The End of Poverty?

Life is the result of our choices

Spiritually Unfit Soldiers FORCED to see Chaplains, to get “born again”

BY JUSTIN GRIFFITH

just received this chilling letter from a Soldier who recently took the mandatory Soldier Fitness Tracker test, shared to me with permission, from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). The name has been withheld out of fear, but I’m assured that this matter is being worked very hard.



[note: emphasis mine, and I broke it into paragraphs, as the email communication garbled the formatting.]

Before I tell you, Mr. Weinstein and the MRFF of my total outrage at the U.S. Army for grading me as a “Spiritual Fitness failure”, I will tell you a few things about myself. My name is (name withheld) and I am an enlisted soldier with the rank of (rank withheld) in the United States Army stationed at Ft. (military installation withheld). I am in my early-to-mid twenties. I have been deployed downrange into Iraq and Afghanistan 6 times. I will deploy again for my 7th time very soon; to Afghanistan and more combat. All of my deployments have been very heavy combat assignments. I have been wounded 4 times including traumatic brain injury. I have earned the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star and multiple Purple Hearts. I have fought in hand-to hand- combat and killed and wounded more than a few “enemy combatants.”

M[y] religion? I was born a Methodist and guess I still am one. I’m not very religious but consider myself to be a Christian. I don’t go to chapel services that often although I go every now and then. I can’t stand the chaplains as most of them are trying to always get me and my friends to “commit to Christ” and be far more religious as well as they try to get more and more soldiers to get more and more soldiers to be the same type of “committed Christian”. I cannot count the number of times that these chaplains and my own chain of command has described this war we fight as a religious one against the Muslims and their “false, evil and violent” religion. I am a Christian and therefore neither an agnostic nor an atheist though many of my fellow soldiers are such. Now to the point. I, and everyone else who is enlisted in my company, was ORDERED by my Battalion Commander to take the GAT’s Spiritual Fitness Test not very long ago. Let me make this CLEAR, we were all ORDERD to take it.

After we did, our unit’s First Sgt. individually asked us all how we did on the test. There was NO “anonymity” at all. None of us were ever told that we did NOT have to take this Spiritual Fitness Test nor that we did NOT have to tell our FIrst Sgt. what our results were. A bunch of us “failed” the SFT and when we told that to our First Sgt., per his disclosure order, he further ordered us to make immediate appointments with the chaplains so that we would not “kill ourselves on his watch”. None of us wanted to do it but we were scared. None of us wanted to get in the shits with our First Sgt. who can and will make life miserable for anyone who might have said no to him.

They keep saying that this is all to stop us soldiers from killing ourselves but THIS degrading SFT “failure” only makes it worse. Two of my battle buddies who I KNOW are thinking of ending it all were a million times worse off after failing this SFT and being called a “spiritual failure” and then ordered to go see the chaplains. I felt like a total coward for not standing up to my First Sgt. but I did what he told me to do. I was scared to tell him no.

So I went to see the chaplain. When this chaplain told me that I failed the SFT because it was “Jesus’ way of personally knocking on my door as an invitation for me to come to Him as a born again ‘REAL’ Christian” so that I could be saved and not burn forever in Hell for rejecting him, I thought of 3 things. First, I thought of the fact that I was already born a Christian and did not need to be born again. Second, I thought of my battle buddy (name and rank withheld) who took a bullet for me in his face during the Battle of (name of Iraqi battle withheld) and that he was the same kind of Christian as me and this chaplain is telling me that my battle buddy (name and rank withheld) is burning in hell for all time. Third, I thought how I wanted to blow that fucking chaplain’s head right off.

Thank you, Mr. Weinstein and MRFF for listening and standing up. A bunch of us saw you on MSNBC. We also read about the enlisted guy at Ft. Bragg. Please tell Sgt. Griffith at Fort Bragg that he speaks for many of us who can’t handle the consequences if we spoke out. We have all read the letter you sent to tell the Army to stop this Spiritual Fitness Test. It cheered us up alot because that making us take that test is WRONG and using it to send us to the chaplains against our will is also WRONG. Please tell your lawyers at that big law firm company not to forget about those of us who want to speak up and thank them all but cannot. (Name, rank, combat MOS, military unit, military installation withheld)



Whoever this Soldier is, my heart and thoughts go out to him/her. I’m going to print out that letter and keep it in my ACU pocket as a reminder of the real suffering that is happening when the lines of the Separation of Church and State are blurred. The inspirational letter is bittersweet, it sheds light on the fact that there are real-life consequences from all over the globe, that are quite frightening. I’d love to encourage the author to join with us and let him/her know that there is real solidarity to be had with MRFF’s support. This soldier has my utmost gratitude for speaking out, even anonymously, and sharing his/her story.

