that each one of them possesses 'not only marketable skills, but income-producing skills'. We also explain that the American citizen will have to learn to compete against both American and global interests in the new paradigm. And finally, with our support and hopefully yours, outdoor citizens will learn to garner a slice of the American and global pie - the former ship has sailed.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>Maintenance programs are just that, maintenance; and they will result in many Americans being on the dole for the rest of their lives - we lost over 50 outdoor-citizen lives in the area, last year alone, along with several outdoor citizens in this region just over the past 3 weeks...</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>Finally, we help outdoor-citizens understand that more and more of the jobs that they were accustomed to having before, have been and are being shipped overseas, automated or outsourced. This phenomenon has occurred with the full consent of lobbied American government officials by American corporations.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>Both entities are competing for their own survival and to satisfy campaign-financiers and their stockholders. The dangerous nexus that currently exists between government and corporations, is only hurting the American people. However, we have to fight back!</span></span></p></div></li></span></ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Item III.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">John Maynard Keynes or Kenneth Galbraith would be appalled</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">, if they were alive and could witness the current economic conditions in America, particularly what is taking place in the American corporate marketplace, on Wall Street and with America's mercantile system (particularly in a nation with a 14T GDP, piled-up debt and Americans living in the streets). Who knows what Mr. Friedman would have to say if he were still with us today, with respect to current market conditions. And we all know that he was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and supply-side economist.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Thomas Sowell, my soul brother, formerly at the Hoover Institute at Stanford (in 1984, someone asked me to read his books) I don't understand you, but at the same time. However, and at the same time we are moving on with our own economic recoveries and an economic recovery plan to benefit other outdoor, and indoor citizens for that matter. I feel that it is safe to say that the contract with America ala Hobbes and Lockes is DOA, at this juncture it appears to be, every person for themselves! And as far as I am concerned, the majority in Washington are interested in the few, not the masses. </span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Mr. Volcker has had very instructive things to say from time to time. Mr. Greenspan, has to defend himself, since he presided over the Fed, during the downturn and slide, ergo, he has been somewhat muted and more of an apologist. Mr. Geithner at the the Treasury Deparment and Mr. Bernanke at the Fed are presiding over the current debacle and economic recovery.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>All of us know, I believe, what the real problem is and where it originated, in addition to all of the above (to include job losses, corporate down-sizing, repositioning, job furloughs, the stock-market crash), can you say hedge funds though? <b>Where I disagree with many of the outdoor citizens and organizations that I am involved with, many of them accept the status-quo and fail to understand that it is time to to alter the status quo.</b> Why?</span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Because with the best of intentions many of them are doing the wrong thing, and very little to address the systemic issues of our time. One thing that is needed for sure, in the Santa Clara Valley and other regions of the nation, is DISRUPTION, including in Washington DC.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In other words the same organizations that have prevented a crises of hunger in and among our demographic, have fallen into a separate rut of their own. Today, however, </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">it is time to get on with the business of rehabilitation, by partnering with outdoor citizens in a way that will help them to get back to creative ways of producing economic returns on their best investments, themselves - in deference to whatever the rich and politicians do!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Certain institutions did an admirable job before, however, late President Ronald Reagan shifted the gears. There has been a massive redistribution of wealth in this nation, since that time, having said that, individuals who needed it the most, are not going to give it back/invest in the American people. The word when Ronald Reagan was President was, 'what's wrong with greed', </span><span><b>right Tony Blankley, Editor of the Washington Times?</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>In summary and I repeat that we believe the following:</span></span></span></p></div><ol style="font-size: medium; "><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>That organizations in the area need to adapt to a new paradigm, one in which individuals working with those who want to help themselves to recover, ought to be helped. The ones who do not, and will not help themselves, ignore them.</span></span></span></p></div></li><span class="Apple-style-span"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That outdoor citizens must be encouraged, taught … those who can be taught, to begin working to create income producing opportunities for themselves, with support (to include cleaning, sweeping, painting curbs, mowing lawns, using their computer-skills, starting their own hi-tech businesses some have advanced degrees you know).</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That outdoor citizens must volunteer to work, when one is capable of doing so, instead of receiving the gifts that they have been receiving of late, gratis.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That a certain amount of pain being felt, will inspire some of our able-bodied, but spoiled outdoor citizens to get back to work or to create income-producing opportunities for themselves. We are living in a new day, and certain jobs aren't coming back!</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That organizations must channel more dollars into self-help organizations, not only HOP, who are trying to create self-sustaining and independent human beings instead of dependents (and the latter is what is taking place all over the area today.</span></span></p></div></li></span></ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In conclusion:</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">I wonder what our critics will have to say when we, HOP, a year and a-half old organization that began without money, a place and not very much of anything else, helps to alter the current paradigm and status quoin this region; or on the other hand, when the ones who are being served by status quo organizations make the turn around? Motivated outdoor-citizens, are turning to us already. The rest are staying in the parks, and relying on government, faith-based groups … to sustain them, to do their work for them - however, they are watching us.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We plan to help individuals who desire to and are willing to work, to stand and to walk again. The answer is on the porch, not on the streets, </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><u><span style="font-weight: normal; ">or under another person or institution's control. And why are we doing what we are doing, because of LOVE!</span></u></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And if what you or you group has been and is doing currently works for the good of the people (not your group...) then by all means keep doing it. On the other hand and in the words of Dr. Phil, ask yourself or your group ... "how is what you have been doing, working for the individuals or groups that your group or you serves or has served in the past?"</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u><br /></u></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u>If nothing else you will be able to determine why you or your group are doing what you are or have been doing, and who really benefits! Sadly, and at times, we can do the right thing the wrong way!</u></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><u><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></u></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And here is one final shameless, but hopefully helpful plug. During my years as a psychiatric counselor, where I received plaudits from my team members, who wondered why I had been more successful than many of them who had been there long before me.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">My response was, "the clients in our Mental Health center told me that the difference between you and the other therapists is that you care about us, the others are here using us in order to acquire their advanced degrees". Sadly, and in many instances, I knew firsthand that they were correct - several of my peers were using the clients to get what they wanted, their PhDs.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><u><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></u></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u>To be informed, is to be armed!</u> Do some introspection and self-actualization, those of you who want to help. And ask yourself, why are you doing what you are doing? In other words, are you doing what you are doing for the ones who need help, or are you doing what you are doing for yourself?</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>Solomon</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>President of HOP Hope for Outdoor People</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>www.hoppeople.org</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>email us at hopeforoutdoorpeople@gmail.com</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></span></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-43896827551576615132011-06-11T14:49:00.000-07:002011-06-11T18:26:25.886-07:00The Supply-Side Poverty Paradigm in Santa Clara County and Beyond<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIfCQRH_nBY9mbPf0-0FwAABOaCV6liYqBOTGvGr7Dh_rzPWE9Ex4LRKewu1IANsPw_QwfECHhpB78e7TeVkRfZErVRNHGr0lf1gD1OqmSvfyJymJOGaj9GKnr0X1v6AbbqwK/s1600/0209111704.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIfCQRH_nBY9mbPf0-0FwAABOaCV6liYqBOTGvGr7Dh_rzPWE9Ex4LRKewu1IANsPw_QwfECHhpB78e7TeVkRfZErVRNHGr0lf1gD1OqmSvfyJymJOGaj9GKnr0X1v6AbbqwK/s320/0209111704.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617127152060098210" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span><span>The Issue of homelessness: Part 2</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We refer to ourselves as Outdoor Citizens. </span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We are working to change the existing crippling, supply-side dependency dynamic that persists in this and other regions of the country.</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Supporting dependency is neither the solution to the problem of homelessness in the Santa Clara Valley nor elsewhere in America, we believe. And if you disagree, simply consider what has been taking place with outdoor citizens in your community.</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Or in the words of Dr. Phil, "how has what you or your community have been doing ... working for you and your community so far"?</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">_________________________________________</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Author Derrick Bell, in his book, 'Faces At The Bottom of the Well', wrote: </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">"if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you will keep getting what you have been getting".</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And most Americans know firsthand, that not only are we getting what we have been getting, there appears not to be an end in sight.</span></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>The give and give more again paradigm is solidly in place in American cities!</b></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>HOP, with a vision, minuscule resources (the work is all being done here by unpaid volunteers, former and current outdoor citizens and with the help of a few donors), is using these resources, our experiences, our wits and a new paradigm in order to help to turn lives around.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>Already, we are witnessing lives being transformed, and outdoor citizens taking charge of their lives, their personal destinies and standing upright again - and we just got started.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>What we are doing at HOP, that is working, benefits outdoor citizens, the city, county, state and the entire nation. We provide space, a place, professional training, desks, computers, business and marketing plans ... where research can be done and ideas put into practice. This is not the mission of poverty supply-siders.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The winds of change are blowing in the valley, the nation and the world for that matter. Individuals and organizations that learn to shift with the current tide, will succeed, we believe.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>It is our hope that other outdoor-citizens (who up to this time have preferred the methods that are currently in place, (that have not worked) and rather supports dependency, or receiving something for doing nothing, will be motivated to try something different - at the very least we can help to save the next generation. </span></span></span>It is also our hope, that organizations in the area who support dependency will soon follow suit and join us (even when it means swallowing pride, and simply admitting that what worked before is not working today – given that the problem is expanding).</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Even the Apostle Peter, a fisherman who still had fish to give, stopped giving alms, and instead helped to lift a man to his feet so that he could walk on his own 2 feet again, but only when the Apostle's paradigm changed. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Readers who are familiar with 'disruption theory', </span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">understand that from time to time there has to be a change in the customary manner and with the methods that have been used before, if an individual or an organization plans to keep pace. In other words, adaptability is required.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Even a once great idea (the free delivery ice wagon, black and white TV, typewriters … eventually runs its course and needs to be replaced). Smart leaders, and managers on the cutting-edge, recognize when it is time to do, improve or create something different. </span></span></span></span></span>Several organizations, some of notoriety in Silicon Valley, failed to forecast or re-evaluate their processes, the ones that worked for a period of time in the past, and they suffered as a result. America, and Americans have also failed to heed the signs of knowing when to change.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>To that end, several once venerable organizations, in the once booming Silicon Valley have recently been overtaken by upstart organizations that didn't exist a decade ago. Why? Because the leaders of the organizations failed to keep up, or to recognize that from time to time, even a venerable organization has to recognize when it is time to change its mission, its methods and ways of doing things. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some of them ignored, the Law of Accelerating returns, and failed to keep up with the pace. Consider, what has taken place in the the Republic of China and the other emerging global markets today, and the 'huge sucking sound', that we hear coming from the American economy. </span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span></span></span></span><b>The ROC tried something different</b>, given new leadership at the top, and has come out of the dark ages in a few decades, and is threatening the existing world order. <span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>America, on the other hand stayed too long with what had been working before, and it is costing all of us. Arrogance, over-confidence, elitism at play, perhaps? </span></span></span>Successful businesses that plan to survive and to thrive under existing changing conditions, also recognize the need to be as effective as they are efficient and therefore to modify or change their practices at certain peak and off-peak junctures.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The Valley, in my opinion, with Federal and State help, has effectively underwritten what appears to be a burgeoning and expanding permanent underclass, that costs billions to support, when you take into consideration what is already in place. There are an estimated 7,000 outdoor citizens in the region, who will continue to depend on the system for life-long support, get it life-long support.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The composition of the outdoor-citizen's demographic includes women, children, men from a number of ethnic groups, both American and foreign born. Members of this permanent underclass have been on the dole, in some instances, for 5, 7, 10 and 12 years however, a period that has eclipsed either of the two major Silicon Valley and national recessions.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The supply-side provisioners will continue to respond to the demand and do it their way, instead of helping to change the dynamic. Several of these organizations, as HOP has experienced already, operates like a impenetrable syndicate of who's who's in the valley. We have observed that some of the political figures in our area, are a part of these syndicates. </span></span></span>HOP, has made numerous attempts to get our Councilmen and some ministers to respond to the numerous messages that we have left for them. Hmm!!</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><b>Item I</b></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Since my return from the nation's capitol several years ago, I ended up living in a shelter, a church's rear office, on a park bench and at the Salvation Army for a few night (and did I mention with very special and caring friends). I recognized 'my problem', and that of my new cohort groups and the helping community and agencies, as a result of living among the outdoor citizens' demographic in Santa Clara Valley.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>I especially took note of what was taking place with well-intended government, social services and faith-based groups in the area. </span></span></span>During the time that I lived among the outdoor citizens in the Valley, I not only made observations, I also took notes on both sides of the Bay, to include the People's Park in Berkeley, and parks, shelters, feeding programs ... in Santa Clara Valley.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><b>The First Church of Christian Science on Dwight Way in Berkeley</b> was most helpful, Priscilla, a member of the church, was my teacher and guide. Rosie, a long-time resident of the People's Park and Terri (who was affectionately known as 'the Compost Lady', because she planted flowers and vegetables in the park to feed the outdoor-citizens there, were also extremely helpful.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>I began to collaborate with outdoor citizens, as well as with service providers and faith-based groups on both sides of the Bay, in hopes of trying to determine what course of action should be taken in order to change the current dynamic, in the most prosperous state in the world, as far as I was and am concerned.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The first thing that I observed and took note of, was that the<i> outdoor citizens were mostly non-participants in their own recoveries</i>, they were often missing from the policy and planning table. Second, I noticed that there was a percentage of the outdoor-citizens demographic who were satisfied with the way that things were operating at the time, 'receive, and you shall receive more types I call them'!</span></span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And then there was the group that I will refer to as 'the helping-naive, or the helping beneficiaries might be a better term. These individuals appeared to be involved for personal or political reasons, at the expense of the individuals that they were supposed to be helping. . </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some outdoor citizens required support help true enough, however, <b>others were and still are unabashed moochers to this day</b>. What kind of help was needed, was the question that I attempted to answer. </span></span></span>The latter group, the chronics who business it was to beg, I concluded, needed what the lame beggar at the temple needed, someone to help to lift them from the ground begging, so that they could get on with their lives instead of depending on handouts. Providing them with alms, was not the solution.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>I also recognized that there were physically and mentally handicapped individuals, in need of a supportive lift, not a wheelchair for life. Project Hired, convinced me that there were motivated handicapped individuals, working every day, and they wouldn't have it any other way. However, t</span></span></span>he De-institutionalization Act, one of late President Ronald's proud accomplishments, has been disastrous for many individuals, who are in need of round the clock in-house mental health services. Too bad they weren't rich, he would have protected them1</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Helping people is a balancing act, one that requires training,vision, wisdom, sincerity, an ear to hear, analysis, strength and discernment. Otherwise, good caring people, end up being pawns in a sleighter’s hand! </span></span></span>Many caregivers ... have, unwittingly become pawns in someone elses manipulative (occasionally political) games.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Aside from the fact that some outdoor citizens who lack a conscience, will pull the whole system down with them in deference to the ones who require genuine help and appreciate it - at times it appears as if many of the supply-siders (who are supposed to be change agents), have experienced <b>Stockholm Syndrome</b>. </span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>In other words, they have become one with the individuals that they are supposed to be serving, even the bad ones! </span></span></span>Retired Stanford professor, from the Department of Psychology, Dr. Zimbardo, could explain this phenomenon firsthand given his work with the Stanford Prison Experiments, and what took place at Abu Ghraib.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>In fact, I was stunned, given the responses and feedback that I received from several service providers in the region. Several of them were were more perturbed with my suggesting that change needed to take place than they were with the individuals (some malingerers), who were co-dependent with them, their agencies and other faith-based groups.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Again, in too many instances, outdoor citizens are still not participating in their own recoveries - and too many services providers, faith-based groups, agencies ... prefer to rescue them, rather than to help their clients to get up so that they can walk again. This is what happens whenever you outsource your responsibility to another person or agency.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>It was incredible to me, the amount of resources that were being expended, to include dollars and human capital, to solve a problem for outdoor citizens wherein which outdoor citizens had zero input or involvement. </span></span></span>At present, HOP and several other organizations and individuals in the area are ahead of the curve (in terms of recognizing a need for disruption in the systems in this region). </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">We have joined forces with current and former outdoor citizens, who want to make a difference in the lives of our demographic. We will be doing this while too many of the rest are saving us, instead of working along with us. Thee incredible amount of resources being expended on a daily basis, including direct handouts on the streets, from government programs, faith-based and other institutions in the region, have reached critical mass.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And still, there are approximately 7,000 outdoor citizens, who remain outdoor citizens in arguably of most populate and leading state in this Union <i>(1 out of every 7 or 8 Americans, is a Californian)</i>. In other words, instead of providing crisis-altering measures being implemented, most institutions in the area, have accepted homelessness, I believe, as a condition.</span></span></span></p></div><blockquote style="font-style: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><b>They are providing change (in a monetary sense), instead of helping individuals who need to work to change themselves and their plights! </b></span></span></span></p></blockquote></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>HOP, hopes to change minds and attitudes in time. HOP, other individuals and groups in the area who believe in what we are doing - are intent upon changing the current dynamic. And we plan to do so, not only among the outdoor citizens' demographic, but also among agencies, faith-based groups and services providers that are <u>co-dependent with chronic outdoor citizens in time.</u><span style="text-decoration: none; "></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="text-decoration: none; ">Individuals who are capable of helping themselves, and have found that “it is cheaper to keep her', the freebies, require inspiration (to include negative sanctions) in order to motivate them to get up and to get going again. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="text-decoration: none; ">I am speaking about the ones that can help themselves with a minimal amount of supervisorial help, but have given in to supply-side handouts ...</span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>In order to do so, HOP had to create its own creative think tank agency. Now what is truly sad is this, <u>some individuals and institutions who make their living off of the homeless, don't seem to want to have much to do with a professional outdoor citizen's organization that has an understanding of the problem, and is staffed with recovering individuals who have been there and are still there in some instances. Hmm!</u></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Well, who is this Solomon dude anyway, they are likely thinking, a man who popped up in town from Washington DC several years ago, we're in charge here? To some, I am certain, that I am a loud mouth, who has as much as said that the service-providers … in this area ... are co-dependent with the outdoor citizen's demographic in this area, many of them.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And besides that, some are thinking at first I guess, "I have been in this fight for awhile and who is he (an outdoor citizen) to come walking in here, Mr. High and Mighty, to tell us or me, what to do with our money? The problem is, it is not anyone of our money, it is typically taxpayer money ... that is being referred to.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And the answer to their question is, I am their friend. I could turn the question around and ask, who are you to turn away an outdoor citizen who wants to help outdoor citizens. Remember, even Jesus had to stop the miracle feeding crusade that he started during his public ministry, because the people were only following him for food and miracles - not to turn their lives around.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><b></b></span></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><b>Can our missionaries today, public and private, alter a course that is not working?</b></span></span></span></blockquote><p></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Oftentimes, my fellow members of the cloth need to hear this the most. Some of them are 'hell-bent' on rescuing people, or let's put it another way 'doing works'. One leading church located in downtown San Jose has been blessed with incredible financial resources. </span></span></span>This church is intent upon rescuing people, by doing good works, the latter also makes them feel good about themselves. However, is it good works that the outdoor citizens really need. Sadly, these kind of churches often end up being used, and worst than that; by using their methods, the outdoor citizens that they purport to serve remain destitute, dependent and in the same place.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>This prominent church with a dearth of financial resources, (their pastor mostly believes that by simply spending money, that problems are being solved. I recall what happened when Jesus, and a boy with a few fishes and a few loaves of bread, helped a group as large as the Valley's outdoor citizens group, without money.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; "><br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; ">In other words, 'stop spending pastor and get God, the right vision and the people involved'! How dare I? I am a minister, on sabbatical dude. Paul withstood Peter, and some of our clerics need someone to confront them from time to time!</span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>At times, I can be very curt, when I want to be, however, it is intended for a useful purpose. To these type of individuals who I make angry, all I can say is: Take your thumb out of your mouth because there is more at stake than your damaged egos. </span></span></span>Truthfully, I've own experienced a couple of individuals (even clerics) that I would consider to be 'true jerks that are on mission of their making. God ways, are not our ways?</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Am I a T-Partier, or an individual on the Right who believes in a redistribution of wealth that will inure to the benefit of a certain class group, the one that needs it the least? Nyat! However, will the rest of us sit on our laurels, and help the rich to get richer and turn around and cry about it. </span></span></span>Each one of us has the same right to compete with anyone else, even to steal market-share, inside and outside of America. In other words, why criticize either the organizations or individuals that you continue to patronize, and wait for to employ you? Figure out a way, to start your own business, instead.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Anyway, don't get upset with me, I am on the side of right and I would like to help if I can to break through the powerful matrix of caregivers ... that exists in this area, whose apparently misdirected hard-work is not reaching the desired result. </span></span></span></span></span>Someone pointed out that when the President was in town, and spoke at Facebook, in downtown Palo Alto, he even failed to stop and speak with the outdoor citizens who were a block away. Instead, he raised money for his campaign. Just imagine what all of those millions could have done to create opportunities for the outdoor citizens demographic in this region?</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And don't feel bad if you feel turned off at first by me, many of the outdoor citizens who have been enjoying a comfy existence as a result of the area's largess, wish that I would shut up and go away too. Can you blame them? </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Solomon is creating disruption,</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">and spoiling the party for some of them, when I start shouting from my porch.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">I understand it too, for how would you like it if someone was tampering with a way of living that costs you nothing? In fact, when you think about it, some of our outdoor citizens are confirmed whiner-babies. You can't say it, I know, however, I can, and oftentimes I do just that, I say it to them! This combination of supply-siders and whiners, is another big part of the problem to deal with the area's homeless issues.</span></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span><b>These are 2 polarizing power groups!</b></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Some years ago, I actually argued a similar position with a group of do-gooier social workers ... who converged on Washington DC, just over 2 decades back. I was an invited delegate. Service providers came from all other the nation, in order to focus on nationwide social and public policy issues in 1984.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Approximately 1,000 of us, spent the week in the nation's Capitol at a forum that was put together by The United Neighborhood Centers of America. Our mission was to, among other things, discuss ways to solve the problems of America's permanent underclass in the inner cities. </span></span></span>We caucused every day for one week, listened to speakers, engaged in discussions and debates, met with Representatives, created policy papers ... Eventually, the bleeding hearts among us came around.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>On one occasion, when we were drafting a policy paper, I explained to my colleagues that they were guilty of being idealistic, but not very realistic. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; ">The latter is a problem that often persists and plagues most service providers and service provider agencies.</span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Why? Services-providers typically are people who have hearts of compassion (I wish everyone did), and want to help. Our downside is that oftentimes idealism, trumps realism or pragmatism – we don't care what it costs, let's just do it. Not good, I explained! </span></span></span>Our delegates were not being very realistic when it came to addressing the needs of America's permanent underclass back then.</p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>At the time, the average per capita income in the inner city was around 9K. Nearly 3 decades</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; "> later, the average per capita income in some urban centers still hovers around 15K, one area is adjacent to Capitol Hill just on the other side of the Anacostia River.</span></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">please read part 3</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Solomon (the Proud President of HOP)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Please respond, or send your rebuttals </span></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "></div></span></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-91642217061398858622011-06-11T14:41:00.000-07:002011-06-11T18:12:55.790-07:00The Supply-Side Poverty Paradigm in Santa Clara County and Beyond<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><div align="CENTER" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjHkpK5F_Ws/TekMiIRaUEI/AAAAAAAAACI/Cml7rFrozdg/s1600/0209111704.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; "><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="240" name="graphics1" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjHkpK5F_Ws/TekMiIRaUEI/AAAAAAAAACI/Cml7rFrozdg/s320/0209111704.jpg" width="320" style="cursor: move; " /></a><span></span></span></p></div><p style="font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></p><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span>The Issue of homelessness: Part I</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We refer to ourselves as Outdoor Citizens. </span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We are working to change the existing crippling, supply-side dependency dynamic that persists in this and other regions of the country. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">-------------------------------</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Supporting dependency is neither the solution to the problem of homelessness in the Santa Clara Valley nor elsewhere in America, we believe. And if you disagree, simply consider what has been taking place with outdoor citizens in your community. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">________________________________________</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Or in the words of Dr. Phil, "how has what you or your community have been doing ... working for you and your community so far"? </span></span></span></span></strong></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Oftentimes, the end result of goodwill, faith-based and institutional supply-side government ... subsidies programs is that too many outdoor citizens remain in the same place, homeless, underemployed, unemployed, begging, living in city parks and ravines or surviving on handouts.</span></span></span></span></strong></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We believe that it will require massive disruption among outdoor citizens, as well as fundamental changes to the existing institutional structures before we will see any appreciable or lasting changes. <u>At the very least, a more synergistic multi-modal approach, to include direct participation from the outdoor citizen's community to solve the problem of homelessness, will be necessary!</u> </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">If not, we do not expect to see any appreciable differences or improvements, with regard to America's expanding homeless and downwardly mobile permanent underclass anytime soon. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Hope for Outdoor People (the Outdoor Citizen's Coalition and Think-Tank of Santa Clara County), recently incorporated in the state of California. In less than 1.5 years in existence our 501(c)3 federally exempt, non-profit corporation is already making an impact, even in terms of defining the narrative. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We believe that our critical policy analysis is second to none, and might just be more realistic than anything else that is out there at present. I also serve on several boards including The Santa Clara County Collaborative, West Valley Community Services and soon several others if confirmed. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HOP's</span> opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any of these organizations. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">All of us, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HOPPEOPLE</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span">are proud to be citizens of the United States of America, and individuals and families that are entitled to all of the rights and protections of the United States Constitution. </span></span></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And in deference to our current status, we are committed contributors and problem-solvers. It is our intention to help solve the growing and pernicious problem of homelessness that is growing by leaps and bounds within the American Commonwealth. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We are currently working alongside numerous government and faith-based institutions in the area (the one's who will receive input from the class group that they purport to serve. And we are doing so without any financial support from any of these institutions when helping to address America's current social pandemic. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Clearly, the problem has reached monumental proportions - and what has been done so far, minus the direct input and involvement of the identified patient-homeless-community, is not working. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">More and more displaced Americans have been and are being relegated to streets, parks, shelter-programs and ravines, while houses, condominiums and apartments (some foreclosed upon) sit empty. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Having said that, several institutions in the Valley, however, are being impacted by our message. And more than a few</span></span></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> organizations are already modifying their programs, based upon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">HOP's</span> input and its business model. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">HOP's</span> model consists of helping people to understand that if good intentions are not properly channeled, that they will only exacerbate the problem, and lead to further dependency.</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Although not as quickly as we would like to see it happen, outdoor citizens are beginning to understand that they will also have to make changes and work to solve their own problems - as opposed to waiting for someone or some other agency or institution ... to do their work for them. Partnerships are what is needed in the Valley and beyond, we believe. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">To wit, we are teaching our erudite outdoor citizens to be both accountable and responsible, and to come up with creative ways, with our assistance, to make an honest living for themselves and their families - despite current conditions. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In other words, a change in both practice and strategy on either side is desperately needed - the helpers and the individuals who are being assisted. The mentally capable outdoor citizens will, themselves, need to take ownership of 'their problems', if their problems are ever to be resolved. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The solutions that are currently in place, are there, all to often to appease a portion of society that believes that it can pay to have the menace go away. </span></span></span></span></strong></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Other caring individuals or institutions, faith-based, government and otherwise, should provide strategic, tactical, sincere and meaningful partnering support.</span></span></span></span></strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">How have we been so successful in terms of helping outdoor citizens and helping-institutions to revamp their programs and to modify their ways of thinking? We created tension, made our voices heard and began to teach a new and improved paradigm to former supply-side organizations in the region, and to outdoor citizens, the ones who would listen. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The organizations that have helped consist of government agencies, as well as faith-based groups. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The church that permitted us to use its facility in order to create and organize HOP, free of charge, once served over 1200 meals a week. We helped them to understand, that with the best of intentions, they were only supporting the problem and therefore creating more dependency. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The individuals who were being served, were consumers only, 99% of them, instead of participants within their own recovery. </span></span></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-size: x-large; "><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We have helped other churches, begrudgingly in some instances, to understand that they were guilty of doing the same, supporting and bolstering dependency!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Sadly, some of our people wanted to be paid if they were expected to clean up the feeding areas, or to place their own trash in a trash container, <u>in deference to all of the meals that they consumed each week (often 3 or 4 days per week) at not charge.</u> </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">HOP urged this and several other faith-based communities to stop providing something for nothing, in particular to long-term and chronic outdoor-citizens. After all, they were unwittingly conditioning our people to be co-dependent and to have a sense of entitlement!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Today, in the manner that Jesus, Paul and Peter of scriptures did, the church who helped us has created a new recovery, help, participate and receive style program, that includes employment training ... More organizations need to eat a bit of humble pie in the region and to make similar changes. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Another prominent church from Milpitas, changed its former, come, help, cook, feed, provide gifts ... and afterward the outdoor citizens simply walked away without doing anything to help, modus operandi.</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">They didn't care for my interference initially, however, I used scriptures to show them how they were doing just the opposite of what Jesus did, among the outdoor people of his time. Today, we are all friends, and the outdoor citizens are being asked to be participants and not recipients only in programs that benefit them the most. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">By sharing our experiences, as informed outdoor citizens, and participating in public policy planning in the area or offering constructive criticisms, other organizations along with their personnel and members, are not only listening - they are beginning to sing a different tune. It hurts to have to correct individuals, whose only intent was to offer sincere help our people. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">However, more resources, from hereon, will be used to help individuals who are capable of and will work to overcome destitution and homelessness, as opposed to rewarding slovenly behavior. I had begun to wonder at one time, just how long would slovenly behavior be rewarded?</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And there is and has been a payoff; in the final analysis our people will be, and some have already become contributors as opposed to beggars and dependents that are living in parks, begging on the streets or in the city and county's thoroughfares. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Second, by employing our methods, eventually, we will be able to expose and isolate the malingerers, the ones who will require a different method of intervention. </span></span></span></span></strong></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And certainly, we will have to come up with something else for malingerers to do, and there are more than a few outdoor citizens that fit into this mode. For some, malingering has become a satisfying lifestyle. Many of these individuals sadly have become drug and alcohol dependent!</span></span></span></span></strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u>And still, there are some great people living outdoors, the majority of them happen to be, I might add! </u> </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Having said that, there are an estimated 2 million outdoor citizens living in the USA at present, and the number is growing, exponentially. Keep in mind that for every domicile that is being foreclosed upon, one or more outdoor citizens were former residents!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">--------------------------------------------------</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Examine this article from HOP's blogsite, www.hoppeople.org, entitled: Addicted to Homelessness, using a text from the bible found in Acts 3:9-11</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span><em><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">9. And all the people saw him [who sat begging before] walking and praising God:<br />10. And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.<br />11.And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.</span></span></span></span></em></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>A follow-up to last quarter's article, entitled, 'Addicted to Homelessness': After the people saw this man who sat for years, walking again, many of them ran to Solomon's colonnade (or porch). And they wondered, how could this be? Actually, that is what we are attempting to do at HOP,<u> 'The Outdoor Citizens Coalition & Think Tank of Santa Clara County California'.</u> We are attempting to do the miraculous, to assist individuals to walk again, and hopefully others will come running. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Our work is cut out for us in that we are attempting to change existing paradigms, methods, and social and , public policy along with their questionable practices that often fail to work. And we are doing so in a region where faith-based groups, government institutions and the working public are arguably the most generous in the nation. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Giving is what our people do in the Santa Clara Valley and beyond. However, w</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">e believe that the resources that are currently being expended, are not being used optimally. The same effort, along with the proper distribution of shrinking resources, could be put to work to help motivate outdoor citizens to do the same, and the ones that are already trying. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Resources should not be provided ad hominen, to able bodied individuals, who refuse to do anything to help themselves!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">In other words, I am referring to the carrot and the stick approach! However, by simply giving more and more, or expending more and more, without any accountability being in place, is not representative of America at its best.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Frankly, many Americans are lost, confused and shocked by what has and is transpiring in the American economic market place. In fact, other than by going to school, sending out resumes or signing up at employment centers or online to apply for a position that does not exist, too many Americans are lost. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Many displaced American workers don't have a clue how to take care of themselves or their loved ones under America new rubric of high unemployment (the result of greed, globalization, consolidation, automation, ... and a former sense of entitlement! </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">For over half-a-century, high-paying jobs were abundant in America, however, that is not the case anymore. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And therefore the second part of our challenge is to do the following: H</span><span class="Apple-style-span">elp to convince the recipients of the area's and the government's ... supply-side largess programs (to include food, clothing, medical help, medicine, shelters, free bus passes, housing ...), that times have changed - and they will have to adapt. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We have to make an effort to get displaced Americans to understand that if they intend to make it in the new American/World-wide competitive economy, without becoming dependents, that they will have to do things in a different way than they did in the past. Depending on job creation by others, has become a thing of the past. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The shrinking middle-class, faith-based groups and government agencies, won't be able to take care of a expanding, formerly employed working class in perpetuity. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span">eaching the underemployed and unemployed to complete resumes, or to simply practice their interviewing skills in an economy where the jobs are going away, is not the solution. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">HOP compliments Stanford grad and CEO, Peter Thiel co-founder of PayPal and current president of Clarium Capital, for encouraging entrepreneurship, and investing seed money in would be entrepreneurs. Here is a wealthy individual, who is doing something realistic to help solve America's unemployment problem in a realistic manner. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">He is not rewarding dependency - instead he is giving individuals a real chance to help themselves, and likely others by providing future employment for themselves and other people. Give that man a cigar! </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">There are a lot of outdoor citizens with advanced degrees, that are living in parks. Imagine, if 10 of them came up with business ideas that could result in them re-employing both them and a few of their counterparts, as opposed to waiting on handouts?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Similar to President Thiel, we believe that by teaching individuals who can't find work, how to work for themselves is the answer - even when it means cleaning gutters, painting numbers on curbs, mowing lawns, shearing hedges, farming or by coming up with the next Facebook or Google perhaps. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">All too often, displaced American workers who have been down-sized out of companies spiral down and become completely dependent on handouts in a system where the resources are already drying up or ending up in the pockets of a few. The latter I often refer to as an economic watershed.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The same individuals have forgotten their years of training and experience, that which they already have underneath their belts. We are teaching outdoor citizens how to use those same skills and experiences to make a living not only for themselves but for their families (in an even more specialized economy). </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Or as I heard on a television program last night, some may have to attend "Rap University", in order to earn a living!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We are creating a new crop of entrepreneurs and hopefully, several future employers, who will be able to to learn to think outside of the box. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Our methods include teaching individuals to take 'baby steps' first, and eventually to stand up on their own 2 feet and to walk again. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The end result is that individuals who have given up this far, will be able to become productive achievers in the new world-wide economy. </span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Clearly, either side is dependent upon the other for survival when operating under the current paradigm, one to receive government aid, grants, donations and other freebies without merit - and the other (typically inside of an agency) to receive a paycheck ... for distributing the free goodies. Something has to give! </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The first group, the dependency supply-sider's group typically offers their clients unconditional positive regard or support, however, and on the other hand, they are oftentimes unconditional and unintentional enablers. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The reason being that maintaining paid positions (under the guise of solving the problem oftentimes on the inside of a massive bureaucracy that is rife with fraud and corruption), they only bolster and create more dependency. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; ">Why? </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; ">All too often, these organizations fail to hold their own feet or their client's feet to the fire, and lack creativity. And on occasion, there is a lack of oversight and accountability in place, to assure that the dollars being spent are receiving the desired results - the kind that the public would like to see, especially taxpayers.</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>If their clients were to have their problems solved, or to simply walk away, they would loose their reason for existing. And sadly, the end result is that they are perpetuating the problem that they are supposed to be fixing - the supply sider bureaucracy.