There’s a new line in the mirror and it lies on an old, worn, and hollow face..
Another year disappears like a sunken ship swallowed up in a rogue wave..
No modern medicines can heal each wound time carves out with its thin blade..
Then with selfish futility we look at the depressions made in our skin with rage..
We use silly creams and injections in an attempt to hide the blessing of old age..
But in reality, the most scarred old life soldiers comprise the heart of our brigade..
They’ve loved and suffered to see mother nature give birth to the sun every single day..
The fabric of history written in flesh, their story told as old cells mingle and decay..
An earned human portrait of existence itself written in the universal language of DNA..
I’ve learned to accept my lines in the mirror as time molds my body like wet pliable clay..
I stared at the reflection that appeared and defined the fear as watching hours sliding away..
But once I acknowledged their importance the hours didn’t seem like a loss, but instead a gain..
Because every hour conquered and wrapped in chains makes the next lesson in line that much more pleasurable to attain!
Welcome!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Vibrations and Consciousness
What is consciousness? What is sound, sight, touch, smell, and experience? What is interaction? Some may answer with factually correct, simple, straightforward, answers but other may offer a different idea as to what constitutes our existence. Along with many other philosophers, theorists, and wandering ponderers, I hope to offer you a different view on life and reality as you know it. My tale is of vibrating energy, human strings, and a grand consciousness available for our individual participation. Now hold on, before you sign me off as crazy hear me out!
I believe that all consciousness is the individual and/or collective perceptions of the vibrations of the universe. Let me explain what I mean by starting with the physical things around us that we consider tangible. The most basic interactions of life take place in the form of the 5 human senses. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. I purpose that each and all of these senses are the result of the interaction of vibrations of energy and electromagnetism at the most basic quantum level. Let’s look at the things we know and feel to be unquestionably real.
What is sound? Sound is the perception of vibrations in air created from your vocal cords or anything else that vibrates. This vibration begins in your esophagus and enters the atmosphere around you which disturbs the molecular field producing sound waves. These vibrations in your voice box and the air around us don’t actually make any noise, they are simply movements. Sound does not exist until our eardrums vibrate and the cilia in our ear produce electromagnetic responses out brain compiles into auditory sounds. So where is the sound? Sound actually only exists in our consciousness. Maybe this will give you a new perspective on the question, “If a tree falls in the forest and nothing is around to hear it does it makes a sound?”. We might rephrase this to be “does anything make a sound at all or does it exist solely within the consciousness of the living”. Intriguing thought, but let’s move on!
What is color? Color is constructed at the sub atomic level in everything. It is a manifestation of particle spin and electromagnetic disturbance. Humans interpret the effect on color and light spectrums and code them to create the range of relatable visual images we think of as colors. But where do the colors exist? Is the petal of a rose really red at a microscopic level? Is the ocean really the blue color you see when you look at it or would a single glass of it’s water be a different color? My point is that color is a perception that occurs only in our shared consciousness’. There is no being that exists solely as “red” or “blue” or “green”, just conscious acknowledgments of electromagnetic disturbance.
What about smell, taste, and texture? These are all the exact same principle as color and sound. We perceive chemicals in the air that are made of certain particles and charges as smells, and taste different arrangements of molecules as individual flavors but where do all these things exist? Only as an activity within the consciousness of the person or people that are experiencing them. Externally they are all just vibrations of energy, nerves, matter, and particles that compile to form our bubble of reality. How something feels, looks, smells, tastes, or sounds is entirely up to your conscious perception of it. That’s why our tastes, likes, dis-likes, and attitudes change, because of conscious or unconscious shifts in our perception of the vibrations. Whether it’s vibrating muscle tissue sending signals of pleasure or pain, or nerves vibrating to tell you it tastes good or bad it’s all relative to its own perceived vibration.
So, what does it all mean? Everything in existence large or small is an interaction of our consciousness with the vibrations of existence. I don’t mean like the hippy “vibes” of the 60’s and 70’s pop culture or any other light hearted reference. I’m referring to the vibrations of every particle, mass, being, or energy force combining to produce reality as we know and comprehend it. To understand every facet of these interactions is beyond the scope of human comprehension, especially when you get into entanglement, observer paradox, and quantum symmetry. As humans we must start in a realm we can understand and interpret. Let us discuss how our conscious interacts with the vibrations of the universe.
In my last article, “The Human Equation”, I spoke of how we are all independent integers that the larger equation of existence relies upon to function properly and give us the experience of reality as we know it. This is a similar thesis but we will look closer at the quantum relations of individuals that take place to produce life as we know and understand it. I relate these interactions to what many scientists and particle physicists refer to as string theory or m-theory. Except I propose we look at existence from the point of view that maybe humans are the strings of energy that interact and make up our collective consciousness and how we perceive life. It’s a very different thought, so we’ll label it “H-theory”. Let me go back quickly and elaborate on what proponents of particle string theory propose is happening at the basic level of existence before we begin on human string theory for those who are unfamiliar. Essentially string theorists suggest that everything we know of in the universe is made up of incredibly teeny, tiny strings of vibrating energy that vibrate in different patterns to create different elements and particles that make up everything we observe. That’s the incredibly long story short. There is a lot more to it and I suggest if you have some time you look into it because it is a fascinating field of study. Anyway, my theory states that just as strings interact to produce the elements of matter and electricity so do humans to produce the experience of reality as we know it. It’s sort of complicated so let me elaborate a little bit.
Since we’ve established that all things are just an interpretation of vibrating energies it begs the question, “Ok then, what exactly “IS” reality?”. What really “IS”, if everything is subject to our independent interpretation? What reality “is”, in my opinion, is a collection of interactive consciousness’ defined on a whole by every aspect of their collective composite. Simply put, reality is overall exactly what each of us inputs into it. Our own “vibration” or “integer value” is our own aspect of the collective reality and it defines our physical existence in time and space as we know it. So that brings another question. How or what determines or defines your input into reality? This is where things become much more complicated. Essentially your input is an aggregate of how you view and respond to the vibrations of others that compile your reality. Your interpretation of reality determines how you respond to situations, which in turn, is your effect on the consciousness of others. As you can see if you focus on this paradox, this means that our consciousness’ are completely intertwined and entangled with each other. This is the web of human interactions that forms our societies, cultures, and human bonds. These interactions simultaneously construct what “is” and everything that is relevant to life as we know it. It is interesting to see that accepted reality among humans is based upon itself for both content and context. Differences in these interactions and vibrations among humans can be seen in the form of various culturally accepted traditions. Things accepted and promoted in one culture may be shunned and demonized in another. Examples can be found in foods, clothing, sexuality, religion, and more. These cultural actions no matter what they represent are composed of the same fundamental vibrations that give them the “reality” that we consider tangible. This reality is no different on one side of the world from another. The only difference is the perceptions of these vibrations of sight, sound, and senses by the people experiencing them. The people collectively determine if they feel the action to be “right” or “wrong” and that becomes its reality, to those people. This perception of right or wrong, love or hate, ugly or beautiful, joy or fear, good or bad, or anything else lies solely within the perception of the consciousness that is experiencing it. This can be applied universally to any question of reality.
