Barack Obama:The Epitome of our next Commander-in-chief??

                          

          Barack Obama, presently set as the front runner in the democratic primaries, has managed, yet again, to bring controversy to his doorstep. By associating himself with an over-the-top pastor, who has no wish to keep his disdainful tirades of ire and dissent for “White America” clandestine, Obama has subjected himself to rightfully deserved scrutiny. Is this man who advocates “change” and reaching out to all Americans, no matter how small, just another inexperienced politician with no spine to repudiate the abominable assessments catering to a hateful ideology?

          The lambasting of Mr. Obama is not a result of his seemingly steadfast support of a long time friendship with Reverend Wright, or his religious and spiritual roots embedded in the Trinity Church for two decades. Rather, the disconcerting issue is the inconsistency that he demonstrates to the American public whenever put under the magnifying class. One of the first clear indicators of Mr. Obama’s reluctance to act from conviction came up at one of the three democratic debates with Senator Clinton. In it, he stonewalled the “rejection” of Louis Farukan, a pastor who had consistently made disparaging, anti-Semitic remarks. When asked by the moderator whether he would accept or reject the endorsement of a pastor who was openly anti-Semitic, Mr. Obama sheepishly responded, “I denounce it.”  Senator Clinton cleverly put pressure on him during one of his most halting moments, thereby compelling him to state: “I have denounced mister Farukan, but if Mrs. Clinton feels that the word reject is a stronger word than denounce, then I both reject and denounce him.” Another blaring blast from the past comes to mind: Mr. Obama criticized Don Imus for his seemingly racist remarks and called for his immediate removal from the air. So with these prior precedents, why on earth would he fail to both denounce and reject a pastor, who has maliciously revved up the lingering resentment of the African American race? What makes this case any different?

          It is understandable to a certain degree that Mr. Obama not want to condemn or ostracize Reverend Wright after decades of friendship. However, it is detestable that he intends to continue running for President of The United States of America, while still remaining member of this congregation. To the bewilderment of many, Trinity Church has been inculcated by racist, parsimonious preachers to embrace doctrines of hate and resentment, as opposed to love and forgiveness. Defenders of Reverend Wright have stated on repeated occasions that the rest of “White America” is only now becoming aware of what goes on in their parishes. They maintain that after years of oppression and deplorable treatment of the colored race, we have no right to rebuke their “customs” for we are in more ways than one guilty of all that has happened. But is this truly the ridiculous, stifling mentality that the rest of America should condone? Isn’t this the first time in the history of our “racist, white nation” that a man of color has, not the right, but the privilege of attaining the highest position in the land: President of The United States of America. Who is it really that has failed to move on from the blunders of old and embrace a new era?

          Aside from showing major inconsistencies, Mr. Obama has also turned to deceit. In his most recent statements, he has attempted to instill the folly that he had never once heard or been aware of Reverend Wright’s audacious statements. So let’s get this straight, he expects us to believe that in 20 years of attending this church he never once heard an Anti-American cry? Does he truly believe that we are so irrational to be swayed by his feeble attempt to purge himself of all guilt? Everyone knows that Wright’s successor has defended the retired pastor’s message and shown no indication of stopping similar rhetoric from being spewed from the pulpit at “Church.” Reasoning, as a result, clearly shows us that Obama has boldly chosen to remain a member of this hate spreading institution, which breeds and feeds the logo “God Dam America.” We might be unreasonable, but certainly not stupid

          If Barack Obama is to win back the credibility and respect, which he deliberately relinquished when he refused to rescind from The Trinity Church, he must demonstrate to the American Public that his job as president would truly be to unite all race, color and creed under one tolerant administration. The longer he takes to acknowledge the detrimental nature of brainwashing generations of people to hate one another, the longer it will take for the country to realize the dream of an extraordinary man: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

“The Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Will you take that first step Mister Obama?

Marijuana: The Achilles Heel Of Society II

          It would seem like a robust few are still having issues with discovering the substantial difference between Fact and  Myth, with regards to the blatant effects of using marijuana. Arguments have been presented to prove that legalizing marijuana would in fact benefit society, or at least appeal to a hedonistic, self-centered genre of people, who completely disregard the inherent worth of a human being. The veil of secrecy and deception will now fall off, leaving the inconvenient truth to the viewing pleasure of all that truly want to see reality at its finest.

