Comments on: The least among us… http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/ living my bliss ~ sharing my truth Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:24:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Dad http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-145 Dad Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:46:38 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-145 By helping them become aware of the consequences of their unethical behavior. Beyond that, there are laws and regulations designed to punish unethical or bad behavior. Why did you decide to stop eating meat or speak out against the War? If something moves you, it can move others. Move one grain of sand on a beach and every other grain of sand in the world adjusts a little bit too. Thought is energy. It moves mountaiins. Remember child psychology training? Address the behavior, not the child. We have to inspire others to choose a different destination situation. How would you inspire a jury to choose your desired outcome? Its about a preponderance of the evidence or beyond resonable doubt. In my business, "no" means I have failed to provide the necessary information in such a way that the client perceives what it in their best interest. By helping them become aware of the consequences of their unethical behavior. Beyond that, there are laws and regulations designed to punish unethical or bad behavior. Why did you decide to stop eating meat or speak out against the War? If something moves you, it can move others. Move one grain of sand on a beach and every other grain of sand in the world adjusts a little bit too. Thought is energy. It moves mountaiins. Remember child psychology training? Address the behavior, not the child. We have to inspire others to choose a different destination situation. How would you inspire a jury to choose your desired outcome? Its about a preponderance of the evidence or beyond resonable doubt. In my business, “no” means I have failed to provide the necessary information in such a way that the client perceives what it in their best interest.

]]> By: nakedmessenger http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-143 nakedmessenger Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:36:34 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-143 But ALL human behavior results from beliefs. I ask again, How does one challenge behavior without challenging the beliefs that support it? More specifically... How do I raise awareness about the unethical and inhumane system that supports the American high-meat diet and consumer culture WITHOUT challenging the belief that we are entitled to this lifestyle because we have worked hard to achieve it and deserve the opportunity for choice that comes with citizenship in a "free" nation? How do I raise awareness about the military-industrial complex and the unethical behavior and deceit that accompanies our rising fascist state without challenging the belief that we can trust our government and patriotic Americans must support our leaders in a time of war? How do you let someone know their behavior is unethical without addressing the ethics of their behavior? And how do I address the ethics of someone's behavior without threatening their ego that identifies with the both the behavior AND the belief? But ALL human behavior results from beliefs. I ask again, How does one challenge behavior without challenging the beliefs that support it?

More specifically…

How do I raise awareness about the unethical and inhumane system that supports the American high-meat diet and consumer culture WITHOUT challenging the belief that we are entitled to this lifestyle because we have worked hard to achieve it and deserve the opportunity for choice that comes with citizenship in a “free” nation?

How do I raise awareness about the military-industrial complex and the unethical behavior and deceit that accompanies our rising fascist state without challenging the belief that we can trust our government and patriotic Americans must support our leaders in a time of war?

How do you let someone know their behavior is unethical without addressing the ethics of their behavior? And how do I address the ethics of someone’s behavior without threatening their ego that identifies with the both the behavior AND the belief?

]]> By: Dad http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-142 Dad Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:57:22 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-142 The answer depends on whether you are dealing with a belief or a behavior. It is appropriate to challenge behavior and the consequences of that behavior. For example, the government's decision regarding the poligamist sect in Texas that was recently shut down was not about their beliefs, but rather their behavior and the consequences of that behavior. We cannot control what people believe. We can only control how they behave. People have to decide what they believe when they have sufficient knowledge to form a decision. New knowledge changes belief. If you want to sustain a belief, new knowledge must be blocked. Love, Dad The answer depends on whether you are dealing with a belief or a behavior. It is appropriate to challenge behavior and the consequences of that behavior. For example, the government’s decision regarding the poligamist sect in Texas that was recently shut down was not about their beliefs, but rather their behavior and the consequences of that behavior. We cannot control what people believe. We can only control how they behave. People have to decide what they believe when they have sufficient knowledge to form a decision. New knowledge changes belief. If you want to sustain a belief, new knowledge must be blocked.