Ok, so this is pretty simple to understand but what does it all mean for us? It means that if we can understand and control consciousness, we can control how we view reality itself. I don’t mean with superpowers or levitation or anything cool like that but I do honestly think you can control how you view and respond to the inputs of reality. The most important thing is taking the mystery out of it. There is no magic, there is no secret, there is no single formula to happiness. Happiness lives within your interpretation of the vibrations you experience. Now, if that’s the case, how do we edit these perceptions and put them through a “reality check” so to speak? There is no easy answer here but I can guide you to the right path. It simply starts with the understanding of what consciousness “is” and what you are really perceiving throughout your life. If you become aware of your consciousness as an entity within itself you begin to realize all the things you “think” and “know” are actually susceptible to our own human filter which is capable of significant errors and achievements alike. These thoughts are entirely creations of your mind/spirit/energy in reflection of the vibrations around you. We may not be able to change all of these perceptions because some may be hardwired within our “self”, but we can accept them for their flaws and adjust the emotional weight we put on them accordingly. This in itself does not guarantee happiness or enlightenment but it does allow for a more peaceful internal existence. At the end of the day that’s all that really exists anyway, is our own internal “self” or consciousness.
To practice working on yourself at this level of consciousness you must first become mindful of your existence and the existence of every vibration around you, be it human, or otherwise. Being mindful is simply being fully aware of the inputs you are receiving from the world and your relation to them. It can be as simple as being mindful of each muscle used in every step you take, to as complex as understanding where the food you eat comes from, it’s process of growth, everything it took to get it to your hands, and the life energy it contains all at once. Being mindful comes in many forms. Read Thich Nhat Hanh or any of the other eastern teachers of mindfulness for more tips on being mindful and experiencing everything for its essence of existence. I will try to write more on this later but it is an incredibly in-depth topic within itself so I will move on for now.
Once you have begun to experience every interaction mindfully and you understand things for what they are you can begin to adjust your reactions to each event or vibration. Remember, they all exist solely within our own consciousness! This is where the real change takes place. One can also begin to understand that the actions and vibrations of others can be acknowledged and effected in the same manner as our own actions. If we truly understand that we exist purely in our own consciousness then we understand that others must exist only in our own consciousness as well. Ultimately it is you who controls others effects on yourself and your vibration or your “being” by how you react to them. They may make you sad, angry, happy, disappointed, whatever, but it is only within your own consciousness where this emotion occurs.
So, take a hold of your reality! Vibrate at your own frequency! The most important aspect of becoming mindful of consciousness lies in knowing that your higher existence can be independent from our physical perceptions of reality. Essentially speaking, while it may not be possible to shift the locations of mountains it is feasible to shift how you feel about where the mountain is located right? Consciousness is our only way to perceive time, space, matter, and interactions. But it is shifts in consciousness that alter HOW we perceive these things like “spacetime” and “life” and what our meaning is amongst it all. Like I have said before, there is no secret formula to manipulate the basics of existence but just being aware of it, can be a powerful enough shift in your general perception to make a difference.
There is so much more to this on the human interaction end that I could literally right a book fleshing out my H-theory. For now I just wanted to introduce a new view of consciousness for people and make you question what you consider “real”. My main hope for this is that people can take away a sense of control amidst the chaos of existence. Life really is what you make of it because it only exists within you. Your unique view of the world is only ever experienced by you, once. If you don’t like it, recognize that like anything else it can be changed, shifted, or altered for better or for worse. The only person that can truly alter it is you though! Other people can influence you with their vibration but it is you who chooses how you react to that input and respond with your feedback. This action and reaction is the simple substance of existence.
So essentially, life is the dancing of human strings in the poetic ballet of existence. We act, we interact, and it all happens on one huge cosmic stage. We come together here in a collection of consciousness’ with no purpose other than to interact with one another and the universe around us. Let us embrace the reality of life in its larger form instead on getting consumed by the minor details that distract us from beauty. This rich, rhythmic vibration of souls we experience is boundless when viewed at large. Embrace it, be it, dance along, but don’t forget to really experience and enjoy it along the way! After all, our consciousness is only available to us for a limited period of time. Make the best out of every second and consciously choose to make it what you wish! You own your reality!
John Thomas
I believe that all consciousness is the individual and/or collective perceptions of the vibrations of the universe. Let me explain what I mean by starting with the physical things around us that we consider tangible. The most basic interactions of life take place in the form of the 5 human senses. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. I purpose that each and all of these senses are the result of the interaction of vibrations of energy and electromagnetism at the most basic quantum level. Let’s look at the things we know and feel to be unquestionably real.
What is sound? Sound is the perception of vibrations in air created from your vocal cords or anything else that vibrates. This vibration begins in your esophagus and enters the atmosphere around you which disturbs the molecular field producing sound waves. These vibrations in your voice box and the air around us don’t actually make any noise, they are simply movements. Sound does not exist until our eardrums vibrate and the cilia in our ear produce electromagnetic responses out brain compiles into auditory sounds. So where is the sound? Sound actually only exists in our consciousness. Maybe this will give you a new perspective on the question, “If a tree falls in the forest and nothing is around to hear it does it makes a sound?”. We might rephrase this to be “does anything make a sound at all or does it exist solely within the consciousness of the living”. Intriguing thought, but let’s move on!
What is color? Color is constructed at the sub atomic level in everything. It is a manifestation of particle spin and electromagnetic disturbance. Humans interpret the effect on color and light spectrums and code them to create the range of relatable visual images we think of as colors. But where do the colors exist? Is the petal of a rose really red at a microscopic level? Is the ocean really the blue color you see when you look at it or would a single glass of it’s water be a different color? My point is that color is a perception that occurs only in our shared consciousness’. There is no being that exists solely as “red” or “blue” or “green”, just conscious acknowledgments of electromagnetic disturbance.