          It is has been cited, by stalwart supporters of the substance, that marijuana is the third most commonly used drug. Tobacco and Alcohol are the top two used in the world, and each claims the lives of thousands of people each year, while “not one person has died from the use of Marijuana alone.” It is crucial to note the key word used in the previous sentence: alone.  Of course, it can be advocated that marijuana by itself has not killed anyone, but this statement deliberately fails to address the harmful effects that marijuana has to offer to the human body; dying is not necessarily the worst thing that can happen to a person, as you will soon find out by reading more. According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency Administration or (DEA):

     “Marijuana use can lead to dependence and abuse.  Marijuana was the second most common illicit drug responsible for drug treatment admissions in 2002-outdistancing crack cocaine, the next most prevalent cause. Shocking to many is that more teens are in treatment each year for marijuana dependence than for alcohol and all other illegal drugs combined. This is a trend that has been increasing for more than a decade: in 2002, 64 percent of adolescent treatment admissions reported marijuana as their primary substance of abuse, compared to 23 percent in 1992.”

      “Smoking marijuana can cause significant health problems. Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, of which 60 are cannabinoids. Smoking a marijuana cigarette deposits about three to five times more tar into the lungs than one filtered tobacco cigarette. Consequently, regular marijuana smokers suffer from many of the same health problems as tobacco smokers, such as chronic coughing and wheezing, chest colds, and chronic bronchitis. In fact, studies show that smoking three to four joints per day causes at least as much harm to the respiratory system as smoking a full pack of cigarettes every day.  Marijuana smoke also contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke and produces high levels of an enzyme that converts certain hydrocarbons into malignant cells.”

     “The extent of the problem of marijuana-impaired driving is startling. One in six (or 600,000) high school students drive under the influence of marijuana, almost as many as drive under the influence of alcohol, according to estimates released in September 2003 by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). A study of motorists pulled over for reckless driving showed that, among those who were not impaired by alcohol, 45 percent tested positive for marijuana.”

          Also, the relationship between this drug and the usage of other deadlier ones has not been rightfully made. Scientific findings prove that it is rare to find abusers of other deadlier drugs, who did not first begin with marijuana. But let’s use logic here, if we legalize it now, where does the desire for decriminalizing widely-used drugs end? Are we to say that given the known side effects of this disdainful drug, we are going to allow people, who have never tried it before or established a habitual use due to fear of the law, to go on to harm their bodies and lives?

 

          Yes, those who reject the legalizing marijuana are quite aware that not everyone who uses it will have a chaotic life. But that is like saying the abuse of alcohol isn’t a grave blunder simply because some know how to use it in moderation. This is a tenuous argument that fails to withstand counter claims of how destructive it can be to so many. If people want to say that many use it and few suffer because of it, so be it. But it should be the objective of any legitimate society to eradicate that which plaques an ”unlucky few.”

 

          There is no option or choice in the matter during these perilous times. Mainstream society must develop awareness now to effectively eradicate the looming threat of all deadly substances. It is imperative that they wake up and smell the putrid scent of burning grass seducing an ignorant generation of people, confined by shackles of deceit to a four wall room with no escape in sight. The epidemic must end now or face the dire consequences we shall.

 

 

Edelman’s Account of the Boiling Frog Syndrome

“If you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water, he’ll jump out. But if you place a frog into a pot of lukewarm water and slowly turn up the heat, it will boil to death.”

    

Matt Serra=Fluke or GSP=Disgrace

     

          

      Serra comes back to fight George St. Pierre at UFC 83. Serra has not fought since UFC 69 due to testing positive for steroid use and some injuries; as a result, his match with George St. Pierre that was scheduled earlier this year was postponed. The rematch that is scheduled for next month has been much awaited since Serra’s upset victory over GSP in which he took the welterweight championship.

