LandMinds

If you catch yourself yelling at morning commuters; if you wake up in the gloom of yet another day in Cube Ville; if your day’s high point is a nightly beer or a morning shower self pleasuring session; if you cannot even find time to wish a good morning to family members or co-workers; if the perspective of the day to come, with its parade of meetings and dull tasks, turns you into a zombie-like frame of negative energy; if your response to human contact is ’not now I’m busy’, this message is for you:

Chill Out! Why? Because life is far too important to be taken seriously.

I know, you have heard this before and it has become one of these platitudes that only reinforces your sulky attitude. Now take a second look at it, a real deep look at every one of these words and what they really mean. Life is not important because your mere existence (more on that later) depends upon it. It is important because it is a gift, an opportunity, an insanely precious chance to experience a world of wonder beyond imagination. On this discovery journey, one encounters joy, sorrow, laugh, cry, pleasure and pain and all these feelings participate in shaping the soul, enriching it till it glows with its own life force and enlightment.. Does your current attitude fit this description? Mine does not but I am working on it.

Now let us revisit the fact that life is too important to be taken seriously. I thought, at first that this statement was so right, so ‘new agey’ in its lucidity that it belongs on the walls of my humble adobe. After many years, I realize it is wrong, in a way, and here is why. You, dear reader, may consider that you live your life seriously, obey the laws, respect your boss (what a pejorative name) and authority because this is the right thing to do, project cautious and reasoned behavior in your financial and love life, embrace societal values and are wary of those who decide for alternative ways. I am sorry to say that this kind of seriousness, defined as “Being of such import as to cause anxiety” or ‘Too complex to be easily answered or solved” is nothing but a useless shell that you build around your life so as to appear in control, professional, in charge. Truth is, you are not and that is both a good and a natural thing. Life should be taken seriously as in “Carried out in earnest” or “Deeply interested or involved”. Existing is not being serious about life; it is merely reacting to or witnessing a 100 year long decay (that is if you are unlucky). Living is a pro-active, deeply involved, wonder-filled experience. It takes work, dedication, risk taking and empathy.

Let us redefine this old adage: “Life is to important not to be deeply involved in”.

So next time you want to answer a greeting by a stare or decide to ignore a love story because it is unconventional; next time you feel like leaving Cube Ville behind but do not dare; next time you wake up in a corporate structure full of empty suits you respect because of their empty titles; consider if you want to fear life or live life.

Remember, chill out … or fuck off!

No go make the world a better place.

Pierre out…

If you catch yourself yelling at morning commuters; if you wake up in the gloom of yet another day in Cube Ville; if your day’s high point is a nightly beer or a morning shower self pleasuring session; if you cannot even find time to wish a good morning to family members or co-workers; if the perspective of the day to come, with its parade of meetings and dull tasks, turns you into a zombie-like frame of negative energy; if your response to human contact is ’not now I’m busy’, this message is for you:

Chill Out! Why? Because life is far too important to be taken seriously.

I know, you have heard this before and it has become one of these platitudes that only reinforces your sulky attitude. Now take a second look at it, a real deep look at every one of these words and what they really mean. Life is not important because your mere existence (more on that later) depends upon it. It is important because it is a gift, an opportunity, an insanely precious chance to experience a world of wonder beyond imagination. On this discovery journey, one encounters joy, sorrow, laugh, cry, pleasure and pain and all these feelings participate in shaping the soul, enriching it till it glows with its own life force and enlightment.. Does your current attitude fit this description? Mine does not but I am working on it.

Now let us revisit the fact that life is too important to be taken seriously. I thought, at first that this statement was so right, so ‘new agey’ in its lucidity that it belongs on the walls of my humble adobe. After many years, I realize it is wrong, in a way, and here is why. You, dear reader, may consider that you live your life seriously, obey the laws, respect your boss (what a pejorative name) and authority because this is the right thing to do, project cautious and reasoned behavior in your financial and love life, embrace societal values and are wary of those who decide for alternative ways. I am sorry to say that this kind of seriousness, defined as “Being of such import as to cause anxiety” or ‘Too complex to be easily answered or solved” is nothing but a useless shell that you build around your life so as to appear in control, professional, in charge. Truth is, you are not and that is both a good and a natural thing. Life should be taken seriously as in “Carried out in earnest” or “Deeply interested or involved”. Existing is not being serious about life; it is merely reacting to or witnessing a 100 year long decay (that is if you are unlucky). Living is a pro-active, deeply involved, wonder-filled experience. It takes work, dedication, risk taking and empathy.

Let us redefine this old adage: “Life is to important not to be deeply involved in”.

So next time you want to answer a greeting by a stare or decide to ignore a love story because it is unconventional; next time you feel like leaving Cube Ville behind but do not dare; next time you wake up in a corporate structure full of empty suits you respect because of their empty titles; consider if you want to fear life or live life.

