Related Reading:
Cumulative Factors?
6th Mass Extinction

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.

     After taking the time to read and soak in what the cumulative factors are, with regards to building the wall at the U. S. southern border with Mexico, we are once again at the point of thinking about border security. Of course a nation wants to do it's best when thinking about the security, and protection of a nation, but we have to also remember that most of the time, the fears that surround the topic of secutriy are created. Fear is created, sometimes so much so that it becomes engrained within the individual and group level consciousness. This is exactly what is happening with the drama that has been created with the Government shutdown. Which also alerts the public, who most of the time don't understand the politics behind politics. So what we are really seeing right now, are the social constructionism, and the molding of public thought happening right before our very eyes.

   With all of the cumulative factors, social, economic, environmental, human, and the friction between a humanitarian response, and the politics of security, we are at a point to wonder how a country can erect such a monstrous structure, will it even stay standing? 

      What about the animals, plants, lands, rivers, and human life? The factors that I have named are probably just a handful. Those that have had first hand experience at the bordering lands, would probably name many more. With the many reasoning and rationales I've read and thought about, it still seems that President Trump is adamant about building a wall. It is almost as though we are talking to a brick wall, do we really need to build one? : D 

     Whilst we can have some amusement from his leadership style, we are really at a serious point in democracy and politics. Democracy is about discussion, debate, and making informed decisions and choices. Decisions that take place on behalf of a nation, require input not only from elected officials, politicians, but also from those on the ground, who are familiar with what is happening on the bordering lands. 

     Without through investigation, handing out $$$ for a wall may even result in wasting monetary resources. While I do think that the idea of the wall should be tossed out the window, I do think that President Trump, Democrats, Republicans are not in a position to say that they are in a place to make a simple yes / no decision. However, to give the wall the benefit of the doubt, I think it is time to launch a task force to investigate the cumulative factors, and if the wall is the best possible solution. This will take investment in the scientific community, however; as we are well aware President has no interest to invest in those who are vested in research, to learn more about what is taking place at the Southern border. Maybe he himself is fearful of what the professionals will find?

     The Government shutdown has not only been a source of drama for those who can afford to call it so, it has also affected the poorest, the low-income and marginalized. It has also taken eyes off what is important both at home and abroad. 

    And as for playing blame games about the recent child migrant deaths: death happens at the border more than what is reported. It is common to find bodies washed away on the shores. But the sad part in all of this talk is that migrants travel with a hope in their heart. And that is a dream. To dream a little dream of the American Dream. Only to result in the exact opposite. So here again we must ask how we can turn problems to opportunity.

     What about the American Dream? How should that be safe guarded and protected, so that the Dream also stays alive? With all the cruelty politics modern day colonizations, and abuse of power, we are left to wonder is there even an American Dream anymore? And for this thought it should be a deep moment of reflection, for politicians, policy makers, and President Trump himself. Can there still be an American Dream with fear induced politics? Fear is a social construction, fear debilitates. Isn't it better to seek refuge in God.  

     As I conclude this thought for now, I think instead of tweeting out his fear invoking tweets, President Trump needs to re-think his strategies. He alone cannot make this decision alone. Without further investigations, exploring processes, and keeping in line with existing agreements, between U. S. and Mexico, he is only damaging American interests, nationally and internationally. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness.

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on December 30th, 2018.
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Nogales River Sewage Pipe Break

Related Reading:
6th Mass Extinction

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.

     As I begin to write, once again about the drama created with the Government shutdown, that has resulted from an abuse of power, as President Trump's tool for a highly Presidential temper tantrum. I cannot help but to feel overwhelmed and astonished as I learn about the complex web of issues that have existed historically, and through to the present day with the idea of the border wall. As I previously wrote there are many concerns from the scientific community, about the environmental factors, plant / animal species, and human life. Some of the factors are surfacing more and more each day, as we hear of the health effects and deaths at the American southern border. Whilst we are hearing about these overtly more and more each day, human hazards and environmental effects have happened throughout previous administrations. Now don't get me wrong, the last sentence was in no way to support President Trump's, because finally with firm strong decision, with research supported by evidence, I cannot agree with the building of any wall, let alone the millions of dollars that President Trump is asking for. America and American bordering lands are not ready or even suitable for building such a structure. 

