Identification Please

    Looking back through the twenty-three years of my existence, I guess you could say there are many contributing factors that have, in one way or another, shaped the person I am today. Being born “American” here in the United States—American being in quotations because, in the grand scheme of things, anyone born in North America, Central America or even South America can be considered as such—some might say doubtless I automatically fit into some rigid American culture category. However, I would say that I feel as much an outsider as any immigrant would. It was never really my prerogative to conform to any certain cultural tradition; nor any tradition for that matter—especially the stereotypical back-woods, beer-chugging, probably-racist, brother’s-also-his-nephew, Midwestern farm boy. In fact, one may wonder, what does it even mean to be American? Do burgers, fries and a Coke sum the experience up? What about the good ole’ American Dream, or the wonderful, altruistic joys of capitalism? Wait…maybe not capitalism. After all, most people in so-called “America” would say that a philanthropist must be some kind of specialist doctor, or would scowl at the thought of giving a precious dollar to someone that needs it much more because profit-at-any-cost and self-interest incontestably reign superior to benevolence in the quasi narcissistic mindset of capitalists. Perhaps these distinctions suffice here in the United States, although I would argue conversely, but what about the rest of Americans? You know; the ones U.S. Citizens so often neglect acknowledgement for: Canadians, Mexicans, Guatemalans, El Salvadorans, Argentineans, Chileans, Brazilians, quite frankly, the list goes on. Instead of being welcomed as fellow Americans, most are deemed illegal aliens by the U.S. Government, and still others are simply denied Citizenship rights, even entry into the country altogether. Why have we placed such barriers between other Human Beings? Remember that at the core of every single person on Earth, there exists a fundamental nexus which binds Humankind together; the intrinsic truth that we are in the struggle for understanding together, as a singular, global unit and if we are to continue with any hope of advancement, then we must act as a singular, global unit, or else face total self-Annihilation. So why are we, the Citizens of the U.S., so arrogant when claiming the label “American”, or, my personal favorite, “world superpower”? If all of the people from all of the abovementioned different countries are not American, and countless others are prejudged unworthy of acknowledgement, or whatever new segregating factor we would like to concoct today, then with whom are these Citizens supposed to identify? Is there any hope for the U.S. identifying with another country, or is the entire world supposed to just assimilate according to U.S. guidelines? With so many questions asked and so many more on the way, the road to identity is becoming ever more treacherous by the minute.

     In my lifetime, I have witnessed what seems to be an alarming shift in the progression of Humankind. Considering my age, that observation should be equally distressing to all global Citizens. Perhaps I overanalyze everything, but the development thus far, in my opinion, suggests that there are probably only three ways in which our Civilization might be destined to advance:

1. We eradicate ourselves along with many of the other plant and animal life on Earth in a Third (more than likely Nuclear or Biological) World War:

2. The Citizens of Earth fall under an absolute, possibly religiously influenced, despotism; that is the history of Humankind repeats itself yet again: or;

3. We get over materialism, stop killing each other over the influence of imaginary concepts—money, power and religion—ultimately changing the focus from individual gain, manipulation and self-preservation to global societal benefits and improvement, leading us all into a future of unforeseen development.

Conceivably, it might be bit superficial to chalk the Human Endeavor up to this simple trichotomy, but any way which one chooses to ruminate, right now is unquestionably the time to start thinking outside the narrow-minded box which has become mainstream compliance with, and veritable acceptance of, the abuse of technology. What I have learned so far is that education diminishes segregation, while, on the contrary, ignorance begets subjugation. So how is it possible, one might wonder, for someone of my age to derive this realization while the rest of the world chooses, or is manipulated, not to? The answer is manifest—literally: I opened my eyes, took a good, long look at global society and realized that we have not yet achieved a Unity of such magnitude; there exists no binding principium by which separate nations give assent to undividedly; magnanimity has perished at the sly hands of the monetary system which has, in lieu, been established as the preeminent reason for, as well as the dominating component of, life. Rather than embracing and striving for attainment, the idea of a truly global society—one that ensures rights, liberties, health and advancement of all Citizens worldwide—is regarded, practically uncontested, as an insurmountable, futile and fruitless undertaking. But something has to change. Someone must take the lead and set the precedent. Will it, nay, can it be the United States?