Remember, chill out … or fuck off!

No go make the world a better place.

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Listening to: The 8 fans of my rig.
Dringking: Red Bicyclette Merlot

With the relative torpor of the holidays, it was easy to rest one’s mind, relax one’s habits and fall in the crowd of excuses that form the funeral procession of good intentions. Thus this blog laid dormant for 2 months. It was going to take an earthquake to shake my lethargic abandon and, for good or bad, this earthquake happened: South Dakota challenged women’s choice.

I first want to say that you will not read my personal opinion about abortion in these lines. The reason is fairly simple; not being a women and never, in this life at least, having to face this choice, I do feel I lack all the elements necessary to cast an enlightened judgment on the subject. You may of course disagree… I have been told many times that not being a woman is not the problem, that the fate of an innocent life is the problem. Granted, this may be, but I just refuse to get dragged into an argument that involves more faith than reason.

What I really feel strongly about, though, is the fact that this country was founded upon a concept of freedom, which includes freedoms of and from religion. Thus, I do not see why we should consider a Judeo Christian view of a topic when drafting laws, which is exactly what is being done in South Dakota. The fact that a category of the population thinks, because of their faith, that abortion is not acceptable does not make it a crime for those who do not embrace their particular faith. Once again, I am not saying that abortion is or is not acceptable for me, just that I do not wish to infringe upon others’ choice. Just what kind of arrogance is needed to think that one’s opinion is the only valid one? Did I just sleep through a long trip and have I landed in one of these Middle Eastern theocracies? Maybe is it time for our nation to tell the theocrats that their particular breed of Taliban is not acceptable in the United States of America. Then there is the ‘rational’ argument…

Many ‘pro lifers’ maintain that the infant is a being since conception and thus has rights, just as any other human. This leads us to the question: when is a fertilized egg a human being? Once again, I will not get into this debate, considering that it clearly is impossible to determine who is ’right’ or ‘wrong’ the issue resting upon belief rather than mere facts. I will however raise the point that many ‘pro-lifers’ I talked to are in total support of the war. I am not sure I understand the ability to conciliate this vehement fight for an unborn life with the blind acceptance of the legalized extinction of life that is war. Of course, being non violent makes me biased but I cannot help but wonder what the difference is between the fetus and the grown individual in their right to life. Just because someone belongs to another faction does it make their life less worthy of living? Only in self defense would I raise my hand in violence and even then, I would hesitate to kill. After all, life is the most precious commodity and how can we show the way to peace if we were to allow our actions to contradict our words. Also, what about those of the ‘pro-lifers’ who admit being in favor of the death penalty?

So next time you express your fervent opinions about the right to live, think about the entirety of your beliefs and try to be coherent. This being said, in our country, personal freedom always trumps religious laws and so I encourage you to raise your voice in disagreement if you feel that the recent events in South Dakota constitute a threat to the American way of Life.

As an alternative, check out ‘The Prevention First Act’(Senate Bill 2458 and House Bill 1073) and take action at http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/ppan_pfa/wxwdx8w215kt5we?

Now go on make the world a better place.

Pierre out.

With the relative torpor of the holidays, it was easy to rest one’s mind, relax one’s habits and fall in the crowd of excuses that form the funeral procession of good intentions. Thus this blog laid dormant for 2 months. It was going to take an earthquake to shake my lethargic abandon and, for good or bad, this earthquake happened: South Dakota challenged women’s choice.

I first want to say that you will not read my personal opinion about abortion in these lines. The reason is fairly simple; not being a women and never, in this life at least, having to face this choice, I do feel I lack all the elements necessary to cast an enlightened judgment on the subject. You may of course disagree… I have been told many times that not being a woman is not the problem, that the fate of an innocent life is the problem. Granted, this may be, but I just refuse to get dragged into an argument that involves more faith than reason.

What I really feel strongly about, though, is the fact that this country was founded upon a concept of freedom, which includes freedoms of and from religion. Thus, I do not see why we should consider a Judeo Christian view of a topic when drafting laws, which is exactly what is being done in South Dakota. The fact that a category of the population thinks, because of their faith, that abortion is not acceptable does not make it a crime for those who do not embrace their particular faith. Once again, I am not saying that abortion is or is not acceptable for me, just that I do not wish to infringe upon others’ choice. Just what kind of arrogance is needed to think that one’s opinion is the only valid one? Did I just sleep through a long trip and have I landed in one of these Middle Eastern theocracies? Maybe is it time for our nation to tell the theocrats that their particular breed of Taliban is not acceptable in the United States of America. Then there is the ‘rational’ argument…