     As researchers and journalists have written we all should bluntly realize, that the wall is not a metaphor to fix all of the social and economic problems in America. Nor will it be the solution to all of America's problems, that are occurring between the U.S. and Mexico border. We all know it, I have written about it before and I'll write it again, it is just insistence upon authoritative style leadership, where a leader needs to demand, in order to feel in control. Also a demand that is formed as racist and discriminatory, to say that you are not wanted here. 

     Behind all of the reasons and rationales provided by President Trump, therein lies the real truths as to why he is demanding a wall. We can even liken his stance to that of a colonizer, who is using Presidential powers as a form of modern day colonial rule. But what baffles me even more, is that politicians, Democratic and Republican are not willing to stand up to the President. Rather that use thier powers from thier positions to negotiate and demand an end to the Government shutdown, we are simply seeing politicians from all angles, just going with the flow. Maybe its because of the season? Time of year? But then again Politicians normally take a break from politics during Christmas. so the season was not an excuse for a shutdown, but it was to grab public attention, and cause disruption for the hardworking public during the Christmas season. A strain that has been caused to the nation of America, both socially and economically. So when we think of a President who is looking out for the best interests of America, can we possibly say that a Government shutdown was in the best interests of America?When we continue to question Presidential tactics, abuse of power, we can further ask why President Trump is adamant about having the wall now?

     *And why has the media and Government sources not reported upon the LA PAZ Agreement 1983 ("LA PAZ Agreement," 2018), which is now updated to include Border XXI. An agreement between the U. S. and Mexico that is vital for the protection and conservation of regions between the U. S. and Mexico? Residents and officials work together to take care of lands on both sides of the border. 

     *Why have we not heard about Nogales and the rivers that have been deadly to migrants, and which have also washed away panel pieces that were erected for the border wall? There are areas where social humanitarian policing are put in place, regardless of which side of the border that you are living on. If life is threatened, emergency crews both U. S. and Mexico respond to save lives. This has not always been the case. As sometimes bodies are washed to the shores, due to the immense force of the rivers. Even with these events, the top down demands continue, both sides have tired to control the water, but water arrives with its own metaphors of power and control. 

"the ‘water has its own knowledge’. ‘It will go where it wants to go’. As pressure rises, the water digs under the concrete reinforcements causing cracks in the panels and eroding the floor of the Grand Tunnel." (Jusionyte, 2017, p. 13) 

     As man (President Trump) enforces control, nature itself is demanding control. Amidst the wall and the water are the emergency responders providing a humanitarian response, that causes friction between border security, who often watch the suffering.  

    *Why have we not heard about the toxins, chemical spills, and hazardous materials found in the Sonoran deserts?

     At this point once again I feel overwhelmed, the feeling is not about the damned wall anymore. It is about the many factors that have been silenced and ignored. The magnitude of the social and environmental effects, the plethora of issues that have been ignored, reveal that the administration, Democrats and Republicans are foolish to even accept the idea of the wall, If you ask me, to go any further to discuss the wall and ignoring the cumulative factors taking place around the border is absurdity.

     It is really time to talk common sense politics. If you want to talk about gangs, criminals or drugs, why not talk about the death rates in Chicago due to gun violence? or any other state or city in the nation of America? If you ask me Mother Nature herself is sending a message to the President. It is really a time to toss the idea of the wall out the window, and think of other solutions and processes. I wrote some recommendations previously, another common sense suggestion is to work with Mexico, strengthen alliances, and build upon previous agreements, such and the LA PAZ 1983, Border XXI, EPA  (Environmental Protection Agency), all of which are relevant and necessary. Without President Trump even referencing any existing agreements, we can further question how the demand for the structure of the wall is a violation of existing agreements, and a waste of public money. 

Dead trees near Nogales River

"'We all have the same red blood'"
(Jusionyte, 2017, p. 14) - Chief Mario Novoa 

My thoughts to share with love and kindness! :)

References:
Jusionyte, I. (2017). The wall and the wash: Security, infrastructure and rescue on the us-mexico border. Anthropology Today, 33(3), 13-16. doi:10.1111/1467-8322.12349 
​
"La Paz Agreement." Environmental Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 29, 2018 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/la-paz-agreem

Further Reading:
Border Rescue Project. (n. d). Retrieved from http://www.borderrescueproject.com/about

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on December 29th, 2018. All opinions and views are my own. 
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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 think that the Christmas season is a period where one can become reflective, even as we directly or indirectly celebrate Christmas. It can be a time to remember loved and lost one's. A time for love, happiness,  joy, and for some a time of great pressure. But regardless of what kinds of emotions surface during the season, we can all gather to a common point of gratefulness, for the very breath that we inhale and exhale, and the beating of the heart, that propels us for life and to live.

