 
**Taking Action for a  
Better Tomorrow**

By  
Jeremy P. Boggess 
Volume One:

The Survival and Advancement of our Species and Society

OR

Just another voice, like that of the woman known as Cassandra, Kassandra, or Alexandra

To my mother, Lu Ella, for teaching me strength.

To my father, Don, for instilling kindness and empathy in me.

À la femme de ma vie, Brigitte, pour m'avoir rendu l'espoir.

And to all those other people who helped make this possible.

Copyright © 2018, 2019 by Jeremy P. Boggess

JeremyPBoggess@gmail.com
**Contents**

Introduction

Chapter One: Changes Occurring in the Fractionalized World of Today

Threshold

Edge of a Frightening and Unknown World

Changing World—Change, Flexibility, and Adaptability

History Repeated

Changing World: Beginning or End?

Actions in Our Shrinking World

Cultural Interaction

Fear of the Loss of Culture

Loss of Traditions

Upholding Traditions

The Opportunity for Opportunists—the Lure of the Radical or Extremist

Opportunity for the Opportunist—Filling the Void

Extremism and Radicalism in Society or Government

Opportunity for the Opportunist—Belief in Superiority, Desire for Past Glory, or Simple Greed

Opportunity for the Opportunist—Compliancy Empowers

Opportunity for the Opportunist—Divisions

Perceptions and Assumptions

Communication for Survival in Our New World

Chapter Two: Action, Apathy, and Consequences

Power of the Individual

Our Inactions and Actions

Laws Can Test Us

Apathy and Reluctance—More Dangerous than Opposition

Apathy Trap

Combating Apathy and Inaction

Missed Opportunities

Soldier on for Redemption

Pursuit of our Goals

Accepting Responsibility for Others

Choices We Offer—And our Responsibility for Creating Options

Choices We Offer—Results and Consequences

Responsibility of Knowledge

Chapter Three: Our Government

Isolationism or Globalization: Kick in Head or Kick in the Groin?

Dangers of the Slippery Slope

Favoritism—In the Swing of the Pendulum, the Middle is Lost

Middle versus the Extreme

Who is Fighting?

Isolationism for Cultural Preservation

Globalization and Global Collaboration—There is No Going Back

Globalization is Happening Now

Our Duty and Failure to Government

Followers Looking to be Led

Our Duty to Replacement of Leadership

Our Duty to Leadership—Creation of Leadership

Types of Leadership

Our Duty to Follow the Majority and Requirement to Defy it When Necessary

Convenience or Conformability

Government—Today versus Tomorrow

Freedom—Limits and Boundaries

Freedom—Its Importance

Teaching of Freedom

Freedom—Our Personal Obligation

Protecting and Supporting Beliefs

Living by our Beliefs, Values, and Ideals

Beliefs, Values, and Ideals—The Action of Challenge

Beliefs, Values, and Ideals—Strengthened through Challenge

Change

The Need of Society for the Individual

Result of a Loss of the Individual in Society

Creativity or Stagnation

Encouraging Creativity

The Importance of the Preservation of Individuality in Society

Growth of the Outcast as a Community

Everyone Contributes or Makes an Honest Effort

Helping Others Find their Potential for Contributing

Our Failure in Preserving the Ability to Contribute

Rewards and Responsibilities

Chapter Four: The Future of Ourselves and Society

The Current Path of Society

Hope for the Future

Looking Back

Going Forward

Education Is an Investment, Not an Expense

Children and Future Generations

Technology

The Human Potential and the Future of the Species

Chapter Five: Balance the Equation

Balance

Imbalance Leading to Extremism

Finding Balance

Inequality Breeds Instability

Ensuring that our Lifestyle and Quality of Life Survives into the Future

Growth

Migration

Population

Education for Balance in the Future

Wealth: Perception and Need

The Imbalance of the Pyramid of Wealth for the Individual Globally

Economics in Tomorrow

Wealth: Bringing Bigotry or Opportunity?

The Future of Wealth

Economics Other than Monetary

Retaining the Conveniences, Pleasures, and Quality of Life into Tomorrow

Changing Our methods in Order to Retain Our Conveniences, Pleasures, and Quality of Life into Tomorrow

Balancing the Economy and the Environment for a Future

Balancing the Environment for an Economic Future

The Depletion of the Environmental Principal

Environmental Stewardship

Rewarding and Enforcing Environmental Responsibility

Environmental Interconnection, Stability, and Future

Chapter Six: Ourselves and Society

Understanding Ourselves within Society—Power Within

Understanding Ourselves within Society—Our Actions

Understanding Ourselves within Society—Examination

Understanding Ourselves within Society—Reflection

Truths

Protecting the Naïveté within Ourselves

Changing Society

Changing Ourselves

Prejudice and Racism

Our Acceptance

Why Are We Here?

Joy of Others

Do Not Forget to Live

Endnotes

Cardboard Philosophy

Exostentialism:

Chaos

Introduction to Exostentialism

Exostentialism and Society

Exostentialism Changing and Affecting Ourselves and Society

Freedom, Freewill, Choices, and Options for the Exostentialist

Responsibility and the Exostentialist

Exostentialism and the Forcing of Choice
**Introduction**

This book is a point of view and an observational look from a common man at the progression of our societies, humanity, and our world. It is a look at where our various societies and humanity and the world have been, currently are, and are headed in general. What do we do when it appears that uncertainty and change not only seem to be constants in your world but also appear to be at a heightened level? What lies in the future? Whatever does lie in our future, we must remember, in our concern for the future, that our course is often predicated on and laid out in the present. What we do right now is the greatest determining factor for the future.

I want to help us survive. My basic motivation has always been the survival and advancement of our societies, humanity, and the world. But the problem in reading works such as this, as with any philosophical literature, is that the author consciously or unconsciously will attempt to persuade the reader. So, I do apologize if there is any feeling of persuasion. It is also important to remember that the meaning of a message is soured when reward is expected in exchange for delivery. No matter what a person may say, how easily one can assume they are a liability when it is believed they are only there for their own needs. Thus, I do not wish my writings to be tainted by the view that I seek personal compensation beyond the survival and advancement of humanity.

Again, I reiterate that my main purpose is not persuasion, but I do hope that we will all think about how our actions affect ourselves, others, and the world, and how they will affect the actions and the world of people not yet born. I hope this book will have you ask a variety of questions, both of yourself and about the world around you.

I do not claim to know anything new; I just restate what many of us have been thinking. I have posed some questions without answers and given some answers without asking the questions. I hope that my writing will help us think about our actions more, instead of being just viewed as irrelevant words. I hope my writing, and what I have done, will help. I hope it will be accepted as a legitimate piece of work and not seen as just another piece of "cardboard philosophyc" created by another crazy idiot.
**Chapter One** : **Changes Occurring in the Fractionalized World of Today**

**Threshold**

I feel that something is happening worldwide. I believe that we now stand at the "threshold" of current society and maybe even the future of our species. Is this a new dawn, or the end? Some changes are occurring that are beyond the ability and daring of our modern world to even report. No matter where our politics, beliefs, or tendencies lean, we must admit that there are strange movements and occurrences happening now. As of late the world seems to be suffering from more serious growing pains and changes than it has ever experienced before.

Yes, we have always had chaos, and there has always been discontent in all societies throughout time. However, it seems that in the world today the numbers of the discontented are growing faster than in previously recorded rates. There seems to be a higher rate of the growing observable discontent, not only within the commonly thought of societal groups where discontent is normally found, but it also seems to be growing within a more diverse ranges of societies found in the world. Their numbers seem to be growing faster in proportion to that of past societies. We have observably become more fractionalized, not just on national or cultural levels, but also at microcosmic levels within societies, and even sometimes within the individual.

It seems the world is more chaotic than it has been in the past. Perhaps it has always been like this, and we have not noticed it until our current technologies and communication networks have allowed us to see it. But I believe the chaos in this period of change is different and unlike any experienced by past generations. Never in the accepted recorded history of humanity has there been such frequency, speed, and diversity in change, such ability and opportunity for change, and such quick and easy methods for it to spread in our societies, ideologies, and our world in general. With the growth of the world—increased population, new interconnectedness, and all of our various advancements and other changes—our world appears to be becoming increasingly more fractionalized. Many people seem to be becoming increasingly fractionalized, polarized, or both.

We are seeing the world changing exponentially and in more diverse areas before our eyes. Our current world, as a whole, is increasingly experiencing these changes. These shifts seem to be happening more simultaneously with other world experiences. They seem to be occurring more frequently, quickly, and in ever widening range of areas both old and new. Some of these changes are coming at an almost exponential rate. Every generation today has witnessed unprecedented advancements and changes relative to their own previous life experiences. The world is changing and becoming rearranged in almost every way imaginable and sometimes in even unimaginable ways. It is altering in a way that past generations have never experienced before. These changes may even be seen coming from a multitude of areas. They may be seen taking place simultaneously. They may be seen as taking place both independently as well as affecting the changes of each other. Two of these areas that changes are coming from are terrorism and global economics. More areas that are changing in our world are the political and geographical. Yet another area is the technological world. Unfortunately, we have even become a world where valid tangible data in the measurement of statistics and studies have become a point of debate. We have become a world where subjectivism has replaced deduction and reason by some. A world where deduction has been corrupted by subjectivism. A study is believed or not, not based on its data, but who produces or complies it. Back to the subject at hand: There are many who believe we are also experiencing simultaneous changes including but not limited to scientific breakthroughs, sociological changes, cultural changes, and changing migratory patterns of various species, including those of our own human species. Some even say that there are currently uncommon global environmental and climate changes. Some go even further and contend that there are genetic changes occurring within some younger generations, resulting from how they have adapted their bodies or minds to accompany technology. Even the speeds and ways in which we distribute, examine, integrate, and exchange information are changing at explosive rates compared to the past. Perhaps we are even not yet aware of all of the changes, big and small, as well as their causes and effects, that our world is experiencing. Let us look closer at what changes we have witnessed and know to be true from our own observations.

**Edge of a Frightening and Unknown World**

Ironically, I wonder how many people are having fun, acting as if nothing is wrong and pretending for their own self-assurance? Unfortunately, most people are willing to ignore a situation until it directly affects them—at which point, panic and overreaction are common responses. I fear that we have accepted our façades of normality as truth. It is our false façades of normalcy that led us into our current predicaments in the first place. Ignoring a situation never makes it better or go away, and generally makes it worse. Sorry folks; the joke and the "free ride" is over. It is time for people to stand up and say: "Stop playing with the future of our children." When I look back, I wonder if we have truly learned anything from our past experiences. But more importantly, are we going to take different actions in the future than those that have led us to these various ongoing fiascos?

Virtually all societies in the world are finding themselves at the edge of their own unique or undefinable event or shift. But, for all of us, is it the edge of a new inconceivable dawning or one of our possible myriads of darkness? Unfortunately, as each society blames the others' ideologies for the problems of the world, it looks like darkness ahead. We have become a world of people in constant paranoia of other establishments, groups, political organizations, and governments, to name only a few. However, some people are becoming more aware and accepting of others and their differences at this same time. They are also realizing the actions we take today ultimately affect the outcome of the changes we are currently experiencing. The various actions we take today will have a significant impact on not only the next millennium, but also eons to come.

Being frightened of an unknown future is universal and a recurring theme in human nature and history. The common denominator in most of us is that we are shaped by the past, constrained by the present, and anxious about the future. However, there is still time for us to realize our potential. The progression to a new dawning will be difficult and may seem improbable at times. However, improbable does not mean impossible.

**Changing World—Change, Flexibility, and Adaptability**

It is a new world of quick, extreme, and drastic change. Generations today are being born into a world where the only normal they know of is what some may call "the new normal." Quick flexibility and adaptability will not only be favored in the new world of tomorrow, but will be requirements for survival amid the rapid and diverse changes still coming. Even our current understanding of "quick," "flexible," and "adaptable" may be considered mild in the world of tomorrow. This flexibility and adaptability will be required in many ways and in many circumstances. In my opinion, the normalization of quick flexibility and adaptability of response needs to be more securely normalized. I am not just talking about flexibility or adaptability in a specific area that is experiencing change, but in all areas. I am talking about the ability to recognize the need for alterations and to be able to cope in all areas in which change is occurring, while at the same time having the ability and foresight to identify and accept the long-term consequences of our actions.

As the world is already adapting and altering course in so many areas and ways, many observers of our complex planet need no convincing of the incalculable variety and complexity of the coming demands. From some perspectives these changes are not only exponential but taking place all over. However, even between observers who can agree that these changes and alterations are taking place, there is debate on the affected areas, extent of the changes, and/or the causation of the changes. There is even more debate on how to proceed regarding prevention and/or what solutions are needed. Unfortunately, many people feel that they are unable to make significant contributions to the preventions or solutions that are needed. There is also a need for more exploration on how to adapt in response to these world changes, and in turn acceptance.

Many changes that have brought opportunities for advancement and progress in the past have also on occasion brought chances for disaster and regression. Thus, a great concern of mine are the epic man-made cataclysms and societal regressions that we have been doomed to repeat. I am concerned that we may make one or more wrong decisions that may take us generations or longer to recover from. Or even worse, one that we may never be able to recover from.

**History Repeated**

In the past, it has taken much tribulation, time, and suffering to recover from devastating changes. Those recoveries never compare to what was or what could have been. And especially not to where we could be now. How many times have we lost knowledge and been forced to repeat history because of that? How many times has history already been repeated that we are not aware of, and more importantly to what extent? To help understand what I mean, even what can seemly be a minor instance can be devastating. In "Journeys in Space and Time," the eighth episode in the television series _Cosmos: A Personal Voyage_ , noted American astronomer and scientist Carl Sagan speculated and stated, "What if the scientific tradition of the ancient Ionian Greeks had prospered and flourished? . . . I think we might have saved ten or twenty centuries." And in episode 1 of that same series, Sagan said, concerning the burning down of the Great Library of Alexandria: "Accurate numbers are difficult to come by, but it seems that the library contained at its peak nearly one million scrolls. . . . Only a small fraction of the works survived. . . . For example, we know that there once existed here a book by the astronomer Aristarchus of Samos who apparently argued that the Earth was one of the planets, that like the other planets, it orbits the sun, and that the stars are enormously far away. All absolutely correct. But we had to wait nearly two thousand years for these facts to be rediscovered. . . . But it's gone, utterly and forever." I suspect other knowledge within that library that was lost potentially took centuries or millennia to be rediscovered. I ask, have we had in our distant past even more devastating and severe setbacks or cataclysms? How long can we continue to create more of these setbacks until we potentially create one that could be our final one, where we may not have the chance to recover?

Yet, some argue that the loss or practice of our modern ways may not be such a bad thing. There are those people who believe in preventing the potential fall of humankind by living in the façade of a simpler time. Some of those who have this belief believe in living in a way that is pre-technological or even pre-industrial. And if they so wish, they should be allowed to. And, between those people there is still the debate concerning at what point in the past their lifestyle should imitate.

Of course, turning away from our modern age also means turning away from many of our modern benefits and conveniences. We must also remember that one aspect of a point in history usually comes attached to another. Knowledge, discoveries, and advancements will eventually lead to more of the same. So, often it is an "all or nothing" proposition. People who choose to live in these old-fashioned times have some very valid arguments—for example, that belief that we have lost many of the positive aspects of life that were once present in the past. Yes, it is true that we have forgotten many of those positive benefits of the past, and perhaps we should reconsider some of those. However, living as if you were in the past does not prepare for the future, just as living as if you were in the world of tomorrow does not prepare you for the realities of the present. And living in the present, not preparing for the future, gets us nowhere but the present. Not to mention, forgoing the knowledge or advancements of the present, whether on purpose or by accident, it is only a delay. The human nature is to seek and find. And, as I have stated before, one advancement will lead to another. Future generations will eventually arrive at a point where they face similar dilemmas. They will eventually arrive at a similar point in time to that we wished to avoid. And who is to say that they will not make even worse decisions when they reach their dilemmas? Burying our heads in the sand does not make the problem go away.

**Changing World: Beginning or End?**

Yes, our world has been changing since its conception. Since the beginning of time, civilizations that have reached their apexes have either adjusted, overcome, and/or matured past their growing pains. When they have not adapted as needed, they have collapsed and fallen into the abyss. Some have fallen, supposedly, due to their inability to sustain themselves. Or, they have allowed themselves to become prey to others within and/or without. Societies have also failed out of their inability to balance elements of their society or maintain the necessary structure within. They have also failed when they became overconfident, spread themselves too thin, or forgotten the sacrifices of the past generations which other citizens remember. And others sadly have failed when they became compliant through their acceptance of what the future will bring. The weight of their own corruption has also made civilizations weak. This self-centeredness or corruption has made them unsteady even without the influence from the history of civilizations before them, from the self-indulgence of their own present one, or from the weight of how future civilizations should be. We now find ourselves at yet another one of these turning points. In the past when civilizations have had tests or turning points, they only risked the survival or future of their own civilization. The difference now is that we have the capability of extinguishing our species completely. So, we ask ourselves, is this the beginning of the end? I say, it is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning. It is the dawn of a new age.

Our world is truly at the crossroads. Humankind is on the edge of monumental change or possible extinction. We have come to another one of these points in human history. One of the myriad possibilities is worldwide civil war. In the age we live in now, once started, civil war has the likelihood of spreading like a wildfire relatively quickly. And war is not generally thought of as being conducive to the survival of the species. Remember that "highly improbable" still implies some probability and that "insignificant" does not completely negate possibility. I do not think that I am a doomsayer. But let us say for a moment that the world does not change its path. Then we may have a doomsday that makes the earth uninhabitable or results in a world that will be gradually broken down into nothingness. Or perhaps progress into total chaos which could result into a slow death for our future. There are countless possibilities that all have their own probabilities of occurrence. Unless we accept our responsibility, the world may fall into another dark age and be doomed to countless generations of rebuilding, waste, or never-ending darkness. The difference now is, unlike civilizations of the past, we are more connected to each other globally. We all have an effect on each other, like ripples in a small container of water. Incidents, more today than in the past, are more connected, have greater effects on one another, have a greater possibility of spiraling out of control, and have the possibility of resulting in more extremes. In these ways, it may be unlikely that the phoenix of civilization will rise again if something drastic happens. Recovery, or even survival, is not certain for our world or species.

We as a species are on trial and we ourselves are the judge, jury, and even executioner if need be. However, my hope is that we will at least show ourselves leniency and allow rehabilitation to build a new future, distinct from that which seems to be fated to us. It is necessary for me to have hope and faith in the human race. I remember and have hope in the saying, "every cloud has a silver lining." Am I right? Am I wrong? Am I a pessimist, an optimist, or just plain naïve? When I think about it, I really do not know what I am. I do not consider myself naïve nor an optimist about the future. I just think—or more accurately, hope—that society is too aware of what is going on to let us fall. Perhaps we are only misguided currently.

I believe this time in history will be remembered as the predecessor to either the greatest leap of a world renaissance or the worst dark age that we have experienced in our recorded, fabled, or even lost histories. I have a feeling that when generations in the future look back at this point in human history, our own time, we will be remembered as the ones who took our species to and from "the brink," or alternatively humanity will be rendered incapable of remembering our history at all. Why does it sometimes take a brush with extinction or annihilation for a society or way of life to recognize the ills of its ways?

Sometimes, in life, it may seem as if there is no beginning or ending. However, every second has its own beginning and ending. When people look for beginnings, they may see nothing but endings. Sometimes we must be reassured and reminded that there are beginnings, not just endings. We must not forget this is not the beginning of the end, but merely an end to a new beginning. In the past, we have had leaps forward, events that have changed the course of history (for good and bad), monumental discoveries, and advancements—certain times that have opened the world to marvelous and uncharted courses. In all those times, whether for the long-term betterment of the world or not, I remember my personal version of an old idiom: "where there is opportunity, there is hope"!

**Actions in Our Shrinking World**

Each person is ultimately the one responsible for himself or herself, and others do not have the right to dictate to another. But it is important that we become more mindful of the effects of our choices on others. In the choices we make in these times of various struggles (from calls for freedom to basic fears of survival), we must acknowledge that we are not alone in what now appears to be a smaller world. Degrees of separation are shrinking between individuals, groups, events, and ideas. As world relationships, connections, causes, and effects increase, degrees of separation in the world are also being reduced.

With increased communication, ease of travel, and interdependence the world is becoming figuratively smaller, and cultural understanding is becoming increasingly more important to our mutual survival. In this new world, no longer are we the only ones affected by the consequences of the actions that we take. Logic dictates that increased interaction is more probable to occur in our new world. This only makes it more important that we are appropriate and caring neighbors, and that we think about the consequences of our actions and interactions. We must be neighbors who are courteous (not to the extreme of being exploited), helpful (not to the extreme of the denying someone their self-reliance), and mindful (not to the extreme of being too dictatorial).

**Cultural Interaction**

Increased interactions without gaining understanding can lead to increased divisions. Such "gaps" would not have to exist if we could only respect and appreciate ideas in the context of the era or area in which they were developed. Of course, this does not mean validation, it simply means examination. In analyzing the various ways that these gaps can take place, we must not forget that generational gaps can be more severe than cultural gaps. Even though those of a younger generation from various parts of the world may be born into different cultures, they often have more in common with their counterparts born on the other side of the planet than with their grandparents within the same culture. These gaps exist in many other areas in addition to generational. For example, it could be said one who lives in a large city has more similarities with another living in a large city in a different culture than with another living in a very rural area within that same culture, and vice versa.

Compared to the past, our new technological and interdependent world of mass communication and mass transportation provides a new ability for relatively effortless and diverse migration and interaction between cultural and social groups. We (as a world) are becoming increasingly personally aware of and experiencing the sociological differences, not only between cultures but also between individuals within that culture, that we have only heard about before. Unlike the past, when the average possible contact of a person with another diverse culture would be minor or theoretical, our new world provides this opportunity for diverse interactions to be more practical and even somewhat convenient for all. We are experiencing more exposure between elements of differing culture groups not only on a societal level, but also on a more individualized and personalized level. Individuals and even individual elements of cultures that would rarely have had contact with each other before are commonly experiencing new exposures and encounters, including more frequent firsthand exposures as the result.

With this, the world becomes less and less isolated. Those of differing beliefs and cultures will naturally encounter one another with both unforced and forced interactions. The new structure of our developing world is even forcing interactions between neighboring cultures who live in close proximity to each other. Neighbors who have traditionally despised and purposely avoided each other are having more frequent forced interactions. Just like families living in close proximity within a modern-day housing complex, each nation or culture is responsible for itself within its own residence. However, like neighbors living in the same area, when someone performs an action or causes conflict it has the possibility of spreading and impacting others, disrupting more than just themselves or their own space. One disruption always has the possibility of creating more.

Some people may fear others of different cultures, religions, and races, not because they are new, but because of continuing aggressions that have been played out for generations before they were born. Today, with the aid of modern technologies, it seems that the aggressive, various pasts and divisions of our societies are putting all of our futures into jeopardy more than ever. We are in a new century, yet there are conflicts and violence still over ideals and actions that people have been fighting over for centuries. And those actions tend to be repeated.

Yes, anger over the injustices of the past is valid. These conflicts are not easily forgotten and are easily repeated. However, what is the logic of continuing conflicts inherited from generations past? So, we ask ourselves, what is the motivation of those who would continue these conflicts or injustices? And based on that, why is there conflict or injustice? Is it a form of greed or control under the pretext of something else?

A governing body is responsible for the wellbeing of its citizenry. And sometimes even neighbors can become overzealous, intrusive, controlling, or greedy. Chaos and change are often what most civilizations fear. Is the fear of losing what they have accomplished thus far, within the society, the motivation behind the fighting? Is it fear of being replaced? Even if replacement of a governing body or society were true, from the point of view of those experiencing change, it may not be replacement for them in the conventional sense. All adaptation is some form of change. And of course, any change does have a potential for a deficit. However, sometimes adaptation is necessary for survival into the modern times. But this does not negate the fact that when people feel that their way of life—what has been protecting them and keeping them civilized for generations—is threatened or under attack, they may feel they have no other choice but to react by lashing out. However, some extreme lashing out and other negative responses done under the pretext of self-protection are inexcusable.

**Fear of the Loss of Culture**

World cultures around the globe are experiencing a heightened sense of concern for the loss of their cultures. Not only is this feeling found within cultures, but nations as well. Today, it seems, not only are national boundaries dissolving within, but also long-founded organizations, cultural norms, customs, and traditions found within and across national boundaries are also being lost. Beliefs that people have relied on for generations for a sense of stability are currently drastically changing, or even dissolving. In addition to desire for expansion and advancement, fear can drive a society. The fear of extinction, of loss of a way of life, is often a primal motivating factor and can be a driver for societies of the world to adjust and preserve their vision of society. So, the fear that many have when they believe that their way of life may be unprotected or threatened can be appreciated. But they can forget that differences can often bring unknown strengths to the whole.

In the pursuit of preserving or protecting we must remember that fear can be a disadvantage. In many cases, fear can blind and cloud the mind. Fear can cloud judgment. This clouded judgment can impact actions, thus impacting the consequences of the long-term results. When we become resistant to change, we can fail to see the potential found within adaptation, as well as fail to see the beauty and possibilities that come with the survival of differences. This can cause us to become vulnerable when change does eventually occur. Possibly resulting in failure. Failure because of our vulnerability to change. For a society or culture to survive it must change to adapt or run the risk of the fate of most cultures, lost to time. However, fear may be warranted in the short term for the basics such as survival. Ironically, at the same time this fear or anxiety can also bring moments of clarity, acceptance, focus on priorities, or help you possible realize probable chains of events that are likely to take place. Even though one may be a little slower or weaker compared to others, sometimes this fear can increase the physical strength or endurance, mental abilities or fortitude, or awaken or strengthen spiritual awareness to create overall balance. Sometimes, it brings perspective, strength, or new abilities. Sometimes, fear can help us remember our priorities or give us direction. Sometimes, we forget that adaptation within a culture can mean survival in the face of what otherwise might mean collapse or abandonment of the culture. Thus, to help long-term survival, we must not fear change or adaptation.

We must not fear the preservation of other cultures either. We must even aid them, when aid is needed. Preservation of the culture of another today can mean the preservation of our own tomorrow. It is important to remember that in preserving others we ultimately preserve ourselves. If we do not make an honest effort in the preservation of different and diverse cultures, whether our culture is the current one in favor or not, we can open ourselves up to a greater chance of extinction, for all cultures including our own.

We live in a world of the World Wide Web, but we still maintain a narrow, myopic view of it. We often have the most interaction with our "local" (our personal zones of influence as well as the areas where we reside or interact). We seem to affect it the most, and it in return affects us strongly. It also often seems that the "global" (events, society, and everything else in the world outside our perceived area of influence or the areas where we reside or interact) affects the local world more than in the reverse. But, in reality, the global is just reacting to our local world and the numerous other various "locals." The world is reacting to the different combinations of these locals. These various "collectives of locals" include ours and other different combinations and collections of personal relationships, events, communities, households, cities, towns, groups of political, social, or other nature, et cetera. Different combinations of these combine to create different collectives of locals. The global is simply reflecting the actions of these different combinations or collectives of locals back to the individual local. In this cycle, we take part in the protection of our local by taking part in the global. If we believe that our responsibility is to the local and their authority supersedes global, then we already have the belief of the local over global. Thus, we already know the importance of our responsibility to protect and preserve organizations, cultural norms, customs, traditions, and the sovereignties of the local. If we believe that we live in a world where we must be globally responsible primarily, then within our global responsibility is the obligation to protect and preserve the local. With this, we must remember that with our perceived improvements, in this time and our world, we have not outgrown ourselves and our own human self-centeredness and irresponsibility—with our increased abilities, we have not outgrown allowing ourselves to impact the lives of others to their detriment. We have not fully realized and accepted the responsibilities of what we can create because of our direct or indirect actions. Unfortunately, we have not outgrown our propensity for denying our responsibilities to all. We can no longer downplay our personal responsibilities and abilities to preserve and better the global in the form of taking and doing the same and more for our local and the local realities of others, without downplaying our role in the global. Our attention to the local does affect the global, even more so than we may realize. Increased efforts for both do have an effect on both. We must do what we can for both, however, wherever, and whenever we can. Both equally demand our attention, and they do affect one another. So, doing something in one does affect both. The extent to which they cumulatively affect one another is not what we should diminish. The fact is that they do.

**Loss of Traditions**

Sometimes, to our disadvantage, traditions can be left behind or forgotten. In some cases, we have left these traditions behind for the sake of practicality. And traditions that are positive and lost through time are not always found again. If they are refound, they do not always have the same significance. They can have a less desirable interpretation than that of the past, or worse, they can be replaced with a completely less desirable tradition altogether. Before throwing out or forgoing our traditions or heritage that we deem outdated or impractical, we must make the honest attempt to adapt them into modern times for the sake of preservation. Within our modern times lies new ways to adapt or preserve those positive and productive traditions of the past. One example would be the family reunion or even day-to-day family connections, which today can be supplemented with family social media interactions such as on family websites, family chat rooms, or family email chains. This allows family connections to be maintained over great distances and despite time constraints. This outlet offers more connections than had been available before, while keeping a closeness that may have been lost due to various outside demands or constraints. It also allows individuals to make more frequent and diverse family connections than had been the norm in past generations. It is our duty to hold on to those traditions that strengthen the family, community, beliefs, values, or groups. We must hold on to those traditions and values that do not constrain the family, community, beliefs, groups, or the individual. We must hold on to those traditions that build mutual respect and also create, preserve, and/or empower positive community and family. We must preserve those traditions that bring positive bonding, togetherness, and/or advancement for the whole group. Yes, traditions do not always have the same meaning in different time periods, and the practices of traditions will inevitably change over time. However, it is the complete loss of place and the feeling of alienation that can draw people to extremist groups or beliefs. Traditions that develop bonding and respect for all are the ones that must be preserved.

**Upholding Traditions**

Events or gatherings that bring diverse cultures together for the sake of mutual enjoyment, appreciation of each other, commonalities, or relaxation must be preserved. Some examples, but not all, include diverse gatherings or team celebrations of excellence or personal dedication, events celebrating sacrifice or community achievements or projects, mutual appreciation, and times of friendly competition. Other examples of these gatherings can include a wide range of endeavors to be admired and encouraged. Similar to the family dinner that gathers people together for a period of time, we must bring differing cultures together across cultural lines, promoting social cohesion and bonding between cultures and subcultures. Even the division of gender groups can be at a disadvantage because of the denial of insight and perspective that the other may have. Respectful social bonding is essential and has always been essential to the survival of our species.

**The Opportunity for Opportunists—the Lure of the Radical or Extremist**

When people feel that their personal identity, culture, or beliefs are under attack, shrinking, or being demeaned, they may turn to the more radical or extreme elements of their culture out of fear. They themselves may not necessarily believe in the more radical message. However, in the immediacy of fear the moderate might grasp for the extremist because of something they believe that extremist possesses. They may grab for the handful in the hope that a few may remain. Just as one may take a large handful of something as they reach into a covered bowl, hoping to retain a few or the select items that they want. They may not even desire or agree with all the aims or views of the extremist. They could also believe that the extremist may be the better of two evils or that the extremist may be the only one able to bring back or preserve what they feel is suffering loss. It is fear of loss that can allow some to be enchanted by and support, or at the very least, be tolerant of the extremist. It may be a fear in the moderate that the extremist may be the only one with the ability or willingness to preserve, protect, or restore what they consider is in the best interest of their culture. Without this fear or concern, the more extreme or aggressive elements would have significantly weaker strongholds on the moderate and in general. Remember, the extremists are opportunists and their bases are never more powerful than when the culture they reside in experiences actual or perceived attack. Without this fear, real or imagined, the power or influence of the radical would be considerably diminished. To combat the radicals, we can erode their supportive bases by helping preserve the culture wherein they draw their support. We can take away the allure of the radical or extreme variant by making an effort to erode the argument that the culture is under attack or suffering loss.

**Opportunity for the Opportunist—Filling the Void**

The disenfranchised can be a valuable base of recruitment for the radical or extremist. They can be recruited from inside as well as outside any society. The opportunist can offer that which the culture cannot or will not provide. To prevent this, it is best to supply the disenfranchised with a reason not to grasp for the radical or extreme message or messenger. There is an old saying: "Those who have nothing to lose have the most to gain."

Many people also need an enemy to feel complacent about their own place in this world. They feel that there is some outside force holding them back, or worse, trying to destroy them. The extremist also seeks out those who have a lack in their lives, or feel threatened or abandoned. This feeling of not belonging or lack of identity in the individual can lead to a draw toward views they may have never been drawn to before. These groups are easy targets for the extremist, because the only resistance they have are voids waiting to be simply filled.

**Extremism and Radicalism in Society or Government**

When we strive to combat extremism or radicalism in a society or a far-leaning government, we must be careful not to swing the pendulum too far in the opposite direction. In our efforts to combat the extremism of radicalization and the closed-minded, narrow goals that are followed in its pursuit, we can sometimes forgo other issues and/or compromise our own beliefs or values, as well as those belonging to others. This can result in the opposite effect of what we wish to create. We may be creating an atmosphere where the opposing radical element may flourish. When the people of a nation swing the pendulum of government, they must take caution. The restoring force has no choice but to drive the pendulum the other way, but like with a pendulum that swings too far to one side, they could overcorrect when it swings the other way—on occasion with even more disastrous or tragic consequences.