What about smell, taste, and texture? These are all the exact same principle as color and sound. We perceive chemicals in the air that are made of certain particles and charges as smells, and taste different arrangements of molecules as individual flavors but where do all these things exist? Only as an activity within the consciousness of the person or people that are experiencing them. Externally they are all just vibrations of energy, nerves, matter, and particles that compile to form our bubble of reality. How something feels, looks, smells, tastes, or sounds is entirely up to your conscious perception of it. That’s why our tastes, likes, dis-likes, and attitudes change, because of conscious or unconscious shifts in our perception of the vibrations. Whether it’s vibrating muscle tissue sending signals of pleasure or pain, or nerves vibrating to tell you it tastes good or bad it’s all relative to its own perceived vibration.
So, what does it all mean? Everything in existence large or small is an interaction of our consciousness with the vibrations of existence. I don’t mean like the hippy “vibes” of the 60’s and 70’s pop culture or any other light hearted reference. I’m referring to the vibrations of every particle, mass, being, or energy force combining to produce reality as we know and comprehend it. To understand every facet of these interactions is beyond the scope of human comprehension, especially when you get into entanglement, observer paradox, and quantum symmetry. As humans we must start in a realm we can understand and interpret. Let us discuss how our conscious interacts with the vibrations of the universe.
In my last article, “The Human Equation”, I spoke of how we are all independent integers that the larger equation of existence relies upon to function properly and give us the experience of reality as we know it. This is a similar thesis but we will look closer at the quantum relations of individuals that take place to produce life as we know and understand it. I relate these interactions to what many scientists and particle physicists refer to as string theory or m-theory. Except I propose we look at existence from the point of view that maybe humans are the strings of energy that interact and make up our collective consciousness and how we perceive life. It’s a very different thought, so we’ll label it “H-theory”. Let me go back quickly and elaborate on what proponents of particle string theory propose is happening at the basic level of existence before we begin on human string theory for those who are unfamiliar. Essentially string theorists suggest that everything we know of in the universe is made up of incredibly teeny, tiny strings of vibrating energy that vibrate in different patterns to create different elements and particles that make up everything we observe. That’s the incredibly long story short. There is a lot more to it and I suggest if you have some time you look into it because it is a fascinating field of study. Anyway, my theory states that just as strings interact to produce the elements of matter and electricity so do humans to produce the experience of reality as we know it. It’s sort of complicated so let me elaborate a little bit.
Since we’ve established that all things are just an interpretation of vibrating energies it begs the question, “Ok then, what exactly “IS” reality?”. What really “IS”, if everything is subject to our independent interpretation? What reality “is”, in my opinion, is a collection of interactive consciousness’ defined on a whole by every aspect of their collective composite. Simply put, reality is overall exactly what each of us inputs into it. Our own “vibration” or “integer value” is our own aspect of the collective reality and it defines our physical existence in time and space as we know it. So that brings another question. How or what determines or defines your input into reality? This is where things become much more complicated. Essentially your input is an aggregate of how you view and respond to the vibrations of others that compile your reality. Your interpretation of reality determines how you respond to situations, which in turn, is your effect on the consciousness of others. As you can see if you focus on this paradox, this means that our consciousness’ are completely intertwined and entangled with each other. This is the web of human interactions that forms our societies, cultures, and human bonds. These interactions simultaneously construct what “is” and everything that is relevant to life as we know it. It is interesting to see that accepted reality among humans is based upon itself for both content and context. Differences in these interactions and vibrations among humans can be seen in the form of various culturally accepted traditions. Things accepted and promoted in one culture may be shunned and demonized in another. Examples can be found in foods, clothing, sexuality, religion, and more. These cultural actions no matter what they represent are composed of the same fundamental vibrations that give them the “reality” that we consider tangible. This reality is no different on one side of the world from another. The only difference is the perceptions of these vibrations of sight, sound, and senses by the people experiencing them. The people collectively determine if they feel the action to be “right” or “wrong” and that becomes its reality, to those people. This perception of right or wrong, love or hate, ugly or beautiful, joy or fear, good or bad, or anything else lies solely within the perception of the consciousness that is experiencing it. This can be applied universally to any question of reality.
Ok, so this is pretty simple to understand but what does it all mean for us? It means that if we can understand and control consciousness, we can control how we view reality itself. I don’t mean with superpowers or levitation or anything cool like that but I do honestly think you can control how you view and respond to the inputs of reality. The most important thing is taking the mystery out of it. There is no magic, there is no secret, there is no single formula to happiness. Happiness lives within your interpretation of the vibrations you experience. Now, if that’s the case, how do we edit these perceptions and put them through a “reality check” so to speak? There is no easy answer here but I can guide you to the right path. It simply starts with the understanding of what consciousness “is” and what you are really perceiving throughout your life. If you become aware of your consciousness as an entity within itself you begin to realize all the things you “think” and “know” are actually susceptible to our own human filter which is capable of significant errors and achievements alike. These thoughts are entirely creations of your mind/spirit/energy in reflection of the vibrations around you. We may not be able to change all of these perceptions because some may be hardwired within our “self”, but we can accept them for their flaws and adjust the emotional weight we put on them accordingly. This in itself does not guarantee happiness or enlightenment but it does allow for a more peaceful internal existence. At the end of the day that’s all that really exists anyway, is our own internal “self” or consciousness.
To practice working on yourself at this level of consciousness you must first become mindful of your existence and the existence of every vibration around you, be it human, or otherwise. Being mindful is simply being fully aware of the inputs you are receiving from the world and your relation to them. It can be as simple as being mindful of each muscle used in every step you take, to as complex as understanding where the food you eat comes from, it’s process of growth, everything it took to get it to your hands, and the life energy it contains all at once. Being mindful comes in many forms. Read Thich Nhat Hanh or any of the other eastern teachers of mindfulness for more tips on being mindful and experiencing everything for its essence of existence. I will try to write more on this later but it is an incredibly in-depth topic within itself so I will move on for now.
Once you have begun to experience every interaction mindfully and you understand things for what they are you can begin to adjust your reactions to each event or vibration. Remember, they all exist solely within our own consciousness! This is where the real change takes place. One can also begin to understand that the actions and vibrations of others can be acknowledged and effected in the same manner as our own actions. If we truly understand that we exist purely in our own consciousness then we understand that others must exist only in our own consciousness as well. Ultimately it is you who controls others effects on yourself and your vibration or your “being” by how you react to them. They may make you sad, angry, happy, disappointed, whatever, but it is only within your own consciousness where this emotion occurs.
So, take a hold of your reality! Vibrate at your own frequency! The most important aspect of becoming mindful of consciousness lies in knowing that your higher existence can be independent from our physical perceptions of reality. Essentially speaking, while it may not be possible to shift the locations of mountains it is feasible to shift how you feel about where the mountain is located right? Consciousness is our only way to perceive time, space, matter, and interactions. But it is shifts in consciousness that alter HOW we perceive these things like “spacetime” and “life” and what our meaning is amongst it all. Like I have said before, there is no secret formula to manipulate the basics of existence but just being aware of it, can be a powerful enough shift in your general perception to make a difference.