If I could say just one thing to this soldier, it would be this: “Telling your story is a courageous thing to do. You are setting the example for others to follow, and together we can fix this problem. Spirituality is a private matter, and your story is a supreme example of why this is true. Thank you for sharing this, and please encourage all of the other soldiers who were also in your situation to come forward and share their experiences. MRFF will be there for you.”

I think it’s time to give up the (Holy) ghost. Spiritual Fitness = Religion. You can’t make this mandatory.



Life is the result of our choices

Brava :D

Libertarian Freedom

-By my Blogger friend SANDYBERMAN@current.com

They don't CARE, Bill.... no more than any cultist would be willing to concede that the object of their devotion is nothing more than a "Elmer Gantry" or a "Lonesome Rhodes"..

They are blind to the fact that "E Pluribus Unem" does NOT mean "every man for himself".

• 
The problem with "Paulistas" ("libertarians”, "laissez faire capitalists”, “Teabaggers", “Objectivists", “Austrian Schoolers”, “Chicago Schoolers”, “Friedmanites” or whatever they deem to call themselves today)... is that they hinge their personal philosophies on the rantings of a lunatic-fringe Congressman from Texas (guess WHO) and a fifth rate novelist who's putrid worldview is anathema to every concept of civil society.

• They seem to think that civilization ends at the threshold of this "free market", which is just a another cynical euphemism for "jungle law". 
  


• They constantly reap the benefits provided them but refuse to be responsible enough to actually contribute to them, leeching off of the very system that affords them the opportunities to enrich themselves, while ironically accusing the least amongst us of doing the same. 
  


• They feel that those who might not have been as lucky as they (or as callous) should fend for themselves and be relegated to a life of illness, poverty and wretchedness simply because they are too avaricious to do their part as members of society.. to do their duties as Americans. 
 

• When it comes down to it, it's really is just about greed, nothing more, nothing less, and their flaccid insistence and phony attempts at loftiness.. that their 'philosophies' are a "moral" or "political" or even an "ideological" stand is merely a way for them to shrink from their own shame, that is, if they are still capable of such. 

  

• They are the dictionary definition of malignant narcissism, and they are only fooling themselves.

So here is my admonition to them all...

• You agree with the Koch Brothers and object to the concept of contributing to pay those hard workers who support us all??

• You don’t feel that you should pay your fair share as a member of this society???

FINE!

• Stay off the roads that our taxes contributed to, don't use electricity you can't generate yourself, don't go to the hospital, don't call the police, don't call the fire department, don't watch television.

• If you have kids (god forbid) don't send them to public schools (or really any schools for that matter) because they may get teachers who were educated at public and state universities.

• Don't go to art museums, don't walk on public sidewalks, don't use telephones, don't expect potable water to come out of your tap unless you got it from your own well, don't ever seek protection in a court of law.

• Enforce your own contracts... and while you're at it, dig your own sewers as well.

• In general, stand on your own.

• I don't want people like you to have anything to do with a single thing that the rest of us helped pay for.

• You only get to use whatever minuscule bit your own taxes might pay for, which reminds me, whatever you have in the bank, be sure to sign a waiver exempting you from being able to collect whatever portion of your money is insured by the FDIC.

• Grow your own food and raise your own beef and poultry so that you don't have to depend on the USDA to assure that you won't be poisoned, make your own medicines as well, because the USDA has to approve those, too.

• In other words, you ‘rugged individualists’... you"Ron Paul Libertarians"... put your ideology where your mouths are and stand 'tall'... ON YOUR OWN.

• I mean REALLY stand on your own... just like you incessantly preach that everyone else do.

• Otherwise, just shut the fuck up.