**Opportunity for the Opportunist—Belief in Superiority, Desire for Past Glory, or Simple Greed**

Sometimes we have a habit of looking for the charismatic person who offers stability, quick, simple, painless solutions, or a return to past glory. Unfortunately, for many people the past is all that they can hang on to, or it is the only thing that defines them. They forget that a glory in the past was a result of the particular circumstances within that past. There are some things in life that can never be put back the same way as they were before. Remember the old saying, "we can never go back to the way things were before."

There are also those who, thinking they are superior, will swallow nearly anything that is told to them if it empowers their belief in superiority. The radicals will use this to their advantage, tapping into this desire for justification of superiority or a yearning for perceived romanticism of the past. They find opportunity in the exploitation of fears, aspirations, or just simple greed in their target populations. And some people can be convinced to do almost anything if they think that they are capturing the past or just simply coming out ahead. Unfortunately, there are also those who will bend over backwards for anyone or anything if they think that they will benefit or not get caught. In reality, these delusions will ultimately leave us all weaker.

**Opportunity for the Opportunist—Compliancy Empowers**

Throughout recorded history, humankind has been plagued by corruption. Men and women in powerful or unique positions have always taken advantage of others. They have often used their influence only to satisfy their own greed, promote their agendas, and/or defend their positions. Many have been able to do this through the oppression of others. The time and opportunity have now risen on the planet to change that. It is time for us to govern ourselves and finally allow all of us to grow and mature. Now is the time for the peoples of this globe to cease being told how and what to think by a select few. We must follow the path that is the most logical and beneficial for all. Yes, our own needs are important to meet, and advancements need to be integrated, but not at the unnecessary expense of others. We must do what is in the best interest of all. All of humanity may never all follow this path; however, humans can be very resourceful when threatened by extinction. Yes, no matter what we do, there may be someone out there willing and able to exploit those who follow the paths that are mutually beneficial for all. There may be those willing enough or vulnerable enough to follow exploitative paths as well as those who will lead. However, as we all grow and become enlightened, these people, and especially those who follow them, may finally realize that they do themselves and all of us more harm than good in the long run.

The question for us is how to deny opportunities for those who would lead others toward paths contrary to those which are mutually beneficial for all. It is not a matter of stopping those who would take the advantage. It is not a matter of stopping those who would become susceptible to those influences. It is a matter of supplying those who would become susceptible with what they need to resist. It is a matter of eliminating what the opportunists need to flourish or even to be created. It is a matter of preventing an environment that is conducive for those opportunists. We all can too easily add contributions to the collective creation of the environment suitable for the opportunists. We can contribute merely by being compliant. These moments of compliancy, whether we recognize them or not, may even seem to be insignificant or unrelated to us. These moments do add up to supply those openings for the opportunists to exploit. Within all of us lies that which the opportunists can use. It is we who supply their opportunities and environments of compliancy. It is we who must no longer allow environments of compliancy to come into existence.

There is an old saying: "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't." In this saying, the thing I always remembered is ". . . the devil . . ." When I was a child and was told this saying, I always replied, "Why does it have to be a devil?" I have always viewed it as a weakness to choose between which devil, instead of creating a third possibility. Choosing to accept something bad because the alternative could be worse does not negate your responsibility for choosing something bad. Whether through acceptance or compliancy, toleration of the extremists will only embolden and strengthen them. Even if it is ultimately false, since the radical offers hope for protection of traditions, culture, or a way of life, the fear of loss may delude many to the realities of subjugation. But once the radicals become entrenched, they become emboldened and their true nature of extremism and fanaticism unfolds.

**Opportunity for the Opportunist—Divisions**

We now stand at a very important crossroads in human history. With all the uncertainty and the wide ranging and extensive changes in the world, we have a human desire to seek out solutions or to find stability from those who can promise them. Too often, many of these extremists, radicals, or opportunists will come in the form of tyrants. Many can be under the influence of these tyrants who promise them what they want to hear. However, they only deliver tyranny in the form of advancement for themselves and their cohorts. While many may support those who make these promises, few that promise such things will put much emphasis on the practicality of logical delivery of those promises or oaths. Nor will they put much emphasis on the consequences of the resulting mess. We must not only avoid coming under the influence of tyranny, but also use those opportunities that the tyrant utilizes. We must instead reclaim those instances for advancement toward the betterment of conditions for all. We must be careful not to delude ourselves into believing or accepting the tyrants' rhetoric.

Radicals and extremists of various sides may try to divide the middle. And yes, one of their greatest assets is that they embolden and empower more actions from others like themselves. However, sometimes they do not accept that some of their actions may have the possibility of souring the moderates' view of them. Extremism can give birth to opposing extremism where it may have never existed. To reiterate: The asset of the extremists can also be a liability for them in that they set the stage to bolster the opposite extremists. The extremist or radical does not realize that they are a slave to cycles. _Do not be a slave!_

Often, extremists on opposing sides may use the same tactics and secretly hope their enemy will succeed in some of their lesser schemes, so they themselves may succeed and further their own greater ones. Often this is the intention, as small victories occur on one side that present the perfect opportunity for the opposing side to further their own agendas. Their "extremism may be different, but they have the same result," as someone once mentioned to me. They will misuse or exaggerate what is available to them for personal advancements. Divisions plus violence will equal the opportunity for personal advancement for some. The danger is this can develop into a cycle.

Chaos does have an order to it. Chaos does follow patterns and sometimes certain chain of events. In this respect, chaos and order can sometimes appear to be one and the same. There are often elements that can be found in both. In addition, our definitions of chaos and order can be vastly different depending on our perceived and desired outcomes. Some can perceive the world as chaos with pockets of order. In this debate, I find myself more of an "exostentialist", not to be confused with the term "existentialist."

In any case, these are times of rare chances for the opportunist. We all have the choice: Pull our world onto a path where we can be proud to bestow it on future generations or fall under the influence of the opportunists. We must not fall victim.

**Perceptions and Assumptions**

A perception or assumption of weakness can be a benefit for those who are perceived to be weak. How many battles or wars have been lost because of an incorrect assumption of an opponent? Appearances; how deceptive. A preconceived notion about someone else can be fatal for those with the incorrect assumption. Preconceptions or biases brought into the decision process can not only distort the current decision but also the entire decision process when new or relevant information is introduced. Decisions are better made without unwarranted or biased influences. Assumptions can be a weakness and can leave us vulnerable. A perception within the mind cannot be undone easily. Once implanted, whether it is recognized or unsuspected, held consciously or subconsciously, dismissed or not, it will ultimately affect, even if only in a small way, all subsequent decisions. Throughout history, how many battles have been won or lost because of a preconceived notion?

The same influences and information that we use to base our decisions on are influences that also limit perception. As we collect information, we can close off the pursuit of other resources or avenues of receiving said information, in the effort to refine or improve the path or paths that we have chosen. Other information or the resources we collect from may be considered secondary, and their value possibly diminished in comparison to that which we have decided to focus on. In this way, at the point that the world affects us, we become susceptible to it. When we grow up cloistered or stuck inside, we can become vulnerable to the outside. When we grow up isolated in the inside, we can become vulnerable through our misinterpretations of the outside. We can also become vulnerable in being viewed by others, as others may view us with the wrong perception or assumption of us, as well vice versa. When we are isolated, others may not be able to fully appreciate us, and again vice versa. They may also more easily develop misconceptions of us, and vice versa. We must be careful. We must ensure that they fully understand us in relation to their experiences. In addition, we must ensure that they understand our reasoning and our experiences. We must also be careful not to fulfill their misconceived expectations of us. When we buy in to the perceptions that others would put upon us, do we only see the way others want us to see? Unconsciously, do we also sometimes sell ourselves into these perceptions that others may have? If so, do we do it for a form of entertainment, our benefit, our convenience, or are we forced into it? Not only must others have firsthand experience of us, but we must have firsthand experience of them in return. Those whom someone has never met before can be prejudged based on past experiences and biased information. Because of this there can be incorrect information resulting in an incorrect judgment. This incorrect judgment can be based on the results of the mere association of that which they may or may not be completely joined, allied, or even preconditioned to. Too often we forget that the actions, beliefs, or rhetoric of one is not necessarily a representation of another or the whole group, nor does it accurately represent those who may be merely sympathetic or motivated by other external reasons. It is important to remember this also applies to the associations between groups. While this is common knowledge, it can often be difficult to reconcile logic with our emotions. However, we must be careful not to get swept up in an emotionally charged moment. We must remember that the actions of one do not necessarily equal the whole. Nor will those who are only sympathetic or motivated by external reasons react the same.

Many too easily ally themselves with groups or ideologies that they may not entirely agree with, just because the groups seem to be beneficial to their own short-term goals. Belonging, associating, or even sympathizing with a specific group can influence others' perceptions of us. Right or wrong, this may ultimately impact their perceptions of our own separate ideals. Our affiliations have the potential to trigger incorrect preconceived images and notions in their minds of what we may or may not be about. After people have those assumptions in their minds, anything we say from then on may be clouded by those assumptions. This clearly has the potential to create more problems for the future than solutions for the present.

**Communication for Survival in Our New World**

With the speed, interconnectivity, interdependency, and many other facets of our modern world of cause and effect, the need for improved communication and cultural understanding is becoming increasingly important to our mutual survival.

Often in our world people listen more closely to those who say what they want to hear, who speak in the simplest terms, or the most colorful terms that accord with their sympathies. Despite negative results or without the forethought to think ahead, some can often discredit or disavow those whom they do not agree with and promote or embellish those whom they do. Sometimes, people can act from the weakness of only superficial or hasty observations, biased secondhand accounts and preconceived notions about people instead of engaging in actual dialogue and gaining firsthand experience. We, humanity, are one people: We cannot afford to allow misconceptions, misunderstandings, or stigmas about other cultures or ideals to stand in the way of logical examination and discussion in our thinking and interactions. But in this, we must also be careful in linguistics. While translators may translate the words, the true heart of the meaning can become lost. Words are but crude metaphors that we use to describe the describable, the indescribable, the tangible, and the intangible. But difficulty does not mean impossibility. We must continue to strive toward bettering our communication between peoples. We must improve ourselves not only in the skill of linguistics, but also in how well we express our intentions, ideals, and concepts. We must improve our foresight of the results of our actions and presentation. Degrees of separation are shrinking, and at the same time people around the world are becoming nervous and unsure of where others may stand. We are individuals. And yes, individuality must be respected. Since we are individuals, we have different minds, perspectives, and experiences. Not everyone views everything completely identically. How one person views something is not exactly how another will perceive it. Nor has everyone had exactly the same experience, even if they are in the same situation together. This is a reason we must be clear and diligent in living our beliefs or values—so that others are less likely to portray us, our beliefs, or our values inaccurately. The human tendency is toward stereotypes; we must ensure that we are able to communicate clearly and portray ourselves and our ideals accurately.

Remember the old axiom, "actions speak louder than words." We have truly failed in this. We have failed in this by not following through with it. Hypocrisy has taken root in our world and devalued our rhetoric, ourselves, and our world. In following those whom we believe to portray our ideals, we must remember that those who speak very well may not fully understand or believe what they pronounce. Or, if they do, they may speak double-talk. We cannot afford to follow those who speak to us in the most elaborate terms and be fooled because of their tone or perceived expertise. And also, with those who speak in the most simplistic or expertise terms, we cannot afford to be misled because they state our own sympathies. We must have the fortitude to not be swayed by those who speak to our sympathies when they possess questionable character or agendas. We must have the strength to reject them, even if it may appear that we are rejecting our own ideals or interests. We must follow those whose character and actions we consider to be purer than our own, and not the words or rhetoric of those who fulfill our superficial needs or speak to our desires or fears. We must continually question and reexamine those whom we do follow. There are many ways people have succumbed to following a pied piper into darkness.
**Chapter Two** : **Action, Apathy, and Consequences**

**Power of the Individual**

In our modern media-saturated and technological world, it may appear that the individual is powerless. But in actuality, the individual has never before had so much power to effect and create change. Never in recorded history has humankind, or any individual, had so much power to create or destroy. Never before in recorded history has the single or unknown individual had as much ability or capacity to impact the world globally as now. Along with this are unprecedented circumstances and avenues to create and inspire. The increased interconnectivity and interdependence of the world has only bettered and amplified conditions for those who would have been virtually voiceless in the past. It has also helped both those who are good and bad find a fast-growing base of followers—people who would have been a novelty, outside the norm, or perhaps trivialized in the past.

So, we must be careful of the megalomaniacs; they have never before had such abilities and tools at their disposal. Organizations and single individuals have never had such ability to accumulate such a variety and degree of power, influence, and control. Never before in recorded history have we had this potential for improvement or for destruction. There is even unimagined potential from the individual. Potential from the student, working on a computer, with the ability to postulate a formula that could be the catalyst in solving issues that have plagued humankind long before recorded history to the spurned chemist or botanist who could unleash a pandemic that could potentially lead to instability resulting in the extinction of our known societies or even our very species. This is not even taking into consideration the individual already with power and influence at their disposal through political, military, financial, or technological might. In our era of technological "know-how," the individual has never been so powerful.

Even if we do not believe that a complete extinction of the human species can be entirely done by our own hands, we must remember that a "near extinction" can take on many forms. "Near extinction" I use in the sense of extreme but not total disaster. Two examples could be one of the foundations of our society being erased or a catastrophe that could result in the massive dying off of our very own species. Yet we must also remember where lies our true potential. We cannot forget that where there is opportunity, there is hope for the future.

It is time for those with that unique spark, drive, resilience, belief, or knowledge to act. It is time for them to explore, discover, and create in the many and diverse ways in which they excel. It is time for those within certain areas to recruit and build a follower base not only from those who follow others but those who do not yet follow anyone. It is time for those to recruit from among those of similar thoughts, both those sympathizers with direction and those without direction. They must think and act beyond already established areas of recruitment. There are incalculable opportunities not only for those who may be perceived as fringe, but the silent majority and the alienated as well. They have incalculable forms of access to knowledge, opportunities, and resources at their disposal to help them affect the world profoundly. There are more opportunities that have yet to be practiced or even imagined. The consequences of our everyday actions are no longer as isolated as they were in the past. When we take action, we must begin to think of our everyday lives as having more of a global impact and affecting events beyond our community. We impact the world every day without even knowing it. Our modern world has incalculable interconnectedness, interdependence, and expanded communicational aspects. This brings the potential of the insignificant to become significant. What may seem to be the most insignificant action or incident has the potential to become significant. The seemingly insignificant has the ability to be compiled with others or assist in the triggering of more insignificant things or occurrences. The seemingly insignificant can become set up like dominoes and become more significant than in itself standing alone. What at the time may seem to be an individual or inconsequential moment or action can produce the most inconceivable or exponential chain of results. It is the insignificant events around us and around the world that accumulate, only waiting for that spark to ignite. Memories and repercussions from these can accumulate, lie dormant, and multiply within the minds of people and a society. They only wait for the slightest of triggering mechanisms to ignite something powerful.

**Our Inactions and Actions**

Do we contribute to the tribulations of the world through our inactions as well as our actions? We create the world around us not only by our actions, but by our inactions as well. Our actions and inactions have imminent impacts on the world around us in a cycle. We impact others by our actions or inactions. In response, this causes them to create actions or inactions that impact us. This causes us to create more actions or inactions that impact them. Their response impacts us again as part of a cycle of cause and effect. This cycle continues. Every decision or indecision influences the next. We contribute to the creation of the world around us, every day sometimes, without even realizing it. Even though we may not personally commit the atrocities of the world ourselves, we are accountable if we know of them or of the problems preceding them and do nothing with that knowledge. When we are aware of those dividing lines that keep the world sober, we have a required responsibility to take action.

Can we expect things from others that we are not willing to do ourselves? Saying "I was simply following orders" or "I am not the only one" does not negate our responsibility. If we witness something that disagrees with our morals and we do not act upon our conscience, then we are responsible and accountable for our inaction. We are responsible and accountable by our failure to contribute to the prevention of an action. This is even more true when we do or do not do something out of convenience or because "everyone else does." These actions or inactions can directly or indirectly contribute to issues that we may disagree with. Our inaction may signify our consent to or even our support of that which we object to.

**Laws Can Test Us**

Sometimes, laws test our morals and our personal consciences. Sometimes the law is unequally beneficial to the lawless or privileged. Sometimes the law becomes oppressive to the meek who follow the rules and advantageous or inconsequential to those who do not follow the rules. Sometimes those who break the rules do so believing that the rules do not apply to them, that they will not get caught or if they do the consequences will not be that bad comparable to how they will benefit. Sometimes there are those who use the laws immorally to their benefit. Yes, order must be maintained, and laws are best changed within. But what do we do when the changing or altering of the law becomes impractical or even unapproachable? When the time comes, we must stand against that which is legal but immoral. We must take a stand when the law becomes oppressive or no longer for the good of all. When we take these actions, we must accept the consequences thereof. When the time comes, we must not shrink from taking our stand. We must also match—if possible, surpass—negative and destructive actions with positive and constructive actions.

But, when it comes down to it, what would any one of us do? How much or how far must we be willing to accept wrongdoing? When do we act—when is the point of "enough is enough"? At what point do we accept the responsibility for the unimaginable? At what point do we accept a responsibility beyond what is expected of us? To this last question I say, when no one else will or can do it.

**Apathy and Reluctance—More Dangerous than Opposition**

Apathy is more dangerous than any direct opposition because it is a void, and a void has no force to contend with. It is more insidious than direct opposition because it is a void that can be found not only in others, but also more covertly within ourselves. A void allows the less desirable force a more easily accessible foothold than one view in opposition of another. Apathy is a point of view resulting from being broken or desensitized. It can also come from the desertion of an established mode of direction. Apathy is simply a void to be filled. Those under the spell of apathy may only require assimilation, rather than a struggle that comes with infiltrating an already established cohesion or system of beliefs. Apathy is subversive, and its foundations are built upon time.

When considering apathy or reluctance, we could be inclined to ask ourselves: When do the participants of a spectacle become deafened by their own false weeping. Do they choke on their own apathy as they become filled with that which destroys them? Is God crying out, as humankind weeps from its own self-pity or chokes because of its own apathy? How long must that which created all cry out? What can we do, and how, to show others and ourselves the way out? How long will we be allowed to continue until we are forsaken by God or ourselves? How long before we pass judgment on ourselves and sentence ourselves accordingly? When we hear but do not listen, we can become responsible through apathy. Even though we may not participate in the atrocities of the world ourselves, we are accountable if we know of them and do nothing. Sometimes, I wonder how many times has that which created all cried out, as humankind has been deafened by its weeping from reluctance or self-pity. How many times has that which created all cried out as humankind has choked as a result of apathy?

It only takes time before we as a society reach our breaking point. Then all that is needed is an opportunity for someone to push the limit. Who will push it, I ask? In the meantime, what worries and exasperates me is that almost everyone can agree that the future of the world now lies in our own hands, but no one wants to take that first step of risk or inconvenience toward the changes necessary to create a better world. Many people have become reluctant to take the initiative if it is too much of an inconvenience or risk to their lifestyles. Yes, we may not know of the reward and only see the trials and tribulations; however, the result of doing nothing is never more certain. When people look the other way when life is good for them, they become responsible through the act of being complaisant.

**Apathy Trap**

Fate, if you believe in that sort of thing: what an odd mixture of predetermined destiny and luck of the draw. If one has a destiny, then can one really escape it? If you believe in fate, then show your contempt of fate by defying it.

Some dread their own fate while at the same time convinced others could change theirs. However, if my fate is seen through the eyes of others, then it is the fate in the eyes of others that I avoid. My hope is that their perception is flawed.

Is a person who claims not to be a fatalist yet accepts life because that is the way it is more of a fatalist than someone who believes in fate yet tries to avoid it? How can those who do not believe in fate accept life the way it is?

Some are oblivious to the outside world, while others see the road coming and see no choice but to keep going. Do some continue on this road out of some sort of societal brainwashing or is it because they have become broken? Sometimes a sea of despair may be all that some may see, but they do live on. Some live on because of apathy. Some live on through defiance. Some continue out of some sort of coping mechanism, the belief that change will come, or for any one of countless other reasons. Whatever else happens, we must not let this despair overwhelm us. Every great tragedy has taken its toll on us. Yet even in the wake of each tragedy we will grow, not from our suffering, but from our ability to overcome and succeed in defiance of that which we have endured. In these trials we will endure, and we will grow as a result of these experiences and hardships. While they can make us stronger, they also can be dangerous. Sometimes we can travel on the road blind, even with our eyes wide open. We see but can become blind. When doing so, we must be careful of walking in darkness for too long; we can forget to recognize the light when we see it. Let us not forget that darkness can be but a pause between the light.

**Combating Apathy and Inaction**

Some set the world aflame, some extinguish the flames; sadly, most merely watch as their lives disappear. Combating apathy, unlike combating outside forces, requires creating an initial start. Beginning often takes more effort than continuing. It takes more of an effort to find a reason to act than it does to act when a reason is given.

Perhaps combating apathy is not a matter of persuasion or providing people with reasons to act, but a matter of eliminating the reasons why they do not. The emptiness that apathy leaves can be compared to an evacuated position left easily accessible to a multitude of forces with their own private agendas, rather than a single opposing undefended army.

Unfortunately, in our world today, many people have lost hope in society. When people notice something wrong and they do nothing, is their inaction a result of fear or is it from some thought that they would not make a significant enough difference? There are many people who live in the belief that they cannot make a significant difference, so why even try? I must admit that on occasion I have contemplated this mindset. But then I think, if it is not going to do any harm, why not try? I once heard the saying, "If we try nothing, nothing changes." Saying that nothing is going to change and then doing nothing is a cop-out. I believe we must not think of our actions as being significant or insignificant; we must think of them as a matter of responsibility.

There are many people afraid of getting involved or taking the risk of trying. Fortunately, there are some people who are willing to try and do take that risk. It is our duty to help those who do act, when we cannot or will not act ourselves. It is always important not to leave too much of our fate or destiny in the hands of others. I am not talking about just stopping a current crime, but also getting people involved so that we eliminate the reasons behind crime from existing. More people who are willing to help other humans, other life, and the planet in general are essential for the continuation of ours and all future generations. We need people willing to help out because they know the need for helping, and not because they want to gain something for themselves, promote an agenda, dissipate guilt within themselves, or exonerate a previous indiscretion in the view of others. How can we ever expect things to change when we ourselves refuse to do it because it means personal inconveniences or risks? How can we expect others to change and grow unless we ourselves are willing to take the first few steps? We need to concentrate on dissolving the atmosphere where apathy can survive or grow. Apathy is a loss for the future. We need more outspoken support. We need people who are willing to help others without fear of repercussions to themselves or of what someone else may think or do.

I hope to use this book to preserve the species and our societies. However, to do so I must promote my own ideas and certain actions. The irony of stating that we need more people who want to help without an underlying agenda and then promoting my ideas or actions in the message does not escape me. Therefore, even this book must be viewed with scrutiny. In my own form of puritan views, even the outward truthfulness of wanting to help is required to be viewed with some sort of skepticism and investigation. Nevertheless, we need more quality involvement and kindness and peace in the world so we, the human species, do not kill ourselves off. We need more people with that bystander intervention attitude who are willing to extend helping hands. It really saddens me that people can just stand by, watch, and do nothing. In my opinion, sometimes the people who just stand and watch evil actions can be almost as bad as the people who carry out the actions, because often they are the ones who know the difference between right and wrong; and yet they do not act on their knowledge. We must honestly ask ourselves: Do we want to be part of the problem or part of the solution? In allowing a problem to continue, we allow ourselves to be part of the problem by compliancy. We need more people who truly want to help just for the sake of helping, instead of being motivated by private agendas or reasons. We need more people who want to help, without some sort of hidden or subconscious agenda in which they or their allies have the possibility of gaining personally from their service, either directly or indirectly. We must also be observant and cognizant of those who, under a cover of helping, would use their influences, abilities, or opportunities to further something else.

We all have the ability to effect change, not just on personal and local levels, but also on a global scale. Within all of us is the ability to create change, or at least influence the world in positive or negative directions. Within all of us is the ability not only to impact the world we ourselves inhabit, but also the worlds around us. We are all pieces of the puzzle, who are interlocked and interdependent of each other at the same time. We can also view ourselves as though seen through water. We are like pebbles in a brook—larger than life and one of a kind. However, in reality, each of us is one of the many stones that are needed to make up the rock bed. Together we all make up the foundation of the stream and determine where the water flows. There are enough voices to make a difference. We need people who accept personal inconvenience or risk in the hope of a better world. The future requires it. In the future when we think back to now, we will surely remember: It was no longer a time of words, but of individual actions. This is the time for us to stand. This is the time for the silent majority to not fall down, but to stand; apathy is the true enemy. Apathy is also often the true adversary within us. We must continue the fight. Someone must take that first step or risk, then make the first adjustment. Change does not necessarily mean drastic adjustment. It can mean small steps, just enough to initiate more change. Once the first change is initiated, more changes will follow. It takes more than one person for others to follow. But with the first comes the second . . . and then the third. Sometimes, we are bigger players than we believe we are.

**Missed Opportunities**

Sometimes, we force ourselves to travel the path that could be called the "railroad tracks of life." We tend to follow the fate of the rails rather than jump headlong into the wilderness. Why are we more willing to accept darkness because of its comfort from predictability, when we know that what is ahead of us on the rails is not going to become any better? Why are we sometimes willing to surrender to the worst rather than take a chance on something better, when we know that if we do nothing, nothing changes, and especially not for the better? Are we really so willing to accept a horrible situation because of the inconvenience of taking an action to change it? Are we cattle? Do we honestly believe that our efforts may be wasted? Are we in denial that we may be a world of fatalists? Is this apathy simply resulting from a form of societal programming? Are we so very afraid of taking a chance on change? How much, or for how long, are we willing to punish ourselves by staying in a situation rather than taking a gamble on what could be our only salvation? Too often we are willing to accept that which is the easiest in our lives. Too often we can go with the flow. We can look for the easiest way out. When we look for the easy fix in life, we may miss the true opportunities in life. In looking for the best score, sometimes we do not see the true opportunity under our nose.

We must also be cautious of going too far to the other extreme: Why do some risk the unnecessary loss of something they need for only the hope of something better? Why are they willing to risk so much for just a little bit of gain? We must think ahead and be cautious in sacrificing long-term stability in exchange for short-term gain. People must not exchange their long-term stability for the instant payment.

We live in an uncertain world and following the immediate coin or instant gratification can be dangerous, so we must look past the immediate future into the long-term outlook. Do not look merely forward but beyond; look to the distant future. Do not listen to the voice that fills the closest pockets, but that which keeps all bellies and hearts full (as well as minds and spirits active), for today as well as tomorrow. Do not be distracted by the advice of others, but listen to their motivations. We must also not be distracted by outside noise. We must analytically look at the concerns and motivations that others may have before we follow the first or easiest solution. When listening to others we must not be persuaded away from our hearts or minds. Each of us must listen to the heart and mind within ourselves. As long as we listen to others who are more concerned about overstuffing their bellies and billfolds today than about the survival needs of tomorrow, tomorrow is in jeopardy. When we focus on short-term gains rather than the long-term consequences, we become vulnerable to those consequences. We continue to treat the symptoms and put the disease second. We as a world society cannot continue in the way in which we are going. We tend to devote too much of our time to short-term issues and short-term solutions, instead of focusing on long-term issues and long-term solutions.

We must think beyond the rhetoric of political conversation and see what is in the best interest of all and of the future. We can tend to ignore the needs of the present to make up for mistakes from the past. Or, we may ignore the needs of the present that are required to prepare for a healthy future. We tend to set aside the fact that it is within the present that we are responsible for the future. We must grow alongside the future, and we need to plant the garden of tomorrow today. It is up to the generations of the world today to prepare the world for the generations of the future.

**Soldier on for Redemption**

We can often feel as if we are too small to make a difference. We can feel as if our insignificant action cannot make a difference. We can feel as if our one small single act is but a drop in the ocean, with no significant impact. However, we should think of our actions, even the smallest events, as drops on a smooth surface. Yes, they are each but individually scattered drops. Alone, they only have the potential to stand alone. However, with each random, ensuing drop they begin to accumulate. Eventually, two small drops will come too close together and quickly form a bigger single drop. As larger drops form, they become too large for neighboring drops to stay separate, and small pools will form. Once small pools form and combine into even larger combinations, it is soon time for an inevitable event to occur. It only takes one more drop then; it just happens on its own: a "runaway effect." Often happening hard and fast, a cascading effect of pools combining and running quickly into each other creates a stream or even a flood. As the flood runs away, other drops in the way have no choice but to join in the journey. One tiny drop has tipped the balance and created a flood.

We have been given the challenge of rebuilding. We must think of this as an opportunity, not a burden. We need to take the wreckage of the old and the past and use it to build anew. We may say that it cannot be done only because we will not make the necessary sacrifices to get it done. However, I believe that we are strong. We have survived thus far, and we can continue to survive and flourish. We cannot afford to end up at a stage where we have come from, and thus be forced to repeat history. We must ensure that our mistakes are recognized as mistakes and are not followed in the present or repeated in the future. We can no longer afford to let ourselves or others act in expectation of reward; an action must be done because it is the correct thing to do. We also must not forget that selfish greed at the expense of the survival of all can begin with the seemingly inconsequential. It is a slippery slope that can eventually lead to destruction. We must all remember never to follow these paths ever again. We must not give in to the pressure. The journey will be long and hard, but the fact that we have survived thus far is a testament to our fortitude.

We cannot expect to have help from others unless we try to help ourselves and others. It is easy to philosophize and discuss, but it takes courage, hard work, and great sacrifices to accomplish our goals. Only those who believe that they are absolutely defeated with no chance of success are defeated. We must also never forget that those individuals who contribute abundantly and have the greatest impact on a society are the ones accustomed to achieving their goals despite difficulties and long odds.

Redemption is not found in meditation, books, or words, but in actions. Redemption is never free of charge; there is always a price to pay. It is time to judge not only others but ourselves and exact punishment or provide compensation according to need. In times such as these, redemption of the soul can often be found in reflection. Then, action is necessary to express that reflection. We all have suffered great losses; but the one thing we cannot afford to lose is our humanity. We cannot afford to devolve. We, the individual or the society, must be careful not to fall victim to the whims of others who are willing to risk something that will be eventually required for future goals. We must avoid the weakness found within ourselves that entices us to follow others. Do not let yourself or anybody else become a victim.

**Pursuit of our Goals**

In our pursuit of goals, we must remember that some goals are but steps toward accomplishing other goals. Sometimes to accomplish one goal we must first accomplish another goal. But in doing this, we cannot afford to forget that when a cause becomes forgotten in the movement, the cause is lost. We cannot afford to sacrifice what we have sworn to protect in order to save it. We have lost when we temporarily set aside, ignore, or forget what we have sworn to protect. We cannot afford to let what we aspire to achieve become lost in the process of achieving. In the pursuit of a goal, we must be careful not to violate the goal which we wish to achieve. When we forget or violate the principles of the goals that we wish to achieve, we can become hypocritical in the process of achieving those goals. Do not forget that hypocrisy only devalues the goal. Pitied are the hypocrites, for they will be the first to fall. We all must be careful not to fall.

**Accepting Responsibility for Others**

How far must we go to protect those who cannot protect themselves? Where is the line between the required responsibility to act and not having the right to interfere? Where does assistance become enabling? We may ask ourselves, Why should I take responsibility for others? Why should I be burdened with the extra responsibility and effort to pick up the slack for those who will not or cannot? The simple answer is, because we are the ones who understand the importance or are capable of so doing. It is the responsibility of those who understand to convey their knowledge. It is the responsibility of those who understand the necessity of action to take action. It is the responsibility of those who have the capability to act to do so, to act upon their knowledge, and make use of their abilities. We are not only responsible for our actions, but also the knowledge we each carry. Accompanying this knowledge is our responsibility not to willingly or unwillingly unleash risks upon others, as it is detrimental and creates a world not conducive to survival. The simple fact is we cannot let those who will not or cannot act jeopardize our future, our descendants, or those of all humanity. We must not think of it as "picking up the slack" for them, but as a triumph in spite of them. We must think of this obligation as a challenge or opportunity, not a burden.

**Choices We Offer—And our Responsibility for Creating Options**

How blindly we sometimes ignore that which is most obvious in life, and especially the consequences thereof. Our duty to others, as to ourselves, is not only to broaden perceived options, but also to eliminate the barriers to those choices that may be seen as unobtainable. The more we are able to secure the abilities of our choices to become successful, the more we may be able to secure those unstable or unpredictable actions/results.

What is our responsibility in offering choices? I personally think it is in bad taste to dictate personal beliefs of rights and wrongs or unduly force our personal beliefs onto others. However, neither can we allow the protection of the vulnerable or the survival of humanity to be compromised. In offering choices to ourselves and others we need to think more about the long-term consequences and results of our actions. We must create an atmosphere where alternative views can be proposed, especially when we may not have all the answers. There are many viewpoints about any question or discussion.

