Notice: This page provides an introduction to a book I am working on called My Reality. A sub-title of the book is The Pursuit of Human Harmony. I am currently in the process of updating the book and editing it. Chapters will be added here as I complete them.
MY REALITY
What is - IS!
My Reality does not depend on what the definition of is is.
What is - IS!
Reality IS!
We humans like to believe in things that are not real.
As children we are taught to believe in Santa Claus. Little girls "make believe" they are drinking tea out of toy teacups. Little boys of my era "made believe" we were cowboys riding fine horses. Todays tots "learn" to believe through the rose colored glasses of kiddie television. When we get older we come to REALIZE the folly of such notions but then we grasp onto other "unrealistic" views. We play the lotto fantasizing of what we'll do with the millions we'll win. We ignore healthy living habits while expecting to live long healthy lives. In America, we believe we have a God given right to extravagant living while much of the rest of the world is destitute. We ignore global warming while we guzzle more gas in our SUV's. We become chronically obese while many in the world starve. We blame that starvation on local despot dictators but do little to aid in their economic growth.
The facts of the matter are - there is no Santa Claus, the odds against winning the lotto are higher than those of getting hit by lightning and if we smoke. we stand a good chance of getting lung cancer. There are all kinds of ways that not living in reality affect our lives. For example, most people that are afraid to fly on an aircraft do not accept the fact that it is safer to fly across this country in a commercial aircraft than it is to drive in an automobile. Statistics show that in recent years fewer than a few hundred a year lose their lives in aircraft accidents yet the national death toll for automobiles hovers above 40.000 every year.
World demographics show that a very small minority of wealthy elite are getting richer and richer while a struggling middle class finds it more and more difficult to maintain a comfortable life style and growing masses are of destitute people are pushed further and further into miserable living conditions.
In my view, turmoil persists throughout the world because we deal with our problems under false premises. In my view, one of the biggest single contributors to the ills of the world and to humanity is religion. We pray for solutions to our problems instead of facing the reality that we must be the masters of our destiny. A small example of this is football teams praying for God to help their team win. Which side is God to help? Should he help the team that prays the best or the team that plays the best?
Which side is God to help? Should He help the millions in this country who pray to a Christian God or to the billions afar that pray to Allah?
I believe that teams prepared by honing their physical and mental skills rather than by praying for God's intercession in their games will have the greatest success. I believe that world conditions are better improved by Peace Corps type initiatives, by economic policies that would give the down trodden a better chance (perhaps by giving the wealthiest fewer tax cuts) and by strengthening the United Nations rather than weakening it (for example withholding funding for condoms to fight against AIDS because some of the destitute might use them for birth control or for other "immoral" purposes).
I do not believe that supernatural powers exist that will come to the aid (or the destruction) of humankind. I do not believe that belief (or non-belief) in any given religion will determine my place on this earth or in eternity.
Realistically, I can affect my life on this earth to some extent. I can live a healthy lifestyle to enhance my longevity. I can work harder or better to increase my material well being. I can be open and friendly to expand my social environment.
I believe that if we are to achieve human harmony, we must pursue this goal with a "realistic approach" We must face the realities!
Since Reality is what really is - not what we would like it to be, I believe that as time goes on more and more people will come to realize Reality. As science continues to explore, as teachers continue to educate, as people continue to discover truth we as a society will be transformed from the religious superstitious mythologists we are now to become Realists the world over. I cannot venture a prediction on when this might occur because religion is so deep-rooted in our culture and our reasoning.
Today we see great strife throughout the world. In this country, politics has so polarized us that we cannot even have congenial political discussions with our friends. Worldwide one third of the population have yet to escape religious beliefs of 900AD and they are pent on jihad. This global turmoil may be the start of something new. We as a society are being torn apart. Dealing with these divergent realities of our times will require significant changes in our approaches to resolving them. In my view, they can best be resolved by facing Reality!
In the past, major global problems have usually been resolved through the barrel of a gun. I believe we have passed that era. Brute force will not resolve these conflicts. Political solutions are also ill suited to the task. It is my view that intelligent educated people will come to realize that praying for solutions will not work either. Sooner or later, it will become apparent that revolution such as was portrayed in our country's founding will be the ultimate solution. We must set a new course based on Reality to overcome the differences that divide us. We shall overcome!
Here are a few of my ideas on coming to grips with REALITY:
We should establish a new world order to deal effectively with irreversible globalization. This would include a world constitution setting forth individual and states rights similar to the US Constitution.
We should establish Global Special Interest Groups made up of leaders from all walks of life (Government - Private Industry - Academia) to study various major problem areas (ie. Terrorism, Gobal Warming and Pollution, Population Control, Resource Management etc)
We should commission an International Science Board with membership made of representative from academia, private industry and voter elected individuals. This commission would provide information at large of scientific realities in layman's language and keep us updated as scientific progress is made. Controversial issues would be openly debated. A major focus of this commission would be to set forth "Reality" putting the various issues into perspective!
One of the biggest problems here in America is that we have the best government money can buy. The moneyed interests dominate our government rather than Of the people By the people FOR the people. We should "revolutionize" how our government is run. I believe that some of the ways to "fix" the US government are through:
1. Term Limits to include one six year term for president, three two year terms for representatives and two four year terms for senators.
2. Redistricting by rectangular districts based exclusively on population instead gerrymandering by politicians.
3. Annual elections for all federal offices except president.
4. Have 3 day election periods allowing electronic voting (over the internet and voting places) with paper audits. Public campaigning would be limited to the 60 days before each election.
5. Continuing polling on all the major issues of the day.
More TBD
This section was last updated on 15 Dec, 2009