When You, I Feel...


An article in yesterday's paper caught my eye. The gist of it was that there had been a job advertisement in the U.K., seeking someone who was "reliable", etc. It was determined that this advertisement was discriminatory against people who are "not reliable", and, as a result, the job ad was pulled.

You seriously can not make stuff like this up!

Such situations personify the ridiculous world of doublespeak that we have created over the past couple of decades. We are living in a world where we are unable to criticise others, dismiss a person from a job due to incompetence, maintain admittance standards and, quite honestly, have diluted our social discourse to the point that nothing importance gets said, regardless of validity, for fear of liable or reprisals.

I am often censored by friends, wife and colleagues due to my tendency to speak bluntly (and, admittedly sometimes over exuberantly). Needless to say, jaws often drop when I'm at a meeting or social situation when I call it like I see it. Outlandish, sometimes, I am, and often do go for shock value if only to emphasize my point. More often than not, I'll be told by others that they were thinking the same thing but would never have the audacity to say it. I admit that I have no respect for authority in that they are beyond reproach. Honestly, I've seen enough incompetent morons being raised to such positions through luck, nepotism and knowing the right person, that so many of those in positions of power do not deserve to be there nor are they worthy of respect. This is the era of the "yes man/woman" and they are breeding in their authoritarian ranks. Poster child for morons with ultimate power: former President of the U.S. George W. Bush.

Please don't misunderstand what I am saying here: I do give my utmost respect to those who earn it - the competent - even if we have opposing views. I'm not a lose cannon who goes off for the sake of hearing himself roar. I am not advocating belligerence (though belligerence may at times be necessary to press home a point). What I am stating is that we need to stand for something and not be afraid of standing up for it, no matter who our challenger is. I mess up and step out of line often, and accept my lumps thoughtfully. If I screwed up, I'll accept that. What I won't accept is taking it on the chin simply because the person giving me the lumps is in a perceived power of authority over me. The only way others have power over us is if we allow them to. It is a game in many minds, and we always have the choice of not playing.

Apathy and a sense of entitlement will be the downfall of Western civilisation. We need to be civil, inclusive and respectful, but in a manner that is productive and realistic. We need to reintroduce passion in our opinions, endeavor to make ourselves better and not live in fear of rocking the proverbial boat. The injustices in our society are sickening, the vast majority of politicians and bureaucrats attempt to mirror what the percieved wants are, and then manipulate and decieve - of which we are all aware but do nothing.

In conclusion, it would appear that the unreliable have beaten out the reliable for the job. Nietzsche and Ayn Rand where are you?

Healthy Thoughts on Sickness: Autobiography of My Cold



My first test to take life easier came very early this year (see new year's eve post for more details). On Saturday, January 2nd, I felt a wee tickle in my sinuses and throat and could see that I was perhaps on the verge of catching one of the many colds that fly about this time of year, seeking out warm, moist caverens in which to set up their lodges. Sure enough, by the time I awoke on the Sunday, the prickle of the germs, of which Lucretius wrote of in his poem "De Rerum Natura", were staking out my sinuses allowing damns of congestion to pool and solidify, surrendering briefly in large globules against the stream of my neti pot, but replenishing with an even greater rapidity. With the congestion came fatigue as my vocal chords became damped as if a piano string with said pedal stuck on it's chord. Looming that night was Monday morning and a return to work where I am entrusted with the learning of 18 special needs students, who mean the world to me.

So, like a trooper, I ventured to work on Monday morning and was glad for having done so. The holidays are often a difficult time for the students in the demographics that mine dwell - poverty, abuse, alcoholism, drug use, gangs, violence. Our classroom is more like a family in many ways as I teach them pretty much the entire day and will have most of them for the whole three years of their junior high education. Thus, my spirits were lightened a bit by seeing them and it was wonderful to gain that sense of breaking from the Holiday's grip and return to a life as it is most of the time.