</span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Ergo, no pain and no gain, and an enormous sum of resources that could be used to help invest in individuals to get going again, continues to go down into a massive sink hole, to the tune of billions of dollars. Many of our outdoor citizens recognize that it 'pays to be homeless', unfortunately.</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And it is truly unfortunate that the indiscriminate amounts that are being spent on outdoor citizens, actually reward dependency, inertia and slovenly behavior - <b>this is not discretionary spending!</b> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">On the other hand, institutionalized begging has become a growing cottage industry locally, and across the nation. I don't have to tell you that! </span>Neither side, the suppliers or the recipients up to this juncture, wants to see the other go away. Both the recipients of government, social services and faith-based largess, all have a stake in the supply-side dynamic.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Waste and fraud in the housing sector, costs American taxpayers billions of dollars each year. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Consider this, a person who is out of work will eventually receive free-housing, in some instances, paid-insurance, free transportation, food, medicine, clothing, sleeping bags ... while doing nothing to merit it!</span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>So you are thinking, what motivates HOP's outdoor citizens (over 100 of us at last count and still growing), to behave any different from our malingering counterparts? Or, you are thinking, haven't your people benefited from some of the very programs that you have benefited from, and now are criticizing? </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Our answer is, yes on both counts. And as result “we have learned by experience what can take place when subsidies are not used as a stop gap, instead of with the intent to stop the bleeding, instead of making it a permanent condition. We learned quickly! </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And the fact of the matter is that we are not trying to close the door on others who are in need of emergency support. At the same time we are attempting to get all sides to understand that participation must be required on the part of the recipients of the country's and individual largess. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We are trying to open a new door of opportunity, and as citizens of the United States of America ourselves, don't forget that, it is our desire to protect the treasury, and the good-hearted Americans who give. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We have a responsibility to use what should be a temporary gift or grant, to help us to get up and to get going again (I am speaking of any outdoor citizen), as opposed to turning giving and receiving into a lifestyle. Many outdoor citizens who were present when we fell, are still living off of and enjoying the largess of other Americans. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>By making good use of the resources that we received, we are (outdoor citizens) repaying the public and other charitable and faith-based groups for the temporary assistance, which can be used to help other individuals to get going again - by doing what we are doing today! </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some of us believe that our having ended up where we did before, albeit for a short period of time, may have been a part of our destiny - that is to take what we have learned and share it with both groups (in order to help turn things around in America). </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The members of what appears to be a permanent and growing American underclass needs our help, even though it may be painful for them to listen to us, however, at first. I learned a long time ago, that you can do the right thing, the wrong way, which can also lead to disastrous results.</span></span></span></p></div><blockquote style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b>"We believe that by feeding the problem, no pun intended, or by supporting dependency that either tactic will only help to prolong and to expand the problem</b>".</p></blockquote><blockquote style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>A substantial portion of the nationwide outdoor citizens demographic, are veterans of foreign wars. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Thankfully, the Federal government is coming to grips with the problems of homeless Vietnam-era veterans who are returning from both Afghanistan and Iraq. Warehousing able veterans under unsanitary condition, isn't the solution either. Consider what was discovered at Walter Reed in DC, several years ago.</span></p></blockquote><p style="font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Exactly, what will happen to America once 2 out of every 4 Americans, perhaps 150m or so, rely on government agencies, subsidies, strapped faith-based organizations ... to supply survival needs? Under the current paradigm, that is where we seem to be headed, if things don't soon change. </span>It time, we would have to tear down houses and buildings in urban centers and replace them with park lands, because the majority of Americans will be living outdoors again - while domiciles sit empty or are no longer need.</p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>At the OCCTT, we recognize the direction in which the nation is headed. Why? Because we have been there, and many of our members are still experiencing both sides of the divide – even though we are working daily and often alone mostly, to help to change the current dynamic and to stream the tide. </span></span></span>If something isn't done to alter the nation's current heading, we believe that the nation is heading to the economic abyss, of the kind that will rival, if not surpass what took place during the Great Depression.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Perhaps America will have to foreclose before it wakes up. Apparently, that is what the Republicans in the House seem to believe! We are doing all that we can, as outdoor citizens, to help both sides to alter America's present heading towards an economic collapse. </span></span></span>We are in the process of creating income-producing opportunities for ourselves, in some instances opportunities that we would not have considered before, and did not train for initially.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And don't forget that if the nation keeps heading in the wrong direction, once it reaches its destination, there will still be hundreds of millions of Americans, hungry and homeless - along with a soaring national debt. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 165, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; ">Should the rich share their wealth? The question is moot. The real question is do they look like they are going to share the wealth?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Many of our billionaires talk about sharing the wealth, and giving money to charity, however, besides Bill Gates and a few others, when will that happen, and should it happen? Hopefully, whenever they decide to share the wealth (tee hee), they will share the wealth with organizations that help people to get up and to get going again. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Too much money is simply sitting in hedge funds ... that could be used to help retrain individuals and to get the economy going again. Sadly, the individuals who are sitting on incredible wealth, that they can never spend in hundreds of lifetimes, aren't helping either. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Now even though they are reticent to help, giving to charity is a write-off, oftentimes for the reasons that I have mentioned before, there are legitimate causes that many of them can give to that will result in a return on their investment (ROI), as opposed to sinking more money into the Supply-Side sink holes. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We invite them to simply do the math, and instead to help to underwrite the costs of sound recovery plans in organizations that have them already in place. A cheap plug for HOP did you say, and why not? We are trying to help - we are not asking to be supported the rest of our lives. </span></span></span>At the very least, poverty should not be underwritten, encouraged or buttressed by anyone. Supply-siders, will have to learn that by doing so, it only helps to keep impoverished individuals in poverty for a longer period of time, if not forever.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Too often, even though we are beginning to witness some improvement in this area, outdoor-citizens are often an afterthought when it comes to developing or shaping social and public policy that will work. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Often it would appear that the supply-siders, who are not accustomed to having representatives from our unique demographic at the planning table, would prefer that we stay away. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The attitude of some institutions, even faith-based ones, appears to be, “shut up”, or on the other hand, "we will tolerate you as we go about the business of saving your worthless lives". I have also sat at the table with many a do gooder organization, who have their own agendas in place to 'save the whales', without knowing a thing about the whales or outdoor citizens in this context! Can you say, waste? </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">With these types, not even an outdoor citizen that has input or a plan to help, is going to interfere with their faustian ideas or self-conceived ideals. Clearly, that kind of attitude, and the policies that follow will not help to resolve the problem, it only perpetuates the problem. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">And as a result, a lot of money, time and energy has been and will still be wasted or lost, and conditions will pretty much remain the same. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Too many supply-siders have not spent one day experiencing homelessness, or in some instances abject poverty for that matter.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Sadly, supply-siders are often do-gooders who are on a personal mission of their own. <u>They are creating their own self-inspired, I know what you need, policies and practices.</u> However, speaking at public forums … increasing one's own personal visibility, or rising up the societal ladder is not working to solve the problem of homelessness, or to come up with lasting solutions. </span>Simply consider the current unemployment rate in California, or the nation for that matter. No matter which indices you subscribe to, more and more Americans are either unemployed, underemployed, furloughed, part-time workers, or going to food banks.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And, many of outdoor citizens remain un-housed. Many Americans are seeking help, even working Americans, in hopes of garnering staples and other items that will supplement their shrinking and inadequate incomes. </span></span></span>Disruption , of the fork-grade uplift type, is needed on both sides. It is is the answer that we believe will eventually take America into a new heading, one that will yield the desired results. And what are the desired results?</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>The answer is that not only Californians, but all Americans, to include young-adults, college graduates, seniors … will learn to use their ingenuity and skill sets, as they prepare to earn a living again under the new paradigm as opposed to living from hand to mouth. Yes, the growing senior class is already suffering! </span></span></span></span></span>We believe that in time (real-time hopefully), that the groups that helped to create, sustain and maintain the poverty status quo in our region and elsewhere, along with the beneficiaries of crippling supply-side economic paralysis (who have been lying around and begging, at the temples), will come running in order to be transformed.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The miracle of a lame-man being able to get up and to walk again instead of begging, happened, when Peter, employed a different method, that of helping a man to stand and walk instead of providing him with another handout. </span></span></span>The net result was that decades of co-dependency and begging at the Temple, immediately came to an end, and a man was able to go and take care of himself again and to inspire others to do the same, apparently.</p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The same thing can happen in the Valley and beyond, however, it will require change on both sides, just as change was required with Peter and the lame man. However, we must change the current paradigm and belief system in the Valley and elsewhere. Service, should not be confused with crippling someone by giving them too much. </span></span></span>A<span>lready, we are reaching out to other agencies ... and speaking in front of a variety of audiences, to include other outdoor-citizens in the area in order to teach change. If something isn't done soon, there will be more and more unabashed beggars on the streets of America, in front of Target and Safeway stores or on sidewalks and American thoroughfares.</span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>There will also be more robberies, burglaries and shakedowns taking place all over America. Keep in mind that many of the individuals that are ending up on the streets, are ex-convicts. And some of these dudes are mean, not all, just some of them, and they are teaching others to be con men and women! </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>continued see part 2</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Solomon is t</span></span></span>he Proud President of Hope for Outdoor People</b></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><b>Learn more about the growing supply-side dynamic and the outdoor citizen's demographic in Santa Clara County, by visiting 'The Outdoor Citizens Coalition of Santa Clara County's website at www.hoppeople.org! We have our own think tank, and are working to bring about positive social-change for our demographic in the Santa Clara Valley and beyond. </b></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We need more HOP chapters around the nation. And please read our inspiring articles. Through The Window of Kathy's Eyes, is the featured article the week - please read it. </span></span></span></p></div></span>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-43191281806143961252011-06-07T15:10:00.000-07:002011-06-10T07:44:36.490-07:00HOP and The Supply-Side Poverty Paradigm in Santa Clara and Beyond<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></p><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjHkpK5F_Ws/TekMiIRaUEI/AAAAAAAAACI/Cml7rFrozdg/s1600/0209111704.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; "><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="240" name="graphics1" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjHkpK5F_Ws/TekMiIRaUEI/AAAAAAAAACI/Cml7rFrozdg/s320/0209111704.jpg" width="320" style="cursor: move; " /></a><span></span></span></p></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></p><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The Issue of homelessness: </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We refer to ourselves as Outdoor Citizens. </span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We are working to help change the existing crippling, supply-side dependency dynamic that persists in this and other regions of the country. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">-------------------------------</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Supporting dependency is not the solution to solving the problem of homelessness in the Santa Clara Valley or elsewhere in America, we believe. And if you don't agree, simply consider what has been and is currently taking place with the outdoor citizens in your community and your family. And in the spirit of Dr. Phil ask this questions: and how is that working for you, your family and your community"? </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Oftentimes, the end result of goodwill and institutional supply-side government ... subsidies programs is that too many outdoor citizens remain in the same place, homeless, underemployed, unemployed, begging, living in city parks and ravines or surviving on handouts. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We believe that it will require massive disruption among outdoor citizens, as well as fundamental changes to the existing institutional structures before we will see any appreciable or lasting changes. If not, we do not expect to see any appreciable differences or improvements, with regard to America's expanding homeless and downwardly mobile permanent underclass. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Hope for Outdoor People (the Outdoor Citizen's Coalition and Think-Tank of Santa Clara County), recently incorporated in the state of California. In less than 1.5 years in existence our 501(c)3 federally exempt, non-profit corporation is already making an impact, even in terms of defining the narrative. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We believe that our critical policy analysis is second to none, and might just be more realistic than anything else that is out there at present. I also serve on several boards including The Santa Clara County Collaborative, West Valley Community Services and soon several others if confirmed. I do not claim to represent their positions.</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">All of us, HOPPEOPLE, <span class="Apple-style-span">are proud to be citizens of the United States of America, and individuals and families that are entitled to all of the rights and protections of the United States Constitution. </span></span></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And in deference to our current status, we are committed contributors and problem-solvers. It is our intention to help solve the growing and pernicious problem of homelessness that is growing by leaps and bounds within the American Commonwealth. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We are current working alongside government and faith-based institutions, the one's who will listen to the class groups that they purport to serve. And, we are doing so without financial support from any of these institutions to help solve the current crisis in America. Clearly, the problem has reached monumental proportions - and what has been done so far, minus the direct input and involvement, of the identified homeless community, is not working. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">More and more displaced Americans have been and are being relegated to streets, parks, shelter-programs and ravines, while houses, condominiums and apartments (some foreclosed upon) sit empty. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Having said that, several institutions in the Valley are being impacted by our message, and more than a few</span></span></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> organizations are already modifying their programs, based upon HOP's input and its business model. HOP's model consists of helping people to understand that if good intentions are not properly channeled, that they will only exacerbate the problem, and lead to further dependency.</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Although not as quickly as we would like to see it happen, outdoor citizens are beginning to understand that they will also have to make changes and work to solve their own problems - as opposed to waiting for someone or some other agency or institution ... to do their work for them. Partnerships are what is needed in the Valley and beyond, we believe. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">To wit, we are teaching our erudite outdoor citizens to be both accountable and responsible, and to come up with creative ways, with our assistance, to make an honest living for themselves and their families - despite current conditions. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In other words a change in practice and strategy on both sides is needed - the helpers and the individuals who are being assisted. The outdoor citizens, will have to take ownership in order to solve their problem, and the rest should only provide strategic and tactical help and support. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">How have we been successful in terms of helping outdoor citizens and helping institutions to revamp their programs and to modify their ways of thinking? We created tension, made our voices heard and began to teach a new and improved paradigm to former supply-sider organizations in the region, and to outdoor citizens, the ones who would listen. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The organizations that have helped consist of government agencies, as well as faith-based groups. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The church that permitted us to use its facility in order to create and shape HOP, free of charge, once served over 1200 meals a week. We helped them to understanding that they were only supporting and therefore creating more dependency, given that the individuals who were being served were consumers only. We have other churches to begrudgingly understand that they were guilty of doing the same!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Sadly, some of our people wanted to be paid if they were expected to clean up their feeding areas, or to put their own trash in a trash container, <u>in spite of all of the meals that they consumed each week for free</u>. HOP urged this and several other faith-based groups to stop providing something for nothing, in particular to long-term and chronic outdoor-citizens. After all, they were unwittingly conditioning our people to be co-dependent and to have a sense of entitlement!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Today, in the manner that Jesus, Paul and Peter of scriptures did, the church who helped us has created a new recovery, help, participate and receive style program, that includes employment training ... More organizations need to eat a bit of humble pie in the region and to make similar changes. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Another prominent church from Milpitas, changed its modus operandi</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">They didn't care for my interference at first, I used scriptures to show them how they were doing just the opposite of what Jesus did among the outdoor people of his time. Today, we are all friends, and the outdoor citizens are being asked to be participants and not only recipients in a program that benefits them. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">By sharing our experiences, as informed outdoor citizens, and participating in public policy planning in the area and constructive criticisms, other organizations along with their personnel or members, are not only listening, they are beginning to sing a different tune. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">More resources, from hereon, will be used to help individuals who are capable of and will work to overcome destitution and homelessness, as opposed to rewarding slovenly behavior. I had begun to wonder at one time, just how long slovenly behavior would be rewarded?</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And there is and has been a payoff; in the final analysis our people will be, and some have already become contributors as opposed to beggars and dependents that are living in parks, begging on the streets or in the city and county's thoroughfares. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Second, by employing our methods, eventually, we will be able to expose and isolate the malingerers, the ones who will require a different method of intervention. </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And certainly, we will have to come up with something else for malingerers to do, and there are more than a few outdoor citizens that fit into this category. For some, malingering has become a satisfying lifestyle. Many of these individuals sadly have become drug and alcohol dependent!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u>And still, there are some great people living outdoors, the majority of them I might add! </u> </span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Having said that, there are an estimated 2 million outdoor citizens living in the USA at present, and the number is growing, exponentially. Keep in mind that for every domicile that is being foreclosed upon, one or more outdoor citizens were former residents!</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">--------------------------------------------------</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Examine this article from HOP's blogsite, www.hoppeople.org, entitled: Addicted to Homelessness, using a text from the bible found in Acts 3:9-11</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span><em><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">9. And all the people saw him [who sat begging before] walking and praising God:<br />10. And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.<br />11.And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.</span></span></span></span></em></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>A follow-up to last quarter's article entitled, 'Addicted to Homelessness': After the people saw this man who sat for years, walking again, many of them ran to Solomon's colonnade (or porch). And they wondered, how could this be? Actually, that is what we are attempting to do at HOP,<u> 'The Outdoor Citizens Coalition & Think Tank of Santa Clara County California':</u> We are attempting to do the miraculous. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Our work is cut out for us in that we are attempting to change the existing paradigms, methods, social and public policy. And we are doing so in a region where faith-based groups, government institutions and the working public are arguably the most generous in the nation. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Giving is what our people do in the Santa Clara Valley and beyond. However, w</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">e believe that the resources that are currently being expended, are not being used optimally. The same resources could be put to work in order to motivate outdoor citizens to do the same, that is to help themselves as opposed to supporting dependency, the ones who want to do better.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">In other words, I am referring to the carrot and the stick approach! </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Frankly, many Americans are lost, confused and shocked by what is transpiring in the American economic market place. In fact, other than by going to school, sending a resume or signing up at an employment center or online to apply for a position that does not exist, they are lost. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Many displaced American workers don't have a clue how to take care of themselves or to take charge of their lives under the new rubric of high unemployment the result of greed, globalization, consolidation, automation... and a former sense of entitlement! </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">For over half-a-century, jobs were aplenty in America. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And therefore the second part of our challenge is to do the following: </span><span class="Apple-style-span">To help to convince the recipients of the area's government ... supply-side largess programs (to include food, clothing, medical help, medicine, shelters, free bus passes, housing ...) that times have changed. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We have to make an effort to get displaced Americans to understand that if they intend to make it in the new American/World-wide economy, without becoming dependents, that they have to do things in a different way than they did in the past. Depending on job creation by others, has become a thing of the past. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The shrinking middle-class, faith-based groups and government agencies, won't be able to take care of the expanding non-working class. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span">eaching the underemployed or unemployed to complete resumes, and to practice their interviewing skills in an economy, where the jobs are going away is not the solution. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">HOP compliments Stanford grad and CEO, Peter Thiel co-founder of PayPal and current president of Clarium Capital, for encouraging entrepreneurship, and investing seed money in would be entrepreneurs. There are a lot of outdoor citizens with advanced degrees, living in the parks. Imagine, if 10 of them came up with ideas or businesses that could re-employ their counterparts?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Similar to President Thiel, we believe that by teaching individuals who can't find work, how to work for themselves is the answer - even when it means cleaning gutters, painting numbers on curbs, mowing lawns, shearing hedges, farming or by coming up with the next Facebook or Google perhaps. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">All too often, displaced American workers who have been down-sized out of companies spiral down and become completely dependent on handouts in a system where the resources are already drying up or ending up in the pockets of a few. The latter I often refer to as an economic watershed.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The same individuals have forgotten their years of training and experience, that which they already have underneath their belts. We are teaching outdoor citizens how to use those same skills and experiences to make a living not only for themselves but for their families (in an even more specialized economy). Or as I heard on a television program last night, some may have to attend "Rap University", in order to earn a living!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We are creating a new crop of entrepreneurs, and hopefully future employers, that are able to think outside of the box. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Our methods encompass teaching individuals to take 'baby steps', and eventually to stand up and walk again. The end result is that individuals who have given up, will be able to be productive in the new world-wide economy. </span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Clearly, either side is dependent upon the other for survival, when operating under the current paradigm, that is one to receive government aid, grants, donations and other freebies - and the other to receive a paycheck ... for distributing the free goodies. Something has to give! </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The first group that I will refer to is the dependency supply-siders group. Even though this group offers their clients unconditional positive regard, they are oftentimes unconditional enablers. The reason that they are enablers is because while maintaining paid positions (under the guise of solving the problem) often on the inside of a massive bureaucracy that is rife with fraud and corruption), these organizations are the problem. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Why? All too often, these organizations fail to hold their own feet or their client's feet to the fire. There is a lack of oversight, accountability to assure the dollars spent are receiving the desired results - the kind that the public wants to see.</span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And why is that? It's simple, if the clients were to have their problems solved, or to simply walk away, they would loose their reason for existing. And the end result is that they are perpetuating the problem that they are supposed to be there to fix.</span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Ergo, no pain and no gain, and an enormous sum of money that could be used to help individuals to get going again, continues to go down into a massive sink hole, and to the tune of billions of dollars. Many of our outdoor citizens recognize that it 'pays to be homeless', unfortunately.</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And it is truly unfortunate that the indiscriminate amounts being spent on outdoor citizens, actually rewards dependency, inertia and slovenly behavior - <b>this is not discretionary spending!</b> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">On the other hand, institutionalized begging, has become a growing cottage industry locally, and across the nation. I don't have to tell you that!</span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Neither side, the suppliers or the recipients up to this juncture, wants to see the other go away. Both the recipients of government, social service and faith-based largess, all have a stake in the supply-side dynamic. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Waste and fraud in the housing sector, costs American taxpayers, billions of dollars each year. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Consider this, a person who is out of work will eventually receive free-housing, in some instances, paid-insurance, free transportation, food, medicine, clothing, sleeping bags ... while doing nothing to merit it!</span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>So you are thinking, what motivates HOP's outdoor citizens (over 100 of us at last count and still growing), to behave any different from our malingering counterparts? Or, you are thinking, haven't your people benefited from some of the very programs that you have benefited from, and now are criticizing? </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Our answer is, yes on both count. And as result “we have learned by experience what can take place when subsidies are not used as a stop gap, with the intent to stop the bleeding, instead of making it a permanent condition. We learned quickly! </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And the fact of the matter is, we are not trying to close the door on others who have come behind us that are in need of emergency support. At the same time we are attempting to get all sides to understand that participation must be required on the part of the recipients of the country's and individuals largess. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We are trying to open a new door, and as citizens of the United States of America ourselves, don't forget that, it is our desire to protect the treasury, and the good-hearted Americans who give. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We have a responsibility to use what should be a temporary gift, to help us to get up and going again (I am speaking of any outdoor citizen), as opposed to turning giving and receiving into a lifestyle. Many outdoor citizens who were there when we fell, are still there living off of and enjoying the largess of others. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>By making good use of the resources, we are (outdoor citizens) repaying the public and other charitable and faith-based groups for the temporary assistance, which can be used to help other individuals to get going again! </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some of us believe that our having ended up where we did before, albeit for a short period of time, may have been a part of our destiny - that is to take what we have learned and share it with both groups, in order to help turn things around. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The members of what appears to be a permanent and growing permanent American underclass needs our help, even though it may be painful to them to listen to us at first. I learned a long time ago, that you can do the right thing, the wrong way, which can lead to disastrous results.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><blockquote style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>"We believe that by feeding the problem, no pun intended, or by supporting dependency that either tactic will only help the problem to persist, if not grow even bigger". </span></span></span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><blockquote style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>A substantial portion of the nationwide outdoor citizens demographic, are veterans of foreign wars. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Thankfully, the Federal government is coming to grips with the problems of homeless Vietnam-era veterans who are returning from both Afghanistan and Iraq. Warehousing able veterans under unsanitary condition, isn't the solution either. Consider what was discovered at Walter Reed in DC, several years ago.</span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Exactly, what will happen to America, once 2 out of every 4 Americans, perhaps 150m or so, rely on government agencies, subsidies, strapped faith-based organizations ... to supply their survival needs? Why?Because under the current paradigm, that is where we seem to be headed, if things don't soon change. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">It time we would have to tear down houses and buildings in urban centers and expand and replace park lands, because the majority of Americans will be living outdoors again - while domiciles sit empty and are no longer need.. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>At the OCCTT, we recognize the direction in which the nation is headed. Why? Because we have been there, and many of our members are still experiencing both sides of the divide – even though we are working daily and often alone mostly, to help to change the current dynamic and to stream the tide.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>If something isn't done to alter the nation's current heading, we believe that the nation is heading to the economic abyss, of the kind that will rival, if not surpass what took place during the Great Depression.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Perhaps, America will have to foreclose before it wakes up, clearly, that is what the Republicans in the House seem to believe! We are doing all that we can, as outdoor citizens, to help both sides to alter America's present heading towards an economic abyss. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And we are creating income-producing opportunities for ourselves, in some instances opportunities that we would not have considered before, and did not train for initially. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And don't forget that if we keep heading in the wrong direction, once we reach our destination as a nation, there will still be hundreds of millions of Americans, hungry and homeless, along with a soaring national debt. Should the rich share the wealth? The question is moot, the real question is do they look like they are going to share the wealth?</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Many of our billionaires talk about sharing the wealth, and giving money to charity, however, besides Bill Gates and a few others, when will that happen? Hopefully, whenever they decide to share the wealth (tee hee), they will share the wealth with organizations that help people to get up and to get going again. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Too much money is simply sitting, that could be used to train individuals and to get the economy going again - sadly, the individuals who are sitting on incredible wealth, can never spend what they have in hundreds of lifetimes. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And even though they are reticent to give, oftentimes for the reasons that I have shared, there are legitimate causes that you can give to that will result in a return on your investment (ROI). We invite you to simply do the math, and help to underwrite the costs of sound recovery plans and organizations that have them. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>At the very least, poverty should not be underwritten, all of us agree, supply-siders should understand, that only keeps individuals in poverty for a prolonged period of time, if not forever. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Sadly, outdoor-citizens often are often an afterthought when it comes to developing or shaping social and public policy. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Often it would appear that the supply-siders, who are not accustomed to having representatives from our unique demographic at the planning table, would prefer that we stay away. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The attitude of some institutions appears to be, “shut up”, or on the other hand, "we will tolerate you", as we go about the business of saving your worthless lives. I have also sat at the table with do-gooders, who have their own agenda in place to 'save the whales', so to speak. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And with these types, not even an outdoor citizen that has input or a plan to help is going to interfere with their faustian ideas and ideals. Clearly, that kind of attitude, and the policies that follow will not help to resolve the problem, it only perpetuates the problem. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">And as a result, a lot of money, time and energy has been and will still be wasted, and conditions will pretty much remain the same. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Too many supply-siders have not spent one day experiencing homelessness, or in some instances abject poverty for that matter. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Sadly, supply-siders are often do-gooders who are on a personal mission of their own. They are creating their own self-inspired, I know what you need, policies and practices. Speaking at public forums … increasing their own visibility, is not working to solve the problem of homelessness, or dealing with its root causes, however. </span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Simply consider the current unemployment rate in California, and the nation for that matter. No matter which indices you read, more and more Americans are either unemployed, underemployed, furloughed, part-time workers, unhoused or going to food banks in order to get staples and other items to supplement their shrinking and inadequate incomes. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>Disruption is needed on both sides, it is the answer that we believe will eventually take us into the new heading, one that will yield the desired results. And what are the desired results? </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>The answer is that not only Californians, but all Americans, to include our young-adults, college graduates … will learn to use their ingenuity and skill sets, as they prepare to earn a living again, under the new paradigm as opposed to living from hand to mouth!</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>We believe that in time (real-time) hopefully soon, that the groups that helped to create or sustain and maintain the poverty status quo in our region and elsewhere, and the beneficiaries will come running once they witness, if not before, lives being transformed. </span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The miracle of a lame-man being able to walk again instead of begging, happened, when Peter, employed a different method, that of helping a man to walk, instead of providing him with another handout. The net result was that decades of co-dependency and begging at the Temple, immediately ended, and a man was able to go and take care of himself again and to inspire others.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The same thing can happen in the Valley and beyond, however, it will require change on both sides, just as it happened with Peter and the lame man. However, we must change the current paradigm and belief system in the Valley. Service, should not be confused with crippling someone by giving them too much.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span>A<span>lready, we are reaching out to other agencies ... and speaking in front of different audiences, to include other outdoor-citizens in the area, in order to teach change. If something isn't done soon, there will be more and more unabashed beggars on the streets, in front of Target and Safeway stores or on sidewalks in American thoroughfares. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>There will also be more robberies, burglaries and shakedowns taking place all over America. Keep in mind that many of the individuals that are ending up on the streets, are ex-convicts. And some of these dudes are mean, not all, just some! </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Author Derrick Bell, in his book, 'Faces At The Bottom of the Well', wrote: </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">"if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you will keep getting what you have been getting".</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And most Americans know firsthand, that not only are we getting what we have been getting, there is no end in sight.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>HOP, with a vision, minuscule resources (the work is all being done here by unpaid volunteers, former and current outdoor citizens and with the help of a few donors), is using these resources, our experiences, our wits and a new paradigm in order to turn lives around. Already, we are witnessing lives being transformed, and outdoor citizens taking charge of their lives and standing upright again.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>What we are doing at HOP, that is working, benefits outdoor citizens, the city, county, state and the entire nation in time. We provide space, a place, professional training, desks, computers, business and marketing plans ... where research can be done and ideas put into practice. This is not the mission of poverty supply-siders.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The winds of change are blowing in the valley, the nation and the world for that matter. Individuals and organizations that learn to shift with the current tide, will succeed, we believe.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>It is our hope that other outdoor-citizens (who up to this time have preferred the methods that are currently in place, (that have not worked) and rather supports dependency, or receiving something for doing nothing, will try something different. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>It is also our hope that organizations in the area who support dependency will soon follow suit and join us (even when it means swallowing pride, and simply admitting that what worked before is not working today – given that the problem is expanding). </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Even the Apostle Peter, a fisherman who still had fish to give, stopped giving alms, and instead helped to lift a man to his feet so that he could walk on his own 2 feet again, when his paradigm changed.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Readers who are familiar with 'disruption theory', </span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">understand that from time to time there has to be a change in the customary manner in which things are being done, and with the methods that have been used before, if an individual or an organization plans to keep pace.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Even a once great idea (the free delivery ice wagon, black and white TV, typewriters … eventually runs its course and needs to be replaced). Smart leaders, and managers on the cutting-edge, recognize when it is time to do, improve or create something different. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Several organizations, some of notoriety in Silicon Valley, failed to forecast or evaluate their processes, the ones that worked for a significant period of time in the past, and they suffered as a result. America, and Americans have also failed to heed the signs of knowing when to change.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some once venerable organizations, in the once booming Silicon Valley have recently been overtaken by upstart organizations that didn't exist a decade ago. Why? Because the leaders of the organizations failed to keep up, or to recognize that from time to time, even a venerable organization has to recognize when it is time to change its mission, its methods and ways of doing things.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some of them ignored, The Laws of Accelerating returns, and failed to keep up with the pace. Consider, what has taken place in the the Republic of China and the other emerging global markets today, and the 'huge sucking sound', that we hear coming from the American economy. The ROC tried something different, given new leadership at the top, and China has come out of the dark ages and is booming.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>America, on the other hand stayed with what had been working before, for too long. Arrogance perhaps?</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Successful businesses that plan to thrive under changing conditions, also recognize the need to be as effective as they are efficient and therefore to modify or change their practices at certain peak and off-peak times and junctures. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The Valley in my opinion, with Federal and State help, has effectively underwritten what appears to be a burgeoning and expanding permanent underclass if things don't change. There are an estimated 7,000 outdoor citizens in the region, who will continue to depend on the system for life-long support, get it life-long support.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The composition of the outdoor-citizen's demographic includes women, children, men from number of ethnic groups, American and foreign born. Members of this permanent underclass have been on the dole, in some instances, for 5, 7, 10 and 12 years, a period that has eclipsed either of the two major Silicon Valley recessions. The supply-side provisioners will continue to respond to the demand, instead of helping to change the dynamic.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Item I</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Since my return from the nation's capitol several years ago, I ended up living in a shelter, a church's rear office, on a park bench, at the Salvation Army for a few nights and occasionally with friends. Immediately, I recognized 'my problem', and that of my new cohort group, as a result of living among the outdoor citizens' demographic in Santa Clara Valley.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>I also observed what was taking place with well-intended government, social services and faith-based groups in the area.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>During the time that I lived among the outdoor citizens in the Valley, I not only made observations, I also took notes on both sides of the Bay, to include the People's Park in Berkeley, and parks, shelters, feeding programs ... in Santa Clara Valley. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The First Church of Christian Science on Dwight Way in Berkeley was most helpful, Priscilla, a member of the church, was my teacher and guide. Rosie, a long-time resident of the People's Park and Terri (who was affectionately known as 'the Compost Lady', because she planted flowers and vegetables in the park to feed the outdoor-citizens there, were also extremely helpful.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>I began to collaborate with outdoor citizens, as well as with service providers and faith-based groups on both sides, in hopes of trying to determine what course of action should be taken in order to change the current dynamic, in the most prosperous state in the world, as far as I was and am concerned.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The first thing that I observed and took note of, was that the outdoor citizens were mostly non-participants in their own recoveries, they were often missing from the policy and planning table. Second, I noticed that there was a percentage of the outdoor-citizens demographic who were satisfied with the way that things were operating at the time, 'receive, and you shall receive more'!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some outdoor citizens require support help true enough, however, others were and still are unabashed moochers. What kind of help is needed, was the question that I attempted to answer. The latter group, I concluded, needed what the lame beggar at the temple needed, someone to help to lift him himself from the ground begging, so that he could get on with his life instead of depending on handouts.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>I also recognized that there were physically and mentally handicapped individuals, that were also in need of a supportive lift, not a wheelchair for life. The De-institutionalization Act, one of late President Ronald's proud accomplishment, has been disastrous, for many individuals, who are in need of in-house mental health services.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Helping people is a balancing act, one that requires vision, wisdom, an ear to hear, analysis, strength and discernment. Otherwise, good caring people, end up being pawns in a sleighter’s hand! Many caregivers ... have, unwittingly become pawn in someone elses manipulative game.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Aside from the fact that some of the outdoor citizens who lack a conscience, and will pull the whole system down with them in deference to the ones who require genuine help. At times it appears as if many of the supply-siders (who are supposed to be change agents), have experienced Stockholm Syndrome. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Retired Stanford professor from the Department of Psychology, Dr. Zimbardo, could explain this firsthand given his work with the Stanford Prison Experiments. In fact, I was stunned, given the responses and feedback that I received from several service providers in the region. Several of them were were more perturbed with my suggesting that change needed to take place than they were with the individuals (some malingerers), who were co-dependent with them, their agencies and other faith-based groups.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Again, in too many instances, outdoor citizens are still not participating in their own recoveries - and too many services providers, faith-based groups, agencies ... want to rescue, rather than help their clients to walk again. It was incredible, the amount of resources that were being expended, to include dollars and human capital, to solve a problem for outdoor citizens, in which outdoor citizens had zero input!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>At present, HOP and several other organizations and individuals, in the area that are ahead of the curve (in terms of recognizing a need for disruption in the systems in this region). I have joined forces with current and former outdoor citizens, who want to make a difference in the lives of our demographic. </span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The incredible amount of resources being expended, including direct handouts on the streets, by government, faith-based and other institutions in the region, has reached critical mass. </span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And still, there are approximately 7,000 outdoor citizens, living in the leading state in this Union. In other words, instead of crisis-altering measures, most resident institutions in the area, have accepted homelessness, as a condition.</span></span></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><b>They are providing change (in a monetary sense), instead of helping individuals who need to work to change themselves and their plights! </b></span></span></span></p></blockquote></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>HOP, hopes to, in time, change minds and attitudes. HOP, other individuals and groups in the area who believe in what we are doing - are intent upon changing the current dynamic. And we plan to do so, not only among the outdoor citizens' demographic, but also among agencies, faith-based groups and services providers that are <u>co-dependent with chronic outdoor citizens.