In our ability to choose from the choices we perceive as available to us, I often ask myself: Do we have a choice, or do we just have an illusion of choice? Because, when we make decisions, we are only able to choose from our perceived available options. I believe the fact that we are limited from other available options, from selecting a more preferable choice, implies that our ability to choose what we prefer is an illusion. Yes, people are responsible for their choices. However, because of this, we must never forget that choices are made because of the absence of all available options. With every new element of information, possibility, et cetera added to the decision process, new options for choices can be discovered. Every element has the possibility of adding multiple outcomes to any decision. This means we are responsible for the decisions of others, according to how we present or obscure the choices offered them. If we only offer the choices A and B to someone, then how can we fault that person for not choosing choice C? In the same way, when we place what people may consider to be unconquerable obstacles in the path of choice B, then how can we fault them when they choose choice A over choice B? Yes, people do have the responsibility to explore their choices and find information about those choices. However, how can we fault them for the results that stem from them choosing one of the choices that we offered? This is a form of culpability for us, in the sense that their decisions are partially based on and thus results of the choices we offered them.

It is essential that we give people the freedom and ability to explore all information. Informed decisions require access to expert opinions and their expertise. Experts need to be taken seriously; however, be careful with the expert, who may come with myopic views that fail to see the big picture. Informed decisions also require input from the perspective of the generalist, so the discussion is not clouded with myopic viewpoints. With allowing the examination of expert opinions comes the responsibility to make a considerable effort to include both impartial and contradictory input from those of diverse opinions. However, we must make sure those opinions are not offered under influences from personal motivations or biased interpretations.

**Choices We Offer—Results and Consequences**

Change at times is inevitable, and with the lines of separation shrinking in our relatively expanding world, not only do individuals have the personal ability to impact their local region, but they have the ability to make more of a noticeable impact globally.

With this power comes responsibility, and the increasing need not only for action, but also increased cautiousness in taking that action. We must take responsibility not only for our actions, but the choices we give others that they in turn will base their actions upon. Each small, trivial individual action a person takes may seem insignificant at the moment, but each action affects the possibilities, and therefore the outcomes, of the next decision. Thus, actions or non-actions will affect every following decision. We are not alone or isolated in our actions. We must think beyond ourselves and our immediate needs. Every decision and action we take will impact our possible visible choices for future decisions, the likelihood of future decisions being successful, and the results that will come from those future decisions. The decisions we make not only impact us, but also set in motion a chain of events that follow. The results of our decisions create available choices or opportunities that others may have, which in turn create those choices or opportunities that are given back to us. This results in a cycle that can eventually come back to us, or at the very least have a butterfly effect. Even if distant, one small decision or action still will eventually influence us and the whole of civilization in some way. Therefore, we must be careful with the actions we take, because they impact more than just us. What we wish for may not always happen as a result of our decisions. So, we must honestly ask ourselves what the true long-term results of our actions may be before we take them. With the diminishing lines of separation also comes an increased responsibility for the chains of events we all set in motion. Just out of reach of our current view, but yet in some way obvious to us all: I personally believe that most of the problems of the world today will show that they are interconnected . . . or our issues will destroy us.

On a side note, we must not let our actions, directly or indirectly, result in the killing or oppression of the innocent or in risking the survival of us all. Those who would justify bringing harm to a child, or jeopardizing that reality in which we all live, to justify or further their goals or ideological beliefs do not realize that they endanger all of our futures. Killing innocents is not the answer, for those who do so kill the future. When we spill the blood of the innocent, we spill the blood of thousands of innocents to come. The killing or oppression of the innocent is not the answer.

I believe no one should be responsible for other people who can take care of themselves. Still, we must also be responsible enough not to create unnecessary additional problems for anyone by the actions that we take in resolving our own issues. In return, neither should we experience additional issues for ourselves from them in resolving their issues. Taking action when we know how ourselves or others may be impacted by those actions is acceptance of the responsibility for the consequences that arise from those actions. We must accept personal responsibility for the risks resulting from the decisions that others may take because of the results from the choices we offer them. Just as we should not be left vulnerable by their mistakes, we must be careful and make a truly conscious effort to avoid leaving others vulnerable by exposing them to the risks of our mistakes. This is a responsibility that we cannot avoid. We must not only take on those responsibilities that we see clearly upon ourselves, but also for those responsibilities that we inadvertently placed upon others. Not only must we accept our responsibilities that are currently apparent to us, but we must also accept our responsibilities that we may not be fully aware of as of yet. We must have the foresight, courage, or intuition to see the results of even the most trivial of our actions and consider the progression of future events following from them. This is one of the ways we are truly responsible for not only the areas directly around us, but also the world in general. We must grip tightly the reins to hold back that which can begin or lead to the collapse of the foundation of what we had aspired to create.

**Responsibility of Knowledge**

Some can reject or become fearful of what they do not understand. Perhaps this is why we need patience. We need patience with others who may not understand us or see what we are. It is our responsibility to share our knowledge. We cannot hide our knowledge; it must be shared. But when we do share that knowledge, we are still responsible for how our knowledge is used. We are responsible for not only sharing our knowledge, but instructing in the proper use of that knowledge. Knowledge and responsibility go hand in hand.

Many believe that some are not responsible enough with the knowledge they do possess. We must take caution; there are downsides to acquiring too much knowledge. We must not become blinded by knowledge. I sometimes wonder if the ones who understand are at a disadvantage. Not knowing can be an advantage, in that sometimes the truly innocent can see what others cannot. I also sometimes question if some seek knowledge for more responsibility or as a release from responsibility. In searching for and acquiring knowledge, do some secretly have the hope that the knowledge they seek will supply them with a reason to not be accountable? Still, knowledge must be given freely, and it is the responsibility of those with the knowledge to share it freely. However, we must also accept the responsibility that accompanies the acquisition of knowledge. It is the duty of those with the knowledge to protect the innocent from the actions that some of the informed would take. Many, at one time or another, have felt that they know better than others concerning a certain subject. Whether they do know best is not the issue; the issue is how they act upon their knowledge. It is this that can define us as a society, and ourselves as individuals within society.
**Chapter Three** : **Our Government**

**Isolationism or Globalization: Kick in Head or Kick in the Groin?**

_Isolationism,_ or _distorted nationalism,_ can bring suffocation and stagnation, is impractical, and cannot be completely or indefinitely maintained in a globally connected world.

_Globalization_ , or _global collaboration,_ can bring the loss of identity, culture, and independence. __

I am personally very concerned with the current representations and extremes of both of these. I am also concerned that in these times there are forces that would have us choose between these, instead of other options. Based on my own perceptions of the implementation of these, I relate that choice to the following crude analogy: _Would you prefer being kicked in the head or the groin?_

**Dangers of the Slippery Slope**

Sometimes the gradual implementation is more concerning than the spur of the moment. The spur of the moment action has less true forethought and can be brought into the light for response easier than the gradual action that has an implanted foothold. The gradual indoctrination and justification into anything can be slow, incremental, and of negligible concern until it is too late. The gradual chain of events and eventualities that branch from the slow and incremental implementation can have more forethought, be more insidious, and have stronger foundations than the spur of the moment action. These gradual or justifiable changes can be easily implemented as reactionary or precautionary measures. However, they often all have the same disastrous consequences as the spur of the moment actions.

Both "good" and "bad" things can motivate the general public. Both can convince people of the need for action today for the preservation of tomorrow. They also can both be born out of some form or degree of mob mentality. Even those movements that are inspired out of caring for our future are not immune from the power of the mob mentality and can lead in many directions of darkness or light. Whether or not a movement will lead into darkness or light is not always obvious at first glance. The mob mentality **** can take on many forms and be present in a variety of strengths or areas. The power of the mob can be enticing for some. It can persuade people to profess things or act in ways that participants may not entirely agree with. Like a tornado, it can make people flow in one general direction, its force only visible because of that which it carries—just as with a tornado it is difficult to see the wind, but we do see the drops of water and debris which it carries. It is the gradual acceptance and normalization of the extremes by the more moderate of us that is most dangerous. The gradual concessions to our core nature or the gradual indoctrination of beliefs or practices into the general public, which without the previous steps of indoctrination would be considered alarming, must be viewed with extreme scrutiny. We must be very cautious of steps that may seem to be necessary and appropriate at the time. Temporary solutions have a habit of becoming permanent out of convenience, fear, or self-promotion by a few, leading to their adoption by the many. We must also be cautious of those who may utilize these opportunities more for their own benefit rather than the benefit or safety of all. The excuses of the temporary can often be used for the justifications of the permanent.

**Favoritism—In the Swing of the Pendulum, the Middle is Lost**

What is your personal definition of fascism? What is your personal definition of socialism? What is your personal definition of capitalism? What is your personal definition of communism? What is your personal definition of conservatism? What is your personal definition of liberalism? What is your personal definition of imperialism? What is your personal definition of totalitarianism? We all can research the true and accurate definitions of these terms; however, it is what they personally mean to each of us that is important. Just as some may attempt to use them for labels, many of these terms are used by extremists of all sides to define others, but not themselves.

Which way will it swing? Powers of influence, favoritism, various spectrums, perspectives, and the consensus of majorities can fluctuate and swing like a pendulum. It is in this swinging that power and influence is most easily found or created. Some who would promote the extremist views would force us to choose between existing understandings. Some would have us choose between:

1. A form of extreme socialism or communism that subjugates the individual (subjugation to the few in an illusion of serving the masses or the greater good), with the possibility of being forced to support those who can support themselves at a loss to our own. These extreme forms ultimately only result in the illusion of equality and freedom. They potentially limit or erode the human potential to the point where the individual is discouraged from fully creating and achieving, at a cost to ourselves and, more importantly, the whole.

2. One of the many various forms of fascism, which seeks some form of suppression, exclusion, and subjugation as well as the destruction of equality, dismantling of individuality, and elimination of freedoms.

3. A form of extreme capitalism that takes advantage to the point of suppression or inflicting detrimental long-term loss and damage. A form of crony capitalism. A form of what someone from my past once referenced as "corpocracy." Or, a form of capitalism that poses unnecessary risks to survival. Extreme forms that exchange short-term gain for long-term stability, or in which life has the potential of being devalued to a number.

4. An extreme or distorted form of nationalism or isolationism, where the nonconformist or even every individual is suppressed, subjugated to the few in power, or eliminated altogether.

All of these extremes and others, each in their own way, have the possibility of limiting the human potential, freedom, and spirit, and will eventually devalue something in life or even life itself. Following the swing of the populist in any circumstance can be much like the impulsive swinging of a double-edged blade—moderation and common sense can become lost by the wayside. Throughout history, those who have chosen the path of closing themselves off to the common sense of moderation can become extreme, under the absolute control of the few or of the masses, and generally become ill-equipped to deal with the changing world.

**Middle versus the Extreme**

In the extremist, an all-or-nothing attitude can develop. Radicalization widens the divides between people, and that which is held in common becomes lost. Many extremists even try to widen the gaps within the divide of the population in hopes of recruiting more constituents to their side. This is also often common between political parties or ideologies, various sides push their agendas and try to undo the advancements or accomplishments of the previous group, and vice versa. It is something people have grown to despise, tolerate, and sometimes succumb to at the same time. People can easily surrender to the rhetoric of fault finding and undertake to dismantle rather than putting positive energy into creating. In the past, this has had disastrous consequences. Thus far, we have been able to alter course and mitigate some of the damage when a population swings too far in any direction, although sometimes it has taken the course of decades or longer to recover from. The problem is, with our current interconnectedness and communicational abilities, impulsiveness or extremism is not something we can afford to take a chance with. When it comes to isolationism, nationalism, socialism, fascism, communism, capitalism, global collaboration, or globalization we cannot afford the luxury of overreaction, nastiness, shortsightedness, or immaturity.

**Who is Fighting?**

Who or what do we perceive to be in control?

Do those on various sides claim it is for the best of all, but "do not mind" if they themselves are rewarded?

Perhaps, it can seem like a battle between multiple or sometimes seemingly countless forces. I believe one of the forces that is battling are those who want to guide society in the direction they think is best. Other forces that seem to be battling are those who seek what they believe to be stability, those who have a fear for survival (both self-centered and altruistic), and those who have the urge for the community to grow together. Unfortunately, though, it sometimes appears to me to be more of a battle between those who want to dominate, erase others altogether, advance themselves, and those who wish to maintain the advantage of growth or the status quo for themselves. Some elements are not exclusively indicative of any one side. Meaning, some forces may be comprised of two or more of these elements. It is a battle between those who feed on humanity to satisfy their own greed and those who want humanity to become whole and succeed all together. It is a battle between those who want to help people and those who want to solidify power for themselves and their cohorts. Some may even liken it to a battle between "good and evil." As in all battles between good and evil, we can be deceived or manipulated. Worse yet, sometimes similar-looking but very different elements can be found on all sides, disguised by shades of gray. We must be careful and not be deceived!

**Isolationism for Cultural Preservation**

Ironically, it is not only global collaboration or globalization that we should concern ourselves with. Prestige or concern for a national interest, cultural interest, or religious doctrine can be honorable and only reasonable; however, it can also be easily used as a smokescreen for darker purposes. We must concern ourselves also with those who promote themselves or their agendas based on combating globalization.

There are those who are now pursuing and promoting extreme or distorted isolationism, nationalism, religious doctrines, economic isolation, or dominance, as well as those who may even be forming global alliances under the guise of nationalism, isolationism, self-preservation, or thwarting globalization. Make no mistake: they are now globalizing between and within themselves. _The combined global effort, or support of others like themselves, to establish enclaves is a form of globalization in itself._ Do not be blind to the fact that many who would tout nationalism or isolationism are now globalizing among themselves. Many who promote distorted or extreme versions of any of these as a means to protect a way of life or combat globalization, are often looking in the process for how they or their allies can benefit personally more than the community in general. Often, they ultimately want to dictate how individuals should lead their lives. They alone decide who should be in charge and what decisions are to be made for all. Some may even try to decide who belongs and who does not. They are the ones to decide where and when. In the end, their main concern can often be themselves only. ****

Extreme or distorted forms of isolationism, nationalism, and religious doctrines can often be seen as necessary for the protection of beliefs, culture, or ways of life. Such distortion can emerge under the pretext of unification to combat "the enemy." It can come under the deception of a promise for betterment. It may be presented under the pretext of the restoration or preservation of values, ways of life, devotion, nationalism, preserving roots, or any number of reasons. Yes, some forms of isolationism, nationalism, and religious doctrines can be instrumental or essential for the stability of a society. Isolationism and nationalism can help us rediscover our roots and restore, unify, and create community in the short term. And religious doctrines are necessary for community continuity, purpose in life, values, et cetera. However, extremist or perverted versions leave us weak or stagnant compared to the outside world. Perverted versions of these have had the result of distorting those very same roots we wish to protect.

Extreme isolationism, nationalism, and religious doctrines can be forced upon a civilization. However, anything that is forced upon a civilization will eventually grow to be despised, rejected, or resented by the population of that civilization. And often, but not always, those who wish to promote the extreme do so not for preservation or protection, but for subjugation and control. In my opinion, if they were really concerned with the preservation or growth of their culture, they would work toward that through positive inclusive actions that inform or encourage outsiders to observe, protect, or even participate in their culture. Perhaps by showing them the positive values and reasons why the culture needs to be preserved or even grow.

Extreme isolationism or distorted religious doctrines for the preservation of a culture from outside influences can often draw the attention of those rival influences. Such measures can not only draw attention from the outside to the isolated, but also draw attention within the isolated to the outside. Sometimes the practice of intentional or unintentional extremism will enable a fictitious enemy to become reality. Those who draw attention to something that they claim is unavoidable, whether that is the reality or not, will ultimately on some scale promote the inevitability of that something happening. Once something is mentioned and acknowledged we will only draw attention to it. However slightly, we have verified that there is a risk of probability.

Extreme isolationism or nationalism or distorted religious doctrines can sometimes lead to the individual rejecting the culture or belief system, which is often a loss to that community. Most humans have the natural tendency to reject that which they feel can be suffocating. This feeling of the individual that the culture of the society is suffocating to them can lead to a threat to the society. The individuals can form into groups and groups can easily become movements. Once these movements happen, whether good or bad, successful or not, they will always leave their marks and ultimately change the course of the community, society, or culture. Thus it is not only those in defiance that these societies, communities, or cultures should concern themselves with. Obedient coalitions can also foster opposing attention and inspire rivals in all areas and to all degrees. Additionally, these societies, communities, and cultures must be aware not only of the discontentment within but also of discontentment from outside as well.

Isolationism can also be just as great, or even greater, of a threat than the radical or extremist. Isolationism can not only create weakness and make a society vulnerable to the outside, but also create the extremists on either or both sides within the society. Isolationism also provides a void that can give birth to and nurture the radical and extremist. Isolationism is not a force to combat head-on like the radicals. Isolationism imposes mental stagnation, which is contrary to human nature. Human nature cannot be avoided forever or completely. It may not seem like it at times, but humans cannot help themselves from thinking, at least on some level. Autonomy and differences cannot be suppressed indefinitely. Isolationism in the long-term is not a solution; whether it is voluntarily or involuntarily enacted, it cannot last forever. It is only a short-term solution that will ultimately leave us weaker. On the societal level, it breeds an atmosphere void of innovative ideas and concepts. New concepts and ideas are needed by the society or community in order for it to be able to adapt to the changes of time. Innovative ideas and concepts can emerge within the isolationist society on their own, but only very slowly—often much too slowly for proper adaptation. Some outside concepts are needed to build strength against other outside influences that are set to conquer or assimilate the culture to the point of unrecognizability. Isolationism often creates stagnation and eventually fear. Those who are stagnant cannot adapt. And, those who cannot adapt fade into history. In the past, those civilizations that dabbled in complete isolationism left themselves defenseless and vulnerable to weaknesses when under pressure from forces within or without. Isolationism breeds a weakness that is often followed by a cultural shift, decline, or even downfall. Many civilizations, nations, cultures, and religions that have isolated themselves in the past have had what they know of as "their way" end comparatively abruptly. They have had no choice but to abandon their isolationism for various reasons or else run the risk of simply passing into extinction or assimilation into another culture. Extreme isolationism or nationalism or distorted religious doctrines can not only leave a culture or society weaker in the long-run but also cause the individual to wither. These ways erode the human spirit in some and can make others lash out for autonomy. These practices can also create individuals who, after being suppressed for an extended amount of time, may not be fully equipped to handle autonomy when it does happen. Individuals may have to relearn all the responsibilities of autonomy. Occasionally, this learning process can be hard and treacherous. We must be diligent in preserving our autonomy. For the preservation of our own autonomy and to prevent the seeming validity of the extreme isolationist or extremist (in general), we must be diligent in protecting others' autonomy, for our own is often next. We must combat loss of autonomy before it reaches our doorstep. We must examine our own doorstep.

Yes, we must not forget the importance of preserving those parts of a culture, heritage, and/or way of life that have been beneficial. Often, our culture is what has helped us be strong, survive, and grow. It is important to hold those traits it dearly in our hearts. However, isolationism in our modern technological world is unrealistic and will only delay the impact of outside influences. When a society as a whole has the desire for change, prohibiting this change will only force change underground. When change takes place underground, that change can often be unpredictable and even more undesirable.

**Globalization and Global Collaboration—There is No Going Back**

Globalization, or global collaboration, is something that gives me great anxiety, apprehension, and concern, considering our current state in the world, our current development as a global community when it comes to respecting humanity, and certain concerning human predilections. Some globalization and global collaboration efforts that are currently being developed have potentially more troubling consequences and possible disastrous results than benefits. Global collaboration by individual tyrants or other global partnerships/coalitions are utilizing the abilities and easy outlets of small societies to dominate masses within currently existing governmental structures. These global alliances—all part of various forms of oppressive socialistic, sociological, nationalistic, fascistic, dictatorial, or other dominating and repressive movements—are often upheld by the pretense of upholding order or security, or otherwise benefitting society. These global networks seem to be maturing faster than those honest, mutually beneficial, rational, and natural networks, or even those that think beyond the immediate future.

Globalization must be handled as one might handle a loaded gun. Simply getting rid of this gun does not remove the possibility that someone else may have another gun. Once traveling on the path to globalization, it cannot be entirely forgotten or reversed. Globalization could also be likened to a knife: it is a tool that can be used to create, maintain, or destroy. Globalization, or global collaboration, can be essential for advancement and sometimes survival; however, it can also become nightmarish in the wrong hands. In some respects, it is a loss of innocence. Global collaboration can be slowed, diverted, delayed, taken over by different methods and ideologies, or it can be changed altogether in countless ways. Any of these alterations can change its dynamic for the better or for the worse. However, completely preventing it from ever happening would require a "start over." A start over would require that our complete knowledge base be erased to the point of eliminating the fundamental knowledge that has led to our discoveries and attainments. Our fundamental knowledge base has thousands of years of documented discoveries. These distant discoveries have led to other discoveries and eventually created our modern world. Thus, a complete erasure may take generations to find that knowledge, which is hidden in our minds and even within our various ways of life. Perhaps it may even require an alteration of human behavior and the elimination of the very human desire to explore, explain, create, and seek out. Knowledge leads to discoveries and discoveries lead to other knowledge and then eventually other discoveries, and the cycle is created. So, in this respect, even a start over is not a complete erasure but simply a reset, a delay to a different but potentially comparable state. Part of human, and thus societal, nature is to explore, create, and establish networks. Those discoveries are bound to be found again. Then eventually, possibly over what would seem to be countless periods, we would eventually be back at a similar situation as now, again resulting in another form of globalization. Faced with another threat of global collaboration but in a separate set of circumstances, we may not have the opportunities that we have now. Who is to say that the next time we face globalization or global collaboration there would not be circumstances with even greater chances of disastrous outcomes for our species? After our start over, who is to say what numerous possibilities for the next world there would be? Who is to say if they would be better or worse? We could have the possibility that our species face something even graver than what we're facing now. There could be an even smaller possibility of our species surviving. Even if we had what some could call a "minor setback," the recovery time could be astronomical and possibly alter our very species catastrophically.

**Globalization is Happening Now**

I sometimes wonder if there are globalizing efforts now underway, whether admitted or not, intentional or not, by those of all sides—both those who claim to be for and those who claim to be against globalization. Sometimes I wonder if there are currently various loosely constructed efforts being developed and implemented globally. Some of the most successful globalization efforts of today consist of loosely connected or semiorganized consortiums, whether they claim to be for or against globalization. Then, there are the rest of us 7.5+ billion people. Sometimes we are willing participants in globalization and global collaboration and sometimes not. Many people may appear to be in opposition to one another. However, even those who appear to be in opposition to one another are sometimes similar in some ways. In many ways and on many sides, these diverse worldwide movements, collaborations, or collectives set things in motion.

Globalization can happen through the support of loosely connected nationalistic, socialistic, isolationistic, fascistic, capitalistic, communistic, or other movements or collaborations. These partnerships of efforts can range, under the guises of ordinary partnerships, mutually supportive ones, or protective, financial, economic, national, social, environmental, theological, racial, ideological, or philosophical partnerships. They can appear to be in favor of or against any issue. However, they can be façades for the xenophobic, isolationist, fascist, fanatical, et cetera. Yes, we have had similar partnerships around for millennia, such as movements of faith inspired by greed not enlightenment, trading partnerships inspired by the interests of domination not economic prosperity for all, or various others that have not been solely motivated by the improvement of society, spirituality, or other similar uplifting reasons.

However, we must be careful in our emerging world, since the diverse, fringe, extreme, dangerous, and fanatical people have found the ability to spread their ideas and grow in numbers more quickly than in the past. Often, those who have found the ability to spread and grow quickly are those who carry the name of a group but have splintered off, co-opting the name only to form another group, or been corrupted. We are no longer in a world where we are isolated in our actions. All have the potential to become internationally influential very quickly. Some multinational groups are maturing, while others are still in their infancy. All of these can have worldwide influence and be of various consortiums, partnerships, arrangements, agreements, or movements. All of these diverse groups have numerous different approaches, motivations, and interests. They sometimes present themselves as legitimate voices of their people, but many have been corrupted and often only represent themselves. Many of these diverse groups often have the same goal in mind, the goal of only their own self-interest or that of their groups, rather than the best interest of all. They all often have their own private agendas, expanding their own globalization efforts, often without the necessary accountability or even concern from outside the group. Some might be under some sort of control—however, it is often only by their own group or their competitors who have the same or similar goals. Ultimately, they remain only answerable to themselves or their rivals. The efforts and agendas of these various alliances, in their bids for global dominance, are concerning and require being watched and monitored very closely. We cannot afford to dismiss them as not being able to influence the world significantly. Some may be encouraged or tolerated, while others, despite all efforts from the opposition, may be too strong to be discouraged or prevented from operating. The groups or individuals, both those not known publicly and the well-known ones, that have global influence and operate across borders with their actions behind the scenes are the most cunning. Sometimes they have direct control, other times they may have indirect control (in the conventional sense) of governments; but they can at times control the paths, abilities, operations, and choices that governments have. Many of these different global movements, organizations, networks, and/or alliances are being formed inside as well as outside current governmental boundaries and interests. In many respects, they often have more influence on governments than governments have on them. I suspect there are no true independently functioning governments, in the traditional definition, anymore. Most countries and the "major players of the world" do not necessarily completely control themselves. They are often directly or indirectly manipulated, corrupted, or at the very least influenced by forces within and without themselves that do not necessarily have definable geographical borders.

At our current state of development as a society, economic influence is still an integral part and is sometimes necessary for the stimulation of a society. However, this necessity of economics has been corrupted and resulted in the control of government shifting away from the will of the population in general. Yes, economics has always influenced government; however, we have never before had such globally based economics. Additionally, many final global economic decisions are made by a select few, in comparison to the many whom they affect. This is why maintaining local autonomy, authority, and self-regulation is so important. The autonomy based in self-regulation is an essential element in remaining independent. However, we must be wary of the globally organized exploiting the inconsistent or weak local regulation. Globalization can also occur through the process of dismantlement of local regulation.

Our attention can often be diverted from those with whom we should concern ourselves. Beyond those of governments, there are other efforts that I fear do not accurately portray the best interests or the wills of all people. There are some people with only their own personal greed or desire for power as a motivating factor; while there are also others who genuinely want to help. Some obviously legitimate, some obviously criminal, some in between—for some it depends on whom we ask, and others use legitimacy or illegitimacy only as a cover. Many of these world powers and coalitions with economic influence or power are waging war not just among themselves, fighting those of their own kind for control, but also on others and the rest of us. They wage their types of war in various and complex ways to keep their current control, increase their control, and diversify their types of control—control that should not be held by anyone. The world is unbalanced, as control is in their favor. But as they fight, in the long-term scheme of things, they are only fighting over an illusion of world domination, as domination is not only eventually fading, but also intangible. There are many examples of what makes world domination an illusion, but one is that monarchies, empires, regimes, or countless other powers can have control of populations, but they will eventually be replaced by others. Their control will not last forever. When there is the possibility, even if slight, that their control will not last forever, they have not won definitively. And, even when it is generally accepted that they are in control, their control can be a façade. A façade in the sense that they do not have complete control over all minds and spirits. Yes, control may be overwhelming, but as long as some part of someone resists or ignores it, they have not entirely won. Their control is intangible in the sense that they have control only because resistance is not yet sufficient.

The world is increasingly becoming a world where those who are in control are controlling us by our own demise. They can currently organize the planet simply because we give them the power to do so by our own complacency and inaction. They maintain control of us by tapping into our own fears, self-promises, and/or aspirations. Whether it is a worldwide consortium, individual(s), loosely organized group(s), cooperation between factions, or something not listed here, they can give us an enemy in order to divert our attention from their true actions, motivations, or goals. They manipulate us to fight among ourselves over ideologies, resources, the illusions of survivability, and an advancement of that survivability which is, in the end, more for their own benefit. They can also use wars, conflicts, hatreds, oppressions, and fears that are centuries old for their own advancement simply maintained because we were born and raised to be preconditioned into them. Those in control pull our strings and we dance like puppets, and all along they tempt us with false rewards or praise. Political, financial/economic, religious, cultural, and various other instruments are but a few of the means used to encourage us to fight among ourselves. We fight over the scraps left by those who manipulate the foundations of society for their own greed, advancement, or other gain—all at the expense of ourselves.

The point is this: global networks, organizations, and conglomerates already exist on many sides. Thus, the foundations of globalization have already been laid. The final outcomes of who, what, when, where, why, and how are still in their infancy. With our current transportation, communications, technology, interdependence, abilities, and overall world networks for the exchange of physical and nonphysical, world globalization in some ways and on some level is unavoidable, and already done. With the globalization efforts already underway, we must not forget the adages "sink or swim" and "do it or someone else will." As long as we fight among ourselves for what little scraps are left available to us, instead of unifying and fighting for what we deserve, we will always be taken advantage of.

You do not have to believe anything I say. _However, there are those now globalizing our planet who may not have all of our best interests in mind._ At the very least, we need to be aware of those who have global influence and/or world power and who are not accountable to the general population of their nation or culture or even any other general population for that matter. They often do not recognize or are able to circumvent national borders and cultural boundaries. The current governmental or cultural systems are unable to curtail their efforts of furthering their personal agenda or that of their groups more than that of the world community at large, and often even at a loss to the world community. In some instances, they are encouraged or aided by the current governmental or cultural systems wherein they live or operate. Often, current national and cultural interests are sacrificed for the personal gain or short-term benefit of someone else. Unfortunately, this will only create weakness in the long run. The question is, will we finally recognize this and have the courage to take action before the damage is irreversible?

**Our Duty and Failure to Government**

Governments that are responsible and follow the will of their people are strong, yet they can still be very vulnerable to failure. The reasons for governmental weakness or failure can be vast, diverse, very complicated, and definitely involve much more than can be discussed here. That said, a government will set itself up for failure, collapse, or replacement when it loses the faith, trust, or approval of its citizenry. A system is fated for replacement when it creates an extremely high percentage of disenfranchised people, becomes too corrupt or ineffective, no longer has the infrastructure to support itself, or can no longer supply the structure or stability that its citizens require from it. A few danger signs of a government being viewed as obsolete, ineffective, or weak—and thus doomed for change, death, or complete replacement—can be unusually high voter turnout, unusually low voter turnout, or a widespread belief that corruption or oppression exists. When there is unusually high voter turnout, it is best that those in power listen. When voter turnout decreases, that could indicate that the government or representation is viewed as obsolete or has lost the faith of its citizenry. When there is a significantly widespread practice of oppression, loss of confidence in that government, or a common belief that corruption or oppression exists there, it is not only the time for us to take a stand, but it is our responsibility to take action. It is our personal responsibility to ensure proper government prevails. When people lose faith in a government because of ineffectiveness, oppression, or corruption, they may naturally look elsewhere. They may try to find a different government, possibly in a different form. We must be careful not to replace one with another that is just as ineffective, oppressive, or corrupt. Ineffectiveness, oppression, or thievery will eventually lead to the demise of any government. Not only do these lead to the demise of a government, but they possibly leave distain tinting the view of that form of government in the minds of the citizenry. The society can incorrectly associate and confuse the flaws of that leadership with that form of government. It is not necessarily the form of government that is flawed, but the leadership that is within that form. People do not always realize this. However, these flaws can still leave a stain in hearts and minds for that form of government, even if that form of government is valid.

Many societies have historically experienced cycles of experimentation with forms of government. Our predilection toward cycles can be costly and dangerous. We must think beyond the concepts of right or left, liberal or conservative—we must break this cycle of thinking. In my opinion, when you have the extreme flip-flops between right or left, liberal or conservative, fascist, socialist, communist, dictatorial, or authoritative, that is when you tend to have extreme ongoing issues with the country, nation, and society. With our tendency to flirt with extremes and so easily accept them as solutions, do we sometimes become frightened into accepting things we see as inevitabilities, but which in reality do not have to be inevitable? Do we continually ask ourselves trivial questions, hoping to avoid what we see as inevitable events or situations? In asking ourselves the less important questions, do we distract ourselves from the obvious or more important questions that we should be contemplating or asking? Do we distract ourselves with acceptance of a situation or ask ourselves the inconsequential in order to avoid thinking about inevitable situations or events that we know will be unpleasant for us? Perhaps one of these questions that we should be truly asking ourselves is, has it really come down to a choice between the establishment that has lost touch with and the respect of the populace and those who seek power and control for themselves?

Democracy, or self-determination, is a very vital element of society, but yet it can be very fragile. We must be cautious, not allowing it to slip between our fingers, for once lost it is very difficult to regain. Democracy may possibly take many years or generations to recuperate, and it may take countless sacrifices. It is our duty to ensure that the correct form of government prevails. Some do not realize that rejection of a form of government does not guarantee the end of ineffectiveness or corruption, just the end of that form of government.

We cannot continually deny necessities or rewards or break promises to a society if it deserves them. If we continually promise a society something and do not deliver or at least try to deliver, then we will be in the wrong and may eventually lose their trust or support. False promises and failures are lies in the eyes of a society. Continuously demonstrating our promises to be false will eventually make us fail. For, at minimum, the survival of government, and more ideally for improvement of society, we must ensure that they are both adaptive and not susceptible to the changing times. We must make sure that governments provide sociological and physical security while at the same time protecting freedoms, promoting abilities, and providing opportunities to improve oneself as well as the community.

There are many ways to increase your control over populations; however, we cannot buy or threaten someone into true patriotism, admiration, or respect for a governing body. Without true respect from its people, a government is doomed to eventual death or replacement. And as long as there is a need for government, we must be very aware of any discontent among its peoples. Discontentment among the people will lead to distress or frustration and will eventually cause political unrest, thus increasing the possibility for the fall of that government or even the entire society. If there are laws, written or unwritten, that give preferential treatment to some or limit others, then there may be discontentment among the people. We must also make sure the laws of the government, even if there is no preferential treatment given, do not cause general discontentment among its people. There is a point when a citizenry no longer believes that they determine the law; at that point they may begin to reject the law or even the current government or society. The people must control the limits of law, rather than the law control the people. The people must retain the control of the destiny of the laws, instead of the laws controlling the destiny of the people. All of us should question authority to keep it from getting too powerful for our society to control. When we lose control over our government, then we lose our own authority. Legality is nothing more than general consensus. And general consensus can be for the moral best interest or worst interest, for the positive or the negative outcome of us all.

