A Blog of politically "incorrect" opinion and commentary on culture, politics and spirituality by a woman who challenges the traditional feminist ideals with bold curiosity and refreshing insight.
It’s time to assess your blessings. They might not be as apparent as you think. Many blessings are so common to living that you could take them for granted. These are the blessings to be considered most of all, for it’s in the common spaces that you find grace.
Will you say grace at your table this Thanksgiving? As you gather among others around a bountiful dinner or simply sit alone with a morsel of sustenance remember one important fact: you are here on this earth by God’s will to live humbly and do good works for your fellow humankind. You are not on earth to resist or to impress.
The ability to resist is the furthest action from grace. You might ask how can this be? Why wouldn’t you resist a tyrant? This perspective is incorrect. Resistance is trouble to your own soul. The correct approach is to acknowledge the presence of the perceived tyrant, assess their actual control over you and to make changes in your life to free yourself from those feelings that prevent you from making divinely inspired gains in your own self. This pursuit of happiness is unique to each individual and can only be taken from you if your soul is burdened by resistance. Sounds like Yoda speak! Well, it is. It’s a circle meant to bring you wholeness. And in that wholeness you will find grace.
Amen
The ability to impress offers a similar trouble to your soul. Your desire to make another person admire and respect you is in itself a tyrannical act. Admiration and respect is earned by your own good works regardless of the views of others. Our communities offer countless ways to showcase your time and talents. You don’t have to say ‘Yes’ to everything and everyone, you simply need to understand your own strengths and weaknesses to apply yourself effectively and with confidence…This humble light of good works will shine brightly for all to see and bring peace to your soul.
The serenity prayer comes to mind as a way to live with grace: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
An addiction of hate has been allowed to permeate this country. I cannot believe the media attention of the past twenty years given to “unjust” causes. Are these causes really unmerited, undeserved, biased, prejudiced, unfair, inequitable or are they a symptom of something else?
I consider myself to be a very happy and positive person. Mine was a typical middle class (in the 60’s/70’s) home with parents who each struggled through the Depression Era yet were ultimately able to journey together through an improving economy ever mindful of their values. My generation benefited greatly from the experience of the previous generation. The ten year gap between me and my older siblings brought an even greater understanding to my cultural awareness…They were participants in Woodstock and Vietnam, me and my younger sister were participants in neighborhood “white flight” and school busing. I believe my happiness and positivity is grounded in both family and religious values for which I am eternally grateful.
Values are important for discerning the good and bad of this world. I have witnessed the substance abuse of a loved one come on slowly and seemingly innocently. A grueling schedule and hard work lead to a dependence on time off with copious amounts of alcohol. This behavior was the easy part of addiction for me to see and call out. However, it was the secrecy of drug use that mattered most. I could tell something just wasn’t right, but my ignorance around the issue of drug abuse limited my ability to confront it competently. Secrets allowed the substance abuser to control the values of the relationship. No matter how much I tried to talk with him about what didn’t seem right with our situation, it was plain to see that I was on my own. His secrets kept us in separate worlds. Our immediate family and close friends were only helpful once the secret was in the open.
This experience for me has revealed something very troubling about our society today. There is a definite manipulation by the media and government elites to create two different worlds in our country. Their secrets are abusive to our relationship with each other and our shared values of transparency, kindness and independent thought. Their addiction to power has allowed a division between them and us. Do we the people have the insight to recognize their abuse of our necessary relationship to them?
Manipulation vs Authenticity
My experience with addiction taught me that anger was the root cause of his substance abuse. Anger? Yes. This emotion can be easily suppressed and then ultimately expressed through addictive behaviors. I am witnessing this now in the context of our politics.
Think about the cycle of anger enveloping some people. What are the political implications? Whether it is about race, gender, a woman’s right to choose, inflation or climate change, we the people are being pushed to the brink! But it’s worse than this because the media and political elites are fueling the anger with their secretive collusion of incomplete or false narratives along with leadership that doesn’t seem to create a real solution. Put simply, clueless angry people will become addicts in need of the next “fix”. It is plain to me that each “fix” is another government handout or a manic act of resistance. STOP THE INSANITY!! Well, this is exactly what the elites want in order to control our existence.
