We always have a choice...Does that ring a bell or what! No one can say they haven't heard that, no one- and yet it is so easy to see that many of our choices are being made for us.
Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works.
Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan
I will enjoy using the television example, because this is the most common choice that I think, we let get away from us. We take our tiny amount of free time, and push a button, then in some way or another, just let it talk and talk and talk, we cant talk back, and most of it- has commercials that we turn off, and then we wait and wait, for another show to come on and then what fall asleep? Those of you that have tivo, and just watch what you program, ok your getting closer, and I am sure, now almost everyone knows how to program the DVR, but what choices do we have really? I mean, canned TV, do we know what we are missing? I choose not to pay for sat, or cable, and when I visit family I often find myself, just checking all the channels to see what am I missing...AH nothing!
I cant find anything -I cant get from Netflix, when I want it, I don't have to --program, or wait or save, its just there. About every show there is on the net for free, what you cant get on-line-- you can order from Netflix. My windows Vista has a built in program, called Windows Media Center, that has free tv! so much--to choose from! when I go to see the news, I can browse it like an on-line news paper. I can read the headlines, get the images, and then after a few minutes - I am done. Really, its not that we are convinced that we don't have the choices, I am convinced that we have so many choices that now we like them being made for us. Isn't that true, people who just complain about things and don't care to fix them....lol, well sadly its easier to let ourselves think, well we can't do anything about, the economy the government, or the healthcare, because well---unless your an elected official, your really not in charge, and no one really cares--about my opinion. News shows can debate and talk and broadcast and educate, the facts, and radio can make us disurbingly aware of the problems, we know that we get upset, but does it really change anything to just --talk about it? My Father says, vote with your feet, and as difficult as this is, it is a very effective way of not only choosing but ultimately, if we all made the effort could be astoundingly effective. Not a protest, not a stomp your feet, throw out your tea, or sign a web form, I am saying, stop funding things that dont make sense! And be the change you want to see! Don't expect others to stop, just make the wave by being the effective doer! you can choose to be the bumper sticker and talk or you can bump! and take a few on the chin for the team.
So many comments, like hows that Obama thing working out, or we should all stop this country from going down hill, I have to say, if you actually think that one man can put it down the tubes, then you really don't understand American Choices. As long as we are on the subject of the men who do things to this country who are supposed to be in charge, we can all point fingers backwards, and that not going to fix much either, what I see now, is a lot of sore losers! When did it become ok, to just terrorize everyone because your team lost? No wonder we are in such a mess, doesn't anyone want to stop taking sides and start getting along? But this is the essence of the USA, are we running out of room, or just patience?
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
Theodor Geisel
Theodor Geisel
I have been analyzing the new movie Transformer's alot! And the analogies that they used to make us--pro-war. If you thought you could choose to be at peace when you went in there, your mind will change, they did an awesome job-- changing my mind. I think that the best part that did it for me was when they decide to go to the Smithsonian Museum, and you see all the historic war planes, and the USAF is simply awesome! --anyway they go to see if they can find some help from the other "Primes". They find an old "plane" bring one back to life, and at first they are terrified at the prospect that they brought back the wrong side, and they all run in fear. Until, it becomes obvious that this is not a bad guy, and when the ask him why hes not a bad guy anymore, he says, "We all have a choice" , and he makes it clear that the team to be on is the one that fights for the little guys! Because, the worst thing is to be with are those that want control of everyones choices... I know that sounds basic, but take the case of another movie that quite graphically points out a choice. You see, in the comic Hell-boy, he knows what he is programed for, he knows what he is made to do, he cant help but see it -- everyday he has to file down his horns, because he is the key to destruction. But in the end, he knows, that he can still make that choice to be different that what he is programed to be, to not be this evil destructive key, but to become aware of the power that is the choice, and that is far more impressive and valuable for him than anything that would permanently change the world, away from freedom and choice.
We're a nation of laws, but the good thing about America, is that laws reside in the people and people can change the laws.
Rick Warren
Rick Warren
See, we all can give into the power that we think is "meant to be" because we are afraid, or be cruel with our words in the spur of the moment-- because it just doesn't matter-no one is watching-or worse, we can let others make the choices for us, by never really fighting back. Except that, it seems to me, that would be the greatest loss of all! For I have learned that the people that have changed the world for the better, not only over came great obstacles of fear, health and even poverty, but also, I can list Disney, Lucas, Coppola, and Lassiter that had to look people in the face over and over and hear, your work isn't any good, and no one will like it. Art is one thing, but what about our forefathers when people said, well America is just too hard to tame, too many obstacles, who wants to farm anyway. The mistakes with the Indians were made for us, we did not choose those, if we had done it, we would never have taken that shot---just like so many others, today, that are making the mistakes for us, and we sit and wait like we watch it on TV, and never get up and do anything about it.
When was the last time-- you wrote congress and said your peace, about anything? I hope you know who represents you, when was the last time you even knew what issues are worth fighting for, or is the battle already lost?
When did we lay down our greatest weapons, our ability to debate and discuss, for the plague of simply being angry all the time, at the choices that are being made for us? Our children that are in public schools, they are loosing the choices we had in school, not because we are not paying out taxes, or that we are dying from the war or plagues or famine, no here in the USA, we made our choices, we voted- to have bigger city halls, bigger roads and bigger jails, rather than--fight back to find someone who is an architect of modern education. Why do we have modern buildings that will hold, expensive designed furniture and televisions, and computers, and probably forgetting that if we dont watch out to save--the water and electricity, there is no building, that will be saving anyone.
I wanted this to be a little article on how we make good choices each day, and that we are quite blessed to have the modern choices we see all around us, in food, cars and our entertainment. But more and more, I see that the 80 -20 rule overlaps into all aspects of life. *80 percent of us rely on about *20 percent to do the choices. This is a fact and I dont see it changing anytime soon, unless we really have to have to change, we like our comfort; Let other people do it....or we can be more like the angels we depend on to do miracles- see this ten ways to be an angel http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Angels/2008/09/Top-10-Be-an-Angel.aspx?p=3
I am sure you can think of something!Saint Augustine said: It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.
I hope you are well, and you can write me a comment, on what you think about being an angel by choice...
Blessings-- and love-
LIZ
Thank You From Panda Publishinghttp://artislifeupgraded.blogspot.com/