There is so much more to this on the human interaction end that I could literally right a book fleshing out my H-theory. For now I just wanted to introduce a new view of consciousness for people and make you question what you consider “real”. My main hope for this is that people can take away a sense of control amidst the chaos of existence. Life really is what you make of it because it only exists within you. Your unique view of the world is only ever experienced by you, once. If you don’t like it, recognize that like anything else it can be changed, shifted, or altered for better or for worse. The only person that can truly alter it is you though! Other people can influence you with their vibration but it is you who chooses how you react to that input and respond with your feedback. This action and reaction is the simple substance of existence.
So essentially, life is the dancing of human strings in the poetic ballet of existence. We act, we interact, and it all happens on one huge cosmic stage. We come together here in a collection of consciousness’ with no purpose other than to interact with one another and the universe around us. Let us embrace the reality of life in its larger form instead on getting consumed by the minor details that distract us from beauty. This rich, rhythmic vibration of souls we experience is boundless when viewed at large. Embrace it, be it, dance along, but don’t forget to really experience and enjoy it along the way! After all, our consciousness is only available to us for a limited period of time. Make the best out of every second and consciously choose to make it what you wish! You own your reality!
John Thomas
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Human Equation
The Human Equation
People throughout history have debated our existence with vigor and passion championing one definition or the other. With all the words spoken and books written only one thing is for sure. After thousands of years debating the same topic we have finally gathered enough data to realize that the statistical chance of humans actually agreeing on something of that nature is near impossible. What the data and arguments have shown us is that it’s not about the broader picture but in fact about the lowly human equation. I’m not the first person to use this term and probably not the first person to define things this way but I have recently come to an understanding. Life, love, hate, passion, existence, and everything we know boils down to individual interactions (equations) between humans (integers). This in itself is no secret and a very simple concept to grasp. That’s exactly why we normally don’t give it a second thought, especially when times are hard. In fact many times we only choose to view negative interactions or the plight of the bigger picture and give them more weight when life is extra stressful. Here’s a concept to think about when you sit at your computer pondering your purpose and wondering if it any of it means anything whatsoever.
YOU are a factor in countless human equations! Ok then, that’s basic enough and I’m really not much of a mathematics person but let me elaborate. Every interaction you are a part of whether it is with friends, family, lovers, or strangers, has one constant factor…. You! Many of these interactions whether you like it or not are completely dependent on you being there to perform your operation in the equation. It can be to love/hate, laugh/cry, encourage/discourage, or simply just to smile at a stranger but it still takes “you”. Now this obviously isn’t an answer to quantum mysteries or a sighting of Mohammed or Jesus but if you really examine these individual equations you begin to see a different picture of the world. If you’ve ever had feelings of inadequacy and thought your life served no purpose then this is mathematical proof that’s you’re flat wrong! Everybody has questioned their value at times and wondered why they go through the motions they do. There may or may not be reasons for why you do what you do but the simple fact is that “you” matter! Without your integer in these equations they don’t exist or end up corrupted. Now again this isn’t the meaning of life in itself but let me elaborate a little more.
Your presence in people’s lives is irreplaceable whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that some of you instinctively might have read that and said “well I got stuck with bad or indifferent”. In fact, the good news is that you can set your own value in these interactions and effectively change the outcome to positive. On the other hand, you can also change it to a negative outcome with a negative input or do nothing by being neutral and resisting change. By simply trying to focus on offering a positive input into each individual equation you can in fact make the outcome better. Sometimes all it takes to get ahead is caring more, loving more, meaning more, doing more, and helping more. When you feel like your value is the equation has gotten so low it’s not worth doing anymore, that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up, it means it’s time to move up. And anybody that’s been down can tell you there is no one single step to success! The real “Secret” like in that positive thought book/movie is the actual intention. There is no mystical power that grants you something when you wish really hard for it. That’s YOU…….. DOING IT! See “it” isn’t the result; it’s your value in the equation. The result of these equations is essentially reality as we know it! It is the culmination of human events that form our consciousness. There is no mysticism surrounding this rooting to ancient people or a god above although faith is a great mechanism for coping. It takes the outcome off your shoulders and rests it on an arbitrary being for safe keeping. Whether you choose religion or not has minimal effect on your ultimate value in equations. Look at the holy wars of today and throughout history. The reason societies never gets ahead is because it is all a culmination of negative inputs from opposing views. I wish this could be conveyed simply enough so that people on a larger level would take a hold of their identity and their value as an individual integer in this crazy equation of existence. Your value can be good and have positive consequences like love, hope, success, and leading a rich conscious life. Or it can be negative, and create problems for the equation that disturb other people and your own internal self. In addition to the simple good and bad just like in real life math there are the people who just wing it and give things fun names and call them “constants” or explain something with “that’s just the way it is” when they don’t make sense in the standard way. This is indifference for the most part. Just kind of coasting, reacting, and being shuffled around the equation so to speak. If this “coasting” of societal trends leads in a positive direction it can be a great thing but if it leads towards negativity it can be devastating overall. All it takes is a collective understanding of its value to be address properly. I think this is how we need to view things from time to time to stay in check on a larger level.
So in summation this brings me back to my point of adjusting your own values and setting your own parameters in life. Just like in math a lot of times there is no clear or simple answer to how to do thing and work with operations and functions. Sometimes people get tricky and try to make things work. It’s the same in life but we have to understand that we can edit the context of each individual value instead of changing the whole equation to fit each others needs. The meat and potatoes of what the individual human symbols represent is who and what we do. This value cannot be taken away by anything but yourself giving it up. It is absolutely imperative that if you are not happy with yourself or your value in life that you must start from within yourself and change your interactions with people on a basic level. Figure out what you dislike, or who, and address it! To start, care more about people that care a lot about you. Look at who gives a large portion of their life to you and do something good for them. Hell, just go out and do something good for a random stranger. These good interactions will, over time, build your overall value and character and make you a solidly better person. For the selfish folks reading this, there is even the instant gratification of helping people when you see the look of genuine thanks and surprise in their eyes. It really is irreplaceable! It can really be as simple as stopping to check on a car broken down on the side of the road or buying a panhandler lunch and dropping it in their hat without saying a word. So if you really want to change your life then change the individual actions you take part in. On a whole this will change “you” and how your value is interpreted by other people. Don’t be naïve and think there won’t be people who wish to use you for your value without offering anything but indifference or negativity in return. Understand that these people have a right to exist, respect them for who they are and their individual value no matter what it is, but steer as far away from them as possible. That is the downside to unconditionally giving the good within yourself and the plight of the “nice guy” who finishes last. If you can master the ability to give wholeheartedly and be strong enough to refuse to interact negatively you have achieved the ideal human existence. Yes, this is much easier said than done. This article is not meant to be an all inclusive solution just a window into the basic interaction of our world. I feel that knowledge is power, and the powerless sometimes just need to know that they have a value and by the simple act of understanding this value, they gain power. It’s kind of a roundabout concept but very compelling nonetheless.