     Without a doubt, countless cases can be made to support the fact that segregation continues to be a dominating aspect of all cultures, particularly in the U.S. Closer examination usually offers a vivid, but far from complete, view of how capable Humankind is of callous, apathetic behavior. Immigrants, and especially their American descendants face a multiplicity of ethnic slurs, racial biases and stereotypes that have been procured by U.S. Citizens (a.k.a. Americans) over the years. We must, however, make clear the fact that against all odds, no matter what, one can always succeed if a belief in oneself prevails over the disbelief of others. Why is it that people are shut down for trying something new, or being different; having different views, thoughts, beliefs, religions, cultures, hobbies, talents, jobs, salaries, skin color, musical tastes, hair style, clothing, language, accents, sexual orientations, abilities, disabilities, and interests? It is as though we tip-toe around each other ever-so-cautiously trying to avoid biting our tongues, acting as if the only words on our minds are, “Identification, please.” What is to become of a self-consumed species like Human Beings?

      These powerful words and comprehensive observations suggest that identity is much more than a label; it is the very essence of which we are comprised. Despite the relentless barrage of ignorance, we can rise above the categorical disposition and prove that no one is the direct product of the hypothetical molds we have designed to be the scapegoats for apartheid. Where does the stigma surrounding being different originate, anyways? And why has it become so embraced by nearly all of us? The bottom line is we are all inherently fallible Human Beings and our differences are what make us a unique species. These distinctions should bring us closer as a whole, not segregate us further. If every single person on Earth was exactly the same—same thoughts, same clothes, same preferences, etc.—then what a pitiful existence it surely would be. There would be no such thing as identity. Assimilation is such a touchy subject because there are so many alternative ways of achieving it; finding the best one to accommodate the vast array of cultures, traditions, languages and religions has become somewhat of a bottomless wishing well. It is my dream to witness in my lifetime an unprecedented alliance of Humankind around the planet that secures a future of Unity and perpetual advancement. What I believe in is not something based on assumption, faith, or some other passive excuse for existence. I believe in existence itself. I believe in Humankind; in togetherness; in Unity. I believe that through global societal and governmental assimilation, Humankind will progress into a nearly unimaginable future of development. Imagine a world in which we lived in harmony with Nature; provided assistance, guidance and support to each other; wars are no longer fought; money is no longer the center-of-focus. Is it really that unrealistic? Before you answer, take a look around at all the engineering, artistic and revolutionary inventions and innovations Humankind has thus far created, then, ask yourself the same question again.

The Destiny of Class

     There is an idea running rampant through the minds of the unsuspecting that shreds apart virtually any inkling of social connectivity: class. This plague of separation is the primary cause for most of the world’s economic and social disasters. Throughout the history of Humankind, we have witnessed unimaginable, terrible decimations of entire populations for being deemed unworthy of acknowledgement by others. “The history of all hitherto existing society,” Karl Marx asserts, “is the history of class struggles.” Class may have determined the progression, though, not necessarily the destiny, of Humankind, but it will only continue to unless we change our understanding of the subject. Closing in on the end of the twenty-first century’s premier decade, it is a wonder that class is still a factor in modern society. How have we, then, with the technological and intellectual progression we have made thus far, managed to continue separating ourselves from each other? Have we allowed a simple abstraction of truth to determine a person’s so-called destiny —that a person’s standing in society is based on an imaginary, monetary hierarchal system? It is my understanding that the predicament society faces is ignorance; for, it is knowledge that ultimately determines one’s destiny, not class. If we choose to let it, it is true that class will determine the destiny of many people; but is it not also true that the more knowledgeable people become as a whole, the less likely it is those people will allow the continuance of indecency to each other and to Humankind? The latter of these opposing positions will be my argumentative thesis on this topic.

