Problems, People, Politics

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   Sam9posted 14 years ago

   Problems, People, Politics
   
   Problems exist ONLY where People exist; no people, no problems!!
   
   Does this mean people CREATE or ARE themselves the problems? In a way YES, in a way NO � depending on HOW we THINK and FEEL.
   
   Or, are problems our outer indicators of some inner significance that we often are too preoccupied to even notice?
   
   Two interesting quotes:
   1) �This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.� � Horace Walpole (1717-1797)
   2) �There are no problems, only potentials for growth.� � Sri Aurobindo (1872 � 1950)
   
   Problems are pointers that call for course corrections, re-reflection, introspection, re-alignment, reconsideration � to unlearn and re-learn. Since we human beings are gregarious, social animals first, we are pre-programmed to live with other humans and learn to survive the ordeals, or fulfill and evolve in togetherness in a collective, community living.
   
   Our outer collective living needs to be suitably organized. How we organize ourselves as a group and our collective living determines the health and happiness of all its constituent members. Likewise, the infrastructure we create for a rich fulfillment of our needs, desires, ambitions and aspirations will determine our future.
   
   Politics, the art of governance of people, is not a business. It must focus first, perennially and permanently, on the survival and on the quality of living of ALL citizens without discrimination. It should be primarily a Service-before-Self.
   And without first understanding the complexities of people, their mind-heart-body-soul, without first creating the channels of communication for the flow of their thoughts, feelings, emotions, desires, needs, difficulties, pains, tribulations, strife and struggles, compulsions, helplessness etc., how can the problems be addressed, redressed or resolved???

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      Don Wposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. The problem is that the natural 'collective, community living' you refer to has been corrupted by the institutions, mechanisms and machinations collectively known as 'civilised society'.
      
      In my opinion such society either subjugates and represses human nature (the self) to such a degree that internal drives and emotions erupt in a harmful way. Or idolises it and puts it in a place of central importance so that a human beings only function is to feed the self's every desire; Creating an over-inflated sense of self in the process. Of course much of this is subconscious, but you can see manifestations of it. Religion is an example of the former. Consumerism is an example of the latter.

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         Stump Parrishposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Don, creating an over-inflated sense of myself is what finally freed me from religion's grasp. By accepting that I was more capable of controlling my actions than any god was, I was able to stop making excuses for my actions.
         
         I believe whole-heartedly that nothing in the history of mankind has caused more problems than organized religion has. Religion is what empowers people to hate and attack other human beings who differ. Being one of the chosen people simply means that the rest of the world is beneath you and less than human. It's easier for the loving people of all religions to treat those percieved as animals as such when told everyday they follow the only true god, leader or political group.

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            Don Wposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Replacing god with the self is not freedom in my opinion. Just as those who subscribe to religion live their lives trying to fulfil the demands of said religion, those who are enthralled by selfism spend their lives trying to fulfil the desires and demands of the self. That is merely imprisonment by another name. You may change the colour of the walls in your cell, but that does not make you a free man.
            
            Your self is not you. It is an artificial construct. It is created by politicians and corporations through the institutions and mechanisms they control, commonly known as society and culture. You are constantly being told who and what you are. Constantly being told that the satisfaction of all your individual feelings and desires is and should be your top priority. The self you speak of is a product, manufactured like any other. So the liberation from religion is no more than an illusion. Because although selfism and religion are different in form, functionally they are the same. They are both a methods of control. In that regard, selfism is replacing religion in the modern era as a means of controlling the masses.
            
            If you peel the layers back and take a look at this self, what will you find? I believe you will find nothing. Once you remove everything which can be attributed to social and cultural factors, there is nothing but biology. This leads to the realisation that there is no kernel at the centre of you, a self which determines who you are. You are no more than a collection of potential choices. You literally are whatever you choose to be. It's this realisation that is truly liberating and enlightening in my opinion.
            
            It doesn't determine what someone does. There is no type of behaviour or lifestyle that characterises it. Someone in this position could happily conform to a religion, or not. Conform to consumerism, or not. That's the point. It becomes a matter of choice. In my opinion true freedom is being able to live freely or give up freedom if you so choose. The difference is that such a person does so with their eyes wide open, not because some notion of self, or imposed religious commitment dictates it. They're acting as a free agent and simply making a conscious decision.
            
            I don't believe making your self rather than god responsible for your actions is liberating at all. You are simply transferring responsibility from those who control religion, to those who control society and culture. In my opinion a truly captive man is one who thinks he is free because he can't see the walls of his prison. A truly liberated man not only sees the walls of his prison, but is not troubled by staying in it or leaving it, he chooses to do so or not do so and knows it doesn't matter either way. This is not the same as apathy, which is the suppression of emotion. It does not preclude being passionate, excited and motivated. It is simply an awareness, an enlightenment. I believe it's that enlightenment that is truly liberating. 
            
            
            The idea of 'other' is not confined to religion. It is engrained in our biology. Forming groups aids survival, so we have adapted through the process of natural selection to do so. It's a biological imperative. The formation of groups necessarily leads to the formation of 'others' (those outside the group). We have to define 'others' because that's how we distinguish those in our own group from those who are not. Multiple groups in competition with 'others' for limited resources, equals conflict.
            
            But due to the process of social development, we now operate through a complex layer of rationalisations that sit between us and this biological imperative. So we have things like 'religion', 'politics', 'culture', 'society', 'race' etc. Our definition of 'others' and the conflict that results is therefore filtered through these rationalisations. So we end up with 'religious' conflict, 'political' conflict, a 'culture' clash, 'anti-social' behaviour, 'racial' conflict etc. But essentially these simply represent a natural tendency to form groups and compete with 'others'.
            
            So if you eliminate religion, politics etc, you will only change the way we rationalise our behaviour, but not the behaviour itself. Because the underlying reasons for that behaviour remain. A change in biological nature, or the advent of unlimited resources may change that, but only if those with an interest in maintaining the status quo are not able to prevent it.

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            Don Wposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I think that's the start of the journey, but not necessarily the destination.

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      weholdthesetruthsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Anyone who believes that Politics is about providing, being, or in any way, solving individual's problems for themsel\ves is nothing but a tyrant in the making.   Politics has only ONE legitimate expression, and that is the defense of the liberties, freedoms, and security of the individual.    One that mission strays into attempting to provide for and decide for individuals, it is no longer legitimate, and instead, has become a source of  tyranny...

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   SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years ago

   ...did someone mention 'polythicks?'....i recall someone mentioning that to me not long ago.  RM?

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