Do not give in to the anger. Let go and let God. Practice the mindfulness that will lead you back to what matters most: transparency, kindness and independent thought regarding yourself and your neighbor. You see the man made manipulation and you must not ignore it or enable it. Take a deep breath in and exhale the anger while saying, “I will follow the will of God and value His blessings above all else.” True moral behavior is grounded in acknowledgement of a Higher Power, not human power.
Transparency, kindness and independent thought are easiest to practice with a clear mind and open heart. May it be so.
Definition of autonomy from Mariam-Webster dictionary
1: the quality or state of being self-governing especially : the right of self-government.
2: self-directing freedom and especially moral independence-personal autonomy
3: a self-governing state
The current transformation toward World “Liberal” Governance will destroy our US Constitution and the protections we enjoy for our individual autonomy. This is “No joke” as President Biden would say…In fact his current administrative State supports this proposition!
A “Liberal” according to the same Mariam-Webster dictionary is one who is open-minded or not strict in the observance of orthodox, traditional, or established forms or ways. When the term is used politically it is a philosophy based on the belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, the autonomy of the individual, and government as a crucial instrument for the protection of political and civil liberties. Sounds great doesn’t it! However this definition isn’t exactly what the U.S. is bargaining for with a “Liberal” World Government. Our traditions are being transformed, but to what? Are our political and civil liberties really being protected? And if the human race is essentially good, why even bother with checks and balances or defining what it is to be “bad”? Is my morality also like your morality?
For autonomy to work well, morals must be front and center. Morals are relayed in several ways…Biblically, traditionally and authoritatively. Many times one way will build off of another to help reinforce morals. Success is most often achieved through early life lessons. Otherwise obtaining and maintaining a new moral system can be exceptionally difficult, in fact doing this can become quite tyrannical.
Education is the next extremely important ingredient for autonomy. We are all imperfect and make mistakes, but there are people and events that have come before us that can provide excellent examples to educate ourselves to do what is right and kind rather than what is wrong and mean. History can repeat itself whether it’s yours or a society’s. We must learn from these examples in order to progress to that which is better. The Bible, our shared cultural traditions, and our system of law and order are American anchors of stability which the authority (aka tyranny) of a New World Order will not accept.
Finally, a world system of governance would be fraught with failure. We can see this in some of our own federally run programs. Waste, fraud and corruption are easily hidden in the labyrinth of unionized government employment and bureaucracy. Blow a whistle and you will lose your job and status. Hold the line and make no waves and you will receive a kickback. Ethics and morals are out the window! Self-governance happens best when implemented small and local. I know this because I’ve served as a city councilor after being part of a community “watchdog” group to rein in astronomical property tax increases. When government officials actually have the opportunity to meet their constituents then it’s easier to hold these officials accountable. How the heck would you or I be able to hold a world bureaucracy accountable when we can’t even get our elected representatives to solve our nation’s problems? Bigger government leads to more unaccountable incompetence.
Local control of elected and appointed officials is critical to America’s success as a nation.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This preamble had you and me in mind when it was written by men who yearned to be free from religious and political tyranny. We must not allow our individual autonomy to be made an illusion by the current men and women who yearn to create a world that is free from want while forgetting that their self aggrandizement has a sub-optimal effect on others. Tyranny is sure to follow and Liberty will be hard to win back again. Liberal World Government will bring division rather than unity, war rather than peace, and secrecy rather than transparency. How moral is that!?
One big reason why I started my blog, The Shrew, was to create a journal documenting a female perspective counter to mainstream influences like that of the women on the ABC talk show The View. It is very apparent to me that the most vocal women on The View (Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar specifically) have absolutely no desire to do meaningful research beyond their own closed boarders of “the resistance”. The gossip, innuendo and emotional superficiality on The View perpetuates the often “catty” stereotype of the female human species and sets back the progress of intellectual women everywhere. Who watches this garbage?