Love, Dad

]]> By: nakedmessenger http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-141 nakedmessenger Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:14:26 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-141 How does one challenge unethical behavior without challenging the values, morals, intentions or motivation that sustain the behavior? How does one share truth without challenging all the lies that oppress and suffocate anything in opposition? How does one inspire a revolution without calling attention to the injustice and inadequacies of present system or leadership? How does one "turn on the light" in a dark room without exposing the phantoms and night-crawlers that lurk in shadows? To bring light to dark places, one must be prepared to enter dark places... We cannot free our the mind without first rattling the cage. One must understand they are captive before they will seek their own liberation. How does one challenge unethical behavior without challenging the values, morals, intentions or motivation that sustain the behavior? How does one share truth without challenging all the lies that oppress and suffocate anything in opposition? How does one inspire a revolution without calling attention to the injustice and inadequacies of present system or leadership?

How does one “turn on the light” in a dark room without exposing the phantoms and night-crawlers that lurk in shadows?

To bring light to dark places, one must be prepared to enter dark places…
We cannot free our the mind without first rattling the cage.
One must understand they are captive before they will seek their own liberation.

]]> By: Dad http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-140 Dad Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:10:35 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-140 Truth is the crossroads of knowing and believing. Knowing, knowledge, is what we acquire through our senses directly with observation. Believing, belief, is what we acquire from others directly or indirectly through various media. In knowing, what we observe is filtered through the lens of our past experiences, values, norms and beliefs. Truth, therefore, is heavily weighted toward what we believe. What do you see when you see me coming? What you heard me say is not what I thought I said. Collectively, we cannot not communicate. Yet, as we do communicate, rarely does what is received match what was intended to be sent. Critical thinking is nothing more than applying the Scientific Method. Trust but verify. Test your conclusions. Adjust as necessary. Reality is what the room looks like after the light comes on. Many people spend much of their existence in darkness which accounts for why there is so much chaos in the world. Be the light. People will adjust their own reality and beliefs when they feel they have to. People protect and defend their beliefs. Challenge observations respectfully (who, what, when, where how). Never challenge values, morals, intention, motivation or intent. Love Dad Truth is the crossroads of knowing and believing. Knowing, knowledge, is what we acquire through our senses directly with observation. Believing, belief, is what we acquire from others directly or indirectly through various media. In knowing, what we observe is filtered through the lens of our past experiences, values, norms and beliefs. Truth, therefore, is heavily weighted toward what we believe.

What do you see when you see me coming? What you heard me say is not what I thought I said. Collectively, we cannot not communicate. Yet, as we do communicate, rarely does what is received match what was intended to be sent.

Critical thinking is nothing more than applying the Scientific Method. Trust but verify. Test your conclusions. Adjust as necessary. Reality is what the room looks like after the light comes on. Many people spend much of their existence in darkness which accounts for why there is so much chaos in the world. Be the light. People will adjust their own reality and beliefs when they feel they have to.

People protect and defend their beliefs. Challenge observations respectfully (who, what, when, where how). Never challenge values, morals, intention, motivation or intent.

Love Dad

]]> By: Daz Cox http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-128 Daz Cox Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:53:56 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-128 I feel that we are most effective at creating positive change by doing the right thing when you yourself are presented with the choice. Its funny how quickly the programmed desire for 'flavor' passes away when you eat to live rather than live to eat. The smell of fast food is now obviously artificial to me, at one time it smelled like food but we now know that smell is a perfume not natural. I am gradually losing the taste for meat, I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything I just no longer consider it a staple. I feel that we are most effective at creating positive change by doing the right thing when you yourself are presented with the choice.

Its funny how quickly the programmed desire for ‘flavor’ passes away when you eat to live rather than live to eat. The smell of fast food is now obviously artificial to me, at one time it smelled like food but we now know that smell is a perfume not natural.

I am gradually losing the taste for meat, I don’t feel like I’m sacrificing anything I just no longer consider it a staple.