Life is the result of our choices

Blaving Social Network, like a Twitter Voice

Blaving Social Network, like a Twitter Voice Life is the result of our choices

YouTube - ‪UFOs Appear Over Phoenix Sandstorm On CNN! July 6, 2011‬‏

YouTube - ‪UFOs Appear Over Phoenix Sandstorm On CNN! July 6, 2011‬‏ Life is the result of our choices

My friend the Spanish Poet Isabel Serrato

Armonía-

Persigo la armonía,

me despojo de lo innecesario.

Translation to English

Harmony

I 

Follow  my Harmony

by  letting go

of the 

unnecessary

Isa-Poetisa

**** Life is the result of our choices

Is Consumption Our Nation's Ticking Bomb?

Before the industrial revolution humans only consumed what they needed, we planted, hunted, and fished for our own food. There was a respect for our planet and a sense of responsibility for our environment. Unfortunately, after much advancement in technology and discoveries, everything we consume comes from corporations, the superstores, internet, and supermarkets. Because we just buy the final product, we do not bother to think or even ask; where did this product come from? How many people were involved in the production and distribution of this product?

We spend our lives asking for more and disregarding our fellow man and the environment. Many nations are leaving their footprint of destruction and consumption without any knowledge of the consequences. Selfish leaders carelessly eliminate regulations and our country is no exception. 

According to research, United States’ footprint is one of the largest in our planet. Our waste and consumption has become obscene and insensitive. We may ask; “Why have we become so selfish and gross?” There are many factors involved in the outcome of our behaviors. United States citizens are contributing tremendously to the destruction of our planet and allowing being influence by others.

Americans buy and consume because some type of influence, from TV, Radio, advertisement, propaganda, friends, family, culture of entitlement, to the internet where people now imitate other consumers. According to experts, by the time a high school student leaves school, he or she would have watched 350,000.00 TV commercials”. We are programmed for life to be part of an over-consuming life style. 

It is very disturbing to come to the realization that our government is not protecting our youth and has not been doing their job for a very long time. The Government eliminates regulations allowing corporations to implant our brain with advertisement and false propaganda and the idea of how necessary it is to shop in order to be happy. 

Furthermore, politicians only use the environment when campaigning or as a rhetoric. It is apparent that we definitely need food, shelter, water, transportation, clothing, medicine, and many other necessary products for our daily lives. However, we over buy and over compensate with “beautiful things”. The idea is “If I have a bigger car and a better house that means I must be better” Our values are becoming contradictory, while we proclaim to be a democratic society we are slaves of our own greed. We should start looking in to our heart and question our priorities. 

It is the duty of the people to protest, complain, and be involved in all of the decisions and regulations that affects our selves and the world around us. Our planet is very large, for that reason we most think of the consequences of our destructive behavior and act accordingly. We are part of this beautiful planet Earth and it does not matter our background, heritage, language, race, color, gender, etc…

It is important that we all unite for the most important cause affecting our lives. We must change the linear society of extraction, production, consumption, and waste. We are in a planet that functions in circles and it must be protected. 

We must take our government from the hands of greedy corporations and start a national campaign of re-education and information. The consequences are developing in front of our eyes and we should act we a sense of urgency. The future is near and the time is ticking. Tick-tock-tick-tock 

Brava 


References: 
The Overspent America by, Julie B. Schort. (Book)
The Ecology of Commerce by, Paul Hawken. (Book)
The Story of Stuff by, Annie Leonard. (Video)
Linear Society by, Paul Connect. (Video)
World watch Institute. (Article transforming culture Blogs)
Life is the result of our choices

The World As I See It- by Albert Einstein

 


"How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he sometimes thinks he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people -- first of all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness is wholly dependent, and then for the many, unknown to us, to whose destinies we are bound by the ties of sympathy.

A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving... "I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves -- this critical basis I call the ideal of a pigsty.

The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. Without the sense of kinship with men of like mind, without the occupation with the objective world, the eternally unattainable in the field of art and scientific endeavors, life would have seemed empty to me.

The trite objects of human efforts -- possessions, outward success, luxury -- have always seemed to me contemptible. "My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities. I am truly a 'lone traveler' and have never belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with my whole heart; in the face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of distance and a need for solitude..."

 "My political ideal is democracy. Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized. It is an irony of fate that I myself have been the recipient of excessive admiration and reverence from my fellow-beings, through no fault, and no merit, of my own. The cause of this may well be the desire, unattainable for many, to understand the few ideas to which I have with my feeble powers attained through ceaseless struggle.