     What is class? Quite simply it is a social ranking system in which people are divided into a number of categories, usually upper, middle and lower, based on certain characteristics, or attributes, including the most prominent in modern society—financial standing. Considering that there are nearly seven billion other people on Earth just like you and me, it is striking that so many are over-indulged by such a figment of the imagination. When money is taken out of the equation and replaced by beneficial contributions to a societal whole, class bears absolutely no relevance in regards to a line from a passage written by Max Ehrmann, called Desiderata; “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.” We can, however, overcome this class subjection if we simply make this realization as a global society. Until that day comes, or some catastrophe forces us into change, incivility will remain a prominent inhibiting factor in our quest towards a global Unity.

     Human trafficking is perhaps the most heinous of these indecencies. It is depressing thinking about and knowing that thousands of men, women and even children every year are bought and sold into slavery. In this particular situation, maybe Marx was right when he stated, “Man makes his own history, but he does not make it out of the whole cloth; he does not make it out of conditions chosen by himself, but out of such as he finds close at hand.” Or, was he? Again, we should examine the ignorance, or even outright neglect, by global society on a matter that allows such atrocities. If society becomes more educated and knowledgeable, then class structure has an extremely good chance of dissolving altogether without the threat of economic collapse. Until we collectively understand that class and value are nothing more than intangible, negligible concepts, which are two of the underlying factors that inhibit our ability for positive progression, we may never advance beyond the confines of the imagination into the only realm that is truly of any worth—knowledge. How can we be so absorbed by the notion that monetary value has the ability of being placed on Human lives? If the constant division of people through these hierarchal class structures was abated, society could flourish like never before. In terms of feasibility, Unity almost certainly ensures collective advancement.

     Free will, or the ability inherent in every conscience being to make choices that determine life progression, is probably the best example of proving that class does not necessarily determine one’s destiny. It is true that one cannot choose what class he or she is born into. However, one can choose, through free will, the way to live; leaving open the possibility of curtailing the influence class might have on such decisions. In Michael Apted’s “49 Up” documentary, which, beginning in 1964, examines the lives of fourteen British students every seven years, the best supporting evidence for this view would have to be Neil Hughes’ experience. From a child living in the suburbs, dreaming of going to Oxford, to dropping out of Aberdeen at twenty-one with aspirations of becoming politically active, to eventually becoming homeless at age twenty-eight, he says, “If I was living…in suburbia, I’d be so miserable, I’d feel like cutting my throat.” All hope seemed lost for Neil at age thirty-five who was living on the Shetland Islands in a council estate. “It’s an environment which sustains me…,” he proclaims, looking as though he was in a complete daze and desperate for a change. Only seven years later, by age forty-two, Neil had completely turned his life around, moved to London and was serving on Hackney Council. Finally, at age forty-nine, he moved to Cumbria, England, where he became a member of the District Council there and, at the time of the film, was running for a seat on the County Council as a liberal Democrat. When asked what the chances were of winning the seat, he simply replied, “I’m doing my best.” Of course, much of the details of how his life progressed in that manner were not shown, but we can still infer that against all odds, he pulled through in the end and proved everyone whom believes that class determines destiny completely wrong.

     Another shining example from the “49 Up” series would be that of Bruce Balden’s life. He grew up in a relatively upper class situation, yet declared his desire to help people at an early age. Between ages twenty-one and twenty-eighth, Bruce realized this dream, becoming a missionary and giving his time to teaching students in impoverished parts of the globe. Upon his return, he decided to take the separation from his so-called class one step further and began working in the inner-city schools, which Rogert Ebert exclaims, “were a contrast to his upper-class background.” This, again, proves that class remains irrelevant in determining destiny.

