ralis

Can't wait!

Thanks! There are some areas, not all, which are difficult for me to discern clearly. Your level of detailed instruction is most appreciated. I started the sitting practices today.

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Stacking the deck doesn't work on me! Your tactics are right from the Tea Bagger playbook. Shout down the opposition with emotionally based drama which is based in sophism, until the Tea Party wins. That is how you come across on this forum.

There is a symbol under the avatar that denotes if one has donated.

I am not talking about belief systems but facts in regards to historical events and how those events repeat. Your post is overly generalized. Which thread are you referring to that you feel "question it's intellectual integrity". Obviously you have nothing to add except a vague undefined criticism. Studied history? Then why not contribute!

More hate speech from the religious right wing conservative Republicans. Everyday, more vitriol is spewed in the name of religion and right wing politics. How can a Taoist even be associated with a political party that condones hate speech? http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/30/kansas-pastor-calls-on-u-s-government-to-kill-lgbt-people/ The pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, Kansas says President Barack Obama has gone too far in supporting same sex marriage and it’s time for the U.S. government to begin killing gay men and lesbians. “Terrorists are dangerous, the economy is a real and present danger,” Pastor Curtis Knapp told his congregation on Sunday. “But there is simply nothing other than the holocaust of the unborn which imperils the safety of our country or places our people in jeopardy as does the leader of the Western world publicly raising his fist at the heavens and declaring that the bedrock institution of society, ordained of God and meant to be protected by the state, is little more than a convention of convenience with the children of Sodom to transform the meaning of something, which is precious to Jesus Christ, and a living picture of his love for the church into a legally protected justification for perversion and a vehicle of hatred aimed directly at that love.” Knapp went on to read from Leviticus 20: “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death.” “They should be put to death,” Knapp declared. “‘Oh, so you’re saying we should go out and start killing them, no?’ — I’m saying the government should. They won’t, but they should.” “You say, ‘Oh, I can’t believe you, you’re horrible. You’re a backwards neanderthal of a person.’ Is that what you’re calling scripture? Is God a neanderthal, backwards in his morality? Is it His word or not? If it’s His word, he commanded it. It’s His idea, not mine. And I’m not ashamed of it.” “He said put them to death,” he continued. “Shall the church drag them in? No, I’m not say that. The church has not been given the power of the sort; the government has. But the government ought to [kill them]. You got a better idea? A better idea than God?” Listen to Knapp’s entire 1-hour sermon on “The Curse of Homosexuality” here. http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=527121350272 Calls to the New Hope Baptist Church were not returned by the time of publication. This child was cheered for hate speech. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/30/church-cheers-as-4-year-old-sings-aint-no-homos-gonna-make-it-to-heaven/

I imagine you would take the mask from your own mother if there were only one! Right wing fiscal sanity at the expense of others. Your Tea Party wants to eliminate all social programs they deem unconstitutional. Programs such as Social Security, Medicare, FDA inspection stations, food stamps (40 million plus in the U.S. due in part to corporations shipping jobs overseas, 23% of all American children living in poverty) and eliminate funds for necessary infrastructure repair etc. Just more Ayn Rand blather on the rugged individual who can do anything and is totally self reliant. A few may very well be. However, many in this world are lacking the mental and physical capacity to be contributors to society. Therefor, it is the responsibility of the society to provide for those who are unable to provide for themselves.

Reasonable persons are just supposed to stand back and do nothing? Enable abusive behavior? I think not!! Have you read any history? Did you bother to read my post? http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/23628-political-ethics-for-taoists-and-buddhists/page__view__findpost__p__341701 For a better understanding as to how some here believe and behave, then read a few of the posts in this thread I started. http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/22668-right-wing-war-against-pro-choice/

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I believe Fox News started that when they suggested that Tea Party members send tea bags to their representatives. Example of hate speech coming from the Tea Party.

