Mahatma Gandhi

I have received a comment on my last entry that speaks of the terrible state of India, presumably from someone who lives there. This person calls out for the need of a great teacher who will lead the people down the right path and away from the world’s evils. Many of the problems they stated are happening in India are happening in the world at large as well. In many lands governments and polititians are corrupt and self serving, the world’s economy has taken a dive which further devides the haves from the have nots and extremism is allowed to take a firm grip over the young and disillusioned who see no better way. Yes, it seems very dismal. However, change is only a step away and it only takes one person to bring about the ideas that make change a reality.
There has always been a cycle in the ways that ideas have taken hold. It is sort of a process. The many begin with the few which begins with the one. There has to be one person who comes up with the idea. That person spreads it to people who who he/she knows. The ideas are discussed and perfected before spreading to the masses. If the idea is true and honest it will speak to the hearts of the masses who share this light andonce it takes hold the light will never be extinguished, not even by nature’s greatest fury. Those of higher ideas must be protected and allowed to share them with the world. Then perhaps one day the chains of discontent due to greed and injustice will be removed and humanity will live in peace. Until that day the people will wait for the one. It can be anyone from anywhere. The message is don’t rely on others to do what it is that you can do yourself. Everyone can be the great teacher. They need only seek the courage to speak and the strongheart, mind and will to see it through no matter the cost. That is what the people of light do. They use words as weapons over guns. Sometimes, like Gandhi they may fall victim to the gun but so long as the words and wisdom live death is only an illusion. In Gandhi’s own words, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

“Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. ”

It is a sad day for the world of the Trekkie or Trekker, depending upon one’s preference, as well as the world that was inspired by the creation she took part in. Majel Barrett Roddenberry, wife of Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry has crossed the river from Lukemia. She was there from the very beginning of the classic science fiction series, Star Trek and is known for her roles in Star Trek, Star Trek the Next Generation, and Star Trek Deep Space Nine playing the roles of the ship’s computer, the intelectual #1 in the pilot episode, Nurse Chapel and the ever amorous L’waxanna Troi. Star Trek was and is not just another science fiction show or movie. It is hope. Star Trek is what we should aspire to be as a civilization. It was the words, philosophy and dreams of a man who saw a better universe featuring a unified Earth. Gene Roddenberry took a lot of risks with Star Trek and his wife, Majel was always a part of that vision and continued to encourage the development of the show and it’s future incarnations even after his passing in 1991. In the 60’s when the pilot episode was made the show was turned down by the network innitially. The main issue they had with the show was that Roddenberry had cast a woman, Majel Barrett as the first officer of the enterprise. Needless to say Roddenberry did not allow the chuavanistic oppinions of the network stop him and after a new pilot was shot and accepted he continued to make the show in his own image. The original pilot was turned into part of a show in the series called “The Menagerie.” so they still got a bit of a victory.
Star Trek is perhaps the greatest television show ever created. It showed humanity in a light I think most sane people would like to see and inspired scientists to look into new theories to bring about tech from the show. It was a unified Globalist world that goes to the stars on a mission of peacefull exploration and is one of my biggest influences in shaping my strong feelings as a Globalist. I am not a citizen of any nation but of the world and if more people thought that way, perhaps the world would be somewhat less bloody. It is my fondest hope that humanity grows into a Star Trek like world. Perhaps then people can drop their silly prejudices. On the classic Trek series the crew was a cornacopia of the universe. There was an alien and all sorts of people black , Japanese, Russian, Scottish and men and women were equal without the prejudices we have today. Trek is what peaceloving people like Gandhi would want the world to be, even though he wasn’t fond of black Africans, I think he may have liked the shows concept. Majel Barrett Roddenberry was a part of the show through it’s long history and had recently completed the role of ship’s computer on the latest Star Trek movie, which is supposed to be about the youth of the original cast before their legendary five year mission. She was a great supporter of the show and a great lady who will forever be remembered in the Trek universe for her colorful characters and great loyalty to her fans. I read a while back that part of Gene Roddenberry’s ashes were saved to be rocketed into space along with Majel Bareett Roddenberry’s when it was time for her to cross the river. Since that time has come I hope that they will have such a departure. Then they can travel for eternity among the stars in an everlasting embrace. I don’t believe there is such thing as death. The Ancient Egyptians believed that as long as someone remembers your name you will live forever and I think this is true. As long as there are Trekkies or Trekkers the names of Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett Rodenberry, Deforest Kelley and James Doohan will ring through the universe forever. Live long and prosper.