I am quite aware that for any organization to reach its goals, one man must do the thinking and directing and generally bear the responsibility. But the led must not be coerced, they must be able to choose their leader. In my opinion, an autocratic system of coercion soon degenerates; force attracts men of low morality...

The really valuable thing in the pageant of human life seems to me not the political state, but the creative, sentient individual, the personality; it alone creates the noble and the sublime, while the herd as such remains dull in thought and dull in feeling.

 "This topic brings me to that worst outcrop of herd life, the military system, which I abhor... This plague-spot of civilization ought to be abolished with all possible speed. Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them! "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.

 It was the experience of mystery -- even if mixed with fear -- that engendered religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, our perceptions of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty, which only in their most primitive forms are accessible to our minds: it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute true religiosity. In this sense, and only this sense, I am a deeply religious man...

 I am satisfied with the mystery of life's eternity and with a knowledge, a sense, of the marvelous structure of existence -- as well as the humble attempt to understand even a tiny portion of the Reason that manifests itself in nature."

 Albert Einstein

 See also Einstein's Third Paradise, an essay by Gerald Holton The text of Albert Einstein's copyrighted essay, "The World As I See It," was shortened for their Web exhibit. The essay was originally published in "Forum and Century," vol. 84, pp. 193-194, the thirteenth in the Forum series, Living Philosophies. It is also included in Living Philosophies (pp. 3-7) New York: Simon Schuster, 1931. For a more recent source, you can also find a copy of it in A. Einstein, Ideas and Opinions, based on Mein Weltbild, edited by Carl Seelig, New York: Bonzana Books, 1954 (pp. 8-11).

 Life is the result of our choices- Brava

Why?

Why is the world the way it is? I always ask.


Why is the pain and suffering of the weak?

Why is the sadness and disadvantage for most of us?

Why illusion, lies, hurtful tales?

Why do children go to bed hungry in this world?

Why do men and women lose their job?

Why does the government keep taking everything from us?

Why is this apathy inside of us?

Why is education getting worse?

Why don’t gays and lesbians have a voice?

Why does a small percentage have it all?

Why doesn’t the large majority own?

Why do people hate?

Why do we lose interest in the rest?

Why is sadness all around us?

Why do we all feel a big loss?

Why are there so many wars?

Why are so many soldiers gone?

Why is capitalism out of control?

Why are we the ones suffering?

Why can’t we just work?

Why can’t we keep our houses?

Why does it all seem so wrong?

Why do we feel helpless?

Why did we lose our souls?

Why do I ask all these questions?

One day, maybe, I’ll know.



Brava :D


Life is the result of our choices

Dark Room

Tired of the city life Sally was. She spends her whole day thinking in different ways she could go. Anywhere, it did not matter to her she could go up north or southwest. Her city was so noisy and there were too many cars. The pollution, nasty thick air and the constant loud traffic was everywhere. Sally left the office, got in her car and drove to the highway; another traffic jam. She tried to get comfortable and change the music in the radio. What was the point, everything sounds the same this days. Am, Fm, Satellite and all you hear is the same songs. She couldn’t wait to get to her dark room. Honk, Honk, the car behind her called. Finally, she saw a way to get home. Make a left here, go straight there, she will maneuver her car in a way that it would pass the people on the right and still get to the front of the left line. “That wasn’t so bad” she thought. Now the trip is just few minutes to get to her cross road. Eventually she got home. “Sweet home”! She escaped, from the noisy world. Sally took her shoes off and went for the remote control. She was glad the day was over and that she was in the dark. Silence at last; she could think, and hear herself breathe. She then closed her eyes and started to cry. She screamed “I am so lonely and don’t want to be in the dark” She got up very quickly ran to the window and opened it a crack. The moment it was open she felt a shock. Nasty air came from the outside, noise, fights, curses, punches everywhere. Shut up! Shut Up! She screamed very loud. She hated that city and was ready to give up for some real air. Sally closed the window and the room became dark again. It was so quiet and still. Her dark room was a comfort hard to describe. It allowed her to dream, to sing, to write. Seating that way in the dark was fine, the only thing she did not like was the thought of having to come back to the routine of the city life and the tormenting noise. Her dark room gave her solitude, took away her fears, and most of all inspired her to move on. Sally knew that the next day everything was going to be the same and the image of her work place haunted her. The only thing, which made her go on and on, was the satisfaction of having a dark room to come home too. Brava: D

