Thanksgiving Legacy: JFK

I understand it is Thanksgiving, but people must always remember the significance of this day.

On November 22, 1963, 49 years ago on this day, we lost a great man. He was certainly far from saintly, and he had more than his fair share of wrongs and failings.

Many accounts of this man have unfortunately fallen victim to blindly romanticized myths or vilification and pure character assassination.

But I'll tell you the truth:

Towards the end of his life, this man experienced an awakening similar to what I and many others have had over the recent years. He recognized that humanity had great capacity for peace and cooperation, and that the dysfunctional system of competition, war, and profit was the real impediment to our progress.

Like us, he knew that the real enemy was not certain policies, individuals, groups, nations, or institutions, but the very foundations of how humans lived their lives. And, in his own ways, he began to work to change things.

Then he was brutally murdered in cold blood. Make no mistake: it was not a "lone nut" at all. It was the system.

May your soul rest in peace, John F. Kennedy. Thank you for giving us hope and doing your part to buy us time.

Those of us trying to truly do justice for you and what you stood for may face scorn and ridicule, but our numbers grow every day.

As for everyone reading this, the way to really show your gratitude is to continue to wake up, and recognize that drastic transformation is needed for a better and more humane world, one that JFK and many others struggled for.

And if and when you can, read this book:

It is by far the best on JFK and his death!

The El Salvadorian Spirits Live On!

On this day, 23 years ago, six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter were murdered in cold blood. Soldiers of the El Salvadorian Army stormed their home, dragged them outside, and viciously gunned them down.

Of course, few people talk about the mass murders in El Salvador at all, let alone the November 16, 1989 massacre. El Salvador, after all, was an American client state; it was fighting the EVIL, DREADED “Marxists”…

Or rather, that’s what the ignorant drones and/or death squad apologists would say.

The real, and enlightened, response is “TOTAL FUCKING BULLSHIT!”

The El Salvadorian army was nothing more than a massive mob of mafia enforcers for the gang for the rich and powerful sociopaths euphemistically known as the “government.”

Even worse, though the fact that the murdered Jesuits (or really any of the El Salvadorians butchered by the army for that matter) were neither Marists nor any sort of malevolent threat in the slightest is bad enough, the largely unknown truth remains the real kicker.

One of the Jesuits, Father Ignacio-Martin Baro, was not just a priest. He was also a prominent social psychologist. The most crucial aspect of his work was the development of a concept known as liberation theology.

Father Ignacio Martin-Baro

Liberation theology, in short, was the method of people working together to solver their own problems. They would take control of their own lives, recognize that they are both individuals and inter-connected with all other human beings and the world around them, and cooperate to solve various social problems and make the world a better place.

Wow, a way of life that allows human beings people to improve everyone’s lives by promoting peace, logic, compassion, and cooperation… what kind of human being would possibly be against that?

Oh, right. We can’t be having this “Marxist” propaganda. Then people will start asking questions and quickly realize that the sick, twisted system of competition for everything (especially survival) that inherently leads to violence, dishonesty, manipulation, lack of empathy, and countless other social ills would have to go ASAP.

This is the true reason why the Martin-Baro, his fellow Jesuits, and countless others were murdered. Like Archbishop Oscar Romero, who had been murdered by the same gangsters in 1981 for trying to speak up for the poor, they were a threat to the Social Darwinists, the authoritarians, and (most of all) the neoliberal reactionaries, both in El Salvador and in the West in general.

Archbishop Oscar Romero

Thankfully, the lives and deaths of the many martyrs in El Salvador and other countries struggling against the cancer of neoliberalism have not been in vain. Their ideas have given humanity a new path and hope, and a massive awakening is occurring all across the world.

Rest in peace Father Martin-Baro, Archbishop Romero, and all your friends and comrades! You have given us a great gift in the form of inspiration and plans to save and improve our future. And for that, you have our eternal gratitude.

The Truest Soldier Of Them All

On this day, November 11, we remember many brave and amazing men and women. I highly respect them all and I truly appreciate everything they stand for, even if I don't agree with how they are often used.


There is one truly exceptional soldier I would like to thank to high heaven, though:

Major General Smedley Darlington Butler.

This man not only fought bravely and honorably (and kicked a lot of ass), but later on he also learned (from his own experiences) the reality about the less-than-noble nature and purposes of the overwhelming majority of wars. That's really saying something coming from him, the most decorated solider in US history.

He detailed these priceless truths in a packet fittingly titled War Is A Racket.

Furthermore, he recognized that battles for a better world are not limited to foreign lands; they are a domestic fight as well. At home, he fought for human rights and social welfare programs for all Americans in the face of severe slander from the mainstream ("socialist," "anti-American," "Bolshevik," "subversive," etc... you know, all the usual bullshit).

And here's something you'll NEVER hear about in the MSM:

Butler's perhaps greatest achievement was that he gave the USA some breathing room when a bunch of corporate gangsters and sociopaths tried to overthrow FDR and implement pure, unbridled fascism in the US (it should be noted that these same forces were among the most powerful and important factors that helped bring fascism to Europe). The conspirators approached Butler and asked him to lead the coup because he was immensely popular with the troops, especially veterans. But then something unexpected happened: Smedley refused to sell his soul, and he blew the whistle on the plot to Congress!