It saddens me, the world that we live in. And I am particularly saddened by some of our choices of our leaders. I am even sometimes saddened by our choices of those who are just figureheads. The world sometimes seems as if it drips with corruption. Sometimes, it appears that there are those in the world who seriously have the potential to lead us into a sort of a "holy war" or a war between dynasties. This is one of the reasons that we must not confuse a government with its nation. We must also remember that nations and governments can exist independently of each other while at the same time with each other. Nations can exist across governmental borders and governments can have influence across boundaries of different nations. But in any case, what concerns me are those with influence who truly do not represent the will of the people.

**Followers Looking to be Led**

In times of nervousness in societies, increased rhetoric and the actions that follow, and action of governmental transitions, there is an immediate reaction by society, shown in the swinging of deviations in many and various popular areas such as beliefs, culture, politics, et cetera. But it is government that this paragraph chiefly focuses on. In the time that we live in, many have also lost hope and faith in many areas throughout society (including but not exclusively the government). Have we become a world where uncertainty is more of a norm? In times like these, it has never been so easy for those who lead to spur others to follow a movement or to create one. There has never been such a large population base or so many numerous and accessible opportunities available for the individual to find willing followers. And never before has the common individual been able to search and communicate with others to spur actions. We have also become a world where an action in one part of the world is not so isolated that it cannot affect actions in another part of the world.

Are we close to a worldwide revolution? Is loyalty to the constitution of your socially recognized nation or politically recognized government supporting a revolution in your nation or country? If so, what type of revolution? Is patriotism to your nation or government a denunciation or rejection of its current leadership? The question is, when does patience or apprehension give way to action? How dangerous or unpredictable could these actions turn? Or is this what is needed for the advancement, or maybe even just the survival of the species? Ironically the major obstacle and major opportunity of any of these scenarios tends to be apathy and hopelessness. But we must remember that revolution is like a wildfire. Wildfires can be so easy to start, on purpose or by accident, and once it begins, it can be difficult or impossible to control.

**Our Duty to Replacement of Leadership**

Do we purge the leaderships of our governments because we are becoming more aware, or is it a matter of becoming less tolerant of their corruption or flaws? I can appreciate the unique positions of many groups and leaderships in the governments of the world, but many of their motivations and methods have unfortunately become too corrupt. However, we must also ask ourselves, what are they being replaced with? We must be careful; sometimes in our despair or frustration we grasp for the beautiful, but unwittingly grasp the nightmare.

**Our Duty to Leadership—Creation of Leadership**

Many are born with a natural instinct, even if it is only slight or occasional, to follow. And often, a society or group will naturally look for leadership—unfortunately, even if it is not in their best interest. If we have not yet outgrown the need for leadership as a species or society, then it is our duty to help the world flourish by creating, protecting, and assisting quality leadership. We deserve leaders interested in protecting and benefiting the world, society, and consciousness of us all. We must create an environment which produces leaders who are interested in the protection and advancement of the entire human race, not just of themselves or the select few.

The creation of leaders can happen in countless ways. Leadership can happen by chance, by need or circumstances, as a last resort, or because of an epiphany of the group or movement. Sometimes, the group or movement finds the leader. Other times, the leader finds or creates the movement. Sometimes there are those individuals with that "spark" by chance or by birth. There are also those few people in the right place, at the right time, and with those needed life experiences, talents, desires, skills, or appearances. However, leaders and other authority are also made. Truly "just" or "righteous" leaders never seek out their responsibilities; the responsibilities seek them out. Often, they can be just individuals who are fed up with what they believe to be injustices or failures. Whether leaders work toward "evil" or "good" can often, but not always, depend on how they grew up, the circumstances around them, or the way life has treated them, and how they have accepted and dealt with that. Unfortunately, on those rare occasions when we have had monumental leadership, we did not realize it until afterwards. The only time we know if a leader is ultimately achieving "good" or "bad" for a society is when it is too late. It is our responsibility to create an environment where there is a better chance of producing leaders who are for the "good." We need those people who improve, preserve, or protect society, but unfortunately on that same branch are also those who might ultimately do us all in.

**Types of Leadership**

Throughout history, some leaders have used the threat of a common enemy or fear to unite, motivate, or control their people. What if those leaders knew all along that the unifying motivator they look for and can use could be found within us? Successful leaderships, for the "good" or the "bad," know the nuances of tapping into the people; I just wish the ones that lead for the good were more successful than they are. Leadership derived from fears or promises can survive for a while, but leadership that is capable of surviving and thriving into the future needs the respect and admiration of its people. True admiration or patriotism cannot be bought through fear or bribery. People may be coaxed into outwardly aiding or remaining silenced because of fear being imposed on them, but secretly and privately they can tend to ignore, undermine, or resist those who or that which brings them fear. And as for bribery, the human nature of wanting increasingly more will prevail, and once a leadership is unable to supply those bribes, the support of the people will be lost. A leadership needs to do many things to earn respect or admiration from their people. One of these things is to protect and take care of their citizenry where the society cannot. Protecting or providing for others can be motivated by "good" or "bad" reasons. We must also remember that no matter how an action appears, it can end for the good or for the bad, in truth or deception. If we are to survive into the next millennium, we must reject those who are only interested in self-gratification and power. We need those who seek facts even if those facts are contradictory to their own personal beliefs. Those who protect, provide prosperity, and carry out the best interests for all are required. We require such leaders. We need leaders who seek knowledge and experience. We need leaders who have the ability to look at a situation with many different perspectives. And also, we require leaders who implement functional policies even if contrary to their own interests, beliefs, or agendas. We need those who are only interested in serving the greater good, even if it comes at a personal cost to themselves. We need leaders who have a proven record of thinking of themselves last when balancing their good against that of the community. We require those who follow the positive inner light and well-being of the human species, and not self-interests. We need successful leaders who make significant differences. Leaders for the good, and unfortunately the ones for the bad as well, are the ones who can not only think in the abstract but also see, create, and move toward their vision. We need those who can spur practical movement and organization toward that vision or goal for the betterment of the human species. They are the ones who help prepare us for the next challenges. We need leaders who are willing to acknowledge and solve problems even if the solution contradicts their personal beliefs, interests, or desires. If we are going to have leaders, should not they be the people who understand the world around us, our species, and the societies wherein we live? Why cannot we follow or at least listen to the most incorruptible? Why cannot we listen to the scientific for knowledge, the philosophical for temperament and insight, the truthfully spiritual for morality and heart, the practical for practicality, the dreamers for inspiration and new visions, the ingenious for ingenuity, the experts for their various areas of expertise, and those generalists who can see how all the pieces of the puzzle come together so we do not suffer from myopia or tunnel vision? No one is perfect, but we need and deserve those who can devote themselves to understanding the world around us and something other than themselves. We also need people who can see beyond the short-term benefits and look more at the long-term outcome, beyond their personal life expectancy. What we do in the here and now is important and sets the stage for all future events. Do we not deserve leaders who are more concerned about the long-term rather than the time between now and the end of their administrations?

**Our Duty to Follow the Majority and Requirement to Defy it When Necessary**

If the majority says it is "no," then it is "no." The majority must have the right to dictate the policies for the whole. However, this does not give the majority the right to suppress or silence the minority. The will of the majority must be upheld, even more so when we strongly disagree. Whether we agree with their current policies or not, it is our sworn duty, responsibility, and privilege to defend, encourage, and preserve those governments that represent the true will of the majority, and reflect the will of their population while preserving the right of the individual to disagree. As far as the government of the people is concerned, democracy must be sustained. The rule of the majority must be followed even if we sometimes believe that it may not be beneficial overall to do so. All may have to follow the laws of the majority, but the minority must still be respected. Following the rules of the majority does not mean the minority is to be deprived or silenced. The will of the majority must be followed; however, the minority must also have the right to challenge the majority, ability to verify that it is a true majority, and honest opportunity to change the true majority. Sometimes, it is time to be a silent majority no more. The more the majority suppresses the minority the more the minority will grow. More apprehension creates more violence. We must always listen to the silent majority, or the collapse of a government is unavoidable. A government will set itself up for failure when the citizenry no longer believes in the representatives or the process of that government. Its citizenry in general will consider that government a threat when they feel the government blatantly ignores and/or no longer represents the true majority will of the people.

There can be much dispute about what is beneficial overall. Sometimes the majority may be wrong, but we must have true democracy in order to find the truth of leadership and policies within ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes the majority must fail the community for us all to learn. Following the will of the majority does not negate our responsibility to the society. If we do not voice our opinions or concerns, then we are not standing up for our personal freedoms, or worse, we are letting apathy win. If we think the majority is wrong, then it is our duty to explain to them why they are wrong, so the majority does not fail the community.

**Convenience or Conformability**

We have failed democracy and ourselves by our complacency in accepting situations that are portrayed to us as predetermined. We have failed democracy and ourselves in accepting the authority of our own voices being denied. Why can some become so afraid of being the first to speak up, so afraid of being ridiculed or viewed as weak? It takes courage to be the first to express what others may be thinking. It is our duty to speak not only for the benefit of a situation, but for the safety of all. We must ensure that a situation does not fester and explode. Yes, sometimes the road will be difficult, but at least there may be a road where there would be none if we had remained silent. Often, a society can be frightened until it is lulled into acceptance or into an illusion of comfort. A society is sometimes willing to live in a situation knowing it is not improving and possibly becoming worse. But they delude themselves with their various reasons for acceptance. Like the parable of the experiment of a frog in boiling water. It is said, put a frog in a pan of boiling water and the frog will immediately try to jump out. But put a frog in a pan of room temperature water, then very slowly bring the water to a boil, and it is said the frog may stay in it until it becomes boiled alive. Are we that frog, the pan our world, and the increasing temperature of water our current situations? Say to the people in charge, if you wish, "You are not my elected leaders." Refuse them their self-proclaimed place of power or position, no matter where, even if they are a powerful organization or person or office. Apathy needs nothing to be done to succeed.

**Government—Today versus Tomorrow**

The need for some sort of structure and stability within a society will give rise to a need for some form of government, control, rules, enforcement, implementing of consequences for actions, or regulatory body. As there is a need to have some sort of supervisory entity at our present sociological development, there is a need for some sort of presence to ensure societal boundaries, safety, security, common sense, and mutual respect are observed and protected. It must allow and be able to protect and promote individuality, self-government, community cohesion, and growth, and be in the correct form and temperament. We cannot allow one person or one group, or more importantly the many who are now moving forward with world power, to rule or govern alone. We need diversity of control. No single individual, group of individuals, or authority should be in complete charge and rule alone. No individual(s) or group(s) have the sole right to decide the fate of a society, a world, or our future.

Perhaps someday our society, structures, and human behavior may evolve beyond the need for formal government or a third-party influence for stability or security. Once society or human behavior is able to balance out the negative influences from outside or within itself, there may be no need for formal government or control. Someday, perhaps in the distant future, we will outgrow the need for an official government and oversight. However, that is still very, very far in the distant future of the maturity of our species. We as a species have a lot of maturing yet before there is no need for an influence outside the individual self. Currently, we need to have laws, limits, some form of government, and structure on some level. In this present day and at our current sociological mindsets and development, I believe we are not socially evolved enough not to have some form of formal leadership. If we are to endure and survive into the future and the world of tomorrow, then perhaps none of our current concepts of government, as people now perceive, define, or use them, may be seen as solely practical or conducive to the future and the world of tomorrow. Perhaps our current concepts of government will have to become outdated in order for us to survive into the future. Yes, there may be remnants in the future, but government in general as our understanding of it is today may become outdated and be seen as plagued with too many issues. Perhaps in the future it will be something with a new definition, which has yet to be adopted. Perhaps it will be something or a concept that has not even been explored, envisioned, or even yet imagined.

The revolutions of tomorrow may be conventional and unconventional and both governmental and non-governmental. They may happen in what first appears to be unconnected and unrelated circumstances or events. There may be those who may attempt to delay these and other changes for their own reasons. But there are and will be inevitabilities acting both independently of and together with each other, all at the same time. In these times of nervousness, talk, and actions of societal changes, there are immediate or imminent reactions to these current changes in the world. Perhaps, it is time for a revolution not only of leadership, but one that is also sponsored by the collective realizations of us all. A revolution of being. We must not think of the contemporary version of "revolutions," but of how they may have been defined as "revelations" millenniums ago.

**Freedom—Limits and Boundaries**

In hearing some, I wonder if perhaps there are those people with particular rhetoric who simply exist just for the purpose of helping with the digestion of what others may say. Sometimes the rhetoric of some can help us examine what we may say or do. Sometimes their extremisms make others appear tamer by comparison. The outrageous rhetoric of some can help us realize boundaries that we have forgotten. We should encourage, protect, and promote the ability of people to think and say what they choose as long as they do not infringe upon the rights of another to do the same. The debate about what constitutes safety, freedoms, and the proper balance thereof is a very old one. However, it is in the middle that most of us find ourselves. In these times, I personally find it disconcerting that in many debates about freedoms, the extremes on both sides seem to be proposing in some way or degree a completely regulated world from birth to death, where individuality or disagreement is suppressed, where everyone is isolated, where we have eliminated self-sufficiency and ingenuity, and are sacrificing the future for the present. Whatever combinations the extremes may attempt to impose on the future, we cannot create a world where from morning to night we are commanded and isolated from reality. Neither can we have a world where there are no rules, essentially a world of complete free-for-all.

We must have a world where there are protections and encouragement of personal freedoms, but which also ensures that the responsibilities that come along with those freedoms are fulfilled. We must be aware of any laws that involve personal freedoms, security, or balance of power among groups. Also, we must be watchful of those groups that involve themselves in such issues. While they generally should be allowed to speak all they wish, we must still watch them closely. We cannot allow them to silence others, just as we cannot allow them to silence us. A democracy is not a democracy when there is favoritism. Democracy cannot be protected at the expense of civil liberties. Freedom and democracy are based upon civil liberties.

**Freedom—Its Importance**

Ideas and thoughts can not only be a precursor of violence or control, but also a precursor of non-violence and intelligence. Unjustifiable oppression, in any form, is unproductive to society and our species as a whole. Freedom of thought, freedom of ideas, freedom of ideals, and the ability to share these are key, essential parts to the survival and development of the human species. Free expression of ideas is essential for adaptation to the changing times. And the free fellowship of ideological beliefs is an essential element to the survival and growth of our species. Speaking what is on the mind is what makes things change. That is how the individual and society can grow as a species. Not being able to think independently can at the very least make us more susceptible to and accepting of ill-conceived answers or solutions. This can also cause us to keep perspectives and possibly valuable information to ourselves. Someone may have an important insight that others have overlooked. Imagine a world where everyone who knew a better solution, better answer, or at the very least had valuable information was taught not to express it. What kind of world would we have if no one was the first to tell another that they did not think that the earth was flat?

People need to have the right to be free and self-determining. In many people, eventually any type of severe or unjustified confinement may cause the breakdown of highly organized thought or previously constructed societal structures, cultural norms, et cetera. Unjustified confinement can also set the stage for the violation of social taboos. When this occurs, devaluation of human life and the decline of general respect for one another may begin to happen. For the mental well-being of people and their sense of survival, they must be able to make decisions for themselves. We must have the ability to say and do as we wish, when it does not have the high likelihood of causing disproportional stress or harm to themselves or others. I would also hope that many would agree that each should be able to do as they see fit, _except when it results in some form of harm_. Of course, the question of when does allowing too much freedom result in harm will always be debatable. The balance between freedom, protection, and what is harmful cannot always be completely agreed upon. I have asked myself: Where is the balance between allowing people freedom and preventing them from causing or receiving harm? There is an old saying: "The freedom to swing our arms ends at the tip of the nose of another." However, the case could be made that we should not be swinging our arms near the nose of another. Another case could be made—why would one have their nose where another is swinging their arms? Sometimes one is completely at fault, sometimes it is the other at fault, sometimes both are equally culpable, sometimes it is a matter of percentage, sometimes other circumstances enter the equation, and other times it can be a combination of any of these. How much and what kind of fault has the potential to always remain debatable.

In all species, but particularly in the human species, freedom is needed, or its members will wither and die. People without freedom will die inside and eventually on the outside. If people are denied the freedom to make their own decisions, it can cause discontentment and stress. This discontentment and stress can often result in violence and displacement of anger, resulting in harm to ourselves or others. Sometimes if people cannot release tension by speaking out and following their own ideas or beliefs, then they tend to release that stress or displace anger in a violent or bad way. Not allowing the releasing/voicing of ideas and censoring what can be said is not only dangerous to the mental well-being of ourselves, but also to others and the whole of society as well. People must be free to think what they wish. Humans without freedom are like animals caught in a trap; they will sacrifice part of themselves to be free, or worse, to free themselves, they can sacrifice someone else or you!

**Teaching of Freedom**

In order for freedom to work, it must work for all. Freedom must be a "two-way street" in the sense that if we want to ensure freedom for ourselves, we all must ensure that others have it as well. Humankind has always sought to control the beliefs of others, yet we value freedom as one of our highest prizes. How can we ever hope to free ourselves while, at the same time, trying to control others? How can we expect ourselves, let alone others, to receive or achieve freedom when we are unable to give freedom to others? We say that people should speak their minds, but sometimes we show them distaste and do not respect them when they do. People are often told to speak their minds, but at the same time, discouraged. Often, we are taught that just because of the "position" of another they must know best. We are taught that it may be improper to disagree with someone simply because of who they may be (in terms of position or status). Being taught to keep our views to ourselves often causes stress and devalues our beliefs. In order to become more relaxed with giving and hearing ideas, we have to be more relaxed with ourselves. Although we say that everyone should speak their mind, we are often taught not to speak out. When children are taught that it is rude to voice their minds or opinions, they can reach adolescence or adulthood and still be convinced that it is dangerous to speak out against other people or ideas. The ability to speak out or speak up is sometimes necessary for our own safety and survival. To ease tension about speaking up, we need to create an atmosphere in which people can freely express their ideas without fear of reprisal, punishment, or ridicule for expressing them. People must be made comfortable about expressing their ideas or opinions, as this will ease tension and frustration within.

**Freedom—Our Personal Obligation**

In order to keep our personal freedoms and rights, we must unfortunately continually defend those rights and freedoms. Not standing up for our own puts them in jeopardy for all. We must let no one stand in the way of voicing our opinions or beliefs. If we believe that someone is doing wrong, then it is our obligation to demonstrate and explain why they are wrong or misinformed. However, I also believe it is not within our rights to violate other people by corrupting their views, oppressing their views, or forcibly persuading views upon them. Just as it is equally important that we not allow ourselves to be dictated to, we should not dictate to others. All must have the ability to choose, coupled with the responsibility and knowledge to form their views or make their own decisions. Their final choices must always ultimately remain theirs, just as our choices should be our own. Therefore, in the process of differing from others we must be cautious not to stand in the way of others voicing their opinions or beliefs. We must defend the freedoms, rights, and ability of others to voice their opinions, especially when they are contrary to our own. We must not limit the right of another to respectfully disagree with any view. The protection of freedoms for anyone, including ourselves, cannot be at the expense of the freedom of another who is respectfully expressing their opinion. In obtaining our goal of freedom for all, we cannot be blinded into sacrificing the freedoms of anybody. We cannot achieve the goals of freedom for all by sacrificing freedoms.

We must take care not to infringe upon the freedoms and rights of others in the process of exercising ours, just as they should not infringe upon our own. If we force our opinions on someone else, then we have lost touch with the meaning of personal freedoms and rights. If we try to discount or silence the ideas of others because we think they are not promoting democracy, then we ourselves are not promoting democracy. Even if we do not agree with those opposing viewpoints, it is even more important that we protect those differing opinions of another. Of course, we have the right, or even obligation, to respectfully dismantle or disprove their arguments if we disagree. In doing this, it is important that we police ourselves before others do it for us. When we deny a society its rights, we are unworthy of its support and the society will eventually and justifiably deny us. As long as a person is not a threat to the safety or rights of another to exist, they should be left alone to voice their opinions. We must also examine ourselves and others, not only by our own personal definition of intrusion but also by theirs, as well as considering if the situation were truly and honestly reversed. If there is no appearance of intrusion, by any party, then all parties should be left alone to voice their opinions. We must also not fall down the common slippery slope of believing a thing is fair if it happens to them, but not fair if it happens to us. Remember the fact that we can only make decisions and judgments for ourselves, and no one else. All of us will not always fully agree. And we may not always correctly, fully, and completely understand each other; however, we at the very minimum need to respect one another. We need just plain acceptance, even if we do not agree—we all have the right to exist. When we fail to acknowledge others' right to exist, they may fail to acknowledge our right in return.

**Protecting and Supporting Beliefs**

We need to respect the privacy, rights, and beliefs of others in order to protect our own. The beliefs of others must be respected and upheld just as ours should be. It is about freedom and the respect of another human being. To do this, we must be respectful of the personal beliefs of others, even though they contradict our own. Of course, this respect should also be extended to those whom others contradict as well.

In evaluating a situation, we cannot accurately judge the actions that another takes against a third person based on things or ideas that we do not believe in, understand, or have not experienced. However, at the same time, we cannot allow others to cause harm. In the protection of our beliefs and practices, we must protect the rights of others to believe and practice as they wish, without fear of reprisal or ridicule, as long as they do not harm or infringe upon the rights or practices of another in the process. Yes, what constitutes protection, freedom, and the balance thereof between two or more people is often debatable. However, I hope we all can agree that we must treat others as humanely as possible, just as we ourselves would want to be humanely treated. I would hope we agree that no one should have complete authority or control over another fully self-aware human being. We must support those opposing beliefs that do not subjugate others. We must be, at the very least, tolerant. The protection of beliefs cannot be extended to the point of justifying subjugation; the subjugation of another cannot be tolerated. The act of capitulating to subjugation opens up all, including ourselves, to the possibility of subjugation by another. When we allow others or the beliefs of others to be subjugated, we can create a precedent that may pave the way for our own beliefs or ourselves to one day be vulnerable to subjugation. Beliefs of or involving subjugation are not beneficial and can be counterproductive in a modern world. When we become elitists or promote the "deletion" of others it is an inevitability that we, at the very least or most probably, have weakened ourselves to become deleted. An example of this harmful thinking: The belief that those with different paths of worship or enlightenment are subject to genocide or, at the other extreme, deserve the protection of a belief path that allows the subjugation of others by reducing them to personal or private property. Subjugation demeans us all and often has the effect of a slippery slope.

**Living by our Beliefs, Values, and Ideals**

Telling ourselves that no one is perfect or that we must live realistically is no excuse for not making an honest and focused effort to live by the ideals that we profess. Practicing what we preach only when it suits us or is convenient may sometimes be in our short-term best interest, but it is not a way to long-term validation. Professing something then practicing the opposite (even in private) just because that is how it is done, because it is what everyone else does, or because it is easier, will ultimately hurt the validity of our beliefs, values, and ideals. Forgoing our values for expediency or associating ourselves with those who can cast a negative reflection on them will hurt us not only in the eyes of others, but also subconsciously in how we view ourselves as well. It may even in the long-term threaten that which we claim to live by. And leave us weaker in the long run. We must not mock our values by following them only when they are convenient or in our personal best interest. Living by them resiliently, and not "selling out," yielding, or compromising to "how life is," the daily pressures, personal benefits, or standards of the status quo, can be far more powerful. Yes, there is the time and place for powerful or overt action; however, the day-to-day living them out is the most important validation we can give. The powerful, overt action is like a sudden rush of water, while the consistent refusal to compromise is like an unwavering and constant flow. Do not preach your values but live by them. Living (even in private) by the steady, consistent, firm, refusal to give in, yield, or compromise says the most. It is impossible for someone to take our beliefs seriously if we ourselves do not live by them. We must live by them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for them to be taken seriously. The old adages "lead by example" and "practice what you preach" are very true and must be followed not only in public, but most especially in private. Hypocrisy, on any level, only devalues our ideals; not only to others but to us as well. Hypocrisy is weakness, and not seriously living by our beliefs can only devalue them. We cannot temporarily sacrifice our morals or methods of conduct to promote our ideologies. If we do, we stand for nothing. What can we teach our children that we do not practice ourselves? We can only expect others to act in a way that we ourselves are committed to acting. One of my own favorite self-sayings is, "I'm sorry, but I think you mistake my generosity and kindness for weakness." Too often, to my disappointment, people do mistake my generosity and kindness for weakness, when it is merely acting upon my philosophy. Sometimes we must follow our philosophies even when doing so is detrimental to our own well-being. The true test in the eyes of others of the seriousness, possible practicality, or especially value of our beliefs is when we follow them even when they can become detrimental to ourselves personally. We must be true to our word if we can ever hope or expect others to be true to theirs. Compromising our views for personal gain, to increase our number of ideological followers, or to achieve gain for our movement will only leave those same views weaker in the long-term to others. Hypocrisy will only leave our message diluted and weak. The more we live by our beliefs, the more we will be able to lead by example. When you lead by example, those who truly believe will follow even when it is not in their own personal best interest.

Liabilities, by their very nature, expose us to weakness. Having overconfidence in our beliefs, values, and ideals can be just as dangerous, or more so, than anything else. We must be confident in them, but not to the point of creating a liability. An example of overconfidence becoming a liability is when one develops assumptions of infallibility. Another is when overconfidence can be used against us. Overconfidence can give a myopic view, and then the dangers may not be seen in the periphery. Overconfidence can also develop a sense of self-superiority or the belief for the need of blind obedience from others. And blind obedience can eventually lead to questions that cannot be answered. For others to respect and admire our values, it is important that we do not become overconfident in them. Sometimes knowing and being able to explain why we believe can be more important to others than the belief, value, or ideal itself. Even an absolute nihilist believes in something, even if that something is nothing. We must remember why we follow them.

**Beliefs, Values, and Ideals—The Action of Challenge**

Sometimes we can avoid those who confront us or make us question ourselves. But if we are to improve ourselves, we cannot blindly ignore or dismiss those opposing views. We must embrace those views as being just as valid as our own, but we do not necessarily have to accept those views. Exploring those differing views will only improve our views and ourselves. When it comes to the personal ideals of people, they can be very sensitive or touchy about them. And, not being completely aware of them within ourselves can also cause stress. This stress can build up until it is released in a negative way such as in violence or an outburst. I believe that sometimes when someone becomes personally offended, feels threatened by another point of view, or acts out in unrestrained violence, planned violence, or violence through the aggression of domination, they may have doubts about their own views or may have something hidden and fear that it will be found out. In the past at times when someone challenged my beliefs and I became angered, shame was often the next emotion I felt. I may disagree, but I have no grievance against those who are in opposition to me if they truly believe what they do is for the good of everyone. Like many of us, they want something better than what was before. Maybe they can even find themselves within their belief, value, or ideal.

**Beliefs, Values, and Ideals—Strengthened through Challenge**

Our beliefs, values, and ideals can become strengthened through challenges. Without the exploration and subsequent discussion of different ideals, we could not grow, mature, or even strengthen our own. Disagreement and testing of our beliefs are essential to their continuation, for us and for future generations. Disagreement often exposes holes in them and forces those holes to be filled. The result can be the strengthening of those values or the altering of them to bring them into modern times, often for the betterment of their chances of survival into modern times. As long as there is disagreement there is a need for improvement. And there is always room for improvement. For the strength and advancement of our belief systems we must continually test them. Each time our ideals survive one of our tests they become stronger and more valid. And if they do not survive our tests, then we have the opportunity to ask why, and must wonder how strongly we believed in them in the first place. We must remember the past beliefs of history. The beliefs of yesterday can often be the mythologies of tomorrow. And our beliefs are much too important to be left by the wayside. Sometimes it is only a matter of modernization in order for them to survive and adapt to the future. However, we must not forget the original ideals in case our current path of modernization becomes incorrect, corrupted, or improperly co-opted, and needs to be redone or rethought according to the original ideal. We also cannot allow that ideal to become twisted, corrupted, or demeaned. How can we expect others to readily begin to modernize their values until we are willing to begin to modernize our own, so they can adapt with the changing times and survive into the future for ourselves and our future generations? We have the opportunity to modernize what we live by so they can survive into the future and keep their significance.

**Change**

What someone believes in can be a strong and a most powerful thing. Thus, we cannot simply ask people to change their beliefs. Nor do we have any right to. We must not only accept the right of others to follow their ideological beliefs (including faiths), but also encourage others to follow their own paths. If we do not do this, then our acceptance of the beliefs of others, and especially their acceptance of our own, will be hollow and subject to erosion. Not allowing others to follow their own beliefs can cause them to resent ours. This resentment can weaken our ability to protect our own beliefs, prevent others from accepting our beliefs, or ultimately damage the reputation of our beliefs.

How can we judge other people based on our own life experiences, paths, views, and truths when they have had different ones? How can we condemn someone who does something for their own survival that we consider illegal or immoral, when we offer them no appealing and obtainable legal alternatives? An analogy of this point could be that of one person living on the side of a mountain and another living on the opposite side of the same mountain. Both wish to climb and reach the same summit. One side of the mountain is covered in snow and the other is covered in desert. The one living in the desert cannot criticize the one living with snow for wearing snowshoes, just as the one who lives with snow cannot criticize the one from the desert for wearing desert wear to protect themselves from the sand.

I have always found many of the disputes between the major monotheistic religions of the world disheartening, especially considering each of them mention many of the original people. What if the major monotheistic religions of the world are just different chapters in the same book? Perhaps, some just find their truth in one particular chapter?

However, back to the subject of change. While it is our personal obligation to show alternative solutions and opinions, including our own, to others, it is also our personal responsibility to show that these differing solutions and opinions are demonstrated correctly and in a palatable way. It is important that when educating or exposing people to different beliefs it is done in an honorable and respectful way. But we cannot expect others to honestly change or accept a certain belief if we argue, threaten, ridicule, bribe, or bully them into submission. This is when we turn from offering to forcing. When we attempt to bring others to our way of thinking by force, there is a great possibility that we may teach the rejection of it. Forcing our beliefs onto others will only weaken our beliefs in the long-term. It weakens our beliefs in the sense that we may have an infiltration of nonbelievers. People who force their ideas upon others, trying to give what they believe to be freedom, sometimes unknowingly destroy the very thing that they attempt to create. People who display their religious and social values through violence and control sadden me. They often discredit an important message in the delivery. People who show their views through mental and physical control should be ignored, but still watched very closely so as not to allow them to continue their actions. Giving them any attention, positive or negative, has the possibility of only encouraging them more.

Dictating our views directly or indirectly, voluntarily or involuntarily, is still dictating our views. We must think for ourselves and no one else. We cannot expect others to give up their beliefs simply because we think it is wrong or detrimental for them to have those beliefs. There are many people who will resist something even if it is for their own good. A good and just society does not force its views on its children but teaches them how to make their own responsible decisions. Moreover, a society must let people make their own choices even if those choices go against customary views and/or customs, so long as they do not harm others and are able to let society evolve forward and improve themselves in the process. Even though we know an answer, sometimes we have no other choice but to wait until others are ready to admit what we already know. Sometimes if we instruct or insist upon something, people will only give the appearance of doing or accepting it. Sometimes, the best way for others to learn is if we let them do wrong and let them learn from their own mistakes. And sometimes they must believe something is their own idea in order for them to make an honest effort of doing it on their own. If we disagree with the tactics of someone else, we must try not to show anger toward them no matter how ignorant we think they are. Remember, if we do not agree with the tactics of someone else, then we must not use those same tactics against them. If we do, we are no better than they. If we feel a need to prove or force our beliefs onto another, then perhaps we do not believe in them ourselves. If we are truly interested in persuading others to follow our way of perception or elevating our view, we should do so in a way that focuses on welcoming. If our belief is strong enough, they will take it willingly rather than being force-fed. A willing participant is much more powerful than an unwilling participant.

Drastic change, when introduced, can be more effective and efficient than subtle change. But when it backfires, it can have more traumatic and dangerous consequences. It is something that can be utilized, but often should be avoided. And it must be carefully and skillfully done as it often runs a greater risk of backfire. Also, there is the risk that when drastic change does backfire there may be a much more difficult time to regain the confidence, ability, or circumstances needed to try implementing that particular change again. No matter in what form it may be reintroduced, it may have the probability of a much greater resistance. People, for better or worse, are more willing to tolerate, accept, or follow subtle change rather than drastic change. Yes, when subtle change is introduced there can be resistance. However, in many cases this resistance can be gradually overcome with only a few holdouts remaining. However, subtle change also runs the risk of not being implemented quickly enough. Both forms of change can have their own form of resistance and holdouts. So, we must save what we can in the meantime. We cannot allow those who refuse to change or adapt jeopardize our safety or future.

**The Need of Society for the Individual**

The "normal" actions that people take, I fear, can be a detriment and possibly lead to the end of the world. This why in some respects, I try to exist outside the normal constructs of the society that we have created for ourselves. Again, it is important to restate that those with new or different ideas may have important insights that others may have overlooked. Imagine a world where those who knew of a better solution or answer did not express it. The individual is the spark that gives light to the society through invention or inspiration. The individual can also often be the social consciousness of the group, help decipher the essence of the group for others, or even help guide the whole group on the correct path. The changing of the course of a river starts with one trickle, and that trickle starts with one drop deviating away from the common flow. We must always remember that any direction any group has ever taken has always started out with that first individual.