     Although there are numerous reasons to back up this position, many believe otherwise, claiming that class is an integral part of society. Removing this distinguishing factor would mean removing the structural foundation on which society exists and prospers. My rebuttal to those cynics is that this purported foundation is undoubtedly crumbling and faces total collapse unless we change our ways. Due to this segregation of class, prosperity remains relative and is not equally available to every Citizen. Pressure is building between the classes and if we do not intervene, eliminating this slippery slope, then we are destined for an easily avoidable self-destruction. Another refutation would be that with such a large chasm in the standards of living between the classes, an attempt at assimilation would surely incite anger and hostility in individuals not accustomed to others’ ways. To this, I can say nothing more than it is one of the most pathetic attempts of a cop-out that I can think of to doubt the benevolent essence of Humankind. Finally, one might be inclined to proclaim that businesses would fall apart, economies would be in shambles and lives would be devastated because no one would want to take orders from anyone else. This one is probably the hardest to form a rebuttal from, but, nonetheless, there surely is one. The problem lies in the way our hierarchal chain-of-command is referred to as a direct indication of class ranking. Class, which is closely related to decision-making power in these systems, should no longer be used to determine a person’s capabilities in taking on responsibility. Contrary to popular belief, it is not class that determines such a trait. That quality can only be attributed to knowledge and the understanding of how to apply that knowledge. So, instead of using this fallacy of class divisions to conduct business, maybe we should come up with an entirely new term, such as Structural Responsibilities, to describe these different levels of obligation. Doing so would ensure that businesses continue to flourish and would probably eliminate all resentment surrounding the ideas of promotion and career advancement.

     An extremely long, potholed road lies ahead of us. Whether one would like to believe it or not, knowledge is the cure-all to nearly every single one of society’s problems. The deprivation of access to education is absolutely unacceptable. Just take a look at the history of societies from all over the world. People and cultures have, for millennia, chosen to segregate, suppress and annihilate others by relinquishing them of any means to advance. It seems as though people are afraid of change because it is easier to remain in routine rather than break it. There is a maxim that resonates in my mind that I would like to remind people of. It is that the only thing permanent is change itself. We must change if we are to truly propel ourselves into a future of Unity and advancement. If we continue down the current path of separation, greed, power and impudence, we are bound for failure and Annihilation. Words are extremely persuasive tools in communicating the importance of education and knowledge. There have been many futuristic, globally concerned and innovative thinkers through the whole of our history, but if I could choose one quote to sum up the message that I am trying to convey here, it would have to be from Robert Frost when he wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

     Does a fear of failure get in the way of success?o To answer such a thought provoking question as this, one must take into account the very meaning of the word success and enumerate the terms under which one attains it. Success can be defined by a multitude of different situations, but the one that most abruptly comes to mind is something I have mentioned, and will continue to mention, often--financial gain. Undoubtedly, one of the most routinely asked questions of someone pursuing an advanced education is, "What is the purpose for which you are attending college?" The most common answer being, "To make more money." But in the end, is that what all this is really about--money?

     Perhaps the most problematic feature of success, at least here in the United States, is that it remains most commonly equated with this figment of our imagination. Somewhere along the lines of the past century, our society has horribly depreciated the true value of education--knowledge. Instead, we have conditioned ourselves to the understanding that if we can make more money by putting in as little effort as possible, then it is okay to do so without any gain in knowledge; that ignorance, on account of convenience, somehow takes precedence over knowledge, as long as the substantial reward remains. But, success without knowledge, in my opinion, is failure in its most pristine form.

     For some, a fear of failure surely does block the path to success. However, others may fear success itself and perpetually separate themselves altogether from any means that may propel them towards it. In any case, one thing is certain: that to obtain true success, one must relinquish his or her self of any fears that might become inhibiting factors. To do so takes an ability to analytically discern the outcomes of many different life-altering choices; critical thinking, in other words--an ability most notably obtained through education.

     To those whose fears of failure prevent them from making the ultimate decision of whether to pursue a higher education or achieve their notion of success, however obscure it may seem, I say that fear is born of ignorance and suppression and the only way to overcome that fear is to free one's mind of it and take that first step into the unknown. As I have said before, all that is now known was once unknown.

     It is quite clear to me the true power these fears hold over people. Today, I sit here a product of both of the fore mentioned fears. In the summer of 2007, my former band and I moved to California to pursue the dream of rock stardom. Not surprisingly, the band is no longer together and they have all moved back to Ohio. Maybe they feared success; maybe failure. I know now that I feared both. Because of these fears, in the end we all failed. Fortunately, that failure sparked in me a need to advance myself. Now I am pursuing degrees in physics and political science. My point is that just because one may fail at certain things does not necessarily mean those failures will not open doors to other opportunities where one may succeed. Life is about learning from mistakes and failures, analyzing that knowledge and applying it in our future undertakings. Some say one has to fail before succeeding; that failure inevitably precedes success. Whatever the case may be, and however difficult the circumstances, one lesson has been made clear by philosopher Charles Baudouin: "If your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your efforts, neutralize your endeavors, and make success impossible."

