CONGRATULATIONS HOUSTON ASTROS
AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES  (ALCS) 2019!!!!! :) 

     Congratulations to the Houston Astros, American League Champions (ALC) 2019! We are really proud of the Astros for all their dedication to their team, city and nation. It goes without saying that we can only become ALC champions with a clear commitment. Thank you so much to our loyal fans, supporters, volunteers, and to all who make the broadcasting of events such as these possible. Yesterday it took an entire city to back their team, and for this there is much to be thankful for. It takes a team to win, and players to make a win happen. Well done to Jose Altuve who picked up the 2019 MVP award on behalf of the Astros team! We are proud of you for everything you accomplished for your team! Thank you also to the New York Yankees who gave all their strength and dedication to the sport of Baseball! You too showed what team work and good sportsmanship is all about. I really enjoyed the last pitch of the game, where Altuve got the last home run, we see the Yankees and the Astros each celebrating each other success! Well Done  2019 American League Champions Houston Astros! :) 

My thoughts to share with Love & Kindness! :) 

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Related Reading:
Historical Fragments
Reflection: Thought to Practice?
Chief's Kingdom!!
Depth | Knowledge
A Historical Thought.

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that on October 14th 2019 it was Canadian Thanksgiving as well as Columbus Day in America. Columbus Day is set aside marking the explorations of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. Individuals find this day to be celebratory and problematic. Millions of Indigenous peoples were living upon these lands before the expeditions of Columbus even took place. Which is why Indigenous Peoples Day is also celebrated. This years celebration took me back to my previous writings where I wrote about, Christopher Columbus as related to colonization. I later reflected, added some additional research with regards to Indigenous history.

     Today as I write my emotions are evoked once more. This time I wondered that if Italy and Italian history is celebrated, that so should Spains. After all they are the ones who financed Columbus' trip. Having said that we are further inclined to understand the Spanish links with this history and expedition. And even as Indigenous Peoples Day is marked, we can wonder: who is included as Indigenous, or who are / were the first people on the Americas? What about the Mestizo, Spanish Indigenous, are they included as well? When we ask questions like this, we realize whose history and which history is being preserved. 

     Even if we think about Columbus as discovering America, the Americas that he did explore were "San Salvador (in modern-day Bahamas) and claimed by Spain (the country that had sponsored his voyage)," ("Columbus Day and Its Discontents," n.d.) and "a small area of the Caribbean - which. included the Bahamas, Cuba, and Jamaica - and parts of Central America." ("5 Unbelievable Facts About Christopher Columbus," n.d.) So Whist Christopher Columbus was an Italian Colonist, we are left to wonder how his established European settlements, caused a strain upon his relations with Spain. Later a  Spanish Missionary arrived also expressing a dislike to the treatment of the natives. As we recognize Columbus, who was integral to the formation of European Settlements, we wonder how history such as this should be celebrated when millions were hurt, injured, killed and even held captive. 

Further Reading:
*Encyclopedia Britannica | Columbus Day and Its Discontents
*Encyclopedia Britannica | 5 Unbelievable Facts About Christopher Columbus

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on October 16th, 2019.
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Related Reading:
Trinitas!

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     Throughout history we've heard of arguments for and against the separations, and union of church and state. The state refers to politics, or the Government of the day. I thought about this idea and wondered if there was any need for this consideration at present day. But as we engage ourselves with religions organizations, we come to realize how they are tied closely to Government. Especially when we think of funding for these. But when we consider the mission of religion, for example: the mission of God, Christ - we come to wonder if the message and mission is still alive today. Of course there might be limits and constraints from religious organization to organization, but the simplicity of loving all who walk through the doors of God can be achieved by all: who act as ministers, leaders of religious organizations, and inevitably all who desire to participate. It is easy to sway and include politics, because of course politics and the politics of the day affects us all. But what religious organizations must strive to keep alive, is the mission to love. Simply being the living Christ, the Christ who was treated as a criminal on Earth, yet sought to love and continued to love. The resurrection reminds us of the spirit and soul that is alive, and that must be kept alive to this very day.