Many ‘pro lifers’ maintain that the infant is a being since conception and thus has rights, just as any other human. This leads us to the question: when is a fertilized egg a human being? Once again, I will not get into this debate, considering that it clearly is impossible to determine who is ’right’ or ‘wrong’ the issue resting upon belief rather than mere facts. I will however raise the point that many ‘pro-lifers’ I talked to are in total support of the war. I am not sure I understand the ability to conciliate this vehement fight for an unborn life with the blind acceptance of the legalized extinction of life that is war. Of course, being non violent makes me biased but I cannot help but wonder what the difference is between the fetus and the grown individual in their right to life. Just because someone belongs to another faction does it make their life less worthy of living? Only in self defense would I raise my hand in violence and even then, I would hesitate to kill. After all, life is the most precious commodity and how can we show the way to peace if we were to allow our actions to contradict our words. Also, what about those of the ‘pro-lifers’ who admit being in favor of the death penalty?

So next time you express your fervent opinions about the right to live, think about the entirety of your beliefs and try to be coherent. This being said, in our country, personal freedom always trumps religious laws and so I encourage you to raise your voice in disagreement if you feel that the recent events in South Dakota constitute a threat to the American way of Life.

As an alternative, check out ‘The Prevention First Act’(Senate Bill 2458 and House Bill 1073) and take action at http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/ppan_pfa/wxwdx8w215kt5we?

Now go on and make the world a better place...

Pierre out.

Posted by Pierre at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Till Debts Do Us Part…

Driving to work one morning I was listening to my favorite radio station, NPR (please listen and contribute to http://www.npr.org ). As often, a bit of news captured my interest and immediately involved my heart. Somewhere in the US, recently, a dying man asked his wife to divorce him in order to avoid being responsible for the ½ million dollars debt his medical treatment generated. She refused…

It is not often that I hear a story where love triumphs over greed, evil, whatever, and I was closed to tears as I imagined the situation and its meaning. A great sadness overcame me as I realized that this single bit of news probably represented a low point for our entire culture. Such values as love, faith, effort, hope, cooperation are pushed at the forefront of our media-saturated national scene on a daily basis. Entire campaigns are run over who is more virtuous than whom and even blatant lies and extreme social positions are forgiven in the light of an advertised strong stance on said values. Then such situations as the one described above occur and the true face of reality, in all its obscene ugliness is revealed.

I come from a country that has a national healthcare and where this coverage works. I am not saying it is flawless and solves all health related problems, just that everyone is covered (with the extremely small exception of a few administrative loopholes). I often hear on US television that such a solution would never work in our country, that European countries are much smaller and thus present a unique situation. Unfortunately for these mouth pieces, I studied global health coverage in my early university years and can tell you that such statement is completely wrong. Global healthcare coverage works better as its base grows in size. Granted, the Baby Boomers are likely to create an overload, for some time, but will not bankrupt the system. I believe the key to the national resistance to such a solution is based upon four misconceptions:

- Global health care is considered a ‘socialist’ measure. Get over it people, this is just a word and it is about time that the brain washing message of the McCarthy years is left behind. By socialist, understand ‘with a social goal’. Now how is this bad?

- A global solution will increase taxes. Considering how much insured people are now paying for their plans, I am pretty certain that the same money can be added to taxes and would result in an even exchange. I must admit that I do not have data about this fact and am just basing my remark upon the fact that 25% to 30% of HMO costs goes to administrative expenses, including the insane salaries of their CEOs.

- Why should I pay for someone else’s coverage? It is true that some families will not pay taxes toward the global health coverage. However, as we live in a large community named the United States, cannot we find it in our heart to share the wealth so that others ‘lives can be preserved? Or have we grown so self-centered that such a perspective repulses us?

- Insurances should be allowed to make profit. Free enterprise is a fundamental American value. True enough, but health is a fundamental national issue and should not be abandoned to capitalistic greed. One’s life is and will always be worth more than mere money and I consider it a basic governmental function to help preserving citizen’s health. Hence the need to a national, government-managed system.

- Doctors have worked hard and should be able to make a profit. Of course, but then consider, as I mentioned it before, that 20 to 25 percent of HMOs cost goes to administrative expenses. Doctor’s salaries are not in question here, they should be justly paid for their high level of skills. Health insurances, on the other hand, add nothing to our society well-being and could be replaced completely by a federally-run, non-profit, system.

When it all comes down to it, from corporations to individuals find it hard to spend money for others,. We have grown into egocentric, wealth-centric citizens who sympathize at others’ problems yet do very little to solve them. Truth is, we are all in this together. Next time you pledge your faith, values, good intent, think about all those who are dying and ruined because of medical costs, think about families sent in tragedy because they could not afford an easy cure, think about how ridiculously fake any righteous statement sounds in comparison. Health is one’s most important ‘possessions’ and no politician will have my attention until he/she offers a viable, solid and driven plan for global health coverage.

Posted by Pierre at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)