</u><span style="text-decoration: none; "></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="text-decoration: none; ">Individuals who are capable of helping themselves, who have found that “it is cheaper to keep her', the freebies, require inspiration (to include negative sanctions) in order to motivate them to get up and to get going again. I am speaking about the ones that can help themselves with a minimal amount of supervisorial help, but have given in to supply-side handouts ... </span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>In order to do so, HOP had to create its own creative think tank agency. Now what is truly sad is this, some individuals and institutions who make their living off of the homeless, don't seem to want to have much to do with a professional outdoor citizen's organization that has an understanding of the problem, and is staffed with recovering individuals who have been there and are still there in some instances. Hmm!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Well, who is this Solomon dude anyway, they are likely thinking, a man who popped up in town from Washington DC several years ago? To some, I am certain, that I am a loud mouth, who has as much as said that the service-providers … in this area ... are co-dependent with the outdoor citizen's demographic in this area, many of them.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And besides that, some are thinking at first, "I have been in this fight for awhile and who is he (an outdoor citizen) to come walking in here, Mr. High and Mighty, to tell us or me, what to do with our money? </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Answer: Your friend! Remember, again even Jesus had to stop the miracle feeding crusade that he began, because the people were only following him for food and miracles - not to turn their lives around. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Oftentimes, my fellow members of the cloth need to hear this most. Some of them are 'hell-bent' on rescuing people, or let's put it another way 'doing works'. One leading church, located in downtown San Jose has been blessed with incredible financial resources. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>This church is intent on rescuing people by doing good works. However, is it good works that the outdoor citizens really need. Sadly, these kind of churches often end up being used, and worst than that by using their methods, the outdoor citizens that they intended to help remain destitute and dependent. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>This prominent church has a dearth of financial resources, and they (their pastor mostly) believes that by simply spending money, that they are solving the problem. Factually, one at would can happen when God, the people and a few loaves of bread and fish are involved. In other words, 'stop spending pastor and get God and the people involved'!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>At times, I can be very curt, when I want to be, however, it is intended for a useful purpose. To these type of individuals who I make angry, all I can say is: Take you thumb out of your mouth because there is more at stake than your damaged egos. Truthfully, I've own experienced a couple of individuals (even clerics) that I would consider to be 'true jerks who are on mission of their making. God ways, are not our ways?</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Am I a T-Partier, or an individual on the Right who believes in a redistribution of wealth that inures to the benefit of the class group that needs it the least? Nyat! However, will the rest of us sit on our laurels, and help the rich to get richer. We have the same right to compete with anyone, and to steal market-share in and outside of America. Why criticize the ones that you patronize?</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Anyway, don't get upset with me, I am on the side of right and I would like to help if I can to break through the powerful matrix of caregivers ... that exist in this area, whose hard-work has gone unnoticed, or is not helping anyone to reach the desired result.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And don't feel bad if you feel turned off at first by me, many of the outdoor citizens who have been enjoying a comfy existence as a result of the area's largess, wish that I would shut up and go away too. Can you blame them, </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Solomon is creating disruption,</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">and spoiling the party for some of them.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">I understand too, for would you like it if someone was tampering with a way of living that costs you nothing?In fact, when you think about it, they have done so already. Some of our outdoor citizens are confirmed whiner-babies. You can't say it I know, but I can, and oftentimes I do just that, I say it to them!</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Some years ago, I actually argued a similar position with a group of do-gooier social workers ... who converged on Washington DC, just over 2 decades back in in the nation's capit0l. I was an invited delegate. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Service providers came from all other the nation, in order to focus on nationwide social and public policy issues.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Approximately 1,000 of us, spent the week in the nation's Capitol at a forum that was put together by The United Neighborhood Centers of America. Our mission was to, among other things, discuss ways to solve the problems of America's permanent underclass in the inner cities. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We caucused every day for one week, listen to speakers, engaged in discussions and debates, met with Representatives, created policy papers ... Eventually, the bleeding hearts among us came around. On one occasion, when we were drafting a policy paper, I explained to my colleagues that they were guilty of being idealistic, but not very realistic. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The latter is a problem that often persists and plagues most service providers and service provider agencies.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Why? Services-providers typically are people who have hearts of compassion (I wish everyone did), who want to help. Our downside is that often idealism, trumps realism – we don't care what it costs, let's just do it. Not good, I explained!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>In fact, some of our delegates were not being very realistic when it came to addressing the needs of America's permanent underclass at the time. I am referring to the survivors in the nation's inner-cities at the time, where the average per capita income was at around 9K at the time. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Two decades later, the average per capita income in some urban centers still hovers around 15K, one area is adjacent to Capitol Hill.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Prior to leaving Washington (in 1983), neither my first nor my last time working on social, urban and public-policy issues by the way at the Congressional level, there was a change of heart. Many of the individuals who came there to bleed for America's permanent underclass, as opposed to coming up with some realistic proposals and solutions, help to put together something with teeth, that we could present to the politicians before we adjourned.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>I hope that some of our bleeding hearts in the Valley will eventually recognize that they will have to do the same in The Valley. Let me put it another way, 'stop enabling the able-bodied outdoor citizens, would you please'?</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Many of our outdoor citizens need to feel the kind of pain that will shock their sensibilities, and hopefully, spring them back into action, so that they can jump start their lives. Pain, can be a powerful motivator for positive social change, and to reverse lethargy and inaction.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Given the number of individuals that are unhoused in the area and living on someone's floor... given all of the manpower and resources that have been expended and distributed, wouldn't you say at some point, that what has successfully worked before, is simply not working today? The crisis is worsening, and the Republican House has already proposed to role HUD Funding for example, back to 2007 levels, as a starting point.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">It is time for disruption, and a change from the old ways of doing things to take place. For example, when outdoor citizens come to you and beg for handouts, either on the streets or at your agency: </span><b>“Tell Them Where </b></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; ">To Go"<span style="font-weight: normal; ">,</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">in other words where you send your money to in order to assist them and where they can be held accountable and put into recovery programs. </span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Explain to them that a organization with skilled personnel will help them to get going again. Whatever you do, stop supporting begging and dependency, you are reinforcing bad habits, which will only result in re-enforcing long-term chronic dependency. <u>Again, tell them where to go 'to meet your money'</u>, in order to get help!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Item II</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Jesus believed in and taught individuals to be responsible. It seems to me that some of the faith-based groups, agencies, and recipients of all of the public's and their congregation's largess in this area, are intent upon doing just the opposite. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Many of them are busily maintaining the "we will take care of you status quo”. Let me give you an example. The outdoor citizens get everything for free in this area, to the extent that other outdoor citizens travel to this area from other parts of the state and the nation,because they have heard 'just how sweet it is in Santa Clara County'. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Even, San Franciscans travel down the peninsula (to the Southbay) in order to get what they can no longer get in San Francisco. Our current Lieutenant Governor, Gaven Newsome, when he was mayor of San Francisco, recommended that Bay Area cities, work together in order to deal with this cross-pollinating phenomenon. Outdoor Citizens from as far away as San Diego... come here to take care of the area's largess, which impacts already limited resources. </span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>From all across the nation they come, knowing that if you can make it to the Bay Area's shores, that you will be taken care of, shortly, after you arrive. And even though I admire the spirit of giving in this area, I was even helped when my fortunes turned, however, with this caveat: I immediately engaged in a personal recovery plan. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>My plan worked for me, and now I am teaching other outdoor citizens how a well thought out recovery plan can work for them. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span><span>However, many of the helping organizations in this area neither understand when they are doing too much without a return on their investment, nor when the able mind and bodied outdoor citizens are not doing enough to help themselves. Many of our outdoor citizens have not sat down to - some, haven't sat down to make a recovery plan yet, and some of the helpers don't seem to mind!</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>And having said that, what you are doing is contributing to cultural dependency and social anomie. Outdoor citizens, ought to be required to take action steps themselves before receiving more than the very basic help. And afterward, when they are helped, benchmarks need to be set, with targets in mind, accompanied with frequent compliance reviews. Otherwise, permit the ones who refuse to a tour at The Pain Station!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The by-product of all of the, 'we will solve your problems for you'</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">, that too many of our chronic outdoor are experiencing, some for a decade or more, is that many of our outdoor citizens have remained right where they were long before I, and others like me, got involved in the fight. While being supported without condition, many of them have lost jobs, homes, apartments ... before the most recent recession, and some before the 2001 recession in this region. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Has there been any accountability? What happened, given all of the resources that have been expended already, I can't see any results. We can blame what has transpired on the the economy ... however, that is not the whole story. Over-dependence on a free-handout economy, including a guaranteed job is the problem. It is time for a new way of thinking and reckoning to be put into place - consider HOP's model.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Sadly, </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">I can't seem to get faith-based groups to understand that not even Jesus</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">, continued his 'miracle healing feeding crusade', once he realized that his program enabled individuals (who were merely following him in order to obtain fish food, and other miracles). At HOP, the Think Tank and Advocacy organization, one that is comprised of current and former outdoor citizens mind you - we are teaching a new paradigm. Hopefully, others will get on board and try something new for a change.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">One HOP member proposed a slogan 2-days ago that will be incorporated, with regard to street and other beggars, and it is: </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u>REFUSE TO GIVE CHANGE TO PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO CHANGE</u>.</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">This slogan compliments, the new <u>TELL THEM WHERE TO GO</u> slogan that we came up with! </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In other words, don't give any more money to anyone on the streets, or at the expressway exits. </span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Instead, give the money to responsible and ethical organizations; and at the same time tell the beggar where to go where he can be helped, supervised, monitored and given a helping hand (if he or she will do what they are told in order to help themselves. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Giving on the streets ... have only buttressed begging and the lack of accountability, but more importantly, the lack of effort and change in the lives of beggars.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We know some things that some don't know, because we've been there. Many of our team members are already working to turn their lives around - instead of being dependent on a system that doesn't work to help individuals to get up and to get going again, sadly.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>During my last person-to-person meeting with late Congressman Augustus Hawkins of the 21st district in Los Angeles when in Washington DC and before he passed on - he told me something. He said, you can actually do more back at home by working with the ones who are in need in the community, than you can get down here in Washington DC …” </span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Many other Representatives in Washington, for example late Representative John Seiberling of Ohio ... echoed the same sentiment and shared similar advice. Practically every Representative that I spoke with, admitted that Washington was in gridlock.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Representative Conyers from Michigan, once explained to a group of us in DC, that a certain bill that he tried to get on the floor for 25 years, was never permitted to come to the floor, out of committee ... for a vote. Washington, as most Americans already know, has been deadlocked - well that is unless you are an organization that owns one or more of the </span></span></span></span><em><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">300,000 or more registered (mostly corporate) lobbyists in this nation (</span></span></span></span></em><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">who will do your bidding for you), then you will likely get you what you want. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Is it any wonder that many of the residents in the District of Columbia refer to it as 'Dodge City', not, because of the killing that goes on there. They are also referring to the crime that is taking place on Capitol Hill. There are hundreds of corporate lobbyists for every congressperson. </span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>HOP, and several other well-intentioned institutions in America and this area, are not the place to go if one does not intend to alter their plight, and that is in consideration of individuals on both sides of the spectrum. At HOP, we are essentially teaching outdoor citizens, the ones who will listen, a new paradigm, and it includes the following:</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span">That the world has changed since the Post WWII economic boom that America experienced (which lasted more than a half century).</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That Europe was devastated, and broke at the end of the war, while America's blue collar industry, factories, its banking and mercantile system, among other things, was booming.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>And as a result, there were jobs aplenty. (Many Americans in the rust belt where I hail from, held more than one job at a time). I can recall when I held 2 jobs and was working 16 hours a day around the age of 18.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>However today greed, coupled with globalization, corporate down-sizing, loss of market share to the emerging global economies, corporate down-sizing, the depression and the slow economic recovery (not to overlook the psyche of the entitled to a job Americans), too many Americans have lost that one well paying job - that they used to have. And more more and more of them are sitting in a stupor, while waiting for 'their job' to come back.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That the shrinking manufacturing base, currently at about 27% of what it was decades ago, has resulted in many of blue collar workers having been simply put, eliminated. And as a result, homes, apartments, rooms and families have been broken up and lost...</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That even if you were able to garner a job, typically short-term, you would not be able to earn a sufficient amount of money to cover your living expenses, particularly, if you live in northern California. </span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That the solution is within you coupled with solid supportive help, of the kind that teach and help you to take back charge of your lives, and therefore your destinies with this in mind; you must take the responsibility for your comeback, and create income-producing opportunities for yourself. In other words, you will hone and depend on your current skill-sets, return to school if you must, and use what you have already in your toolbox, to compete in the market place.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>We remind our people that they have, 'not only marketable skills, but income-producing skills" and that American citizens will have to compete against American and global interests, in order to garner and with our support (and hopefully yours) their slice of the global pie (not just the American one), for that ship has sailed.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>Maintenance programs are just that, maintenance; and they will result in many Americans being on the dole for the rest of their lives - we lost over 50 outdoor-citizen lives in the area, last year alone, along with several outdoor citizens in this region just over the past 3 weeks...</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>Finally, we help outdoor-citizens understand that more and more of the jobs that they were accustomed to having before, have been and are being shipped overseas, automated or outsourced. This phenomenon has occurred with the full consent of lobbied American government officials by American corporations. </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>Both entities are competing for their own survival and to satisfy campaign-financers and their stockholders. The dangerous nexus that currently exists between government and corporations, is only hurting the American people. However, we have to fight back!</span></span></p></div></li></span></ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Item III.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">John Maynard Keynes, Kenneth Galbraith would be appalled</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">, if they could witness the current economic conditions in America, particularly what is taking place in the American corporate marketplace, on Wall Street and with America's mercantile system (particularly in a nation with a 14T GDP, piled-up debt and Americans living in the streets). Who knows what Mr. Friedman would have to say if he were still with us today, with respect to current market conditions. And we all know that he was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and supply-side economist. Thomas Sowell, my soul brother, I don't understand you, but at the same time, we are moving on with our own economic recoveries. I feel that it is safe to say that the contract with America ala Hobbes and Keanes is DOA, at this juncture it appears to be, every person for themselves!</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Mr. Volcker has had very instructive things to say from time to time. Mr. Greenspan, has to defend himself, since he presided over the Fed, during the downturn and slide, ergo, he has been somewhat muted and more of an apologist. Mr. Geither and Mr. Bernanke are presiding over the current debacle and economic recovery, at the Treasury and at the Fed.</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>All of us know, I believe, what the real problem is and where it originated, in addition to all of the above (to include job losses, corporate down-sizing, repositioning, job furloughs, the stock-market crash), can you say hedge funds though? Where I disagree with many of the outdoor citizens and organizations that I am involved with, many of them accept the status-quo and fail to understand that it is time to to alter the status quo. Why? </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Because with the best of intentions many of them are doing the wrong thing today, and very little to address the systemic issues of our time. One thing that is needed for sure, in the Santa Clara Valley and other regions of the nation, is DISRUPTION!</span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In other words the same organizations that have prevented a crises of hunger in and among our demographic, have fallen into a separate rut. Today, however, </span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">it is time to get on with the business of rehabilitation, by partnering with outdoor citizens in a way that will help them to get back to creative ways of producing economic returns on their best investments, themselves.</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">These institutions did an admirable job before, however, it is time to switch gears, and to kick some butt. There has been a massive redistribution of wealth in this nation and this area, to the ones who needed it the least - and they are not going to give it back.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>In summary and I repeat that we believe the following:</span></span></span></p></div><ol><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>That organizations in the area need to adapt to a new paradigm, one in which individuals working with those who want to help themselves to recover, ought to be helped. The ones who do not, and will not help themselves, ignore them.</span></span></span></p></div></li><span class="Apple-style-span"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That outdoor citizens must be encouraged, taught … those who can be taught, to begin working to create income producing opportunities for themselves, with support (to include cleaning, sweeping, painting curbs, mowing lawns, using their computer-skills, starting their own hi-tech businesses some have advanced degrees you know).</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That outdoor citizens must volunteer to work, when one is capable of doing so, instead of receiving the gifts that they have been receiving of late, gratis.</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That a certain amount of pain being felt, will inspire some of our able-bodied, but spoiled outdoor citizens to get back to work or to create income-producing opportunities for themselves. We are living in a new day, and certain jobs aren't coming back!</span></span></p></div></li><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span>That organizations must channel more dollars into self-help organizations, not only HOP, who are trying to create self-sustaining and independent human beings instead of dependents (and the latter is what is taking place all over the area today.</span></span></p></div></li></span></ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In conclusion:</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">I wonder what our critics will have to say when we, HOP, a year and a-half old organization that began without money, a place and not very much of anything else, helps to alter the current paradigm and status quoin this region; or on the other hand, when the ones who are being served by status quo organizations make the turn around? Motivated outdoor-citizens, are turning to us already. The rest are staying in the parks, and relying on government, faith-based groups … to sustain them, to do their work for them - however, they are watching us. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">We plan to help individuals who desire to and are willing to work, to stand and to walk again. The answer is on the porch, not on the streets, </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><u><span style="font-weight: normal; ">or under another person or institution's control. And why are we doing what we are doing, because of LOVE!</span></u></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And if what you or you group has been and is doing currently works for the good of the people (not your group...) then by all means keep doing it. On the other hand and in the words of Dr. Phil, ask yourself or your group ... "how is what you have been doing, working for the individuals or groups that your group or you serves or has served in the past?"</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u><br /></u></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u>If nothing else you will be able to determine why you or your group are doing what you are or have been doing, and who really benefits! Sadly, and at times, we can do the right thing the wrong way!</u></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><u><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></u></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">And here is one final shameless, but hopefully helpful plug. During my years as a psychiatric counselor, where I received plaudits from my teammembers, who wondered why I had been more successful with my caseload, than many of them who had been there long before I arrived. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">My response was, "the clients in our Mental Health center told me that the difference between you and the other therapists is that you care about us, the others are here using us in order to acquire their advanced degrees". Sadly, and in many instances, I knew firsthand that they were correct - several of my peers were using the clients as a part of their work, in order to get what they wanted, their PhDs.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><u><span style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></u></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><u>To be informed, is to be armed!</u> Do some introspection and self-actualization, those of you who want to help. And ask yourself, why are you doing what you are doing? In other words, are you doing what you are doing for the ones who need help, or are you doing what you are doing for yourself? It matters ...</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Solomon</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>The Proud President of Hope for Outdoor People</span></span></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>Learn more about the growing supply-side dynamic and the outdoor citizen's demographic in Santa Clara County, by visiting 'The Outdoor Citizens Coalition of Santa Clara County's website at www.hoppeople.org! We have our own think tank, and are working to bring about positive social-change for our demographic in the Santa Clara Valley and beyond. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span>We need more HOP chapters around the nation. And please read our inspiring articles. Through The Window of Kathy's Eyes, is the featured article the week - please read it. </span></span></span></p></div><p></p></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></p><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p></div></span>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-34393387321372186562011-06-04T16:15:00.000-07:002011-06-04T16:16:20.850-07:00Through the Window of Kathy's Eyes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 22px; line-height: 24px;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="rt-article-content" style="line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><div class="rt-articleinfo" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div class="rt-article-icons" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; float: right; width: 65px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a href="http://hoppeople.org/index.php?option=com_mailto&tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL2hvcHBlb3BsZS5vcmcvaW5kZXgucGhwP29wdGlvbj1jb21fY29udGVudCZ2aWV3PWFydGljbGUmaWQ9MzA5OnRocm91Z2gtdGhlLXdpbmRvdy1vZi1rYXRoeXMtZXllcyZjYXRpZD00NTphcnRpY2xlcyZJdGVtaWQ9MTAz" title="E-mail" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: initial; outline-style: none; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="icon email" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: url(http://hoppeople.org/templates/hope/images/body/style6/typography.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; width: 15px; height: 15px; float: right; background-position: -18px 1px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "></span></a></div></div><div class="rt-article-inner" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><h4 style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.1em; letter-spacing: -1px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Please, go to HOP's blog. We would love to hear your response:</h4><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">All of us at one time had a job,a home, and one day we don't have our job anymore,can't pay the rent. Then the landlord comes and tell you that you been evicted from your home. There's nothing you can do about it, but pack all your things and leave. You never think that would ever happen to you until that day comes. Now comes the hard part, you don't have any money, and you don't have any place or any one you could stay with.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">And now you are one of the Outdoor People. And now you need to find a safe place to sleep. And I tell you its not a good thing to be sleeping outside. When night time comes its so hard to go to sleep because you get all that wind blowing on your body. Especially only one blanket and no pillow for your head and laying on the hard ground to sleep. That is very uncomfortable to sleep that way for a women.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">When your going to sleep you heard noise and people walking by you. And you'll afraid to close your eyes, because you don't know if its safe to go to sleep. And you tell your self is it safe to go to sleep, will I wake up in the morning!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img src="http://hoppeople.org/images/stories/hearts.png" alt="Heart" width="120" style="margin-top: 50px; margin-right: 50px; margin-bottom: 50px; margin-left: 50px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); float: left; border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-right-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-bottom-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-left-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">And you don't want to drink any thing at night because there is no bathroom to use. And you can't make a fire to cook any thing or heat up water. Some time at night you get hungy but there's nothing for you to eat. You have to wait till morning to find something to eat. And some time you go with out eating if you can't find any thing.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">There's no one to take care of you, you have to take care of your self and you got to watch your own back and never trust any one. Every one is on there own out there.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /><i style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Article submitted by Kathy in her own words and un-edited </i></p></div></div></span>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-72501578370484818692011-06-03T17:33:00.001-07:002011-06-30T08:26:35.464-07:00Jesus Was a Homey Too!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_7NvdDiG9oO5BZ9s46lFRRHnjGSdloeID8VEJ8f0GQlmdCiMmxv_OC8_d2e6r-e5Zg0FNSivujjCfOSUd3owsXFnmKtjHCoQCg0wCFWR03kMaIETQVutdEvjmQuvfvEf6yOI/s1600/0226111501.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_7NvdDiG9oO5BZ9s46lFRRHnjGSdloeID8VEJ8f0GQlmdCiMmxv_OC8_d2e6r-e5Zg0FNSivujjCfOSUd3owsXFnmKtjHCoQCg0wCFWR03kMaIETQVutdEvjmQuvfvEf6yOI/s320/0226111501.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614156865423959442" /></a><b>The Son of Man was Homeless:<br /></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.hoppeople.org/"><br /></a></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.hoppeople.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span">The foxes have holes, the birds have nests and the Son of God, has no where to lay his head?</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.hoppeople.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.hoppeople.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jesus was born in a manager, and afterward he spent significant periods of his life without a customary residence, and ultimately he was crucified. What a life? </span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.hoppeople.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.hoppeople.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span">And how many sons and daughters of God today, live outdoors or in isolation, not only in America but around the rest of the world? And sadly, many of today's current outdoor citizens, after bearing their crosses in isolation, end up dying alone!</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">____________________________________</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Is there anything wrong with living outdoors, in isolation or as a hermit? When is living outdoors or in isolation a problem?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">_____________________________________</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>As irreverent as it may sound, it appears to me that Jesus was a homey too. </b>And<b>, </b>as opposed to hanging out with the intelligentsia, the elite, political power brokers, clerics or the wealthy of his day, as a rule he often made his abode among the great unwashed of his time. In other words, Jesus mostly <i>hung out with 'the homeys</i> of his day'. And he was not alone in that regard, remember John the Baptist, Elijah, Ezekiel and other historical outdoor citizen icons, also practiced similar ascetic lifestyles. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">What explanation can there be for giants like these, having to or choosing to spend considerable periods of their lifetimes, living in isolation. Frequently they lived mountains, wildernesses, caves and among the great unwashed of their day? Ezekiel even complained of being all alone.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Any one of these icons, and individuals similar to them who practiced asceticism, could have used their gifts and talents to garner self-promotion.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Why would these gentlemen ... choose to remain outdoors, only to be teased by children, disdained by members of the upper crust of society, hungry, isolated and rejected? And what about John, who is often referred to as the Baptist, exactly who was his haberdasher? Elijah frequently adorned similar garb.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And even though Daniel eventually spent much of his life in the Royal Palace at Sushan, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, found themselves living under peculiar circumstances, even by today's standards. Remember, Jeremiah remained behind with the remnant when at the same time Ezekiel, another great prophet was forced to resides among the refugees in the Ghettos beside the River Chabar. Seldom did they complain about their living circumstances, even when sinking in the mire.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Given their stations in life, or better yet their reputations, it is inconceivable that they would have lived, moved and hung out with the great unwashed, even though they were called, apparently, to do so. How many of us would have obeyed if we received a similar calling. Why would Dr. Paul, reject all of the significant years of training that he received at the feet of Gamaliel, the nephew of Hillel, an education that could have garnered for him great wealth and the right station in life among the aristocracy. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>And what is the lesson for each one of us?</b> It is, I believe, that all of us ought to understand that the Earth is the Lord, and the fullness thereof - and as a result, all of us ought to understand that we are creatures of the earth (in other words composed of the earth). And what makes us different is that we are apparently earthen vessels that have been infused with the spirit of life. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">According to writer of the book of Genesis, God metaphorically breathed breath into man, and man became a living soul in deference to the flora and the fauna ... Prior to being infused with life, humans were nothing more than mud creatures. For example, have you ever gone out to the beach and taken mud or hydrated sand and created a figure that had all of the features of an animal or person, bit still it lacked one thing, the ability to move, get up, walk, think, fly, run, breath ...?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Well, that is all we were, prior to being jolted with the gift of life. Job explained, in the poetic book that bears his name, that he would return to womb from which he came, the earth. In the original King James version of the bible, when Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he said, "thy will be done (in) earth, as it is in heaven". Even though most translations today read, "thy will be done (on) earth, as it is done in heaven", for me it changes the entire context. In fact, I suspect that something significant has been lost in the re-interpretation. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Consider this, if God's word is 'forever settled (in) heaven,' then I suspect that it is just as significant that both God's word and his will be settled (inside of the earth), and we are 'the earthen creatures that Jesus may have been referring to'. His will being done 'on earth', says something altogether different to me. Get it? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And given that we are earthen vessels infused with spirit, and composed with ingredients from the earth, is it any wonder that not only the historical icons mentioned above, especially Jesus, spent considerable periods of their lives being one with the earth, mountains, trees and the great unwashed of the earth that typically resided outside. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Around the world today, in both developed and undeveloped countries, many of the citizens of the world are still outdoor citizens. By comparison, individuals who typically live in buildings, palaces of stone, straw, clay, wood ... have been and are still being extended respect, while at the same time their deferential brothers and sisters on the outside are often treated with disrespect. In other words, the highlanders receive respect, and the lowlanders receive disrespect. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Whether one happens to be a highlander or a lowlander, there is no shame in living outdoors, that is, with this caveat: It is your desire to remain outdoors, and you have the ability, desire and willingness to take care of yourself and your needs.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Among the outdoor citizen's demographic in modern day America, a significant number of outdoor citizens have chosen outdoor living as a lifestyle. Some outdoor citizens have chosen the highlands, and others have chosen the lowlands, but one thing that each group has in common is that they prefer a native habitat as opposed to living inside of a modern day structure. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Sadly, due to public policy and government regulations, the freedom to live outdoors is considered to be atypical or aberrant behavior, and the individuals who practice outdoor living, are considered to be nuisances, criminals, vagrants, vermin, varmints, varmants or strange. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The right of outdoor people to light a fire, in order to stay warm on a cold night, to dig a well in order to acquire water ... has all but been stripped away. And the earth is the Lord's, did we say?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I wonder, <b>what right does another human being or government institution have to tell a human</b> being who lacks a domicile, or chooses not to have one - that he or she cannot build and light a fire in order to keep themselves warm at night? And the current practice where outdoor citizens are forbidden to do so, is even more disturbing given the exploding homeless epidemic that is taking place in America. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Coupled with greed, unemployment, globalization, corporate down-sizing, outsourcing, jobs being sent overseas ... many Americans are experiencing, not by choice or plan, the need to live outside again, whether they want to live outside or not. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And what that says to me is that the regulations, and the public policy that created these regulations, needs to be modified, in order to adapt to the need of individuals to set up tents, a lean to or to build fires, construct camps ... America is in a state of emergency, in a similar manner as it would be if we were under military attack, or if there was some geologic anomaly. Legislators, policy-makers, local, state and national leaders, should have little to say when individuals have to find creative ways to survive, particularly when the former all return each day to warm domiciles with heat and running water. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Similar to the native or aboriginal people in most countries, native Americans also lived outdoors, and never once did any of them, I suspect, consider themselves to be homeless. <b><blockquote style="text-align: center;">If home is where the heart is, any place can be home, particularly if you feel comfortable.</blockquote></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The <i>highlanders</i> in the American scenario, appear to be the individuals that still have domiciles, some more than one, two or even three, and having that, the number of individuals who have homes is beginning to shrink as more homeowners are being dispossessed from their homes. So back to my point, what are outdoor citizens to do, particularly when they are no jobs, they cannot afford homes and the policy-makers use the police to keep their boots on their necks? Shouldn't outdoor citizens be permitted to construct habitats for themselves, without returning to find that they have been crushed by police officers who are simply following orders?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I heard someone on the radio say about a decade ago, that if God instructed Noah to erect an Ark in America, that he would very likely be unable to do so as God instructed him to do. Why? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The speaker, in the voice of Noah explained to God why he could not build the ark in the allotted time. "God", he said, "I tried, but I could get the environmental impact study done in time, and the Army Corp of engineers have to be brought in, and that will take time and then there is the regulatory commission to deal with ..."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Folks, America is changing and the laws will have to change as well, in order to meet the needs of the people, or otherwise what good is a commonwealth or a union of states, if it no longer can address the needs of the members of the commonwealth? What I like about Jesus was and is, <b>he seemed to have an affinity for the permanent underclass of his day.</b> And not only would he preach to them or teach them, Jesus, actually got out, hung out with them, drank from the same wells, imbibed on a pouch full of wine, played football (well, I take a bit of license here), but you get my drift.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">As a homey, I suspect that Jesus and his homeys were often dusty and perhaps a bit smelly at times. And on occasion, they would apparently enter into a field of corn, glean and have a bite to eat. Today, you could go to jail for doing such a thing. Why would Jesus behave in such such a manner, was he a thug? Or perhaps, he did it to set an example for the rest of us, and to remind us that what we do to the least of his little ones, that we do the same to them, especially when we look down our noses at people who live on the outside, instead of on the inside of the house!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Born outside (on the road), wrapped in swaddling clothes, lain in a manager ... and lacking what the foxes and birds had, holes and nest, or even a place to lay his head. Isn't it amazing that history is repeating itself today in America. Today, it is Mary, Jane, Johnny ..., who often are without a place to lay their heads . </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">If we don't have a sufficient amount of homes to go around, even though more and more of them are sitting empty today, let's adapt our public and social policy, so that we can accommodate individuals who are sincerely in need of help, even when it means living outside comfortably throughout the years. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">If you have never lived outside among the great unwashed, I suggest that you try it. I was forced to do so myself, to the surprise of former neighbors, relatives, ministers, former parishioners and friends. And the experience taught me what ministry was actually all about, and why Jesus, Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist lived, often, in the manner that they did. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">To live among, sit on the ground, dine and share utensils in some cases, with other individuals who were willing to share what little they had, was an eye opening experience for me. And, as a result, my ministry will never be the same. Perhaps all of America, should have a night or two out - someone contact President Obama, and see if he can arrange it. Trust me, if Jesus were here today, and he carried on as he once did, back in the day, most Americans would not be hanging out with Jesus, or the other prophets that I mentioned before, other than the individuals on skid row. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The latter group would likely welcome him into their camps, and offer him some of what they had to eat or drink. I will close with the lyrics of this song in mind: Jesus Christ Superstar ... <i>There are a lot of superstars living outdoors</i>, and if Jesus were to reappear in the manner that many believers expect him to do someday, where do you suppose that he will be hanging out, at the White House or the Church house?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I suspect that Jesus would go and find the lost sheep of the House of America, 'the homeys', rap with and live among them! So do as I did, and go and spend 4 or 5 months living outside with the outdoor people, or wherever you might find a place to lay your head (as opposed to longing for 'a mansion in the sky' as most Christians are doing. Besides, a certain percentage of Americans, who are not aware of it yet, are going to end up living outside too, if things don't change - and it could be you and your family!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Solomon</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Also the President of the Outdoor Citizen's Coalition & Think Tank of Santa Clara County California</b></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-86201954608883818362011-06-03T09:22:00.000-07:002011-06-03T17:32:53.166-07:00The Begging and Supply-Side Market: And Outdoor Citizens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3OUDmaRU0q_C0T9KxeZUmLLyHD4Mt6wU9J6jY-o3oW5v7P5FFwliXRQce2LjEJMhO7h88S2nOeGdrPrrljE5LonmBTSDXc8i-RRmWJV5bT7gLu0otamMiXQEpZj7XU4SkD9N/s1600/0209111704.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3OUDmaRU0q_C0T9KxeZUmLLyHD4Mt6wU9J6jY-o3oW5v7P5FFwliXRQce2LjEJMhO7h88S2nOeGdrPrrljE5LonmBTSDXc8i-RRmWJV5bT7gLu0otamMiXQEpZj7XU4SkD9N/s320/0209111704.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614030184665026258" /></a><br /><p align="LEFT" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><strong><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> Changing the Current Supply-Side Paradigm in Santa Clara County and Beyond! </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><em><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God:<br />10. And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.<br />11.And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.</span></span></span></span></span></em></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">This is a follow-up up to last quarter's article entitled, 'Addicted to Homelessness'. After the people saw this man who sat for years, walking again, many of them ran to Solomon's colonnade (or porch). And they wondered, how could this be? Actually, that is what we are attempting to do at HOP, 'The Outdoor Citizen's Coalition & Think Tank of Santa Clara County'. We are attempting to do the miraculous. In order to do so , our work is cut off for us in that we have to alter the ways of thinking of 2 groups, that are both co-dependent, the suppliers, and the recipients of supply-side handouts which often lead to dependency.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span> <span><span style="font-size: 9pt">We believe that in time, groups that helped to create the status quo and the beneficiaries will come running once they witness lives being turned around. And when they understand that they can walk again without the need for a handout, begging or depending on supply-siders! When you think about it, who benefits the most under the rubric of the current paradigm? The answer is in the question. </span></span></span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Author Derrick Bell, in his book, Faces At The Bottom of the Well, wrote: </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> "if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you will keep getting, what you have been getting".</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> HOP, with miniscule resources (the work is all being done by unpaid volunteers, former and current outdoor citizens), is working to help to change the dynamic, and therefore to benefit the outdoor citizens, by providing them with the know how, to get up and to get going again.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; ">The winds of change are blowing, and the individuals and organizations, that learn to shift with the tides will succeed.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; ">It is our hope that other outdoor-citizens (who prefer the current method of receiving something for doing nothing), and organizations in the area will soon follow suit and join us, even when it means revamping their systems and policies. Even the Apostle Peter, a fisherman who still had fish to give, stopped giving alms, and instead helped to lift a man to his feet so that he could walk on his own 2 feet again, when his paradigm changed.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Readers who are familiar with 'disruption theory', </span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">understand that from time to time there has to a change in the customary manner, and with the methods that have been used, if an individual or an organization plans to keep pace. Even a once great idea (the free delivery ice wagon, black and white TV, typewriters … eventually runs their course and are replaced by new and improved ideas or commodities. Smart leaders and managers on the cutting-edge, recognize when it is time to do, improve or create something that is different. Several organizations, some of notoriety in Silicon Valley, failed to forecast, evaluate their processes and to recognize the need for disruption and therefore change. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; ">Some once venerable organizations have recently been overtaken by upstart organizations that didn't exist a decade ago. Why? Because the leaders of the organizations failed to keep up or to recognize that from time to time, even a venerable organization has to recognize when it is time to change its mission, its methods and ways of doing things. Geo-politically, consider what is taking place in the Republic of China and the other emerging global markets today.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Successful businesses that plan to thrive also recognize the need to be as effective as they are efficient and to modify or change at certain peak times. The Valley in my opinion, with Federal and State help, has effectively underwritten what appears to be permanent underclass (if things don't change), roughly 7,000 outdoor citizens in the region, who will continue to depend on the system for life support. </span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">The outdoor-citizen's demographic is made up of women, children and men. Members of this permanent underclass have been on the dole for 5, 7, 10 and 12 years, before either recession in the Valley. The supply-sider provisioners will continue to respond to the demand, instead of recognizing that a problem has turned into a catastrophe under their watch. God help us! </span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">In other words, the mission of these organizations,some are faith-based, is to sustainable burgeoning permanent underclass not matter how large it grows, as opposed to assisting recipients of the area's largesse (which cannot last forever) to get up and walk again – and other organizations are following their lead. The recipients of the Valley's largesse, as well as the systems who supply them both need to experience disruption!