So I leave you with these thoughts today and encourage you to take control of you value in the human equation. Whether you were aware of it or not you are a powerful tool for creating life as many people know it. When you’re gone people’s lives will be changed forever. Make the best memories, live the fullest life you can, and care with every ounce of your being. Even if people can’t or won’t find the words to tell you to your face, you DO make a difference! Your difference! Embrace it!
John Thomas
People throughout history have debated our existence with vigor and passion championing one definition or the other. With all the words spoken and books written only one thing is for sure. After thousands of years debating the same topic we have finally gathered enough data to realize that the statistical chance of humans actually agreeing on something of that nature is near impossible. What the data and arguments have shown us is that it’s not about the broader picture but in fact about the lowly human equation. I’m not the first person to use this term and probably not the first person to define things this way but I have recently come to an understanding. Life, love, hate, passion, existence, and everything we know boils down to individual interactions (equations) between humans (integers). This in itself is no secret and a very simple concept to grasp. That’s exactly why we normally don’t give it a second thought, especially when times are hard. In fact many times we only choose to view negative interactions or the plight of the bigger picture and give them more weight when life is extra stressful. Here’s a concept to think about when you sit at your computer pondering your purpose and wondering if it any of it means anything whatsoever.
YOU are a factor in countless human equations! Ok then, that’s basic enough and I’m really not much of a mathematics person but let me elaborate. Every interaction you are a part of whether it is with friends, family, lovers, or strangers, has one constant factor…. You! Many of these interactions whether you like it or not are completely dependent on you being there to perform your operation in the equation. It can be to love/hate, laugh/cry, encourage/discourage, or simply just to smile at a stranger but it still takes “you”. Now this obviously isn’t an answer to quantum mysteries or a sighting of Mohammed or Jesus but if you really examine these individual equations you begin to see a different picture of the world. If you’ve ever had feelings of inadequacy and thought your life served no purpose then this is mathematical proof that’s you’re flat wrong! Everybody has questioned their value at times and wondered why they go through the motions they do. There may or may not be reasons for why you do what you do but the simple fact is that “you” matter! Without your integer in these equations they don’t exist or end up corrupted. Now again this isn’t the meaning of life in itself but let me elaborate a little more.
Your presence in people’s lives is irreplaceable whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that some of you instinctively might have read that and said “well I got stuck with bad or indifferent”. In fact, the good news is that you can set your own value in these interactions and effectively change the outcome to positive. On the other hand, you can also change it to a negative outcome with a negative input or do nothing by being neutral and resisting change. By simply trying to focus on offering a positive input into each individual equation you can in fact make the outcome better. Sometimes all it takes to get ahead is caring more, loving more, meaning more, doing more, and helping more. When you feel like your value is the equation has gotten so low it’s not worth doing anymore, that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up, it means it’s time to move up. And anybody that’s been down can tell you there is no one single step to success! The real “Secret” like in that positive thought book/movie is the actual intention. There is no mystical power that grants you something when you wish really hard for it. That’s YOU…….. DOING IT! See “it” isn’t the result; it’s your value in the equation. The result of these equations is essentially reality as we know it! It is the culmination of human events that form our consciousness. There is no mysticism surrounding this rooting to ancient people or a god above although faith is a great mechanism for coping. It takes the outcome off your shoulders and rests it on an arbitrary being for safe keeping. Whether you choose religion or not has minimal effect on your ultimate value in equations. Look at the holy wars of today and throughout history. The reason societies never gets ahead is because it is all a culmination of negative inputs from opposing views. I wish this could be conveyed simply enough so that people on a larger level would take a hold of their identity and their value as an individual integer in this crazy equation of existence. Your value can be good and have positive consequences like love, hope, success, and leading a rich conscious life. Or it can be negative, and create problems for the equation that disturb other people and your own internal self. In addition to the simple good and bad just like in real life math there are the people who just wing it and give things fun names and call them “constants” or explain something with “that’s just the way it is” when they don’t make sense in the standard way. This is indifference for the most part. Just kind of coasting, reacting, and being shuffled around the equation so to speak. If this “coasting” of societal trends leads in a positive direction it can be a great thing but if it leads towards negativity it can be devastating overall. All it takes is a collective understanding of its value to be address properly. I think this is how we need to view things from time to time to stay in check on a larger level.
So in summation this brings me back to my point of adjusting your own values and setting your own parameters in life. Just like in math a lot of times there is no clear or simple answer to how to do thing and work with operations and functions. Sometimes people get tricky and try to make things work. It’s the same in life but we have to understand that we can edit the context of each individual value instead of changing the whole equation to fit each others needs. The meat and potatoes of what the individual human symbols represent is who and what we do. This value cannot be taken away by anything but yourself giving it up. It is absolutely imperative that if you are not happy with yourself or your value in life that you must start from within yourself and change your interactions with people on a basic level. Figure out what you dislike, or who, and address it! To start, care more about people that care a lot about you. Look at who gives a large portion of their life to you and do something good for them. Hell, just go out and do something good for a random stranger. These good interactions will, over time, build your overall value and character and make you a solidly better person. For the selfish folks reading this, there is even the instant gratification of helping people when you see the look of genuine thanks and surprise in their eyes. It really is irreplaceable! It can really be as simple as stopping to check on a car broken down on the side of the road or buying a panhandler lunch and dropping it in their hat without saying a word. So if you really want to change your life then change the individual actions you take part in. On a whole this will change “you” and how your value is interpreted by other people. Don’t be naïve and think there won’t be people who wish to use you for your value without offering anything but indifference or negativity in return. Understand that these people have a right to exist, respect them for who they are and their individual value no matter what it is, but steer as far away from them as possible. That is the downside to unconditionally giving the good within yourself and the plight of the “nice guy” who finishes last. If you can master the ability to give wholeheartedly and be strong enough to refuse to interact negatively you have achieved the ideal human existence. Yes, this is much easier said than done. This article is not meant to be an all inclusive solution just a window into the basic interaction of our world. I feel that knowledge is power, and the powerless sometimes just need to know that they have a value and by the simple act of understanding this value, they gain power. It’s kind of a roundabout concept but very compelling nonetheless.
