THE POLITICS OF LIFE

Politics is a nasty word with controversial connotations. When you think politics you think democrat vs. republican and extreme positions colliding. Politics is also a word applicable to life. It's amazing how people with ego driven agendas employ politics. Politics are a nasty business whether you make money off them or not.

I have found myself situations where politics rule and very often they make me smile. To me politics are the lowest common denominator in life. People use politics as a way to stand above and over others, it's almost like politics are a way to point a finger that spews salt into open wounds. I hate politics and more than hate tapioca pudding, and I really hate tapioca pudding.

In short this entry is my rant against a nasty practice and behavior. I hate politics but it seems like politics are necessary in this life, like the ying to the yang, good to evil, some sort of bullshit like that. In short it's my way of saying fuck politics.

THE LOVE JOURNEY

I used to think that the whole "LOVE" thing was more of a stoner mantra than anything else. I respect people as a rule of thumb and I respect whatever their choices are even if said choices differ from my own. I am sure you are probably wondering why there is a picture of a cannabis leaf in this entry. I will explain that in a minute so please hold on to your commentary.

I was at the metro in Amsterdam one night after a night of discovering the treasures of the city. I was fresh off a delicious meal in an Argentine steakhouse and on my way to a pleasant slumber. I remember that night so clearly. The sky was clear and the air was cold, a December night lit up by trees, light, street music and the feeling of Christmas. I remember I felt uncomfortable with my outfit because I hate wearing layers and restrictive style clothing.

As I sat and looked out the window of the metro I was asked if I was a tourist. The person that asked me the question was a brit with a backpack and a look of immense joy. The fella started asking me what I thought about marijuana and I answered as best I could. I remembered saying that I never felt it really did harm to anyone. The man handed me a card with some drawing and the word LOVE on it. I remember the card looked like a mixture of rorschach's work and ramblings of stoner artist.

Curious I asked my British stoner friend what it was and he responded with " It's life and the answer." I recall that I smiled and proceeded to leave without giving it a second thought. The brit offered me the opportunity to smoke some weed with him but I was not interested so i shook his hand and told him to enjoy himself. When I arrived at my destination I looked at the card and every part drawn in black had a line that resembled  a long and winding road. I thought about what the stoner said for a few days.

I realized that what my burnout friend meant was that love can really solve anything and guide you through some of the hardest roads to travel. I know that love is something we like to associate with hippies, stoners, and weaklings. The fact of the mater is that there is nothing wrong with allowing a little love to penetrate our jaded souls because in the end all the material possessions, bitterness, and differences we have do not accompany us to the grave. Love is the universal force that we are born with, live with, and can chose to go on our never ending journey with. Let's love one another people because it isn't a stoner mantra so much as it is the only absolute reality in life.

A NORTH AMERICAN UNION

I am sure everyone knows about the hypothetical union between the US, Mexico, and Canada. The union would be something similar to the EU and would yield a universal currency known as the Amero. This is something of a hot button issue that has had conspiracy theorists and anti- Bush individuals alike up in arms for a long time. Since the North American Union is hypothetical let's for a second look at what could be.

 The currency union happens and suddenly the peso is no longer worthless. The currency union happens and suddenly the US dollar is no more. I also imagine the implications of citizenship for Canadians and Mexicans alike. Mexicans would no longer face immigration issues because making a move would no longer be a life or death issue.  Those are all the pros, but what about the cons?

The cons are that I think given tensions over immigration and the enormous amount of ignorance in some portions of the US, it would create a major amount of discomfort. I think the reason why a North American Union would not work as effectively is simply because Mexico, the US, and Canada are three enormous countries with highly differing views on multiple issues. Ultimately the fact that so many people view power as something of a mysterious issue that is only understood by those that wield it, it would mean great civil unrest among three major nations.

I doubt that the North American Union will ever exist because honestly the geographical way of thinking is entirely too different in this part of the world. Still it's interesting to dig deeper into the concept and look at legitimately possible scenarios.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD?

I can't believe that even Target is not a safe place to be anymore. I read that three people were stabbed at Target because some knife wielding psycho was running away after a fight. The crazy bastard took a sixteen year old girl hostage. This is typical punk ass cowardice. What happened to the old days when fights were settled with the simple rule of loser hits the ground and no longer gets back up to cause problems?

I am tired of seeing this kind of thing happen. I hate punks playing like men the street and then taking the lives of innocent and turning them upside down. It almost seems like the more we try to improve as a society the more we go back. I don't want to dedicate too much to this particular news bit other than to say we are a fucking society that needs to change for the better.

LET'S GROW THE FUCK UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING!

LONELINESS OF BEING

I have always wondered if even people that claim to love being surrounded by others are really just trying to mask a feeling of intense loneliness. Each and every single one of us is an individual so it's fair to ask if deep down because of our individual natures we are all lonely to some extent. In my case it's easy to answer that because I have always felt alone and somewhat outside the sphere.

We are born alone and we die alone so it is fair to wonder if some of us are more affected by that moment of loneliness that brings us in or even the one that takes us out. Life can be so damn complicated and it seems like loneliness is one of those very unpleasant complications. We all face that moment in the mirror where we ask questions only we can answer. At the end of the day we are put in a position where we must learn to be by ourselves and for ourselves.

I guess we are all lonely and the difference between one lonely person and another is one may be able to use it as a source of strength as opposed to the greatest fountain of weakness. Loneliness is a fundamental part of the human condition and like everything else in life it's how we use that loneliness that makes a difference.