Abusing

“Sol is cold, pale, sad and numb. She is dead, stiff, and her eyes are gone. Why are her lips so red? Does she like make up? Maybe she wears bright lipstick, some blue eye shadows and blush. Her hair is dark like a night without moon. Her body only has one pose.” Danny looked at her and felt angry; she doesn’t smile, she doesn’t sing; but he has to see her everyday and bow to her. Working as a messenger for the church gave Danny some privileges; warm meal, a roof over his head, money to pay for college and the opportunity of meeting the hottest girls. Those church girls were different than the rest because they felt oppressed. Tammy was not different and they would sneak a bunch of kisses. Sometimes they will do it there in the back of the church. He thought he loved her but will never let her know. Danny knew that Tammy will always kiss other guys. Happiness was what he was looking for and life always made sure he’d end up alone. Unfortunately, dealing with Father Paul was the worst. He felt weird when they were alone; the way he looked at him, the way he touched him, was not normal. He went up the stair and thought of all the times he ran this way. Passing the mirror he reflected on how handsome he always was. Father Paul? Father Paul? He called. Danny hopes he can just drop off his mail without having to listen to the priest stories about being a good boy while he gets very close. There he was, slender and tall, with his black robe. “C’mon in boy; hmm, what do we have here, another telegram from Rome”? Danny gave him very quickly the package and their hands touched. “I love how pure and soft you feel my boy” Father Paul, no. “What is wrong my boy?” Danny felt disgusted and wanted to run but he remembered all the things he gets from Paul. “Damn priest” He been able to hurt to many boys, transfer from church to church this one was his fourth only this month. I hate his breathing and his voice; how he smells, the way he talks. Abusing all those boys; changing their lives forever, and taking all their hope. Half an hour later Danny was back in the corridor looking back at the mirror and seeing he was done. He when down the stair running like once before. Sol was again there just as he knows. I hate your red lips, your eyes, and your blush. He felt she was worse, because she has been abusing all humans ever since long time ago. Brava: D

My Hometown Glory

Quisqueya named it our ancestors; Caribbean amber your nom de plume Their blood scatters our terrain; sick authors Coast full of spice, sugar and sweet perfume A blend of tribes, slaves and bourgeois Palm trees, parrots, and tasty pabulum Lively trades; oh! Avoirdupois Sweet enjoyment in my latibulum Pain and Illness brought the abductor Melodies and merengues lifting heaps Raping our mangoes destroying honor Perico ripiao, bachata souls leaps Veneration of a ruler encroached; While the music, No! Suddenly stops Brava :D

Beyond religion, grammar and misspell words…

Beyond religion, grammar and misspell words… Ever since I can remember, everything I had to accomplish in my life has been difficult. My childhood memories are full of happy times but at the same time lots of poverty and misfortunes. After finishing high school, I moved to United State with no money, no understanding at all of the language, but very hopeful and excited. Learning English was very challenging and surprisingly satisfactory for me. Every job I ever had was hard and different, I worked as a waiter, telephone operator, baby sitter, salesperson, promoter, cashier, secretary, and as I learned more of the language, my places of employment changed for the better. Been an immigrant has been a blessing for me, I am able to speak two languages, learned two cultures, and challenge my self every day. Despite the fact that throughout my journeys I had always encounter mean, malicious and hateful people, I had also had the privilege to meet the most amazing, caring and lovely people in the world. My father always used to said to me, “Remember you not a piece of gold and because of that not everybody will like you or want you”. With those words, my father challenged me to accept difficulties and to be my self always. Recently, as I do, many times, I woke up inspired and ready to do what I love the most, to write. I spend a great deal of time writing about my feelings, thoughts, and opinions. My wish was that people understand my views of the world and religion. However, I received many hateful and angry responses from the grammar police. Many comments were directed to my grammar, misspell words and according to some my lack of education. I was so taken back that I allow my self to fall in to the pit of the game and answer with sarcasm and harsh comments as well. I was so angry; how dare these people not to see my knowledge and heart. One of the bogglers said a sarcastic remark referring to a community college and the fact that I probably did not understand what I was talking. He was so wrong in his asumption; I consider my self knowledable and interested in learning more every day. In addition, people talked about presentation and gave examples that did not make sense to me. The funny part was some of those same people send me private emails apologizing for been so hard. Those comment reminded me of my father’s lesson and the task in front of me. I understood, if anyone wants to become a writer, that person must learn to accept criticism and should challenge them selves every day. Furthermore the most rewarding part of last week, was when people when beyond all the comments and were able to have amazing opinions and open conversations about the subject of religion. It took me a while to find my self and to realize that in order for me to become the writer that I want to be, I most face challenges, misspell words and grammatical errors. History shows many writers that had never had the privilege to go to an Ivy League school but were able to contribute to the world of literature tremendously. I never claimed to be an intellectual but a woman that loves to speak her mind and heart and will always be honest with her heritage, learning experience and herself. As a student I have a long way to go but the route seems sweet.  My point has not change; Religion has not placed in modern society! Every day as I write and talk about my experiences, I will be ready to learn from those who wish to bring me down hiding behind the helpful comment and pretending to try to saved the English language but also from those who provided great deal of new information, and without me even asking they became my teachers. I forever will be thankful. I am a creative writer and in my route to become more accurate and sophisticated in my field, I will have tons of misspell words and grammatical errors but the essence of my writing will always remain, and forever will speak my heart. Brava:D