So I leave you with these thoughts today and encourage you to take control of you value in the human equation. Whether you were aware of it or not you are a powerful tool for creating life as many people know it. When you’re gone people’s lives will be changed forever. Make the best memories, live the fullest life you can, and care with every ounce of your being. Even if people can’t or won’t find the words to tell you to your face, you DO make a difference! Your difference! Embrace it!
John Thomas
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Dreams
Like a leaf falling unknowingly towards a blade of grass…
I impacted at dawn with the sound of a faded smash…
Invaded by reality, my brain whipped up a list of tasks..
But I quickly yawned it off in favor of dreams from the past…
How nice is it to retire to a place of wonder and passion…
When your days are filled with pondering your squandered rations…
A place away from heartache in a land of exotic fashions…
Strange tales of horror mixed with erotic interactions..
What a world it is that our dreams create…
Even giving glimpses of a future face..
Or maybe a real story from a future place..
Of guts and glory from earth or space…
They open Pandora’s box of ideas and images..
But unlike life, the dream diminishes…
Like the feeling of love lost with sleepy grimaces..
And the attack on your foe that’s lost it’s viciousness..
The ability to be in one place then instantly in the next…
The thought of how you got there never leaves you perplexed…
It just is what it is like the characters in this text…
Images of prisoners that your subconscious collects…
Lined up next to each other, depicting events…
Comedies, dramas, love stories, and suspense…
The feeling of realism is just so intense…
The horror is horrifying and the fortunes are immense…
That’s why I love these stories my brain invents…
So now I’m off to catch tonight’s main events…
By John Thomas
I impacted at dawn with the sound of a faded smash…
Invaded by reality, my brain whipped up a list of tasks..
But I quickly yawned it off in favor of dreams from the past…
How nice is it to retire to a place of wonder and passion…
When your days are filled with pondering your squandered rations…
A place away from heartache in a land of exotic fashions…
Strange tales of horror mixed with erotic interactions..
What a world it is that our dreams create…
Even giving glimpses of a future face..
Or maybe a real story from a future place..
Of guts and glory from earth or space…
They open Pandora’s box of ideas and images..
But unlike life, the dream diminishes…
Like the feeling of love lost with sleepy grimaces..
And the attack on your foe that’s lost it’s viciousness..
The ability to be in one place then instantly in the next…
The thought of how you got there never leaves you perplexed…
It just is what it is like the characters in this text…
Images of prisoners that your subconscious collects…
Lined up next to each other, depicting events…
Comedies, dramas, love stories, and suspense…
The feeling of realism is just so intense…
The horror is horrifying and the fortunes are immense…
That’s why I love these stories my brain invents…
So now I’m off to catch tonight’s main events…
By John Thomas
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Mistress Mountain
I sit electrified and bathe in the earthly hum of the mistress mountain..
My hair caressed by the wind and showered from a sunlight fountain..
I fill my lungs slowly with her beauty as I embrace and cherish the scent..
The clouds chase the sun and grin sheepishly with no fear or cares to lament..
This is truly a feeling of freedom in every glorious aspect of the term..
In love with mother nature as I touch her rock hard body and yearn..
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Semmelweis Reflex
The Semmelweis Reflex is essentially defined as the automatic rejection of an factual and/or obviously truthful statement with no logical grounds for dismissal other than the fact that the idea is contrary to a widely held popular belief. Long story short, sometimes people don't believe the truth even if it's staring them in the face. In the following article I'll briefly explain the phenomenon and examine it's effect on society.
Very few people have ever heard of Ignaz Semmelweis or the societal reflex named after him. Ignaz was born on July 1, 1818 in Hungary to a prosperous family and ended up becoming a renowned physician. By 1847 he was earning himself the admiration of his patients and the title "savior of mothers" due to a groundbreaking technique he had discovered. He was able to reduce then current mortality rates of puerperal (childbirth) fever from as high as 18% to less than 1% by simply washing his hands in a chlorinated lime solution before working with the patient. Oddly enough the medical community thoroughly rejected Semmelweis' claims and publications regarding this discovery as "unscientific" and "lacking in reasoning". His critics claimed that there was no direct cause and effect between handling corpses, decaying matter, and other nasty infected tissue then wiping off your hands and giving birth only to watch the patient die of infection 10-35% of the time. Semmelweis died in 1865 in a asylum after suffering a nervous breakdown at the age of 47 upon failing to convince people his technique saved lives. A few years later Louis Pasteur and a few other scientists finally convinced the medical community of the "germ theory" of disease which proved what Semmelweis was talking about all along. To even a modern child this seems like simple logic and common sense but it turns out that the rejection effect Semmelweis experienced from his educated peers is a common human trait developed by our society.
Sometimes it's manifested in small day to day interactions and other times it can have a larger effect. From ancient philosopher spurning ideas of a spherical earth until Pythagoras and Aristotle argued otherwise to the churches resistance of Copernican heliocentric theory championed by Galileo, we have seen great truths blatantly denied by the masses. These theories and the brave revolutionary men who defied the status quo to share them should be not only an inspiration but a reminder to constantly re-evaluate our perception of reality. Especially in this social networking era when things can become clouded with so many options and ideals floating around. Theories abound and truths are becoming far stranger than fiction. It seems it's becoming more and more difficult to differentiate the forest from the trees as the old proverb says. To weed out all the "spam" we've set our neurological filters to a higher security level so to speak. As a natural defense to unwelcome chance we have become increasingly more critical and doubtful of one another in general. As this shift occurs we can see more and more instances of the Semmelweis Reflex on all levels of society.
I'm not worried so much about the small denials in life such as rejecting a certain brand of car, clothing, or any other merchandise with no real intrinsic purpose. For an example of this ask any "Chevy guy" about Fords or vice versa. In this example the reality is both vehicles will perform the desired purpose of 95% of their users but some feel that one is worthless while the other sets a standard for them. Why? No apparent reason other then they are a "Chevy guy" or a "Ford guy", and usually have been for some time. I have no problem with this even though I find it to be a worthless argument. I feel the problem lies in other forms that are more influential to society and those that can be outright dangerous both psychologically and physically if controlled by a nefarious third party. Enter the realm of politics, religion, and finance. The three dirty dinner table words!