_

To
Know 
Christ;
is
To
Become
Christ.
_

Further Reading:
*Encyclopedia Britannica | Church and state.
​*Encyclopedia Britannica | Roman Catholicism, Church and State Relations. 

My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :)
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

    Yesterday (10/12/2019) was the beginning of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees. The game brought back many memories of the same match-up that took place in 2017. Whilst the NY Yankees were able to take / win game 1; what evoked me to write was the example that sports or match-ups such as these could be utilized as teachable moments for politics and politicians. 

    Politics has shown us that even in the most neediness of times where unity should be placed at the national forefront, divisions are sought out. The teaching that sports can offer is that: even as fans, dedicated fans cheer their teams, win or loose - ultimately the teams play for one nation. This is why I think political parties need to re-focus. Utilize instances as these. Even amidst the cruelest of politics - one ultimately should remember that everyone plays for the same nation, the USA! Maybe it is lessons / teaching moments such as these, that should allow us to think further: What is, or is the re-making of America required? What is or what is the type of future that is envisioned for America?  

CHEERS!!! :) 

***LETS GO ASTROS! ;) ;) :) :D*** 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 13th, 2019.
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Related Readings:
9/11
Balance: A Leverage?
Political Inflations? 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect, particularly with regards to the idea of the media spectacle, that I recently read and reflected upon.

     I think that without a doubt this idea is true, and simply put just as any other social construction, the media is also constructed so that political belief, ideology, or how and where social progression is desired or deemed. This can be neither good or bad, but quite often will challenge the receiver to make his / her own sense of what is being transmitted / broadcasted. This is especially what I thought about when I related the question of why? Why did the terrorist attacks of 9/11 take place? Were these terrorist attacks purposely created to breed hate, create national / international divisions, and Islamaphobia? I thought about that maybe this was the case, especially when I saw the following sign at the Oculus; transportation hub, mall and tribute to 9/11.  

    I think it has to be true that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were planned and took place on purpose. To create divisions, divides. For a nation that was historically built  / developed by immigrants, known for a nation where one could dream, and make dreams come true, a freedom loving nation; purposely attacked. An attack on freedom, religious freedom, and a historical moment for the creation of Eastern / Western civilization divides.  Whilst these thoughts continue to seek answers and are speculative to the question of why? They do are written to exemplify how current events and the media spectacle intertwine to transmit a specific desired message to an audience. Quite often the mass public who believe what is received, but maybe not so true as perceived.

​Dedication: As I have written these thoughts just a month after the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we continue to honor with the memorials of 9/11. We continue to hope for peace, love and unification. To all who sacrificed and served for our freedom, loving nation. God Bless You, and God Bless America! 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on October 11th, 2019.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     I was taking the time to reflect upon my previous thoughts related to my recent instagram post. 

     I thought about the idea of human position as it is connected with the formation of human identity. There is no doubt that what one formally does becomes integral to identity. I think that one should be proud of life achievements, but with these we have to also learn how to keep a sense of balance, because underneath the achievements, hopes, dreams, or what one does, is the human. The human being whose needs, desires and wants, are pretty much the same as any other human on the planet. But the need for achievement / growth, or what one does is actually more important than previously thought, as with this one gains a sense of purpose. A grounding. A reason to live that is more than just to survive. From the mother who is at home tending to her child, the skilled men / women, students, or whatever it may be - purpose grounds, purpose elevates, purpose is growth. Especially when we think about this idea through the lens of fulfilling a purpose that is in line with God's purpose. To love more, to give more, to forgive more, which can also be enacted from our daily living; learning to be more human, what one becomes, or sets out to be / do. God's purpose that is filled in line with one's human survival. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on October 8th, 2019. 
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The 74th United Nations General Assembly took place, whilst what the leaders of nations, activists and all individuals and groups who voiced their concerns were revered as important. The attention of the event became blurred with the simultaneous events such as, the announcement of impeachment proceedings from Washington, and the shooting of Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal in Houston, Texas. Whilst it is true that the timing of the impeachment announcement was totally off, we cannot say the same for a someone who was shot intentionally. Whilst we celebrate the great joys of birth and the precious gift of life, we are also inclined to join with the mourning of life. Through natural death, the life / death cycle. But when someone shoots to kill - as humans we cannot comprehend these acts without asking the question of why? With any cycle of life, or life event - as the saying goes: life goes on. Which is why as I write further I reiterate my condolences to family, friends, relatives, loved ones and the Houston Police Department. The news of Dhaliwal's death arrived on the same day as Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech at the 74th UNGA. The PM khan speech from Pakistan and the Indian-origin Sikh Deputy Dhaliwal's death, reveal how events are purposely orchestrated to deter or attract mass media / public attention.

