Shopping for God

Picture a shopping mall.

Inside, there are cute little different stores; each one with appealing products for the market they target. However, there are segments of the market that take pleasure in making shopping decisions that make no sense at all; revealing, thus, a profound sense of confusion and incoherence (all under the flag of freedom of choice).

Believing in a Higher Creative Energy.

Entering a store called Judaism. Looking around; disliking many things there: so many rituals (take the Shabbat for instance: burning the candles before sunset; singing in Hebrew; breaking the bread; all those blessings; not to mention all the time spent with family “It’s so stressing!”); so much fasting during the year; so much Torah reading; the 613 mitzvot; the relationship with Eretz Yisrael…it’s too much confusion. Just buy a relationship with God and get the hell out of there before coming across with a Rav (= Rabbi).

Entering a store called Christianity. Looking around; being confused about many things: each denomination claiming to be truer than the next; the several different rituals; Sunday morning services; the tithe for the church (“Why should my money go to there?”); Jesus’ teachings, is he a god or not; offering the other cheek…it’s too much. Just buy a metal cross to wear when clubbing and scurry off the store before being subjected to an evangelical conversion.

Entering a store called Buddhism. Looking around; ridiculing the mental discipline required: daily meditation; acknowledging that life is pain (we are here to suffer); following the Eightfold Path; the 4 Noble Truths; the mantras; detaching oneself from matter; frugality…no way. Just buy the concept of a non-intervening god and split before being appointed as the reincarnation of a past Lama.

After having bought incense and a Shiva image at Hinduism; a Ying Yang symbol at Taoism; a Hand of Fatima at Islamism; a Fertility Statue at Animism; a Pentagram at Wiccan; flowers to offer to Yemanja at Candomblé and nihilism at Atheism…one feels prepared to fully live inadequately, unadjusted, free of personal accountability and to be Zen...

…Spiritual Schizophrenia…

To shop for a different perspective, walk over to LS' store: Here.

Google: Impressive!

I salute all those who refuse to be gagged.

Governments (be it Right-Wing or Left-Wing) always exert pressure on the press, which is many times viewed as treading on Freedom of Speech. However, one thing is to put pressure, as a form of governmental marketing; another completely different thing is to gag the press, the media and specially the People.

How wonderfully fascists, socialists and communists do this; thus perspiring fear from every single pore of their regime…

China thrives on censorship. It gags the whole nation, and what is most interesting about it is that it doesn’t even try to hide it (well, at least they are not hypocritical, right?): it gags the press; it gags TV networks; it gags its own people (and it has the nerve to call itself “People’s Republic”) and, it insists on wanting to gag business companies.

I salute Google. In fact, I bow to Google. Google did what governments, around the world, don’t do: it shot the dragon in its heart and exposed it.

When convenient, the whole world enjoys painting the United States of America as a monster; however it was an American corporation that had the balls (pardon my French) to stand up to a Human Rights rapist and no longer accepted to continue gagging the Chinese People and to be gagged.

I also congratulate Google for the diplomatic fashion in which it solved this quid pro quo; because if it were up to me…I would have moved the operations to Taiwan.

An ethical American Business company defending the Chinese People’s rights more than the Chinese government…gorgeous…

As for the Chinese People: it’s time to join the caravan of True Freedom. Rise up!

Image: Sacrifice of Isaac (detail) by Caravaggio

Rwanda, Take a Bow

Rwanda is, presently, an African success story. It is one of the fastest growing economies; it is organised and its development is at sight.

This country is the only country, in the world, whose parliamentary house is comprised mostly by women (56%). Paul Kagame (the Rwandan President) says it is only natural that women have a strong presence in government since “53% of the [Rwandan] population are women”, and plus the most successful business people in the nation are ladies, as well.

Paul Kagame is very interesting. This African leader is intelligent, focused and he serves the people that elected him into office (the proof of it is the rapid development that this nation has been experiencing).

Now, this gentleman is being accused of being authoritarian, a dictator and non-democratic (by foreign Human Rights groups – speaking of which...where were they upon the genocide in Rwanda?); but from what I have heard, and read, his people love him and are quite content with his work.

Democracy, as we all know, is the power of the people for the people (i.e. the provision of access to equal opportunities): Mr. Kagame’s position is the result of the Rwandan people’s power and the obvious development of Rwanda is due to the Will Power of this same people – thus, democracy seems to be implemented in this once torn country.

Paul Kagame is not exempt from criticism, however those who critique him would do a better job if they’d join the band of development and help healing the wounds that are far from being healed.

Image: Seated Worker by György Goldmann

Comment: The International Women's Day

Yesterday was the International Women’s Day.

Each year this day is celebrated with several seminars and forums; with people exchanging emails and text messages extolling female strength, intelligence and power – it is all so beautiful and touching.

On the 8th of March, the accomplishments of the “feminine movement” (N.B: read not “feminist movement” – presently, the biggest foe of the “feminine [i.e. Pro-Femina] movement”) are greatly discussed and praised. It is a fact that women have come a long way (the journey has been harsh yet worthwhile): they now have an academic life, their intellect is valued and respected; they vote; they have professional careers, they contribute to GDP; and so forth...

On this same date, the injustice practised against women is also reminded: equal job, unequal pay; when back home from work they still have to work at home (clean the house, cook, take care of the children etc) [N.B: in the Western world, many men help their spouses however this is not an universal behaviour around the globe]; the lack of general access to top executive positions (men still rule in the Banking and Corporate Universe)...

Yes, the International Women’s Day is really special: women, all over the world, wave the white flag for a day and wish each other “Happy Women’s Day!” with such fervour that one might be led to believe that they actually support each other unconditionally; that they are actually loyal to being a woman; that they are never, ever, prone to side with men against other women and everything that being a real woman stands for.

The 8th of March...the day politicians (both male and female) explain to women the significance of being a woman (she bears life; she’s vital to our economy; women are ½ the world’s population etc); they expose the need to protect these amazing human beings’ rights...Standing ovation [“I’ll vote for this guy/woman!”]...Belief...Hope...Naiveté...

The 9th of March comes and everything is forsaken...see you next year!

Image: Compositions by Jëno Barcsay