The scariest applications of the Semmelweis Reflex are those that are contrived and designed for a specific outcome. This inherent human need to follow the pack even at the expense of others is a powerful tool to control societal sentiment. To keep this article relevant I will stick to examples found within the last decade or so but if one looks back this has been repeated throughout history en mass. It's almost hard to figure out where to start but i would say the biggest single event in many of our lifetimes was September 11th, 2001. We all know that day well and it will go down in history as a beginning of a new era but to this day there seems to be a heated debate as to the specifics of that day and what actually happened. The government has one version, foreign media has another version, and people from the 9/11 truth movement have yet another. All politics aside there are some facts that independent scientists and experts can agree on such as melting points of steel and how hot jet fuel burns. There are many controlled demo experts across the world who would have been proud if they had managed to take down 3 buildings so neatly within their own footprint in a crowded metropolitan area. Yet, when confronted with hard fact and empirical data people who wish to believe one story or the other vehemently do so and urge you to see it their way. Their acceptance has been conditioned by their chosen brand of media which is the largest direct channel to the people available besides the internet. By sheer volume if a populous is convinced that something is a truth they will embrace it and decry the minority who resist it, even if the resistance is morally correct or is based upon factual information. For chilling examples of this look back to the horrors of Nazi Germany.
We can see this manifested in election politics all the time as well. People making wildly false claims from either the extreme left or the extreme right are backed immediately by people who identify with their political party even though what they say may not even be in their own best interest. Countless people vote every year for this or that based solely upon republican or democratic affiliation regardless of the beliefs of their candidate or what they have to offer. These rejections are a dangerous trend in politics. By not voting based upon merit and action we are essentially destroying the democracy we love to talk so honorably about.
And finally, perhaps the greatest battle of them all when it comes to unfounded rejections ala Semmelweis, we have religion. Religion is the most necessary and beneficial evil man has ever been blessed to be cursed with. How contradictory of a statement but how deeply true it is. I will use the christian church as an example since I was raised by a pastor in a very christian household until my early teenage years and so I am familiar with many aspects of the faith. Let me briefly explain what I mean by a necessary evil then I will elaborate on how I believe religion to be the largest mass example of the Semmelweis Reflex known to man. Throughout history we can find examples of higher faith dating back to the beginning of modern human civilization. Many of these faiths instructed their followers to live lives of meaning and love. To have compassion for their fellow man, treat each other with kindness, and give thanks to the higher power that gave them life on this beautiful planet. These are all inherently good things and having a purpose to life and a higher meaning can give humans the necessary strength and motivation to accomplish things which still to this day amaze us. Being able to believe that if they strive to be a good person they will be rewarded with the riches of heaven is essential for motivation while here on earth. Subsequently they are kept in line with the promise of a painful fiery hell if they do not live according to the standards of the religion. This is the classic carrot in front of the donkey cart that parades the leaders of the church around while they relay the word of god to the wretched masses. By repeating this story and set of guidelines for hundreds and hundreds of generations on end the populous accepts it as a natural fact of the universe. When it is questioned, as it has been by many brilliant minds throughout history (and made to look like foolish nonsense), it becomes the natural response of the congregation to get angry at the heretic and immediate deny any claims that are in opposition to "the word of god". As discussed before briefly Galileo and other scientists such as Giordano Bruno, Cecco D’Ascoli, Roger Bacon, and more, met varying degrees of fate from imprisonment to death for suggesting the factually inaccurate claims of the church at the time were, well... dead wrong! Today the fight between science and religion continues as heated as always. Sadly, a correlated result (as it has been for ages) is the capitalization of this passion people have for higher understanding for benefit of one man over the other. Whether it be tithe plates, selling books on scientology, or promoting one big bang book over another it all boils down to control of the consumer and ultimately their wallet.
In conclusion, I dind't write this to bash religion or politics specifically. Nor did I write it because I was dying to tell you who Ignaz Semmelweis was and how his paradox came to be. I wrote it because I felt the need to show people the forest hidden amongst the trees. I felt the need to challenge peoples unwavering gut reaction to new information. The next time you find yourself dismissing something too wild to be true or something you were told not to agree with, take a second to really look at it. Examine the proverbial bark of the tree so to speak. How does this person know what they are telling you? Why are they telling you? What do you or them stand to benefit from knowing or sharing the information? And finally, what is the FACT of the matter, or the bigger picture so to speak? As often as I can, I try to pause my instinct to wave off new ideas or try not to be cynical about something I can't agree upon. In practicing this I have caught myself actively engaging my own Semmelweis reflex. The difference is now that I understand the phenomenon I can begin to take steps to ensure it has less of an effect on me. I concede that the nature of the reflex infers that there very well could be even larger concepts we are missing due to our inability to comprehend them and are therefore stuck with the limited knowledge our brains are capable of processing. On the largest end of the scale, again, I am ok with this. In summation, the macro and micro levels of the Semmelweis reflex are generally less harmful that the middle spectrum that comprises daily life for us humans. By understanding the forces we face within ourselves we can work towards taking the next step forward as a civilization. We must realize that in order to progress change needs to occur and we must be brave enough to stand in defiance of what the masses say to be right when we know the truth is otherwise. So take that with you today friends and make your decisions wisely. Fight for what you know is right and don't quit just because someone told you that you're wrong or crazy. Otherwise we'd all still be living on a flat germ infested splotch of purgatory!
John Thomas
NOTE: This is not an attempt to discredit anyone's belief and is solely an opinion I hold dearly. Please direct hate mail to the people responsible for the degradation of your chosen institutions. Thanks!
Very few people have ever heard of Ignaz Semmelweis or the societal reflex named after him. Ignaz was born on July 1, 1818 in Hungary to a prosperous family and ended up becoming a renowned physician. By 1847 he was earning himself the admiration of his patients and the title "savior of mothers" due to a groundbreaking technique he had discovered. He was able to reduce then current mortality rates of puerperal (childbirth) fever from as high as 18% to less than 1% by simply washing his hands in a chlorinated lime solution before working with the patient. Oddly enough the medical community thoroughly rejected Semmelweis' claims and publications regarding this discovery as "unscientific" and "lacking in reasoning". His critics claimed that there was no direct cause and effect between handling corpses, decaying matter, and other nasty infected tissue then wiping off your hands and giving birth only to watch the patient die of infection 10-35% of the time. Semmelweis died in 1865 in a asylum after suffering a nervous breakdown at the age of 47 upon failing to convince people his technique saved lives. A few years later Louis Pasteur and a few other scientists finally convinced the medical community of the "germ theory" of disease which proved what Semmelweis was talking about all along. To even a modern child this seems like simple logic and common sense but it turns out that the rejection effect Semmelweis experienced from his educated peers is a common human trait developed by our society.