**Result of a Loss of the Individual in Society**

The need of society for the individual is essential. The individual is the vitality of society. Among other things, it is needed for preventing stagnation and encouraging growth. The independence of the individual renews society. The independence of the individual is what helps spark creativity. And creativity is what helps us adapt. Lack of creativity will result in lack of exploration, and exploration is one of the fundamental properties of knowledge and adaptation. Without these fundamental properties, learning becomes unproductive and just simple regurgitation. When there is only learning by regurgitation, the true comprehension of explanation becomes lost and true learning will take longer, if it happens at all. True comprehension is needed for understanding the world around us. When a society is no longer capable of learning, the society is doomed to wither.

**Creativity or Stagnation**

The more stagnant we become the less we are able to expand the human mind and potential. When we fail to avoid stagnation, we fail to evolve and adapt. I dread stagnation because when we fail to adapt, we die. If it were not for thinking outside the norm, people could still think the earth is flat and the sun revolves around the earth. In other words, without new or innovative ways of thinking we would have made no progress in society.

New or innovative ways of thinking can first appear disguised by being interwoven with other thoughts or ideas. They also can at first appear to be completely unrelated with others. We must keep our ability to discover new ideas open. I myself at times find thoughts racing through my mind appearing scrambled and all competing with one another. Finding and adding innovative ideas, then grafting those ideas into the previous and old ideas is what creates new ones. In the history of society, some theories have become lost, then found again—sometimes only to be dismissed yet again. Many theories have experienced these stages throughout history. Many of them have even benefited us all in some way. Some theories throughout history have been laughed at, then eventually turned deadly or helped humankind achieve greatness. When we hear theories, we must remember them and not ignore them no matter how improbable they may seem to us. I must restate, improbable does not mean impossible. We cannot ignore those that may seem ridiculous or radical to us; what if something improbable happens from them? Whether it does or does not, we must be careful. What may those who believe in them do?

**Encouraging Creativity**

When we cause other people to feel cheated by us, we can ultimately cheat ourselves, because we can contribute to discouraging them from creating for us. Also, when we discourage others by limiting or trying to control new ideas or thoughts, it dissuades them from being creative or suggesting new ideas. In addition, when we make a person feel that their ideas are not as important as those of others, we can set in motion the thought of inferiority or discouragement. These are some of the ways of hindering the development and suggestion of new ideas, inventions, discoveries, and thoughts. Creativity is the necessary element for these. Not only are all of these required by society for vitality, but they are also required by the individual for the same reasons. Creativity is what helps stimulate the individual and helps keep the mind active and young. Keeping the mind active and young is important to the individual and in turn the society. It is important, with the responsibility of adulthood, that we continue in our enthusiasm for learning. I suspect we can all have at times a childlike enthusiasm for learning, whether we will admit it or not.

**The Importance of the Preservation of Individuality in Society**

Are we ever allowed to be ourselves? How much are we allowed to be ourselves? To what extent will society allow us to be individuals? While people often admire or respect others for being themselves or being independent, often in many ways they do not condone it. Although we say that people should be unique or express individually, we often show them distaste, displeasure, or mockery when they are. Some people have always been too concerned about what others may think. What a sad thing that is. It shows no self-worth. When we modify our behavior to the standards of the majority to function in a society, we must be careful not to lose our separate views and identity. When we lose our individuality apart from the group, we lose the ability to change and grow, which loss then directly casts a shadow on the community. These separate views and ideas are essential for growth, so that we do not become complacent and stagnant as a society. When we become complacent or stagnant as a society, society becomes vulnerable and susceptible. This can result in the unsupervised control of undesirable domestic or foreign forces controlling the citizenry. In order for the individual to contribute to, protect, or inspire the community, the individual must remain an individual. For the security and benefit of the whole, it is critical we do not hold the individual back from contributing to society to their best and full potential. It is also just as important, in supporting the individual, that we ensure the whole is not deprived or made vulnerable. We must remain separate from the whole, yet still serve the separate as well as the whole.

As the world becomes figuratively smaller, it becomes even more important to protect individuality, free will, independence, and autonomy. It is essential that we remain distinct and independent from each other for regional autonomy and cultural preservation. Remaining independent is critical to preserving a way of life, cultural heritage, and autonomy—and more importantly, to preserving and protecting the individual from too much globalization. In our efforts to be more attentive and elevate the community, we cannot forget the specific needs of the individual. In my opinion, in order to grow and at the very least survive, we must turn more of our efforts and concern to the elevation of the community while not ignoring the individual.

**Growth of the Outcast as a Community**

There have always been what we call "outcasts" in societies. Their numbers have always been great, and it is only logical that their numbers and diversity should grow with society. There are differences between the so-called outcasts of today and those of earlier centuries. Today in the opinions of some their numbers are growing at a faster rate than that of the general population of society. Some also say that the types of outcasts have also become more diversified. They are also more interconnected with other so-called outcasts than previously. With societal changes, they have gained more rights, abilities, visibility, recognition, and prominence both outside and inside their groups. They have additionally become better connected with themselves and other groups through the help of technology. They can feel more comfortable and confident in standing up for themselves and have become united with each other and other groups. Their ability to form their own communities within larger communities has grown proportionally as well. With the help of technology, they are also no longer confined geographically. This can evoke more apprehension in the eyes of the so-called normal, average, traditional, or conformist population. It is sad that some of these so-called outsider groups can take better care of their own and sometimes even others outside of their groups than the "normal, good, upstanding people" of the "norm." Forced into exclusion and inspired by individuality, they tend to encourage more creativity. Being a "nonconformist" is within the rights of all of us. However, if we do not wish to conform, then it is also our duty to be honest with ourselves and others, as well as make sure that we do no harm in the process. We must put our nonconformity to positive or constructive use.

**Everyone Contributes or Makes an Honest Effort**

We must make sure that people are responsible for taking care of themselves. I do not believe in handouts; however, I do believe we are responsible for helping and supporting others on their paths to self-sufficiency. We must assist and give them hope to help themselves. It is not our duty to help those who can already help themselves, but it is our duty to give them hope and show those who can help themselves, how to do so. If we do not give them hope and show them that they are able, then, by our inaction, we are responsible. It is our responsibility to assist and teach those who have the capacity and capability to protect or support themselves how to do so to the best of their personal abilities. However, even more importantly, it is our responsibility to assist and instruct them in what self-sufficiencies they can do for themselves and help them in their possible contributions to society. It is critical, not only for our well-being but theirs, to give them the reliability of self-sufficiency. Before we complain about a person who lives on the street or lives off the government and ask them to get a job, we should already have a sufficient self-supportive job for them or ensure that they have the adequate resources to find one themselves. Is it fair to tell them to go get a job when we ourselves cannot find a reasonable job or supportive structure for them? A man who has never had to worry about going without shoes cannot teach another man how to get them. It is time for us to be self-sufficient again. In this, we have failed. To name a few of the areas that we have failed in: supplying all with inspiration, with ability to explore their abilities, and with access to resources to help them contribute to the best of their abilities.

While we should be required to _honestly_ do what we can to help others become self-sufficient, it is not for us to do it for them. We should not be required to do the work for another who is able to do it for themselves. In that same way, they should not have to do ours. It is important that we accept and do our true fair share to the best of our abilities and assist others in the same endeavor of doing theirs. It is important that we make a fair and honest contribution to society, and it is also just as important that we insist that others accept and do their fair share to the best of their abilities as well. We have also failed in this. While there should be encouragement for people to contribute to society, they should not be forced to. Yet, we also cannot allow individuals to become virtual slaves to society. Individuals also should not be allowed to only feed off of society. We cannot allow ourselves to become virtual slaves to those who feed off of society, without contributing what they can. In our new world of tomorrow, it will be crucial that everyone contribute, or at the very least, not be a detriment to society in general.

**Helping Others Find their Potential for Contributing**

None of us is perfect, but everyone possesses that discovered or undiscovered potential, unique talent, or particular insight that they can utilize to contribute to the survival or advancement of society. Some may never get the opportunity to explore or even tap that which they possess. I believe it is just a matter of finding, explaining, and demonstrating its significance. Even if we do not believe what others may have is real or significant, we still must not dismiss what may seem to be "insignificant" contributions. The various assistance we give to these individuals is not a purely selfless act. We live in a world of cause and effect—what appears to be their insignificant advancement, contribution, et cetera, may be ultimately useful to the society. It may give the support, inspiration, tools, ability, or free up the time necessary for others to contribute, or provide any variety of assistance that others need for them to make what we consider to be a "significant" contribution.

People need to have the right to use their abilities and have the necessary tools to pursue their own potential and explore the best of their particular talents of contribution. We must also encourage and help the individual to discover and explore what unique or hidden talents they may have, while making sure all are given adequate encouragement and resources. A true opportunity for a "hand up" needs to be genuine and equally given to all. We cannot offer someone a hand up with one hand while at the same time pushing them down with the other. We need to encourage the individual to pursue their abilities to improve themselves and society in general. Some of the ways we can do this are to provide them with opportunities and promote self-sufficiency, education, self-reliance, and ingenuity. We must never diminish the possible potential, abilities, or talents of ourselves or others. Anyone can do or become almost anything that they wish; it just takes access to opportunities, dedication, and drive. We must give each person a true and honest chance to learn how to support and advance themselves as a positive contributor to society. Or, at the very least, we must negate some of the reasons why we do not make more of an effort in assisting people to find their abilities and inspiration to contribute, and how to make these contributions. In not making more of an effort in this, we have failed, and continually fail, many.

**Our Failure in Preserving the Ability to Contribute**

We have failed to put in place adequate opportunities that allow the individual to explore and succeed. We have failed in fully helping those with unique gifts, talents, skills, and abilities to explore and succeed beyond their peers, even if in only one specific area. We have failed to cultivate their unique areas as a result of judging them on their deficiencies. We must ensure that their deficiencies in some areas do not prevent them from fully maximizing their progress in those areas where they may have those extraordinary gifts or skills. Not allowing, encouraging, or aiding people to succeed in their exceptional areas until they succeed in their deficient areas is a waste not only to them, but to us as well. Imagine the lost insights they could have given us. Imagine the waste of the various resources compared to the potential benefits and reimbursements they could have given to society, and therefore to us. Imagine what they and we would have gained. We have also failed, at the same time, the average individual in general. We have failed to ensure that they are elevated as well. We have failed to ensure that all are adequately supplied and encouraged. We have limited them through our discounting of them. We cannot continue to set limits on others, just as we cannot let them limit us. We cannot continue to allow ourselves to limit others in what they can do or become, just as we cannot allow others to limit us.

**Rewards and Responsibilities**

We must ensure that all have access to benefits based on their needs, their attempt not to be slothful, potential benefit to society, aptitude, drive, et cetera. A society must require all individuals to better themselves and society on their own, and encourage, reward, and adequately supply them with the tools and encouragement to do so. At the same time, society must help, assist, and not hamper the efforts of other individuals in the society. We must ensure that responsibilities and rewards are fairly distributed to the individual. Society must not leave anyone behind. Yes, sometimes special rewards are appropriate; however, at the same time, all must be treated equally and we must ensure that no individual is given special privilege. Of course, special rewards or extra resources dedicated to the individual is predicated on their proportional liability—the proportional liability being the diversion of resources away from other individuals and that overall effect on society. We must ensure that we honestly seek the maximum benefit to the world along with ensuring costs do not outweigh the benefit. We must pay attention and be careful not to burden either ourselves or others disproportionately. We must be mindful in our judgment of cost to society and the individual versus the benefit. Pay attention to benefits of circumstance and environment, and the equality of benefit and reward. Stability and balancing the equation must not be forfeit. It is paramount that both ourselves and others be accountable for rewards and benefits that are received based on need, contribution, effort, sacrifice, and work. We must not fail in assisting people with their possible service while helping keep their independence and individuality. Extra encouragement should be given to those who make the effort to strive. Those who go above and beyond what is expected of them in order to contribute, should be encouraged and rewarded without asking. But they should not expect a reward as a condition for contributing.

Unfortunately, in the world of today it seems there is a great imbalance of rewards and responsibilities. Today, within our accountabilities, awarenesses, and especially abilities, we must not forget or ignore all of the benefits and rewards that all deserve, so we all may have a better chance at mutual survival, progression, and protection. Yet, in the process of fulfilling our personal responsibilities to everyone globally, we cannot afford to let anyone lose independence. We must also be careful when thinking of ourselves, and not forget that we are only one individual or a single community of many. We are all globally accountable for mutual survival. We cannot afford to allow ourselves or anyone else to lose individual government, independence, free will, and self-determination. We must still preserve our individuality, freedom, and separate identities, and live out our lives accordingly.
**Chapter Four** : **The Future of Ourselves and Society**

**The Current Path of Society**

For continued survival, growth is an inevitability, but it must be stable. A society must be stable enough not to destroy itself, but flexible enough to evolve and grow in order to be able to survive. A society cannot survive within stagnation. When a society is stagnant, then suffocation of the society will soon follow. Suffocation within a society will breed more suffocation, and suffocation will lead to death. When a society becomes unstable, this instability will lead to violence, which leads to more instability. These cycles are sometimes difficult to break.

However, there are greater and more immediate concerns than cycles within our current society. There has always been violence and control over others even before concepts of society were formed. However, over time and especially in this age, people have living out violence and exerting control with deadlier weapons and means. What I find even more troubling in this discussion is that it has become increasingly easier to commit acts of increased violence without physically being there. What concerns me about that is our increased ability to distance ourselves from physically committing the act, and with this comes a decreased sense of accountability and sensitivity. The act of simply pushing a button or reducing humans to blips on a monitor has nullified our perception of accountability. Pushing a button or making a statement advocating violence is different from wielding a sword, but it has the same or even amplified results. We do not have to physically commit the act ourselves to hurt or kill someone else or cause a chain of events resulting in harm. We have accepted this disassociation from results that are products of our actions.

Have we reached a point in the natural progression of our knowledge where our current violent, destructive, or controlling nature has made extinguishing our very species a certainty? As we grow as a species our knowledge and intellect increase, and we will gain an increased thirst for knowledge and data. We should pursue this, but not with methods that are counterproductive for the survival and improvement of the human species. We must drop destructive and unproductive control of others, so that we have a free hand to reach for peace. How can we hold on to peace if at the same time we are also holding on to violence and control of others?

Yet I choose to have hope and confidence that we will outgrow our need for violence and control. Remember, violence is often the last resort of those who do not plan ahead. One of the obstacles to stopping violence and control within a society is that people often want others to change their ways but are unwilling to change themselves. It is in our self-interest to examine ourselves. So many people do without the basics of life while we race toward Armageddon. Hundreds die. Thousands die. Millions die. Hundreds of millions die. Sometimes this seems to not affect some people one bit, yet they have time to try to mandate the lives of other people. We, as a society, can be manipulated to follow paths of violence and/or the control of others. But when we as a species refuse to be bombarded by or become a part of the many forms of violence, control, and oppression, then we may be free to explore our full constructive potential.

In order to survive and to progress as a species, we must go in search of all our positive characteristics and various personal potentials. If we go in search of the human intellect and a state of mind that has mutual survival as a core value, then we may find compassion within ourselves. Once we have found this compassion within ourselves, we will be able to show true compassion toward other species, and in turn to our own. Yes, we can improve our lives by feeding off others, but this is not conducive to the ultimate survival of the community in general. We can only elevate ourselves so high by climbing on the backs of others before the base collapses and brings us all down. When we only feed, we can become bloated to the point of being immobile or paralytic, and then we can no longer create. We sometimes forget that without creating we would have nothing to feed upon. Individuals who feed upon society or other individuals are unproductive and detrimental to the general well-being and the higher path of humankind. They only feed, producing nothing of intrinsic value, and live off the producers. We cannot continue to feed upon the future of our children and expect them to survive, let alone grow. What can we hope to give future generations, not to mention our future selves, if we continue to destroy and put in jeopardy everything we touch? If we do continue to act in this manner, I hope we will grow tired of war and seek alternatives before we destroy ourselves. When life has little value, the future is of no consequence.

I am worried about our future. Many people whom I have met believe humankind is doomed to its own greed and other vices. Moreover, many of these people are living out their lives predicated on this assumption. Some say we are on the edge of the end of humankind. Some say this is the last age of humankind. Some say not. Some say someone or something beyond us will intervene and save us or at least the righteous. Perhaps we may be on the edge not only of the end of this age of humankind, but also the beginning of the next stage of human evolution. Perhaps the next stage is beyond our current understanding. Perhaps the end of this age will be either the complete end of all or just the end of the last one that is under our current definition and understanding of humankind. However, no matter what future a person may believe in, chances are that unless we all take the first step forward, we will not start to change or compel whatever we believe in to intervene on our behalf, whether the intervention is from someone or something beyond us or just simply our own action. My concern for the future is more of a result of anxiety rather than fear or hopelessness regarding the future, repudiation of current authority, or anything else. This is one concern of mine: that we are near the end of this age or even stage of humankind and/or society and sitting on the brink of what is next. My hope is that in the future we may yet have the opportunity to look back and say: "A new age was coming, and it was a future that was not predetermined."

I am unsure how the future will unfold, but two possibilities are that this imminent major change could lead to a utopia or a living hell for the entire human race. I do feel certain that society cannot survive if it continues on this current path. However, we must remember that no matter what a living thing does, it always has an instinct to attempt to survive itself or pass along something to the next generation. Therefore, I think we will survive. I think we humans are too stubborn to completely kill ourselves off. However, this does not guarantee the future for humanity. Everything everyone does affects the chain and directs the course of the future directly or indirectly. The future is like a loaded deck of cards. We load the deck ourselves and the cards we play are the actions we take. The decisions we make today are guiding the next ones. We must remember that the choices we make today, no matter how insignificant they may seem, will impact the future, will either expand or limit our ability to make choices in the future, and set the stage for the next set of choices available to us in the future. Thus, in making our choices, we as a society have an obligation to our future. We have an obligation to give our children somewhere peaceful to live. Children should not have to inherit our hell, live in our hell, or fix our hell.

**Hope for the Future**

I believe that many people deep down think that there is hope for the future of the world. If people really thought that there was no hope for a future, then why would they even try to prepare for one? Without the subconscious belief in a future, people would not raise a family, build what they consider to be an empire, seek fame or fortune, attempt to leave anything behind, or even think about the future beyond next week. If they truly did not believe in a future, why would anyone endeavor to try to create and make something of what they consider to be important? If people truly believed that there is no hope for the future, then why would they ever try to leave anything? Even a child will try to carve their name into something. I just hope that we, as a society, will not follow those who are childish or self-interested to the point of risking all futures.

There are many things I see, and many things that I hope will be. One of these hopes is that society will reach the zenith of its current age someday, while it creates a new one to reach for. I have faith that society will find its new horizon one day. I have faith that we will be one, once more. The ability to achieve these goals lies within all of us. We must continue to search within ourselves for what we need to accomplish these goals. We must never stop in our search for what we need to accomplish these goals or in our efforts to achieve the goals themselves. If we stop, even for an instant, we will lose it all forever. These goals and unity can exist, but only if we search for them tirelessly. They will not come without hard work and sacrifice. But once we have found them, our efforts will seem insignificant compared to the glory. A better world can exist.

**Looking Back**

When reading this, please remember that when I refer to humans being violent or destructive, I am comparing our present overall current demeanor to how we could be potentially in the future. Imagine the future if we made more of an honest effort to control or better yet change ourselves. If we compare how we acted in the past to how we act in the present, it is clear that we have indeed made some progress in managing our violent and controlling nature. Of course, this assessment can be debatable or biased. Nevertheless, we are still too violent and destructive for our own good.

When it comes to the past, we can often judge how we believe societies should have acted based on our current judgments, knowledge, or beliefs, not theirs. We use our current criteria, while not living in their situations. Not always, but occasionally, we do this because we want to convince others or ourselves that we are better than our past. We can forget that at that time people may not have known about the better alternative. They may have not believed the better alternative would have been practically achieved. More importantly, we can forget there may have been much worse choices available to them that they did not choose. We might ask ourselves, why did not some defy their current society? The answer is, maybe some did, just in their own way. Defiance in their time may not seem like defiance from our perspective when looking back. The possible falsehood of the superiority of our current societies over those in past is but one of the myriad of reasons why I ask for the forgiveness of future generations on behalf of my generation and past generations; we know not what we have done. Even on a personal level many of us have done things that we have felt needed to be done at the time. And yes, we may regret some of those choices that we made. However, we cannot forget the knowledge and experience that were provided by the choices we may regret. When we look back on humanity we should not react with disappointment, but with admiration that we are capable of evolving and overcoming those obstacles of before. People should be judged not only by their past actions, but more importantly, by what they inspire to be because of their past. It is how people act now that matters for the future.

We cannot allow sins of the past to corrupt or affect the present or future. We cannot allow the sins of the present to become sins, justifications, or actions of the future. Yes, inconceivable action may be necessary, so sometimes we must forgive mistakes of the past that allowed our own survival. We must forgive the mistakes of the past so we can move on. Of course, this does not mean to forget the past or to not take preemptive actions in the future. We cannot allow mistakes of the past to be forgotten, lest they be doomed to be repeated. We must use mistakes of the past as inspiration to do better, not as justification to continue actions. We must not feed upon the past; we must create because of it. We also have walked the halls of indifference for too long and not noticed the portraits of the faceless victims. But if we cannot remember the people, we must remember the reasons why they became victims. If we have the capability to remember something, it is better to remember the actions and ideas of someone, rather than the individual person. Many can be guilty of selective memory, while others can be guilty of trying to remember sweet memories that never happened. They try to forget some memories or try to invent others for self-preservation. And in the hunger to forget, sometimes the best thoughts and memories are overpowered. The longer we hang on to the fragments of memories and deeds of the past, whether good or bad, the harder it will be for us to move into the future. The longer benefits are distributed because of the past and not the future, the harder it will be to prepare for the future. As long as those who live in the past are in control, it will be harder for us to move away from the negative influences of the past. Until those beliefs and fears of the past are no longer entered into the equation when deciding how the present affairs are conducted, the current path of the present and future will be harder to change. All grudges must be left in the past or we will never advance to the next stage of our collective consciousness or of our society, let alone be stable enough to nurture a new beginning. We can be blinded by our own hatreds and mistrusts, thus stopping our individual selves from advancing, or even sometimes from simply maintaining. We all need a respectful way out of our current modes of behavior. We all must have humanity. We must forgive the past. We must forgo our self-congratulatory ways. We must remember the extenuating circumstances that prompted our actions and situations in the past. We must remember the past and forgive our predecessors, but not forget their mistakes, so certain instances from the past will not be repeated. Because of our abilities, repeating those actions now could have even more devastating repercussions. If the same mistakes or worse are made then it may be only fitting that we be set aside and replaced.

We inherited the world of today and its problems had already been set in motion, but we do contribute to the world, for good or bad. We must stop both others and ourselves from continuing that which is negative. We must stand up and change what is going on. What our predecessors had in mind for us may have been wonderful, but they may have gone about it the wrong way. The ways they went about things and some of the things we are doing right now have destroyed almost everything. We must face this fact and forgive our predecessors. More importantly, we must change our current paths by cleaning up all the damage (physical, emotional, spiritual, and social, just to name a few damaged areas) that has been done in the past and is currently being done. We must not continue or allow others to continue this behavior. We must go forward by repairing the damage created by the past, and along the way put the past where it belongs. Looking back, we must come to the realization that we must change to grow, learn, and survive into the future. In looking back, we must realize that things can never be precisely the same as they were, and we can never go back to precisely the way that things were. Going back to precisely as it was before is impossible, as long as our memories of what has occurred remain. We must go forward.

**Going Forward**

Going forward, I would prefer that we alter our current habit of receiving short-term benefits in exchange for creating long-term negative consequences. In the future, I would also hope that we strive to reduce the negative side of human nature. We must take action to ensure that humanity thrives in the future. Some of the ways in which humanity may help itself thrive is to inspire and seek freedom, wisdom, empathy, and helpful thoughts. We must look for and practice new, creative, and innovative ideas. There will be some who will try to stop these changes, because they are afraid to admit they have failed or that they are simply motivated by their own greed. We, as a human species, have always struggled deep down for the development and advancement of peace, progress, compassion, free independent nonviolent exploration, and the quest of and for knowledge. However, what makes the present different than the past is that we are now on the verge of a new era—we only need to focus. So, it is even more important now that we must ever so carefully continue our search for a better world.

Sometimes, I do have my doubts that humanity will or can survive what we have thrust upon ourselves. It is said that everything will die someday, including a society. It is inevitable that a society will eventually fail, be replaced, or evolve. All societies do. When they fail, they sometimes degenerate slowly until the last straw or sometimes a great catastrophe falls upon them, decimating them beyond repair. Sometimes, civilizations and/or societies are remembered as being brought down by one catastrophe and other times by a chain of events. When remembering the fall of some societies, we can say they were not able to be saved, while it could be said of others that they could have prevented themselves at some point from their fall, but then it became too late to do anything. If our society does fail, not only must we save something, but we must actually endeavor to keep as much of it as we can. We must save as much of it as we can for our children. We must think of future generations that are not yet born. Let us not be the lost ones who have forgotten our souls. So, when you cry out, cry out not for us but for the children, for they are the ones who must live on. We have a responsibility to the progeny of the world. We have a responsibility that they should not be required to rebuild what we made by our own neglection or destruction. We have a responsibility to leave them a better world to inherit. It is our responsibility to leave them as close to a perfect world as we are able to.

Yes, an absolutely perfect world, even one termed perfect, in a consensus of just two or more minds, theoretically could never exist today because our views are vastly different. Perhaps the perfect world for one person is a hell for another. Of course, unless we continuously strive for something better, there will always be the greater possibility that a hell is indeed in store for us. We must continue to strive toward achieving a perfect world, even if that is unrealistic. The road to a universally perfect world can be filled with many less exact or accomplished ones. When we search and strive for the perfect world, beginning the never-ending search for knowledge and enlightenment that benefits everyone equally and does not borrow from the future, we will find wonders we could have never even dreamt of. Imagine what we could accomplish for all of humankind if we worked for a long-term better world that benefited all of humankind, future and present. What can be debated is what is best for the future. This can be debatable not only between peoples, but also sometimes within ourselves. I am sure most of us have contemplated between different ideas or had one idea only to disregard it for a better one. One of the multiple possibilities that I have thought of and wondered about myself is an agrarian society based not on agricultural production but on societal production. An agrarian society based not on the farming and cultivation of the land, but one based on the farming and cultivation of society or the individual (i.e., cultivating culture, science, innovation, creativity, discovery, knowledge, accomplishments, et cetera). A society where the stereotypical primary focus of the individual is not the accumulation of material or financial wealth, but the accumulation of mental, bodily, or spiritual wealth, et cetera. Unfortunately, we still would have the human vices, just in a different form. This form of society would not necessarily be in opposition of human nature. One example of how it would work: instead of a focus on personal rewards for individuals raising themselves through the process of bringing others down, there would be more of a focus on rewards for those who elevate others along with themselves. So, what is in store for our future? Some may say that we are going into the blind unknown. Perhaps they are right, and if so, then we are all going into it together. We are like blind rats running to safety, which we may never find, our grandchildren may never find, and their children may never find. However, someday it will be found. When the new world is found the children will cry out with joy. From that point on, people will see that the long wait and sacrifices in the past have been worth it. In the future people will find the reasons why all of the rights and wrongs that have happened in the past, and are happening now, have occurred. All things that have happened that seemed both significant and insignificant in their time will be viewed as insignificant in comparison to the overall picture as seen in the future. We will finally know the reasons for events that have happened in the past. The beliefs resulting from the events, actions, situations, and circumstances of the past will not be the beliefs of those in the future. Yet the beliefs of the future could not exist without all that has gone before. As for those of us who are currently living—we may never be able to totally heal all of the wounds that we have endured in what we may view as an unjust society. We may not be able to completely heal all of these wounds and the memories within those who have experienced the injustice. We may not see these wounds healed in our lifetime. However, we must still try to heal the wounds, so our future generations might have a chance to see these wounds become fables of the past. We must try so that our future generations might have a chance. Our descendants and the generations that come after are deserving of a better chance than that which was given to us.

My goal is not to preach, tell people how to act, tell people how to treat others, or to tell people how or what to think. My goal is for all of us to think beyond ourselves and the future of our children to the future of all humanity forever. There is nothing wrong with wanting a better life for our children than we have had; that is instinctual. However, I do want people to think of not just their own lineage but the lineage of humanity and as a whole. When it comes to the survival of our species, I am more concerned with the survival of the whole rather than the individual. When we strive for a better world, we must make an honest effort to think about the community before ourselves. We must all ask ourselves: "What kind of world do I want to leave behind after I am gone?"

**Education Is an Investment, Not an Expense**

One of our most valuable assets for the future is what our future generations can create. In this new world of today, exploration and creativity, along with working diligently and intelligently, are some of the essential accompaniments to our main assets such as the technology that will be created. Therefore, education must be thought of as an investment in the future and not as a current expense. Investing in education is a premier action in the interest of responsible growth and development and preparing for the future. We need to invest in the future by investing in people. Education is one of the most crucial areas that we must improve in if we expect to survive or move forward as a society. If we wish future generations to compete effectively and succeed in the world of tomorrow, we must devote more resources to their futures. It is a fact that providing a higher training or educational level and better opportunities for future generations will give them a greater chance of a higher level of comfort and security in life.

Education is an essential part of ensuring that an economy will be self-stimulating. An economy must be self-stimulating in order to remain permanently viable. Thus education is one of the main pillars in the infrastructure of tomorrow. Education will help create an atmosphere where infrastructure can flourish. In the world of competitive economics, we must create solid and stable infrastructure. It is essential that we reestablish infrastructure that creates stability; stability is often a prelude to peace and prosperity. We must reinvent, create better, or at least improve upon the existing infrastructure to allow the opportunities of our future generations to flourish and so we can protect something for them to inherit. We must reinforce infrastructure along with educational and job training opportunities that promote an atmosphere in which our citizens can become more self-sufficient and improve their own quality of life, communities, and societies. Our economic future depends on affordable education, apprenticeship, technical training, job training, and reliable job markets for workers of all ages who want or need them.

We must give current and future generations hope and something to strive for. We must give them faith in themselves, that they can accomplish what they strive for. We must supply them with the proper atmosphere. We cannot teach someone something if they do not believe that they can do it, or if they have been taught that they are incapable of learning it. Students should be able to receive the help that they require. However, this is much easier to talk about than to actually do. A few of the problems that our educational systems are having great trouble with are a lack of funding resources, quality educators, efficient policies, proper implementation of policies, community safety, and even sometimes constructive, positive public interest. Why is such an inconsequential amount of resources devoted to the individuals who are entrusted with our futures? Do we not deserve and need to keep the most qualified and talented personnel? Another problem is the need for fair, honest, and adequate division of resources per student, ensuring every student receives the attention they require. We need to keep the student-to-teacher ratios that are able to teach students proficiently, effectively, and productively, while keeping neighborhoods and communities intact. We must unite and not divide the neighborhoods that provide a high-quality future for upcoming generations, and ours as well. We must keep education as current as possible. We must educate and prepare future generations, and protect and invest in their potential by supplying the necessary tools, skills, and opportunities they need to be competitive in the new world market of the twenty-first century and beyond. The jobs of today are not the jobs of yesterday, and the jobs of tomorrow will not be the jobs of today. We need specialists, as well as generalists, to fill those jobs of tomorrow. Given the way that our school systems are now proceeding we are not able to fully accommodate students to fill those jobs to the best of their abilities and potential. Not only do we need to develop basic skills, but we also need to dedicate resources to cultivate special interests, talents, or abilities that students may have in those fields. Everyone, in one way or another, has a special talent or ability. We only need to discover it, bring it out, or nurture it. The key is discovering the ability or potential, then implementing the approach that works best to help that potential trait to develop.

Many schooling systems, grading systems, and intelligence quotient examinations do not encourage or correctly show intelligence, talents, or aptitudes. In some circles, many of these tests and structures are considered to be flawed or biased. Many of our modern testing and schooling practices put an unbalanced emphasis on memorization and regurgitation. We must rethink education. We must make sure that educational institutions are capable of helping future students utilize any special talents or abilities that they may have. We must also ensure that we do not neglect those students who have the ability to succeed, but rather see that they are given the opportunities to excel. We must not only create opportunities and provide the resources for the best and brightest future talents to pursue, create, and explore to their full potential, but also create a work base that brings quality jobs to all. We need to find long-term solutions to all areas instead of short-term fixes. Another set of problems that we must solve is the various budgeting crises, and one of many solutions is to create incentives to encourage outside investment. Investment within the educational process could be provided by business and community partnerships/participation, who could support students by providing apprenticeships or training experiences before the students enter the workforce or college. These experiences, whether they are academic or hands-on training, could be a vital step for individuals seeking career experience or an ease of transition from educational pursuits to joining the workforce. This, of course, is just one of the myriad of ideas that we need to explore in order to free ourselves to become self-sufficient, as well as to create a way for all to contribute to society.