I agree. Joe and his Tea Bagger movement are adherents to Social Darwinism where only the wealthiest and strong are given the privilege of living well. Tough luck for anyone not fitting their world view. Their ideology is thinly disguised neo-feudalism or neo-medievalism. The study of the Tao naturally leads one to understand that the way of nature is one of cooperation and not opposition. Joe adheres to the latter belief system. Chris Hedges on the Corporate Neofeudalism http://benatlas.com/2010/12/chris-hedges-on-the-corporate-neofeudalism/ “The creation of a permanent, insecure and frightened underclass is the most effective weapon to thwart rebellion and resistance as our economy worsens. Huge pools of unemployed and underemployed blunt labor organizing, since any job, no matter how menial, is zealously coveted. As state and federal social welfare programs, especially in education, are gutted, we create a wider and wider gulf between the resources available to the tiny elite and the deprivation and suffering visited on our permanent underclass. Access to education, for example, is now largely defined by class. The middle class, taking on huge debt, desperately flees to private institutions to make sure their children have a chance to enter the managerial ranks of the corporate elite. And this is the idea. Public education, which, when it functions, gives opportunities to all citizens, hinders a system of corporate neofeudalism. Corporations are advancing, with Barack Obama’s assistance, charter schools and educational services that are stripped down and designed to train classes for their appropriate vocations, which, if you’re poor means a future in the service sector. The eradication of teachers’ unions, under way in states such as New Jersey, is a vital component in the dismantling of public education. Corporations know that good systems of public education are a hindrance to a rigid caste system. In corporate America everyone will be kept in his or her place. The beating down of workers, exacerbated by the prospect that unemployment benefits will not be renewed for millions of Americans and that public sector unions will soon be broken, has transformed those in the working class from full members of society, able to participate in its debates, the economy and governance, into terrified people in fragmented pools preoccupied with the struggle of private existence. Those who are economically broken usually cease to be concerned with civic virtues. They will, history has demonstrated, serve any system, no matter how evil, and do anything for a salary, job security and the protection of their families. There will be sectors of the society that, as the situation worsens, attempt to rebel. But the state can rely on a huge number of people who, for work and meager benefits, will transform themselves into willing executioners. The reconfiguration of American society into a corporate oligarchy is conditioning tens of millions not only to passively accept state and corporate crimes, but to actively participate in the mechanisms that ensure their own enslavement.”

This is where the conservative Tea Bagger Republicans are leading their 'ship of fools'. For anyone who calls themselves a Taoist, and supports the right wing of the Republican party is not a Taoist. Ten Commandments’ Judge Roy Moore: Secularism leads to Sharia law Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore (Campaign Advertisement) Topics: Judge Roy Moore ♦ Roy Moore The man who is likely to be Alabama’s next chief justice is warning that secular government will lead to Islamic law in the United States. In an interview with conservative talk show host Steve Deace last week, Roy Moore opined that “a government that is denying God” was also allowing Sharia law to take hold. The Republican candidate explained that he had no regrets after the Alabama Court of the Judiciary was forced to strip him of the chief justice title in 2003 because he rejected a federal court order to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the state courthouse. “I firmly believe that only God can heal our land and he is waiting for the American people to wake up to what’s going on around them about a government that is denying God and in doing so is bent on taking away those rights and liberties and freedoms given to us by God, in contradiction to the very organic law from which we are based,” Moore explained on Friday. “I never regretted what I did, I did exactly what I knew I was to do and that is to stand firm and not let some federal judge tell me to remove a monument, which he had no right to do anyway.” “What they fear most is my acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God,” he continued, adding that the federal judge had “violated not only our Constitution but the case law of the United States Supreme Court which says our religious freedom comes from God, and if it doesn’t come from God people have to realize we will lose it and that is happening in our country today with Sharia law and the allowance of religious practices for other groups but not Christians.” Earlier this year, Moore overwhelmingly won the GOP nomination in a bid to take back the title of chief justice. The Republican Party has pledged to give him its full support. “The Alabama Republican Party stands firmly behind Judge Roy Moore to serve as the next Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court,” Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said earlier this month. “Judge Moore embodies the conservative values and beliefs of the citizens of our state and the Republican Party in Alabama stands behind him 100 percent.” In recent months, Moore and his Foundation for Moral Law have been fighting to allow the small town Sylvania to use a Bible verse on their welcome signs. “The Freedom from Religion Foundation has an agenda to remove any acknowledgement of God or religion from the public square and are trying to bully towns like Sylvania with threatening letters that grossly misrepresent the Constitution,” Moore told the Times-Journal. “Sylvania refuses to be bullied by the anti-religious sentiment of the FFRF. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution stands for freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, and we look forward to representing Sylvania in this important matter.” The Anniston Star Editorial Board has argued that a candidate for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court should not “promote his own particular brand of religion and tie it to questionable constitutional interpretations.” "One can — and should — question the propriety of an Alabama chief justice GOP nominee heading a foundation dedicated to a constitutional position on which he might one day have to rule,” the editorial board wrote. “Here is a prime example of the sort of controversy on which a chief justice should avoid taking a public stand.” http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/29/ten-commandments-judge-roy-moore-secularism-leads-to-sharia-law/