</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span> </span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Item I</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Since my return from the nation's capitol several years ago, I ended up living in a shelter, a church's rear office, on a park bench, at the Salvation Army a few nights and occasionally with friends. I immediately recognized my problem, and that of my new cohort group, as a result of living among the outdoor citizens' demographic in Santa Clara Valley, and by observing what was taking place with well-intended government, social services and faith-based groups in the area. </span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">During the time that I lived among the outdoor citizens in the Valley, I not only made observations, I also took notes on this side of the Bay, as well as in the Peoples Park in Berkeley, the opposite side of the Bay. The First Church of Christian Science on Dwight Way was most helpful, Priscilla was my teacher and guide. Rosie, a long-time resident of the People's Park and Terri (who was affectionately known as 'the Compost Lady', because she planted flowers and vegetables in the park to feed the outdoor-citizens there. </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Then I began to collaborate with the outdoor citizens, as well as with service providers and faith-based groups in hopes of trying to determine what course of action should be taken in order to change the current dynamic. The first thing that I observed was that the outdoor citizens were mostly non participants in their own recoveries. Second, I noticed that there was a percentage of the outdoor-citizens demographic, who were satisfied with the way that things were operating at the present time, given the area's largesse.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Some outdoor citizens require support help true enough, however, others were unabashed moochers. The latter group, I concluded, needed what the lame beggar at the temple needed, someone to help to lift him to lift himself from the ground begging, so that he could get on with his life instead of depending on handouts.</span></span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">I also recognized that there were physically and mentally handicapped individuals, that were also in need of a supportive lift, not a wheelchair for life. Helping people is a balancing act, one that requires wisdom and discernment. Otherwise, good caring people, end up being a pawn in a freighter’s hand! Many caregivers ... have, unwittingly become pawn in someone elses manipulative game. Aside from the fact that some of the outdoor citizens who lack a conscience, will pull the whole system down with them, some of the helpers, who were supposed to be change agents, were experiencing Stockholm Syndrome. Dr. Zimbardo retired from SU, however, given the Stanford Prison Experiments, he would understand what I am referring to, with regard to this syndrome. </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">In fact, I was stunned, given some of the responses and feedback that I received, directly from the mouth's of service providers in the region. Several of them were were more perturbed with me for suggesting that change was necessary, than they were with the individuals (some malingerers), who were co-dependent with them, their agencies and their faith-based groups. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; ">Again, in too many instances, outdoor citizens are still not participating in their own recoveries- and too many services providers, faith-based groups, agencies ... want to rescue you, rather than help their clients to walk again. It was incredible, the amount of resources that were being expended, both finances and human capital, to deal with a problem that many of the outdoor citizens were not helping to solve!</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">At present, along with HOP and several other organizations and individuals, that are ahead of the curve in terms of recognizing a need for disruption in the region, I have joined forces with current and former outdoor citizens, who want to make a difference in the lives of our demographic. It is amazing, the incredible amount of resources being expended, including direct handouts on the streets, by government, faith-based and other institutions in the region. And still, there are approximately 7,000 outdoor citizens, living in the leading state in this nation. In other words, instead of crisis, most residents and institutions in the area, have accepted homelessness, as a condition.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">HOP, hopes to change minds and attitudes. HOP and other individuals and groups who believe in what we are doing are intent upon changing the current dynamic, not just among the outdoor citizens' demographic, but also among the agencies, faith-based groups and services providers that are <u>co-dependent with chronic outdoor citizens (in particular the ones that can help themselves with a minimal amount of help).</u> In order to do so HOP<u>, </u>had to create its own creative Think Tank agency. Now what is truly sad is, some individuals and institutions who make their living off of the homeless, don't want to have much to do with a professional outdoor citizen's organization that has an understanding of the problem, and is staffed with recovering individuals who have been there. Hmm!</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Well, who is this Solomon dude anyway, a man who popped up in town from Washington DC, several years ago, and who has as much as said that the service-providers … in this area ... are co-dependent with the outdoor citizen's demographic in this area, many of them? Am I a T-Partier, or an individual on the Right who believes in the redistribution of wealth when when it inures to the benefit of the class group that needs it the least? Nyat! </span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Don't get upset with me, I am on the side of right and I would like to help, if I can to break through the powerful matrix of caregivers ... that exist in this area. And don't feel bad if you feel turned on at first by me, many of the outdoor citizens who have been enjoying a comfy existence as a result of the area's largesse, wish that I would shut up and go away as well. Can you blame them, </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Solomon is creating disruption,</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> and spoiling some of their game(s)? How would you like it, if someone was tampering with your way of living? In fact, when you think about it, they have done so already.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">I actually argued a similar position, with a group of do-gooier social workers ... who converged on Washington DC, over 2 decades back in in the nation's capital, these services providers came from all other the nation, in order to focus on nationwide social and public policy issues. Approximately 1,000 of us, busily, spent the week in the nation's Capitol at a forum that was put together by The United Neighborhood Centers of America, an organization who brought together top professionals ... to come up with ways to solve the problems of America's permanent underclass in the inner-city. We caucused daily, met with representatives, debated issues, created our planks ... Eventually, the bleeding heart among us came around. I explained, that they were not being very realistic when it came to addressing the needs of America's permanent underclass, who were surviving in the nation's inner-cities. </span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Prior to leaving Washington (in 1983), neither my first nor my last time working on social and urban issues by the way at the Congressional level, there was a change of heart among the individuals who came there to bleed for America's permanent underclass, as opposed to coming up with some realistic proposals and solution. I hope that some of you will eventually recognize that you will do the same in the valley. Let me put it another way, stop enabling the able-bodied outdoor citizens, would you please?</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Some of our outdoor citizens need to feel the kind of pain that will shock their sensibilities, and spring them back into action. Pain, can be a motivator for positive social change, and to reverse lethargy and inaction. Given the number of individuals who are unhoused in the area or living on someone's floor... given all of the manpower and resources distributed, wouldn't you say at some point, that what you done, successfully before, is not working today? The crisis is worsening, and the Republican House has already proposed to role HUD Funding for example, back to 2007 levels to star. It's time for disruption and a change in the old ways of doing thing. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">For example, it is time to</span></span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">" </span><span>TELL THE OUTDOOR CITIZENS WHERE TO GO</span><span style="font-weight: normal">,</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> in other words where you send your money to. Explain to them that a organization with skilled personnel will help them to get going again. Whatever you do, stop supporting begging and dependency, you are reinforcing bad habits, which will only result in re-enforcing long-term chronic dependency. Again, tell them where to go 'to meet your money', in order to get help!</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Item II</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Jesus believed in and taught individuals to be responsible. It seems to me that the faith-based groups, agencies, and recipients of all of the public's and their congregation's largesse in this area, are intent upon doing just the opposite. Instead, too many of them are busily maintaining the 'we will take care of you status quo”. Let me give you an example. The outdoor citizens get everything for free in this area, to the extent that other outdoor citizens travel to this area because they have heard of 'how sweet it is in Santa Clara County'. Yes, San Franciscans travel here to get what they no longer can get in San Francisco. Outdoor Citizens from as far away as San Diego..., come here to take care of the area's largesse. From all across the nation they come, knowing that if you can make it the Bay Area's shores, that you will be taken care of, shortly, after you arrive.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">And even though I admire the spirit of giving in this area, I was even helped when my fortunes turned, however, with this caveat, I immediately engaged in a personal recovery plan. However, many of the helping organizations in this area neither understand when you are doing too much, nor when the able mind and bodied outdoor citizens, are not doing enough to help themselves - some, haven't sat down to make a recovery plan yet, and some of the helpers don't seem to mind!</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">And having said that, what you are doing is contributing to cultural dependency and social anomie. Outdoor citizens, ought to be required to take action steps themselves before receiving more than the very basic help. And afterward, when they are helped, benchmarks need to be set, with targets in mind, accompanied with frequent compliance reviews. Otherwise, permit the ones who refuse to a tour at The Pain Station!</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">The by-product of all of the, 'we will solve your problems for you'</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">, that too many of our chronic outdoor are experiencing, some for a decade or more, is that many of our outdoor citizens have remained right where they were long before I, and others like me, got involved in the fight. While being supported without condition, many of them have lost jobs, homes, apartments ... before the most recent recession, and some before the 2001 recession in this region. Has there any accountability? What happened, given all of the resources that have been expended already, I can't see any results. We can blame what has transpired on the the economy ... however, that is not the whole story. Over-dependence on a free-handout economy, including a guaranteed job is the problem. It is time for a new way of thinking and reckoning to be put into place.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Sadly, </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">I can't seem to get faith-based groups to understand that not even Jesu</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">s, continued his 'miracle healing feeding crusade', once he realized that his program enabled individuals (who were merely following him in order to obtain fish food, and other miracles. At HOP, the Think Tank and Advocacy organization, one that is comprised of current and former outdoor citizens mind you - we are teaching a new paradigm. Hopefully, others will get on board and try something new for a change. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">One HOP member proposed a slogan 2-days ago that will be incorporated, with regard to street and other beggars, and it is: </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">REFUSE TO GIVE CHANGE TO PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO CHANGE.</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> This slogan compliments, the new TELL THEM WHERE TO SLOGAN that we came up. In other words, don't give any more money to anyone on the streets, or at the expressway exists. Instead, give the money to responsible and ethical organizations, and at the same time tell the beggar where to go where he can be helped, supervised, monitored and given a helping hand (if he or she will do what they are told in order to help themselves. Giving on the streets ... have only buttressed begging and the lack of accountability, but more importantly, the lack of effort and change in the lives of beggars.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">We know some things that some don't know, because we've been there. Many of our team members are already working to turn their lives around, instead of being dependents on a system that doesn't work to help individuals to get up and to get going again, sadly. During my last person-to-person meeting with late Congressman Augustus Hawkins of the 101st district in Los Angeles, in Washington DC; before he passed on, he told me something. He said, you can actually do more back at home by working with the ones who are in need in the community, than you can get down here in Washington DC …” Many other Representatives in Washington, for example late Representative John Seiberling of Ohio ... echoed the same sentiment and shared similar advice. Practically every Representative that I spoke with, admitted that Washington was in gridlock. </span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Representative Conyers from Michigan, once explained to a group of us in DC, that a certain bill that he tried to get on the floor for 25 years, was never permitted to come to the floor, out of committee ... for a vote. Washington, as most Americans already know, has been deadlocked - well that is unless you are an organization that owns one or more of the </span></span></span></span></span><em><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">300,000 or more registered (mostly corporate) lobbyists in this nation</span></span></span></span></span></em><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">, who will do your bidding for you, they you will likely get what you want. Is it any wonder that many of the residents in DC refer to it as 'Dodge City', well, because of the killing that goes on there.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">HOP, and several other well-intentioned institutions in America and this area, are not the place to go if one does not intend to alter their plight, and that is in consideration of individuals on both sides of the spectrum. At HOP, we are essentially teaching outdoor citizens, the ones who will listen, a new paradigm, and it includes the following:</span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That the world has changed since the Post WWII economic boom that America experienced (which lasted more than a half century).</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That Europe was devastated, and broke at the end of the war, while America's blue collar industry, factories, banking and mercantile industries too, among other things, were booming.</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">And as a result, there were jobs a plenty. (Many Americans in the rust belt where I hail from, held more than one job at a time). I can recall when I held 2 jobs and was working 16 hours a day around the age of 18.</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">However today greed, coupled with globalization, corporate down-sizing, loss of market share to the emerging global economies, corporate down-sizing, the depression and the slow economic recovery (not to overlook the psyche of the entitled to a job Americans), too many Americans have lost that one well paying job - that they used to have. And more more and more of them are sitting in a stupor, while waiting for 'their job' to come back. </span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That the shrinking manufacturing base, currently at about 27% of what it was decades ago, has resulted in many of blue collar workers having been simply put, eliminated. And as a result, homes, apartments, rooms and families have been broken up and lost...</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That even if you were able to garner a job, typically short-term, you would not earn a sufficient amount to cover your living expenses, particularly, if you live in northern California, especially, if you were return to the same market place, that along with 50 years of I AM ENTITLED conditioning.</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That the solution is, within you along with solid supportive help, of the kind that teach and help you to take back charge of your lives, and therefore your destinies with this in mind; you must take the responsibility for your comeback, and create income-producing opportunities for yourself. In other words, you will hone and depend on your current skill-sets, return to school if you must, and use what you have already in your toolbox, to compete in the market place.</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">We remind our people that they have, 'not only marketable skills, but income-producing skills" and that American citizens will have to compete against American and global interests, in order to garner and with our support (and hopefully yours) garner their slice of the global pie (not just the American one), for that ship has sailed. </span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Maintenance programs are just that, maintenance; and they will result in many Americans being on the dole for the rest of their lives - we lost over 50 lives in the area, last year alone, along with several outdoor citizens in this region just over the past 3 weeks..</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Finally, we help outdoor-citizens to understand that in the near future, the jobs that they were used to having, have been and are permanently being shipped overseas, with the full consent of the American government and American corporations, 2 entities that are competing for themselves, their share-holders and campaign-finance in the American and global market place.</span></span></span></p> </li></ol> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Item III.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">John Maynard Keanes, Kenneth Galbraith would be appalled</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">, if they could witness the current economic conditions in America, particularly what is taking place in the American corporate marketplace, on Wall Street and with America's mercantile system (particularly in a nation with a 14T GDP, piled-up debt and Americans living in the streets). Who knows what Mr. Friedman would have to say if he were still with us today, with respect to current market conditions. And we all know that he was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and supply-side economist. Thomas Sowell, my soul brother, I don't understand you, but at the same time, we are moving on with our own economic recoveries. I feel that it is safe to say that the contract with America ala Hobbes and Keanes is DOA, at this juncture it appears to be, every person for themselves!</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">Mr. Volcker has had very instructive things to say from time to time. Mr. Greenspan, has to defend himself, since he presided over the Fed, during the downturn and slide, ergo, he has been somewhat muted and more of an apologist. Mr. Guytner and Mr. Bernanke are presiding over the current debacle and economic recovery, at the Treasury and at the Fed.</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">All of us know, I believe, what the real problem is and where it originated, in addition to all of the above (to include job losses, corporate down-sizing, repositioning, job furloughs, the stock-market crash), can you say hedge funds though? Where I disagree with many of the outdoor citizens and organizations that I am involved with, many of them are status-quo organizations, is that they do not understand that it is time to do something different and to alter the status quo again. Why? Because with the best of intentions many of them are doing the wrong thing today, and very little to address the systemic issues of our time. One thing that is need for sure, in the Santa Clara Valley, is DISRUPTION!</span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">In other words the same organizations that have prevented a crises of hunger in and among our demographic, have fallen into a separate rut. Today, however, </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">it is time to get on with the business of rehabilitation, by partnering with outdoor citizens in a way that will help them to get back to the creative ways of producing economic returns on their best investments, themselves.</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> These institutions did an admirable job before, however, it is time to switch gears, and to kick some butt. There has been a massive redistribution of wealth in this nation and this area, to the ones who needed it the least - and they are not going to give it back. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">In summary and I repeat, we believe the following:</span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That organizations in the area need to adapt to a new paradigm, one in which individuals working with those who want to help themselves to recover, ought to be helped. The ones who do not, and will not help themselves, ignore them.</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That outdoor citizens must be encouraged, taught … those who can be taught to began working to create income producing opportunities for themselves, with support (to include cleaning, sweeping, painting curbs, mowing lawns, using their computer-skills, starting their own hi-tech businesses some have advanced degrees you know).</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That outdoor citizens must volunteer to work, when one is capable of doing so, instead of receiving the gifts that they have been receiving of late, gratis.</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That a certain amount of pain being felt, will inspire some of our able-bodied, but spoiled outdoor citizens to get back to work or to create income-producing opportunities for themselves. We are living in a new day, and certain jobs aren't coming back!</span></span></span></p> </li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt">That organizations must channel more dollars into self-help organizations, not only HOP, who are trying to create self-sustaining and independent human beings instead of dependents (and the latter is what is taking place all over the area today.</span></span></span></p> </li></ol> <p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">In conclusion:</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> I wonder what our critics will have to say when we, HOP, a year and a-half old organization that began without money, a place and not very much of anything else, helps to alter the current paradigm and status quoin this region; or on the other hand, when the ones who are being served by status quo organizations make the turn around? Motivated outdoor-citizens, are turning to us already. The rest are staying in the parks, and relying on government, faith-based groups … to sustain them, to do their work for them - however, they are watching us. We plan to help individuals who desire to and are willing to work, to stand and to walk again. The answer is on the porch, not on the streets, </span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><u><span style="font-weight: normal">or under another person or institution's control. And why are we doing what we are doing, because of LOVE!</span></u></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Solomon</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Learn more about the growing supply-side dynamic and the outdoor citizen's demographic in Santa Clara County, by visiting 'The Outdoor Citizens of Santa Clara County', at HOPPEOPLE.org! We have our own think tank, and are working to bring about positive social-change for our demographic in the Santa Clara Valley and beyond. Again: www.hoppeople.org!</p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-73908889938210700322011-05-30T13:53:00.000-07:002011-06-04T16:21:02.845-07:00Netanyahu: The Tail That is Wagging the American Dog!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; "></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6ZwZ0rb0t4/TeP_O_IyH3I/AAAAAAAAACA/N8_s_Ek2ej0/s1600/0209111356.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; "><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6ZwZ0rb0t4/TeP_O_IyH3I/AAAAAAAAACA/N8_s_Ek2ej0/s320/0209111356.jpg" style="cursor: move; " /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Regarding the Jerkweed Prime Minister of Israel: <b>Tear down that wall Mr. Netanyahu!</b></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I heard someone say,that dogs will take it out of one place, and stick it in another without washing it off. And that makes me think of Netanyahu, other current and former Israeli-hardliners, Israel's relationship with the former Soviet Union, the United States and vice versa.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I keep wondering, how does this man, have more power in the United States, and with America's leadership than rank and file Americans do? "Go back to your military base, Netanyahu".</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I was stunned several years ago, when during one of his frequent visits to the United States of America, Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, publicly made condescending remarks about former President Jimmy Carter, and he made his comments before an American audience no less. I wish that I had been an audience member at the time!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">His exact words were: “Jimmy Carter, he wasn't a very good president, was he”? And not just because it was former democratic President Jimmy Carter that he was referring to, I couldn't get over the fact that he was arrogant enough to make such a obstreperous comment about an American president in the United States of America no less. I thought to myself, who was this jerk, and how dare he make such comments, and even worse than that, why wasn't he chastised and told to show respect for our leaders, individuals that the American people elected to office?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">On the other hand, American leaders and Secretaries of State, go out of their way to ensure that they never offend Israel, and the provocative warhawks within Israel's leadership. Hmm!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Just yesterday, a week after his meeting with President Obama (a man that I did not vote for by the way),Netanyahu, received 27 standing ovations from members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican. And their behavior was in deference to Netanyahu's untoward behavior to yet another American President (a sitting American president no less). How could this be, I wondered?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">What immediately came to mind was, just how hostile and unprincipled this man must be when dealing with his Arab and Palestinian neighbors during negotiations, given that he will openly exhibit such hostile feelings and untoward behaviors towards American Presidents, his friends. Clearly then, this man could not and cannot be an even broker, or to put it another way, a principled negotiator, when dealing with the Arab and Palestinian people. History has proven that to be true time and time again. Simply consider how Israel continues to violate treaties, and to build settlements in the West Bank.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Let me see, Israel and the Arab/Palestinians or in this hemisphere, the United States v Cuba ... Neither nation is behaving in good faith with their border neighbors are they? In fact, both nations behave in the same manner with their border neighbors, dishonestly and with complete disdain!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">But getting back to Israel and the hawkish and insubordinate behavior of their leaders on American soil, one has to wonder, who is in charge, especially, when our money is being used to underwrite Israel's untoward behavior towards Arabs, Palestinians, American presidents and the American people? Clearly, when it comes right down to it, Israel is the tail that is wagging the American dog, for when the hawks in Israel bark, even American President's back down. What must this say to other powerful nations in the world? Not even America's other allies, receive this kind of attention or leeway.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">One can easily tell, by watching Israel's hawkish leaders and their comfy relationship with the United States of America - Israel's number one sponsor and supporter of terror - that their leaders lack respect for America, America's leaders and all of the American people. Folks, we are being used too, or are we? I will come back to which nation is using the other later, given the apparent and unhealthy quid-pro-quo relationship that exists between those nations.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Part II</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">What does all of this say to the American people and the rest of the world? I know what it says to me. And to think that the Republicans got upset about President Chavez's sulfur comments, that were directed at then sitting President George H. Bush Jr. following his speech the day before at the United Nations, several years ago. On the other hand, Israel's leaders get a bye, when they do the same thing, when their leaders insult certain American leaders. The former incident with President Bush Jr., was also accompanied by an incident, where an Arab lobbed a shoe at President George H.W. Bush Jr. while he was speaking overseas!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The customary manner in which American President's cower to Israeli hawks and warhawks like Netanyahu, and in the past late terrorist Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - don't forget him, it gives me pause if not downright concern! The arrogance of Netanyahu, he amazes me, not to mention the manner in which a sitting president acquiesces and afterward the Congress praises him, given his insolence. Netanyahu not only disparages America's leaders, he is also sending a message to the American people who voted for them, that he doesn't respect us either. He only wants what he wants from us, to provide Israel with aid, trade, weapons and cover at the United Nations.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Clearly, Israel's hawkish leaders are more important to our leader/servants in Washington DC, than the will of the people who elected them, happens to be. Israel's leaders tried to make it appear that former and late leader of the PLO, Yasser Arafat was a terrorist? Hmm, what about Sharon and Netanyahu – both are the moral equivalent of each other from my point of view. Yasser, he was fighting for freedom from oppression, Israel's oppression!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The Apostle Paul once wrote: “My earnest desire and prayer for Israel, is that Israel might be saved, for I bear them record that they have a zeal, but it is not according to knowledge. For they have left the righteousness of God and have gone about to establish their own righteousness”. Get it, self righteousness!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I don't always agree with the former Apostle, however, I can see where he was coming from, based upon what I have observed from Israel, 2000 years later. What was it that Paul recognized about Israel in the Common Era, that apparently has not changed until this day? Was it the same kind of stubborn hard-headiness, or exceptionalist behaviors and attitudes, that we are witnessing today, 2000 years later? Some writers have said that Israel, was and is today, the harbinger of 'A Chosen People Complex'! Think about it - they believe that they are better than everyone else in the world, some of them, even Americans.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Was the Apostle Paul anti-Semitic or a traitor, given his criticisms of his own brethren? Perceptions haven't changed much have they, except among American Christians perhaps? Christians, will rationalize or justify whatever Israel does, behavior that they would condemn, if it was exhibited by any other nation.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">If the Apostle were alive today and would have spoken the same words, he would be considered to be anti-Semitic, in spite of his own Semitic heritage, by Jews Christians, particularly, if they had to choose between American foreign policy and Paul. Am I anti-Semitic too, you're wondering? Answer, not that I know of, I simply believe in truth, justice and speaking truth to power - even America's and Israel's power.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Can you see the similarities between the Apostle's conclusions, and many of our own perceptions about Israel today? Israel, in collusion with the USA, often seems to be making up its own rules when it comes to its venal policies, and did I say with the full backing and support of America's leadership at Washington. Having America on your side, a permanent member in the U.N. Security Council, helps Israel to get away with murder, with the approval of most American Christians!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">There is another common denominator that seems to exist between conservatives in America, and conservatives in Israel. If you were to criticize conservatives in either group, you would be labeled either an anti-Semitic in the case of Israel, or a non-patriot in the eyes of Republican leaders in America.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">III.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Isn't it sad that such a beautiful term, conservative, is used to describe such a venal and self-centered group of people, in particular the hard-liners on the Republican Right, which is often wrong? I suspect that the term 'selfish', would be more apropos!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">How does jerkweed Netanyahu, and former Israeli leaders like Ariel Sharon get away with their disrespectful behavior towards America's leadership? Clearly, they have something on the United States and its leaders.They know something about America and its behind-the-scenes covert operations and policies that we don't know about. And no matter, what some Americans are fine with that, while some of us are not.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Consider when Ronald Reagan was still alive, our late President conspired with Israel,to sell arms to the Contras, whereby circumventing the will of the American people and Congress. Another quasi-conservative, former President George H.W. Bush, was also involved.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Late Senator Barry Goldwater, who was the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee at the time was furious when he discovered that the President colluded with Israel in defiance of Congress and the people of the United States of America. Had I been head of the Senate Intelligence committee, I would have been furious too, and would have moved to have Reagan impeached.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I believe that there has been an ongoing secret, innocuous and hidden, quid pro quo relationship between the leadership of these two nations since and before 1947. Could you blame Senator Goldwater for being furious? Israeli's knew more about what America was doing, than Mr. Goldwater did?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">This kind of duplicity at the top, appears to be something that is deeply rooted within the foreign policy agenda of both nations, and, Israel, America's satrap does what it is told to do. Or on the other hand, is it the other way around, given this quid pro quo relationship between the leaders of both nations? Poor President Obama, has been left out of the deal apparently, because of his African and democratic roots. And a name like, OBAMA, doesn't help. I betcha, Sharon can hardly get used to a man who looks like, and carries the surname of his enemies, especially when he is the President of Sharon's United States of America, a nation that he controls.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">He knows that due to President Obama's heritage, that he cannot be trusted by Israel to do what needs to be done from their point of view, that is to kill his close kin in the Middle-East and beyond.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Here is something else to ponder: Who would our government officials sell out first, if they had to decide between American citizens and members of the Israeli terrorist cabal?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The answer is obvious - the American citizen would loose to Israel's anti-Palestinian and Arab warhawks, and their Washington DC, counterparts. Get it, Sharon and company were, and are more of a priority to past and present secret interests and Presidents in Washington DC, than are the majority of America's citizens. America is not the fair broker that it pretends to be in the Middle-East or with its own citizens. And America, has a dog in the Middle-East fight, despite its pretense of having dealt with an even-hand in the past and present with the Palestinian People, and in the east-west divide.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">President Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and possibly President Obama, I am certain, knows that. And, the Arab and Palestinian people know it too! Perhaps someone from Wiki Leaks can get to the bottom of this, and afterward inform the American people as to what is really going on behind the scenes between US and Israeli leaders. It would appear that the members of Wiki-Leaks are more likely to provide full disclosure to the American people, than the leaders of either nation will ever do!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Isn't it sad when the American people have to rely on espionage to get the real truth about our own leadership and their secret-friends in the Israel and America's foreign policy agenda?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">American officials, past and present, are clearly speaking with a forked-tongue, when it comes to Israel and the rest of the Middle-East. And, I suspect that the Palestinian people know it (that Israel is really an American proxy that is performing America's bidding in the Middle-East), just as the American people already suspect. I hear echoes of what the late W.E. B. DuBois said about "the problem problem of the Color Line in the 20th century”. He was apparently right on more than one count, and the problem is alive and well in the 21st century too.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">IV.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I can still recall, several decades ago, when the majority of civilized nations of the world boycotted the racist apartheid regime in South Africa, given its continued suppression and discrimination of the black majority in the nation of South Africa (to include 3 decades of imprisonment of liberator Nelson Mandela). At the time, Israel stood out among the other nations of the world in this regard. Israel ignored the boycott, and continued to sell weapons to the racist government (weapons that were used against black Africans and paid for with American money).</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">In fact, Israel stood with a minority group of whites in order to further imprison the majority of blacks in South Africa. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why Israel empathized with the white-racist oppressor-regime in South Africa, because Israel, was doing the same to the majority people-of-color, that surrounded and share the homeland.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">What happened to Israel? Syndicated Journalist Mark Shields, read a quotation from a Iraeli leader with regard to their liberation from ancient Egypt, that went something like this: After being the children of bondage in Egypt, never would the people of Israel hold any other people in bondage. And when you get right down to it, isn't that what Israel has been doing, holding people in bondage?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">In both instances, Israel was and is helping to hold people of color in bondage in South Africa and the Middle-East, since 1947, the costs being underwritten in part with American tax-dollars; to be succinct, your and my tax dollars. It would appear that America's leaders, as they have done in the past are on the side of the insidious oppressors, against the oppressed. And all of us can recall that sad display as it relates to what took place <u>IN THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE SLAVE</u>, America, for 200 years. At the time, Americans , with the full support of government (all 3 branches..),against non-whites in America!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Many Americans of late, have referred to Israel as “America's 51st State”. From all indications, it is America's most powerful state, and it is to the extent that America's leadership cowers and bows before it, like no other state in the Union, and not even to the American people!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Black Americans are caught in the middle of this quagmire in this sense: The Jewish community in America, has been indispensable when it came to supporting human rights and freedom for Americans, Cynthia McKinney, Malik El Shabazz, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Minister Farrakhan being notable exceptions. Who can forget or overlook the work done, past and present, by Morris Dees and the Southern Poverty Law Center, or the Jewish community for underwriting the cost of the NAACP's work since it began, paying for the March on Washington, Annenberg's 50M dollar donation to the UNCF...</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">And even though we appreciate what the Jewish community has done, and is still doing for us today, how can oppressed people, including Jewish people, support the oppression of other people that are friends of individuals who helped to support our liberation? And therefore, Israeli's expectation that black Americans should support AIPAC, even when it is misbehaving, is insulting. Again, our Jewish friends supported us right up to the time that our hawkish freedom and justice fighters leaders, former U.S. Representative and Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney, the Late Malik El Shabazz, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Minister Luis Farrakhan stood up for our rights.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">How come Israel and AIPAC get to stand up for their perceived rights</span>, and we are punished when we do, or better yet, Arabs and Palestinians, who are in the same positions that Israel was in before 1947, can't stand up for there's? Wouldn't you that think that Israel would understand what it is that the people that they are oppressing, are experiencing? I guess not, for who who or what groups of leaders from any nation, are more radical than Israel's leadership happens to be at this time, and on many occasions before?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">For the 3rd time, former Representative and Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney, the late Malik El Shabazz, Reverend Jesse Jack and Minister Farrakhan ... all know that. Once upon a time, our church rented a room from the Jewish Center in Palo Alto California for overflow purposes. Upon arriving one Sunday, where I taught a special class on Sunday mornings, a caricaturized picture of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, was hung prominently, just above the light switch. It was placed in an obvious place, where we, mostly African-Americans, would see it. The caption under the Reverend's picture was, 'Big Mouth'. My God I thought, we support you with our tax dollars, and you insult us on Sunday no less, at a Christian Bible Study Hmm!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">None of the above possess nukes, blacks, Arabs or Palestinians (their governments wouldn't permit it). None of our leaders, have killed anyone (well, Minister Farrakhan, admitted that he may have contributed to the violence inside the FOI, that resulted in El Shabazz's death when speaking to his late widow Betty Shabbaz). When John Brown, attempted to arm us so that we could fight for our freedom, look what happened to him? He was killed for fighting for liberation of an oppressed people, and he was white? I wonder, how come our liberation didn’t matter for so long, on the other hand, our people were sent to fight for freedom in other nations and for other races, only to return to The Land of the Free and The Home of the Slave, to be discriminated against, even by its own government? Tch tch tch!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Having said that, did or does what our friends in the Jewish community do to justly help free us from our oppressors, preclude us from speaking up and out to Israel and our friends, when they misbehave in the same manner that our oppressors did with us in America.? The answer is, I think not! Israel, benefits from my tax dollars too, and I and my counterparts have something to say about how our tax dollars are spent - get it, something to say! Truthfully, we know that our leaders will spend our taxpayers to liberate other people, and the same tax dollars to punish us.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Clearly, the leadership in Israel, is behaving much like the Klan and our government did here in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Slave when it comes to the Arab and Palestinian people. Similar to the manner in which black Americans have been summarily tossed off of their lands, at the drop of an oppressor's whim, Arabs and Palestinians were evicted in the same manner from the Middle-East in 1947, 48!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">V.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Christians in and outside of America ought to ask themselves, what would Jesus do? Or what would he tell a powerful and fully armed Israel to do when it comes to Palestinians (Philistines) and Arabs? I don't recall Jesus telling his Jewish brothers and sisters to strike out against the Roman Government? Jesus, even stopped his disciples from calling down "HELLFIRE Missiles", to be used to destroy people who did not receive them, their message or ways of believing and doing things. Jesus, rebuked his followers. Why won't the USA, a nation that sought freed from its perceived oppressors, England at the time, do the same thing, and tell Israel to knock it off, and to TEAR DOWN THAT WALL MR. Netanyahu!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Now as I understand it, during a briefing that I sat in on at the National Press Club in Washington DC several years ago, it was conservatives in Israel who were the culprits, not the rank and file Jewish citizens, who were the aggressors. I also learned that the majority of Israel's citizens, prefer to and get along just fine with Arabs and Palestinians in Israel, just as blacks and whites once did in this nation, before being dissuaded from doing so by hard-liners inside and outside of government.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The same is taking place in Israel today, their hawks discourage Israel 'citizens from having anything to do with Arabs and Palestinians, and we are all aware of the Israeli Wall that has been erected to divide the two nations in order to keep the people apart. No folks, I am not talking about the Wailing Wall. Israel, has erected its own form of Berlin Wall, that is being used to separate the East from the West, so that never the twain shall meet, that is if the warhawks can help it. Now what do America's leaders have to do with that, I wonder? Tear Down That Wall Mr. Netanyahu!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Haven't our leaders, past and present, who are in charge of our foreign policy apparatus, played footsies long enough with the Israeli warhawks? It would appear that they have done so to the extent that now when a sitting President wants Israel to return to the 1947 territorial agreement, that the unprincipled Israeli Prime Minister, offers disdain for the sitting President of the United States. Have the chickens come home to roost?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Israel's government, current and former descendants of European Jews, going back to and before Sharon - leave much to be desired! Even as far back into antiquity as one might care to explore, Israel has on occasion been smart enough to align itself with powerful empires like the Babylonian empire.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">In recent history, Israel has been allied with the Soviet Union</span>, prior to being aligned with the United States. Most of us know that a significant number of the inhabitants of Israel are secularists, which would explain their cozy relationship with the Soviets ( before getting in bed with the United States). Clearly, Israel's leadership will get in bed with Satan in order to preserve, or have what they want – and I am not saying that the Soviets were Satan.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Keep in mind that people in other nations believe that we, the do one thing and say something else nation believe that we are the Great Satan. And I believe that our leaders in Washington, some of them past and present, know where Satan sleeps at too!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Does Netanyahu, similar to late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, have any respect for the United, States and its leadership, or isn't it a fact that the Prime Minister has sold his allegiance to the highest-bidder just as his predecessors did, the USA of late? And isn't it true that he is simply using the people of the United States and America's treasury on a quid pro quo basis, so that the hawks and hardliners in Israel can get what they want. And what does the USA get in return one must ask?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I believe that the USA receives American management and surveillance of the Middle-East by proxy with the help of Israel's secret intelligence agencies, including the Masoud. And Americans should keep in mind that Israel has also spied on the United States too in the past, just as it is doing in the Middle-East (at the behest of it's friends, now, thecurrent United States of Israel)! Oops, whose side are they on, and which nation is using which nation, and which nation is the satrap?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The democratization of Northern Africa and the Mediterranean, to include Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria … is causing America and its duplicitous foreign policy apparatus to rethink things, I suspect and Israel knows that. Because when it comes to the Middle-East and Israel, certainly the leadership of Israel does not want to see Democracy take hold in the Mediterranean. If that were to occur, it would provide an edge to the majority Arab and Palestinian nations. Israel knows that the USA will appear to be a hypocrite if it continues to stand up for Israel's malfeasance.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">And America is simply waiting to be on the side of whoever emerges as the winner in the Mediterranean, assuming that true democracy takes place within the oil-rich Palestinian and Arab nations.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Israel is not a majority Christian nation either, even though Israel depends on Christians from all over the world, particularly the United States for direct financial aid, intelligence information and military support. Again, we can see that the tail is wagging the dog, and the dog is willing to be wagged in order to get what it wants in the Middle-East. However, the real dog in the fight is apparently about to be exposed given the changes that are taking place in the world, especially the Mediterranean ...</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">VI.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Who could have ever have imagined the USA abandoning Israel?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">It might happen folks, for once Israel is no longer needed, and America, who has more to gain if it can get Arabs and Palestinians to switch sides. If that were to happen, Israel, would become isolated, and have to go back to the Russian Orbit , another major power to align with it, or China perhaps. And boy oh boy, what all would the Israel's have to share with the Russians, about American intelligence.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I suspect that what the people of both nations will have to do, is what nationals all over the world are doing, given the failure of leadership by their current and past leaders. The people will have to wrest power back from government officials who clearly have their own set and secret agendas.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">And the latter differs, by and large, from what the people want and need in order to take care of the commonwealth and the people. The people of Israel need to engage in direct talks with the American people, not the jaundiced power-brokers who make deals with Israel's leadership in America. The people of Israel also need to learn what it is that the majority of Americans want, especially if they ever expect to receive support in the future from informed Americans like me.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">And I will say this again, even as a post-modern Christian, Jesus, would likely have spoken truth to Israeli's power, and explained how the 1974 deal, unfairly, came into being. Jesus would also likely explain that a lie would not stand. And most of know that the 1947 deal was a lie, one that did not take into consideration the current inhabitants of the land or their needs.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Jesus would show Israel's leaders, that in the manner that the Roman government of the common era controlled Israel by military force, threats and economic strangulation, that Israel was doing the same to the Arabs and Palestinians in the region. The people of Israel ought to understand that if the shift of power continues around the world, the result could be a different United Nations, with 15 different members of the Security Council, 5 being permanent. And the United Nations might issue a new resolution, one which could result in a power shift in favor of the Palestinians; anything is possible.