     The season can also be a time for spiritual awakening, a time to come closer to the faith as the birth of Jesus is commemorated. The season is a time of commemoration, celebration, closeness, and also a time when the injustices Jesus faced are ignited. There were the sufferings he faced, as he simply desired to walk the path of truth. But today we face more injustices, as the name of Jesus is desired to be erased and replaced. This could be through political moldings, to strengthen ties between allies who share similar faiths, or religious and political values. This is why I have always preferred the word spirituality, as an umbrella term for all religions, rather than the word religion. Spirituality can be compared to the word Namaste, a Hindu greeting of respect. Salaam which is the short form for As-salamu alaykum,  in the Muslim faith which means, Peace Be Upon You, or Shalom, the Hebrew which means peace, harmony, and wholeness. All the greetings are expressed differently, but possess the same equivalency in what they desire to express. 

     At the core of religion / faith / spirituality, is the desire to feed / nurture the soul, or the part of the self that is invisible, but of course manifests itself sometimes very visibly. This essential essence of religion / faith / spirituality, could also be utilized as a binding force, to sew the fractures, divisions, that have been socially and politically constructed. For instance: we can think about the Muslim faith. What makes this faith unique is that aside from the Qu'ran, there is also a belief in the People of the Book. Which refers to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. A phrase that was necessary for the creation of diversity for faiths, and communities of believers. 

"Thus, the concept of a “People of the Book,” a notion that goes back to the Qurʾan, lies at the heart of the Muslims' successful creation of a political society that was understood in the first instance as a community of believers but also included within its expanding frontiers significant religious diversity." 
(Peters, 2017)

​     The people who follow the scriptures of the specific faiths were respected by Muslims, even if they were not a Muslim. However, today we even see that this idea among Muslims is diminishing. Or is the idea diminishing for social and political reasoning? Who is to ask how or why? Rather than deepening the fragmentations that are visible, through religious discrimination from all angles, why not re-create, for the purposes of building religious / spiritual unity? 

       Whilst there is still disagreement about the actual day of Jesus' birth, between Christians and faith groups,  I was inspired when I learned that Iraq had declared Christmas day as a national holiday. This is inspiring as it reveals a sense of unity for a country that is predominately Muslim, and hope for Christians who are living in the country.  We can also take examples from Syria, where individuals re-enact the journey of Joseph and Mary  from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the birth place of baby Jesus. These events reveal the historical closeness of the Christian and Muslim faith, who both believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ.

​     Jesus was born to Mother Mary who was a migrant. Today as we live in a world where refugees and migrants are persecuted, even denied to think about wanting to seek a better life, I wonder how the example of the birth of Jesus, the journey of Mother Mary, and Joseph be a reminder for all who celebrate Christmas, and oppose migration, or are unwelcoming to refugees. Is it possible to even celebrate this birth at the present day, and still persecute migrants at the bordering lands? 

​       As we think of this question, a point of reference would be the U.S. / Mexico border, where there is great dispute, and also a source for the Government shutdown taking place in America. We could easily say that the shutdown is just a way to reveal an abuse of power, that is used while President Trump has a temper tantrum. But it is also a reminder for those who celebrate Christmas, and the birth of Jesus. How can one celebrate the significant birth of a baby to a migrant mother, who was later identified as Christ, and still possess hostility and ignorance towards refugees and migrants? True faith and belief is to embody the faith and belief.   

My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on December 27th, 2018.

​Reference:
Peters, F. (2017) People of the Book. Oxford Bibliographies. Retrieved from
http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195390155/obo-9780195390155-0059.xml#firstMatch

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*~Question~*
Is the border wall debate simply a cover up; as a contributing force, to the 6th Mass extinction? 