Abstinence does not work! can we please start teaching our daughters and sons about prevention and choices.

Our society is facing a very difficult time, from health care debates to the economy, and it is in the beginning of many changes. Besides all the problems affecting our society there is one in particular that as the mother of a 13 year old teenager got my attention. "Abstinence" After carefully researching the topic and reading few articles on the matter I concluded that abstinences does not work. Since the previous administrationt started the campaign all over the media telling young men and women just to say "no" to the most natural urge of the human body. Teen pregnancy, HIV, STDS, and abortion, have increased tremendously. The answer to solve the damage of that failed attempt to control human behaviour is through education and information. Knowledge is always a better answer than anything else. Every child should know all the causes and preventions of stds, hiv and teen pregnancy. Children should be able to understand the changes in their body and be able to manage peer pressure. Also we must educate our children about the media how to understand propagandas and advertisement. Furthermore we must understand their social groups and trends. I know if we educate our children we will help them make better decisions that will affect the rest of their lives . "BRAVA... Life is the Result of our Choices..."

By Empowering Women the world will help diminish overpopulation.

In my personal opinion :D By Empowering Women the world will help diminish overpopulation. The earth is overpopulated. At the rate that humans are going, we would need three times the amount of resources to survive in the years to come. It is estimated that by the year 2050, Earth will have an increase in population reaching seven to eight billion. If we start to imagine the chaos that the world would be involved in, the human race would start to do something about it. As I read several articles in regard to my topic, I became more concern with the outcome and the consequences of human overpopulation. In my findings, I discovered many consequences to human overpopulation and the list of unfortunate events that will occur is devastating. From wars, political conflicts, economic loss, health impacts, social disruption, refugees, resource extraction, consumption, manufacturing, energy consumption, denser population, more waste, pollution, greed, poverty, and a more social unbalance planet ex; (less rich people vs. more poor people). The list goes on and on but there are many factors that influence human overpopulation from political, theological, cultural, and personal. Moreover, the world has advance technologically and now there is an improvement in sanitation, better access to health care and a large increase in our agricultural output. Due to those factors, humans have been able to decrease the death rate. Specifically infant mortality; now the life span of any human goes between sixty-five to ninety-five years of age, hence man last longer than previous generations; we found a way to maintain our selves alive for longer periods of time. In an article by the Natural History Magazine author Stephan Reebs describes how wealthy and develop nations have a lower fertility rate and they have to sustain their population with immigration; he also explains how United States of America is an exception to his discovery. The study shows the importance of developing poor countries and empowering women to stop the overpopulation and to lower the fertility rate. It is recommended to add new government programs, educate the public, and to allow more people to become financially independent. In many places around the world people live in very precarious conditions it is a sight of the world most people choose not to see but, the reality is that the majority of those under-developed countries are overpopulated and the resources are scarce. The part that most scientists cannot understand is why these humans keep having babies even under those conditions. The answer is clear; that there is a lack of information and not enough education in matters of birth control or any other education for that matter. The influence of religion and culture also play an important part in the rate of child birth. Additionally there are society where regardless of the poverty level manhood is determine by the amount of children a man can have and it does not matter if is the same mother or not. That is the type of thinking that needs to be changed and the minds that need to be influenced towards a more conscience behavior. Also religion places an important part in many of the decisions made in regards to birth control, abortion or empowering women with knowledge. Furthermore it is critical that those societies learn to make the decision that is best for their own life and family and not the status quote of their churches. People’s cultures and background influence the decision of having one child, many, or none at all. A clear example is China that had to pass a population control