      In their first encounter everyone thought GSP would completely maul Serra. It was the safest bet to take, seeing how easily he had dismantled the great Mat Hughes. Serra, born and raised in Long Island, was not intimidated by the implausibly large mountain he had to climb. Round one started out with both fighters being very cautious and tactical. GSP tried to get his kicks going, but Serra kept interrupting his rhythm. Slowly but surely we saw Serra get closer and closer with his heavy hands. When out of nowhere one of his punches grazed the back of GSP’s head. He started to stumble backwards, but Serra with the rage of a champion in the making kept on him with devastating lefts and rights. As GSP completely collapsed to the ground, Serra hovered over him and perpetuated the barrage of blows to his face. The referee had no choice but to step in and be a witness to one of the biggest upsets of UFC history. Serra was now the welterweight champion of the world. 

      Since this fight occurred, Serra has not defended his title once or been in a fight for that matter. GSP on the other hand has had incredible performances against the likes of Josh Kosheck and Mat Hughes, proving his superstar status once more. With this rematch coming up, it is safe to assume that GSP will once again be the favorite and Serra the underdog. Most analysts and critics believe that the last fight was the case of the great champion taking his opponent lightly and paying the price for it. This time around most, if not everyone, believe that GSP will perform as is expected of him.  

      Will the former champion reclaim his title and prove the fluke of his previous lost or will the underdog once again be an inspiration for all those who are pegged to the old cliché of David vs. Goliath?            

 

Love Poem

WASTEFUL SIGHS
Another wasted night of sleep has left me weary and dreary.
Another night of the same of wondering if I’m there,  
present in your thoughts, your mind, or maybe your heart.
Another night of wasting in sighs.
Another night of wondering who I am.
Another night in which I feel defeated.
I get up thinking of the night before, and remember all to  well that my heart is battered and broken.

What gives me hope?
What makes me smile?
I anxiously wait for that giggle and laughter that makes my  
day, for that beauty that makes me stutter and choke on  
every word I dare not speak.
I’ve kept myself together and avoided the break,
but I’m a fragile glass house being hit by stones.
I begin to hear the glass shudder around me,
O no! the house is breaking.
I want to save it,
but now it seems to late; I’ve been broken.
I try to pick up the pieces but to no avail.
This house simply will not stand.

Where are you?
Where am I?
Come for me and set me free.
Take me from the abyss in which I sorrow
help me stand up,
and give me hope in tomorrow.
Don’t look away,
don’t turn your face,
just look at me and give me glee.

Help me ponder,
help me wonder,
why my heart is prone to burst.
Help me feel,
help me see,
I pray to know if you’re real.
I’ll hold you tight,
I’ll keep you close,
and always love you will all my might.
Remember me, 
talk to me,
for this feeling will FOREVER BE.

ENDLESS PACING

Pulses are racing,

Fists are clenched,

And pressure two minds into endless pacing,

A waterless well now fully drenched,

Kindles a dream now in the making.

Hearts are beating

Mouths are dry,

All common sense is now depleting,

Reality quickly rushes by,

Preventing day and light from ever meeting.

A picture is frozen,

A moment is captured,

What lies in the future can never be chosen.

Eyes are shut,

Reason thrown out,

Nothing remains but feelings of the gut.

Two flavors become one,

One taste becomes two,

Has pleasure for the mouth now officially begun?

 

Whether is was sweet,

Whether it was bitter,

All that is known is logic was finally beat.

Words are lost in all of the clutter,

Not one sound is made, not even a peep.

Soothing Poetry-for those who liked the stuff I wrote.

The Iraq War: A Necessary Evil

                   

       After the five year anniversary of our invasion of Iraq, questions and protests still linger in what has proven to be a long, drawn out war with no end in sight. Some feel lied to, others believed they have been trotted over. The times are trying, the tribulations are great, but does this mean we should be ready to throw in the towel? Could we possibly be heading to a crucially needed over- time?           

       To quote Thomas Pain: “These are the times that try men’s soul. The summer solider and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”  The same is true in the present war; many claim to be stalwart patriots, but would never fight a second for the country that has made them who and what they are today. It is very easy to be the “sunshine patriot” who claims he would do anything for hus country when all is going well; however, the same pledge of allegiance should be worth something when the nation is in peril. One thing is to chant “The land of the free and the brave” and another thing entirely is to truly be a member.         