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 always imagined the spaces of borders as sacred places where there are natural connections of lands, that have simply been divided with the drawing of human made lines. Of course in a sense the imagined ideas are actually very real, because that is exactly what the spaces are. But it is through the human made elements, and social constructions of borders where the spaces also decipher if one of us are able to enter or not, enter another country, or the type of treatment that one receives, through the spaces that we can call lands between borders. These ideas and discussion points are particularly relevant. As once again the argument between the Democrats, Republicans, and President Trump has heightened for the demands of funds for the border wall, and forcing a Government shutdown. But as I have written in previous writings, the President's demands are something more than simply dollar symbols. Through his rhetorics and demands we hear of discriminatory language that is aimed at the populations that want to enter America. The discrimination is very real, and so is the crime, violence, and gangs that are entering illegally. So again I write, there is an argument for the safe entry of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees who are fleeing violence, poverty, and a circumstance that is very real, and who do truly desire to try to make a better life for themselves. If not the ideal American Dream. A simple Dream. To be safe and survive. 

     There is also the case for moral duties. Not just on the American side of the border, but also the Mexican side. We hear of the Trump rhetorics, demands and concerns. But where is Mexico? What is Mexico doing to ensure the safety of the migrants, when they are travelling to America? The silence here makes us wonder Mexico's role, and moral obligations to ensure safety and survival of migrants. But I think we can delve deeper to connect the disagreements on the American side of the border, and the silences on the Mexican side, to think of these events as a social construction that is being constructed before our very eyes. A construction that is integral to the Sixth Mass Extinction, otherwise known as the Holocene.

     Building a wall along the southern border, not only affects the loss of populations through death, injury, and violences that happen along the border, but also affecting the animal species, plants, and ecosystems that have naturally formed along these neighbouring and bordering lands. Not to mention the human populations, and villages that have formed along these areas.

     As humans we tend to care more about animals and plants that assist with our survival. This is quite natural. As humans one of our innate drives is for the purposes of survival. However, we can question - the human duties, to protect and preserve animal and plant species. These are integral for the functioning of natural habitats, their ecosystems, and the beauty of the Earth. As humans we must carry out our moral duties for the protection of plant, animal, and human species. Without the human care that is derived from this level of consciousness, we are simply speeding up the processes that will contribute to the sixth mass extinction. 

     We can connect these thoughts to the protection of farms, farming lands, agriculture, produce and plants, that we consume for our survival. We enforce laws, policy and bills for their protection, and this is a positive, its natural to enforce protections, because they are pivotal to our human survival. But what about those functioning systems that species and plants have formed for their survival? Just like humans they also want to survive and thrive.

     Humans, politicians, scientists, and leaders are faced with a decision. To build a wall or not? Here I question: what if there was no idea of the wall? What could be placed instead of the wall? Also it takes more that physically building a wall, to build the wall. This involves digging untouched terrains, lands, and habitats.

     Whilst scientists and wildlife defenders do have very real concerns, that will affect present and future generations. There is also the concern of crime, and gangs that often cross borders through remote places. These areas are often controlled by crime networks, that are often left to operate because Mexican police and Law enforcement do nothin to stop the criminals. This is another discussion point, as often bribery, corruption, along the borders happens because of the police who are forced to co-operate with anyone thought to be a criminal or gang related.

So once again the question is to build a wall or not?

     I dont think there is a simple yes, no answer. But I do think that human life, plant and animal species deserve to be protected, for present and future generations. I also believe that rather than demand or control  from the U. S. side, its really a time to have discussions and work with Mexico, to think of solutions that are in the best, safe, and secure interests of both nations. Mexico's in-action and American demand and control, exemplifies how social constructions are a contributing force to the Sixth Mass Extinction. 

     In my view without taking a political side, I don't think that we can simply say lets build the wall. There are too many factors that have not been considered at the level of the Government. Rather than say lets build the wall, why not assign a Presidential Task force, to research the factors involved and that have not been addressed, for further developing recommendations? Where the task force contains specialists, including individuals who are from Mexico, and familiar with the issues that are American concerns, before there is a simple yes or no answer to building a wall. A task force should be committed, solution orientated, and not politically inclined.

     Through research, discussion, and team dialogue we can begin to think about the best interests of both nations, the human populations, American territory, bordering lands, plant and wildlife species. As the task force is carrying out this important work, we should look towards the humane functioning of customs and border patrol. So that death, and health hazards are not at the hands of American security, or armed forces, where there is a desire to secure the border and existing spaces along the borders. This includes training and development for the American forces, as well as growth in terms of compassionate grounds. Just as a piece of technology is used by humans, human functioning shifts depending on the individuals uses. Similarly border security must also develop, and progress with societal shifts. However, once again this thought can be connected to the construction of population extinction. Maybe harsh and drastic measures are in place for this very reason?