I knew by the days end that I would not be able to come to work Tuesday as I was feeling terrible, and told my students this. Enter my New Years promise to take it easier. Under the same circumstances in the past, I would have waited until the very last minute to decide to take the sick day or not, like an inmate hoping for a stay of execution, praying that a good night's sleep would cure all ills and set me free. This time, I decided that day and leisurely put together my sub plans for Tuesday, with hopes of returning to work on Wednesday. But things did not worked out as I had hoped. I was hardly any better on Wednesday, and Thursday was also nasty. I ended up taking those days off sick as well. By Thursday evening I was resolved, come hell or high water, that I would make it in for Friday (today). After all, the congestion has eased itself considerably, though my chest was feeling like the cold bugs had taking up ice climbing along my bronchials with their sharp crampons and ice axes, resulting from round after round of coughing spasms. From 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. I was hacking off my head and then resolved that I would take Friday as well. This was the true test of my resolution as, based on my past, I would have forced myself to go to work regardless as I would have been infiltrated and guilted by a sense of obligation, as if I were letting my students and school colleagues down, and for my general sanity.

The acceptance of my situation is largely what contributed to my decision process throughout this nasty cold. I spent much of my waking time in bed, focusing on meditation. Just as my spiritual views are a jumble of Buddhism, Taoism, Wicca and Hinduism, so too are my my methods of meditation. Part one focused on simply relaxing my body - trying to achieve a deep even breath and to let go of the stress that I was feeling both mentaly and physically.

Next, I repeated over and over in my head statements that the Buddha had made about life; how we are of the nature to be born, grow old, be sick and die. The focus was on the nature of getting sick, accepting that it is okay and part of life and taking heart that it will pass. The rest of the man's nature served as a reminder that there is nothing to fear in life and to make the most of each moment. Ergo, making the most of being sick and realising that the school would not fall apart, no matter how poorly things worked out with my substitute.

The third part, perhaps more Wicca in it's foundations, was through breathing and really trying to feel the sense of the universe around me - allowing and visualising healing energies coming into my body while releasing the cold virus that had made it's dwelling within. I admit that I had some interesting visions come into my head during this. While being largely skeptic, and understanding that the mind is a fickle thing, particularly when under the influence of an illness and cold medication, there was quite a profundity in it.

The last part involved a bit of humming and chanting "Om" (which I couldn't do due to the impact on my vocal chords). While this might sound cheesy, Science is holding some creedence in such practices, liking them to a cat purring and general attributes of vibration in healing.

In the end, I do not believe that any of this assisted me in getting better quicker, other than it helped me maintain a positive psychological state and gave myself the OK to stay home in bed for four days. For me, this psychological breakthrough is definitely something as I am usually at the bottom of my despair when under the weather, especially for such a prolonged duration. Further to all of this, I did do some very light restorative Yoga and also had a few sessions on my Shakti Mat (it's like a bed of nails - wonderful for releasing stress and endorphins - I got mine from a company in Sweden: www.shaktimat.com ). In any case, I am getting better and am trying to take the positives grasped by what really is a minor ailment in the great scheme of things. All things are relative in the end.

Be well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

This is an awesome video!

A New Day and a New Year. Welcome to 2010! Welcome to the Revolution?



I read a lot of revolutionary stuff ranging from Fiction to History, Political Science and Biographies. Recent reads have included the novel Sashenka, an interview bio of Fidel Castro and the History of the Spanish Civil War. The passion of ideals are largely what attracts me to such books - I've probably read a PhD.'s worth on Irish and Soviet history!

What pains me is that there is little in the way of such revolutionary work or organisation going on in Canada right now, while the need for such a passion to re-shape this nation to make it a better place for all is much needed. From these words and what I've written (or if you know me), it is clear that I am of the political Left. I admit to being a Socialist with a strong interest in Communism (though many of my friends have told me that I'm more of a Fascist based on the strength I hold in my opinions).

Now before people start to attack me for even suggesting Communism as a good thing, what I advocate as Communism is not what we saw in Eastern Europe, North Korea, etc. Cuba is a place that I would hold as a potential example of Communism showing the potential for success. I'm not saying Cuba is the promised Socialist paradise, but it is a nation that I respect. In citing Cuba as an example, let's not forget that it is a land under constant attack from the United States and American funded ant-Castro/terrorist organisations. This combined with the American embargo have not helped Cuba in it's potential. As far as Cuba's human rights record goes, I can not condone this, but I can comprehend it. Any nation under attack imprisons any opposition voices as you can not have divisions within your nation while in a state of conflict. In my opinion, freedom of speech is a necessary aspect of any societies peaceful evolution and sustainability.

