Political Crossfire Forums

[gem]

By Gem,
A Long Haired Liberal American Patriot.


Gem replies:

Many hearty thankyou's for your acknowlegements and compliments. I send the same back to you. We are indeed kindred spirits. Who knows, if we play our cards right maybe we could even start an international movement towards world-wide tolerance, acceptance and mutual respect.
I do believe it is people like you and me, and those around the world that feel and believe as we do that carry the flame of hope and freedom even through the darkest times.
Even when disagreements arise, as they inevitably do, working with a spirit of understanding and equitable compromise is always going to be the solution.
Although I do not think anarchy is feasable, seeing as how the human race is only just beginning to show any real signs of evolving to that stage, I do believe that an earnest effort through international forums like this to truly communicate, with an honest effort to open our minds towards each other, is the key towards the goal of world peace. We need to see that WE THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH are vastly more alike in our hopes and dreams than we are different, and that all have the right to live in peace in a manner of their own choosing. We need to stop seeing people as colors, nationalities, religions, political orientations etc and start seeing the hearts and minds, the hopes and dreams that make us so much more alike than different. If what I CHOOSE to call God desired and loved diversity when He created the world and the universe, then is it not up to each and every one of us to follow in that same spirit?
I remember a time in Gainesville Florida when a Jewish lady, two men of differing Muslim sects, a fundamentalist Christian from Tennessee and I, the long-haired Neo-Pagan hippie sat together in a coffee house talking about everything- including international politics and religion- and how a bonding occured between us, a mutual respect for the views of others and a tolerance and understanding that ALL of us shared a fundamental common ground and that ALL of us had valid points of view that were deserving of each others respect and understanding.
We parted friends that night. If we could have accomplished that, then what is wrong with the rest of us that we seem unable to achieve the same?
In my view, it is nothing more than fear that restrains us, the fear that we won't get what we want, when we want it. It is nothing more than territorial instincts run amok, and demands for more material possessions and security than could ever possibly be due us. Is it not self-centeredness, selfishness and self-righteousness that lies at the root of all our human problems, from the individual level to the international level and all points in between?
I am a member of an international fellowship that has helped relieve the suffering and destruction of millions of alcoholics, and has led to the formation of other "Healing Circles" that have discovered that the root problems of any and all fears, addictions, hatreds, mistrusts and all other problems are the same, that the solutions to those problems are the same, and that there IS A WAY OUT if we are only willing to follow some simple suggestions and are willing to at least try to put our ego's aside and take a look at ourselves with an open and honest mind. I call these books "The Spiritual Guide For Dummies". At the risk of breaking my own anonymity and the spirit of traditions 10, 11 and 12 of our fellowship they are the books "Alcoholics Anonymous" and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions". Yes, they were conceived, argued about and formulated for the relief and release of those that suffered from alcoholism. But it wasn't long before the suggestions embodied in those two books were found to be of great help in the realms of other addictions AND other fear and ego related problems as well. There is much wisdom to be found in those books, and they also re-affirm the wisdom of ALL the great spiritual masters and ALL the religions of humankind.
They are well worth reading, FOR EVERYONE, and I do believe they contain the map of the way out of our troubled times as well.
I have rambled long enough. It would be nice to see these words passed around in the international forums and in other media, in the hopes of perhaps leading people and nations to a better way of life for all the PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.
Who among us would be willing to do that, in the sake of promoting world peace?

Pass it on!!!

With love, tolerance and understanding,

Gem in America
_________________
Your Favorite Leftist Patriot

[gem]

The above post by Gem was in response to 'Dyno', a resident of France who responded to a post of mine in the <nationmaster.com> forum in the thread entitled "British are Stuck Up and Americans are Not Stupid" by "Marine Guy". This thread is located in the catagory "United States".


dyno wrote:
rhys wrote:
governments dont always represent there people. sometimes they like to respresent themselves and forget there only civil servants and not gods.


I agree with that statement 100%

I'm all for the people of western countries, not for the govenments. Politicians just try to separte us for their personal gain.


Thankyou, dyno! Gem in America here. You know, I've been saying for years that maybe it will be the internet that will bring some peace to this world, when the people of the world come together with the understanding that we're really more alike than we are different and that it is the governments of the different nations, and the people and corporations they primarily represent, that cause most of the problems in this world and not the average citizen, then we will truly be on the road to international peace. Maybe what this world needs is a popular uprising against all governments, demanding that they serve the desires of THE PEOPLE of every nation, allowing whatever the culture and whatever system of goverment THE PEOPLE of each and every nation desire. In the democratic belief in the right to SELF DETERMINATION- the REAL meaning and goal of "Democracy"- It should be the PEOPLE of each nation, and not the "Powers that Be" that have the power to choose that self- determination.
Yes, I believe in freedom and democracy, but I also realize that it is not up to any nation to decide WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY any other nation should practice, nor to try and manipulate and enforce what sorts of laws that nation should have.

Just some thoughts from what some in America would call a very UN-American point of view.

Gem


_________________
Your Favorite Leftist Patriot



dyno
Joined: 01 Jul 2004
Posts: 7

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject:

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Gem wrote:
Thankyou, dyno! Gem in America here. You know, I've been saying for years that maybe it will be the internet that will bring some peace to this world
No, thank YOU! This is exactly what I have thought for many many years now. It's hard to find someone who agrees with this, because too many people are used to fighting.
I have traveled to America, Germany, Britain, and Brazil. And the only culture shock I experience is a lack of culture shock. My conclusion is that people are all the same!


Gem wrote:
when the people of the world come together with the understanding that we're really more alike than we are different and that it is the governments of the different nations, and the people and corporations they primarily represent, that cause most of the problems in this world and not the average citizen. Maybe what this world needs is a popular uprising against all governments, demanding that they serve the desires of THE PEOPLE of every nation


Dyno replied:

Again I totally agree. The governments use censorship, secret police, propaganda, whatever they can to make their people suffer.


Gem wrote:
In the democratic belief in the right to SELF DETERMINATION- the REAL meaning and goal of "Democracy"


Dyno replied:

In fact, I say go a step farther than democracy. Anarchy is more like it, no government at all. Screw all these imaginary nation lines and wars. They are useless, and only serve to separate societies.


Gem wrote:
Just some thoughts from what some in America would call a very UN-American point of view.


Dyno replied:

Here is something interesting for you. The term "leftist" or liberal came from France! It referred to the people who sat in the "left" of where our politicians met. Those people were the ones who supported the AMERICAN REVOLUTION!

So America was founded on the idea of leftism, or liberalism. What you are speaking is in fact VERY AMERICAN, and VERY FRENCH. The constitution is one of the most genius documents ever written, and speaks to exactly what you say. Very very limited yet efficient government, and a government that represents the people. The republicans of your country try to trick you into believing that AMERICAN means denying gay rights. But the truth is that the liberals like gem are what America was founded on.

I just thought that was interesting that France and America were the first liberals, who turned away from the royal families that exploited the people. And I think it is sad that a lesson humans learned 225 years ago, our countries can still not master.

The less government the better.


Gem now asks: What are your thoughts and feelings about the topic of this thread?

Gem