]]> By: nakedmessenger http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-118 nakedmessenger Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:55:34 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-118 I hear ya, girlfriend. When I think I might have to reduce my cheese intake to follow my own advice, I start to get heart palpitations and cold sweats. Cheese is not a food, it's a religion. I could have words with someone who takes my cheese from me. But I usually remember that people who remind me of things that are not good for me are not attacking me, but attacking a position. The only reason for any air of frustration on my ranting about meat is because our diet in America is DIRECTLY impacting our physical environment, our natural resources, and our collective conscience in negative ways. This makes me feel attacked by all the people who eat this way, as well as all the people who don't recycle, and all the people support a consumption-centered lifestyle... even if I KNOW they are not consciously doing it to destroy my world and the world of my children. It's the same effect either way, we all feel threatened by the actions or statements of others that challenge our way of life. It's the same reason I want to shake Republicans and say "Just what do think you're doing with MY tax money, you self-consumed, war-mongering imperialist?!?" But something tells me they'd just tell me to fuck off. Information IS power, and conscious living is powerful... even if change is painful. It took me 32 years to become a vegetarian: 25 years of ignorance, 5 years of denial, and two years of excuses. I REALLY understand how difficult change can be. But regardless, I am sorry if my words hurt you and I am working to find a way to share the message without so much anger because that's best for all involved. I hear ya, girlfriend. When I think I might have to reduce my cheese intake to follow my own advice, I start to get heart palpitations and cold sweats. Cheese is not a food, it’s a religion. I could have words with someone who takes my cheese from me. But I usually remember that people who remind me of things that are not good for me are not attacking me, but attacking a position. The only reason for any air of frustration on my ranting about meat is because our diet in America is DIRECTLY impacting our physical environment, our natural resources, and our collective conscience in negative ways. This makes me feel attacked by all the people who eat this way, as well as all the people who don’t recycle, and all the people support a consumption-centered lifestyle… even if I KNOW they are not consciously doing it to destroy my world and the world of my children. It’s the same effect either way, we all feel threatened by the actions or statements of others that challenge our way of life. It’s the same reason I want to shake Republicans and say “Just what do think you’re doing with MY tax money, you self-consumed, war-mongering imperialist?!?” But something tells me they’d just tell me to fuck off.

Information IS power, and conscious living is powerful… even if change is painful. It took me 32 years to become a vegetarian: 25 years of ignorance, 5 years of denial, and two years of excuses. I REALLY understand how difficult change can be. But regardless, I am sorry if my words hurt you and I am working to find a way to share the message without so much anger because that’s best for all involved.

]]> By: mrschili http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-111 mrschili Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:44:17 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-111 You are absolutely right that it's a difficult situation. We become ensconced in a lifestyle and, particularly because we are so far removed from the mechanisms that make that lifestyle possible, we never stop to consider the implications of it. Most of us (I would dare to say all of us, even) have a lot of deep-seated issues around food. It's a survival/comfort thing for us, and a challenge to the way we function around it is necessarily met with a fight-flight reaction. Being open minded enough to not be threatened by a challenge is difficult, even for those of us who consider ourselves open minded. Information is power, though, and I think that the recognition of a problem (and a willingness to do SOMETHING to address that problem in our own behaviors and patterns) is important... You are absolutely right that it’s a difficult situation. We become ensconced in a lifestyle and, particularly because we are so far removed from the mechanisms that make that lifestyle possible, we never stop to consider the implications of it.

Most of us (I would dare to say all of us, even) have a lot of deep-seated issues around food. It’s a survival/comfort thing for us, and a challenge to the way we function around it is necessarily met with a fight-flight reaction. Being open minded enough to not be threatened by a challenge is difficult, even for those of us who consider ourselves open minded.

Information is power, though, and I think that the recognition of a problem (and a willingness to do SOMETHING to address that problem in our own behaviors and patterns) is important…

]]> By: gerry rosser http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/the-least-among-us/#comment-110 gerry rosser Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:55:29 +0000 http://nakedmessenger.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-110 I have, at times, undertaken to be a vegetarian. I never gave up eggs and cheese, however. I have always failed to last long mostly due to family pressure. So, what now for me? I'm not sure. What do I mean my family pressure? When I announced to my Life Partner that I intended to give up eating flesh, she cried. Why? Deep-seated emotional connection/memories surrounding preparing food, sharing food, etc. There is no chance whatsoever that she would give up meat herself. None. Anyway, I agree with everything you say. I have, at times, undertaken to be a vegetarian. I never gave up eggs and cheese, however. I have always failed to last long mostly due to family pressure. So, what now for me? I’m not sure.

What do I mean my family pressure? When I announced to my Life Partner that I intended to give up eating flesh, she cried. Why? Deep-seated emotional connection/memories surrounding preparing food, sharing food, etc. There is no chance whatsoever that she would give up meat herself. None.

Anyway, I agree with everything you say.

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