       Whether you agree with people laying down their life for his or her country is irrelevant. The current situation in Iraq is that many Americans feel they are fighting an unjust, tiresome war which has shed the blood of over four thousand brave soldiers. They believe that because they were lied to by the Bush administration and because victory has not yet been achieved; they have the right to demand the withdrawal of troops. These really do not seem like the best reasons to retreat from battle. After all, we were the ones who invaded Iraq and overthrew its brutal regime; we do take credit for that, but not for the “spoils of war.” Our obligation to finish what we started in Iraq can be simply put: “You break it, you fix it.” We cannot get out of this turmoil infested nation until we undo the “bad” we have done. If we were to get out, the entire nation would plunge into chaos, not mentioning the message we would be giving to terrorists around the world.           

       Surrendering now would only embolden the Muslim extremists, who want “death to American.” The worldwide view that Americans have no stomach for a long war would be branded on our nation forever. It is imperative to realize that this sign of weakness would be all the terrorists would need to throttle us completely. They would realize that we do not want to get involved in another war; as a result, the superpower of the world would be on its knees for the people who pray for its destruction each and every day.           

        Giving up at this present moment is not an option that a reasoning president or candidate has on his or her agenda; neither is keeping the war going for an eternity. But the disastrous consequences of pulling out of Iraq should be taken into account when considering a withdrawal. Some lives may be saved on the short run, but how about on the long run? Will those who laid their lives down for a cause: hunt and kill each and every terrorist, be recorded in the history books as nothing more than mere puppets? Can it be possibly be that our final tribute to the soldiers, who made the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives, will be to openly declare that it was all in vain? ((For Hilary unfortunately it is)    

            ”Come back to me with your shield or on it.”

Marijuana: The Achilles Heel Of Society

          For countless years there have been people vigorously pushing for the legalization of marijuana. They have offered compelling arguments as to why this drug should be made accessible to the general public. But is this just an attempt to quench the thirst of a hedonistic society? Should government pander to the masses? 

      Marijuana For All shows a well prepared case for reversing the present illicit nature of the substance. NORML is used to cite its wide usage among millions of people. But does this really make it acceptable? Opium was prevalent during the Asian Golden age and was one of the main reasons of the downfall of China, the superpower of the world at the time. Their widespread practice of using opium breed a generation of addicts that succumbed to the imperialistic British. The once superior, impregnable center of the world turned to pitiful ruins. Must the current superpower of the world plummet to a shameful fate as well? 

      There are those who claim that people have a right to make their own choices so long as those choices do not hurt others. Using Marijuana, they argue, is one of those choices. But without a doubt there are millions of people around the world, who have had a loved one taken from them as a result of the usage of marijuana and other drugs. Those who have stood next to the coffin of their loved ones with bittersweet tears rolling down their cheeks. They without a doubt would have countless things to say in response. Many have died in drug wars in Colombia, Mexico, and even here on American soil so to even utter that it is a choice that affects only the individual is completely absurd.  Yes, these deaths are a result of attempting to quell the selling of this drug. But this does mean that if subduing an unlawful action is unbearable then we must make it legal? With this folly like train of thought we would have to say that because it is very hard to stop thieves and murders, we should then make their respective crimes legal. No, this scenario is not a different case. Marijuana has been accepted by most as the gateway drug leading to other deadlier ones such as ecstasy, cocaine, etc. By itself it creates a mental addiction that at times can be more devastating that any physical dependency. So why on earth would we have the sheep invite the hungry wolf to dinner, knowing full well others will follow? 

      If society was foolish enough to legalize marijuana, it is safe to say that there would be more users than ever before. Those who never did drugs either for fear of breaking the law or because they never had any contacts with dealers, will find it quite easy to purchase the substance for themselves. But is this the genre of problems the United States of American wants to develop for its citizens: addiction, pain, and death? If so, good luck with your pragmatic view on the human worth. 

       “Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 80 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 20 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 11 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Our public policies should reflect this reality, not deny it.”-NORML  

      Which reality: the one that shows everyone is doing it, thus making it right or the blatant one proving too many people are falling victim to this disgraceful trend? Time to make up your mind…      

“What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.”

Seven more ways to not go to heaven.

          The Vatican has taken the world by surprise once more with a burdensome batch of “social sins.” Is this really the time to be dealing with seven more ways to disappoint the deity that created us? Are these new sins realistic and consistent with today’s society?          