I believe that no matter what our age, we are always learning something new. No matter how old we are, the old saying is true: "We are all students of life." Based on this, I believe we never stop learning and we should never stop trying to learn. In this pursuit, we must create an atmosphere of mutual productivity. We should never interfere with someone learning, unless it results in long-term harm. People need to be able to make their own choices, within safety limits that do not restrict; sometimes they can learn things from their mistakes, such as a sense of responsibility. Sometimes the only way for us to learn is from our own mistakes. However, do not let the debate or fear of what is harmful interrupt the exchange of knowledge. We must not fear what we do not know, for curiosity is one of the greatest gifts we have. We must let nothing and no one stand in the way of our learning. Learning can be beautiful.

I personally believe that in the early years of schooling, it may be necessary as we teach to incorporate play into learning in order to make it more interesting. This can potentially give children an enthusiasm for learning. It may get our young people used to finding things out by themselves and spark curiosity. If future generations are our future, then it stands to reason that we must spark creativity in them, for the survival of our future. From the very early years, we need to encourage children to explore their creative side. We must get their curiosity going. Let them explore their constructive side. We must teach them how to deduce. Teaching how and why to make a choice is often a more valuable lesson than teaching what choice to make. We must teach young people in ways that get them interested in learning. We must make them have a desire for learning. Make them want to find and discover things for themselves. There also should be more of a reward emphasis, based on effort and their desire to want to know or truly understand answers. We cannot force someone to learn, and we cannot teach someone with threats. People can easily be discouraged from learning if they are mistreated or belittled. Every encouragement must be given to people in the learning process. The best way to teach someone is in a comfortable yet challenging environment. We need to provide adequate corridors and neighborhoods for young people to pursue educational opportunities. We must create an educational process that is responsible for providing an environment conducive to learning. Such an environment must promote self-reliance, safety, and a sense of responsibility. In addition, it must supply a safe, reliable, and open access to the educational institution. We must create an environment where people not only are optimistic about the future, but also feel safe.

Giving children opportunities to be self-sufficient and succeed, and giving them any additional benefits that we are able to, is a sign of any good society, as well as a sign of any good parent. However, when we give our children these, we must do so in a way that does not detract from fairness towards others, as this will set a precedent to which our own may fall victim to in the future. As I have stated before, one of the first steps in solving a problem is to break the cycle.

All good parents wish they could support or assist their children to the point that they need or deserve. Unfortunately, there are parents who want to give to their children but find themselves unable to. Opposite to those parents are those who neglect their responsibility. These are the ones who need to be forced to accept responsibility for their children. When they do not, these children can become a problem for everyone. Behavior issues in children are often a reflection of circumstances from home life. As these children grow, they can become more of a problem for everyone. It is the responsibility of schools to educate, but unfortunately teachers often find themselves in roles other than teachers. Resources should not have to be diverted from the process of education to make up for failures at home.

One of the many current faults in the educational process of society is us. We are failing the educational process by not giving it sufficient validation. As long as some young people believe that it is easier for them to survive in life without additional schooling or training beyond high school and sometimes just even the basics, and we create an atmosphere where that belief is true, we have a crisis on our hands. As long as we create conditions that detour young people from self-improvement, we are failing society. Any dropout rate or failure to pursue further education beyond the basics means a failure in the educational process. A failure in the educational process means a failure in our society. We must prevent future generations from giving up on the future. We need to better encourage future generations with their educational pursuits and better assist them through more public and private involvement. We need to make sure that future generations are not disillusioned, or dissuaded from completing the educational or training processes to their best and full potential. We must ensure that all younger generations know the benefits of higher training processes and have a legitimate and equal chance to accessing those resources. All of our younger generations need those in order to better succeed and take opportunities that may have been out of reach for them previously. This is specifically important to individuals coming from households where opportunities are limited due to financial difficulties or other limits. We must assist them to become more self-sufficient, financially secure, and comfortable. We need to give all people something more to strive for than living from paycheck to paycheck. Education is the best offensive measure to take in regards to breaking the cycle of poverty and improving quality of life. Everyone should have sufficient access to opportunities to better themselves. We must promote more self-worth, self-support, self-sufficiency, self-ingenuity, and increase the overall quality of employment opportunities of all. One way we can accomplish these things is by devoting more resources to education, training, and creating/promoting opportunities of self-sufficiency. We must supply all citizens of future generations with an optimistic future and lessen the burden on potential future welfare systems. Again, I cannot stress enough that I do not believe in handouts. However, even more important is the genuine hand up that is not accompanied by the other hand pushing down, pushing to the side, or simply being uncaring. If we are not genuinely sincere and are using the other hand to be counterproductive, then we are wasting time, resources, and especially the patience of everyone involved.

**Children and Future Generations**

The best time to change anything is before it begins. Or failing that, when it is just starting out. I am no expert in children, so the following comments must be taken with a grain of salt. The following thoughts are just the result of some of my own personal experiences and perspectives, along with my own observations of others. Of course, yours will vary from mine and my suggestions may not be applicable to everyone, as we are all different.

Let us discuss the future of the world, or in other words, children. I do believe we as a society (overall) have not been living up to our full responsibilities in providing younger and possible future generations with a nurturing and safe environment to help them reach their full potential. We must create an environment for them that truly inspires creativity (without allowing them to harm others or cause damage in the process). We must supply children with all that they may need. I personally believe we have failed many, including ourselves, by not giving all people an optimistic future or enough encouragement.

Another failure of ours is that we promise things that will never come. I believe one aspect that is contributing to the failure of society is that our younger generations no longer have faith in our promises. We must earn back the faith of our future. When we have lost the trust of our younger generations, we have lost our future. On the other side of the coin, whenever we become afraid and lose faith in our younger generations, the future becomes fearful and lost. This is something that we cannot afford to sacrifice. We can no longer afford to give the younger generations mixed signals by requiring them to conform in ways that are detrimental to their well-being or enforcing unwritten societal rules on some but not all.

Younger generations also need a sense of responsibility and the ability to achieve substantial accomplishments that do not instill a belief of superiority but that are humbling. In addition, they need an environment with a get-it-done attitude. Instilling in them a get-it-done attitude is vital to them and the future of us all. When we teach a child to speak only when spoken to, where is the line between teaching them politeness and respect and crushing their spirit? We must be careful in this; we must be careful that we do not do more damage than good in the long run. Think of it this way: We can tell a child to be silent and still and to not speak up, yet in their soul they instinctively know it is wrong—then what becomes of their spirit? This is one of the strongest ways to destroy the birth of innovative ideas and thoughts. When we do this, we can discourage someone from discovering things, finding things out on their own, exploring, and more importantly, relaying information that they know to others. Thus, we have interrupted or even permanently stopped them from wanting to learn. But thinking ahead, not being impetuous, and having common politeness are also important. Yes, it is proper to teach a child politeness, respect, and to wait their turn. Waiting your turn and sharing are characteristics lacking in many people. Remember, children learn by example. "What we teach our children today they may practice tomorrow"—a quote I heard many years ago, but which remains in my mind.

Children also cannot be raised oblivious to the realities of the outside world. They must be informed that there are consequences to their actions. They need freedom instilled in them, with responsibility and proper punishment if required. Unfortunately, reparation and rehabilitation are also very necessary to teach children. Of course, sometimes punishment or forced reparation is necessary for all ages. This is another aspect of society that still remains unbalanced. Punishment comes too lightly for some, too severely for others, is neglected for some, and unjustly imposed on others. When a punishment is appropriate, it must set an example not only for the one being punished, but also for others, to teach them and let all understand why the action is wrong. When a child asks who is right and who is wrong, do not just tell them but explain the reasons why. When a child has done wrong, try not to just administer a standard stand-in-the-corner punishment, but teach them in a powerful way so that they will learn and remember. Give them an educationally powerful punishment that will help them in understanding. Give them a creative punishment that will not only stick in their mind, but also teach values applicable to other instances for them as well as others. Do not just explain to people why a thing is wrong, but help them understand the consequences of their actions. This is an area that even many adults have failed to comprehend.

**Technology**

Many people have become more uncertain about our technologically driven world. And they have every right to be apprehensive, considering that our technological ability at times vastly outweighs our morality. We are faced with the possibility of creating an unlivable catastrophe, becoming drawn into another dark age, or countless other scenarios resulting from our technology. Another possible failure flows from becoming too reliant on technology: What would happen if we trust too much in our technology, if we build our technological world while forgetting the steps that preceded our current advancements, and then suddenly should have it all stripped away? What would we do if we were suddenly stripped of our current technology, when many do not have the knowledge of the steps needed to recreate what we have accomplished thus far? How many steps would we have to repeat, or worse rediscover? How far would we be set back? How far back would we have to start over from? How many times do we have to repeat history? I am not just talking about those physical or material technological advancements, but other areas that have been influenced or altered by technology such as knowledge or beliefs. Along with technology comes the recording and memory of the history that we have lived and hopefully the ability of future generations to not have to relive it. We must not forget and be drawn into a cycle of repeating history. If we build onto technology enough, and forget all that has come before, what would happen if we would have to recreate any of our technology or rework any societal aspects that came about as a result of the knowledge acquired from technology?

However, how many worries are results of uncertainty, specifically the uncertainty that technology may bring? Fear, irresponsibility, and imbalance are a bad combination. Should we blame technology? Personally, I don't think so. Technology is a tool like a blade: it can be used to cut for survival as when making shelter, hunting for survival, or defense; cut to heal as how a surgeon would use it; cut to kill; cut to create as when carving more tools or art; or cut to destroy. As we move forward technologically, we must not forget the primitive, instinctual part of us that pushes us to evolve.

We are faced with a dilemma: we need our instincts in order to survive, yet those very instincts have the potential to doom us. We need our instincts for our survival, as these instincts are what push us to grow, adapt, and ultimately survive. We need these instinctual traits because they are essential for growth and the process of our survival and advancement. However, our current technology utilized by our primitive instincts has a very high probability of creating disaster, a disaster that could lead to our extinction. Thus the dilemma: we cannot completely abandon our instincts even if they have the potential to lead to our self-destruction. So, what is the solution? Whatever we do, we must unquestionably steer our instincts away from taking us over the edge. Perhaps, in order to survive into the future, we must not abandon our instincts but develop more control over our instincts. Or, with our current technology, we may have no choice but to move beyond those primitive evolutionary instincts. Move beyond not in the sense of wholly abandoning or dismissing them, but in the sense of ensuring that they mature so we may leave behind the old instincts and embrace new instincts that may be used for the betterment. Whatever the solution, the problems we face in our future lie not within our technology, but within ourselves. As the world leaps forward to more technology, we cannot afford to be blinded by its wonders.

We cannot completely limit the development of technology either, or we run the risk of forcing it underground. When we run from technology or shun it, it will grow up without our values. I believe technology is a child, and it must be treated as such. We cannot ignore technology, or it will grow to ignore us. We must grow hand in hand with technology, to fully understand and respect the power of it. In the pursuit of innovative technological knowledge, we must walk forward, but carefully. We must let technology go with us into the future, but not lead us. We must guide it with a loving but controlling hand. When will we realize that in our present stage of technological evolution, we may not survive as a civilized species and advance our species if we continue our current path?

Technology is going to be here whether we like it or not. Those who are willing to push the limits are those who make the transformations. So, one of my greatest concerns for the future is that those who have the conscience to use and guide technology the best may shun it when it needs them most—during its infancy. Technology is a tool that we have yet to fully utilize or use in a completely responsible way. Our overall morality has not matured in proportion to these advancements. We cannot again afford to act like children with a newly discovered toy.

**The Human Potential and the Future of the Species**

We cannot put a cap on human nature. But in some respects, we can control its path. When considering this we must ask ourselves, should we control or just follow? What is within our rights, and what is a required responsibility?

The future of the human species can be predicated on our reality; and the realities of our various individual worlds (what we individually see, what we perceive, experience, relate to, et cetera) are changing exponentially. When realities change, fantasy and imagination are soon to follow suit. Sometimes I believe the realms of fantasy and imagination are only hampered by the restrictions of our modern concepts of reality. What one would have considered magic a millennium ago is now commonplace. We must not forget that the magic of today is merely the science of tomorrow. What can appear to us as magical today will often be definable by science tomorrow. Things the oldest generations alive today would have considered fantasy or science fiction in their youth are now reality; sometimes our current technological state has even surpassed what they imagined or even fantasized. In the age that we live in now it can often seem that our current realities are changing parallel to our current understandings, and our current understandings are changing sometimes faster than we can adapt ourselves or our thinking. So, considering this, I sometimes wonder if the reality or possibility of tomorrow is simply just bought by the highest bidder. The highest bidder being the person who pushes the limits the furthest or sees what others cannot.

We now live in a world where inevitable discoveries and simultaneous epiphanies are commonplace among various peoples around the world. I am also realizing, whether it is an accurate observation or not, that an increasing proportion of people are being born today who are considered geniuses by our current standards. Perhaps the exceptional mind of today may be the average of tomorrow. But I wonder if the proportion of uniquely gifted children, and the extremes of the giftedness of those children, are growing at a faster rate today than compared to the past populations? Are we as a species beginning to change exponentially? Or have such brilliant children always been there, and we are just now becoming more aware of their existence and abilities? We are a relatively young species, using only a comparatively small amount of our brain potential. Nevertheless, using only a small part of our cognitive capabilities, we have progressed quite far in the very short amount of time in which we have occupied this planet. We cannot even imagine the enormous potential that lies in the human mind. I believe our abilities are only limited by our perception of the world around us. What else lies in our human potential that we may not yet fully understand, appreciate, or even recognize? How much human potential have we wasted in preventing possible dangers? What blank slates have yet to be nurtured in positive or negative directions? Perhaps the current version of humanity is just another species meant to fail in order to assist the next version of humanity we cannot yet imagine. Maybe our version of humanity is meant to supply the next with what it needs—not in the exact way that the remnants of past life of the planet now assist human progress in the form of providing oil and other energy, but perhaps in the same spirit. Perhaps the humanity of today is but a mere stepping-stone. Perhaps we are the next missing link in the whole eternal scope of the inhabitants of earth. Perhaps both the average and the exceptional versions of humanity are destined to inhabit this planet at the same time, while the current version of the human species goes through a transition? If this is true then we must remember that with all transitions there will be fear. And this fear may hinder some from being accepted by others. Even though some may understand better than others, there still may be those who will never perceive others differently than how they were propagandized in the past to perceive them. In the future, will a new version of humanity say to an earlier version of humanity: "Do not fear us, for we are your children"? Through all of these changes we cannot afford to forget our humanity, what we individually perceive the world to be like, and the actual world around us. Today a person on a personal computer can potentially look up the knowledge of the world; yet there is what some would call a significant portion of the world population going without at least one adequate meal a day.
**Chapter Five** : **Balance the Equation**

**Balance**

In anything, when there is imbalance, instability will naturally occur. Imbalance given enough time will naturally lead to instability if there is not rebalance beforehand. The natural conclusion of continuous instability is a fall or collapse. Falls are inevitable when instability is unresolved, especially beyond the tipping point. In other words: without balance a fall or collapse will become inevitable.

There are those who believe in the theory that things in life will naturally seek balance. It could also be said that balance will naturally find its own way. If this is true, when balance does occur it may be a balance that we may not appreciate. The balance that does occur may not always be a joy to us. We may not favor the balance that occurs. Or worse, it may not favor us. If this is true, then we have even more to fear.

Instability and imbalance go hand in hand in life and are sometimes necessary. Many forms of balance are necessary for the healthy development of this world. But our social, spiritual, moral, and economic future also depends on growth, not stagnation from within. And when balance is too prevalent there will be stagnation, which often leads to suffocation. An overly balanced culture is one in stagnation, and continuous stagnation within a system has a high likelihood of resulting in suffocation of that system. Some instability forces questions to be asked, thus possibly preventing any future crisis. Without some instability to show flaws within a system or pose suggestions to that system, a system may become susceptible to events, unexpected or not, when they do occur. There is a line between the need for balance for basic survivability, and the need for imbalance to initiate abilities necessary for adaptation.

**Imbalance Leading to Extremism**

When there is imbalance, some may be naturally drawn to the extremes. In the search for balance some may be drawn to an extreme in the hope of combating what they feel may be a different extreme. Or, the conditions of the environment could cause an individual to choose the side of an opposing extreme or viewpoint simply because of the apparent lack of balance, while leading others to an extreme of where they already stood. There are many situations of imbalance that can lead some to fall victim to the influence of the extremist.

When there is this general attitude of extremism caused by the instability of imbalance, middle ground and even common sense can become jeopardized. Those caught in the middle face many risks. Because of this pressure to take a stand, people who would normally find themselves within the middle ground can feel forced to align themselves with groups holding ideologies or beliefs that they do not agree with. Or those who firmly resolve to take a stand in the middle may potentially be viewed as having sympathies where they do not, simply because they do not follow certain views of a representative extremist. There may also be those on both sides who become forced or deceived into capitulation. Some who take a side may not consider the consequences, and this also applies to people who would be drawn to a more radical change. Others may become just simple innocent victims who are caught in the middle of the various extremes confronting one another. There could be countless possibilities. The situation of imbalance can thus have the ability to entice people toward any extreme. When someone is enticed to an extreme there is the possibility of contamination, discreditation, or souring of viewpoints. Both how they see their own viewpoints and how they see the viewpoints of others can be affected. Unfortunately, it does not matter who is enticed to extremism or if only the views of one are changed. The dynamics of how all view each other will be affected because of the mere association of one with the extremists. The interjection of the extremist can also even have the result of blurring the original discussions or disputes beyond reasonable recognition. This environment of extremism can affect both what we oppose and at the same time what we have allied ourselves with. What someone professes may be true, necessary, and correct, but it can become discredited or disavowed in the aftermath of the extremist.

**Finding Balance**

But in this it is important to remember that as with all cycles, balance will at some point eventually come. However, the balance may not be something that we expect or even can predict. So, logically, would it not make more sense for us to create an equation of balance that is the most favorable to us? Would it not be better to initiate our own balance before balance finds itself on its own? Of course, who said that humanity is logical?

In some cases, perhaps creating balance by the way of an interjection on behalf of what we may oppose may be necessary to restore balance, or at least help us find our own way of generating balance. Or it may even be necessary to help us redefine that in which we agree. An interjection of what we may oppose can have the possibility of reaffirming what we already believe, convincing us to alter or evolve our beliefs, or assisting us in the pursuit of something completely different. It can help us clarify or strengthen what we already believe in by exposing weaknesses of our point of view that we would never have been aware of without that interjection. Thus, it strengthens our own argument by building a stronger foundation against further opposition.

When it comes to change for the sake of creating balance, our reluctance can be a product of our own myopic views, and it can be dangerous. Our reluctance to adapt to new realities or our blind loyalties in support of our own myopic views may be dangerous. When we fail to see the periphery, we can become easily blindsided. We may also not recognize the need for balance in time to take appropriate action, before change occurs without our guidance. Our failure to see upcoming results may lead us to be blindsided by realities we could not foresee. Our reluctance to restore balance and take appropriate actions can also leave us vulnerable to the power and influence of opposing views. We can be blind to our vulnerabilities that can strengthen the opposing views, weaken ours, or any degree of both.

We must at least listen and be aware of any potential imbalance. We must be able to recognize the need for balance before others do so and take action that we may not agree with or appreciate. We may not have time to correct our perhaps glaring errors before they are noticed and used against us. Listening and creating awareness of other thoughts besides our own can mean the crucial difference between a timely intervention on our behalf and an action by those whom we drastically oppose. We must accept that we may have self-defeating actions that may surface in less than comfortable ways, so we can make the alterations ourselves rather than the opposition. We must police ourselves before someone or something else takes care of business. There may be the possibility that a version of balance that is drastically different than ours could manifest. If we do not at least listen to all sides, whether in opposition to our own or not, we may not be aware of our own failings that are self-defeating.

We must be attentive and careful; there may be occasions where we are unaware of what is necessary for balance, or do not even acknowledge its necessity. And when we do, unfortunately, it may not be in time to salvage luxuries or even necessities. Or it may not be in time to salvage what has been accomplished. Or worse, it may not be in time to salvage our very selves. We must accept that balance may be necessary even when we cannot foresee its necessity. Our own concerns are not what is important in the grand scheme of things—what is important is the fate of all.

We must also be wary of interjections to restore balance. We must be cautious of the deception of distorted or nonexistent data being presented, and of conclusions that may be based on faulty or misleading information. We must also be cautious when introducing adaptations. We must be cautious of those types of corrections that may cause more problems than there were before the correction was introduced. Sometimes attempts to help do not have the desired results. Yes, sometimes interjections are necessary and do restore balance, but they can also sometimes cause imbalance. In our myopic sight, we must be cautious of interjections for they can sometimes deepen or strengthen extremes or divisions unknowingly.

The road to balance can be long and seem daunting, arduous, or perhaps even unachievable in our lifetimes. While it is true that the road to balance may not be achieved within our expectational views or even within our lifetimes, we also cannot ignore these concerns as not being our responsibility to act upon. We cannot afford to do nothing; waiting only creates a greater void for others to span later.

In any case, a better world cannot grow in a society or environment bent on self-destruction, inequality, or ongoing instability. For that matter, in such an environment it may not even be able to survive. We must find common ground and prevent social disunity. It is important that balance and cohesion be maintained. Even though various views may seem diametrically opposed, there are always commonalities.

**Inequality Breeds Instability**

There exists, within any society in our world, the possibility of creating inequality or imbalance in some way. Perhaps the inequality is in the form of secret or outright exclusion, or in the form of promoting superior entitlement or disproportional benefit to a few. Even those who assume that they know what is in the best interest of all, and those who purposely attempt to create equality by suppressing those attempting to suppress others, can themselves ironically be guilty of suppression in some way. And in any human social environment, any form of inequality can breed instability. We also must not forget that when instability occurs, a restoring force or balance can naturally or will eventually follow. And this restoring force may not come in a form that is a pleasant experience for us. It may even potentially manifest itself as a total revolution. In the past, the various processes of societies balancing themselves have had the potential to lead to revolutions. These revolutions have taken on various forms of change, from passive to aggressive. This possibility of aggressive change is one reason we need more balance in our world. The possibility of aggressive adaptations brings forward the need for voluntary balancing. In this new world that we all live in, can we really afford to have aggressive change occur? Can we really risk aggressive change?

We cannot afford to forget that with our current abilities, imprinting onto the children the comprehension that others are equal to themselves is no longer a matter of humanity, it is a matter of human survival. With the new reality of one individual or group having the ability to effect cataclysmic change in a large population base, we cannot afford to have any beliefs of superiority when it comes to human life. In any case, we must be attentive to those in need and to the imbalances within our various societies. We must never forget that the most dangerous people are those who have nothing to lose and something to gain.

**Ensuring that our Lifestyle and Quality of Life Survives into the Future**

Yes, it is important to utilize the opportunities and conveniences of the present. But we must also be prudent in preparing for the future. We need to balance the needs of today with the foreseeable needs of tomorrow. We must take an active role in the preparation for the future. The opportunities and conveniences of today will be meaningless without the ability to have an acceptable tomorrow. We must prepare for the eventualities of future events and ensure that our lifestyle and quality of life will survive for us and future generations. That requires us to forestall future emergencies by taking actions today. Living in the present, to the extent that it jeopardizes the future by significantly reducing the availabilities of future essentials, enjoyments, possibilities, and opportunities, may jeopardize not only future generations, but possibly ourselves. We must take action in creating the balance between living for today versus living for tomorrow. The balancing act of meeting both the needs of today and the needs of tomorrow is delicate and needs our attention and considerable thought.

We must also rethink what we defend ourselves against. We must not only think of defending ourselves from others, but also think of defending our futures from the reality of the progression of the events we ourselves create and those that naturally occur in the world. We must defend ourselves from the actions resulting from our own myopic visions and aspirations. Instead of primarily focusing and spending time and money on issues affecting only one aspect of progress, we need to think about and address what the world and especially we as a species need. Compared to what we spend defending ourselves from others, we only spend a fractional amount of money, time, and effort on defense from the consequences of our own actions and those events that naturally occur in the world. We only devote a meaningless fraction to defend ourselves from ourselves and the world around us. We spend a meaningless fraction to truly defend or improve ourselves or create backups or alternatives to protect our society and way of life in case of contamination, reduction, elimination, or a myriad of other dangers. We have also yet to fully address adequate means of protecting the world, ourselves, and the future against contamination, depletion, and disasters that are caused directly or indirectly by us, as well as those that can or will naturally occur. We do not even have a system ready in case of depletion of current resources, which is already a problem. We also devote ourselves to responding to issues rather than preventing the chains of events that lead to these issues. Perhaps, when we truly and honestly begin to respond appropriately with what is needed for our current survival, we can begin to prepare for our various potential future paths. We must devote more time and money to fostering alternative and practical solutions for our issues, creating alternative resources to utilize in our lives, solving common problems that plague us all, and implementing backup plans for current and future use. Causes, rather than effects, should be our greatest concern.

We could easily develop and discover safe, natural, and unlimited resources to maintain and improve our quality of life and the conveniences thereof if we were really serious about it. If we hope to achieve more or even to survive our current stage, we must have adequate, safe, and reliable resources. We must have surroundings that are comfortable, safe, and secure, yet still challenging. These surroundings and resources include the ecological, social, emotional, spiritual, mental, and economic, just to name a few. A stable, healthy environment, whether physical, social, spiritual, educational, or otherwise, is essential for the survival of our species. I say, if we continue on many of our current paths, we may not have anything to protect in the future. I personally hope that we may have something to protect in the future. In any case, we must at least protect ourselves and our various environments in ways that are conducive for survival. A saying of mine that I tell myself is, those who prepare the future, prepare us all.

**Growth**

The stability of all environments is essential. (This means _all environments_ , whether created by humans or not.) Stability in the present ensures a greater probability of stability in the future. This is why stability now, in general, is important to all of us and all of our futures. Of course, we must never forget that too much stability can lead to stagnation which can be counterproductive to our survival.

We must create stability and ensure that all of the gains and progress that we have made thus far in our various areas and societies survive well into the future. We must not just concentrate on the stability of the various physical environments, but also concentrate on the other environments that humanity inhabits, such as societal, spiritual, intellectual, economic, and many other environments not listed here. We must not just mine or harvest for the present but prepare and sow for a future beyond the lifespans of the current generations. We can no longer afford to search for or receive short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability. We cannot afford to continue to allow the rewards of gains in the present to outweigh our responsibilities to the liabilities of the future.

We need and must encourage more responsible growth and development of the kind that is sustainable in the long-term and prepares the future for us. Creating long-term sustainable growth in the present, beyond just short-term fixes, sets the foundations for sustainable growth in the long-term. Our current growth and development must responsibly take into account the future potential growth and development, future survival of the community, and what is in the best interest of all citizens and future generations. The best interest of the future is one of the reasons investments and laying down the foundations for the future is so important. We need to take responsibility for the future. We must respect the integrity of the community and be responsible to that community in ways that benefit all. We must remember that development, growth, and change are all unavoidable. We must honestly devote more of our efforts to focusing, directing, and shaping our future and all of our growth and development toward a stable outcome.

**Migration**

Migration could be seen as a law of nature. However, this does not negate the fact that migration can sometimes create imbalance. And attempting to stop migration can sometimes be fruitless or dangerous. So, if we honestly believe that a certain migration is dangerous, detrimental, a liability, or malicious, we must logically examine the situation, determine the factors causing the migration, and prevent the reasons and motivations behind that migration. One of the reasons migrations have always been undertaken, whether human or otherwise, is to seek better or more favorable conditions. But when examining human global migration patterns, we must also consider more complex factors and possibilities. However, still considering all of the various circumstances that are currently altering the societies of the world, I sometimes wonder if this time it is fundamentally different. If we were insects I might say that, on a global scale, we were beginning to "swarm." Or, at minimum, possibly at the point of a splitting of society on a global scale. The problem is, we have nowhere to physically go to except within our own existing confines of the same geographical location (our planet Earth).

No matter the reasons, migration—the search for better conditions—is a primal instinct for survival. Those who are migrating may see it as a matter of survival. Yet, those migrating must not forget those people who already inhabit the area wherein they are migrating to. The current inhabitants may fear or at the least resent those migrating into their area, for the same reasons that those are migrating. The inhabitants may believe that their way of life or culture may be severely affected, and they may be correct. For these and many other reasons, those migrating must not forget why they are migrating. So, they must not repeat history by recreating the current situation or circumstance that has brought them to migration. They must remember and not bring with them or recreate the negative conditions, reasons, motivations, circumstances, chain of events, problems, or issues that have brought them to migration. It is paramount that they not even present the appearance of those same, or they may draw resentment from the native population. They must also respect the traditions, values, and way of life of the native populations. ****

There may be _positive_ and _negative_ repercussions from migration. But it is important to remember that sometimes there is nothing inherently wrong with migration in itself. Migration is a thing which helps us evolve. Sometimes growth and migration are essential for the survival of or benefit to one or all parties. Other times it results in loss or brings negative results to the area into which migration occurs. The conditions that are being escaped from by those migrating or even the results of the migration on the area being left behind may also be negative. There may be less "good people" left in the area that is being abandoned. Perhaps it is best to encourage those good people to stay with a carrot rather than try to prevent them from migrating with a stick. They are leaving those areas because of a stick, and may see the risks of leaving as just a different stick. But an honest carrot for them to stay and not to migrate can be something new to them. If we wish to mitigate the toll that migration may have, it may be best to help preserve or create positive reasons why good people live where they do.

**Population**

The population of the world is growing more rapidly today than in the past. We are placing more people on our planet and at the same time attempting to increase the lifestyles of all populations while not expanding many of our current finite resources. The constant growth taken together with our resource limitations create a major issue that our planet and humanity face. Many, but not all, of our current problems and conflicts in the world are about resources and the increased need for them. Resource-related issues can evolve into disputes. Such issues can evolve because of a variety of reasons; just a few of these are having limited resources, not enough sustainable or stable resources, belief in the superiority of some to deserve access to those resources, not utilizing our technology to supply additional resources that are needed, and various combinations thereof, in addition to other issues not listed here.

As with all species, overcrowding of humans causes a variety of issues. Overcrowding creates not just mental stress, but also physical stress, and consequences of both of these stresses. Most species, when crowded into limited space in vast numbers, may suffer many casualties. They die from the various mental and physical results of overcrowding. As with most species, overcrowding situations like this for humans can also cause general stress and panic. Yes, it may sound absurd that we can be likened to other species in relation to overcrowding. We are a much more advanced, unique, and sophisticated species, with more difficult-to-meet and advanced needs and desires. Therefore, we have even more complex failings. Everyone needs their own various form of personal space, basic rights, and resources for meeting the necessities of life, thus achieving mental stability. I do not know about you, but my personality can change when I am deprived of the basics of life and face overcrowding with more people, fewer resources, and increased contamination.

Theoretically I believe, under the right circumstances, we as a species have the potential to grow our population without any diminishment. _However, this prospect is currently constrained_ by our current stage of technology and our finite resources. Even increasing the lifestyle of our current population may be difficult with our currently finite resources. Infinite reproduction cannot be sustained within the finite. If we could develop our technologies and sociological attitudes to their full positive potentials, I believe perhaps we may yet be able to adequately sustain our current numbers, maybe even more, and all with a higher quality of life. But without alterations of our current attitudes and actions, I believe we are on a path to being doomed. Remember that with humanity, as with any species, a lack of resources and necessities can potentially lead to social instability. Exponential population growth without alterations or advancements to accommodate it will eventually lead to population crashes.

**Education for Balance in the Future**

If it truly is the responsibility of the individual to better themselves, or at the minimum provide for themselves, then it only stands to reason that they should be encouraged by society to do so, or at least not be hampered by that society. It is a responsibility of the society, not to do for those who can do for themselves, but to provide the individual with proper access to the necessary tools or skills to do so. Providing educational opportunities or access to training today can help ensure less dependency on a society tomorrow. And providing those opportunities to all in the present is a fundamental cornerstone of ensuring better equality and balance in the future.

As I have stated before, I do not believe in doing for those who can do for themselves. However, I believe it is very important to give individuals the proper tools for doing for themselves and not hinder them if they are not hindering others. Providing educational opportunities and other opportunities for advancement, especially to those who truly need them, is an area in which we have made great strides from generations past. Yet this is still an area in which we do not invest equal to its reward or potential. This is an area that we have significantly fallen short in and there are still ramifications for the generations to come. Providing the necessary education or training to those who would not normally or necessarily have such access helps reduce instability and inequality in the future. To reduce future dependency on ourselves or others and help establish balance in the future, it is a requirement that we ensure educational or training opportunities for those who would not normally have access to them. For security and balance in the future, ensuring greater access to education or skills training for all must take more of a priority in our lives.

**Wealth: Perception and Need**

There are many types of wealth; I am no expert, but this very small section is devoted to monetary wealth.

•I believe the accumulation of monetary wealth is simply a means to an end. I believe the search for monetary wealth is not a search for monetary wealth in itself—it is a search for material possessions, power, influence, security, or any number of other objectives that it can bring. We seek monetary wealth in order to create or acquire these.

•We must not forget that monetary wealth itself is not necessarily evil or good, but the process of how it is acquired or used can be. It can be obtained through virtuous or unvirtuous methods. We can sometimes be blind to how wealth was accumulated if done so through unvirtuous methods as opposed to the virtuous methods of accumulating wealth.