And for the record, Cuba has done a lot of philanthropic work, sending doctors to work abroad, were key in the release of Nelson Mandella and in progressively seeking environmentally sound forms of sustainability.

As for the former Eastern Bloc, North Korea, etc., the Russian Revolution died with Stalin and both him and Kim Jong Il are genocidal tyrants. Full stop.

Digressing somewhat, the other type of stuff I tend to read are books on the Eastern Philosophies of Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism, in addition to a bit of Wicca, Christian and Sufi writings. Given that the majority of the world's peoples are followers of such schools of spirituality where the central messages are love, compassion, respect for one another and the planet, one can clearly compare and align these sentiments to those expressed in Socialism and even Communism.

In Canada we are looking at major cuts in Health Care, leaving us with a two tiered system in which the wealthy can get attention immediately, while others need to wait years for many procedures. In my two non-emergency surgeries (one to have my should mended, the other for a knee repair), the process from requisition to surgery date was between 18 months and two years. I have two friends waiting for hernia surgeries - one of whom has been waiting just shy of two years with still no word on a date.

Secondly, our Education system is facing more cuts and the system is already strained to the max. Post Secondary Education costs are becoming atrocious. Education should be a right - quality and accessibility should be a right. Young adults entering the world with massive student debts on top of all the other expenses of setting up lives starts many behind the eight ball and playing catch-up into their 40's with little saved for their future causes many life issues, can break up marriages under financial stress, etc.

Next, the inequality of wages in this nation are obscene as we play along with what the market demands and can withstand. CEO's and politicians make fortunes while Teachers and Nurses get paid a pithence in comparison. In my opinion, whether a person is a plumber, carpenter, surgeon, lawyer or Peace Officer, they all play an essential part in the running of society. While many may hold the surgeon in higher regard than the plumber, think about it. Do we truly want to return to the days of oat houses? No running water? No heat? As a Teacher myself, I could argue that Teachers should be paid more than anyone else in society as, without them, there would be no surgeons, plumbers, police or politicians. Instead, people complain that teachers are whiners who only work from 8-3 and have summers, Christmas and Spring Break off. This is of course erroneous as most teachers will put in a day starting at 7:30 a.m., leave by 5 p.m. unless they are coaching or running clubs. Then there is the planning and marking that you take home on weekends and holidays. There's meetings and professional development sessions you must take. Legal documents for IPP's, Progress Reports and differentiated lesson plans to be done. Oh yes, and then there is the actual teaching part in overfilled classrooms. I'm not complaining and I love my job. All I'm doing is illustration the reality of Teaching. I don not advocate that Teachers get paid more than others, but I do advocate for a greater equity across the board.

Next we have the Environmental issues which we face. Many of our issues in this regard are caused by corporate profiteering in the area of natural resources, but it is also a result of social excess by many of us. Things such as the Alberta Oil Sands are a disgrace, as is much of the clear cutting across this nation's forests and past incidents of over fishing. These things are permitted to continue due to threats of job losses. Does it not scare others that our so-called democracy can be so easily swayed by corporate self-interest?

In the end, these are the key issues. Apathy, greed and fear are what perpetuate our inaction. Canada is an abundant land that could sustain its comparably small population. For so long we have been fed propaganda about Socialism in the media and have devovled into a false sense of entitlement where want has exceeded need to the point of obscenity. We have become trivial and benign as a society, where cerebral obesity is the number one killer. Perhaps this is where I do show the Fascist inclination in that I am advocating my sense of what is reasonable, which will obviously differ from many, and, through this, the sense of totalitarianism associated with Communism shows itself. Nothing is perfect. My only retort is: hasn't commercialism and the media directly distorted your own perception of your needs in perhaps a more devious and subliminal manner?

In the end, humankind will always be the key ingredient to our society's rise and fall. Until the balance between wants and needs is re-established, the revolution will remain a sin through misappropriated dogma of those in control - corporately and spiritually.