Stephen Schwartz has written an important book called 'The Eight Laws of Change' wherein he asserts (supported by research) that non-violent movements for change are more lasting than violent ones and those intending life-affirming outcomes to be the most lasting. Clearly, if this is true it would assure a positive, life-affirming reality on this planet. Since violence, abuse, exploitation and constant war represent our foreign and domestic policies there must be compelling, over-riding forces extant, in opposition to the 'life affirming', that predominate and control outcomes.
Those of us who seek real change must focus most of our energy toward that goal. However, before we initiate that end it is essential that we understand, as best we can, the dark nature, the awesome power and presence of the powerful few who run our lives, our nation, our planet. The 1% vs the 99% symbolizes the economic disparity but I believe the truly powerful are mostly hidden and reward those who run 'their' system. We see the rewarded--it is not so easy to see behind the curtain.
Further, I contend that our reality is created by those who run the system. The destabilization of the Middle East and North Africa and the further chaos, pain and suffering associated with the mass exodus of refugees we create is reality purposefully created by those who run the US. The weak do not create reality! The tail does not wag the dog! If we look back from this now point toward 9/11 we see what 'they' want. I see the future, our future manifesting more chaos, war and the aftermath of war across the planet---Again, what you see is what they want.
Created reality include ISIS armed with weapons collected by the CIA in Benghazi and manned by unemployed Iraqis. This simply to secure our nominal consent to start killing in Syria.
When a plane is shot down over Ukraine from 30,000 feet we see photos of plane wreckage. Why not a single photo of plane wreckage at the pentagon--right here in our back yard. Why is there not a single reference to the existence of Al Qaeda written or spoken prior to 9/11? Al Qaeda was stood up in the same nine seconds it took to 'burn' the towers down. The same utter absence of plane wreckage in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, also.
This is how easy it is to manufacture perception. I could list numerous bizarre concocted deceptions but haven't space. All of this is painfully tedious but I wanted to make the point as to how little control we have over our 'perception' of state-sponsored truth. I believe the dire circumstance representing our manipulated reality must be acknowledged though I'm not sure if most Americans care if a plane flew into the pentagon or if Al Qaeda was responsible for 9/11. (In 2005 FBI agent Rex Tomb stated that the FBI had no evidence connecting Osama bin Laden to 9/11--good grief, folks.)
Against this background of state fear-mongering and perception management there is no chance for decent people to promote that which is life affirming.
Don Scotten
scotten6|AT|gmail.comEmail address