•People can often associate the possession of wealth, consciously or unconsciously, with who should be followed or listened to. I believe this association has contributed to the current negative aspects of the societies of our world. We (as a world culture) still base so many of our perceptions about communities or individuals on how much monetary wealth they have accumulated. For your future and that of your offspring, is it not better to consider the heart and mind of someone rather than their pocketbook?

•We have forgotten the danger of those with economic or monetary influence—their less than reputable reputations have drastically more influence over laws, priorities, beliefs, and/or what should be the responsibility of communities and individuals. We can sometimes forget that when economic or monetary influence has an uneven sway, instability will naturally occur. And this instability is an even more likely result in our current interconnected world of mass communication.

o  We must also acknowledge that extreme wealth, in many ways, may have even less constraints now than were present in the past. Some examples include, but are not limited to, the influence of wealth geographically, the ability to influence to a more politically diverse extent with wider ranging results, the ability to affect any society almost anywhere and anytime, and even the ability to perform a quick and easy transfer of wealth with the help of the computer age rather than physically moving it. (In our modern and technological age, even with current safeguards, the ability to camouflage or transfer substantial amounts of wealth has far less constraints than it did in generations past.)

o  Arguably, we could also say that a disruptively large amount of wealth has more possibilities than in generations past. The world is changing on a global scale, and never before has there been such ability for quick and diverse change to occur as a result of that wealth.

o  Arguably, in our world of today, extreme wealth has the potential to have more of a profound influence on the continuation of our human existence than it had in the past.

**The Imbalance of the Pyramid of Wealth for the Individual Globally**

In more than one area, the balance between encouraging improvement versus encouraging oppression must be carefully monitored. However, this discussion primarily focuses on this balance as it pertains to wealth. When considering this, some may argue that the disparity between the extremely wealthy and the extremely poor in our world is growing. There is also the case to be made that what we consider to be the quality of life for middle-income levels and even the numbers of the populace that make up the middle-income levels of the industrialized areas of the world are shrinking. Of course, some may even argue that the average quality of life for most all is diminishing in the industrialized areas of the world. There are also others who say that the numbers of extremely poor in the unindustrialized areas of the world are slightly shrinking and there is a growing middle class as these areas become industrialized. I ask, cannot all of these be true? The following assumptions are from my own biased perceptions:

•The numbers of poor in the already industrialized areas of the world, according to how the poor are determined in each area, are significantly growing. Meanwhile the numbers of poor in some of the unindustrialized areas of the world are slightly shrinking by their standard of determination.

•The middle class in the industrialized areas of the world is shrinking significantly by their standard of determination. The middle class in the unindustrialized areas of the world is slightly growing by their standard of determination.

•The wealth of the wealthy and especially that of the extremely wealthy in both the industrialized and unindustrialized areas of the world are growing significantly in proportion to that of all other classes.

Seeing this, some could argue that the imbalance of wealth globally is growing. I personally believe, however, that when the average middle class appears to be growing, it is mainly because the standards of how we view or determine the middle class is being lowered faster in comparison to the overall growth of economic affluency of the world.

Monetary wealth is commonly viewed as a pyramid. From an economic standpoint, the structural stability of the pyramid may appear to be stable and to some even acceptable. But I believe we must not look at it exclusively in terms of wealth, but in terms of population as well. Looking at it in terms of population, we can see large populations with less wealth and a few with substantial wealth. I believe that the reality is best portrayed as an upside-down pyramid, with the population of the poorer people represented by the larger, expanding top, while the wealth flows downward to the few in the pointed base. The few with substantial amounts of wealth and the many with less wealth. A very fine and wealthy point supporting a large and growing section of poor. In addition to this flow is the movement of the population of the shrinking middle class, or the middle of the pyramid, possibly shrinking faster than the rest of the pyramid with its population flowing to the expanding top of this upside-down pyramid.

The pyramid must be balanced, or it will attempt to balance itself. Throughout our human history, scenarios similar to this have often led to the collapse of the current structures of that time. In the past, extreme imbalance has led to redistribution or even revolution. And many of these rapid or dramatic instances of monetary wealth redistributions or revolutions have led to violent outcomes and conclusions. So, I ask, can we really afford a violent conclusion in the world of today?

Wealth redistribution is only a temporary solution. Sudden or dramatic revolutions based on the need for wealth redistribution, even when they have been necessary, have often laid the foundation for imbalance in the future. Redistributions can—and many have—create the foundation for the next imbalance. So, in solving the issues of wealth imbalances, I believe we must think beyond another redistribution of wealth. In solving these issues, we must not allow ourselves to fall into opposite extremes of social or economic systems. What if we could find a system of living that provides for all the aspects of life that are necessary for sustainability, as well as those that are needed to improve ourselves and society? A system that is safe while promoting free thought, creativity and self-sufficiency, and rewarding the ingenious and especially the harder worker. It would need to promote freedoms and responsibilities, encourage people to better themselves, combat laziness and shiftiness, and at the same time help those who cannot help themselves. I would hope that most would agree that we should not have to take care of those who are capable of taking care of themselves. But this does not negate the fact that not everyone has plenty or even that which is sufficient for themselves. We must not continue to deprive those who cannot take care of themselves, or the system will be in jeopardy. Not to mention, helping them is only humane. But until wealth is no longer a major factor in gaining access to opportunity, there may be crime, civil unrest, and general imbalance, among other things. But, until we have a system that simultaneously provides basic needs to all without effort, encourages empathy, does not allow people to become too complacent, and encourages and motivates individuals to provide for and better themselves, we may need some form of encouragement for the individual to strive.

**Economics in Tomorrow**

Economics can often be just as important for the stability of a society as most other things. Failure of economy has been the prelude to the demise of many civilizations in the past. The balance of the economy is important to the continuation of our society. And the continuation of our society profoundly influences the perpetuation of our species.

We must not deceive ourselves; at our current stage of sociological development we need systems of barter and trade and other economic structures to stimulate livelihoods and stability as well as general motivation. Trade is essential for a developing society and species such as ours. At our sociological stage, we need capitalism and barter to stimulate ingenuity. Of course, just because it is an asset does not eliminate the possibility that it could also be a liability. And, unfortunately, the quest for material wealth may also be needed to encourage motivation in some. In our world, many individuals still require some additional personal reward, incentive, or pressure to motivate their effort, accomplishments, or contributions. The simple motivation of the individual to increase their chances of survival cannot be lost or ignored either. Capitalism must be thought of as not only the search of an individual for material wealth, but also the search for betterment of their situation.

_Unfortunately, in the minds of many people, capitalism has_ moved away from being a reward for motivation to better themselves or their situations, and a means for conquering challenges, encouraging ingenuity, hard work, and industriousness. Instead it has _become perceived as a means of punishment_ for circumstances beyond their control or for their nonconformity. It has also come to be viewed by some as a justification not to care for fellow humans as much as is needed. I believe we must bring back the true opportunity that is in capitalism.

**Wealth: Bringing Bigotry or Opportunity?**

When we think of bigotry, biases, and stereotypes, race or religion comes to mind for most people. However, there are other bigotries, biases, and stereotypes that are just as powerful, sometimes even more so, and are not commonly recognized or acknowledged. We must be cautious of continuing one such bigotry tomorrow, one that has been present throughout history. At times it has been more prominent than biases regarding skin color, religious faiths, or other things. It even stands between individuals of the same skin color and religious faith. It is the bigotry of economic standing. As the global wealth flows disproportionally to the few and the middle class of the industrialized world dwindles or becomes less secure, we must be cautious. We must be cautious of bigotry, biases, and stereotypes, and particularly of policies flowing from such prejudices and the power of wealth that impact our society. In our society, monetary wealth brings opportunity and determines policies. So, we must be careful not to let wealth determine the balance of opportunities or policies too greatly. As opportunities and policies become based more fully on global monetary wealth and influence, societies of the world will become dangerously unbalanced.

Uniform and stable modes of exchange are essential for barter and trade. But, once a form of exchange becomes unstable, unfortunately imbalance will often be found; then replacement is not far behind. In the past, disproportional imbalance of wealth has resulted in strife and, more commonly, revolution. However, this same disproportional imbalance has also brought some injustices and biases to light. We must take our current situation as an opportunity to reevaluate what is in the best interest of our society. We must use this as an opportunity to reduce all of our various imbalances.

**The Future of Wealth**

When considering economics, we must not only think of monetary wealth, currency flow, or exchange involving a form of currency. Yes, these are the most obvious forms used to exchange for goods and services. However, it is not just the stability of our currencies that we must monitor; we must not forget that other forms of exchange can become unstable. For the sake of our future we must not forget that there are other consequences of the imbalances of wealth within our society. We must not forget the importance of the continued stabilization of our other forms of exchange that do not necessarily involve an exchange of monetary wealth, such as the exchange of services, commodities, and knowledge, to name a few.

Example: Let us say that two strangers were stranded in the desert, and neither have had anything to drink for days. Then, one noticed an abandoned bottle of water next to some gold coins. Some people would be more worried about the other person noticing the coins rather than the bottle of water. They can forget that without the water, the gold coins are worthless. The dead can have a hard time spending gold coins.

An instance of water being more valuable than gold in a desert is but one example of another type of wealth. There are many types of wealth other than monetary. If you really think about it, monetary wealth is simply used to exchange one form of wealth into another form of wealth. And many times one type of wealth is exchanged for another type of wealth without the use of any monetary wealth. Sometimes we humans have a habit of putting monetary wealth ahead of the other forms of wealth, even the lives of other people, or our own lives for that matter. Now, I am not saying that every human on the planet is willing to slit the throat of another for a little bit of profit. But often, we as a species can justify a slippery slope fairly easily. While there are many in the world who would not hesitate to take advantage of another in some degree, from great to the very slightest, but fortunately there are also many caring people out there in the world as well.

There are many examples of wealth that are not monetary. One such example of another type or form of wealth is knowledge. And some consider true wealth the knowledge of the universe, which is something that cannot be taken away easily. The most secure resource, or wealth, is that which cannot be easily lost. Of course, as I have stated before, improbable does not mean impossible in any situation, including the loss of personal knowledge through, for example, a brain injury. There are many forms of wealth, but all have one thing in common: they are determined by what is most rare or prized in a society. There can be intangible wealth such as knowledge, as well as tangible wealth such as gold.

**Economics Other than Monetary**

Economics are essential to any society and can even be found throughout the animal world in some form or another. Thus, the economy of a society does not necessarily have to involve monetary wealth. Even an ant colony practices a simplistic form of economics to survive as a society. For example, leaf-cutter ants perform their service of harvesting and transporting leaves back to the colony. Then, they process these "goods" to cultivate a "crop" of fungus. They later "harvest" this "commodity" in order to eat. This is just one small example of why we must begin to broaden our perspective of economics beyond the monetary aspect. Economics are a necessity of survival. This also goes to show why discussions of economics are not simple ones.

When I hear the arguments about protecting the environment versus protecting the economy, I believe they are myopic arguments. In listening to some of the current arguments about protecting the ecological environments and economic environments that are around us, I believe some would have us believe that one must be sacrificed for the other. I believe this is far from the reality, because we need both at our current stage of civilization. We need proper ecological environments around us for the basic survival of our species. And we need proper economies to continue our various societies. At our current stage of civilization, both are dependent on each other. With our current abilities to impact the world around us, we must have stable and flexible economies to ensure the safety of the many types of environments (not just the ecological) that we live in and that we are dependent upon. This is one of the reasons the stability and flexibility of the economies of a society are crucial. It is also important that we maintain not just ecological resources, but all of the other resources around us that various economies and personal livelihoods are reliant upon. Economies and environments are interconnected, and they both can become unstable, corrupted/contaminated, or even collapse; and they each have the potential to bring the other down.

**Retaining the Conveniences, Pleasures, and Quality of Life into Tomorrow**

When hearing the word "environment" with the word "economy," there are many who assume one must be sacrificed for other. There are also many who can assume that there is the consequence of forfeit of environmental stability in exchange for our economic livelihood or modern conveniences. This is far from the true reality of the situation. We do not have to give up or forgo our modern conveniences and pleasures or a prosperous economy to gain a healthy environment in the future. Living in the world of tomorrow does not mean the denial or abandonment of our modern conveniences and pleasures. However, we may have to modify or adjust the ways in which we access those conveniences or pleasures. And these adjustments do not have to mean reducing the overall quality or quantity of opportunities that people utilize in order to supply themselves, their families, or their societies with a way of life. In fact, the world of tomorrow can have more modern conveniences with less drain on natural resources.

**Changing Our methods in Order to Retain Our Conveniences, Pleasures, and Quality of Life into Tomorrow**

We must be aware of the apprehension some have when there is change. People will be wary when there is change, worried that their way of life will be disrupted. When there is a change within a society, people within that society will often expect stability and a quality of life equal to or higher than that which was supplied before. Until it has been successfully demonstrated that their way of life will not be diminished or hampered, people, for the most part, will not accept change—or they will be at the minimum apprehensive concerning the alteration of their access to their way of life. We must first demonstrate to them that their way of life will not be diminished, then supply them with alternative solutions before deterring or especially forbidding them from something within their way of life. It is also best to show them more convenient and practical solutions to access their way of life. But we must also remember that their new way of life will not be accepted if it contradicts or inhibits their current conveniences or pleasures.

If something is forbidden first, even after we show the risks of doing it and the benefits of not doing it and supply alternative solutions, there will still always be resistance by some. I believe that until we as a people are willing to make the necessary adjustments in how our lifestyles are accessed, we will continue to borrow from the future of our children. And I believe that in many of our arguments and in our zeal to conquer the environment around us for survival we have forgotten the obvious solution. That solution is to adapt to our surroundings. We are born to adapt and adjust. We are a very adaptive species.

**Balancing the Economy and the Environment for a Future**

Unfortunately, at our present stage of development, we may need some things that produce waste or "environmental liabilities." However, that only means that in the meantime, we must devote ourselves even more to finding alternatives. Of course, in the end, the best ways to not produce these "environmental liabilities" is to use alternatives, reduce, reuse, recycle, and conserve. Reusing things is becoming more of a reality. What was considered waste in the past is being found new uses. There are many different avenues to reuse material that was once considered waste. I believe that eventually we will find that most by-products will have some use, even if the technology of today does not have the answer. But this does not negate the fact that we must be concerned with the environmental safety of the present until the future has the answer. If we are not careful, the expense of cleaning it up in the future may outweigh the profit we are making in the present.

In our current production levels and storage methods of these by-products or refuse, we may cause expenses to outweigh benefits in the long-term. Even if you believe my statements are not completely accurate, I would still hope that you believe that it is our obligation to go out of our way to reduce the production of these harmful by-products, or any waste for that matter that the present or the future would need to deal with. If they are produced, we must also go above and beyond to ensure that they are safely and securely taken care of. They must be properly taken care of until we know what to do with them in the long-term, have the ability to reuse them, and/or truly understand how to properly contain or dispose of them. We cannot afford to have the attitude of primarily finding the least expensive way possible for the present. Often, that kind of way leads to a larger expense for the future.

We need to find ways to create less waste and especially less-dangerous waste, search out more proper storage, and increase our abilities to use what we create. We should make every effort. We cannot afford to continually and irresponsibly devote resources to our own personal self-interests at the expense of areas that provide support for human survival. I also believe that there are better ways of feeding people or growing an economy than resorting to the contamination or depletion of a natural resource base. Therefore, we need to view our use of natural resources more in terms of harvesting than extraction.

When it comes to the debate of environment versus economy, I believe many downplay the fact that we must make sure that we have sources of income and natural environments that are long lasting and stable. We need to make sure that our sources of income as well as our environments are here to stay, do not run out, and are able to support more than just a generation or two. We must have balance between our economies and ecologies. And we must create environmental stability and economic security that are in support of one another. We need both, and it is irresponsible to sacrifice one for the other.

We must not close ourselves off to the reality that as long as there is a need for something, the desire for it will be stronger than most other things. The reality is that much of what we produce, as I mentioned earlier, may be considered a liability in the future but may very well be produced somewhere by someone else if we do not produce it. Yet this does not negate our responsibility to future generations.

In pursuing our duty to create ecological stability, we must not forget our obligation to not thwart people in taking opportunities to supply themselves and their families with a livelihood. We may all be similar in the regard that we just want a better life for ourselves or our families. I believe that in this debate, this is sometimes forgotten. _Remember, many may approach the world in terms of just trying to support themselves or their families._ In the debate of environment verses economy, we cannot afford to forget that in many areas of the world the average hardworking person is finding their ability to achieve self-sufficiency becoming increasingly more difficult. They are increasingly finding it more difficult to have their basic financial security assured or, at minimum, have their basic needs meet. We cannot forget the vital keys in preserving a middle class and long-term stability of a culture or society.

The balance of the environment is essential to the continuation of our human species. But the balance of the economy is important to the continuation of our society, and sometimes even in a way to the perpetuation of our species as well.

**Balancing the Environment for an Economic Future**

It is crucial that we have the future resources we need for our society and a stable environment for economic livelihoods in the future. We must protect the economy and resources necessary for our species and the society of the future by promoting sound economic and ecological opportunities in the present. We must create infrastructure in order for opportunities to flourish, so we are better able to protect something for our children and future generations to inherit. We must better explore and increase implementation of the ways to encourage businesses to be more environmentally responsible while being fiscally sound. If we want more financially and ecologically sound production of energy and physical materials, we must meet the production abilities of our new industries with our current and future needs. The support of these energy and material production industries is beneficial in creating environmental stability and economic security. We need to help create and establish alternative resources and industries for economic and environmental security and longevity, both nationally and globally. We need incentives that promote independence and self-reliance in energy and material production. Relying on one particular resource is not the answer, no matter what that may be. The solution will come from utilizing a combination of all renewable and alternative resources. Plus, we cannot forget the security and huge economic opportunity in these relatively new industries.

**The Depletion of the Environmental Principal**

Natural resources can be viewed as a savings account. If our savings account is sufficient and we simply live off the interest and use only what we need without depleting the principal, then the account could theoretically be around forever for us to utilize. However, if we start living beyond our means and increasingly use the principal, then the principal will begin to deplete exponentially. Soon we will have depleted the account, and our account will be _zero._ ZERO. In my opinion, this is what we are doing to the Natural Resource Account of our world. I hope you are like me and are tired of our Natural Resource Account being cheaply sold in regard to our future.

Our natural resources are here to be utilized. But the looting without giving proper compensation to all who currently have a right to them or showing unconcern for the future must be stopped, while we still have something left. I believe we do not have to _spend our_ _environmental principal_ —consume natural resources beyond the breaking point—to grow an economy. We must keep our environmental principal secure for the future. When we harvest an environment beyond its ability to regenerate sufficiently, eventually that environment will fail to produce. We must all help ensure that our resources are adequate, clean, protected, and sustainable for use in the future.

**Environmental Stewardship**

I must ask the question: In general, are we as humanity poor stewards of the ecological environment of the world?

There are many opinions concerning the environment. And our current understandings of the laws of nature and how our planet works are only based on the information we have thus far. So, I can honestly contend that we do not yet understand everything. Yet, we cannot afford to ignore correlations and information that we have gathered. We must take the same approach concerning the stability of the environment that we do with the stability of the economy. We must listen to knowledgeable, impartial, and uninfluenced observers who provide scientific evidence rather than to someone who is looking at it from a strictly rigid, one stance, self-serving point of view, or the all-or-nothing extremist.

There are those who only care about themselves and the present. However, my hope is that most of us do care, that there are also those who have good hearts and wish that they could do more to help preserve, conserve, or better utilize our natural resources. I have observed that there are many different kinds of people who do want to help, and they make their own various attempts to help preserve our planet in their own ways. Now, I am not saying everyone is perfect; most probably do about the same as everyone else does. I am no expert, so I cannot tell us what, when, where, or how to improve. However, we must explore what we each can personally do. More importantly, we must actually act.

However, there are still too many people who are very wasteful and dangerous to the environment, planet, and the very survival of our species. Now, I am not saying that everyone is dumping all kinds of waste wherever, throwing everything into pits, generally disregarding our limited enclosed space that we call our planet, or anything like that. But there are some people who believe that there is no hope and have the attitude of "why try," there are those who ignore or deny the problem, and even those who do not believe they can make that much of a difference either way. This belief and attitude of "why should I care if no one else does" or "why try" generally does more harm than good. We must all think more in the long-term. We must show and convince all that there is a problem, that there is hope, and more importantly that they can make a difference. I believe it is our responsibility to demonstrate to everyone how they can make that difference. Show them that if they do not at least try, there will be no hope for tomorrow. But how do we do this? One way is to start teaching people from childhood. Show them how and why to be conservative and creative with our natural resources without any decrease to their lifestyle. We must convince them all that there is hope and show them the way to help. Again, I must reiterate our obligation to show them that if we do not at least try, there will be no tomorrow.

As for those people who waste, consume resources beyond their share, or just generally do not care about the environment that we all share—I believe that they are that way out of common greed, selfishness, or laziness. They only care about themselves and what they personally can get out of things, or they only think of today and not of tomorrow. Sadly, they are in it only for what they can get out of life today and are without concern for the consequences of tomorrow. They do not care about the air we all must breathe, the safety of the water we all must drink, or a planet capable of supporting life beyond themselves. We may not be able to change their minds. We may have to allow them to come to realizations on their own. Yet it is still dangerous for us all when they live by this belief. We may have to fight them and show them the evil of their ways. We may have to impose accountability when the survival of humanity is threatened. There is no warranty for our planet. They may not realize how much our planet requires from us or how much we depend on it until it is almost or completely gone in self-destruction. But I hope I am wrong.

**Rewarding and Enforcing Environmental Responsibility**

We must make more of an effort in actively rewarding those who practice environmental awareness and defense. This can be just as important as focusing on getting reparation from those who practice the negative. Rewarding the positive establishes a pattern of behavior. Rewarding the positive is something that we have failed to fully practice, along with failing to get adequate protection and reparation for the negative.

We must also proportionately place the proper expense on those who benefit more from the use of community resources that we all share. In doing this, we also need the passage of stronger restrictions on, and penalties for, facilities and individuals that have an impact on the ecosystem without supplying adequate reparation or stability for that ecosystem. We must be more forceful in collecting adequate compensation from those who deplete or contaminate the resources in disregard of the common good. Additionally, we must seek restitution for use in repairing the damage of the shared resources of the community. Those who deplete or contaminate the shared resources must be required to provide restitution, repair the damage they inflicted, and restore the quality of life up to the point that it was at when they altered it. This is something that must be required from them until what they have damaged becomes fully restored or until they have provided adequate compensation for what they have damaged. By this I mean fair and truly adequate compensation. We must place the expense for the environmental repair on those who caused the damage, instead of burdening others with this expense. It is unfair to place disproportionate expense relative to benefit.

**Environmental Interconnection, Stability, and Future**

We each have our own string of life, and we live out our lives strand by strand. We all affect each other, and our own string of life is interconnected with those of others and everything else. If not affecting each other and everything directly, then our strings have indirect effects. When we bring all of the strings together, we form the rope for the planet. Each of the strands comes together to form the great rope that supports everybody and everything. When one strand is broken, it puts more pressure on the rest of the rope, causing the rope to become weaker and weaker. As each strand is broken one by one, the weight becomes increasingly heavier on the rest of the strands, possibly until the rope can no longer support what we know as the stability of our planet. Finally, the Earth becomes too heavy to be supported by this rope; then it will fall into nothingness, to possibly disappear forever. >

Everything that we rely on, that others rely on, and so forth is a part of the interconnectedness of everything. Every loss or death helps to kill a part of the rest of us. In fact, every useless death kills an even greater part of us than what we realize. Every time we take and do not replenish part of the environmental principal we rip a nail out of the foundation of the future, and ruin that which our future will be built upon. Whenever we contaminate natural resources or use them faster than they can be replaced, waste resources by throwing them into a deep pit and just covering them up (literally or figuratively), throw dangerous material into a pit and cover it up and say "that is the end of that," leave something for future generations to clean up, kill or destroy something for nothing other than pleasure or personal gain, or cause a single causality of war, we rip a nail out of the foundation of the future.

Every species that we save, saves a part of ourselves. Every species that we can save is vital to the survival of our planet and our species, even if we are not fully aware of its significance at the moment. Everyone, everything, and every effort has the potential to be important for the future of us all. In a way, every species and decision could be seen as a link, each affecting the stability of all. For this reason, everyone and everything are important and affect the future of us all. Thus, they are all vital areas for the foundations of our future, and when we disregard them, we ruin that which our future is to be built upon. Perhaps our lost potential for a better world of the future will soon be rebuilt. But in the meantime I ask, what will we be able to give the children of the future if we continue to destroy ourselves, everything we touch, and everything around us, and consume beyond that which can be replaced? So, I ask future generations to forgive us for all the damage we have done.
**Chapter Six** : **Ourselves and Society**

**Understanding Ourselves within Society—Power Within**

We can lose ourselves if we follow others in what they perceive we are and how they think we should be. We must not limit ourselves to the expectations of others. We must also be cautious of becoming stranded in our own perceptions, for when we do, we can fall into the falsehood of trying to seek solace or validation from others. Remember, we can be but figments of the imaginations and preconceived perceptions of others. Often, our greatest limitations are the perceptions of another.

But I ask, when it comes to our limitations, what prevents us more from succeeding: how others see our limitations or how we see our own limitations? Worse than succumbing to the negative views of how others believe we should be is succumbing to the negative views of how we ourselves believe we should be. We can often be hostages of our own minds and preconceived limitations. Often, the greatest difficulties in overcoming our obstacles are not the obstacles themselves but the perceptions of our limitations, not only by others, but also ourselves. We should ask ourselves, "Am I a prisoner more because of my own mind than because of the minds of others?" Meaning, are our perceived limitations placed more by ourselves than by others? Why is it that we can so easily travel in the shadows on the "railroad of life," trapped in a "boxcar of our own psyche," and only look out at the light as the world passes by?

Sometimes, I wonder if our own endeavors in life are helpful or hindering, blocking, or even distracting from our goals or success. Can our endeavors even guide us away from our success? Meaning, can the things we do in life to succeed be possibly in reality leading us away from success? I also sometimes wonder if we are afraid of the failure that is found within success. Are we afraid that in order to succeed in one particular area we may have to forgo success in other areas—thus succeeding in one that we wished to accomplish, but leading to the failure of others? Can we sometimes sabotage ourselves so we will not succeed in a particular area? Perhaps we subconsciously sabotage ourselves because we are worried about failing in other areas in the pursuit of that one particular area. Or do we even subconsciously sabotage ourselves in that one particular area because we are afraid of not being able to succeed? To this I say, we must succeed despite our own endeavors. Also, we must not let fear be our primary motivator.

We are often content with merely scratching the surface of who are and what we can do; we can be content to live out our lives like hermits, within our own little worlds, within our own minds. Sometimes we avoid looking at our true selves; we look at ourselves as if we were someone else looking through glass doors from the outside. We sometimes can be only images of ourselves; we have possibilities that we could not even imagine.

Within all of us lies the "power." We all have this inner force that pushes us forward. This force pushes us constantly. This force is neither evil nor good. It is neither right nor wrong. It is neither pleasurable nor painful. Sometimes this force pushes us toward what we should do and other times it pushes us toward what we should not do. Sometimes both or neither. It is the human drive. We all have this "power." It is just a matter of tapping into this energy and keeping the changes to ourselves under control, so they do not rage like a wildfire out of the path of the intended purpose and consume everything in our way. How we use this great energy can be good, evil, right, or wrong. When we are able to properly guide this energy that is found within ourselves toward completely peaceful and productive purposes, then we will finally be able to be at one with the universe, life, or that which created all.

**Understanding Ourselves within Society—Our Actions**

I believe violence and control of others are taught in words as well as actions. I also believe control of others is a form of violence, even if it may sometimes appear to be a mild form. And violence is not only used for control of others, but control of others is itself a type of violence. Each is interlocked with and dependent on the other. Violence and control can be virtually one and the same. In the world of today, we need to take the necessary—and only the necessary—steps to neither be controlled by others nor control others ourselves.

Whether people like to admit it or not, human society still has natural instincts of control and/or violence that it exerts on other people in general and the world we inhabit. Over the many centuries and millenniums, humans have increasingly turned to other methods of control rather than actual brute physical domination, methods such as the various types of social control or social manipulation. Physical control is however still an ingrained part of our world, especially on a personal level. While most of us openly detest this form of control, many of us tend to ignore or grudgingly accept the other forms of violence and control that do not involve physical domination, such as social manipulation. Do we think this new kind of control makes humans more civilized than our ancient ancestors were? We must ask ourselves, What does "civilized" mean to each of us? So, we must each ask ourselves, What is civilized? Perhaps what is and what isn't civilized is in the eye of the citizen. Perhaps our ancient ancestors would have viewed our world as violent due to our ability and predilection to create atrocities, war, and death on a massive scale that is impersonal and easily done. We can commit such acts with feelings of dissociation, but with the same results. We merely have to push a button, and never look into the eyes of the victims as we figuratively push the blade in.

**Understanding Ourselves within Society—Examination**

Humans have survived thus far as predators by nature, yet at the same time humans have intellect and compassion. Most of us have been fortunate enough to have enough intellect and compassion to suppress or eliminate many of our inherited destructive primal instincts. This is not to say that those instincts are completely gone; some, such as our instincts for self-preservation, may still lie beneath. It is just that many of us have taught ourselves to suppress or eliminate what we perceive to be negative aspects. We must be careful; not all are born with what we would consider to be the positive naturally inherited instincts for survival and advancement of the species. We must not assume that all are born with all of the positive "stereotypical instincts" that contribute to the survival of all. But there is still hope when we hear of a parent sacrificing themselves for their child. However, I still wonder sometimes what instincts are in control of those actions or motivations.

The intellect of survival and compassion can be intertwined and has given some humans compassion for other species and, more importantly, compassion for other humans. The vicious instinct of violence and control is in constant battle with intellect and compassion. And sometimes our intellect is what gives us our compassion. Many of us are not so different from each other.

I do not believe humans are naturally or purely "good" or "evil." I believe nothing corporeal can be naturally and completely good or evil. However, how we act upon our emotions, with our available knowledge and abilities, can be considered as certain degrees of good or evil. Instincts are not evil or good; they are merely and only instincts. However, if we can control our instincts and we are still being unnecessarily violent or destructive, then perhaps we are doing evil. I believe humankind has also corrupted the definitions of evil and good by making them concepts by which we judge and justify our own actions and the actions of others. We have corrupted the true definitions of good and evil by human judgment and partiality.

Many people have had thoughts at one time or another that they themselves may not consider to be violent, but which in the mind of another may be so. But I must have faith that most of us strive to be pacifists at heart and are capable of thinking through a problem logically without resorting first to violence. Thus, we are capable of not acting upon our primal instincts of following through with one of the many different forms of violence, including control, as we or even as another person may define it. Everyone has had a violent thought (including violence in the form of control), even if only as defined in the mind of another person. In our mind, what we are thinking may not be violent or may even be considered justifiable; however, to someone else it may be considered a violent or unjustifiable thought. Our intellect may be strong enough that our "violent thought" is insignificant or suppressed so much that it does not affect our decisions to a significant degree or even surface within our conscious mind. But it may still be there. If we have "violent thoughts," it does not necessarily mean that we are violent or may act violently. If we have anger in our heart, it does not necessarily mean that we are bad or angry or will resort to violence; it means that we are human.

It is certain that our passions and desires can have the ability to become increasingly destructive. So, we must learn to better control them before they go from "holding us back" to "taking us back." That is, before they do not just prevent us from succeeding but actually cause us to recede. But because we must be realistic when it comes to our societies and humanity as a whole, the use of force may unfortunately be necessary at times for defense. But, if we must use force to protect ourselves, we must make the honest attempt to use adequate but minimal force. Remember, might does not make right. But we must not completely blame the people who still use violence and control over others for their own problems. I blame all of us for these problems, because we all have had a part in creating them and it will take all of us to help fix them. We must also examine why violent behavior is acceptable. Why do we fight as a species? Animals fight and kill others of their own species over basic survival needs and sometimes procreation. We fight and kill our own species for both of those reasons, and more. When we are wounded like animals, we can become like animals. When we as a species can openly admit that we have the potential for violence under the right circumstances, then maybe we can follow the road to eliminating violence and the negative types of control. Until we as a species are completely able to keep our instincts from being such motivating factors in our everyday lives, we will never be able to move beyond where we are as a society and move into another stage of society. We are often the main cause of our own misfortunes. The largest barriers to the survival and growth of our species are often the best aspects of our species. When we consider ourselves and see that on a completely personal level and on a worldwide societal level we can have the potential for violence and the negative types of control, then we can begin to evolve past the need to use violence and negative types of control. When we realize that what we are doing may be wrong, our illusions about ourselves will collapse, and we can address the threats we pose to ourselves. What hell can spring from the deepest, darkest pools of the human mind? Hell can sometimes be a picnic compared to that which can lurk in the mind of man.

But we must not forget the positive side of that statement. The positive is that unknown potential lurks in the mind of humanity. It is for this reason that I would take the mind over a gun any day. Because the mind invented the gun. Our propensity is a duality of a double-edged sword surrounded by destruction and creation. Going on this assumption, if our instincts are a double-edged sword then in losing one edge we may lose the other. So, I ask, When does eliminating our disadvantages become a disadvantage in itself? It is not in our best interest to completely forget our instincts for survival. In this quandary, I personally choose to seek the creative side of our instincts.