law to forbid some of their citizens from having more than one child. China is one of the most over-populated countries on earth, it is one fifth of the 6.7 billion people on earth and the government saw how all of the resources were depleting at a very fast pace, that was when the decision was made to create the population control program. When started it was only education and information on how to minimize the amount of children they could have and also encouraging all Chinese youth to married at a later time in their adulthood. Moreover in the 1970 the government started to make birth control pills, condoms and abortion more attainable. After that action the population rate decreased but regardless of the government efforts it was not enough. That is the reason the government had to take more forceful measurement by enforcing penalties and denying benefits to families who disobey the rules. If a family had an additional child without the government consent the consequences will be devastating. The consequences for the Chinese population will be, no health care, no education, employment discrimination, big fines sometimes exceeding the family half annually salary. There are some countries that do not agree with population control. They are worried about their armies, economic and political growth, future development and their places in the world. But the argument is not just the overpopulation but the damage that we are doing to the planet. The more people the more resources we will need. Over-consumption and waste are two of the major problems that come along with overpopulation and we are not mentioning pollution, urbanization and development. There is a great debate going on in the United Nations where they are trying to learn how to raise our carrying capacity. Human population is distributed around the globe unevenly this means that some areas have more of an environmental impact than others. Moreover without a clear understanding of the problem we most likely will make the problem worse and the planet will suffer the consequences of a population that does not care. The solution to this problem has always been education but more that that is in front of our eyes the empowering of women. Many scientists agree that by empowering women we will obtain a larger benefit towards the environment and society by reducing birth rate and lowering chances of poverty. Also, there is clear evidence that under-developed nations where women are earning money, they spend their money educating their children investing in small businesses; whereas men waste their money in alcohol, cigarettes and leisure time. Empowering women not only help reduce birth rate but also can prevent the spread of decease like aids and will help the country’s economy. Empowering women will make the world safer and the reward will be a more environmental conscience world, a more controlled birth rate, a better economy and the children of the new generation will grow up with a more respectful approach towards the environment. Throughout time women have played a very important role in the making of history now it is time we bring women in to the front center of the problem and let them as always help to change the future of the world and its environment. Finally we must empower women to play important roles in government and all the decision that affect the rest of the globe. BRAVA :D Reference Citation {APA} Krauss, L.M. (2009, November). How Women can save the planet. Scientific American, 11(1), retrieved from www.scientificamerican.com Kristof, N. D. (2008, December 17). Women, Front and Center. The New York Times, Retrieved from www.kristof.blogs.nytimes.com Reebs, S. (2009, October). Fortune and Fertility. Natural History Magazine, 11, retrieved from www.naturalhistorymag.com Smith, D.ls. (2009, July 28). Too many People. National Geographic, 7, retrieved from www.news.nationalgeographic.com Withgott, J., Brennan, S. (2008). Environment, The Science Behind the Stories. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Print Brava

How to apply for the Gilman Scholarsip.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is open to all U.S. citizen undergraduates, in good academic standing, who meet the criteria listed below: The applicant must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term of his/her study abroad. The applicant is applying to or has been accepted into a study abroad program eligible for credit by the student's accredited institution of higher education in the U.S. The applicant is studying abroad for at least four weeks in one country. Programs going to more than one country are eligible if the student will be studying in one country for at least four consecutive weeks. The applicant is studying abroad in any country except Cuba or a country on the U.S. Department of State's current Travel Warning list. If you are unsure about your eligibility status, please consult the Gilman Scholarship Website Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page or contact gilman@iie.org.

I Have no Soul! by Brava

I Have No Soul!