The following is my recommended reading list for women and men who wish to honestly understand the social, political and emotional underpinnings of why the “resistance” movement is a non-starter for the majority of people in the United States:
Fields of Blood: Religion and The History of Violence by Karen Armstrong
Sapiens; A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Where Do We Go From Here; Chaos or Community? By Martin Luther King, JR
The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You’ve Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson by David Barton Thomas
Jefferson and The Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yeager
The War on Cops; How The New Attack On Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe by Heather MacDonald
The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter Godwin Woodson
The African Background Outlined by Carter Godwin Woodson
The Righteous Mind; Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
Cop Under Fire: Moving Beyond Hashtags of Race, Crime and Politics For A Better America by Sheriff David Clarke JR.
Discrimination and Disparities by Thomas Sowell
Sacred Instruction; Indiginous Wisdom For Living by Sherri Mitchell
12 Rules For Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
Stealing America: What My Experience with Criminal Gangs Taught Me About Obama, Hillary and The Democratic Party by Dinesh D’Souza
Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for American Independence by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell
This list of nonfiction literature encompasses various perspectives from authors who are passionate about their topics. Even though many of these books are not in themselves a balanced perspective, I have found that a balance is gained by reading the complete selection. Why? Because the books that drive on emotion lack references to actual contextual data and the books that drive on references to actual contextual data lack emotion. We need both experiences in order to form a compassion that has integrity from which to speak and act effectively.
My religious faith has in the past two years made it known that it is part of the “Resistance Movement” which is why I no longer support the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Association. I’ve been doing my due diligence and reading quite a bit to understand the logic behind this movement. I’ve also met with my minister to voice my concerns. My church only encourages the reading of emotional literature (The New Jim Crow) and preaches a narrative of white supremacy as well as toxic masculinity. Please tell me how this approach furthers our doctrine of peace among people? It doesn’t! Hiding behind a “spiritual” and emotional mask does not automatically make you moral. Actions and words have consequences. You cannot say that you “side with LOVE” (a current UU catch phrase) and then support a movement of hate-filled rhetoric. Marginalizing whiteness and masculinity is in actuality a quasi-creed for the UU religion and I cannot condone the practice. UU’s have always boasted that they are non-credal. This doctrine does not support a spiritual belief, instead it moves it toward the political which is completely out of the realm of religion. It encapsulates the heart, closing the door on true compassion for humanity and oneness with our Creator. When religion becomes political, chaos and tyranny will follow. Just think about how kings in the past usurped the “God” Priciple to subjugate their kingdoms…Is this now similar to Athiest Democrats and Progressives exclusively claiming the moral high ground while at the same time trying to get rid of those who uphold Judeo-Christian values as well as the Constitution, both of which are being tread upon in the current political and cultural environment?
My next blog will focus on the deterioration of representative leadership in the U.S.
“…dispel ignorance and cooperatively create solutions.” – The Shrew
I would have to say that most Americans enjoy living simple lives that do not involve much thought on politics. I too was amoung that dynamic for a very long time. The closest I got to anything political was the voting booth during election time. I considered my vote to be an educated vote. For the record, I am undeclared but occasionally will pick a party to be able to vote in a primary. When I became a City Councilor, I was happy that the candidates ran as nonpartisan members of the community. This experience gave me a clearer picture of how an average person can have impact with economic and social issues of importance. I have since gone on to volunteer as president of a Main Street board as well as hold positions on the Economic Development Commission and the Transit Committee amoung other things.
Today’s polarized governance at the Federal level seems to me to be a far cry from what most Americans want. We can accept that a binary political machine is the one that exists for practical purposes, however, the lack of middle ground that is needed for solving national issues is currently unacceptable. Why is this polarization happening? I think it is because the Democrat side thinks they are the only party that can act morally on behalf of Americans. They devote their words to standing on the side of love, claiming to have all the answers. No one else should question their motives. They would like everyone to believe that decisions involving guns, global warming, taxation, education and health care are best suited to only the Democrats.