“It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”

Sorry I have not been here lately. Things have been very busy and the news is all about one of two things, the global economic crisis or the US Presidential election, unless you watch Nancy Grace then there is a third option. None of which I feel very comfortable writing about and would have forsaken such things if I did not have a suggestion as to how the problem could be fixed. The problem I’m speaking of is the economic meltdown, not only of the United States of America but of a majority of the world as well. This is a problem that was brought on by greed and arrogance. Many people obtained loans they couldn’t pay and the companies were more than happy to give the loans out as though they were so much candy passed out to anxious children who were afraid the supply would exhaust itself. Well it has, kiddies. The government’s solution to throw money at the problem has also been a fairly worthless gesture so far. If we really want to fix this problem we’re going to have to do it on a grand scale.
The problem alone can not be rectified by Gandhian Economics, turning to only things made in one’s own country by one’s own people. This may help on a small scale but in essance it is impractical for the world. It is my firm belief that the bottom line is that we are all born human first, then come superficial things like Nationality. If we want to fix the problem with the economy, we can’t throw money at it or resort to an every man for himself strategy. I think the one thing that would cure the economic woes of the world is to disregard all currency used by seperate nations into a single currency used by the world. This action would lead to an improvement in the market because people would be able to travel about more freely and spend money in places more freely as wll without having to pay to exchange currency. Business would be more free without having to convert money to various currencies and peoplle can more easily trade with places and companies it would have been more difficult to do before and perhaps poor nations would have a more even shake of things in conduction business with larger nations or corporations.

“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”

China Arnold, the 28 year old mother was given life in prison without the possibility of parole for cooking her one month old baby Paris. She was not given the death penalty because the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on it. It was said that Arnold killed her daughter by cooking her in a microwave because she didn’t want her boyfriend to find out that Paris might not be his child and leave her. Her lawyers tried to get a sentence of life with possibility of parole after 25 years but this was denied by the judge because it was such a horrific atrocity. She maintains her innocence and her lawyers are trying to get yet another trial.
This is another example in which a violent act was fruitless and unnecessary. This woman is convicted of killing her child to keep a man and cover her misdeeds. Now it is clear this child was killed for nothing as she will most probably never see the light of day again as a free person and will never have a man again if the prison term stays as it is. It’s a terrible situation. If she didmn’t want the kid anymore she should have put it up for adoption, not killed her. That must have been terrible to fry from the inside and there’s no taking it back once it’s done. Such people who do such things deserve to never again see the light of day.

“I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life.”
I first must apologize for not posting in a while but I’ve been having serious computer issues and finally just had to get a new one. I thought this would be an appropriate topic considering the fact that the Olympic games are to occur soon and China continues to have issues with it’s human rights record. I think the quote above says a great deal about what isactually occuring in China as it’s government continues to suppress ethnic and religious groups like the Tibetan Buddhists and Muslim Uighur as well as imprisoning Chinese people in order to make the government look better so they aren’t protesting in the streets. The quote above deffinatly describes the Tibetans as they are a non-violent people and many have given their lives to attempt to gain freedom from the oppressive Chinese government. Those that protested had not died have been tortured if they were caught yet continue to strive for the dream. The Uighur have also revolted against the Chinese in a continuous, though less known fight for independance. Though they use different methods, an example being the recent riot which killed 16 of the Chinese security forces. I think it is a very viable question to ask. Is it really appropriate to have China host the Olympic games?
In my opinion it is about as appropriate to have the games in China today as it was to have in Germany during the 3rd Reich, it’s not. China’s deplorable human rights record, dangerous pollution levels and severe treatment of their athletes, some of which are children, makes it wrong to place an event that is suppossed to be the embodiment of the human spirit. Yes, it is a competition. Yes, everybody wants to be the best. Though it is a time when the world’s nations can come together in one place and exist in relative harmony, if only for a few weeks. To allow the event to take place in a country that through it’s own behavior disregards the meaning of the games is illogical.