Historical documents. For more info., read the posts on fascism in off topic. Ian Kershaw is the eminent authority on fascism. Also William Shirer. http://www.amazon.com/s/176-7307208-0305447?ie=UTF8&tag=mozilla-20&index=blended&link_code=qs&field-keywords=ian%20kershaw&sourceid=Mozilla-search http://www.amazon.com/s/176-7307208-0305447?ie=UTF8&tag=mozilla-20&index=blended&link_code=qs&field-keywords=ian%20kershaw&sourceid=Mozilla-search#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=william+shirer&sprefix=william+shirer%2Caps%2C235&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Awilliam+shirer ( ASCII text format ) The 14 Characteristics of Fascism by Lawrence Britt Spring 2003 Free Inquiry magazine Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy. The 14 characteristics are: Powerful and Continuing Nationalism Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. Supremacy of the Military Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. Rampant Sexism The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy. Controlled Mass Media Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. Obsession with National Security Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. Religion and Government are Intertwined Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. Corporate Power is Protected The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. Labor Power is Suppressed Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed . Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts. Obsession with Crime and Punishment Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders. Fraudulent Elections Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections. Copyright © 2003 Free Inquiry magazine Reprinted for Fair Use Only. This article was based upon the article "The Hallmarks of Fascist Regime" by Skip Stone, at www.hippy.com/php/article-226.html.

The Joker is an ancient archetype. Most who watched the movie missed that entirely.

Your definition of fascism is the end result and not the cause of. I know very well what fascism is and your corporate wish to have more government programs privatized is fascism. Private corporations are accountable to no one except themselves. Your dream that somehow such corporations can be fired is absolute nonsense.

If you dissect JB's post, his narrative is thinly disguised 'Social Darwinism', anti-union, deregulation, neo-liberalism and pro corporate fascism. Under the Tea Bagger Republican regime, there will be no safety net for anyone. His favorite politician Ron Paul believes that the 'Civil Rights Act' is unconstitutional.

Names?

Amazon has a very secure site where your DVD's can be purchased and downloaded. Also Amazon has a video on demand service where your DVD's can be viewed for one week for a small fee. That way, many more can benefit from these practices. I can find the info. and post later. Here is an example from there instant video site. One can either rent, which is streaming from their site or buy. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dinstant-video&field-keywords=wild+goose

Homosexuality has been happening for millions of years. That is a known fact. BPA is somehow a cause? Conspiracy? Are you in favor of protecting the rights of LGBT's?

Manufacturing of? That is merely speculation and is contrary to the facts of. What does this have to do with the OP?

I would like some feedback on awakening the third eye. ralis

Well said! Conservative Tea Bagger Republicans have bought the false promises of a better tomorrow fed to them by their flawed Machiavellian handlers. Richard III a flawed man obsessed with the acquisition of power at any cost, best describes the modern right wing conservative. Support of political movements which are Social Darwinist in nature, is antithetical to Taoism and Buddhism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5-SUDrHMU&feature=related

Shout down the opposition Joe by adding nothing of substance but emotional rants. That is how the Tea Bagger party has trained you.