     Protection of a border is not as simple as build a wall or not. It is not a yes, no answer. Rather a process that requires development, further investigation, as there are many factors that have been silenced.     

Further Reading
Bird, B. (2018, Oct 21). Border wall disrupts more than people's lives. The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved from http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/border-wall-disrupts-more-than-people-s-lives/article_1672eaa7-8d1c-501d-a873-af475e1f6269.html  
​
PAYNEGUEST, B. (2018, Jul 05). The moral basis for building a border wall. Daily Record Retrieved from https://tcsedsystem.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.tcsedsystem.idm.oclc.org/docview/2064752428?accountid=34120

The Extinction Crisis - U.S. Centre for Biological Diversity. 

*My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on December 22nd, 2018. The views and opinions contained in the thought post are my own. 
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Related Reading:
Mass Murder.
iWish 
Analysis | TED Talk

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 other day I wrote a post that was actually quite difficult to write, in the sense that there were many emotions tied to the subject matter. But I still wrote because I felt that it was important, and necessary to do so. To conclude my thoughts, I specified that the thoughts were not to take sides, but to bring political accountability and responsibility to the surface. If you think about it: a Government will enforce laws or political policy, to govern and regulate the human population of a nation. We can also wonder here, who governs the Government? Of course there are NGO's, advocacy groups, or political oppositions, that try to persuade Government actions, but sometimes they are unsuccessful. Oppositions from political parties, groups, individuals, and institutions reveal that while a Government might think it is acting in the best interests of its nation, for national security and international efforts, there are in fact cases and times where this is not necessarily the case.

     We can utilize the example of the Yemen war, or the deaths and health concerns stemming from migration efforts at the American Southern border. Whilst again I want to reiterate that these, and my previous thoughts were not written to take sides, they are in fact a mimicry of where, scholars, researchers, public and democratic institutions, have vested their time and efforts. Who are questioning Americas military presences, both home and abroad. But I also think that there is a naturalistic element, because a nation who wants to move practically from an at war status, to that of at peace, especially post 9/11, will of course have to re-think strategies, military presence at home and abroad.   

It takes seconds to destruct but years to re-build. 

    This is where we can connect these thoughts to the current desire to withdraw American troops from Syria. It might have been a better option to shift military operations to that of safe-guarding, and to that of re-building the region. But the presence has to also be wanted from the region as well. As probably the wealthiest nation on the planet, and a powerful nation, America allied with international partners must re-think military strategies, in line with how nations envisions itself for the future, at the national and global level.

     It is east to cut, break, demolish, or withdraw. But true nobility is being there for others when they are in need. We could relate these ideas to former speaker of the house Paul Ryan who believes that American politics are broken. But are they? It is healthy to have some sort of disagreements, however; the disagreements need to be managed for solutions. We could also present the the opposition from Marco Rubio, a Republican who has opposed President Trump's Syria troop withdrawal decision. President  Trump's decision is simply a reflection of the cut, paste strategy, that does not uphold the ideas of political accountability and accepting responsibility. Both at home with regards to the southern border, and abroad with a withdrawal from Yemen and Syria. Military operations that could have helped to re-build regions, and provide hope, for many who are dying from hunger. It must also be said, that these thoughts can be transferred to any nation who has been involved or supported the civil wars in Yemen and Syria, where there are silences, instead of accountability and responsibility. 

Further Reading:
 
*The Dangers of Calling ‘Mission Accomplished’ in Syria

*Death At The Southern Border An Increasing Risk For Migrants

My thoughts to share with love & kindness.

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on December 20th, 2018.
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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 have written about the dire famine in Yemen and also the Khashoggi murder case in previous writings, but with the release of the new Times cover that included a photograph of the journalist on the cover with the slogan: "The Guardians and the war on Truth", an evocation erupted. I wondered once again about the media attention, and how what is deemed important to a media source, contributes to the molding of human thought, and human consciousness. In a sense this is an example of cultural constructions, and influences that are being ingrained within human cognition. Being cognizant of the constructions, simply allow us ourselves to make choices, of allowing or disallowing what we want our thoughts to focus upon. However, the irony is that even if we agree or disagree with something, we are still giving the issue some sort of focus within our thoughts. This is neither good or bad, as long as we ourselves understand that we should be able to think for ourselves. To formulate opinion and thought, based upon what is being presented to us, or what we interact with. 