     I took particular interest in the speech delivered by PM Khan, especially because of the tensions and situation of Kashmir. Whilst I wanted to write my thoughts earlier, I simply held off because of the timing of Dhaliwal's death. Rightly so, because if you think about it: What assumptions would have been made about me? Who whilst keeping my concerns for the territorial disputes, political crisis', unjust use of laws, corruption and humanitarian crisis, I have always spoken through a united front. That is the value of India and Pakistan's shared history, culture, before and even after the partition of India and Pakistan, including Bangladesh. But even with the death of Dhaliwal and Khan's speech delivery, we are still left to ponder - what is the solution for Kashmir? Is there going to be a resolution? Revealing that the matter still needs attention / focus and discussion.

     I found PM Khan's speech interesting, where there were points for learning Pakistan's history, Pakistans' assistance to the USA during the after -math of 9/11, and the issues that are important to Pakistan. It goes without saying that Pakistan should focus on conservation and protection efforts of lands, mountainous regions, untouched lands, nature and habitats that are often forgotten about. But there is also the issue of pollution, improving sewage systems, garbage collection that requires attention, conservation, protection of urban lands, health and safety of individuals, sanitation, illness prevention and disease control. Increasing and improving efforts as these would improve the quality of life, life span and the environment. This goes for most developing nations / regions including: India, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. We could think under the umbrella term of climate change, but for most individuals who are poor, or not well versed with this idea, they could probably care-less. Which is why it is important to bring matters to the realm of relatability. If someone is able to relate to an issue, they might start caring more.

     With regards to the issue of Kashmir - I think I would have disputed with PM Khan's order or importance with his numbering, and put Kashmir to No. 1. It was upsetting to see the absence of Prime Minister Modi. I think that PM Modi's presence could have revealed a good gesture. Such as the openness to listening directly to what PM Khan had to say. I would agree with PM Khan that the courts have been manipulating the laws to specifically deny the Kashmiri people their rights. I also agreed with PM Khan that the United Nations has a duty to investigate and become involved further. To enact International laws to ensure that laws are being utilized properly, and Kashmiri's are not being unlawfully denied their rights. We could also ask why Khan's Government or Judges from Pakistan's side are not presenting a case for these violations / uses of law from India. Here we can say / think about how knowledge, or as Khan termed the Information Revolution is being misused. Misuse / abuse of knowledge is an abuse to the human's consciousness, as well as society's national, collective consciousness. Any rights that have been determined by law, that are taken away deserve investigation.  

     If the revolution is information, the information as soft power, diplomacy and diplomatic relations are the best way to proceed. But for the path, there has to be a willingness. You have to want peace, if you want to be at peace. A resolution / solution may not be completed in one day, but PM Khan's voice at the 74th UNGA, 2019 has given importance to the nation of Pakistan - and Pakistan's desire to contribute, develop with a flourishing healthy economy; to take charge of it's national identity, once smeared with corruption, and a sanctuary for terrorists. This could also include building good relations with their neighbour India. It is with these thoughts we await to see what, or if there will be any response to the Kashmiri crisis. As individuals: Indian's / Pakistani's / Kashmiri's, we only hope and pray that leaders will begin to think and act, with common sense and seek common ground. 

Further Reading:

*Thousands Begin 'Freedom March' in Pakistan-Held Kashmir Toward Disputed Border With India

*Article 370: What happened with Kashmir and why it matters

*Official Department of Tourism Website -  Jammu and Kashmir 

My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on October 6th, 2019.
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