Sharpening the Sword

    Let’s face it—life is a double-edged sword. You are born, you live a relatively short life, averaging 70 or 80 years, in a universe understood to be roughly 13.7 billion years old, and then you die; but is there something more to life than this Excalibur of truth? Honestly? I will have to say probably not; at least in the sense that this double-edged quality seems to be present in almost every conscience choice that can ever possibly be made. Nearly all aspects of life can be concluded to being double-edged. Even the time spent becoming knowledgeable can be considered to be time taken away from working for monetary gain--which as I mentioned earlier is what our current vision of success is based upon--or time away from a vast selection of trivial activities. But what is it that prevents us from letting ourselves advance as a societal whole? Can any amount of money truly buy knowledge?

     I propose that learning should never be equated in any way with the monetary system and it is a shame that it has become so enveloped by the concept. Financial aid and the educational system seem to go hand-in-hand. It is as though we are so consumed by consumerism that we fail to acknowledge the true significance of education for what it really is—a means to advance oneself for the benefit of society and the environment that sustains our very existence. (And even if we acknowledge the significance of these endeavors, it seems to take years of "bureaucratic debate” (if that is what you want to call it) to implement such a strategic action, if any at all. Moreover, if a plan just so happens to finally be put into action, it has been so warped and contorted by the influence of “monetary potential” that the goals originally set forth by the plan take a backseat to profit or propaganda scare-tactics--much like the current Health Care Reform disaster.)

    Two thousand pages? Really? Can it truly be possible that it would take two thousand pages to achieve the goal of providing for the Health Care of Citizens? Maybe we should step back for a minute and realize that in the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson compelled the colonies to separate in only a single page. Furthermore, the Founders established the very foundation of the United States government through the enumerations of the Constitution in only four pages. The list goes on and on. The point is that we can shuffle words and key phrases around all day, but at the end of the day we will more than likely have meaningless, deceitful nonsense--especially if the Bills' mission objectives end with the words "and for other purposes" as both the Patriot Act and the new House Bill for Health Care Reform do. Is it just me or is this ringing any bells with anyone else? Maybe the Liberty Bell? Anytime a bill should open with those words and then continue to ramble for thousands of pages that would keep even the most savvy scholar busy for days, weeks, or even months trying to decipher through referencing, the constitutionality of such a document should immediately be under intense scrutiny. What we need is to discard these exhaustingly large documents altogether and in perhaps only a few paragraphs illustrate the effectiveness of detailed yet extremely comprehensible vocabulary that in no way could be construed to oppose the explicit intentions set forth in the new document. It can be done but we have to want it. The choice rests in our hands so will we retain it, pass it on, or throw it away for convenience?

Irons in the Fire

     I envision a future in which the terms classified and top secret have no meaning; one in which unwavering social relations exist worldwide in the form of a United Federation that governs globally in a strictly non-classified fashion, and wars between separate nations are known only in history books. The United Federation umbrellas the once-separate nations (States) with a purpose that serves to promote unbiased education for absolutely every single person worldwide; to provide global services such as communication networks, green transportation, green energy, water, and emergency relief; to ensure the finest health care is provided to every single Citizen worldwide, unconditionally and to secure Human and Civil Rights and Liberties, Animal Rights and environmental protection in addition to overall well-being through positive intellectual and technological progression.