          The blog click here describes the new list of wrongdoings as a positive indicator that the Catholic Church is changing with the times. That while these sins will not lead a person to hell, avoiding them would help “foster community.” Mention is made of the infamous seven deadly sins: pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth. According to Catholic doctrine if someone dies without having confessed for one or more of these transgressions, the sinner will go to hell. So what is the objective of being aware of these offenses, if doing them won’t lead to eternal damnation?

          The previously referenced blog lists the seven social sins are:

1. Bioethical violations such as birth control

2. Morally dubious’ experiments such as stem cell research

3. Drug abuse       

4. Polluting the environment

5. Contributing to widening divide between rich and poor

6. Excessive wealth

7. Creating poverty         

          Not everyone however, has expressed their undying support for what seems like the Catholic Church’s attempt to regain its notorious power over the lives of its community of believers. Across the years people have responded negatively to the incarcerating shackles imposed by the leading Christian infrastructure of the world. And with this new redefinition of what is right and wrong, countless people are questioning whether the attempt to acclimate to the changing times is just a ludicrous charade. But even if they do believe this sham whole-heartily, aren’t most of these new sins hypocritical, inconsistent, and unattainable?         

          The first sin on the list is the only one that proves itself legitimate, consistent, and feasible. The other six should be subject to a case by case basis rather than being labeled objectively by a narrow-minded standard. Stem cell research has been determined to be wrong. There are two kinds; Embryonic and Adult. Opposing embryonic research makes sense; what about the adult one? There is no logic in condemning that which will offer a saving grace to individuals, who are suffering in this world due to incurable conditions and sicknesses.

          Drug abuse is now a sin? So let’s be consistent and label anything we abuse as wrong. It is not enough to simply say using drugs is amoral. By implementing that logic we would have to say that alcohol and cigarettes, even when used in moderation, are sinful in nature. And we know that is not possible given the trivial consumption of these substances.         

          Polluting the environment is also a sin! This statement leads the cynic to pose a humorous question: unless the Pope drives around in his Pope Mobile with something other than gas as his fuel source, isn’t he sinning?         

          The remaining “social sins” are in more than one way interrelated. If we are lavishly rich, we are doing something wrong; good job Bill Gates and Carlos Slim, you are bad people. When poverty is created, as is the case in every form of government, we have officially failed God; the economy is to blame. If and when a bigger gap is made between the rich and poor, the one responsible for this has broken the Vatican’s rule; thanks a lot wretched Capitalism.         

          These rules are perhaps evidence of a Church attempting to renovate the outdated morality of a 2,000 year old religion. Perhaps the right intentions are present, but logic certainly is not. Nothing in life, not even a monotheistic God, is within black and white terms. There is always a grey area and this is what the Church has failed to see after thousands of years of existence. Some see these new set of sins as a harmless whim of the Vatican that can be easily disregarded. Others however, see it as strict fundamentalist view on how to please God. A view that is meant to dictate the life of the believer.     

      The days of old have long since past, so please don’t try to bring them back.

Elliot Spitzer: Judge the sin, not the sinner

                                            

          Elliot Spitzer has been the center of attention for a week due to the recent discovery of his connection with a prostitution ring. The media has had a field day with the moral catastrophe of the self proclaimed “righteous” governor. He was after all the one that as District Attorney relentlessly combated evils like drugs and prostitution with an iron fist. The people are furious at his blatant hypocrisy and as a result they conveniently find it acceptable to rip him apart. But are they justified in judging who he is rather than his actions?

          Every time a scandal exemplifying a politician with human weaknesses washes ashore the general public seems to acquire a new sense of morality. They turn into pristine individuals, who are by their own judgment free of sin and can thus disparage the lives of others. The Spitzer scandal was not to be the transfixing exception. People have criticized the governor more for not having practiced what he preached rather than the list of legal infractions he committed. He has several charges heaped against him, not just for soliciting a prostitute. But this seems to be superfluous when you can simply stone a man’s character and integrity with nothing more than an over-inflated ego. What gives anyone the right to think they are any better than he is?