But wait! What does this do to the Republican party? Does this mean that the conservative side is evil because they have different ideas? Yup…That absurdity is indeed where we are today. “Conservatives are Nazi racists”…Sound familiar? I always thought that conservatism meant following the Constitution along with loving thy neighbor as thyself. I’ll get into this critique in an up-coming post.
Our human existence is based on the very nature of duality. It is the highest order of ignorance to not see that this duality helps us develop a healthy sense of humility and compassion for one another. No one side can be absolutely correct. If we believed this then we would be living in a Dictatorship.
The U.S. Constitution laid the foundation for a governance system that brought us out of tyranny. This is why neither the President nor one political party can remain in lifelong power. Our two party system should debate ideas strictly within their constitutional boundaries, oversee a tight federal budget, and be accountable to their constituents who in turn take care of their local issues. Solutions must be created cooperatively otherwise we will regress into chaos and tyranny.
Wake up Washington DC! Work together for the common good. It is what you are there to do.
“…peace and prosperity can only happen from a place of security.” – The Shrew
Women anywhere should be able to come together joyfully to celebrate their collective wisdom and achievements. I am, however, quite dismayed by the now annual women protest marches across the U.S. that promote a so-called resistance. In our representative democracy we the people have a voice and a vote in our lawmaking process. Transparency and inclusion during the process is what sets our nation apart from many other democracies. It amazes me that our country is as big as it is and, in general, works cooperatively to achieve progress in everyday life. So what are women resisting and why am I not at a city square marching amoung their ranks?
It has been my experience that peace and prosperity can only happen from a place of security. If the “resistance” is about protesting President Trump’s policies of increased boarder security and transparent participation in International affairs (as well as other things), then does this mean that women don’t want peace and prosperity? I will admit, I honestly did not believe that Trump had the brains to implement what he has done so far, and still at times I believe his brains are lacking. But his results to me demonstrate a cryptic sensibility (this must be because he has no sense of the Washington political machine). I contend that Hilary would have continued the same covert Obama tacticts of “say this, but do that” just as long as the “victim class” believes it will make us a better country. But how? This ambiguity of course is based on a moral relativism that only appeals to an emotional base. Recall that Obama didn’t solve the illegal immigration issue while the Democrats had control. Women should not give their power over to government elites AT ALL!!Women as much as anyone must be smart enough to know that personal choices are protected in our nation; it’s the consequences of those personal choices that are at issue. Ends do not justify the means in our country. And “justice for all”, not “justice for some”, is in our pledge. If we can argue the Constitutional protections clearly, we have all we need to demonstrate progress for social change.
You won’t find me at a resistance rally…Instead you can find me working directly with my local community, actively engaged with citizens of varying beliefs and traditions, working cooperatively on local matters, and reaching out to my representatives. It is hard work to dispel ignorance and create solutions. It is not a one day soap box event!
We all travel a unique road in our metaphysical “journey”. No matter your sex, skin color, religious belief, or up-bringing, the story is only yours. The start of this journey is new to the Self and offers a glimpse of innocence. Allowing yourself to know the concept of innocence in this way can help you to clear away any emotional baggage that you carry from your physical life. Be curious on this journey. However, if you stray from the road you will always be off course. The road leads to your purpose, and everything that comes across the road is a necessary developmental stage.
What cultures or religions emphasize a journey of inner personal growth?
Are you able to imagine yourself without sin?
In your daily life are you as aware of those things that you cannot see or know as you are about those that you can see or know?
Do you discover those things that you cannot see or know by using contempt (sinful)? Or, do you discover them with curiosity and humility (moral)?
Archetype #4; The River
“Choices give life definition like a river that has cut its path through time.”
Choices are like a river that is in your way. This archetype is very important because if you never try to cross it (i.e. Make a choice), your Self will never mature as it should.
The water in a river moves downstream and you cannot know it’s depth unless you go into it. Crossing to the other side represents a change to your Self.
How do you feel when there is change in your life or when you know you need to change your behavior?
River water is perpetually returning waters. In life there is usually more than one choice. What do you think about your own choices?
The Shrew 