Sometimes it's manifested in small day to day interactions and other times it can have a larger effect. From ancient philosopher spurning ideas of a spherical earth until Pythagoras and Aristotle argued otherwise to the churches resistance of Copernican heliocentric theory championed by Galileo, we have seen great truths blatantly denied by the masses. These theories and the brave revolutionary men who defied the status quo to share them should be not only an inspiration but a reminder to constantly re-evaluate our perception of reality. Especially in this social networking era when things can become clouded with so many options and ideals floating around. Theories abound and truths are becoming far stranger than fiction. It seems it's becoming more and more difficult to differentiate the forest from the trees as the old proverb says. To weed out all the "spam" we've set our neurological filters to a higher security level so to speak. As a natural defense to unwelcome chance we have become increasingly more critical and doubtful of one another in general. As this shift occurs we can see more and more instances of the Semmelweis Reflex on all levels of society.
I'm not worried so much about the small denials in life such as rejecting a certain brand of car, clothing, or any other merchandise with no real intrinsic purpose. For an example of this ask any "Chevy guy" about Fords or vice versa. In this example the reality is both vehicles will perform the desired purpose of 95% of their users but some feel that one is worthless while the other sets a standard for them. Why? No apparent reason other then they are a "Chevy guy" or a "Ford guy", and usually have been for some time. I have no problem with this even though I find it to be a worthless argument. I feel the problem lies in other forms that are more influential to society and those that can be outright dangerous both psychologically and physically if controlled by a nefarious third party. Enter the realm of politics, religion, and finance. The three dirty dinner table words!
The scariest applications of the Semmelweis Reflex are those that are contrived and designed for a specific outcome. This inherent human need to follow the pack even at the expense of others is a powerful tool to control societal sentiment. To keep this article relevant I will stick to examples found within the last decade or so but if one looks back this has been repeated throughout history en mass. It's almost hard to figure out where to start but i would say the biggest single event in many of our lifetimes was September 11th, 2001. We all know that day well and it will go down in history as a beginning of a new era but to this day there seems to be a heated debate as to the specifics of that day and what actually happened. The government has one version, foreign media has another version, and people from the 9/11 truth movement have yet another. All politics aside there are some facts that independent scientists and experts can agree on such as melting points of steel and how hot jet fuel burns. There are many controlled demo experts across the world who would have been proud if they had managed to take down 3 buildings so neatly within their own footprint in a crowded metropolitan area. Yet, when confronted with hard fact and empirical data people who wish to believe one story or the other vehemently do so and urge you to see it their way. Their acceptance has been conditioned by their chosen brand of media which is the largest direct channel to the people available besides the internet. By sheer volume if a populous is convinced that something is a truth they will embrace it and decry the minority who resist it, even if the resistance is morally correct or is based upon factual information. For chilling examples of this look back to the horrors of Nazi Germany.
We can see this manifested in election politics all the time as well. People making wildly false claims from either the extreme left or the extreme right are backed immediately by people who identify with their political party even though what they say may not even be in their own best interest. Countless people vote every year for this or that based solely upon republican or democratic affiliation regardless of the beliefs of their candidate or what they have to offer. These rejections are a dangerous trend in politics. By not voting based upon merit and action we are essentially destroying the democracy we love to talk so honorably about.
And finally, perhaps the greatest battle of them all when it comes to unfounded rejections ala Semmelweis, we have religion. Religion is the most necessary and beneficial evil man has ever been blessed to be cursed with. How contradictory of a statement but how deeply true it is. I will use the christian church as an example since I was raised by a pastor in a very christian household until my early teenage years and so I am familiar with many aspects of the faith. Let me briefly explain what I mean by a necessary evil then I will elaborate on how I believe religion to be the largest mass example of the Semmelweis Reflex known to man. Throughout history we can find examples of higher faith dating back to the beginning of modern human civilization. Many of these faiths instructed their followers to live lives of meaning and love. To have compassion for their fellow man, treat each other with kindness, and give thanks to the higher power that gave them life on this beautiful planet. These are all inherently good things and having a purpose to life and a higher meaning can give humans the necessary strength and motivation to accomplish things which still to this day amaze us. Being able to believe that if they strive to be a good person they will be rewarded with the riches of heaven is essential for motivation while here on earth. Subsequently they are kept in line with the promise of a painful fiery hell if they do not live according to the standards of the religion. This is the classic carrot in front of the donkey cart that parades the leaders of the church around while they relay the word of god to the wretched masses. By repeating this story and set of guidelines for hundreds and hundreds of generations on end the populous accepts it as a natural fact of the universe. When it is questioned, as it has been by many brilliant minds throughout history (and made to look like foolish nonsense), it becomes the natural response of the congregation to get angry at the heretic and immediate deny any claims that are in opposition to "the word of god". As discussed before briefly Galileo and other scientists such as Giordano Bruno, Cecco D’Ascoli, Roger Bacon, and more, met varying degrees of fate from imprisonment to death for suggesting the factually inaccurate claims of the church at the time were, well... dead wrong! Today the fight between science and religion continues as heated as always. Sadly, a correlated result (as it has been for ages) is the capitalization of this passion people have for higher understanding for benefit of one man over the other. Whether it be tithe plates, selling books on scientology, or promoting one big bang book over another it all boils down to control of the consumer and ultimately their wallet.
In conclusion, I dind't write this to bash religion or politics specifically. Nor did I write it because I was dying to tell you who Ignaz Semmelweis was and how his paradox came to be. I wrote it because I felt the need to show people the forest hidden amongst the trees. I felt the need to challenge peoples unwavering gut reaction to new information. The next time you find yourself dismissing something too wild to be true or something you were told not to agree with, take a second to really look at it. Examine the proverbial bark of the tree so to speak. How does this person know what they are telling you? Why are they telling you? What do you or them stand to benefit from knowing or sharing the information? And finally, what is the FACT of the matter, or the bigger picture so to speak? As often as I can, I try to pause my instinct to wave off new ideas or try not to be cynical about something I can't agree upon. In practicing this I have caught myself actively engaging my own Semmelweis reflex. The difference is now that I understand the phenomenon I can begin to take steps to ensure it has less of an effect on me. I concede that the nature of the reflex infers that there very well could be even larger concepts we are missing due to our inability to comprehend them and are therefore stuck with the limited knowledge our brains are capable of processing. On the largest end of the scale, again, I am ok with this. In summation, the macro and micro levels of the Semmelweis reflex are generally less harmful that the middle spectrum that comprises daily life for us humans. By understanding the forces we face within ourselves we can work towards taking the next step forward as a civilization. We must realize that in order to progress change needs to occur and we must be brave enough to stand in defiance of what the masses say to be right when we know the truth is otherwise. So take that with you today friends and make your decisions wisely. Fight for what you know is right and don't quit just because someone told you that you're wrong or crazy. Otherwise we'd all still be living on a flat germ infested splotch of purgatory!
John Thomas
NOTE: This is not an attempt to discredit anyone's belief and is solely an opinion I hold dearly. Please direct hate mail to the people responsible for the degradation of your chosen institutions. Thanks!
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