          Amid all that has happened there still are those who argue that Elliot Spitzer was a great governor and that the hypocrisy of his nature does not change the validity of his crusade against the evils corrupting a complacent society. He has done a far better job as governor than most of his arrogant, outspoken critics could ever dream of doing. While his actions have deprived him of any future credibility, his prior message is consistent with the widely accepted perception of “morality.” It is safe to say that until Mr. Spitzer was unmasked, he wore an impregnable suit of invulnerability. Once the first crack was found, it was not long till the rest was shattered.  

                           Blog: http://twentyfirstcenturylife.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/elliot-spitzer-a-legend-of-hipocrisy/ is a vivid example of someone attempting to judge by moral standards, but only succeeding in treating their fellow man with disdain. Yes, Governor Spitzer was acting hypocritically when he established a code of conduct that he himself did not follow. Yes, he broke the integrity of the office by soliciting the services of a high priced prostitute, who has emerged as an icon from the whole disgraceful situation. Yes, he broke several laws that could cost him his law license, let alone his political career. But no, no one has the right to smear his person with contemptuous remarks that serve no purpose in determining morality. Many of those who ostracize the politicians, who fail to live up to the public’s case by case misconception of morality, are hypocrites themselves. It’s easy to talk, even easier to judge, but it is truly a feat to walk the walk.

          The only way to have a legitimate form of moral evaluation is to judge the action and not the actor. In this context Mr. Spitzer was the actor, who according to some played the role of hypocritical idealist. But it is not our calling nor our place to sputter critical remarks, but rather to see what went wrong and how can we learn from another’s mistake. As for those who so desperately awaited the resignation of the governor, are you happy now? Curious enough he was unfaltering on one of his promises when inducted to office about a year ago: he promised to relieve the administration of all corruption. By resigning last Thursday he may very well have turned his greatest undertaking into a reality. 

          “Who are you to judge the life I live,    

            I’m not perfect, and I don’t live to be, 

           But next time you point your fingers,  

           Make sure your hands are clean.” 

                                                                                      

     

So you want to refute God’s Plan?

          There are some people who attempt to put down the idea of a God, but merely come off as uninformed and condescending. The blog: http://lormarie.com/2008/03/10/what-do-you-mean-its-a-part-of-gods-plan/#comment-138 presents a truly unique way of discrediting the so called“impossible” plan of God by way of a snobbish video. It labels all who believe in a deity as not normal and unintelligent. If those who so gallantly hurl mud at the immaculate veil of faith were truly interested in understanding this “plan”, they would spend more time opening their ears than running their mouths. So just try this one time to listen…         

          It is imperative to note that the sole thing attacked in the before mentioned blog is the book “The Purpose Driven” by Rick Warren. In it Warren makes his point clear: God makes no mistakes; everything he does is for a reason and not by mistake. Since this statement failed to appease the atheist mind set, it received disparaging remarks. How can someone believe that there is a perfect plan? Wouldn’t that implicate that all bad things that happen are God’s doing? Doesn’t the belief that he controls our lives take away from the view that humans have free will?          

          The important thing to consider is that to prove the existence of an intangible deity and his ultimate plan; one must prove quite substantially that he is real beyond reasonable doubt. But is it so farfetched to find meaning in all that happens in life by way of a loving God; is it really so befuddling? It is only logical to reason that there must be a higher being that created mankind. No one denies that evolution or the big bang may have in fact taken place. The only point argued on the side of the believer is: however the world came to be, God was the one to make it happen. Sounds reasonable, maybe even practical.          

          The previously discussed blog categorizes the belief in a God as naive because his supposed plan is hopeless and impractical. Many wise men of faith would have their discontent heard, if such ignorance was expressed in their presence. Just because it is said that God has a greater plan for each individual does not mean that man lacks free will. It simply means that God knows all that will happen, and he tediously prepares tests that are expected to be passed. Humans have the option to pursue what they desire; no one in the world can force them to do otherwise, not even God. But in every failure there is success lurking within. God’s greater plan says that when one door closes, others open up. Many attempt to scapegoat their creator for all the evil that is present. Is this really a just side to be advocated? We are the ones who choose to do wrong, and confine ourselves to a life of solitary despair. So if it is by our choice that we are in the lions den, why do we let out a shout of distress?  