     The Federation Code Alliance (FCA)—elected officials from each state—comprises the Federation Code making (Legislative) body of the Federation. To form a government that truly represents the interests of all Citizens, every party has a seat guaranteed by Federation Code. There are no presidents or prime ministers because, logically, no single person should be granted power to make decisions on behalf of the entire world. Instead, through a global public election, a Federation Council will be the established Authority of the Executive branch, consiting of one representative from each populated continent, but shall not be limited to already-elected officials of the FCA. Nor shall limits with regard to race, creed, color or political party be placed on Citizens' rights to candidacy. The only restrictions require Citizens running for a Council position to have attained the age of thirty, have a two-thirds majority consent of FCA members, and must procure a fifty-one percent approval by a global vote. Maintained as a measure to prevent corruption, this gives Citizens immediate access to being a critical part of government. As for the Judicial branch, the Global Prevailing Court (GPC) takes precedence in the United Federation. A State Prevailing Court (SPC) will have jurisdiction in each State, unless the GPC finds that any SPC acts against Federation Code. In such a case, the GPC takes full authority and holds a hearing to determine whether any actions taken by SPCs were in violation of Federation Code.

     The United Federation Peace Corps (UFPC) takes the place of military and establishes an umbrella Department of Code Enforcement (DCE) that promotes peace through logical reasoning under the direct supervision of the Federation Council. Under the DCE umbrella, states retain strictly provisioned autonomy through a States’ Council congruent with Federation Code and provide Code interpretation designed to be an effective crime-prevention system. State autonomy is also for census and other limited purposes that include residency and drivers’ licenses. Code enforcement at States’ level is the duty of UFPC officers stationed at DEC locations throughout each State. These Departments are dutied with training and promoting County and City UFPC officers.

     The monetary system, which is probably the largest inhibitor of worldwide unification, is abolished, eliminating greed, power and class structure, and a system of reasoning that accelerates the advancement of society through logic and creative encouragement is adopted. It is understood that there is no separation of class; for, we all belong to the Human class. The Human class no longer views employment as a means for monetary gain. Jobs such as bankers, loan agents, real-estate agents, other powerhouse corporate structures, etc., no longer exist in the way that we once knew. People work simply for the collective benefit of society. With no monetary system or class structure, “success” is briefly measured by how beneficial a person has been to the positive progression of society. Encouragement prevails in terms of success. People worldwide become inevitably beneficial due to constant encouragement of others to become more beneficial. As a result, eventually every person in the world becomes a success and the term is no longer used as a staple of society. (But even if the monetary system is not altogether dissolved, which will probably be the case, all of the separate monetary systems of our world will have to coalesce into a singular unit. Implementing this solitary idea quite possibly could be the end-all to wars, separation of nations, and the notion that "money makes the world go around." It could perhaps sound the beginning of this proposed future of unity and advancement.)

     The educational system becomes the cornerstone of society. Teachers are the societal backbone in that they provide detailed understanding through specialized curriculum geared at encouragement by means of a totally constructive support system. This system administers a carefully designed balance of recreational activities, such as athletics that promote critical thinking, exercise and overall well-being, and an intellectually intensive, positively reinforced system of teaching that is an integration of state-of-the-art technology and Human instructors. Students are urged to perform at a pace they find most comfortable while setting goals to constantly improve. Curriculum is based on creative encouragement, music, language, science, mathematics, technology, communication and history and provides a clear understanding of Federation Code. Religions, and the histories, interpretations and applications of, are taught unambiguously and objectively, not portrayed as conformities to which we must subject ourselves in order to fulfill conflicting ideas of creation, life, death and afterlife.

     Technology is no longer abused for destructive purposes or control. We strive for the most discerning understanding of the fundamental structures of the universe; from quantum mechanics, the study of sub-atomic particles, to cosmology, the study of the universe as a whole; from preventive medicine to the most state-of-the-art life-saving medical technology; from sustainable energy to environmental protection and beyond. This allows us to provide evidence for, or disprove, the existence of other forms of life elsewhere in the universe, improve health and life expectancy of Humans, and enables us to advance intellectually as a societal whole with absolute regard for the environment. It might even permit our contacting other life forms if they just so happen to be intelligent, as we so arrogantly define ourselves as. Technology inevitably leads us to answers for questions concerning existence, hyperspace, time travel, intergalactic travel and parallel universes with experimental data to confirm theories on such matters. With this framework in place, both technological and intellectual progressions happen simultaneously. Technological progression now takes place for global societal benefits only, now that money is no longer a factor.