     I do believe that journalism or writing just like I am is necessary, to continue to push forth thought and social progress. We can of course also see how publications such as the Time's magazine, or events such as the Time's cover reveal can evoke mass opinion and thought. I also wondered what if we saw the starved. The ones who are dying in Yemen on the front cover of this magazine? How would that influence public thought or opinion? Journalists themselves have been critical of the amount of attention the Khashoggi case has received as compared to the dire situation in Yemen. Both of which involve the USA and Saudi Arabia.

     But I leave this though open-ended for now, as I continue to think about how politics, believe it or not also does influence publications. Such as what appears on the cover of the Time's magazine. Maybe too much Yemen exposure would also jeopardize  political affiliation, relationships from the USA, who have been involved, supported, and manufactured the violence in Yemen for years. Who provided support and assisted to create the famine, and what we can call the Yemen genocide. 

     Media exposure is also careful not to alarm the public, and thinks about how much political tension it should create or not. Media is also integral to the social construction of instututions and public thought. While the Yemen situation has been downplayed, by placing a higher emphasis on the Khashoggi case, we also derive more questions, as to how human life is valued, or if the Khashoggi emphasis was purposely constructed to hush the U.S. and Saudi contributions, and support for the Yemen war. Even if the U.S. has decided to withdraw from Yemen, we can question why now? And also what responsibility is borne upon the shoulder of the U. S. after withdrawing? 

     The lack of media attention and using the Khashoggi case only raveals how the Yemen war is purposely being silenced to protect the interests of specific nations, and sectarian groups who have killed, starved, and created a Yemen genocide. 

It should also be noted that these views and my opinions are not for the purposes of taking sides, but rather for the purposes of political accountability and the responsibility, that arises when contributing and creating to mass murder, with the use of starvation as a weapon of war.  

My thoughts to share with love & kindness.
​
Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on December 18th, 2018.
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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 other day I was going through my camera roll, as far back as probably 3-4 years. Sometimes you think you can remember what happened during your life from the past few previous years, but actually looking back, you remember details that evoke emotion. And of course emotions are attached to memories as well. Memories can be good or bad, or anything in between. Sometimes it is the looking back that can quietly nudge us to see where we are in our life, how far we have come from where we were, and also where we would like to be. 

     The looking back should not act as a dwelling, although it can be, and at times it will. But looking back through memories, or in my case the camera roll, we begin to think, re-think about what is important in life. Or even who is important. Sometimes we get lost in the game called life, to realize the losses and gains, sometimes from the closest  loved ones. The ones we never expected. But it is the memory attached to emotion that makes us realize that not every decision cannot be solely based upon emotion. Sometimes cumulative factors determine our life choices and decisions. And sometimes it is the looking back that helps us to determine what needs to be kept in life, and in the heart. 

Further Reading:
​The role of emotion in memory
​
*Dedication: I was inspired to write these thoughts after seeing the care that Facebook has with creating videos out of our memories. As there has been such criticism of FaceBook, I did want to share some positive points.

*These thoughts are also dedicated to all who were injured and suffered from the Sapporo restaurant explosion in Japan. Our thoughts of love and support. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness!

Notes: These thoghts were originally hand-written on December 16th, 2018.
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Related Reading
The Yemen War 

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 used to always believe that education was the root solution to all of humanities problems, until I realized that education itself is a construction. Where we teach, learn, educate about histories,  present and past constructions. If you think about it, all fields of learning have been constructed. Stemming from our curiosity, and the human desire to learn more about humans, human thought, behaviour, internally and externally. Our interactions, social organizations, and so on. But if we are to say that every field is a construction, does this mean that we should downplay the fields  pertaining to learning a subject matter or education?