I am poor; I have no soul

I am in pain; I have no soul

I have no father; I have no soul

I have no brother; I have no soul

My desires are just dreams

My future is a simple joke

Collecting ugly memories

Dealing with all these fools

Eating only judge prude

Drinking lies from the nincompoop

Engaging in symbolic hope; Fulfilling the status quo

The apathy of my sway is repulsive

The ignorance of the masses is obnoxious

The voice of the mastery said I don’t deserve

Nobody cares for my aesthetic sense; Striving for some hope; I have no soul

No future is awaiting; I concluded and sadly agree with the fools, I have no soul...

Brava :D

Mystical Creature

Oh deity of the believers in fairytales;

Make me believe and show me your fire

Many wonder if I forgot my blind erroneous tales

Scientific explanations have fulfilled my desires

The pain of knowing my presumptions were lies

Empirical evidence of nature’s own desires

My satisfaction to discover truth always rises

Emotions penetrate when the soul transcends higher

Divinity that most men will call upon

Certainty and facts mesmerized my discernment

To later find out it was all wrong

Substance in my discoveries complete my statement

Full of fables the world is constantly misinformed;

Intelligence and knowledge should always be the norm.

Brava :D

Religion as an illusion: By Sigmund Freud

Freud defines religion as consisting of "certain dogmas, assertions about facts and conditions of external and internal reality which tell one something that one has not oneself discovered, and which claim that one should give them credence.

" Religious concepts are transmitted in three ways and thereby claim our belief.

"Firstly because our primal ancestors already believed them;

secondly, because we possess proofs which have been handed down to us from antiquity, and

thirdly because it is forbidden to raise the question of their authenticity at all.

" Psychologically speaking, these beliefs present the phenomena of wish fulfillment. Wishes that are the "fulfillments of the oldest, strongest, and most urgent wishes of mankind." Among these are the necessity to cling to the existence of the father, the prolongation of earthly existence by a future life, and the immortality of the human soul.

In other words, religion is an illusion.

To differentiate between an illusion and an error, he lists scientific beliefs such as "Aristotle's belief that vermin are developed out of dung" as errors, but "the assertion made by certain nationalists that the Indo-Germanic race is the only one capable of civilization" is an illusion, simply because of the wishing involved.

Put forth more explicitly, "what is characteristic of illusions is that they are derived from human wishes." He adds, however, that, "Illusions need not necessarily be false." He gives the example of a middle-class girl having the illusion that a prince will marry her. While this is unlikely, it is not impossible. The fact that it is grounded in her wishes is what makes it an illusion.

Religion is an outshoot of the Oedipus complex, and represents man's helplessness in the world, having to face the ultimate fate of death, the struggle of civilization, and the forces of nature. He views god as a manifestation of a child-like "longing for [a] father."

In his words "The gods retain the threefold task: they must exorcize the terrors of nature, they must reconcile men to the cruelty of Fate, particularly as it is shown in death, and they must compensate them for the sufferings and privations which a civilized life in common has imposed on them."

Religion restricts this play of choice and adaptation, since it imposes equally on everyone its own path to the acquisition of happiness and protection from suffering.

Its technique consists in depressing the value of life and distorting the picture of the real world in a delusional manner--which presupposes an intimidation of the intelligence. At this price, by forcibly fixing them in a state of psychical infantilism and by drawing them into a mass-delusion, religion succeeds in sparing many people an individual neurosis.

But hardly anything more. There are, as we have said, many paths which may lead to such happiness as is attainable by men, but there is none which does so for certain. Even religion cannot keep its promise.

If the believer finally sees himself obliged to speak of God's 'inscrutable decrees', he is admitting that all that is left to him as a last possible consolation and source of pleasure in his suffering is an unconditional submission. And if he is prepared for that, he could probably have spared himself the détour he has made. T_T

Brava's School Friends

Poem Mariah Anderson

Son of a bitch

Turbulent since the second grade, we’ve got history, the church and me

Referrals for talking when the priest was, giving dirty looks to the
guy on the crucifix

And two expulsions from catholic school later, it’s no wonder this
girls devotion withers

Time has killed more than the crusades, and I don’t fight for higher
powers

I have more enjoyable wastes of hours

The church and me are siblings

We bicker then pretend to make up for my mother’s sake, it’s fake.

The church is the math teacher who wouldn’t show me how to multiply

So I didn’t learn ‘til grade nine and by then, I’d failed all the tests.

And the rest is history as they say but the church and me got hell to
pay

It was my biggest contender ‘til I discovered it was a pretender and
now my protector…

Is myself.