     Is it possible to coordinate such a vast undertaking? Can people really let go of the concept of money without failing economically? Why not? The power of togetherness has proven to be quite influential in terms of making realizations out of dreams. Such challenges should be met with optimistic envisioning and conviction. An extremely comprehensive undertaking is required to present such large, drastic economic and governmental revisions to a population of nearly seven billion. It begins with global assimilation under the FCA. This will introduce technological and intellectual opportunities to impoverished areas of the world that UFPC officers systematically free from the influence of tyranny, oppression and human trafficking. The FCA will build a clearly understandable foundation of logical guidelines through reasoning and constructive debate. It will provide assistance to the immediate facilitation of teachers and doctors, in addition to all necessary supplies, to less advanced parts of the globe. Environmental protection and sustainability also become top priority, as a plan to eliminate usage of at least fifty percent of all fossil fuels by 2015 is implemented. With such a large number of proven and proposed “alternative” energy sources already at our disposal, what is stopping us from a full integration into the power grid? Imagine the carbon emission savings within only the first year. Virtually all possible environmental crises can be diverted simply by taking advantage of these shrinking windows of opportunity. The technologies to harness nearly free energy already exist and innovations can only mean that more energy is on its way. So what exactly are we waiting for?

     The bottom line is that we have the means and ability to look beyond race, creed, color and even government, if necessary, and Unite as a societal whole for the Cause of Global Advancement. No matter how much we say that there is not enough time in one day; no matter how wrapped up in the distractions of modernization we become, one thing must never be forgotten--that we must have the time to stop and think about life and how fortunate we are in comparison to a large portion of people around the globe that literally starve to death, are forced into slavery, and stripped of all Civil Rights and Liberties by tyrants. These are Human Beings. Can anyone really say that they do not have time to think about the influence that we all could have if we could truly become Unified? When I look into the mirror, what I see is a product of an incomprehensibly long chain of cosmic events that somehow led to me standing there looking at myself, wondering, "Why am I standing here?" My mind sort of soars off to journey through the Realm of Possiblities. Then I realize something: the very reason that I am able to comprehend or even establish that insight is Education and that all too often taken for granted, easy access to information called the Internet. The action necessary to achieve such a visionary future rests with Education through either one of these means and is in no way limited to only the two. For it is Education, in any positive form, that will put an end to tyranny and oppresion; Education that will give people the ability to have a voice; Education that will propel us into a future of Unity, Freedom and Peace; and Education that ensures this future is both attained and retained by our Posterity. It is critical for the Human race to come together in Unity for advancement. So let us rise together and settle for nothing less.

Invest In Success

     Perhaps one of the most fascinating things about being Human is the great capacity for knowledge and understanding our brains possess. It is quite remarkable to think that the Human brain has so much storage capacity that researchers are at a loss to agree on even a best-guess-estimate. When all of the other processes our brains perform every second of our lives are taken into account, it seems that the answer to the question of processing and storage capacity very well could be nearly unlimited. To consider the fact that our brains conceived such a concept as monetary value strikes as rather intriguing. Instead of investing a combination of time and work beneficial to the whole of society based on the ideal that Unified we can advance toward the betterment of society, we have created a world in which we perpetually convince each other that the underlying factor that we must invest in order to achieve this notion of “success” is “money”—both veritable figments of our imagination. Almost everything we go to college for rests solely on the viewpoint that a college degree will somehow earn us more money and success.

     Success is measured almost exclusively by wealth, which sometimes is mistaken for logical, beneficial reasoning. We view money as if to assure ourselves that we can achieve a state of overall well-being. We have essentially conditioned ourselves to cherish money as the center of focus for just about every aspect of our lives. Caught in what can only be described as a “corporate spider web” of debt and deception that puts profit over people, we must Unite to free ourselves from the intertwinement with illogical thought that feeds these beasts of manipulation and deceitfulness. Although it seems a daunting task to completely overturn our current ways of life, the outcome of such unity will undoubtedly lead to a truly beneficial global society, marking the end of “separate societies” and signaling the beginning of “collective progression.”