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Would Israel's leaders listen to Jesus this time around? We all know that they did not listen to him before, however, more is at stake now. Can you say financial aid. If Jesus showed up and Netanyahu upstaged Jesus, as he is doing now with America's sitting President, Christians would be furious - or would they prefer American foreign policy over Jesus?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">A change in the balance of power is already in the offing. And in other words, someday, the holy lands might be returned to the Arabs and Palestinian people, despite what biblical eschatologists, who also have a dog in the fight, believe and teach. Israel, and its Godly supporters in the West and some Arab and Palestinian, should ask themselves: whose will is it that they are pursuing? Is it God's will or there own? I suspect that it is the latter. If Jesus' sermon on the mount meant anything, what I take from it is this, give them the land if they want it, especially, if you believe that God has a better place for you.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Clearly, that war torn land is not holy, even as most Christians believe that it is – it's dirt folks. If the Temple is going to be rebuilt in Jerusalem …, then God will do it right, in spite of Israel, the Palestinians or anyone else!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">It is time to do something different, if nothing more than having the people of the world to stand up together and to stop others from taking advantage of people who are caught in between 2 powerful groups in the world, and an insidious plot that is being held together by walls, weapons, checkpoints and the threat of annihilation.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">As I close, I repeat what I said before, if the USA were to switch sides and become friendly with the emerging democracies in the area, Netanyahu, would blow the whole Middle-East up before he would cede power. So, before and if that would happen, and as flippant as it may sound - we have plenty of open spaces in the United States. We could easily absorb and accommodate 5m Middle-Eastern repatriated Jews and their descendants, in the name of peace. All of us know that there are factions on both sides that have no desire to see peace, not just the Palestinians and Arabs. If Israel wants to behave like a Western nation, well, why not simply join us in the West, say Montana or Wyoming, two beautiful but under-inhabited states!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">American Christians who believe in biblical eschatology have a romantic attachment with Israel, regardless of what it does, or who its soldiers kill, and they use the Bible to justify and rationalize their thirst for Arab and Palestinian blood. They will support Israel, even when Israel is wrong, Christians, particularly in America, expect, believe, crave and look forward to Armageddon (East v West), just ask Pat Robertson. American Christians have their own motives for supporting Israeli malfeasance, the kind that is buttressed by the United States of America. Many of you have already been proven wrong about Gog and Magog. In fact, the Soviet Empire disappeared, but the uber power that occupies Babylon now, is the United States of America with its largest embassy in the world.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">There are some of us who us simply believe that in the same manner that Jesus believed, that is that we should stand up for justice for all people, even if it means giving up a coat, pride or land! Besides, if Netanyahu were to move to America, I'm sure that he would get the Constitution amended, and run for President of the United States of America in a short period of time. And if that won't work, I am certain that an Israeli homeland in Montana, where he would continue to engage in war I'm sure, against American militia groups – another strange breed – he should feel right at home. And Netanyahu should bring his nukes with him, I guarantee that the good old boys in the Militia groups here, have there's already - he should feel right at home</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Wake up Christians, stop being so gullible and remember this passage, when it comes to modern (mostly securalist Israel) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.<u> For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel</u></span>. Romans 9:6</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I can recall what an Afghan-American citizen told me, during my recent tenure in the nation's capitol, he said: “There is a saying in my nation that to America, we are just a rubber, and once America finishes with us, they will pull us off and discard us (the Afghan people)"! Israel, should keep that in mind, and the USA should think about the same when it comes down to Israel.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Clearly, the USA, let the Afghan government and people know what it really thought about it and them, when it crossed their territorial borders, ignored their sovereignty and got Osama. I suspect that Iraq and other nations of the world already know it too!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Solomon</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="font-weight: 800; "></p></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><p></p></div></div></span>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-86961039446648658612011-05-21T18:05:00.000-07:002011-05-23T13:55:58.733-07:00Reverend Camping: Was He Raptured?<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKOHUOSJeeZbCVN4bdGwBeRgIWAOAUzZTpMZUSoVC2vmzMFSlF4kEjjqopKWhhyu4QlygJktpck6s0Av0WC8h3B-EN4pp6A1xgL5RWYvK9tStS_2FnMtMkly5Cf3k1BzIrJie/s1600/0209111645.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKOHUOSJeeZbCVN4bdGwBeRgIWAOAUzZTpMZUSoVC2vmzMFSlF4kEjjqopKWhhyu4QlygJktpck6s0Av0WC8h3B-EN4pp6A1xgL5RWYvK9tStS_2FnMtMkly5Cf3k1BzIrJie/s320/0209111645.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609341353604006658" /></a><br /><div>The Real Question About May 21<sup>st: <i>Calling Earth from Pegasus 51B, we have not seen any signs of unusual intruders attempting to enter Earth's atmosphere. And we have not seen any one being beamed up to the mother ship, or traveling in any 'chariots' of fire'. What year were you expecting this event to take place? Star date 2011!</i></sup></div><div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping predicted that at the very least, "the Bible <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">guaranteed</span> that the Rapture would take place today May 21, 2011 …"</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The real question that Reverend Camping should be prepared to answer is whether or not he is still on earth, missed the Rapture and should simply stick with Civil Engineering.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I don't have time this evening to drive over to the East Bay to ask him, however, I have a strong feeling that the Reverend is still here. He is in good company however, because based on what I read in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Church at Thessaloniki (the modern day pronunciation), he also erred with respect to the timing of the Rapture.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The Apostle Paul was under the impression that he would be alive and well at the time of the Rapture. Some of this reminds me of a church group called The Triumphant Church. I don't know whether it still exists today or not. The members of this group were going to escape death altogether. Religion makes people crazy, where truth, makes you free! The truth about religion is going to have to be exposed for the one's who will listen. Religion means, 'to bind'. And too many humans have been and are still being bound by religion.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Hopefully, the latest exercise in predicting the end of the world, by another religious sycophant, will put an end to religious prognostication and prognosticators. However, even and if that were to occur, it wouldn't put a stop to religious obfuscation, or religion's monopoly on truth.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Folks, it really is time to move on and to admit that although the canon is a useful collection of books, Constantine's Canon, has its problems. Many religious teachers and preachers cannot admit that publicly, even the one's who know better. Why? Because in the past they taught their followers that the Canon is inerrant. Now how can these preachers and teachers who know better, go back and say to sycophants, "oops, I may have overstated my claim, now that I have learned a bit more about its origin and construction". Sensible people wouldn't be upset at all - all of make mistakes. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Most of us were handed the book, and were told 'this is the inerrant word of God'. Well, who would question God! Well, later in life, some of us did have some questions, and discovered that the Canon is not inerrant, and I suspect that is true of all holy books! Am I boring or frightening you?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">To the group that cannot admit the truth, that you erred - or the one's who don't know any better, <b>I would simply say this: ask God, admit that you were sincerely wrong (without any intentional malfeasance),</b> so that we can move on and find out what (IT) this great phenomenon really wants from or to give us. And if the terms phenomenon or (IT) offends you; God, not a name anyway, has been referred to by many appellations throughout history. Our nascent predecessors taught us this: that there was something unseen, that it was greater than 'human and non human kind', and human intelligence and knowledge ... and as result we believed!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Truthfully, all of what we have learned so far from the past, should also teach us that members of today's post-enlightenment period are interested in truth, should continue our search in another direction, one that takes us beyond uncorroborated, and unsubstantiated, although I suspect, well-intentioned writings.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I suspect that the God-phenomenon should never have been relegated to or described from a strictly a religious point of view. Why? Too much poetry, myth, magic, borrowed texts, imagery hyperbole ... was mixed in with reality. And that is the problem with the book, as well as with religious pundits and proponents of, 'the book only'. Clearly, the real phenomenon that we ought to be making an effort to understand exceeds anything that religion can comprehend or teach. In other words, religion only touches the surface. We cannot ignore the facts of the Universe, that won't fit into a religious paradigm. If I were God, I would be insulted by the religious organizations that attempt to know me. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The best thing that has come out of religion is this statement I suspect: Seek The Truth! Why? According to the Canon, and several of its writers, even God tired of religious exercises, sacrifices, oblations …, and Jesus told the people, mostly religious and descendants of Abraham mind you, to seek the truth. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And just in case you're wondering about me? The answer is, where religion left-off, I pressed on, a lot of good people have. <b>Now having said that, there are some good things about religion, for example, religion is a good starting place for beginners, as long as everything about it is explained in a proper context</b>. However, even biblical writers suggest just that there is a place of understanding that exceeds the principle phase, the place where most religious people get stuck. In other words, the author of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Philippians</span> discourse wrote, "leave the principles and go on to perfection". </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Most religions, and most religious people, from what I have observed are stuck in the principle phase, I believe. And, and nothing is going to move them past memorizing scriptures, fasting twice a week and paying their tithes, while waiting to be beamed up to the Mother Ship. Don't forget that most of the greats, that were written about in the Canon, never held Constantine's Canon, not even Enoch, Elijah, Elisha, Jesus ... come to mind, and some of them apparently were beamed or carried up in chariots of fire, and appearing and reappearing from other dimensions. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Religious people today are satisfied with the Eucharist ...</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And what do I really think about all of these old-school preachers and teachers (of the unadulterated word of God). Well, I know many of them intimately. I have helped to put stocks on their feet, when their backs gave out. I have driven some, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">septu</span>-and octogenarians; and some of them have driven me to and from camp meetings. Many of them have been kind to me, and some cruel (never ask a question that differs from or question their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pre</span>-held beliefs). </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Having said that, when I consider the nature of these individuals by comparison with the current school of religious <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">acolytes</span> ... <b>I have found all of them to be sincere in terms of what they believe. The former believe that they are representatives of the true God, the Bible is inerrant, and that they are teaching the word of God. </b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">However, what they are really doing is teaching from a historical perspective that were written by, translated or interpreted by individuals who were not the most reliable, even though many of them were also well-intended writers, storytellers, teachers, historians and preachers who wrote about their experiences or perceptions... It is not for me to fight with them, even the ones who walk among us today. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">On the other hand, it is for I and others like me to do what we believe that we are called upon to do today, that is to help ourselves and other individuals who desire the truth (including secularists), who have been held or stuck in primordial religious mud. Where the Spirit of the Lord is: there is freedom, right? I believe that we have got a lot of work to do yet, that could even lead to extending the life-cycle and much more, perhaps our relocating in space, escaping from these time-censured bodies, watching our loved-ones suffer from disease and going to sleep. I also believe that we have missed out on a lot of great discovery due to misguided, there is only one way, religious sycophants. And the way, is typically there way. In other words, their minds and keen understanding are unparalleled. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We have trusted too much, in my opinion n outdated, unproven ... materials, and teachers of the same, some of which could be a good starting place for kids, however, we are not children anymore. Didn't the Apostle Paul touch on that theme in his writings. And what did he do for all intent and purposes, with respect to the Jews and the other Apostles, he moved on, even to the extent that he got up in the Chief Apostles face. Let's move on folks!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">BTW, Jesus had to do the same in his day, and it cost him his life! In the long-run, I believe that Reverend Camping is going to help more than he is going to hurt. And thinking human beings, that really do not have an ulterior mind, those of us who are not mad at God or have some other nefarious agenda, should simply try to get along with everybody, but at the same time, we should resume our Search for the Real God (whatever it turns out to be)! If we continue the typical patty!ern, and if we could, 3000 years from now, we will still be waiting on the Rapture and denying the truth that surrounds and is within us!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Solomon, or to some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Suliman</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Beam em up Scotty!</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-16013919516784079262011-05-18T01:50:00.000-07:002011-05-19T17:29:05.516-07:00Scotty: Beam Them Up To The Mother Ship Please!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfcSw3WZhztBHRWRJ320fy5wvGkqicr6zUgpQ5MKci_WfRhB3CIzuOqfgd8mFR2UObG6afwoFITCfAcuMbO0NVMb-xb2y6XCzeZlu0OR4uuNXQus4VeD_O3G3o6lou6-DB-HC/s1600/1211101521a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfcSw3WZhztBHRWRJ320fy5wvGkqicr6zUgpQ5MKci_WfRhB3CIzuOqfgd8mFR2UObG6afwoFITCfAcuMbO0NVMb-xb2y6XCzeZlu0OR4uuNXQus4VeD_O3G3o6lou6-DB-HC/s320/1211101521a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605574615642015410" /></a><b>Regarding Reverend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Camping's</span>, rapture and end of the world predictions:</b> The real fire that has been burning on the outer edges of the Universe beginning with the Big Bang, is still burning, apparently.<div><br /></div><div>So, don't be too quick to leave the safe-haven of Earth - we were put here for a reason, and I feel strongly that our work has not been done yet. Earth, could be a nice place to live, if people would behave and live without religious crusades, jihads, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fatwahs</span> and religious fanaticism ..., among other things!<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>Listen, I Never Thought I Would Say This, However..</b>. thank you Reverend Camping! I have been looking for someone to prove that what I have been saying, writing, preaching and teaching for years, is the truth. The truth about what? That it is time to move on, and to put religion (and its anachronistic teachers ...) into a proper <i>historical</i> context too; NOT the God <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">phenomena</span>! Having said that: I know that there will be others who will pick up the mantle and run with it, when retrograde religious teachers are retired. I predict that scientists, will unwittingly, become the prophets of the 21st Century and beyond. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">That makes me think of a time at Stanford U, when the religious community, that I was a part of with On-Campus Ministries, was asked to "stop placing a burden on the students at Stanford". We were told to instead, witness to students, exclusively, around the on-campus United States Post Office branch. But having said that, the dean permitted me to baptize individuals in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">on campus</span> Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lagunita</span>, and I did.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Prospostion</span></span></b>:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We need to pursue what is real: Let's consider who this man, Reverend Camping is, first of all? Reverend Camping is a man, a Civil Engineer by profession, who studied and graduated, just down the hill from the Graduate Theological Union (a consortium of Christian Schools), that sits on the scenic hill, just above and on the Campus of the University of California at Berkeley. I am a frequent visitor of both the Campus and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">GTU's</span> library!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping is a man of no mean spirit, one who in his zeal has embraced the bible (Constantine's Canon), studied it, teaches from it and believes that it is the final authority … In that sense he should not be accused of quackery, something that his latest foray into end-time predictions, has caused many to believe. Even though he appears to be a quack, he is like too many other religious people that all of us have come into contact with - individuals, who are inflexible, and a bit too much in love with their own minds, egos and craft!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I enjoyed listening to him on a Bay Area <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Talkshow</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">KGO</span></span> Radio, this past Sunday. Professor Brent Walters, Professor in the Department of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Religious </span>Studies, at San Jose State University, invited him to speak for an uninterrupted hour, in the 3<sup>rd</sup> segment, of his 3-hour long Sunday morning radio show. <b>It might be fortuitous, given that Reverend Camping was nearly 15 minutes late getting to the show, which might prove that when it comes to keeping time</b> – well, you see where I am going? Reverend Camping spoke, for approximately 45 minutes, with only an occasional interruption, typically when he was asked to clarify a point.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The very capable Professor Walters, was kind and gracious to Reverend Camping. Reverend Camping’s predictions, that the Rapture of the Saints will occur on May 21, 2011 of this year, and that the world will end five days later, is not been hidden from the public eye. All across the country, his prediction that the world is coming to an end … has been posted on billboards, talked about in the media and preached about on TV and Radio.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Many other preachers, scholars ... who don't agree with him, have already distanced themselves from both he and his reductionist, perhaps, theory. To some, he appears to be a complete idiot. But what is it, that he is really saying? Just look at his website <a href="http://www.familyradio.com/">www.familyradio.com</a>, and you will find out. And, this is important because when he was interviewed by Professor Walters, a man who I consider to be a friend, he repeated what is written on his website, that is: <b>“The Bible Guarantees It”</b>. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">In other words, he is not predicting the end of the world, he is simply pointing out, based on his interpretation of what is written in Constantine's unadulterated Canon or the Bible, (not in code by the way), that these <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">eschatalogical</span> events will occur over the course of the next few weeks. He might be right about what the bible predicts, and still be wrong! A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">DaVinci</span></span> Code all over again? Blasphemy? I know, for the assemblers of Constantine's Canon, could not have a made a mistake here and there, in terms of compiling the canon, correct? In other words, Reverend Camping has already given himself an out, even if everyone is still here on May 22<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">nd</span>!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Most of us, who were raised in the Church (regardless of which religious group or denomination we hailed from), are aware of the following scripture, Matthew 24:36. <span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>"</i></b></span><span><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>But of that day and hour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">knoweth</span></span> no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only".</i></b></span> According to the biblical writer(s), this is what Jesus said. That day, is what, for sure what most Christians, but not only Christians are waiting for. Somehow most Christians believe that somehow they belong in a better place than earth (er <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">herm</span>), and that they will, uniquely, be reunited with their loved ones in that better place, in deference to what they helped to construct on Earth!</span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">It begs the question Christians, and others, do any of us really deserve Heaven! </span></span></span></span><b>Man, these people like Reverend Camping and others, hate the world that they helped to ruin, and they do so to the extent, that they can't wait to get out of here.</b> Well, fine I say, for when the majority have been beamed up ... I can enjoy the San Francisco Bay area, the Tahoe basin ... with less congestion.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">From what I can see, there is a lot more for us to learn right here on earth, clearly, we have missed some things. I suspect that we have at least wasted the last 2,000 years, in a quest to rule the planet in the name of God. Why? Because like Reverend Camping (who only needs the bible and a few commentaries), most religious individuals are just as limited in their outlook as a result of having restricted themselves to their interpretation of a single book. What we have done is to teach a kind of fanaticism that has led to more division. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span><b></b></span></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span><b>What is it that we could have learned and taught, from and in, during ages 1, 2, 3 in the Earth, and up to now, if we had not given in to self-indulgence, fanaticism and dogmatism?</b></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">The fact of the matter is that religious people, and religious organizations, have not figured out how to agree with each other on earth, so why in the world would God, reward us, and have us to come to Heaven - wherever that is; not likely up yonder. Er <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">herm</span>, isn't that the reason that Satan, was metaphorically, tossed out of heaven for creating division, self-ambition ... Sound familiar! Why can't religious people get along with religious people, or settle on one doctrine?</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Good bye! Nothing in me tells me that I deserve to be in a special place with God, and to leave everyone else behind - I have made a lot of mistakes too you know, haven't you? Haven't all of us come short of the glory?</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Trust me, Reverend Camping, is a bible <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">literalist</span></span>, but he is not a nut, I don't believe that. He is very aware of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Jesus'</span></span> pronouncement, that no man knows the day or hour, just as most believers are aware of and often cite that particular text. The latter explains why so many people, Christians and non-Christians, are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">flabergasted</span>, disgusted, and equally dismissive of his prediction about the Rapture, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">apokalupsis</span> and him to</span>! And the ones who believe in him, are not unhappy with him mind you. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b></b></p><blockquote><b>Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die: remember that saying? And isn't that the real problem, that is that we are afraid of dying!</b></blockquote><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">But why would the Reverend put himself out on a dangling limb like the one that he has placed himself out on, one that could destroy his $100 ministry, and his credibility with his followers and sycophants? It is simple: <b>Once again he is only reporting, based upon his years of biblical research, what he believes that "the Bible guarantees", not him</b>. He is not making this report, based upon his own feelings! His conclusions are are based upon the Bible. Professor Walters, gave him an opening, one in which he declined to modify by the way. He insisted that it will happen, in deference to the miscalculations that he made before in the 1970's.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping, in my mind, is the perfect example of what religion can do to a person, even a bright, articulate and educated one. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">What do I believe about all of this, Reverend Camping and biblical eschatology? Well, there are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">historicists</span>, post-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">millennialist</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">pre</span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">millenialists</span></span>, a<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">millenialists</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">pre</span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">tribbers</span></span>, post<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">tribbers</span></span> ... within the Christian faith alone <b>and none of them agree to agree</b>. So what does that tell you and me? And don't forget that the Apostle Paul, a man who often shot from the hip, believed that he would apparently be a part of the rapture, without having gone to sleep. At least that is what he appears to be saying, in his letter to the believers at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Thessalonica</span></span> or modern-day Thessaloniki, take your pick. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Now don't forget, there are over 50,000 Christian denominations, and millions of preachers and teachers, who will have an opinion about the end of time, and about Pastor Camping too. And keep in mind that all of us, including me, claim to be infused with the same spirit of God. So, what does that tell you? <b>We</b> don't seem to be very believable do we?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">What will, practically every other cleric, imam, priests, guru ..., have to say? They will say that "Reverend Camping is wrong, but I am not wrong"! Keep in mind however, that Reverend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Camping's</span> prediction, is pretty close to that of the ancient Mayans, although, they did not predict a rapture - something that the best scholars say, is a prediction based upon a misunderstand or misappropriation of canonical <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">texts</span>. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I can recall prognosticators in the past, who named the day and hour when Jesus would return, the Rapture would occur, and the world would come to an end. One group predicted that Jesus would return to Akron, Ohio, several decades ago. Akron, aka Jamestown, well that is before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Lebron</span> headed to Miami, is where I was born. I love the people in Akron, and I love Akron too. But when I heard that Jesus decided to appear in Akron, about 20 years ago, on Copley Road, near the High School that I graduated from, I had more than a few doubts. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Man a group of people lined the streets on Copley Rd., with their bands playing, and there was a great celebration. The problem was that Jesus no-showed!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If only we could be more like Solomon, who wrote: Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow, you die. Obviously, he did not live with the burden that most people, who are influenced by religion and some who are not, lived with and live with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">today</span>! Too many people are trying to figure out how to get to Heaven, while wasting their lives and potential here on earth.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Why do Christians, and other groups engage in this type <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">eschatological</span> religious canard? One of the reasons that I will speak to, which will explain why they do so in my opinion, is because most religious people are fascinated with this particular theme. Most religious people, from most denominations ... expect to, someday, <span class="Apple-style-span">be beamed up to the Mother Ship!</span> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"></p><blockquote><b>Religious Christians, not the only religious people mind you, believe that Constantine's Canon is the inerrant word of God</b></blockquote><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p>They will tell you that God, not man inspired everything that is in the canon. And even in the face of evidence to the contrary, don't try to convince them otherwise. Action is predicated upon belief, and Christians, I repeated, believe that the book comes from God <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">ITself</span>! When Paul make the apparent statement, roughly 75% of what we refer to as the Bible today did not exist. He would likely be surprised to find out that his letters for example, were considered to be holy scriptures - he even denied in one place that they were, and Peter referred to Paul's writings as just that, writings!<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It is for the rest of us, who believe that there is some thing that we refer to in our culture, as the God phenomenon to figure this thing out while at the same time being accused of being apostates, heretics, backsliders, never-were-saved, hypocrites, existentialists, atheists .... by our religious counterparts, who genuinely believe otherwise. <b>Jesus experienced the same kind of hatred. We know that what dyed-in-the wool religious people believe in, is far bigger than, and light years past where most religious people, even Christians, take their points of departure, that is a heal my leg, enlarge my territory, make me a rich preacher, take me to heaven ... point of heaven!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We know, that it will be for us to sensibly pursue an understanding of what IT is, and to join with what we refer to as God (something that might appear to be abstract but is real). Who was the secularist, who wrote the book several years ago: The God of the Brain? I have forgotten his name, but the brother was on to something. Perhaps, the connection exists in the brains, of some of us as he proposed, but not in the rest of us. The rest, I would have to agree, may not have a brain - that was not nice. Okay, he didn't say that! He believed that God was hard-wired in certain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">human's</span></span>, brain, perhaps!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">My thing is this, I don't care about all of this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">eschatological</span></span> stuff, oops, I said it. I've seen what it has done to people, typically only to harm them even more, and to make them look down on other people who do not see things the way they do. Remember, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">amillenialists</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">postmillenialists</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">pretribbers</span> ...., all of them have one thing in common, and it is the "I KNOW" spirit. Why are they right, even though they all disagree, it is because they are too much in love with their own intellect. The reason we call it faith, is because we don't know. Unless, like Mr. McLaughlin used to say, "We have stumbled into the truth"!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Jesus, pretty much said, with respect to the day and hour: "don't worry about it, nobody knows, just do your thing while you are here on Earth, because otherwise you will be overly preoccupied", and to live according to love, and you will fulfill all of the commandments. Let's see, how many human beings have for many years, hours and days predicated their lives upon love, or instead simply waited for the blessed event to occur - knowing that like Charlie Tuna, Starkist will be looking for them?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A friend, who lived in Alabama, shared a true story about a religious relative of his. She apparently joined he and his family on a long trip across the state of Alabama one day. His rural grandmother, I believe it was, had never seen, been to or near a drive-in theater before. To make a long story, while they were traveling, she woke up from her nap and saw a figure of a man on a drive-in theater screen in the distance. She had never seen a drive-in screen before either. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And she spoke these words: <b>"Yonder come Jesus"</b>! This woman believed that she was finally witnessing Jesus' advent into the world. The family laughed and explained, "no mam, that is what we refer to as a drive-in theater, and what you are seeing is a movie".</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">This woman was a perfect example of how serious people are about the expected blessed event, just as some people were in the common era, given the oppression ... that they were experiencing. It also explains why one would be wasting their time to try to tell some religious people otherwise, or that the book that they rely upon to tell them all things about the past, present and future, would be a waste of time.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping, is playing on sacred ground. And if it is as some of us understand it, that what we refer to God exists outside of our 3-dimensional time-independent world, then if there is a rapture, it is taking place all the time. In other words, in the past, in the present and in the future, all at once. Why? The God phenomenon would be time-dependent, and observing past, present, future and outside of the past, present and the future all at once!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Perhaps Reverend Camping and others like him are already there, and not there, and somewhere else, if you were to use stepped outside of time theory. Or perhaps, Jesus was wrong because he didn't have Constantine's Canon to rely upon, did he?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">So why am I writing this piece again? It is, first of all, to thank Reverend Camping for making my point about religion, pro and con. It is what I have been writing about, and saying before, <b>that is: Within a 21</b><sup><b>st</b></sup><b> Century Context, we simply need to move on, because much learning about Constantine's bible, has made too many of our peers mad!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The second reason for writing on this topic is to say, that we cannot possibly understand all of what was being said or written 2000 years ago, or what was written, and has been translated over and over again, years later. Have you noticed all of the bibles today, and that if you were to compare them, they all mostly say something different, the same as most religious groups do and practice. <b>And this is just one other reason that religious people need to move on, in terms of searching for God in the present, and to stop looking back.</b> Thank you Reverend Camping! </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">In conclusion: I repeat, perhaps in a non-linear or 3-D world, perhaps what we refer to as the Rapture, occurs everyday in a parallel, time independent world. Remember, we believe that God is time independent, and has the ability to view and be a part of the past, present and future of our world, all at the same time - without relocating in space. Wouldn't that explain how it is possible to see future events before they occur in a linear 3-dimensional world?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Clearly religion, and most religious teachers are not helping, and some of them have become an embarrassment to what we refer to in general, as God! <u>Reverend Camping will prove that Constantine's canon, should not be our only source, and I thank him for that!</u></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">By the way, does anyone else have any claims on South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay? If not, I will take them both when everyone else is gone! Remember this scripture that I am fond of in the canon,: 'We will know them by their love', and not as a result of scripture memorization, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">theosyphying</span>, scriptural memorization, preaching, teaching, standing when they pray, performing miracles, yelling at people... I embellished a bit!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>So, beam 'em up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Scotty</span>', so that we can have peace on Earth - and who knows, then Jesus might come back and live 'in earth' with us. If he came today, he would likely end up on the cross again, or at least be shot at or robbed! And if we all get beamed up, I will be the brother in the hat, with sunglasses and a beard - don't forget to say whass up!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>Solomon</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>BTW:</b> I asked this question in one of my earlier writings: Did you know that the first human to die, if you accept the canonical story as being literal, died as a result of differences between 2 brothers about religious issues, and the last person or persons to die, will do so the same, as a result of a religious conflagration, apparently between the religious easterners and westerners? Can't we all just get along?</p></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-35351353024816139142011-05-13T12:17:00.000-07:002011-05-20T16:01:00.899-07:00The End of the World Again!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ4apC47MNP1tOhB0WiQAfJ88OsxA5o0X8PhqT9uk-CzF3R-jC1ML1fdiKZuyNl2ItpOgfPGT3-ylrSfGaS64h5B7vth6yVAQweogAmKhxdGWLrEDKqbtlIc9-dQn2de9UNgp/s1600/1211101521.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ4apC47MNP1tOhB0WiQAfJ88OsxA5o0X8PhqT9uk-CzF3R-jC1ML1fdiKZuyNl2ItpOgfPGT3-ylrSfGaS64h5B7vth6yVAQweogAmKhxdGWLrEDKqbtlIc9-dQn2de9UNgp/s320/1211101521.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606286068506931218" /></a><br /><div><b>The real fire</b> that started, apparently long ago, as a result of the Big Bang, is reportedly an eternal fire that is still burning on the outer edge of the Universe - as the matter world pushes further out into non-matter. In other words, the same explosion that started the known universe has never been extinguished. So, it seems to me that the individuals who believe that they want to beam up, would be better off on the safe haven of earth, where they were put in the first place, apparently. Will there be eventually an implosion?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNYg2ZKG9x9s69kEv5kEefpY9oayJC_tU3OXsLFvLZmRPnCukmT_qDDXntVt0xMguxkZsbceKrvJZHIRKOGiYrL5LHRFKoKvCpXnmk-crz-2Q6SlIMuzZKYMNIEoBto0iuiJi/s1600/1211101521.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Folks, I Never Thought I Would Say This but, thank you Reverend Camping, for I have been looking for someone to prove that what I have been writing, teaching and saying along (over the past few years) is the truth. The truth about what? That it is time to move on, and to put religion, and its often sincere, but misguided teachers into a proper historical context and their rightful place in history, <i>for truth is bigger than religion - Jesus proved that to the Pharisees ... over 2000 years ago!</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Let's consider who this man is first of all? Reverend Camping is a man, a Civil Engineer and a preacher by profession. He graduated from the Engineering Department at the University of California at Berkeley, one of my favorite haunts. I love to conduct research at the library, just above Scenic Drive, which is a part of the Graduate Theological Union. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping, in my opinion, is a man of no mean spirit. In fact, he is a man, who in his zeal, has studied the bible, embraces and teaches from it like no other. He believes that every word in it, is the unadulterated word of God regardless of any proof to the contrary. And, no one is going to tell him any different. All of us know, have worshipped with or alongside someone like this before. Their minds are made up, so you would be wasting your time if you attempted to confuse them with facts. Other than he and his religious organization, he is convinced that every other religious organization is wrong, in terms of what they believe and are teaching. Senile dementia, organicity, confusion, arrogance or what?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Given his sincerity, he is a man who is in love with his mental power and a belief in his unique ability to understand things that no one else can. Having said that, he should not be accused of quackery perhaps, something that his latest foray into end-time predictions, has caused people to believe. He simply believes in the power of his unique cognitive abilities, to include powers of comprehension. Again, he appears to be a quack, however, he like too many religious people that we all know of, some out on the extreme edge, that are a bit too much in love with their own minds and egos! </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Several decades ago, God had to apparently give him a drop kick to the ground, when he made a similar prediction that turned out to be inaccurate. The Apostle Paul was like him, remember. After graduating from the Hillel School, and Professor Gamaliel, having graduated with honors, the Apostle began his first evangelism tour. His first evangelism tour, a bit different from the one wherein the Apostles, who had fasted and prayed and subsequently laid hands on him to do the work of the lord, he sat out to stop the <b>Members of The Wa</b>y. Why, members of the Way, as far as he was concerned were misguided, and failed to have his abilities to discern right from wrong teaching. What an ego? Now keep in mind that Paul was 'a religious man and a religious scholar, who was only working for God!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He was so zealous, that he sought out and received permission to leave his place (remind you of the Prophet Jonah), and to pursue those misguided religious souls, who saw things a bit different than he and his denomination did. This man, acted upon what he believed, in the most strenuous of ways - even to the point of killing people, similar to what Cain apparently did to his brother, regarding a denominational dispute in the first family. Members of the Way were martyred, similar to Stephen, remember? And the clothing of the martyred were often laid at Paul's feet. Paul felt pretty good about himself, because his misplaced zeal was being exercised, he was convinced for God. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If he would have simply sat down to be retaught, or converted, he would not have been necessary for him to have been stopped by God ITself. Why would, and why has God, often had to stop people like the Apostle? Answer: Because no one else will be able to stop them, that is without knocking them down. These are hard-headed, my mind is made up and don't confuse me with facts individuals. What a hard-headed man the Apostle was. What is interesting is that God after stopped him, he had to send him to one of the lowly members of the Way, the group that he disdained, who had to guide and teach him. Poor Ananias, was afraid of this religious nut. Haven't you met religious people like this who are completeley out of control. Do the Crusades, Jihads, Fatwahs ... come to mind? </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b></b></p><blockquote><b>I've said it before, the first and the last individuals to die, apparently did so and will do so in the end as a result of religious secularism, fantascism and obsession!</b></blockquote><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">With people like this, you can't teach them anything, because what they have is a psychological problem - their minds again get made up, and facts won't matter. Even after Ananias finished with him, (Paul), he still did not go up to Jerusalem to be retaught, he took off again with a theology that was even new to the Apostles in Jerusalem. At the time, Paul, was not an Apostle himself. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping, reminds me a lot of Paul pre-conversion and post-conversion Paul. Now let's get back to Reverend Camping. I enjoyed listening to him this past Sunday, on a Bay Area Talkshow. Professor Brent Walters, graciously invited him to speak on his show, on KGO Radio, for an hour during the 3<sup>rd</sup> segment of his 3-hour long Sunday morning radio show. <b>It might be fortuitous to note that Reverend Camping was nearly 15 minutes late arriving at the show, which might say something about the way that he keeps time, er herm, you see where I am going with this!</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping’s predictions that the Rapture of the Saints will occur on May 21, 2011, and that the world will end five days later, has not been hidden from the public eye. All across the country, the prediction that the world is coming to an end …, has been posted on billboards, talked about in the media and preached about on TV and Radio. In fact, Reverend Camping has appeared as a guest on several News Talk Shows!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b></b></p><blockquote><b>To many other preachers and scholars who won't agree with him, he appears to be a complete idiot - and of course, some of them appear to be the same to other people</b><b>!</b></blockquote><blockquote><b><br /></b></blockquote>But what is it that he is really saying. Just look at his website <a href="http://www.familyradio.com/">www.familyradio.com</a>, and you will appreciate a bit more what he is actually saying. This is important because when he was interviewed by Professor Walters of San Jose State University, a professional acquaintance of mine, he repeated what is written on his website, and it is as follows: <b>“The Bible Guarantees It”</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In other words, he is not predicting the end of the world based upon any self-volition, he is simply pointing out what is written in the bible, based upon his research. His prediction is close, keep in mind, just off a year, with the Mayan Calendar. And which source document is using to predict these calamities, it is Constantine's Canon. DaVinci Code, all over again? All people try to tell me how the scriptures are coded? I quickly ask, which version of the scriptures? Am I a cynic, hypocrite or backslider. Most Christians would have to say yes, of course. However, I am simply following the Apostle Paul's prediction, he once said to 'test everything'. Peter, and his epistle often warned his followers about false teachers. The way I understand it is this, never follow anything or anyone's teaching without subjecting them or what they have to say to scrutiny.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Why? Even good people, who mean well, can be sincerely wrong!</b><br /><p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Most of us who were raised in the Church (regardless of which religious group or denomination) we hailed from, are aware of the following scripture found in <i>Matthew 24:36. </i><span><span><span><span><span style="font-weight: normal; "><i>But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only"</i>. That day, is what for sure most Christians, but not Christians only, are waiting for. It is the day when God comes to get them, the good Christians ..., in order to remove them from the great unwashed. </span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><b>Man, these people hate the world, that they helped to ruin. And they do so to the extent that they cannot wait to get out of here, as if they are somehow better than anyone else. </b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal">Well, fine I say them, for when the majority of them have been beamed up to the Mother Ship, then you and I can enjoy the San Francisco Bay area easier, with less traffic congestio, and we can get on with the business of discovery, unimpeded!</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">From what I can see, there is a lot more for us to learn right here, and clearly, we have wasted the last 2,000 years in our quest to understand more, because people like Reverend Camping, who only need Constantine's Canon and a few commentaries to understand man's purpose in life... will be in another place fighting with each other over something. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Trust me, Reverend Camping, a bible literalist, is very aware of Jesus's pronouncement, that non man knows the day and hour ..., just as most believers and non-believers are aware. And that explains why so many believers are disgusted, and equally dismissive of his predictions. So why would he put himself out on a limb like this, one that could destroy his 100 million dollar ministry? It is simple: He is only reporting, what the Bible guarantees? He is not responsible for the errors, in other words, in the canon. Perhaps, in the aftermath of all of this, he will admit that the canon is flawed, not him of course. When it comes to the incredible powers of comprehension that he possesses, he will be quick to say that the Canon, and not he is wrong!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">What do I believe about biblical eschatology and all of this? Well, there are historicists, post-millennialialists, pre-millenialists, amillenialists, pretribbers, posttribbers within the Christian faith alone …, and none of them agree, and all of these expected to be beamed up because they are the only ones who understand the truth. So what does that tell you? And don't forget that the Apostle Paul, a man who often shot from the hip, believed that he would apparently be a part of the rapture, without going to sleep. This is what I understand him to be saying in his letter to the Thessalonians, or church at Thessaloniki. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Futhermore, are over 50,000 Christian denominations, and millions of preachers and teachers in religion, who will have an opinion about the end of time, and about Pastor Camping’s prediction. And again, none of them agree on every point with each other. As I stated in a similar paper, what we have here is Babel all over again. On that occasion, people planned their ascent into the heavens, and in turned became confused. We see that scenario being played out all over again. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">What they will have to say, the latter group of religious zealots is: He, Reverend Camping, is wrong, but I am not wrong! I can recall all of the prognosticators of the past, who named the day and hour when Jesus would return, the Rapture would occur, or when the world would come to an end. None of them would agree with what I am writing, but I don't feel bad because they don't agree with each other. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Why do they do Christians and other groups engage in this kind of espistlemological and eschatalogical canard? One of the reasons that I will speak to, which will explain why they do so, is because people religious people are fascinated, when it comes to this particular theme, also religious people don't have anything better to do.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Finally, Constantine's canon is the real culprit, particularly among individuals that refuse to do any real work. Okay, and fear. The latter has been drilled into most of us from the time that we were toddlers. Religious people are afraid to think outside of the box, and they have plenty of teachers who will fighten them into remaining into the box. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Thank God, Jesus was not like that, er herm! Of course he learned what religious people will do to you, if you cross them. And these are the people that everyone wants to beam up with, to the Mother Ship. Again, religious people, in Christianity for example, believe that Constantine's Canon is the inerrant word of God. And even with proof to the contrary, don't try to convince otherwise, they still believe it. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I have proposed that we write a new set of books, that includes modern-day data. No one likes that idea. People still want to read about 'pigs running down a hill, after having a spirit of a crazy many injected into him. I wonder what Jesus would say about this story. Perhaps, given their limited mental states, he did so, on the other hand, I doubt that he would have wasted his time - Jesus, was trying to teach people, and to elevate their levels of wareness. . It is for the rest of us, who believe that there is some thing that we refer to in our culture, as the God phenomenon. We know that it is bigger, and past where most religious people, even Christians take their point of departure.