        What about those who are innocent and pristine? Why are they living amid so much treachery and suffering, if they are God’s faithful servants? Viktor Frankl put it best when he said “To live is to suffer, and to survive is to find meaning in that suffering.” Men of great character and fortitude evolve from the trying times that nearly broke them into debris. They can help individuals, who have lost all hope, in ways that those yet to be tested cannot. Ultimately suffering helps give everything its worth. We cannot have good without bad or happiness without anguish. In the same way “What we attain to easy, we esteem to lightly.” So our suffering makes us savor each drop, each second of beauty that much more.          

          No rational man wants to live a life without meaning. No man wants to feel that his life is of no consequence. He wants to know that his life has an objective, not that he is merely a mechanic being acting by chance and nothing more. When all strength and hope has been lost let us remember: “People do not lack strength, they lack will.” This all means nothing however, if we fail to conceive this simple truth for ourselves.         

           The ultimate choice given to a person is what to do with the time he has been given, so don’t count the days, make the days count.

God exists? How can I be so sure?

 

          For hundreds and hundreds of years the notion of a monotheistic God has been the cause of peace and war. It has been the foundation of religious fanaticism, that at certain points in history has disrupted otherwise peaceful times. However, the faith of the “believers” is one to be admired and respected. They have based most of the norms of society on the morality that their revered deity expects of them. The mere belief of this God has conquered most of the world in its entirety. Is this almighty creator fiction or reality? A being that created man or a being that man created?           

          By nature man wishes to know the answers to three simple questions: who created us, why were we created, and when were we created? These questions are asked due to the simplicity of their state of nature in the midst of a complex world. Whether or not a person goes on his entire life believing that he was created by a higher being is not imperative to know in this instance. The point is clear: man wishes to understand his mandatory existence.          

          Skeptics of the existence of God offer truly legitimate reasons for their train of thought. How can we be so naïve and ignorant to worship a supernatural being, that we cannot prove to exist by scientific means? What makes the myth or legend of a monotheistic God any different from the ones belonging to a genre of cultures? Even if he did exist, he can’t be as wise and just as countless generations have made him out to be. There is too much suffering and injustice for anyone to believe that ludicrous lie. If he is so great, why doesn’t he help those who need him? If he is so just why doesn’t he buoy the spirits of his faithful followers with the eradication of all evil? The humblest of his servants, living admiral lives of piety, undergo constant tribulations. It would seem the more you believe in the preposterous idea of a God the more you miss out on the beauty of life. It is absurd to say that “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first” when all a person has seen is the eclipse of the sun caused by the back of his “Savior.” If you exist, if you’re real, answer this one question: why do the good die young?          

          To refute some of the points raised by the “cynics” many believers create metaphors that help explain the existence of anguish and suffering in the world. In http://theroadleasttaken.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/god-and-the-barber-a-forwarded-email/ a very peculiar story was presented. It tells us that a man went to the barber to get his hair cut. Both engaged in a conversation on God; the barber claimed he did not believe in a supernatural being because he saw countless poor people in the world who needed God’s help but never received it. The customer, trying to avoid a heated discussion, said nothing and left after he got his hair cut. Upon walking outside the customer stumbled on a man sitting on the floor with long hair and an overgrown beard that needed trimming. The customer then went back to the barbershop and told him that he did not believe in barbers. When the barberasked him why, the customer responded that there were countless people in the world who need hair cuts and trims but never got them. The barber responded that it was their job to come to him and not the other way around. And so the customer reasoned that God works in the same way; there is anguish and suffering for those who fail to find him.          

          The preceding story is very clever but evidently has many holes in it. The message was that the only reason people suffer and undergo tribulations is due to their failure to find and follow God. This misleading implication shows much inconsistency. There are countless people who ardently pray and follow the footsteps of their creator. They live to please their God in anyway that is humanely possible. They believe, follow the creed, and do good deeds. Why then do they suffer the same afflictions as those who choose to walk in their own footsteps? A test of faith? It seems like a test given by a teacher, who does not want his students to pass. On that note, why even take the class if you’re not going to pass?          

          God is man’s tendency to fill in the blanks of his existence. It is his defense mechanism coping with the fact that the human race is all alone. No matter what we hope to be true, reality always wipes out any trace of deluded fantasies. The modern world has proven time, and time again, that it refuses to admit an old narrow-minded view of life into a modern era.  

          This is your life, and it is ending one minute at a time.