Of course, it was all hushed up in the Ministry Of Truth, but the Congressional investigation fully confirmed Butler's testimony and the extreme extent of the danger in its final internal report.

His sacrifice bought America the time it needed to develop incredible achievements in social welfare, education, public health, and many other areas crucial to society's well-being. These gifts did the people so much good and were something to be treasured and nurtured... at least, until they started being reversed in the last few decades...

We should not merely remember this man. We should continue to fight for what he stood for, while never forgetting who the true villains are: the market and competition themselves.

If anything, considering what's happening now, we should use Smedley Butler's sacrifice as even more ammunition to fight the cancer of neoliberalism. The "reforms" of that poisonous ideology are destroying everything good that America and numerous other nations created and nurtured with very positive results throughout the 20th century up until the present. It is an understatement to say that the consequences of neoliberalism are devastating, both on human beings and the environment.

We need to fight off this sick culture of competition. It is unproductive, inefficient, and utterly destructive and unhealthy. We must work for a society founded on cooperation and the other virtues of humanity. Smedley knew that... and so should we!

Always In The Matter

I’m a big fan of music. Not only do I listen to it a lot, but I also like to analyze it and its meaning. Quite often, during situations that seem appropriate to me, it will play in my head. I won’t lie: I really do wish real life were like the movies, where music plays out loud during critical or epic moments.

Oh, yeah. The wind will be blasting “Here Comes The Sun” into your ears in no time!

One of my favorite songs is one that was introduced to me by a good friend from Scotland: “Together In Electric Dreams” by the Human League.

Not only is the song great to play while chilling or driving, but the lyrics also contain insightful meanings. The song is about people inspiring each other and always being there for each other. More importantly, it talks about how strong bonds and true human connections never fade over distance.

That’ll come in handy if I’m ever stranded here…

The most incredible aspect stems from the eponymous lyrics “together in electric dreams.” This line could refer to the various forms of electronic communications that allow people to keep better contact than ever before.

For me, however, it represents something much deeper:

Human beings are all made of matter. We contain atoms, particles, ions… just like everything else in the universe, living or not.

As the late George Carlin said:

“… If it's true that we are all from the center of a star, every atom in each of us from the center of a star, then we're all the same thing. Even a coke machine or a cigarette butt in the street in Buffalo, is made out of atoms that came from a star. They've all recycled thousands of times, as have you and I. And therefore, it's only me out there, so what is there to be afraid of? What is there that needs solace seeking? Nothing. There is nothing to be afraid of because it's all us…”

No matter what happens, I will never truly leave anyone close to me, and they will never leave me. And none of you will ever leave each other.

"Hey it’s me! I was once your best friend… or, at least, part of him…"

We are all inter-connected.

We must never forget that fact. Not only is it an important moral, spiritual, and scientific lesson throughout our personal lives, but it is also something we need to implement it into our society as a whole. We must truly heed it and live by it if we are to create a better and more humane world.

“I’m telling you, honey, he’s out there… somewhere! Just, uh… look more to the right! Yeah, I think he’s at… that star, right there!”

Hurricane Sandy: Reflections

Hurricane Sandy has come and done what all hurricanes tend to do: sweep in, destroy a lot of things, and move on. While causalities are thankfully fairly low this time, much damage has been wreaked on property and infrastructure, especially in New York. People are, understandably, pretty shaken and spooked.

I fear natural disasters just as much as anyone does. I am very lucky and glad that none of my friends or family were hurt. Also, I know full well that the destruction caused by hurricanes and other natural disasters can not only be crushing but also REALLY annoying in the MANY setbacks it causes.

Yet in some ways, I really do respect hurricanes like Sandy and their impacts.

Now, before anyone gets indignant or offended, I’ll explain.

People tend to have a lot of fears. Many of these sources of nightmares are regularly displayed on the mainstream media: terrorists, school shooters, muggers, rapists, serial killers, drunk drivers, etc.

A variety of threats, sure, but they all share something in common: they are man-made or man-originated threats. Against these things, we can take safeguards… we can make laws… we can change things and begin to address the causes of these dangers.

We can at least somewhat control these things.

Emphasis on “somewhat”

We can’t control nature... at all.

No matter how civilized, no matter how organized, no matter how mature we may be, we can never outmaneuver the force that gave us life. It has its own agenda, one the human mind is beyond comprehending. Thus, we’re doomed to follow it and its dictatorship of laws.

You WILL fall down for your clumsiness, dumbass!

It is a reminder of the vulnerability of humanity, and the utterly random and chaotic nature of our universe. It is capable of anything anytime; don’t ever let yourself be lulled into thinking otherwise.

Just ask the dinosaurs.

To sum it up: humans may be bastards, but nature is a BITCH!

Especially you, wind! You’re a total fuckwad!