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We know that it will be for us to sensibly pursue and understanding, contact, and joining if there is to be one with what we call God. Who was the brother, secularist, who wrote the book: The God of the Brain. I forget his name, but the brother was on to something. Perhaps, the connection exists in the brains of some of us. The rest, I would have agree, may not have a brain. Okay, he didn't say that! He believed that God was hard-wired in certain human's, brain. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">My thing is I don't care. Jesus, was pretty much saying, don't worry about it, and to just do your thing while you are on Earth, because otherwise you will be preoccupied with an event that will occur, that (at least in the common era, those folks wouldn't have been smart enough to decipher). Let's see, how many human beings have, and for for many years, hours and days have waited for that to come. And if it was, or is as we understand it, the Rapture - have not taken place yet. Jesus, didn't meet Reverend Camping. But then Jesus didn't have Constantine's canon either, did he?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">So why am I writing this piece? It is, first of all, to thank Reverend Camping for making my point about religion. It is what I have been writing and saying, <b>that in a 21</b><sup><b>st</b></sup><b> Century Context, we simply need to move on, because much learning about Constantine's bible, has made too many humans mad.</b> The second reason for writing on this topic is to say, that we cannot possibly understand all of what was being said 2000 years, was written and translated years later, or what was meant. And this is just one other reason that religious people need to move on. Thank you Reverend Camping! And in a non-linear or 3-D world, perhaps what we refer to as the Rapture, occurs everyday – remember, we believe that God is Time Independent, and has the ability to view the past, present and future of our world, all at the same time.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">BTW Reverend Camping, if you are still alive on May 21<sup>st</sup>, would you donate some money to Hope for Outdoor People in San Jose California. The organization that I am president of, is trying to help 'outdoor citizens', like Jesus was doing, to get going again. And if you are not going to be here anyway, I will put the money to good use - helping other people, who will be left behind with me. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And may I have the keys to all of your homes, cars, yachts, credit cards, 401Ks, …, so that I can house the individuals who will be left behind. Many of them will likely be here either trying to figure out how they got 'left behind', and whether another ship will be coming by to get them. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And don't worry, perhaps I will get some of them to listen, once the distractions (and religious distract0rs) have been removed to an another plane, so that they can keep, enjoy and expand upon the the wonderful gift that we have here in Earth. So far it has been underutilized, because religion leads to hatred, and hatred to fighting and war, and war leads to death. I want to teach a new paradigm, one that will put people in touch with what put them here in the first place – so they can live in a non-religious paradise on Earth. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Clearly religion, and most religious teachers are not helping, and have become an embarrassment to what we refer to in general, as God! <b><u>Reverend Camping will prove that Constantine's canon, should not be our only source</u>.</b> By the way, does anyone else have any claims on South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay? If not, I will take it!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And finally, 'we will know them by their love', not as a result of scripture memorization ... Why are there so many homeless people in America alone, if all of the people who planned to be beamed up to the mother ship, know anything about love! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Beam 'em up Scotty'!</p></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-79757024860732743862011-05-13T12:14:00.001-07:002011-05-13T12:14:37.249-07:00Bigger Than Religion: Time to Unbind!<div><br /></div><div><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6cbCJymfzM/TbL1iuK9DuI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/whlaYvEp7d0/s1600/0209111645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6cbCJymfzM/TbL1iuK9DuI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/whlaYvEp7d0/s320/0209111645.jpg" width="320" style="cursor: move; " /></a></p><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Religious Dilemma and What to Do With IT?</span> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Religions means <span class="Apple-style-span" >'To Bind':</span> I believe that it is time to remove the bindings. Instead, we ought to take the next step towards getting to the truth about GOD, for we have gone around the same mountain, of religion, long enough. Why? What we refer to as God is bigger, I believe, than the majority of religious institutions understand. Most religious institutions are stuck in primordial religious mud! In fact it is recorded in some religious texts, that "God is past finding out". Perhaps, that might have been true in the past when the human race was in its formative stages, however, I suspect that it is no longer true anymore.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><u>We are not children anymore!</u></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Today, we have advanced technologies, a better and broader understanding as well as resources at our disposal that our predecessors neither were aware of, and have never been used before to interface with God. Modern-day advancements and technologies, exceed, and have outstripped the limited understanding of our predecessors. Primitive man and woman (many who still live with us today apparently), would likely be unable, for the most part, to grasp what we know. In other words, we ought to be their teachers, and not the other way around.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Have not I said that 'ye are gods"? Now if twain, the two could perhaps meet, (primitive and modern-man) we would likely appear to them to be gods ourselves, because we are by comparison, so far advanced some of us. Imagine, if they were to witness cosmonauts and astronauts climbing into a Space Shuttle, and being launched into into outer space, only to return a week or two later to descend upon the earth. Elijah in a chariot of fire perhaps, comes to mind?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">In fact, if one were to take into consideration the whole of human history (religious and non), and all that our ancestors have passed down to us, what they essentially concluded was this: <span class="Apple-style-span" >That there is an invisible, all powerful, unseen and unknowable quantity, that is responsible for everything in the known and unknown Universe - if not outside of the known Universe's dark matter and dark energy</span>. Now, even though our predecessors concluded that that there was some invisible, hidden and powerful being or force, that they neither saw nor fully comprehended during their time - they insisted that it existed. To the pantheists, God was everything and in everything, to the deists, God split after creating and bringing all things into being ... And to some of them, all God, simply wanted was a blood sacrifice, to include females and children!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Sadly, today, we have adapted to the way of thinking of our primordial ancestors, and as a result are still teaching our children about a God ..., that is hidden, invisible and unknowable, accept by faith. I believe that we have done ourselves a grave injustice, by continuing to follow these outdated patterns. In other words, starting at the place of primitive religion has hindered, and contributed to most religious groups being stuck in a historical place.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">I also believe that we are missing out on a golden opportunity in advancement, and stopping the flow of human development. Consider this? Imagine if you never had to go to the library again, and instead were connected to the source of all knowledge? How would that change your life? What dividends would it have for you, the world and what God IS!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">When someone says that a phenomenon is unknowable, what I hear them saying is, that <b>they simply cannot explain the phenomenon! </b>Early humans, medieval, modern and post-modern - mostly all have one thing in common:</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b>1)</b>. All of us speak about the mysterious in speculative terms.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b>2)</b>. All of us are still circling the same wagons.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b>3)</b>. All of us still believe that IT is unknowable, or does not want to be fully known by us, at this time</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">(a conclusion that might be a simple rationalization, to justify our inability to comprehend or connect with IT).</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Sadly, in a post-modern context, too many of us are still following simplistic patterns and practices of a less enlightened past,and living our lives according to superstition, flawed epistemology and fear of an unknown quantity, that can apparently be known and understood, if only we tried. <span class="Apple-style-span" >In other words, we have not advanced much, 2 to 5000 years later, with respect to getting to know what we refer to as GOD, any better, than our earliest predecessors did.</span> The fact of the matter is that just as they were, we have been taught to fear and to believe that we can "never come to the knowledge of the truth", or to be one with what could turn out to 'our best friend', true knowledge and all that comes with having true and full knowledge!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b>And that is where I take my point of departure, from my past, modern, religions and historical ancestors and espistemology. I believe that in a post-modern world, we should remove the limitations and the shackles that have been imposed on us, shackles that we have all too often, been willing to wear, bequeathed to us by our predecessors and some contemporary teachers and mystics. Instead of appeasing the memory of our ancestors, we need to close the intellectual/espistemological gap, and distance ourselves from the romanticism of the past.</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b> </b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Our ancestors, believed that the inexplicable unknown quantity of their time, wished to remain anonymous. Their face to face encounters with IT, occurred only in the shadows, or under the cover of clouds, the darkness, and perhaps by a voice of whisper. And given the thousands or more years of human history, no one has ever come into contact with, or had IT over for dinner. Given the appearance of some of our early ancestors, australopithecines</p><blockquote style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b>Sacrilege?</b> The fact of the matter is that there are some holes in what has been passed down to us by uneducated, fearful, superstitious and conditioned human beings, and is still being served to us today. And as a result, I and others like me have been, and are on the right<b><a href="http://sealofabraham.blogspot.com/"> track, that is to continue our search for the real IT, while some are still stuck in a caveman's mindset</a> or religious romanticism.</b></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Arguing that IT exists, but never having actualized or come face to face with, lived with, seen or interacted with it, other than by than by faith, belief or death, appears to be a skillful use of rationalization, of the kind to justify one's inability to prove or connect to what is real. Most parents that I know, look forward to the day when their children are reared, those who have children, and they will be able to interface with them, adult to adult, as opposed to from the perspective adult to a child. Who wants their progeny to remain in a retardtive child-like state of being?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">I knew a lady years ago, who shared this story, good or bad: She said, "my son has grown up to be my brother. And now, he wants to tell me what I can and cannot do!<span class="Apple-style-span" ></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b>My proposition is essentially this</b>: We need to take the baton, thank those who carried it before we arrived, and run the next leg of the race ourselves, having seriously examined and tested what they had to say, or wrote. Our predecessors used primitive knowledge, romantic understanding and primitive methods to arrive at 'their truth'. Both the means and the methods that they employed, prevented them from ever getting past a certain point, that would have likely brought them face-to-face with the actual God phenomenon.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">The latter might have disappointed them anyway, if they were to have been successful and located it. They were taught to be afraid of IT, and out of fear or respect, they complied. Sadly, that trait has been passed down to us today, and left many of us with a 'fear of the unknown complex'. Fear drove them, and fear hindered them. And fear is a crippler, and can cause anyone to miss out on something that can be beneficial.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">For example, and don't tell anybody this, but when I was in my pre-pubescent period, I was afraid of girls. Yes me, the young kool, suave when I walked and talked, handsome, prepubescent macdaddy Solomon. One of my friends who knew me at the time, met my cousin years later in Los Angeles. Upon discovering that the lady that he was talking to was my cousin. He told her, <span class="Apple-style-span" >"I knew your cousin, when he was afraid of girls"</span>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Had I been there, I would have denied it, of course. But the truth is, it took a while for me to get over my fear, even though I was crazy about them, but not bold enough to walk up to them and say, 'what's happening baby'? In the 7th grade, my fear diminished, and I approached a girl the wrong way from behind, and got smacked, er herm!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Perhaps it was natural before - I don't know, and perhaps it is natural for humans to be afraid of what we refer to as God today, but I don't believe that anyone has anything to fear, anymore - we were simply conditioned to believe that the old man in the sky wants to kill us, if we step out of line.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Today, I am proud to say, tch tch, that I am neither afraid of girls, nor God anymore! To be honest, I might be less afraid of God, however. Seriously, I don't believe that IT wants us to be afraid, even if it turns out that what we refer to as God, has the anthropomorphic features that we have been taught to believe that it has (emotions like anger, rage ...). </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Having said that, and as I explained before: At some point, we ought to grow up and be able to say, I'm ready to know you, IT, or the truth about whatever IT turns out to be. That IT has not revealed itself, can mean that it is as impersonable as a cloud, the wind or an earthquake can be, but nevertheless either of the 3 remain powerful. And please don't be offended when I use 'IT' to describe, what religious people call God, both are equal in value. And even if IT turns out to be a spirit, according to the rule of language, IT could not be a she, or a he!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">In other words, we do not have to 'just believe', in a God of the shroud, darkness or the mysterious ... I suspect that we should be suspect, or afraid of individuals who attempt to encapsulate, or trap us into never crossing over an imposed imaginary line into the other plane. We need to go out on a real date, as go we <span class="Apple-style-span" >IN SEARCH OF THE REAL GOD </span>phenomenon (which might not turn out to be, what we were taught to believe before, what it was in the first place)!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">We, no longer need to live with a speculative or mostly invisible God by faith. Instead, let's thank our predecessors for bringing us the point where they did, however, we can carry the baton further forward and even faster, however, and at costs, we can neither keep living in yesterday, nor continue to see what is in front of us by using yesterday's tunnel vision!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Jesus was martyred when he attempted to raise the level of awareness of his religious cohorts, the religious leaders of his time, mostly the Jews He, apparently, understood more at the age of 12, than many in the religious establishment of his day, understood over the course of their lifetimes.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">I believe that it is imperative for all of us who care, to do what Jesus did, that is to take off the blinders of our time, and to don a new yoke, that of pursuing what is real using all available speed. And to my secularist friends, and you are: Do not look for the God of religion to prove or to disprove it, simply seek after what is real (as many of you are already doing, and let it find you). <i> For truth does not lie, conclusively or exclusively, within the domain of religion, religious paradigms (short stories) or religious dogma - Jesus proved that during the common era!</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Prior to the time of his departure, Jesus informed his disciples that 'the spirit of truth', (paracletos; a guide, comforter ... ) would return "to go alongside them", and that it would "guide them into all of the truth"), which was a direct affront to the religious institutions, clerics and teachers in the common era.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">And this truth would be in deference to what the religious hierarchy of the day (priests, levites, pharisees, prophets, Sadducee's, rabbis... understood and taught the people)! And even though most religions of our time, even Christianity in some instances, have distanced themselves from most of what was taught in the Tanakh, the Talmud ...., Christianity is still dependent on ancient texts, myth and stories borrowed from other cultures, even they would admit that they never came face to face ... with God!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">In the past, too much emphasis was placed upon rudimentary principles, metaphor, myth, superstition... Even though we picked up where they left off, we should be beyond that by now. I<b><span class="Apple-style-span" >nstead we ought to be seeking after what is real, no matter what IT turns out to be, in </span></b>modern baptist, pentecostal, Muslim, philosophical, Mormon, Methodist, catholic circles ... "If my people who are called by my name ..." were to seek the truth as opposed to attempting to turn ancient texts and myth into 'the truth', imagine where we would be today, given the hold that all of these groups have on the minds of modern-day individuals!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Part II.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">In our post-modern world, we find ourselves being challenged by individuals, inside and outside of religion, who forbid anyone from going beyond the limited boundaries of their (religious ... understanding), which is limited at best. For example, the persistent rejection of scientific discovery in some religious circles, is limited at best. Why? They are clearly not at the end of knowledge, all of us are still somewhere in the middle I believe. But having said that, members of the scientific community, and anyone who will listen to them have experienced wrath, vituperation, obfuscation, excoriation, repudiation and rejection ... from limited and obtuse religious zealots (that often possess a political bent), as well as organizations and other individuals who are afraid of having their myths, pre-conceived ideas and errant belief systems examined, debunked and repudiated.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Religious institutions for example, have their own reasons for not wanting things to change, or for anyone to grow beyond what they teach and have taught. <u>Some have an economic need</u> for things to continue as they have been. Others believe that what they are teaching is true, and others have a fear of having what they have been taught is sacred truth, being debunked. Was the late Bishop Usher, a good man I suspect, corrupt given his flawed estimate, with respect to how long man has been on the Earth? Evidence at <span class="Apple-style-span" >Olduvai Gorge, </span>carbon dating ..., would seem to say that his computations, that many believed, at the time, were accurate, were in fact inaccurate! He was a good man, I believe, that made an honest mistake, and he is not the only one.</p><blockquote style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b>A person who makes an honest mistake is not impeached, the mistake that he or she made, is impeached. Bishop Usher, and of late Reverend Camping's findings, both have and are being impeached!</b></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Sadly, the religious community, (even the one that I am a part of, even though they are not always a part of me the heretic) will not always tolerate the 'spirit of truth (that which leads a person or group to 'hunger and thirst after what is real)', something that even Jesus promised was to come. In other words, truth is not always the number one motivator for a religious institution, or its adherents. Instead, religious people, and religious institutions prefer their own limited understanding(s), dogma and interpretations of ancient texts (looking into a dark looking glass as it were), and screening out all else that does not fit neatly into their speculative paradigms.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >In Summary</span>: What is there to be afraid of, I ask?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">!). I used to warn members of my congregation to be responsible for, and to take responsibility for their own destinies.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">2). I also reminded them to never outsource the responsibility for their own outcomes, successes or failures in life, to another human being, not even me!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">3). I finally reminded them, that one day they would meet, 'what we refer to as God for themselves', and therefore to be responsible for the outcome of such a meeting.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">It is time to move beyond ancient and even modern-day religious paradigms, myth, and in some instances truth for its time, that is no longer relevant or valid! <span class="Apple-style-span" >As Karl Marx</span> once explained and I agree with him wholeheartedly, 'religion can be an 'opiate of the masses'. We see the latter being played out even in a 21st Century context.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">I encourage you to remove the religious shackles/bindings from your minds in spite of what you have heard from 'them of old and some from modern times', just as Jesus once taught his disciples to do in the common era. The latter put him at odds with the religious hierarchy, apologists, aristocracy and sycophants of his time, and it will likely cause a similar problem for you.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">I would still encourage you, however, to take a walk on the wild side,"<span class="Apple-style-span" > for if you seek the truth I believe that, it will find you"</span>, no matter where you begin your search - just be sincere about it. Jesus once explained that, 'truth will make you free". Free from what? Apparently from pride, error, domination, narrow-mindedness, egotism, confusion, intolerance of ideas or scrutiny, political or religious zealotry, bindings, suppression and oppression.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">From hereon, I would suggest that wherever you are today, or might find yourself in the future, seek after what is real, even when it comes to science or anything else that just might even debunk outdated myth or constructs. Instead, pursue what is real. <span class="Apple-style-span" >Galilei Galileo, and Copernicus</span> (posthumously) proved that religion, with its best intentions, could be wrong, when on the other hand scientific discovery, logic, reason ... could be right. The two can co-exist and one can compliment and even test the other! The members of my profession will never admit it, but they and I have often make some critical errors!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Using a precise methodology to corroborate what is real, as opposed to merely speculating about what is real or fits into a particular paradigm, is preferable, I believe, particularly when there is so much at stake in the present, and will be in the future. Carrying the baton in a more sensible fashion during our dispensation, is critical, and will have dividends for the individuals (perhaps Kurzweil's Cyborgs who may follow us). And it is critical that their is a method of scrutiny in place not only for the current inhabitants of the earth (even when it negates dispensational truth and theology), but for the ones who are to follow us.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Our successors, I suspect would build upon current epistemology, and sadly, some of us what we would have to offer them, if we keep going the way that we have been (religious v philosophy, science and any other scrutiny) derived from 2 to 5,000 year old stories, won't help them. In fact, I suspect that they will suspense with it, and begin away from where they are, building upon science instead.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">It is as if some of us, haven't learned anything during out time on earth, but instead, stood, intellectuality or parabolically, in the same place for the generations that we were on earth.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >In fact, I like what Albert Einstein, once said: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >"science without religion is lame, but religion without science is blind"</span>. In other words, the two need each other! Am I making a case for science? In fact I am making a case for seeking after the truth wherever it is posited. Typically truth does not reside in 'a single place'. And with respect to the latter, both disciplines have been mistaken from time to time - but only one discipline will typically admit to it - not religion.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Now keep in mind however, that similar to what Jesus and others experienced during the common era, the ones who challenged the status quo and the accepted constructs of their day or time, you might be put out of the synagogue, the National Academy of Sciences, or some other religious, non-religious or sophist institution of our day - even by a religious teacher who knows that what he or she is teaching, is not the truth, or at least has holes in it. But having said that, "<b>something is amiss in the force Luke"</b>, and we need to be loosed from whomever or whatever force it is, that binds or hinders us, keeping in mind that we should always pursue what is real in order to be free and to grow!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Now, wouldn't it be a shame, if one were to discover that Jesus' promise came true long ago, and that the spirit of truth is and has been here for thousands of years, but religion, politics, culture ... has rejected and hindered us from embracing it. I believe that is the case, and that some individuals are being <span class="Apple-style-span" >'left behind', the ones who teach and taught religion!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">There is more at stake here than what any cult, religious guru, celebrity preacher, philosophical group, teaches and has concluded all that you and everyone else needs to know! Ask yourself this question, <span class="Apple-style-span" >if that were the case, how come all of our religious groups ..., disagree or teach something that differs, from group to group?</span> In other words, they don't agree, but each respective group wants you to believe them. Why? typically, each group believes, typically, that they are the exclusive harbingers of truth. I believe that we should continue to seek the truth, until it finds us whether it is <span class="Apple-style-span" >The Singularity, the God Equivalent, Unifying Principle ..., and not an old man in the sky based on the untested and</span> limited beliefs of individuals who preceded us!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">It is a fact, that after all of our holy men and women of God, examine the same texts, that the majority of them will come away with a different conclusion, even though each one will claim to be in contact with the only true God. Hmm!!!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Wherever you are, even if you are burned-out on religion, religious people or religious organizations, and I understand that, why not stop where you are, and simply consider pursuing, with an uncluttered mind, what is real; it worked for me. If you are sincere, 'IT' will find you, and get you to where you need to be mentally, spiritually, physically and cognitively! And to the ones who won't like me for writing this, because they believe, just like everyone else that they know what truth is, just remember this: <span class="Apple-style-span" >Jesus was hated</span> for the same reasons that some of you might distrust me (debunking misplaced religious ideas and practices). Because if I had not told you the truth, you would not distrust, hate or doubt me!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >In closing: </span>This is my opinion, and I believe that it is time to move on, as I have already moved on: Also, beware of individuals who love to study for study's sake, but are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, there are a lot of them who like to hang around religious circles, and religious institutions who love religious circumlocution, elocution, theosophying and deciphering religious texts.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">They are the ones, that you should really fear, the researchers and worshipers of history; but you don't have to fear me! For having said that, I am simply not afraid of living in the present and pursuing what is real in the present, and neither should you be afraid of girls or what turns out to be real, either in a modern, post-modern or future context. <u>Just remember this, that religion can and often does bind us</u>. I am not suggesting that you throw it away, rather, simply keep it as a tool in the toolbox, as you set out to discover what is real today. After all , that is what Jesus did after all, and he discouraged his audiences from looking back 'to some of them of old times!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >It is really too bad, that religion has a monopoly on God; most people have accept that God belongs exclusively within the domain of religion, and as a result have no idea I suspect, on what they are missing!</span> I can only imagine what generations before, and individuals in our present reality, have missed and are missing out on, given the misplacement of God, as a God of, heal my leg, give me money, let me speak in tongues enlarge my territory, and it's all about me and going to heaven, religions ... <b> It would have been better, and will be better, whenever God is freed from religion and therefore myth, the mystical, magic and superstition! Thank God for science too ..., where would we be without it, especially, if we relied solely upon religion?</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IadQuU6oYW0/TbL0IOBg65I/AAAAAAAAAAM/kRpB3dCTiSc/s1600/1211101547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IadQuU6oYW0/TbL0IOBg65I/AAAAAAAAAAM/kRpB3dCTiSc/s320/1211101547.jpg" width="320" style="cursor: move; " /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Rev. C. Solomon, a Post-Modern Minister<a href="http://sealofabraham.blogspot.com/">sealofabraham.blogspot.com</a></p></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-87989202432383224612011-05-13T12:08:00.001-07:002011-05-13T12:08:47.775-07:00In Search of the Real God: In A Present Reality<p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6cbCJymfzM/TbL1iuK9DuI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/whlaYvEp7d0/s1600/0209111645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6cbCJymfzM/TbL1iuK9DuI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/whlaYvEp7d0/s320/0209111645.jpg" width="320" style="cursor: move; " /></a></p><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Lord today: Similar to Lot's wife, we keep looking back, as if to say, that by looking back God does not exist and isn't doing anything in the linear world of our present (dimension)!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Lot's wife, apparently turned into a pillar of salt, or more likely was covered by the sulfuric emanations that descended from the air as a result of a sulphuric eruption in the Dead Sea Region. And according to the legend, if she had been looking ahead, she would not have been subjected to such a dreadful fate.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">The god of historians is a God of literature, story, and legends that have been passed down from generation to generation and to us today. And as a result, we continue to be stuck between 2 poles, that of looking back, or getting to know what we refer to as God in a current or post-modern context.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">An interesting juxtaposition! <span class="Apple-style-span" >The former are typically ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, because they are no</span><span class="Apple-style-span" >t looking for the truth. Why? They believe that they already have all of the truth, and the unraveling of history (similar to Lot's wife looking back) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" >appears to be their religion as well as their love. And, translating, discovering, interpreting and examining texts, is also their God. Similar to their counterparts, the ones who love to put a puzzle together, take it apart, flip it on its flat side and then put it together again, it would appear that they are in love with the puzzling-exercise, more than they are with getting to know what the puzzle seeks to portray, in other words, its meaning. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">At least in the past, our predecessors apparently knew their God, or did they? One writer put it this way when speaking for God and said: "My People Do Not Know, Neither Have They Considered". Not much has changed from where I am standing. Believers today, remind me a lot of the would-be sorcerers, in Acts Chapter 19. They attempted to exorcise the demons by invoking the name of Paul's God. Why? They didn't know God for themselves. Sadly, too many humans today are repeating similar behavior, when talking about the power of someone elses God, a God that they know of historically.</p><blockquote style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b>Beam us up Scotty and "boy, I say boy, now what was the name of that God you mentioned", <span class="Apple-style-span" >Foghorn, Leghorn would ask?</span></b></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Ah, don't get mad at me, the Prophet Elijah made fun of the religious people of his time too. And today, what some individuals and religious institutions are doing, is as comedic as a Fog Horn Leg Horn cartoon.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Wake up folks. For example, consider religion teachers like Harold Camping, that appear to know nothing about God in the present, which explains why he keeps looking back to the past.. His latest eschatological predictions are based on his historical research in the canon, and the conclusions that he has drawn are a result of his restricting himself to that singular ancient text. He doesn't hide that, and neither pretends that God told him, nor that some spirit revealed the latest set of eschatological predictions that he has posited, with respect to the Rapture of the saints (approximately 200M, and the end of the world)!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Harold's predictions are only as good as the conclusions that he has drawn based upon his historical-biblical research. And, his predictions may be correct, based upon the source that he relied upon to draw his conclusions and to make his predictions. He has been wrong before, but that is not enough to cause to him admit that either his research is flawed, the source documents are flawed, or both he and they are flawed.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Looking back, and, eschatologically forward is dangerous at best. I believe that it satisfies the longings of individuals who refuse to look at what is right in front of them. These individuals refuse to search for the real God and its meaning in the present, instead they accept a historical God as being the real thing, depending on which culture they happen to come from.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Harold, why don't you look for and connect with what we call, ' God today', and save yourself the trouble of making predictions that are based upon flawed, and often incomprehensible texts from the past. At the very least, it would help you to stop making a fool out of yourself, and a very serious matter?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Having said this, and you can add this to the list, there have been numerous epochal and catostrophic events that have occurred before, in which people, I believe, thought that it was the end of the world - not just the end of them. For example, consider all of the individuals who died recently as a result of the earthquakes and Tsunami in Japan recently, Indonesia recently, or Haiti. They likely believed, when they saw the inescapable catastrophe coming, that it was the end of the world. Those of us who were not affected, understand that the world as we know it is still here.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Perhaps Harold, should consider that provisio in terms of his predictions in the future, that is to differentiate the end of the world from the destruction of a group of people, as a result of a geologic anomalies.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">I suspect that readers, can come up with even more historical scenarios, wherein it might have appeared to the individuals who witnessed the coming of a great flood, tsunami, earthquake, the bombing of their nation by nuclear weapons dropped from the sky and were effected ... that it was the end of mankind or the world - take your pick!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Religious teachers ..., I ask you this question: Will you indeed sacrifice a whole generation of individuals, who refuse to share in the folly of 'looking back worship and romanticism', because you refuse to grow, learn, experience and teach about what is true in the present? And what is that?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b>Hint</b>: <span class="Apple-style-span" ></span> Or, we can stay with the Harold Campings of the world, keep looking back, and forfeit what is here for us in an ever-evolving present, or we can change our focus, and begin accepting our present reality and recognize and understand God in the present, not a static anthropomorphic being that we learned of from history. Sacrilege? I know. And you, just keep looking back, and ignore what is right in front of you in the present!!!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><b>to be continued in my God Today Series</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></p><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IadQuU6oYW0/TbL0IOBg65I/AAAAAAAAAAM/kRpB3dCTiSc/s1600/1211101547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IadQuU6oYW0/TbL0IOBg65I/AAAAAAAAAAM/kRpB3dCTiSc/s320/1211101547.jpg" width="320" style="cursor: move; " /></a></p>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-91353854364740379162011-05-11T14:31:00.000-07:002011-05-13T15:39:44.566-07:00Scotty: Beam Them Up To The Mother Ship Please!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfcSw3WZhztBHRWRJ320fy5wvGkqicr6zUgpQ5MKci_WfRhB3CIzuOqfgd8mFR2UObG6afwoFITCfAcuMbO0NVMb-xb2y6XCzeZlu0OR4uuNXQus4VeD_O3G3o6lou6-DB-HC/s1600/1211101521a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfcSw3WZhztBHRWRJ320fy5wvGkqicr6zUgpQ5MKci_WfRhB3CIzuOqfgd8mFR2UObG6afwoFITCfAcuMbO0NVMb-xb2y6XCzeZlu0OR4uuNXQus4VeD_O3G3o6lou6-DB-HC/s320/1211101521a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605574615642015410" /></a><b>Regarding Reverend Camping's, rapture and end of the world predictions:</b> The real fire, that has been burning going back to the Big Bang, is still burning towards the outer edges of the Universe apparently.<div><br /></div><div>So, don't be too quick to leave the safe-haven of Earth - we were put here for a reason. It could be a nice place to live, if people would behave and live without religious crusades, jihads, fatwahs and religious fanaticism ..., among other things!<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>Listen, I Never Thought I Would Say This, However..</b>. thank you Reverend Camping! I have been looking for someone to prove that what I have been saying, writing, preaching and teaching for years, is the truth. The truth about what? That it is time to move on, and to put religion (and its anachronistic teachers ...) into a proper <i>historical</i> context too; but NOT the God phenonema! Having said that: I know that there will be others who will pick up the mantle and run with it. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">That makes me think of a time at Stanford U, when the religious community, that I was a part of with On-Campus Ministires, was asked to stop placing a burden on the students at Stanford. We were told to instead, witness to students, exclusively, around the on-campus United States Post-Office branch. But having said that, the dean permitted me to baptize individuals in on-campus Lake Lagunita.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Prospostion</span></b>:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We need to pursue what is real: Let's consider who this man, Reverend Camping is, first of all? Reverend Camping is a man, a Civil Engineer by profession, who studied and graduated, just down the hill from the Graduate Theological Union (a consortium of Christian Schools), that sits on the scenic hill, just above and on the Campus of the University of California at Berkeley, a campus where I am a frequent visitor, that has an excellent Christian library!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping is a man of no mean spirit, one who in his zeal has embraced the bible (Constantine's Canon), studied it, teaches from it and believes it is the final authority … In that sense he should not be accused of quackery, something that his latest foray into end-time predictions, has caused many to believe. Even though he appears to be a quack, he is like too many other religious people that all of us come into contact with - individuals, who are inflexible, and a bit too much in love with their own minds, egos and craft!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I enjoyed listening to him on a Bay Area <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Talkshow</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">KGO</span> Radio, this past Sunday. Professor Brent Walters, from the Department of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Religious </span>Studies, at San Jose State University, invited him to speak for an uninterrupted hour, in the 3<sup>rd</sup> segment, of his 3-hour long Sunday morning radio show. <b>It might be fortuitous, given that he was nearly 15 minutes late getting to the show, which might prove that when it comes to keeping time</b> – well, you see where I am going? Reverend Camping spoke, for approximately 45 minutes, with only an occasional interruption, typically when he was asked to clarify a point.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The very capable Professor Walters, was kind and gracious to Reverend Camping. Reverend Camping’s predictions, that the Rapture of the Saints will occur on May 21, 2011 of this year, and that the world will end five days later, is not been hidden from the public eye. All across the country, his prediction that the world is coming to an end … has been posted on billboards, talked about in the media and preached about on TV and Radio.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Many other preachers, scholars ... who don't agree with him, have already distanced themselves from both he and his reductionist, perhaps, theory. To some, he appears to be a complete idiot. But what is it, that he is really saying? Just look at his website <a href="http://www.familyradio.com/">www.familyradio.com</a>, and you will find out. And, this is important because when he was interviewed by Professor Walters, a man who I consider to be a friend, he repeated what is written on his website, that is: <b>“The Bible Guarantees It”</b>. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">In other words, he is not predicting the end of the world, he is simply pointing out, based on his interpretation of what is written in Constantine's Canon or the Bible, (not in code by the way), that these eschatalogical events will occur over the course of the next few weeks. And he might be right about what the bible predicts, and still be wrong! A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DaVinci</span> Code, all over again? Blasphemy? I know, for the assemblers of Constantine's Canon, could not have a made a mistake here and there, in terms of compiling the canon, correct? In other words, Reverend Camping has already given himself an out, even if everyone is still here on May 22nd!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Most of us, who were raised in the Church (regardless of which religious group or denomination we hail from), are aware of the following scripture, Matthew 24:36. <span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>"</i></b></span><span><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>But of that day and hour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">knoweth</span> no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only".</i></b></span> According to the biblical writer(s), this is what Jesus said. That day, is what, for sure what most Christians, but not only Christians are waiting for. Somehow most Christians believe that somehow they belong in a better place than earth (er herm), and that they will, uniquely, be reunited with their loved ones in a better place, in deference to what they helped to construct on Earth!</span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">It begs the question Christians, and others, do any of really deserve Heaven! </span></span></span></span><b>Man, these people, like Reverend Camping and others, hate the world, that they helped to ruin, and they do so to the extent, that they can't wait to get out of here.</b> Well, fine I say, for when the majority have been beamed up ... I can enjoy the San Francisco Bay area, the Tahoe basin ... with less congestion.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">From what I can see, there is a lot more for us to learn right here on earth, clearly, we have missed some things. I suspect that we have at least wasted the last 2,000 years in our quest to rule the planet in the name of God. Why? Because like Reverend Camping (who only needs the bible and a few commentaries), most religious individuals are just as limited in their outlook, having restricted themselves to their interpretation of a single book. What we have done is to teach a kind of fanaticism that has led to more division. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span><b></b></span></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span><b>What is it that we could have learned and taught, from and in, Ages 1, 2, 3 up to now, if we had not given in to self-indulgence and dogmatism?</b></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">The fact of the matter is,religious people, and religious organizations, have not figured out how to agree with each other on earth, so why in the world would God, reward us, and have us to come to Heaven - wherever that is, not likely up yonder. Er herm, isn't that the reason that Satan, was metaphorically, tossed out of heaven, that is for creating division, self-ambition ...?</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Good bye! Nothing in me tells me that I deserve to be a special place with God, and to leave everyone else behind - I have made a lot of mistakes too you know, haven't you?</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><span><span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Trust me, Reverend Camping, is a bible <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">literalist</span>, but he is not a nut, I don't believe that. He is very aware of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Jesus'</span> pronouncement, that no man knows the day or hour, just as most believers are aware of and cite that text. The latter explain why so many people, Christians and non-Christians, are flabergasted, disgusted, and equally dismissive of his prediction about the Rapture, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">apokalupsis and him</span>! And the ones who believe in him, are not mind you. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">But why would the Reverend put himself out on a dangling limb like the one that he has placed himself on, one that could destroy his $100 ministry, and his credibility with his followers and sycophants? It is simple: <b>He is only reporting, based upon his years of biblical research, what he believes that "the Bible guarantees", not him</b>. He is not making this report, based upon his own feelings! His conclusion, is based upon the Bible guarantees, based on what he has read in the canon! Professor Walters, gave him an opening, one in which he declined to modify the biblical prediction. He insisted that it will happen, in deference to the calculation that he made before in the 1970's.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping, in my mind, is the perfect example of what religion can do to a person, even a bright, articulate and educated one. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">What do I believe about all of this, Reverend Camping and biblical eschatology? Well, there are historicists, post-millennialist, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">pre</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">millenialists</span>, a-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">millenialists</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">pre</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">tribbers</span>, post-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">tribbers</span> ... within the Christian faith …, <b>and none of them agree</b>. So what does that tell you and me? And don't forget that Apostle Paul, a man who often shot from the hip, believed that he would apparently be a part of the rapture, without having going to sleep. At least that is what he appears to be saying, in his letter to the believers in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Thessalonica</span> or modern-day Thessaloniki, take your pick. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Now don't forget, there are over 50,000 Christian denominations, and millions of preachers and teachers, who will have an opinion about the end of time, and about Pastor Camping too. And keep in mind that all of us, including me, claim to be infused with the same spirit of God. So, what does that tell you? We don't seem to be very believable do we?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">What will practically every other cleric, imam, priests, guru ..., have to say: They will say that "Reverend Camping is wrong, but I am not wrong"! Keep in mind however, that Reverend Campings prediction, is pretty close to that of the ancient Mayans, although, they did not predict a rapture - something that the best scholars say, is a prediction based upon a misunderstand or misappropriation of canonical texsts. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I can recall prognosticators ub the past, who named the day and hour when Jesus would return, the Rapture would occur, and the world would come to an end. One group predicted that Jesus would return to Akron, Ohio, several decades ago. Akron, aka Jamestown, well that is before Lebron headed to Miami, is where I was born. I love the people in Akron, and I love Akron too. But when I heard that Jesus decided to appear in Akron, about 20 years ago, on Copley Road, near the High School that I graduated from, I had more than a few doubts. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Man a group of people lined the streets on Copley Rd., had bands playing and there was a great celebration, but Jesus no-showed!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If only we could be more like Solomon, who wrote: Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow, you die. Obviously, he did not live with the burden that most people, who are influenced by religion and some who are not, live with and lived with in the past! Too many people are trying to figure out how to get to Heaven, while wasting their lives and potential here on earth.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Why do they do Christians, and other groups engage in this type eschatological religious canard? One of the reasons that I will speak to, which will explain why they do so in my opinion, is because most religious people are fascinated with this particular theme. Most religious people, from most denominations ... expect to, someday, <span class="Apple-style-span">be beamed up to the Mother Ship!</span> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"></p><blockquote><b>Religious Christians, not the only religious people mind you, believe that Constantine's Canon is the inerrant word of God</b></blockquote><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p>They will tell you, God, not man inspired everything that is in the canon. And even in the face of evidence to the contrary, don't try to convince them otherwise. Action is predicated upon belief, and Christians, I repeated, believe that the book comes from God ITself! <p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It is for the rest of us, who believe that there is some thing that we refer to, in our culture, as the God phenomenon or not, to figure this thing out while being accused of being apostates, heretics, backsliders, never-were-saved, hypocrites, existentialists, atheists .... by our religious counterparts, who genuinely believe otherwise. We know that what dyed-in-the wool religious people believe in, is far bigger than, and light years past where most religious people, even Christians, take their points of departure, that is a heal my leg, enlarge my territory, make me a rich preacher, take me to heaven ... point of heaven!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We know, that it will be for us to sensibly pursue an understanding of what IT is, and to join with what we refer to as God (something that might appear to be abstract but is real). Who was the b, secularist, who wrote the book several years ago: The God of the Brain? I have forgotten his name, but the brother was on to something. Perhaps, the connection exists in the brains, of some of us as he proposed, but not in the rest of us. The rest, I would have to agree, may not have a brain - that was not nice. Okay, he didn't say that! He believed that God was hard-wired in certain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">human's</span>, brain, perhaps!