Creating Belief

Last night, while walking around Chinatown feeding feral cats, a friend of mine, tolerated my blindness and helped me see. We got talking about 9/11 and a comment I had made in an e-mail I had sent to her. I stated that I did not believe an airplane had flown into the Pentagon (I have to mention her comment as I am smiling at the memory…she said she did not respond to my e-mail because she did not know what to do with it…). Rondi, my friend, is someone that knows more about politics than I, and more about world happenings than I, so I usually ask questions and listen.

I listened again last night. What I discovered, aside from the evidence of the plane flying into the Pentagon, was something a little more interesting to me. I discovered that I wanted to believe that there was a conspiracy. I think I have come to find comfort in believing that the US government, and ours to a lesser degree, conspire on most things. If you look you can see evidence everywhere. All those documentaries cannot be wrong, right?

The reality is that they can be and some of them are way off base. Truth is something that is flexible and in order to determine what is and what isn’t, one needs to take the time to check the source. I noticed that I believe what I want to believe. Interesting, I thought I believed what made sense and was actually true. Which on some level I was, taking in the information, sorting out what made sense and then taking that to be true. My truth. However, what happened to checking it out?

I think, with the 9/11 incident I chose to take hold of the conspiracy theories because in some strange way it gave me some comfort. It was easier to accept that it was an “inside job” than believe that there is a real threat to my safety from some unknown unseen enemy. Interesting.

I read a long article printed in Popular Mechanics. It was very interesting and “debunked” most of the conspiracy claims. One by one, knocking them down with concrete facts about what happened on that day. So, now, I am over it.

I still believe, however, that Monsanto, the corporation that holds a GMO soybean patent is out of control. As were and still are to some extent, the tobacco companies. However, I think that conspiracies are not done on such grand scales and often what appears to be a conspiracy is simply bad judgement. Corporations, being money focused, tend to lose sight of what is good, It remains our responsibility to stay informed and when required, kick those companies back into line.

I guess the trick is to stay in the world of possibilities. Imagine what it would take to conspire and execute a 9/11 event. There would be so many people involved that it would fail before it got started. We may debate how it was handled; did Bush do a good job? Was the US response appropriate? How do we prevent such acts of terror in the future? But to distract ourselves with wild speculation and theories that simply do not fly do us all a disservice.

It is great to be able to look inside and see what had me believing. It was great to re-evaluate and be aware of the process I have been using to make decisions and create my beliefs. I feel humbled and with a new awareness. Believing does not make it true.

Thanks Rondi.

Bailout

The ones that made, the obviously bad choice, to loan money to people that cannot repay it are going to be bailed out. The US taxpayers are being set up to buy the bad assets from the financial institutions. Does this mean that they can stay in, or have their house back? No, of course not. However, the banker will have his pocket money given back to him. How nice to belong to that little club at the top. I had to smile at the part, in the video, that states they will ask for legislation to raise the ceiling for the debt. Why create a ceiling to begin with if you are just going to raise it? Right, my mistake, when something is no longer convenient you change it.

This comment, posted on the Star’s site, suggests an alternative to the bailout.

the effect of the bail out is the taxpayer assumes the "toxic debt" created by Wall Street. Why not directly write down this debt, giving relief to the victims of these crimes, allowing them to remain in their homes, and a vital part of the economy. Harvard calculates this would cost only $150 to $200 billion, and the net result would be more favorable to everyone and the economy as a whole, except those who created this mess. It would in effect bail them out, but not reward them. Everyone wins, sort of. But alas, this makes too much sense, and the lobbyists would not be happy with anything less than Wall Street profiteering further from their own fraud.

I attempted to source this via Harvard’s website but I had no luck. I do not doubt that there is a better alternative then the bailout suggested by the Bush administration. Why is it we always accept that the rich save the rich? Are we just to damn busy trying to find jobs, and another place to live, that we let the royalty up top get away with it time and time again?

I may not have much of an understanding of the economy, however, I do understand debt. The time comes when you are asked to pay. At 11.3 trillion I hope when that time comes, someone had the foresight to put a little bit aside.

Musical Memories

I have been spending the evening watching music videos and writing. I have had different thoughts while working this process. One is I want to get out of here. Another is that only a music star can get arrested in a washroom for having sex and turn into a pretty damn good song (although I am not sure Mr. Michaels was actually having sex, however, I am sure it was his intent and what the hell you only live once).

I have Michael Jackson on at the moment. I am limited to Sony artists as I am on the Sony BMG site. It is pretty good, and easy way to watch videos. Not to say that I am not watching Michael Jackson videos because I am limited. I enjoy him. I have watched Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Beat it, and Billie Jean. I had a memory flash back, while watching Beat It, of my sister Chana commenting that Michael had “all the moves”. Maybe it was not in reference to MJ but I do recall such a comment. I also recall thinking; I have all the moves, what the hell is she talking about?

But I realize that I am like that dancer on Birdcage. The one that Robin Williams’s character is talking to during the rehearsal. I am fosse fosse fosse Madonna Madonna Madonna, but I am keeping it all inside. And I do, keep it all inside. However, not for very much longer, I’ve got to get control… I am applying for a bursary to the RCM. I am going to take, learn and play music.

Check out the site. See where it takes you. I leave you while listening to NSYNC.