     No it does not mean that we should. Our in-action or action are dependant upon how the fields are constructed and organized. For instance: as we hear about humanitarian disasters, or current events that spark concern - action or in-action are dependant upon the resulting effects. For example: It is known too well that that millions of Yemeni people are starving, dyeing each day, because of wars / internal conflicts. Whilst I am glad that the USA is deciding to withdraw its support for this conflict, I do also wonder why the situation in Yemen has not officially been declared as a famine? This declaration is urgently needed to build pressure, and allow International relief efforts. We can think of issues closer to home such as those that happen in the community, including keeping communities safe, violence, healthy living, politics, or the environment. Many of these issues are explored within a classroom setting. So basically what I am saying is that even as issues are thought of as constructions, human-made, they are  important for our explorations, increasing our awareness, building tolerance, and to continue to strive for improving the human condition.

     But as I write these thoughts to re-focus our concern upon humanity, and the earth we inhabit, they are also really a plea to those who have the power to shape, and create social constructions. Whilst constructions can be viewed as a positive for organizing humanity, I wonder how much of social constructions, constructions are needed to be considered enough? At what level should the one's in power realize that political interference, wars, internal conflicts should be enough? We could once again utilize the Yemen example; how many individuals need to die, before a famine declaration is decided upon? Or even the crisis at the U.S. / Mexico border, or the American Southern border; Is one child's death at the hands of customs and border patrol, one too many? To realize that real solutions are needed instead of barbaric ones. 

     Social progress is good if it benefits humanity, but it is not good if those who have progressed leave others lagging behind. Examples include, the forceful interventions at the USA southern border, and treatment of the individuals from Latin America. So whilst I can say that education is another construction, it is through formal or informal education we understand the organization of systems, organizational, national and international. The understanding should only lead to trying to seek improvements. Whilst everyone might not be interested to pursue this, and that is really OK. But for the ones who do, there is really no going back. And this is why once again I re-think to say that education is a root solution to humanities problems, and continue to question how much of social organization. political interference, and constructions should be considered enough?

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on December 15th, 2018.
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@MsSsHussain

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 think we've all had moments where we feel like failures, failed, or were not able to achieve what we hoped for. If we didn't experience failure, how would one know success? But then I thought about the word failure - these thoughts were further explored as I watched this TED talk. I reflected upon the ideas of the speaker, and wondered how the word failure actually exalt the idea of self-hate, hurting the self, deep despair, or feeling a sense of unworthiness. Failure is the idea that one has not been able to achieve, or not at the point that one desired. But it doesn't mean that the object, act, or the point that was desired is not achievable. In this sense if we think of our word choices, how we decide to label a failure, we can think about how self-perceptions would dramatically change. These are details, probably very minute for some. But it is these details that could turn a person around, a life around, a human around. 

     Ideally humans who are service - focused have the desire to impact the many, but sometimes it is that impact upon one human being, that is equivalent to many, or even a million lives. As we move through the stages of life, unworthiness, or not being able to achieve what we had hoped for, or even not being at the ideal norms for a particular stage in life; is ok. While we have norms and labels for success and failure, each and everyone of us are an individual human being. Each of us having similar yet, different heeds as to how our needs are fulfilled.  Sometimes getting to the points we need to be at is simply a case of feeling loved, supported, cared for, nourished. Sometimes those who are the hardest to love, need to be loved the most.

     Ideas, advancements, goals, personal and professional matter. They have to matter, anything less would take away our sense of purpose, or who we are as a person. When our purpose is taken away, lost, diminished, we loose who we are. That is the very core and crux of our being. Our life purpose is continually made and re-made, as we grow and go through life. Its what makes us want to live, and breathe each and every day. Passion drives our purpose. When passion diminishes, purpose diminishes.

     There are many factors that influence this cycle, including political, and Government constraints that aim to control the flow of ideas, thoughts, and shutting down thinkers. This is not new. It has happened before, and even to many great thinkers throughout history, many of whom were artists. But I think: what is progress, social progress, and innovation, when there are still cycles such as constraining and limiting thought? As thinkers we know that not every idea will manifest in the physical realm, but there are the select few ideas that we focus upon that emerge visibly. 

     So I wonder what if we could allow thoughts to flow without external limitations and constraints? What if we could unblock the blocks? What if we could encourage the student right from the K-12 levels to the point of a Ph. D.? Everyone needs to feel that their ideas are valuable and worthy. While the point of failure, or not being at the point where we had hoped for might prove detrimental, one must look within, reach within the self, and realize that you are your source of hope, you yourself have to understand that you matter. Sometimes this self-understanding can be attained alone, sometimes it is regained from the loving presence of another human being, in the form of Gods image, Gods spirit.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on December 13th, 2018.
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