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">My thing is I don't care about all of this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">eschatological</span> stuff, oops, I said it. I've seen what it has done to people, typically only to harm them, and to make them look down on other people who do not see things the way they do (Remember, a-millenialists, post-millenialists, pre-tribbers ...., all of them have one thing in common, and it is the "I KNOW" spirit. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Jesus, was pretty much said, with respect to the day and hour: "don't worry about it, nobody knows, just do your thing while you are here on Earth, because otherwise you will be overly preoccupied. Let's see, how many human beings have for many years, hours and days predicated, lived their lives according to and waited for the blessed event to occur.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A friend, who lived in Alabama, shared a true story about a religious relative of his. She apparently joined he and his family for a long trip across the state of Alabama one day. His rural grandmother, I believe it was, had never seen, been to or near a drive-in theater before. To make a long story, while they were travel, she woke up from her nap saw a figure of a man on a drive-in theater screen in the distant. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And she spoke these words: <b>"Yonder come Jesus"</b>! This woman believed that she was witnessing Jesus' advent into the world. The family laughed and explained, "no mam, that is what we refer to as a drive-in theater, and what you are seeing is a movie".</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">This woman was a perfect example of how serious people are about the expected blessed event. It also explains, why one would be wasting their time to try to tell them otherwise, or that the book that they rely upon to tell them all things about the past, present and future, would be a waste of time.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Reverend Camping, is playing on sacred ground. And if it is as some of us understand it, that what we refer to God exists outside of but parallel to 3-dimensional time-independent world, then if their is a rapture, it is taking place all the time. In other words, in the past, in the present and in the future, all at once. Why? The God phenomenon would not be time-dependent, but observing past, present, future and outside of the past, present and the future all at once!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Perhaps Reverend Camping and others are already there, and not there, and somewhere else if you were to use stepped outside of time. Or perhaps Jesus was wrong because, he didn't have Constantine's Canon to rely upon, did he?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">So why am I writing this piece again? It is, first of all, to thank Reverend Camping for making my point about religion, pro and con. It is what I have been writing about, and saying before, <b>that is: Within a 21</b><sup><b>st</b></sup><b> Century Context, we simply need to move on, because much learning about Constantine's bible, has made too many of our peers mad!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The second reason for writing on this topic is to say, that we cannot possibly understand all of what was being said 2000 years ago, or what was written, and has been translated over and over again, years later. Have you noticed all of the bibles today, and that if you were to compare them, they all mostly say something different, the same as most religious groups do and practice. <b>And this is just one other reason that religious people need to move on, in terms of searching for God in the present, and to stop looking back.</b> Thank you Reverend Camping! </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">In conclusion: I repeat, perhaps in a non-linear or 3-D world, perhaps what we refer to as the Rapture, occurs everyday – remember, we believe that God is time independent, and has the ability to view the past, present and future of our world, all at the same time - without relocating in space.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Clearly religion, and most religious teachers are not helping, and some of them have become an embarrassment to what we refer to in general, as God! <u>Reverend Camping will prove that Constantine's canon, should not be our only source, and I thank him for that!</u></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">By the way, does anyone else have any claims on South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay? If not, I will take them both when everyone else is gone! Remember this scripture that I am fond of in the canon,: 'We will know them by their love', not as a result of scripture memorization, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">theosyphying</span>, scriptural memorization, preaching, teaching, standing when they pray, performing miracles... I embellished a bit!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>And beam 'em up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Scotty</span>', so that we can have peace on Earth - and who knows, then Jesus might come back and live 'in earth' with us. If he came today, he would likely end up on the cross again, or at least be shot at or robbed! And if we all get beamed up, I will be the brother in the hat, with sunglasses and a beard - don't forget to say whass up!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>Solomon</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b>BTW:</b> I asked this question in one of my earlier writings: Did you know that the first human to die, if you accept the canonical story as being literal, died as a result of differences between 2 brothers about religious issues, and the last person or persons to die, will do so the same, as a result of a religious conflagration, apparently between the religious easterners and westerners? Can't we all just get along?</p></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-26824483197782207652011-05-05T16:30:00.001-07:002011-05-05T17:53:26.424-07:00What If You Don't Trust Them: American Government Officals?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwC1ILfV5wneqmeeaBQ-Uk-67RpIkNMvhgR4taztKL9Mqit7nkrlieZOn8e8zrahR1R5TfLgGaA1dhAPguKngQECL29xKU3mv4FWSZg9ol5FAXKCflAgSJp2lBWXVLXGNIkL5/s1600/0209111651.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwC1ILfV5wneqmeeaBQ-Uk-67RpIkNMvhgR4taztKL9Mqit7nkrlieZOn8e8zrahR1R5TfLgGaA1dhAPguKngQECL29xKU3mv4FWSZg9ol5FAXKCflAgSJp2lBWXVLXGNIkL5/s320/0209111651.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603386692180322242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IA_lzaT08qABOEqEO-jUKy6-1kvzG5bCJ3nkBTgLXCKxt0lgD2mP9Hzwzi-SYFr53O4pYUZrJOiK6b7CeHTrnYnLw5cYiIF0AhRs0-0XGR6S2OYHGd-0BCWPwDRsyS0SHxzy/s1600/0205111117.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; " ><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28268" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The Apostle Paul wrote</span>:</sup></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28268" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28268" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">1</sup> Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28269" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28269" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">2</sup>Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment... hmm!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28270" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">3</sup> For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28271" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">4</sup> For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28272" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">5</sup>Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28273" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; ">6</sup> This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28274" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">7</sup> Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.</p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; " ></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17406" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >And Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:8</span></sup> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17407" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">9</sup> The increase from the land is taken by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">all; the king himself profits from the fields.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p><b><br /></b></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p><b>Er herm and it sounds good!!!</b></p><p>So what are you supposed to do when you don't trust your own officials? For example: The other night, when the news first broke about Usama bin Laden being killed, taken and burial my initial reaction was that I didn't believe what was being reported in the press about what had taken place. In fact, Mr. Obama's long-awaited press conference, continued to be delayed, which resulted in my having to stay up past my bedtime, 10:00P.M.</p><p>Factually, I still wonder whether UBL is dead or alive? Given how our leaders, take former President George H. Bush Jr. for example, who once admitted, that he may have "misled the nation', a bit... </p><blockquote><b>The above speaks speaks to why: Americans, many of us, no longer trust the people that are elected to govern?</b></blockquote><p></p><p>Given that Solomon was a King, it was in his interest to say that, rulers are not a terror to good works. History would disprove his rationalization. </p><p>An image popped into mind one day. In it, I pictured President George H. Bush Jr., former President George H.W. Bush Sr., Vice President Dick Cheney and Vice President Dick Cheney telling me something that was of grave importance. What came to mind was, would I believe them? And the answer would be no. Why? None of them are trustworthy, and two of them have certainly misled the country before and we know it. That old sneaky Cheney, boy, God only knows ...</p><p>With respect to President Obama, who reportedly got Osama Bin Laden the other night, after years of trying, get it, <b>"Obama, got Osama',</b> I didn't believe anything that was reported by the press. For when it comes to plausible deniability, something that I learned from our government officials, I have all the more reason to question what was reported in the press, reportedly by President Obama. Throw him under the bus with the other Presidents and Vice President Cheney, when it comes to credibility? Er herm!!</p><p>Well, it's not like we haven't been misled before, remember Yellow Cake, the mushroom cloud, and WMDs ...? And lying in the name of national interest is as natural for these fellows, as it is getting up and brushing your teeth in the morning. I wonder what Paul would say about lying in the name of national interest. </p><p>Someone wrote that God put a lying Spirit in the mouth of the prophets so that they would cause King Jehosophat, I believe it was, to fall. Would that make it any less a lie in the eyes of 'what we call God'? What would the Apostle Paul have to say about that? It would appear to me that he had a few problems with officials, even 'the Whited Walled Ones', that he referred to in his writings.</p><p>Here is what I am thinking, and the reason why the American people had to be told that UBL was killed, and buried at sea. UBL may not be dead, or was dead a long time ago. If he is alive, he is being hidden and tortured for information about al Qaeda. If he has been dead for years now, as some suppose, the US Government decided that they did not require the image of the poster boy being out and about anymore, in order to carry on their misdeeds.</p><p>Motive, well, the ruse of capturing and killing UBL, would certainly take the minds of the American people off of their current economic plight, and cause them to rally around the flag, on the way to Memorial Day. </p><p>Truthfully, I wouldn't be surprised if UBL is alive, and is instead being held and tortured at some unknown location by his American captors, and being grilled and tortured for information about Al Qaeda ...</p><p>And if that turns out to be true, most Americans will say, "<b>okay then"</b>. Why? Because they want to appear to be true and patriotic Americans. However, before everyone gets worked up about UBL being captured, shot, buried ..., ask yourselves this question: How does that alter the fact that the problem that most Americans have now, has nothing to do with UBL, AlQaeda or any other real or feigned terrorist organization. </p><p>The terrorists that are causing your and my problems, are not from the Middle-East. In fact they are homegrown, and most of them serve or have served in the Military, the United States Government, in corporate America and in other positions of power and authority. I smell sulfur. </p><p>Already, our leaders in Washington are recapitulating, with respect to the events that reportedly took place in Pakistan. Dead or Alive, what impact will it have on the lives of Americans who are out of work ..., not a result of what UBL did, but what our own homegrown terrorists in Washington DC, in Corporate America ... are doing to us?</p><p>Shouldn't the children of Israel, have been subject to the authorities in Egypt? Should the United States government, be subject to the United Nations? Okay, let me go and think about this, however, <b>UBL does not make any difference, it is what our government officials who are in bed with corporate lobbyists, and other former government leaders ..., are doing, that is hurting us. </b>Let's call them, American terrorists, for example Banco Terrorists instead of Narco Terrorists ...!</p><p>Whose side are they on? Let's do what another former paragon of decency, a leader who deceived Senator Barry Goldwater, the former and late head of the Senate Intelligence Committee said that we should do in the person of late President Ronald. President Reagan said that when it comes to the Soviets, we should <b>"trust but verify"</b>. Okay, here's a better idea, why don't we, the American people, 'just verify', because we certainly cannot trust President Obama either now!</p><p>And when it comes to what the Apostle Paul had to say about authority ..., I disagree, for rulers are a terror to good works. They were when he was alive, and they are a terror to good works now and he knows it! By the way, who established Satan's authority?</p><p><b>Peace & Grace</b></p><p>Solomon</p><p><br /></p><p>Every time, I think of Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld together, I can't help but think of the see no evil, do no evil and think no evil, monkeys! Wake up Obama, you are beginning to behave more and more like one of them!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h5><br /></h5></span><br /></div></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-3665291052416016592011-04-26T08:35:00.001-07:002011-05-04T10:18:13.892-07:00God of the Metaphor II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWhXUx5qk94d4aZxqLpiOFBcvvEDcjjtiu2hkX3oiWb2nZhtk1VoDUt3jfiyviag-JUq7k69scW3LnhOfLfE6iHyzHuya7_JKXJaikr8JiNZm0mhPsdoqJwqOoNC2x8eTgcEL/s1600/0209111701.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWhXUx5qk94d4aZxqLpiOFBcvvEDcjjtiu2hkX3oiWb2nZhtk1VoDUt3jfiyviag-JUq7k69scW3LnhOfLfE6iHyzHuya7_JKXJaikr8JiNZm0mhPsdoqJwqOoNC2x8eTgcEL/s320/0209111701.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599918374628506562" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Are We Waiting for God, or Is It The Other Way Around, God Is Waiting on us to catch up, however, we are stuck in the primordial mud?<div><br /></div><div>Why have we forfeited God's miracles in modern and post-modern times, in exchange for the miracle of pigs running wildly down a hill?</div><div><br /></div><div>Depending on how limited or obtuse one happened to be, I can understand why such a miracle might have been fitting for them in their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">obdurate</span> times, however, in a post-modern age, come on, we would have analyzed and figured that one out. And, I am pleased that a woman was healed from an issue of blood. Clearly, medical science had not advanced to the point, to help her. However, shall we ignore all of the medical advances of today (God's miracles if you prefer), in order to reflect only on miracle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">healings</span></span></span> of the past. Sacrilege, yea, I KNOW!</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus, told his disciples, that they would perform greater miracles. Well, we're trying, however, some people don't want us to do better than people who lived thousands of years ago. Did our predecessors know a thing about DNA? Did they understand chemistry to the extent that we do? What did our predecessors know about fusion?</div><div><br /></div><div>If Jonah were here today, and required relief from a scorching sun, I would turn on the air conditioner, or God be a $10.00 fan that I purchased from Big Lots.</div><div><br /></div><div>A, gain, any one of us could have caused a group of pigs to run wildly down a hillside. In fact today, I can make a car roll down a hill. People, 2,000 years later, ought to be much further along, in Moses' day, sorcerers performed miracles, just as they often did in Daniel's day. Am I minimized the miracles that Jesus did? I am certain that Jesus could have done far greater miracles than the ones that he did, however, he had to play to his audience. </div><div><br /></div><div>In consideration of what our predecessors, considered to be miracles, let's think in terms of are understanding, and miracles that have been performed in modern and post-modern times, the miracles and understanding that we have today. Here is a minor list:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; "><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Rocket <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Scientristry</span></span> & </span>Space Travel</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Einstein's Unified Field Theory.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Thermodynamics,</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Entropy</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">The Big Bang</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">The General Theory of Relativity</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Electromagnetism</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Quantum Theory</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Constants of nature</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Theoretical Physics</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Uniformitarianism</span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Ethos</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Steady State</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Evolution</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Endocrinology</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Black Holes</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Worm Holes</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">White light</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">The Space Time Continuum</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">One part time and two parts space</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Time Independence (Eternity)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Gravity</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Mapping the human genome</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px; ">Reverse engineering the brain</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div>The minor miracles that were performed when the Bible was written, for the benefit of a less than intellectual office, would pale in comparison to what we know and are doing today. And what would Jesus say, if he happened by, and audience members from the past were to happen by. He would say: This is what I was trying to tell you, that was waiting for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a point of departure, let's consider Paul's u<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">niformitariansim</span> and pantheism. </span></span> W</span>hen debating with ancient Greek philosophers at Athens, Paul injected what the Cretan philosopher <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Epimenides</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cilician</span></span></span></span> Stoic Philosopher, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Aratus</span></span></span></span> said: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">For in him we live and move and have our being.’<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A28&version=NIV#fen-NIV-27552a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Paul said: "As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring...’ Certainly the Greek Civilization began to move forward, however, what caused man to take the step backwards towards romanticism and superstition? The answer is found in religion and with religious groups whose need is to live in and to hold everyone else in the past. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">That God would have dealt with individuals on their preferred, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">juvenile,</span> level, makes sense. Simply, consider what the prophet Isaiah had to say about that in Isaiah the 55<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span></span></span> chapter. Your thoughts, your ways ..., are not mine..., as high as the heavens are ...! As high as the heavens? What an interesting choice of words to make the point. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">Wouldn't you believe that thousands of years later, that our minds have developed, those who escaped suppression, to the point that now we are ready and able, some of us, to communicate with what we call God about some things. The latter wanted God to remain as an anthropomorphic all knowing but distant God. I suspect that God, we like to have some friends.</sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><b>What is this thing, entity, being, non-being ..., that we refer to as God ...?</b> Haven't our predecessors simply come up with descriptions and ascriptions to describe what they could not comprehend or explain, given their apparent abilities to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">satisfied</span> with sleight of hand or a minor miracle or two. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">We have more miracles <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">occurring</span> today, even in the medical field, however, we simply don't record or give enough credence to today's miracles. I have suggested that we create <b>a modern day companion bible if you will</b>. Let's begin this bible, starting with ancient philosophers, and move right on down to the Renaissance. We cannot leave out Newton and others, or what they learned, understood and taught. Then let's discuss our airships that have been sent into <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">outer</span> space, 'higher than the heavens'.</sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">Let's talk about other notable miracles, that our predecessors could not understand, such as traveling at Mach I speed ..., dark energy and dark matter, tracking the human genome .... </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A28&version=NIV#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b"></a>I do not begrudge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">metaphorists</span></span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">historicists</span></span></span> or religious romanticists given their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">explanations for </span>everything</span>, especially religious ones; however, at some point, it seems to me that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">metaphorists</span></span></span></span> need to move away from symbolism, pictorials, aphorisms, historical constructs, allegory and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">parables</span>, into </span> perfection. Sadly, religion conditions them and everyone else to remain right where they are, as opposed to being actualized or moving forward. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">By that I mean, understanding what they refer to God is and becoming one with it, instead of practising historical religious reductionism. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">I was at a seminar about 20 years or so ago, at the University of Akron in the state of Ohio. The speaker was formerly an avowed atheist, who came to believe through research, in the existence of what we refer to as God. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">Initially, he sat out to prove scientifically, that there was no such as God, and instead, he </sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 6px; ">discovered the God ... of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">unformitarianism</span></span>. During his research, he kept </span>finding evidence, or a common thread if you prefer, or properties if you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">willl</span></span> that pointed to some unknown <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">quantity</span></span></span>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "> </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><b><blockquote>The properties of which showed up in everything, and everywhere that he conducted his research. </blockquote> </b></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">He posed a question to the audiences first. "How many of you have ever seen an atom, a quark or a molecule"? And of course the audience response was, "No, I have never seen one". He asked then, "how many of you have ever seen God". The collective audience response was, "I have never seen him". He followed his question with this statement, then why do you believe that there are such things as atoms, molecules and quarks, which you have never seen, and you believe in a God that you have never seen". Silence ensured, as he proceeded to explain, how and why he came to believe in God through research. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">Now most religious people would tell you that there is only one way to find God. This man proved that you could find God via other means, include scientific research. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 6px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 6px; ">The God of the metaphor, is much smaller by comparison than the God of all of the above. It is time for the religious world to wake up, for the non-religious world is actually closer, I believe, to uniting or uncovering if you prefer, with what we refer to as God, I believe, than religious people who are locked into metaphor, myth, and historical paradigms.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">When we get outside of the limitations of the God of relgion, and escape from the bounds of a 3-dimensional world? When we understand what time is, essentially relocation in space. And most of all, when we come to understand that we have spent years hanging around at the beginning of knowledge, instead of moving forward - then we will understand that God, or what we refer to us as God, does not have to remain an unknown quantity.</sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">We can know IT, and I suspect IT, is not trying to hide, and that essentially, we keep "NOT LOOKING', in the right places. Will God be found in a test tube, in a E-MC squared equation ..., well, not if you are in stuck in a book or the books. </sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span">Those who are ready to move forward, beyond the God of the metaphor, are invited to do so. However, I believe that the one's who are truly being 'Left Behind', are the individuals, mostly religious zealots who are stuck in the primordial mud of methaphor and religious romanticism, myth and the like!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Religion, as a discipline could be helpful today, if it would just get with it. How many individuals are turning away from, what we refer to as God, because of religion. People are no longer desirous of hearing fairy tales, proverbs or mythological stories - people, in a modern context and in modern societies are hungering and thirsting after knowledge, and that which is actual and factual. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Are we doing greater things today? Well, if tearing down barns (medium-sized religious edifices in order to build bigger ones, is doing something greater - we have succeeded). God knows that religious buildings and edificies are getting larger and larger. However, what is happening to people. People are frustrated, and religion is not helping them. Sacrilege? Yes, I know! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I don't feel bad because, they referred to Jesus as Baalzebub!</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "><br /></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">Rev. C. Solomon</sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 6px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-27552b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="line-height: 0.5em; "></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 6px; ">to be continued and corrected...</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><p></p><div class="footnotes">Is our knowledge equal to that of what we refer to God? I doubt it. However, we will never get there, if we rely on outdated nursery rhymes to explain anything. And besides that, I suspect that we are ready to have a conversation with God, one that is other than, give me money, heal my body, show me what girl to marry, enlarge my territory, give me long life, thank you that I am not like other people --- sacred cows?</div></b></span></div></div></div></div></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-28001167572399736902011-04-11T16:51:00.000-07:002011-04-14T09:37:49.704-07:00President O'Bushama the Black Swan?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFTu42yJCAcKbJvZ1jF2JGSeP4WrWCq85-W58JWmk19oGk1wIIDq9m_GYqofcFF5_EMa8gahHyDaUWR1-NgC9cq_MfZJmW3WbZGQ4IpZHgvDRsI-aZOMq6Sme979OeGNl-wxk/s1600/1224459771_WwVCu-785x523.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFTu42yJCAcKbJvZ1jF2JGSeP4WrWCq85-W58JWmk19oGk1wIIDq9m_GYqofcFF5_EMa8gahHyDaUWR1-NgC9cq_MfZJmW3WbZGQ4IpZHgvDRsI-aZOMq6Sme979OeGNl-wxk/s320/1224459771_WwVCu-785x523.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595212257465928130" /></a><b>Part 3:</b> Who Referred to the president as President O-bomb-a, just because he is bombing 3 nations at once, get it, the president of the bomb? That was not nice!<br /><div><br /></div><div><div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Back to the point, I will tell you who would like to be President of the United States, and would run (besides 'the Eye of Newt' , Mitt Romney, Sarah ...). Answer? Every other Republican in Washington DC; in college or abroad (including John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Boehner</span> of Ohio, would like to and might run for the office, and perhaps secure a win in 2012). </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">But the man that I referred to in part 2, the other apparent black swan, is a black Republican syndicated columnist and radio talk show host: His name is Herman Cain. Remember Cain and Abel, a man who was not his his brother's keeper, <b>Citizen Cain</b>, fits that kind of profile. He is not his brother's keeper either, based on what I have heard from him so far!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">What is so peculiar about this 'black' man, is that he is an apparent understudy of former veep, and my favorite person in the whole wide world (<span class="Apple-style-span">tee-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hee</span></span>), Dick Cheney. Citizen Cain, is a man who actually looks like, behaves like, thinks like, walks like, talks like and has all of the affectations and witty charm of former (thank God) Vice President, Dick Cheney. He differs only in hue, but more on that in a moment.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">If Senator Clinton were to have become President in 2008, she would have had a big enough mess to clean up (and women do a good job of cleaning up messes left behind by men in 'The House' and everywhere else for that matter), it would seem. But taking on the task of cleaning up after a Reagan, two Bushes, and a Reagan Bush clone, Ambassador Clinton, likely realizes just as I do, that it would be a monumental task. Besides, without being appreciated for it, she has already given so much to this nation. She will always be in the Solomon Hall of Fame, whatever she does from hereon. If President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">O'Bushama</span> were to prevail in 2012, he should have her in as one of his principle advisers.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b>The Previously Undisclosed Republican Secret Weapon</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Okay folks, Republicans have come up with a yet to be disclosed new secret weapon: It is a 'cloning device'. To make my point, observe President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">O'Bushama</span> and Syndicated Columnist<b>'Citizen Cain' (both black)</b>. As I said before, the latter is a Dick-Cheney look alike, talk like and act like clone of the former veep, if I ever saw one. And President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">O'Bushama</span> is a clone of Reagan and Bush Jr. in black-face, just as I commented on before.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">This man, Citizen Cain, is just like Obama, a composite-clone of a former politician with the only difference that I can think of is that his hue is black. Someone had better check around, and determine whether or not grandpa Cheney, was sneaking over to the slave quarters back in the day. And aside from all of the aforementioned, Citizen Cain is also in cancer remission, just like Dick Cheney is, and his surname even begins with the letter 'C', the same as Dick Cheney's.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">And get this, Citizen Cain like Cheney, Bush ..., loves the Heritage Foundation folks. It would appear that the Republicans have had this yet to be disclosed secret weapon, that has yet to be disclosed to the public. It is unique in that it has the ability to turn black swans and politicians, into white swans or politicians and vice-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">versa</span>. Simply consider what happened to President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">O'Bushama</span>: he appeared to be one thing on the outside, but was actually someone else on the inside.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Apparently, smart Republicans, and I will give them credit for being smarter, strategically, than Democrats are, decided some time ago, that they will be ready to give America whatever it wants, man, woman, black, white, bald-headed, chatty, cheerleader ... as long as they can control it, him or her. Strategically, Republicans don't care any more about what their candidate looks like, their ethnicity or their gender:, they simply want to control the reigns of power in this nation (and the world) at all costs. And for 2012, Citizen Cain, be might the 'The Man', even though they will have other clones ready, just in case.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b>And if he doesn't fit, then the Republicans will acquit!</b> Shameless, shameless, shameless Solomon, I know! Now to those of you who believe that I'm nutty, just drive up to Vegas or Tahoe, and watch a celebrity look-alike revue. And you will see just how easy it is to create clone-like look a likes like Elvis, Michael, Reagan, Bush and now this ...</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Back to the Republicans, the ones who have found a way to inject the ideas, personality, scowl ... of one human being into another, just as they used their secret weapon in order to imprint the mind, mimicry, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">kinesics</span> and the policies of 2 former Republicans presidents into 'President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">O'Bushama</span>' and Citizen Cain. And now similar to a time when singer, song-writer and former entertainer Prince, changed his moniker, the first time to, "the Artist formerly known as", President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">O'Bushama</span>, has become in many people's mind, national and abroad,<b> "the President formerly known as". A voice has been overheard in the Rose Garden, when the President is taking his evening stroll: It has been saying, "Luke, Luke, come over to the dark, Republican, side of the force"!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I don't know who Citizen Cain was before, but he is currently Dick Cheney in black face. Folks, don't put anything past the Republican minority: Two things are true about them, they are the minority (there are more Democrats) and they are smart. And along with their smarts, they have a number of effective think tanks, and will do anything to win or recover from a momentary setback. In the recent movie spoof, 'Undercover Brother', black General Billy D. Williams' character, who represented General Colin Powell in the film, had been taken over by 'The Man', just as President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">O'Bushama</span> and apparently Citizen Cain have apparently taken over by 'The Man'. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't been, <b>drinking a lot of TEA lately!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">First Lady Obama, should check to see who is sleeping beside her at night, the real Obama or perhaps a planted Republican clone. Perhaps the real Obama is hidden away somewhere else, and won't be released until the Republicans have seized full control of the Presidency, Supreme Court, both Houses and the ROW. Citizen Cain's wife might want to consider doing the same thing. At the very least, she ought to check to see whether it is her husband or not.<b></b></p><blockquote><b>Citizen Cain is Dick Cheney's previously concealed 'brother from another mother'.</b></blockquote>Either way, these two men in black face are willing to attack black, Middle-Eastern and Asian nations it would appear. And this is a win win for the Republicans, because when either of these two order hits on other nations that include people of color, no one can cry racism. And who knows, perhaps they will help to win over nations who that have in the past exclaimed, 'whitey go home'. All I can say to the Republicans is, brilliant ...! I like smart people, and I secretly admire you, however, your policies -give me a break. When I think in terms of Republican policy, I come away thinking about 'man's inhumanity to man'! Shame on you, even the Christian one's who have bought into a selfish ideology!<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I haven't heard whether or not, President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">O'Bushama</span> has truly tasted it or not (the Colonel's chicken) but it would appear that he has, at least, been selling the Colonel's Chicken all along. The rest of the world would like to know who or what is inside of the President, and, what happened to the man that ran for office just over 2 years ago. Inquiring minds want to know what happened to that man? Or, was that man simply all talk?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Even if he were to run again in 2012, and would somehow secure victory - it would appear that the Republicans will have sealed another victory. And the rest of America, particularly democrats and some independents (along with the rest of the world), will have to wait for a new <b>would-be-savior</b>. As it turns out, and as I suspected it long before now, he is not now or ever was the savior that a majority of Americans and citizens of other nations expected him to be, especially the ones who believed that he was sent by God.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b>Citizen Cain, who is wasting no time getting attention, said on a television news show last night and I quote</b>, <i>“<span class="Apple-style-span">Mr. Obama is a politician, not a leader like the late Ronald Reagan ...”.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> He's right about one thing, he's not a leader,</span> but neither were Ronald Reagan nor George Bush Jr. in my opinion - they simply gave their followers what they wanted. And to think that the two of them have been reincarnated, or superimposed into the bodies and minds of Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">O'Bushama</span>, and now apparently Citizen Cain (another black man), gives me a stomach ache!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">The Republicans have all of the bases covered or loaded now, in the 7-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> inning. They are waiting for the next general election in 2012, following another 1 1/2 year stretch. They are positioned to give America whatever it believes that it wants, black meat, white meat, female, gay, straight, lesbian ... and it won't matter to them, as long as they get what they want out of the deal. Republicans apparently care about 2 things, money and power. I noticed, during my nearly 8-year stay in the District, <b>that they never did one thing to solve the problems that were was right under their noses. In fact they ignored what was going on right down the street from Capitol Hill and not that far away from the White House.</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Instead, they leave the Capitol and head straight to Georgetown or take the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Whitehurst</span> freeway out of town, over the Potomac River, when their work day ends, straight into lush and plush Northern Virginia, in particular the Great Falls area. There they are able to avoid the impoverished and disenfranchised people just 2-blocks away from the Capitol and the Federal Triangle. A one-mile drive down South Capitol and across the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Anacostia</span> River, would force them to see what has long been out of sight, sound and their minds - the poor and disenfranchised.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Now that the new multi-million dollar baseball stadium has displaced much of the working poor and urban blight in the area, (urban removal), you will notice more of them heading down South Capitol, and borrowing a line from John McLaughlin, donning their 'tweedy suits', on the way to the multi-million dollar baseball stadium. It is a stadium that the locals cannot afford, and someone said: There are more minorities playing ball than there are minority fans in the seats.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">The Representatives, who avoid the reality of what is in front of them, remain on the stadium side of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Anacostia</span> river, and typically head back in the other direction in order to avoid encounters with many in America's permanent underclass; they are more comfortable with the Corporate Lobbyists, who typically have offices on K-Street. The poor typically reside in Ward 7 and 8, which is a distant mile away from the individuals that we vote into office, to represent us. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I will never forget what former United States Representative,Tom Davis said. I volunteered with an organization called DC Vote, while I was in Washington DC, for approximately 8 years. I was on the speaker's bureau for this organization. Our objective was to get an office Representative in Congress for the 600,000 mostly democratic majority in the district. Yes, the District had Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton, however, she was a delegate, at the time, who could vote only in Committee. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Tom's staff was always friendly, even when I visited his office and workshops. Tom Davis's assistant shared an interesting and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">embarrassing</span> experience that Representative Tom Davis, experienced in Beijing. Tom was in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Bejing</span>, and in typical American form attempted to chastise the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Chinese</span> for human rights violation. However, this time, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Chinese</span> officials were ready, and immediately contoured his argument. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Representative Davis, was caught off guard when his Chinese counterparts, asked, and when will the United States provide voter's rights for the 600,000 residents of it's nation's capital. Ouch! Afterward, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Representative</span> Tom Davis returned to America and worked hard with Delegate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Holmes</span>- Norton ..., recognizing, that America was being laughed at overseas given its hypocritical stances on human rights abroad, when it was violating the rights of the citizens of its own nation's capital, right under the nose of the President, Congress and the Supreme Court.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Instructive? Well, after some very hard work - that I can proudly say that I was a part of, the citizens of DC, finally have a representative, but having said that, for years the citizens of the District were taxed, without Representation. And the fact that citizens of the DOC fought for America, did not seem to make any difference to our Representatives in DC, even the one's who served in the United States military. And, the officials that I met with from another group, Statehood for Washington D.C., are still working hard to get the District Statehood for DC Citizens. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Side-bar, and back to the black and white swan(s), who behave just like any other politicians do, as far as I am concerned! Is the president truly under the control of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Republicans</span>, in spite of all appearances to the contrary, or is there simply 'something in the DC water', that causes this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">transformative</span> effect once certain politicians reach Washington DC? Consider this, the 720 million dollars plus of missile displacement that has already been shot or dropped into Libya already; and at least 1 fighter jet has already been brought or shot down - depending on who you believe. What's next? And, that 720 million, could have been used to create a lot of jobs just across the Frederick Douglass Bridge.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b>Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">O'Bushama's</span> strength, at the time, was that people liked him, which in turn caused his supporters to overlook his flaws</b>. Ah, he's a nice looking man (not as cute as me, but okay). And as a result, most Americans, agreed to (marry) vote for Mr. Obama, after the first date-night. Americans skirts were up, before they got home from the dance. A personality profile of the President would likely indicate that 'he likes being liked,' but who doesn't? </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Well, there is Dick Cheney. I believe that man wears the 'not being liked badge of honor to bed with him at night' with honor. He was on location, during the New <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Orleans</span> disaster 6 years ago. A man shouted in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">earshot</span>, "f-you Dick Cheney". Mr. Cheney, didn't pull out his hunting rifle out and shoot the man (tee <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">hee</span>), he simply looked away, completely unperturbed by the entire incident. But back to a President who wooed the nation and the world all of a sudden, and after 'a few night's out', the President lost his appeal. Fewer and fewer people on the Left, care for their previous paramour, President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">O'Bushama</span>, who has gone over to the dark side. At the same time, he seems to be gaining a gaggle of new suitors on the Right, even though in public, they pretend not to be happy with at all.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">His problem, in my mind is that he is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">capitulator</span>, and a person without a vision - one who is unwilling to fight for a principle, regardless of the pressure that he might receive from obstructionists on the Right or elsewhere. And that is not being Dick Cheney like. President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">O'Bushama</span> will have to work on that major flaw and divest himself of a need to be liked or admired, and instead stand up for a principle. He clearly lacks experience, resolve and fortitude - and can never to be confused with a Bill, Hillary Clinton, Jack or Jimmy Carter .... The latter, including President Jimmy Carter, stood up to the right-winged conspiracy groups in this nation.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">It cost them, but they stood up, and Senator Clinton almost won the Democratic Nomination - not her fault that she lost, Democrats simply aren't that obtuse. President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">O'Bushama</span>, missed a golden opportunity when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 2 years ago, in Oslo Norway. Clearly, members of the Nobel Peace Prize selection committee were duped, just as most of the individuals who voted for him in the USA were duped in the 2008 General Election, because they were tired of the Republicans, the American right and politics as usual. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">And what have those weary Americans to show for their trouble? Answer, more of the same. I even suspect that the men and women of '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">MoveON</span>', will be moving on in search of another candidate to unseat President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">O'Bushama</span>, as well as the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Republican</span> leadership in the House. And could you blame them if they did - they were sold out by the President? President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">O'Bushama</span>, embarrassed this well organized and finally tuned group of erudite individuals, who were in part responsible for his election success. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">He embarrassed them, in front of the T-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Partiers</span> this way: He abandoned them, as well as what they stood and fought for, only to see everything that they worked for being tossed under foot by all people, the person that they worked to elect. It was as if they trained, worked hard and gave it all that they had, only to have the prize taken away by their leader. If only President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">O'Bushama</span> had taken on the same attitude about war, with respect to his Republican opponents, as he visibily done with other nations of the world, Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya, America, I believe would be much further along in its economic recovery, and many America citizens would be back to work, including members of America's permanent underclass. Instead, the rich got richer, along with extended tax breaks, banks and corporations were restored, and the American people are still in no where's land. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">The next elected People's President, will have to 'DECLARE WAR on the dominant wing of the Republican Party. And, they will have to come to Washington with a strategic and tactical war-plan to neutralize the Republican Obstructionist Party - witness, what Republican obstructionist's are doing in Sacramento (more on that later). </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Truthfully, I like being liked too I believe, and there are still a few people around that like me, the others would like me too if I would give in to their nonsense, including <b>some of the homeless con-artists that I currently work with now, in hopes of helping them to get back on their economic feet - we have a fete compli. </b>And having said that<b>, </b>it doesn't bother me when people don't like me without having a good reason for not liking me. I can't help it if they are stupid, or perhaps I have a bit of Dick Cheney in me as well. I shouldn't have said that, should I? My dark side is showing.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Frankly, I would prefer to be in Lake Tahoe, lying on a the beach alone, than dealing with nonsensical people, and there are a lot of those around in my opinion! I can recall when one of my parishioners, asked me years ago, "where do you disappear to so quickly after church, pastor"? She also added, we would like to spend time with you after church. She was aghast when I answered, "I go home and watch the football game". Oops!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">No and I am telling the truth, there are people who don't like me, even in religious circles. And sadly, some of them have probably never considered that to be truthful, I don't like some of them either. Is a minister permitted to say that? Sadly, as<b> a minister, I can't even tell some of them, " I don't like you either". </b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b>Truthfully, bes</b>ides dyed-in-the wool, I am not my brother's keeper or helper, Citizen-Cain, Cheney, Bush ...Republicans who embrace Republican-fascist ideals and Reaganesque 'voodo economics', truthfully, I don't like them either. I don't like Dick Cheney, and as far as I am concerned, what a waste of DNA. If Dick came to me in the Jordan, and asked to be baptized, I would have to use the affusion method of baptism, or refer him on to John the Baptist, of, " oh ye generation of vipers (Dick Cheney), who warned you to flee..."! How can a man call himself the vice president of a nation, when the truth is, he only represented people in the nation (a minority) who believed like he did - he never cared about all of the American populce. Hello Kanye!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Okay, I have confessed that I am not the perfect man. And now, Mr. Obama should also do the same, and get over his apparent need to be liked, which is apparent, given his customary practice of waffling back and forth so that he can please everybody. He will never be a good leader if he doesn't learn that lesson, and perhaps he could be one and pull this thing out in the bottom of the ninth. Perhaps, someone will inject him with some steroids (shameless, I know!) A President can only serve for 2-terms. He would have a total of 5.5 years to turn things around, if he won and would get a backbone. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">My God, can't he serve without the need for being loved for 5.5 years, in order to work for a principle? Besides, if his principles are correct, and America makes a dramatic turnaround, the people who loved him will come back, those that didn't (non-Republicans), will give him credit for doing the proper thing after all. And the group that simply wants to have things there way, right or way, would never embrace him anyway - so what does he have to lose by simply ignoring them. This group only has their only interests in mind anyway. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b></b></p><blockquote><b>America, used to be thought of as a Commonwealth, and someone needs to help get America back to being a Commonwealth., a nation that is concerned about and fighting for the well being for all members of the Common Weal!</b></blockquote><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Again, had he stood up for something in America and at Oslo Norway 2 years ago, he would likely be the leader of the world-wide freedom movement that is taking place on the African continent and in parts of Asia. Instead, he is viewed as just another American 'also ran President', that happens to be black this time instead of white. C<b>itizens of the world, in unlikely places, are standing up to demand justice, peace, democracy and new leadership.</b> They cannot look to the current President of the United States, and sadly, Americans are having a similar dilemma at home.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">If he had stood up 2-years ago, he wouldn't have to use warplanes or missiles, as he is currently doing in Libya in order to accomplish his aims. Consider Egypt for example, it didn't take warplanes to bring down President Mubarak. Did President Mubarak step down because President Obama told him to, some of you are thinking, or did he step down for other reasons? Answer: I don't know. What we do know is that freedom fighters around the world are telling hour President to stay home now, because he is no longer considered to be a freedom fighter or relevant.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">As I close, in my opinion, Senator O'Bushama showed his true colors and lack of loyalty and willingness to fight, when he turned on his pastor and mentor of 25 years, the man who helped to shape him. So, in turn, I suspect that it is okay for his previous supporters and the rest of the world, particularly the ones who supported him, to turn their backs on him just as they did in the Mid-Terms.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">And with regard to black Americans, also in closing: He never promised the black community a 'rose garden', and they voted for him anyway, whether out of desperation or not, believing that color made a difference. But were they wrong on both counts? <i>Blacks should not be altogether disappointed with him, instead, they ought to be disappointed with themselves.</i> A voter should never vote for a person, in my opinion, based on the color of their skin, gender ... Unfortunately, President. O'Bushama is a gift that keeps on giving to the wrong causes, particularly on the Right. Other than my girl, Mrs. Clinton, his cabinet is weak, and he has been further weakened by his recent missteps.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Even stalwart democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich, has had enough of Mr. O'Bushama. And in the eyes of Republicans, he is as liberal as they come. Oh, by the way, I deeply admire Representative Kucinich and would gladly support his candidacy. Who will be the next President of the United Emirates of America and the rest of the world, if we survive? I don't know, but don't be surprised if it isn't the black Dick Cheney swan-like clone, Citizen Cain. He may rise to the occasion, in spite of Newt, Romney, Gindall, Palin ..., that is if the public wants a Dick-Cheney in black face leader.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">And again, all due respect to Mrs. Obama and the girls, because I admire them as well, just as I do Mr. Obama. However, if he waited, prior to tossing his hat, prematurely, into the Presidental Ring, by now, 2.5 years later, he would be, I believe, a great Senator or a good vice president. . I simply never believed that he was 'quite ready to be President' yet, and I don't care for the way that he has presided up to this point. A whole lot more would have been accomplished, if America had elected an experienced statesperson, one who knew their dark side from their white side, or their left from their right - we refer to that as 'self-actualization'. I was also hoping for something different than a Reagan-Bush clone, <b>or a black swan</b>. And time is running out, and soon it will likely be his, President Obama's, final curtain call or swan song - if he doesn't integrate his black and white (swan sides), and step into his role as leader.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">And finally, what I have written should not make him feel bad if he were to read it, given that I didn't vote for him anyway, and won't vote for him in less than 2 years if things don't change - you didn't let me down, I knew where you stood all the time. And having said that, I won't vote for any of the other characters on the Right, 'droopy or snoopy', that I mentioned before either. Now who can I write in the next time? Perhaps, I will write in the 'the Wright Reverend Jeremiah'. I like calling him that. At least I know where he stands! </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">And having said that, Representative Dennis Kucinich, Run Kucinich Run, please! I can still recall the remarkable note that you sent me via the Washington Postblog several years ago. God is good!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b>Peace & Grace</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b>Anecdotally: The economic recovery in California has been stalled by Republicans. Once again, they have thwarted the effort of a Democratic governor, who is trying to cut spending in the State of California. Republicans will obstruct anything that a Democrat will attempt to do, even when it agrees with their stated-positions. Thus they have earned the title, the Obstructionist Party. I was under the impression that they wanted to reduce spending. Sorry, Governor Brown and the other 40M of us in the State of California - we will get them soon, don't worry!</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p></div></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19095465.post-11148688215606599372011-04-05T09:31:00.000-07:002011-04-25T16:12:22.747-07:00God of the Metaphor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyA14vEgX9HM4hXXQ8SP0eL9tc596j3pIjRwYq3jCBM_p4yUpWlGtjdS44LEpmp85xF1XRCZ13_XT2z97oiDChX0AcQdjRemlEP5vCJGIRH4DAriRI5MQFGkVWGuZ7gX2fpvV3/s1600/0209111701.jpg"><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyA14vEgX9HM4hXXQ8SP0eL9tc596j3pIjRwYq3jCBM_p4yUpWlGtjdS44LEpmp85xF1XRCZ13_XT2z97oiDChX0AcQdjRemlEP5vCJGIRH4DAriRI5MQFGkVWGuZ7gX2fpvV3/s320/0209111701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595505544542398626" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="line-height: 19px;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;">We Must "Bring to Light" What We Refer to As God" in a more progressive 21st Century and beyond Context - it is not forbidden!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800; line-height: 19px;"><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><b><br /></b></span></div><b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Metaphor</b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> is the concept of understanding one thing in terms of another. A </span></span><b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">metaphor</b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> is a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_of_speech" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">figure of speech</a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> that constructs an </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">analogy</a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> between two things or ideas; the analogy is conveyed by the use of a metaphorical word in place of some other word. For example: "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphors compare things without using "like" or "as." </span></span>Wikipedia<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Question:</b> Does it really matter who hit a rock; if a herd of pigs ran down the side of the mountain; or if the Reed Sea turned red? Or, so what if you are referred to as 'the Walking Bible, and can flawlessly recite every term in a written text? Or, what does it matter if you are an excellent religious or biblical historian, can sing all of the hymn and standards with the voice of an angel, or if you have learned all religious ease? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">How will that help humankind, or even you, in a 21st, or any preceding century context, by simply singing songs, remembering scriptures, rehashing metaphors from ancient texts? Not even the people who serve God, are in agreement on who, what and where God is. Isn't it still amazing, that the 3-major religious groups in the world, are all embattled and dug in over in the Middle-East, and yet each group claims to know and serve the one God. Hogwash!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Part I: Hold on to your seats: I attended a religious seminar this past weekend in San Jose California, where I asked the following question towards the end of the session, but not before prefacing my question with grace. My question was:"<b>Is the God of the Bible, essentially the God of the Metaphor, and shouldn't we be pursuing God in a 21st century context"?</b> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The gist of my question had to do with the apparent need for religious people from all persuasions, to regurgitate what was written by ancient writers, and to learn to speak Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Greek ... in order to understand the God phenomenon, and what IT, HE or SHE wants from us today. Otherwise, we abrogate our responsibility to utilize the knowledge that we have acquired in modern times, as well as our right to understand 'the God phenomenon' in the present, by using modern methods, instead of continuing to carry the baggage of the past.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Someone will respond, if you don't learn from history, you are bound to repeat it. My answer to that is exactly. Our predecessors, were so immersed in Jewish Law, the Tanakh ..., that they were unable to 'move on'. They were so immersed in tradition, that when Jesus attempted to help them to reach the next step, that they persecuted and eventually had him crucified. I have met many religious individuals today, some preachers and teachers, who are masters of early church ..., oral and written traditions. However, the knowing part is their religion. They are not in synch with the singularity, god equivalent or unifying principle.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The latter have to continue talking about the past, because they do not know what we refer to as God, in the present. I have suggested that we create a modern bible, if you will, the historical one is adequate for today's purposes. For example, we are loosing a whole generation. I find students that I preach to, even those at Stanford University, need to be preached to or taught in contemporary terms, along with a few references to the past. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We must divest ourselves of the notion that we must <i>ignore the knowledge and evidence that is here in the presen</i>t. It would take the ancients, millions of years at the pace that they were going to meet or grasp the God phenomenon. We should have it wrapped up shortly, that is if we press on.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Blasphemy, heresy, an apostate..., yeah, I know! But moving right along, folks, there is so much that we could teach the people who lived before us, about what I will refer to as the God phenomenon, that our ancient predecessors admitted that they never saw or knew about, given that "their eyes had not seen, nor their ears heard, what you and I have discovered, learned, witnessed and heard using modern scholarship and espistlemology) to include the knowledge, experiences and technology that we have today. Folks, you and I have lived, what they have not yet seen. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If you were to listen to most ministers, clerics, imams ..., you would be hard-pressed to believe that you could know or even see God, without going through the grinding and tedious exercises of trying to understand what people, who lived thousands of years before you and I got here, understood and wrote about. <i>They would have you to believe that you cannot know IT, God</i>, if you did not learn from what ancient writers wrote, or if you did not hang your beliefs on what a minister today, who only recants ancient events and writings- from the past - anyone can do that. A pastoral friend was shocked, years ago, when he entered seminary, to learn that most of his professors at the seminary did not believe in God. Are you?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Many of today's teachers, preachers ..., would also have you to believe that you must come to know God, only as they know God, as an invisible, unfathomable, omniscient, omnipresent but shy God, that could only be known by faith, sacrificing sheep, drawing blood, recitations of texts, the Eucharist ... but never in a direct manner. Enoch, Abraham, Elijah ..., what would you have to say about what I have written, shouting out from antiquity? The latter were exceptions in their time, why? How is it that they excelled their counterparts in knowledge, understanding and connection to what we refer to today as God. Our predecessors even had a name for God. Thousands of years later, we still don't have a name for IT, we call it God.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>We have to be careful that we do not rely solely on preachers and teachers ..., to help us to get to whatever IT is. We should not outsource our responsibility and right to know, because some other mediator between us and God, has claimed the right to be a mediator today between God and us. </b> In John the 9th Chapter, good religious teachers back then decided that God, 'did not hear a sinner's prayer'. Now how many of you believe that is true, I don't, and most of you know that it is not true! Yet, we pretend that everything that comes from a religious text, or is derived from historical scholarship, is absolute. Nonsense! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The Pharisees created a system of stratification with members of their profession at the top of the hierarchy. Many of our ministers, clerics, imams ..., are doing the same thing today. Remember what the prophet Jeremiah said, '...they said that I said, and I never spoke to them'!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There are a lot of religious teachers, leaders ..., that I am certain that God has never spoken to, and yet they are excellent oracles and proclaimers of what someone else wrote down.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>My position was and is that we ought to do the following:</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>1).</b> Cut to the chase, and take advantage of the knowledge (some written), scholarship, contributions from the scientific community, current espistlemology, human encounters and experiences that we have today (some of which our predecessors neither had nor would likely understand, unless we taught them). Do you rely on your children to instruct you as an adult, or is it the other way around?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>2).</b> Attempt to reach, understand, relearn ... what we refer to as God, Allah, Jehovah, Horus, Osiris, Zeus ... in our own context, and in whatever form IT happens to be or not, with this assumption that IT CAN BE KNOWN, and if not, why not?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>3).</b> Simply, go to the source and 'ask God', or explore what we refer to as God, using modern methods and leave myth, mysticism, unclear and borrowed texts ... behind. We know what mystics, the ancients ... have had to and still have to say - let's employ a different method.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Apostle James, the head of the Jerusalem church and brother of Jesus wrote in the Protoevangelum of James, Chapter 1: <b>If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God?</b> Wait, what did he write - he must have been before his time? He wrote: ask God, instead of grabbing the commentary, running cross-references, purchasing lexicons, turning on religious TV ...? What James wrote to dispersed Jews was not a metaphor, and it is something that you won't hear very often modern day religious monophysites ..., and again, what he said was not a metaphor - it made sense. Jews are you telling me that the Hebrew people who were dispersed all over the known world at the time, could talk to and get an answer from God wherever they were.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I suspect that the reason that we have lost so much time in terms of getting to be one with, what we call God, or integrating with, what we refer to as God - is because of the limitations that have been both imposed, and super-imposed upon us, by rote, dictate, fear or being taught that we need to live today, as if we were still living in a past century. We are past learning from religious mystics ... If I could go back in time, and drive my car up to one of our ancestors, they would believe that I was 'the god of the car'. My audience would likely toss palm leaves or garlands in my path, particularly, if I were to turn on the air conditioner, play some FM Radio, or take them for a 165 mph spin in the Negev.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Too much time has been lost as a result of an over-reliance on religion conditioning, and trying to live by misconception or rules that may have applied to the past, I believe. Our constant tours and detours through religion(s) of the past, in deference to any other of learning about, to locate, or understand the God phenomenon, has caused us to lose a significant amount of time in terms of our own progress in century 21. Most humans have lost so much time in terms of understanding what, why, who, what, IT, and where we are, or should be in the whole scheme of things in the present, that they don't believe much of anything anymore. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What are you saying, that the structure(s) of religion today, and the manner in which we have attempted to impose the past on more erudite and learned individuals, has caused them to lose their faith. Answer? Exactly! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">And can we blame them? Folks, religion is a mess, and is in a messy state to include greedy, libidinous church leaders, graft, scandals, religious monetization ... ! It is time to stop looking backwards, and instead to embrace the present (and the knowledge of the present, and to focus more on what is ahead of us. Lot's wife kept looking back, and was apparently covered by sulfuric deposits. Too many individuals today, are having a similar experience.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What would happen today, for example, if you went to a cleric, imam, teacher, priest, priestess ..., and told them that from now on you were going to ask or pursue God directly, for what you needed to know? Or, what if you told him or her, that you were more interested in pursuing God, than wasting too much time delving into religious conundrums, structures, double-speak, capitalistic church syndrome, metaphor ...? Well, they would likely tell you that you are breaking the rules, are crazy ..., and going to hell. The latter being a term that did not exist in Hebraic languages, Aramaic or Greek.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">And in fact, they would be right in some instances, with respect to those 'delusional individuals' who claim that they already talk to God everyday anyway; and worse yet, that God talks back to them! <b>Now having said that, it does not mean that sentient and sane beings may not be able to communicate with what we refer to as God, in a sane one-on-one fashion! I am sitting in a restaurant, just about a half-mile away from a church called 'The Bible Way Church'. And I will give it to the pastor and ministers of the church, they have built a church that is based by and large on the bible (on Constantine's canon), albeit in some ways, they are modernists as well. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>However, knowing Constantine's motives for having, what we refer to as the Bible constructed, in the manner in which it was constructed is limiting. And, I am not so sure that a bible-way church is our best option, particularly, if one were to attempt to adhere to every jot and title contained within the bible. Blasphemy, yes, I know! There is an assumption, that everything contained within the Canon is the truth.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I know the pastor and many of the members at Bible-Way, and trust me, they are very sincere about what they are doing. However, churches like Bible-Way, and the Bible-Way Organization ... that attempts to relive in modern times a period that is past and gone, in my opinion refuses to grow - and what we refer to as God, is bigger I believe than Constantine's canon. What was taught in the common era, represented a step along the divine evolutionary cycle.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Religious organizations like this one, Christian and non, prevent other people from growing, given their, well-intended, attempt to restrict other people to the past, because they believe that is what God wants them to do. Well, if one truly believes as they do, that the bible way is the only way, then you have to give them credit for at least adhering to what they believe God wants. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So back to having a conversation with God, similar to the one that Elijah had in the caves. What language, patois ..., did God use to speak with Elijah. In modern times? Was it perhaps a conversation with the God-figure, using binary machine language, or via some other method, perhaps telepathy? Who knows? Elijah, apparently spoke and understood what God had to say. What is that Elijah and other prophets, knew, before and after, that the rank and file peasants cold not comprehend? Have you ever wondered why some individuals, even today, are able to tune in to the God channel, and become channelers, when others are unable to tune into the channel </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The Apostle Paul even wrote in his letter to the church at Corinth, that there is an <b>'unknown language</b>', by which humans can speak with God, not the customary glossolalia that evangelicals ..., often confuse with speaking in an unknown tongye. Has anyone since that time, tried to figure out or determine what that languages happens to be? Wouldn't it be nice if all humans could talk to the God-figure themselves?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Again, please differentiate the unknown language (undistributed apparently) that was used then to speak with God, from other literal languages that were spoken and understood, by visitors that were in Jerusalem for Passover - they were not one and the same!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Can we use the scientific method to determine what that language happened to be, and its idioms, patois and dialects? Can we determine whether or not that language is still available to communicate with the God-figure today. Or should we take advantage of SETI, and apply a channel set or translation device, that will permit us to communicate back and forth with the God phenomenon on a regular basis. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Keep in mind that thosee invisible waves, that are often used to send radio transmissions back and forth across the globe and into outter space, preceded Marconi and company by millions of years. Who used these radio waves and radio telemetry before we discovered them, and for what purpose? The former apparently occured before any of us arrived on the scene? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The technology, if not exclusively prayer, that might be required to communicate with the Almighty, may have been in place for millions of years, and we simply did not used it, because we stopped where our ancestors stopped. And as a result, today we prefer a more a more mystical, blood-letting or sacrificial approach to communicate with God, like the one that we learned from our religious predecessors. We are still practicing much of what they did then, when we partake of the symbols of blood and sacrifice, during Eucharist. I hope not because ,again, religioun is failing miserabley. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><blockquote>One has to ask then, is religion the only way to find the God phenomenon - I certainly hope not.</blockquote></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Most humans have attempted to speak directly with God, one time or another during their lives, I believe. And the channel that they used was prayer. And prayer, does not require the presence of members of any hierarchy. The ones who do, often 'get through to God, and receive a reply. Consider what happens when someone is about to lose a loved-one, say in a hospital room. It is not uncommon for one or more of them to pray to God, and oftentimes, they get the answer that they were seeking. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If prayer doesn't work, I am in trouble, because I do it all the time and I get answers too. I asked God, in a prayer once, why is the religious world so divided. The answer that I received was: <i>Because they (religious people) seek an answer in theology, as opposed to in love!</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><blockquote><b>Still among the billions of people who pray (possibly the highest activity that a human can engage in, i.e., to talk directly to IT, there is one subject that is rarely, broached with God in prayer, and it is simply this: who, what, where or how can I know you, in deference to relying on outdated and ancient texts, myths, scholarship, metaphor, a human mediator or speculation?I </b></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span></span></blockquote></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A sane individual would, I believe, likely get an answer, if the question were properly posed, and if the enquirer utilized the proper language portal. For example one might ask: "<b>God, or whatever you happen to be", ho</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>w can I be in sync with you (or whatever you are) in terms of essence, wisdom, knowledge, understanding ... not just religiously or ethereally? </b>Or, have you simply been waiting for me to get to a place where there can be a direct communication, but because I am stuck in ancient and outdated and unproven historical constructs that has its own set of rules, am I missing out on what was the right of every human in the first place, to communicate back and forth with you or whatever you happen to be? </span></span></blockquote></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Again, where do we get this idea, that we cannot communicate with this apparent force, for lack of a better term, that evidently exists in or outside of the Universe o perhaps inside of us..., formless or not? Answer, mostly from religion, religious teachers, or our parents who were taught by religious gurus in post-modern times. The former teache them that they must engage in the age old rules of engagement, typically by and through them, or by providing a sacrifice.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Must rely so heavily on the ancients, and information from the ancient texts, mostly error-prone texts I might add, in order to ever be one with God? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Para-psychologists, recognize that there is apparent overlap between the biological, and what we often refer to as a spiritual world; and some have apparently bridged the gap and learned to communicate back and forth between both words. There is evidence to show that what they claim to be able to do is true . </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">W<i>hat if the texts that the self-appointed religious leaders and teachers today, who limit us, are simply in error, although they do an excellent job of preaching from and interpreting ancient error-prone texts?</i> Many ancient texts that are typically used to teach us how to govern our lives, from culture to culture derived from thousand year old texts, are typically ancient, borrowed, mystical, mythical, poetical ... One has to wonder why, if they knew and communicated with God, why did pre-modern man remain so backwards for such a prlonged and profound period of time. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Many of our ancestors borrowed heavily from individuals and writers who preceded them by thousand of years, the Gilgamesh Epic, and other Babylonian and Sumerian texts that were used principally to construct some Hebrew and afterwards, Christian ideas. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Some of what our predecessors passed on to us, happened to come from other discredited sources, by today's standards, even though they were</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> considered sacred at the time. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Jesus, in the common era, even debunked traditions that had leaked over in what at that time would have been considered modern times. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In the story of Eden, Adam had a choice to go to the 'mythical tree of life', instead he partook of the mythical tree of knowledge; the delight is believed to have been a quince. A metaphor perhaps? Answer: it very likely was a metaphor, one that was used to make a point. The message being that right choices can lead to long life, and the wrong choice can lead to death. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The metaphorical serpent convinced Eve, in this allegory, that she would obtain the wisdom of the God(s), if she partook of 'the fruit of the tree of knowledge'. Well, perhaps Adam and Even missed the meaning of the allegory, but we don't have to. We can pursue the tree of knowledge (gnosis) today, as well as wisdom (sophia), by utilizing what we have in the present, as opposed to relying too much on what was recorded in the past. And what is the religious community selling today? They still want the Adams and Eves of today, to pursue the quince in lieu of knowledge of the truth and wisdom. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">For the more mystical among our ancient predecessors, God turned out to be 'a spirit', the Great Spirit in fact, a catchall term that used to explain something that had the wisdom of a human-being, but did not exist inside of a body. Our predecessors utilized terms like ruah and pneuma to describe what God happened to be? Did these folks ever know God? Or did they simply write about the God of their metaphors, something that we picked up today - instead of making an effort to determine, what, how, why, where and about what we refer to even as God.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The majority knew the God that was taught to them by their teachers, El, Elyon, Adonai, Yvwh ... They admitted, some of them, that they never actually saw God. And from school to school, they rarely agreed on what God or it's essence happened to be. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So I ask again, why have we trusted primitive scholarship, and ignored what we have since learned, that makes far more sense than what our predecessors talked taught us. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We understand the methods that they used to create GOD. We even understand the limited methods, influences and discourse that they used to draw their conclusions from? Why do we, in post-modern times, continue to forfeit our right, to pursue God in a more knowledgable modern context (taking into consideration their research, be that as it may. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We elevate their status, because they were here long before we got here. We interpret that to mean that they knew more than we do today, because they lived closer to the time that God purportedly visited the Earth in Eden. And by doing so, we ignore the value of our own knowledge and experiences, particularly what we have learned over the past 2000 years. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In other words me give more credence to a myth from the past, than to modern day espistlemology and scientific discovery. The question being, should a myth carry more weight than evidence does? Therefore t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">he knowledge, and the tools that we have at our disposal today are considered to be worthless, particularly when used to explain the God phenomenon. The old guys, have in short, put us in a box, locked it and threw away the key. Believers in ancient myths ..., simply, do not want their </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">their long-held ideas and beliefs about God to be debunked. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I understand people who are concerned, or are actually afraid of having their sacred cows disabused. But on the other hand, have any of them ever considered that we might end up confirming, as opposed to disproving, their historical beliefs, that are based on faith in myth... and not necessarily in God. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Most religious individuals are looking forward to the day that they will be with God. I suspect that that they ought to be happy that we are helping them to hurry up and get there, as opposed to taking the long road, that religion has put most of us on. <b>Are we actually waiting for God, or is God, waiting on us to get past religion, myth and romanticism?</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I could go to a child and ask him or her to explain what God is. The answer would be a simple a regurgitation of what the child had been taught by some influential person or institution, particularly the one that the child wished to please. The child would very likely remember and mention fantastic stories of a time when 'giants, walked on the face of the earth'. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">And, if I asked a teenager to explain the God phenomenon, in comparison to what a child or older religious adult would answer - I would likely receive a more erudite but skeptical answer such as, I don't believe that there is any such thing as God. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If I headed down to the Seminary, I would receive a more philosophical answer and a lesson in ontology, to what explain what God is or was.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Finally, if I were to ask a secularist the same question, they would answer, "there is no God, humans contrived God"! If you asked me, I might answer, that there may not be a God at all, as explained by the metaphorist of the past, but there is definitely something there, that we call God, Yvwh, Allah, Horus, Osiris, Adonai, El, Elyon, El-Shaddi, the God of the Wind, Harvest ... And, it is our turn to pursue it, using modern methods to locate IT, something that might not be a spirit at all. Heresy, apostasy..., yea I know!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>I would stake my life on the fact that there is something that we describe or refer to as God ...</b>. We have been simply taught to believe that IT is exists, but is unseen. The difference in me and most religious individuals who prefer a phantom God is, I am a pragmatist, one believes that we should take a hike up the mountain, similar to what Moses did, and meet and talk to it. Sacrilege, yes, I know! see, however, I do not believe that the God phenomenon chooses to be obscure. I believe that humans, and the lessons from antiquity believed that IT wanted to be obscure, because they couldn't find or comprehend it. What was a mystery to them, does not have to be a mystery to us today, I believe. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Let me repeat, just because a person or an idea has been around longer than or before you or I have been here, it does not mean that, it doesn't mean that our predecessors know more than we do, or that an ancient idea is right and that ours is wrong. Learning is dynamic. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">All of us have set in classrooms with individuals who learned far less than we did while sitting in the same classroom, and were taught by the same teacher and read from the same texts. What the ancients, mostly unlearned and ignorant individuals understood and wrote - that which we refer to as sacred today, was based upon the (limited) understanding of the time that they lived in. Knowledge is dynamic, we have learned a lot more 2, 4 and 6,000 years later. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Some of the writers of the past were ignorant, which explains why so many of their works were rejected long before we got here. Having said that, they wrote the intention to educate, most of them, not to deceive. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We know far more, thousands of years or centuries later than they did, and we should know more, just as any individuals who are on earth 2,000 years from now, ought to know more than we do today, that is if we do not lock them into a practically inescapable framework - the one that we have been afraid to peer out from. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There is nothing to be ashamed, if someone debunks or perfects a finding that may have been in existence for years, scholarship continues to improve. Futurists might look back at us and laugh. For example, perhaps they will travel through worm or black holes ..., the fact that we were riding around in mechanical devices, and occasionally crashing into each other on highways, or falling from the sky, might be amusing to them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Futurists might even find it comical, given that we limited ourselves, and failed to use the knowledge that was available during our time on earth, to engage in time-travel let's say, given that we were so immersed or locked into unsubstantiated religious ideas, that only held us back. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>They might even laugh at us, given that we cannot solve the mystery of cold fusion.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Curious individuals, and people of scholarship, are typically open to learning. They seem to have an insatiable craving and desire to be fed with 'knowledge and understanding'. Erasmus, Socrates, Origen, Eusebius, Aquinas - only touched the surface during their time, and I suspect that they knew and would admit that before we would. I suspect that they recognized the limits of their understanding, and if they could leap forward into the 21st century, that they would spend more time getting answers from the scientific, rather than the religious community. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Going to the religious community would be a waste of time. Why? The religious community would produce the book, that the inquirers put together. I can see the shocked look on their faces now, when they discovered 2000 years later, that the religious community was still stuck in the past. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I believe that we will never know IT, if we continue on the present religious path.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Religion is kind of like politics in America; it is at a standstill. Why? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Could it have something to do with the religious-only dogmatic methods that we use to know or explain IT. That would certainly explain why we are still where we are today, in the same place of religious understanding, that our predecessors were hundreds and thousands of years ago?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What happened in the Period of Enlightenment, that resulted in humans making incredible leaps in knowledge? More was learned in a shorter period of time, than during the dark and middle-ages put together, with the exception of what may have been discovered in dark Africa, that is still being revealed. And what the difference(s), someone cracked open the box!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">People have to have an interest in learning, Humans should not live their lives in fear of knowledge, instead they should embrace it. And in order to do so, oftentimes, humans have to overcome the institutions and individuals who hold them back. Consider what is going on in the Republic of China today, now that some of the old guard and their retrograde ideas and practices have been ignored. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We need more risk takers, if we ever going to get beyond the religious stalemate. We need individuals, who can step outside of the imposed boxes, that will ask new questions and speculate. If individuals like these had not existed before, you and I would still be living today, as if we were living in the dark ages. We wouldn't be driving cars, flying in airplanes, watching TV, or using computers. But some of our more erudite predecessors, put members of the avantgarde, religious and political, in their historical places.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We need more people who are willing to take their knowledge and understanding, especially when it comes to religion, to learn more from today's Tree of Knowledge. Political </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">religious conservatives of today, still hold on to the past, because it empowers them and their causes. <b>They do not want change, particularly the kind of change that will reduce their power over thought, wealth, systems and people! Constantine was smart enough to do that in this time, and he used religion, Christianity in this context, to accomplish his aims - just as the Constantine's of modern times have been doing.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The political and religious avantgard are afraid that they will loose their monopolies. They are afraid of what would happen, if someone were to explore and explain the unknown, or uncover the unknown. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I believe that what we refer to as God can be known, not just by faith, and that it wants to be known. Perhaps, someone will have to invent a modern day, Newtownian device, let's call is the God detector device. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> On the other hand, perhaps we already have, in our possession, what we need to know, but have been prevented from using it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What we know already, may be sufficient to introduce us, beyond faith, to the God-figure (whatever it is)? Is it mechanical? Are the deists or theists correct? Is God, something different in other words from an angel or spirit, as we have been led to believe. I lean more to terms like 'the Singularity, the Unifying Principle and the God Equivalent. Blasphemy? Yea, I know!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">But borrowing a phrase from an ancient historical text, <b>"why, sit here until we die"</b>, why waiting for someone or some thing to return one day in the sky, and then the good people will fly up in into the sky and leave the bad people behind. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Instead, we should get up and pursue all knowledge, leaving the religious conservatives behind, instead of it being the other way around.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Blasphemy? Yes, I know!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I repeat, we have been taught, for far too long, to go back and dig out ancient texts and manuscripts, and to old Matthew Henry or the Septuagint, Vaticanus, NagMadhi Scrolls ... and read, what may have been okay for a time past. Can one go forward, by walking backwards? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><blockquote><b>So, what if they were wrong? Just because something is old, doesn't make it right? It is not uncommon for past or current espistlemology to be debunked. Even the great Sir. Isaac Newton, to his dismay, was found to be wrong at times. So what happens when you spend years believing in an erroneous idea? It can prevent you from getting to what is real!</b></blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I discovered long ago, that there are history buffs in the world, who absolutely love delving into the past. They remind me of fighermen and hunters that like to hunt or fish, however, they always give away the catch. Why? They simply enjoy the hunt, or the art of fishing. Some of them won't eat fish, or red meat. And that is what is happening today. Seminaries are full of individuals who love to hunt and fish, but they do not believe in God. Churches are full of pastors, preachers and teachers who do not believe either, but they love the pageantry and to research and debate historical topics. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A friend of mind, learned that while attending Seminary in Southern Ohio. He told me once, my professors don't believe in God. And what's wrong with that? Motive, perhaps? Could it be that some of them simply refuse to live in the present, or to delve into the future, rather than continue their amorous relationship with the past.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Is that good enough in a modern context, a time when we have uncovered quantum physics, created fissal and nuclear bombs, sent probes into deep space, tracked the human genome, delved into bioscience, taken trips to the Moon and beyond (similar to something that Elijah reportedly did when he took off in 'a chariot of fire'? <b>I suspect that what we refer to God is not hidden at all</b> - we have simply been taught not to approach it's purported holiness or righteousness, and to remain retrograde and fearful dummies. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If there are to be mystics, that's okay I suppose: perhaps they are communicating telepathically. But on the other hand, is what the mystic's have and have had to say, always, or necessarily true? On the other hand, I can appreciate what historical 1st graders understood, and have written about or had to say in the past about God, however, we are not in first grade anymore, and the Law of the Primer doesn't work for me anymore. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Is anyone interested in going to the second, third or fourth grade in life, or beyond, besides me? If we remain stuck in religion, we will never graduate, we will keep repeating 1st grade learning, and likely will still be burning incense, and slaughtering sheep... drinking blood and eating crackers. Blasphemy? I know1</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Had, Jesus not come along in the common era to say, what I am saying now - it's time to move on folks - there would be no such thing as Christianity! Blasphemy? I know! Jesus, didn't expect his followers to eat bread and crackers into perpetuity! He did not expect his disciples to avoid sticks on the ground on the Sabbath. Jesus expected there to be a reunion. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>So who is waiting on who? Are we waiting on God, or is God waiting for us</b>! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>This dumbing down of what we refer to as God, by religion, has got to stop!</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />If we were to create a tome, written in modern day language, to explain what has been learned over the past 2,000 years later, and someone took it back in time, a volume, on a CD, USB hard-drive ..., what do you suppose the ancients would say when they learned about thermodynamics, entropy, galaxies, the big bang, humans traveling at speeds of let's say 15,000 miles an hour ...? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">First of all, assuming that they could decipher trigonometry, or had a CD Player ..., after bowing down to us, as some did to the Apostle Paul, 'believing that he and his entourage were gods come down from Jupiter or Mercury', someone would have to educate them. However, we are still taught to rely upon them to educate us. We don't have much of a use for learning about animal dung ... We pretty much have that sewn up!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We would also have to create and take back into time 21st century lexicons, reference books, translators ... and find a way to communicate. Perhaps, we could take a visual aid along with us, for example the movie, Jesus Christ Superstar - that would get a rise out of them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Seriously, even if would, take back into time documents from today, it would take an inordinate amount of time our predecessors to understand what we know, well, we could employ the Vulcan Mind Grip. The fact is, they might have known already what we know today, (if they had not found themselves stuck in metaphors, myth, mysticism or what they previously learned from their and now our ancient ancestors). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The unknown writer of the book of Hebrews encouraged his or her audience, to <i>'move beyond the principles, and to go on to the perfection</i>'. Haven't we gone around the same mountain long enough and dealt with the minutiae long enough. And why do we keep trying to step forward by by looking, exclusively, looking back?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Something to think about: According to the Canon, </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>1).</b> Enoch, walked with God and God took him. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>2).</b> Elijah was taken up in a spacecraft (but was preserved in his humanity)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>3)</b>. Elijah shows up again, ethereally, on the Mt. of Transfiguration, maybe</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>4)</b>. Jesus rises up from the planet</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Did these gentlemen, actualize, teleport, reach fulfillment, figure out the riddle? What, weren't any females taken? That sounds like male bias to me, and I am a male. I know how we can be when it comes to females, even when we believe that we are gender-neutral.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Truth or metaphor? Let's assume that everything happened just as it was written in the Canon, for example. Then would this suggest that there is a point that a person can reach, where you understand, actualize, meld .. and as a result are elevated to the next level, apparently into a non-matter world or existence? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The next question is, how will a religious person move to higher knowledge or a higher plane, if they spend their lives looking backward and exploring metaphors ... as opposed to moving forward by pursuing the determinant source? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">As I close, it seems that I am always around individuals who love the art of looking back. They are history buffs, and care only about the here and now. The future, as far as they are concerned is an ethereal construct - they really, don't believe what their own ...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">They live their lives taking a step backwards, in order to move forward. religious science and a few other religious groups being the exception. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Other religious groups, not just Christian, would have you to believe that God wants us to remain in our current religious purgatory. They believe in dispensational theology, and that we are destined to remain where we are now, we </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">have been dispensed and predisposed to remain within the current time frame, without making leaps forward into or altogether out of time.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Eternal life, I suspect that we would have figured it out long ago, for example, how to move consciousness into other bodies, and to be <b>TIME INDEPENDENT</b>. And isn't that what the 'rapture people' are waiting for, to be placed inside another body, or to take the next step in the divine evolutionary life cycle? Ah, we could have done that a long time ago, only if someone would have taken their feet from the brake pedal. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">jesus tried, and found himself hung on a cross. Individuals like Jesus, are being hung on the cross today, and are having wooden stakes driven through the palms of their hands. Some are being expelled from the priesthood, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I was expelled once, after I had already resigned and moved on! I left because I outgrew intolerant religion, and leadership that were locked into a framework. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I'm still moving on, <i>and have delighted in the criticisms that I have received.</i> Ah, they did the same thing to Jesus and other historical luminaries didn't they. I believe that if Jesus showed up today, that he would be crucified again at the insistence of religious institutions. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">He would have to hang out with the Mary of Magdala's of the world again ... or do what his predecessors had to do thousands of years before, and hang out with the prostitues like Rahab - religious people today wouldn't tolerate him very long.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When I am taken up, like Enoch was, and moved over into the higher plane, I may teletransport back to the 21st century, and bring or send a message back saying, wake up dudes, take off the (religious brakes) and move into the future-present. Our</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> predecessors, thousands of years before, found themselves stuck in religious dogma, just as the majority of our religious institutions find themselves today. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It is difficult for people to emerge from from long-held and entrenched frameworks. Look how long it took for some Americans to overcome racism, and an inculcated fear of blacks, and some still have not. I am black, but I am a sweety-pie, even though people still clutch their purses and lock their car doors when I walk across the intersection. However, I wouldn't dream of taking someone's purse or taking anything that doesn't belong to me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Finally, consider this denominational conundrum of the Christian faith, just to make my point. Every denomination in the Christian faith reads from the same text(s), and often come up with different interpretations of the same text. And sadly, they build a praxis around what they understand about what they have read, which more often than not, differs on some doctrinal point from their counterparts in the same religious circle.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>And even though they may agree on all other points, they conclude that their counterparts are in error too, and oftentimes, withdraw from them too, having discovered that their group exclusively, teaches the truth. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Can you see why it would be wiser then to err on the side of grace, and to SIMPLY ASK GOD if you want to know what is real, as opposed to relying on the God of the Metaphor, or the metaphorist's who have a monopoly on God, and write for him?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A God that that has been explained only by metaphor(s), is not one that I would rely upon, particularly, when you cannot parse the metaphors! It's time to move on, and to use the knowledge ..., that we have today, and will continue to acquire -interdisciplinary knowledge, </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I will always remember the man who said: I love going to church, it's like going to a play each Sunday, one where I can look at the stained-glass windows, and partake of wine and crackers ..., but no, I don't believe that there is a God. He is not alone in that regard for too many of us, and the ones who preceded us </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">have been and were taught to enjoy looking back, learning the scriptures, songs and poms, or to enjoy the camaraderie, pageantry and sacrifices as well, but never to pursue the truth when it takes us outside of religion. If you are waiting to go to heaven, we have already been there in spaceships, ask NASA!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Solomon</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I'm not finished ... but I like what the proctor said in response to my query at the end of the conversation, during my visit to last week's workshop? He said: perhaps that is your path to follow. Okay, I warn you that if I experience apotheosis, am translated, or flown off into the ethereal, become 'time - independent' and meet Enoch, Elijah ... in a worm hole... remember, I TOLD YOU SO. <b>In fact, BEAM ME UP SCOTTY!</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>Rev. C. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240139827281272439noreply@blogger.com0