**Understanding Ourselves within Society—Reflection**

Sometimes in the flashing moments in my mind, while attempting to understand each of our places in society, I find myself sarcastically wondering if perhaps the difference between those who are found to be insane and those who are not is the former have yet to discover how to fake sanity. We all can have the potential to drift into our own versions of insanity; insanity in the sense of doing what others may consider to be irresponsible behavior. Irresponsibility both intentionally and unintentionally does accumulate and reproduce. In my opinion, because of this, there can often an "insanity of inhumanity" prevalent in the world. By this I refer to not accepting but still tolerating evil in the world. I personally believe it is time to stop the insanity of inhumanity. Let us not make life a seemingly endless fantasy, only silenced by the reality of the cries from the children of humanity. Again, I suggest that we must consider why so much behavior that is harmful to our survival and our ability to flourish is considered acceptable. If it turns out that the ones who reject such behavior are crazy or unrealistic, what does that say about the rest of the world? Offhandedly I sometimes wonder if it would not be better to be insane and not just seeing with open eyes. For if I am truly sane, then the atrocities of the world are real. If the majority of the world is considered to be sane with all of its closed-mindedness, hatred, exercise of control over others, self-centeredness, greed, cruelty, and depravity—if we consider this normal—then what a frightening world we live in indeed, as we free-fall into the future. Thus, it is sometimes a most frightening thought that we are the sane ones. It can be a beautiful thing to know that we are not crazy, but what a terrible responsibility it is. Normality can however change with the times. The acceptance of some of our new normalities, the continued acceptance of past normalities, and those normalities that we have accepted in the past all have the potential to be considered sane and insane. We can have the tendency to distinguish between insanity and sanity by what is expected of us in the contemporary time. Many of our current beliefs and concepts of sanity, truth, and morality are defined only by our current understandings or perceptions.

Perhaps, if one does view the whole world as an asylum, then it may be best to blend in and pretend to be a patient. I personally on occasion try seeking a place that is non-obtrusive, neither here nor there, or anywhere. Sometimes we can survive by being inconspicuous or non-threatening; a power of one. Yet, some perceive themselves as existing in and affecting only that which they know of as their immediate, daily lives. According to some, those people could be perceived as living in a world of non-existence. They exist in a world of non-existence in the sense that they comprehend themselves as more separate from the world than they actually are. Such a person may see themselves as an afterthought of the world they inhabit or even completely separate or disconnected from the world. We must not forget that we ourselves often create the world around us. This is why as we all live our lives out, I must reask myself the question, Is my world an illusion or am I simply disillusioned by my world? Is my world an illusion in the sense that I can live out my life within my own version of reality? Am I just fooling myself that this is just the way it is? Am I part of my illusion as you are a part of yours? Are we all just helping one another in deluding ourselves into perceptions of reality? I wonder if we can be only images of ourselves, images defined in our perceptions. Can we also be nothing but playthings to our imaginations? Is what we feel real or delusions we wish to accept in order to protect, represent, or promote ourselves? This is why for the sake of ourselves and the sake of others we must take an honest look inside ourselves.

We can only understand ourselves to a certain point before we must take time to understand others on their own ground, so that we may even better understand ourselves. We must be careful in life so that we do not become greedy, self-absorbed, arrogant, or closed-minded. Greed, overindulgence, and similar traits are weakness. Being self-absorbed leaves us blind to the outside. It saddens me that many people cannot see, or refuse to see, all of the pain in the world, while others see but still let it happen. They ignore all of the hunger, death, and disease—just to name some of the pain and misdeeds. They ignore them not just in certain parts of the world, but everywhere else in the world. It happens in all parts of the world in some form or to some degree, but more in some places than others due to our complacency. Unfortunately, in some instances, it takes more strength to put up with it or fight it than it does to run away. These are situations that we cannot afford to allow to continue. This complacency, even about the lesser forms of suffering that are found in our everyday lives, allows other forms of the insanity of inhumanity to continue and flourish.

**Truths**

If one person and another are both doing what each feels is in the best interest of all, and their views conflict with each other, they both could still have good intentions. In reality, it could be debatable who really knows what is in the best interest of all and which course of action will really lead to the best solution for all in the end. After all, none of us knows the best answer; we are only human. If any of us truly and honestly knew the correct answer to anything with 100 percent certainty, I would hope that we would admit it ourselves because admitting it to ourselves can sometimes be more difficult than convincing others. But recognizing the truth is not easy either; if we knew what truth looked like, then we would have already known what it is. We must be careful, because we can sometimes discount or ignore the answer when we do have it. Sometimes the question can tell us more than the answer itself. Other times, the reexamination or restructuring of the answer can reveal even more. For example, turning the answer into a statement can open up more possibilities. But not all is lost; there is hope in this confusion. We still must continue our search; for sometimes in searching for our answer, it may find us. We may not be able to find the truth of life; the truth may have to find us. In searching for the truth, we allow it to be more able to find us.

But unfortunately, we live in a world where the truth matters not—only what each believes. We have become a society that can delude ourselves by searching out and grasping at extreme and farfetched conclusions if they support our beliefs, rather than accepting the overwhelmingly obvious and well-supported facts. Individuals and even societies can easily discard those overwhelmingly supported and numerous facts if they do not support their beliefs. In our current world, and with our new abilities, the results of this have become increasingly dangerous and thus important not to ignore. Therefore, we must be careful when we tend to look for facts that support our opinions and disregard or devalue those facts that do not. Perhaps, it is best to listen to all but believe no one completely. Unfortunately, the awareness of cynicism is becoming even more important in the world of today. Perhaps we should see everything, but not believe everything, listen with our ears and hear with our hearts, and remember that nothing worldly is an absolute truth, nothing worldly is an absolute lie, and there is some truth in everything.

There are many truths in the world. There are some we may consider to be "certain truths" that may yet contradict one another. If we truly explored the original roots of certain contradictory truths, the cores of those truths sometimes support one another. They can be simply different sides of the same equation. We must be cautious of those who would use the cores of those truths or a grain of truth to support an inaccurate conclusion. We must be cautious of those who will twist or manipulate the truth, tell half-truths, or lie by using that grain of truth or core of truth to prove something contrary to the reality of the situation. We must instill the tools and abilities in people so they may search, discern, compile, and analyze facts for themselves in order to incorporate those facts into their set of beliefs. Remember, some truths can be a matter of human perspective. A modern example would be that of a person seeing a vehicle seemingly irresponsibly swerve into the middle of the road, causing a collision. Yes, it is true that a witness may see that vehicle as being at fault for causing the collision. And it is true that vehicle did cause the collision. However, another witness looking from the opposite direction may have seen that the vehicle swerved to avoid a person lying in the middle of the road.

Many people have found a truth that applies to them. Their beliefs are completely accurate in the terms of their life and their world. Your truth is completely accurate in the terms of your life and your world. In your eyes, it is the truth. I do not deny your truth. I do not know what is right for you. But in the eyes of another, it may not be the truth. Nevertheless, your truth is still your truth. In the respect of truth, we must not only be true to others, but also be true to ourselves. We must have truth for ourselves.

The truth, no matter how bad or good, must be told. But that does not mean you have to be malicious. The truth must be told. There must be a time of no more lies. Those who know the truth, yet do nothing, are not innocent. Why must those who feel that they know best keep others in ignorance? Is it because they believe that others cannot handle the truth, or is it because they fear that those others can? Hiding the truth, no matter the reason, is still hiding the truth. People must have all the available information to make a properly informed decision. Before we purposely hide information about a particular truth, we must ask ourselves, Who are we to decide what information may distort the perspective of another? Who are we to decide what information people should have to make an informed decision? Yes, it is true that people can be unduly influenced. However, we need to have faith that most people are not complete idiots. We must also keep in mind that the telling of the truth may not be easy or accepted. Sometimes, we will not like the truth. Sometimes, we may not accept it. Nevertheless, the truth is the truth. So, how chilling the truth can be. We must remember that truth is a result of understanding. Yes, it is always more prudent to see for ourselves rather than trust in blind faith. We must see for ourselves. But I sometimes think, Do I really know or believe what I see, and if the truth were a person would it really care that I believed? Yes, I do believe what I see; however, at times I do not want to believe it. Other times, we do not always recognize the truth when we first see it. But in the end, let it be said: Truth above all else. And the truth is within our grasps. One of my favorite quotes as a child was a quote attributed to George Orwell: "In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." My own quote on this is: Sometimes the only thing more frightening than a lie is the truth.

**Protecting the Naïveté within Ourselves**

I believe naïveté within ourselves, in some way, is what gives us our edge. Naïveté is what helps people daydream, and daydreams can not only help us get through the day but also help us to aspire for more, have hope, and work for the future. Without daydreams there would be no hope. Without hope there would be no planning for the future. Without planning for the future there would be nothing to look forward to in the future. Thus, there would be no future. When we are naïve, we can have a significantly different attitude going into a situation. When we have naïveté in our hearts, we do not realize or easily accept the difficult or seemingly impossible obstacles that face us. With the naïve attitude in our hearts, the defeatist attitude within us is diminished or non-existent. Without the defeatist attitude, we tend to have greater prospects of hope for the future. And greater prospects of hope for the future can give us hope in our minds in the present. As long as people are naïve in their hearts and hopeful in their minds, there is hope for the future. There is hope for the future because our world believes it has a greater chance to live, grow, and learn. When we become jaded or develop a closed-minded attitude, it is harder for us to grow and learn. We all must grow and learn in order to survive. Without learning we become stagnant and can no longer adapt. No matter what we believe in, without hope or the belief that "we can do it," even if "it" is only survival, we would cease to advance, or even possibly to exist. Sometimes hope is all we have.

When we begin to more willingly accept the impossible or improbable as limitations, then we can begin to accept our own limitations and those others may place upon us. As our view of the world becomes more realistic, we begin to not only realize our perceived limitations but also become more willing to accept those perceived limitations from ourselves and others. Thus, we may begin to stop even trying. When we stop trying, those options that never would have appeared to us before begin to disappear. Practicality becomes dangerous to our future when possibilities begin to disappear. If naïveté and naïve people begin to die, then their dreams die along with hope for the future. So, if I am naïve, then I am glad to be naïve because it means that I still have hope and belief in a better world, and that I will act accordingly and not give in to the acceptance of a "why even try" attitude. So, in that respect, I am proud to be naïve.

Yes, people will take advantage of others when they can, because we have created a world where it is expected that people will take from and feed upon others. When we feed, we can open ourselves up to the same danger of being fed upon. I personally try not to take advantage of others for my own benefit. For this, along with my other beliefs, people at times have called me naïve. However, being naïve is better than the alternative. Remember, the behavior of lies can breed a toxic environment around us. Sometimes, I cling to my naïveté as to a security blanket—for when I am no longer naïve, I am open to corruption.

**Changing Society**

Unfortunately, in the world of today it often appears that the ones who get ahead are those who take advantage of the weaknesses of others. How can our younger generations ever believe that walking on the backs of others is wrong, when they see that those who do so seem to get the most rewards? In order to be more successful in eliminating wars or injustices, we must refrain, as a society, from the habit of taking something from someone without reasonable cause. We must refrain from depriving someone unjustly. We must seek out consent and avoid deception and coercion. We, as a society, tend to reward dishonesty. How can we respect honesty when we fear or deny it? How can we truly follow the path of honesty when we intentionally or unintentionally reward dishonesty? How can we ever expect things to change when we tell our younger generations one thing but continually do another? We must begin practicing and living more by what we profess, even if it may be to our disadvantage, before we teach. We must refrain from encouraging the rejection of a belief or practice simply because we think that the acceptance of that belief or practice may be dangerous to our own. We must refrain from encouraging the rejection of a belief or practice for the reason that the end result may be to our benefit.

If we want peace, we must live by it. Violence and negative types of control are not necessarily inevitable in the pursuit of goals or survival; they are not the answer. In the pursuit of peace, many people are too quick to believe in or resort to violence, negative control, and the flexing of strength. This attitude is partially where the belief that peace can be achieved through violent means comes from. I admit that sometimes peace in the short-term can be found through force, but it is often temporary or just a façade. It is this attitude that spawned different arms races in the past and has contributed to so many wars. It is very improbable that we can honestly achieve long-lasting peace by dominance, by having more weapons than others do, or by inspiring fear. Mutually assured destruction is not a solution, but a postponement. We cannot find peace with scare tactics or bribery, either. When peace is found through scare tactics or bribery, we do not grow. Instead of seeking peace to find knowledge of ourselves and the opportunity it provides to improve ourselves, we sometimes try to seek it as just an alternative to conflict or war. While peace thus sought may be needed in the short-term, we must remember that the superficial will only bring superficial results. And peace found this way is only a short-lived peace and often just a façade. A façade that can leave our hearts and minds skeptical to the next short-term peace. Or, such a peace will only last until the generation that sought it is forgotten by time. Eventually, we may give up on peace altogether. True peace cannot be sought this way. If peace is only sought as an alternative, we may not be able to truly appreciate it for the knowledge of ourselves and true potential for advancements that it brings. People cannot be forced into peace. For it to work correctly, people should want to have peace for its own sake, not as an alternative. Nevertheless, I guess in these times finding peace through almost any method is a good thing. However, why do we have to pay for peace with such sacrifices as conflict, war, or worse? We can find peace much more effectively and quickly, and at a lower cost to life, if we find it through peaceful means.

There are some who would push society against the nature of the individual, which would result (and has resulted) in a society completely structured and ordered, void of individuality, individual thought, et cetera. Such efforts have always ultimately failed and only left that society weaker. There are also those who would have society go to the other extreme—the extreme of the animal, marked by things such as anarchy, self-absorption, et cetera. That type of society leaves us vulnerable to the future. We must think logically and not succumb to the extremes. We must not become vulnerable, allowing us or our future to be taken advantage of or put in jeopardy. We cannot allow the vulnerability of others to be used against them or used to jeopardize their future either. Yes, it is true that we should not condone the slothfulness of those who do not help themselves. But it is also the duty of all of us to help others so they may be able to help themselves. More importantly, it is our duty to protect the innocent and vulnerable. I personally detest those who prey upon the innocent and vulnerable. It disgusts and saddens me that anyone would take advantage of the more vulnerable by mixing in with people who truly want to help and using the general concern others have as a gateway to victims. Unfortunately, there are also those who choose to help others whose motives are not completely altruistically based.

To save our society from self-destruction, we must try to save everyone. We cannot just save a select few. Yet, on another side of that argument, sometimes we can only take care of so many or so much for so long before we can no longer take care of anyone or anything. Unfortunately, for a society to truly mature and survive there must be people who make mistakes, so that others may learn from them. But do not take this as an excuse to allow them or us as society and humanity in general to become lambs led to the slaughter. We cannot allow people to take away from us or others anything that should be guaranteed to all of humanity. Unfortunately, sometimes it may be necessary to be forceful in the defense of others. I would hope that most people, if they truly believe that we must do what is for the benefit of all, would be more willing to follow or at least listen to a differing view. We must remember that those with a differing view, even though we may believe that they are wrong, may be doing what they believe is best. In their minds, they are doing what must be done. Anyone who tries to improve society for the sake of society deserves some credit. Nevertheless, if we believe there are better ways, we must not only convince them but demonstrate to them that there are better ways to bring about peace, justice, and the good of all. We must try to convince them, not through aggression, that peace is best found on peaceful paths. Aggression does not bring about peace. If we try to force these thoughts on people, they will never learn the true meaning of peace. We cannot force anyone to grow and learn. They must do so at their own speed and on their own terms. Many times, they have to believe that it is their idea. Perhaps the "trick" is to guide people not on how to live, but on how not to live.

There needs to be more love in the world. We need some sort of a "world consciousness" now. We have the means, but we do not yet have the desire to do this. I personally long for Utopia. Maybe it cannot exist. A true consensus of what a Utopia is cannot exist between two minds, as we are all different. Thus, a true Utopia is not even mutually definable in the world of today. And, as the world is today, Utopia is not theoretically feasible with the hostilities and malice that some hold against others; how could it be? Even a consensus of a concept of Utopia cannot exist in a violent, greedy, self-centered, self-destructive, power-hungry, oppressive, and control-oriented society.

Until the worldwide egotism, feelings of superiority, and cultural misconceptions are erased, we will never find world peace. I am not going to say that humanity is guaranteed peace, love, and flowers in its future. I am not that naïve. But can we not at least try? Can we at least make the effort and try to prove that a better world can exist? Simply pursuing the goal will bring us somewhat closer to some of its rewards. Let us simply try to do it, for the sake of doing so. Let us show to all how much better their lives can be. We must get people enthused about peace. Show them how to do it and get it done. We have a long way to go before all of humanity is free of all their ills.

We need to have the right landscape for a better world to exist. We must get the right tools and prepare people on their way to try to build a better world and join them in that effort. We cannot have a better world, a new "golden age," until we learn how to properly feed and care for everyone and everything in the world that we inhabit. Our ultimate goal for the future may even simply be about the survival and growth of our societies, world, and our very species. If we ever hope to become more civilized or form more of a fellowship of humanity that is uninterrupted and long lasting, we must make the necessary sociological improvements. Without the necessary improvements to our societies, our societies will fall into the abyss. A society based on violence, negative control, domination, and oppression cannot structurally survive into the extremely far future. Yes, it can sustain itself for a while, but it has a false sense of center. In order for a society to survive well into the future, it must mature and allow change to occur within itself. When a conflict arises within its system, all of the many sides must be viewed equally from the points of view of the others. Each aspect of a problem or issue must be taken into consideration. Then of course the solution that best fits the particular situation would be applied. However, all obsolete solutions and information must not be totally discarded but instead stored for the possibility of future use. This stored solution or information could have any variety of future uses. It could be used for actual implementation at a later date, for data collection, as a reason not to use other solutions, or have any countless number of other uses.

However, no matter what we do we must remember that we will have a more difficult time grasping peace if we continue to use one hand to reach for peace while using the other hand to hold onto violence, negative control, domination, or oppression. We cannot hold onto peace if at the same time we are also holding onto these negatives. While others may focus on carrying out those negative pursuits, we must focus on enacting the positive. We must enact the positive if we ever hope to finally be able to begin the process of forming a better world. If we ever hope to honestly reach a world of peace, tranquility, fellowship, and mutual respect, then we must make the honest effort.

As world harmony more than likely will not manifest on its own, would it not be better to focus on a way of existence that favors and creates paths to unity, peace, and long-term survival and growth? Let us work together to create a future that all can continue to grow and build upon. We must take deliberate action to create the change necessary to restore balance in order to achieve a solution that favors all life, in order for us all to survive. These actions may be as simple as restructuring or reaffirming that which we hold dear.

**Changing Ourselves**

Many in society have been conditioned with an inbred capacity to survive, to take, and to conquer. Others have been broken and conditioned to the acceptance of being conquered. There is an argument that these inclinations have been imbedded in us through the evolution of our societies. Or if not through evolution, then through the countless millenniums of societal preconditioning. Either way, it cannot be easily discounted or altered.

There are also other evolutionary and societal traits that may have once been considered our greatest assets for survival, but now have become some of our worst liabilities. It will be difficult overcoming these traits, but like all obstacles that have been reevaluated or overcome before, these too can be altered to become more beneficial and then utilized.

Many people have learned to turn this energy that is found within all of us to non-violent or even constructive uses. They have found a way to change this negative energy into positive energy. When something outrages us, we must turn that negative, destructive energy into positive, productive energy. Use this energy for the alteration of that which outraged us in the first place. Thus, we may use this energy to change the behavior, situations, or incidents that created the cause of the outrage in the first place. If we do not learn to control ourselves, we could possibly destroy ourselves through our technology with our predator and survival instincts.

We must use our knowledge to find positive aspects of our intellect, such as more compassion for all. And there are ways we can put our predator instinct to beneficial use. We must see ourselves from different points of view. And we must not become prisoners within ourselves—within our own intellect or instincts. We must not be like the prisoners in the "Allegory of the Cave" by Plato. This is why I sometimes try to live "outside myself," so that I may learn. That means I sometimes attempt to view things as if I were an impartial observer. I sometimes find some of our current moralities harmful to the species and to my own personal survival. So, I sometimes try to exist under the positive moralities that are outside the current personal and social practices that I find occasionally constrictive. We all could stand to change for the better in some degree. This is why we must think about how to inspire ourselves for more or better.

On a side note, before we can advance as a society, we must learn how to become more relaxed within ourselves and with others. We must start healing within ourselves and improving how we are among others. We must learn to be more comfortable with one another. Without this, how can we ever hope to achieve a oneness of society? When the dawn of our oneness of society comes, we must think of the past and the present, and look to the future!

**Prejudice and Racism**

( _First, I feel I must apologize to you, the reader, for the incompleteness of this section. This section is widely incomplete, and I am by no means an expert on this subject.)_

Prejudice and racism to me seem to be primarily based on nothing but connections that are unrelated or unsubstantiated fears. Since prejudices and stereotypes are ultimately unbeneficial, I have always wondered why we have them. There are myriads of reasons; however, I have just listed a few of my thoughts below.

Some may feel threatened by those from different cultures or subcultures, or by those who hold different beliefs or views. It is also sometimes human nature to fear differences. Some people are just afraid of those who are physically different or have different philosophies. But when someone fears another person of a different race, religion, culture, et cetera, we cannot afford to assume that it is just a simple result of the fear of differences. It may be a deeper fear: those who have this fear may have a preconceived idea of how others live their lives. They may feel that the way of life of the other individual or differing group, in general, may somehow threaten their own way of life. Whether this assumption is correct or not, this fear is not something that should be quickly dismissed.

There could be many other reasons why some have prejudices, including but not limited to looking for someone to blame for the current social ills, or receiving fear and hatred from a parent figure, idol, and/or their own life experiences. In any case, we must be careful not to perpetuate prejudice and racism to the future generations through our words and actions. We must also consider that this may not be just a matter of what people have been raised to believe. Some who hold these views may have had incidents with less favorable representatives of the differing groups. They may have had past experiences with those who may not have been an accurate or positive representative of that group. Therefore, we must not let miscommunication with or limited exposure to a few "bad apples" create or perpetuate prejudices or stereotypes. More importantly, it is our duty to reduce the influence of those "bad apples" from what some may consider part of our group and to demonstrate to other groups that it would be in the best interest of all for them to do the same.

But back to those who have been raised on these beliefs. Many who have been raised on or around the practice of prejudice are able to control their negative thoughts and fears, suppress them, completely erase them altogether, or even reject them from the beginning. They have been able to find the lack of logic in prejudices. While others may still hold some animosity, consciously or unconsciously, toward another group of people, these people are able to perceive that it is unproductive. Others may also have prejudices and stereotypes but have the intellect not to let them get in the way of interacting with those people they have the negative inclinations about. They understand the dangers that can follow acting upon rash judgments.

When it comes down to it, I personally do not believe people truly know any logical or substantiated reason for hating others based on their race, religion, or any other such aspects. Their life experiences may have conditioned them that way, and it is hard to undo years of conditioning. They may have been raised and nurtured on this unsubstantiated fear. Perhaps they have been brought up to hate others as a validation of their self-worth. But telling people that their worldviews are incorrect is like telling them their entire life is a lie. We cannot just tell or force them to think a certain way. Therefore, it is important that we educate people so that they come to these realizations on their own. When a different concept is forced upon an individual, self-defensive mechanisms will most likely be set in motion within them.

I ask, Are those who hold prejudices in reality just afraid of change and, more importantly, growth? It is natural and convenient to place blame on groups that are different rather than to accept inevitable events due to the natural progression, formation, and development of societies or the world. But I question what benefits these beliefs provide other than isolation. And isolation is not generally considered beneficial; these individuals can forget that working as a whole makes us stronger and healthier than working as individual parts.

As for the argument for "purity of race": I personally believe that many fail to see that those who are truly and completely pure of race may only live in the most isolated parts of the globe. Even then, the racial purity may not be absolute. And even that is becoming less and less of a reality in our modern world. Perhaps within the next five hundred years, race will not even matter as a possible means of identification. Perhaps most of the population of the globe will be intermingled to the point of just slight variations of one mixed race. For example, the differences between skin tones throughout the globe may become negligible compared to our current determinations. One sign of this drift is how much skin tones have changed in the industrialized parts of the world. In the last few hundred years since intercontinental travel has become more easily accessible, skin tones have changed dramatically worldwide. Although the cost of intercontinental travel is still not something that the average person can afford repeatedly, such travel by individuals has increased over the last few decades. This is in conjunction with the ease and convenience of the internet opening new avenues for those from different continents to become more familiar with one another.

It is important to remember that race and religion are not the only things on which prejudices can be based. There are many forms of prejudice, racism, and stereotypes. Environments of prejudice and stereotypes exist not only regarding ethnicity and religion, but also regarding many other areas such as social status, economic position, political views, or beliefs, to name only a few. Prejudices and double standards come in many ways and from all sides, whether we like it or not. One example might be if a woman accidentally walks into a restroom strictly reserved for men. She may be automatically laughed at and be assumed to be ditzy. A man may do the same and walk into a restroom strictly for women, but he may be assumed to have non-virtuous motives. Society may downplay many of these other forms of prejudices and double standards when compared with the forms that involve ethnicity or religion. But it is just as important that we pay attention to these as well.

**Our Acceptance**

It is our acceptance of social ills, injustices, and other things that can do us in. And war, whether we personally accept it or not, is something that societies have accepted. War is something that is in the general interest of us all to decrease. We cannot decrease war—or even try to decrease it—until we reduce the causes of war. And one of the causes of war that we have accepted is depriving certain people of what they physically and mentally need for survival or advancement, or depriving them of what is supplied to others. This deprivation, along with favoritism of one society or group over another, are things that should not be.

One of the difficult barriers preventing societal evolution and the elimination of war that we must overcome is the general feeling of superiority over others. One way to achieve this, other than the obvious path of acceptance, is the adoption of a form of indifference. Indifference in the sense of not feeling that one culture or group is superior to another. True equality. I personally believe we are all the same in that we demand the same respect, dignity, and love. We all must be treated as equals, and be given the same rights, duties, and responsibilities. But because sometimes individuals may judge others by different criteria than they would prefer others judge them by, this indifference may be difficult for some to achieve.

If we would learn not to act upon or show any racism, prejudice, discrimination, or favoritism, our younger generations and future ones may grow up without them. It is sad that the enforcing of equality is needed; people should already know that inequality is wrong and should not be practiced. We need to be diligent in combating inequality. However, we need to be cautious in our enforcing of equality as well. Giving an issue undue publicity has the possibility of becoming dangerous and backfiring. Dwelling on an issue can sometimes prolong it. In our zeal to combat racism, prejudice, and stereotypes, we must be careful not to give birth to them when they are not present. If we look for prejudice—or anything for that matter—long enough, chances are that it will manifest itself even when it is not there consciously or subconsciously to begin with. In our zeal to combat prejudice and racism, we must also be careful not to encourage reverse discrimination and double standards.

As long as we give any preferential or discriminatory treatment to any group of people, these issues will have a chance to exist and flourish. We must treat one another with honesty and not with pretexts. We really must treat each other as equals, not preferentially or discriminatorily. If we lose control of discrimination and reverse discrimination or let ourselves be controlled by emotions of the past, we will lose ourselves in the past and forfeit all that we have tried to accomplish!

But ignoring a problem never solved anything either. Hate can be like a plague feeding upon its host. It feeds until nothing remains but the diseased and dead corpse of the host. This is the new millennium and we are still arguing over notions and conflicts that we have been arguing or fighting about for decades, centuries, and even millenniums in some cases. It is time to be less concerned with the past and more concerned with the future. Almost every race, religion, or group has been mistreated or denied by another at some time. It is time to stop these actions for the sake of our mutual survival and advancement. When all the peoples of the world no longer act out, show, or even remember the definitions of racism, prejudice, social ills, injustices, et cetera, then future generations can grow up without knowing or even having a sense of the very concepts of these things. Until knowledge of their very existence disappears, there will be issues. Until those generations who have personally lived in the past are long gone along with their teachings, how can we forgive or truly forget? The present will not change until they or their memories and way of life are no longer represented in how the present is conducted. Yes, the wrongs of the past cannot be forgotten, lest they be repeated. But we must not let those wrongs dictate the path of the future.

Stigmas, misconceptions, assumptions, miscommunications, or misunderstandings of other cultures and environments can cause stereotyping. Why are some more willing to accept fear and aggression than to make an honest attempt at true understanding, or at the very least tolerance, in response to differences? We, humanity, are one people. Stigmas, misconceptions, assumptions, miscommunications, or misunderstandings about a culture or subculture should not stand in the way of logical examination and discussion. It is the vulnerable and susceptible who often fall victim to the influence of those who preach prejudice or racism. We must decrease the abilities of those beliefs to flourish in their environments. We will not be able to advance on the road to eliminate prejudice, racism, or stereotypes until many of the cultural misunderstandings and misconceptions in the world are long gone or resolved. Increasing dialogue and communication between individuals of different cultures can help reduce these. Sometimes understanding and knowledge all boil down to exposure. I believe that the way someone views and relates to different groups will change as they get to know different individuals of those groups.

Understanding others can be the catalyst for self-improvement. The knowledge and comparison of strategies and analysis of flaws can only be improved by understanding others. Understanding, not to be confused with agreeing with, others can only improve situations, how we see our lives, and how we see the lives of other people. If we do not cooperate, live together, and accept one another, we all will fade out and die. If we would just take the time to learn about other people, then we may find out that we all have more commonalities than we had previously thought.

**Why Are We Here?**

This is a question that humans have been asking themselves ever since they became self-aware. I guess at one time or another, all of us have asked ourselves, What is the point of it all? What am I supposed to do? or Why am I here? Not only are the possible answers infinite, but there are countless ways to look at these questions as well. I personally do not think any person can answer any of these questions for another. Sometimes, I suppose, people should pursue whatever they find to make their life complete. I just hope that most would not want to be a detriment to society.

Unfortunately, some could have a cynical outlook and say: Life is a zoo, the Earth is a cage, and we are all animals in it. Some could have a flighty outlook on it and say: Life can be but an endless dream of fantasy and reality intertwined. I wonder if some ask themselves: Do we live to dream, or do we dream to live? In answering these questions myself, I sometimes think my own lifetime is important, but then at other times I think perhaps it may be only a glimmer. Sometimes I look at the things we do in our lives as mere passages in what we hope is the great novel of all humankind. Days are but passages in the novel of life and the possibility of humanity.

**Joy of Others**

With the world as it is, we need more patience, understanding, and especially acceptance—or at the minimum, toleration—of others. It is time for us to stop just talking about peace or love and actually live them. It is time for us to put the basic needs of others above our own secondary selfish needs and self-interests. It is time to start practicing some general compassion. We can be at times so engrossed in our own concerns and lives that we become oblivious to the simple pleasures and happiness that others may require. Caught up in our own complex pleasures, we can sometimes forget that others may require the simplest of pleasures. As long as it does not go against our morals or bring harm, a little bit of inconvenience or voluntary discomfort on our part is no comparison to the aura of joy that can be felt in the smiles of others. So much joy can be achieved through giving even the simplest of pleasures to others. The feeling of joy is always compounded when it passes from one to another. Happiness in others can bring happiness in us. This may sound corny, but it is true: Love is like a flood—like a river, one drop at a time, love adds up until a flood is all that is ahead.

Sometimes, we can be so afraid of showing just pure innocent compassion for another, for fear of it being misconstrued or it being used as a sign of weakness. Perhaps some people do misconstrue or see it as weakness, but that perception is their weakness. It is a weakness of being able to see only that which is placed in front of them. I am not saying we should allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. I am not necessarily talking about being a best friend to someone whom we do not particularly enjoy being around. I am talking about just bringing a little joy to others by a little humility or humanity on our part. Even just a kind word could make the difference to someone who has never had one. It is important that when or if we can we bring joy to others who may have not experienced it. We cannot forget that some people may not have had or received as much enjoyment and attention as others. We must remember some people may not be as strong-willed as others and may succumb to the negative aspects of life. That is why it is so important, when we can, to give a little joy to others even sometimes when it can be a slight detriment or inconvenience to ourselves. In the scope of things, it is so important to give someone a little taste of joy in their life, even sometimes when they may not deserve it but still need it. But do not forget those who are deserving. Often it is those people who may not have had as much happiness in their life who deserve or need it the most. In our act of kindness, we must not bother with what a third person thinks as long as we know the truth behind the motivation for our small act and know that it makes others happy. Look at the smiles on their faces. A little bit of voluntary discomfort or inconvenience on our part is no comparison to the aura of joy that can be felt from others.

**Do Not Forget to Live**

What motivates me is wanting to make a better world for future generations. I find some of my inspiration in the simple act of "people watching." That is also something I occasionally find personal pleasure in. However, finding personal pleasure in life is something that I have struggled with; so, in the hopes of helping others by explaining one of my methods and to end this book on a lighter note, I have been inspired to write the end of this chapter this way.

For me, people watching gives simple pleasures, like watching a child get to run in a park. Watching a boy chase and try to catch those uncatchable birds that are inevitably able to escape. The birds ran away, not completely, but just out of reach of the boy. The boy laughed all the while, knowing he could not catch them, but still trying. He tried just for the sake of running. Another instance of people watching that I can think of offhand happened when I was sitting in a park. This guy was making extra-large soap bubbles with soapy water, two sticks, and a rope. A small girl started popping them. Then, other boys and girls joined in. I watched them for quite a while. Then, adults started to join in, trying to pop the ones the children could not reach. So, all these children and some adults were all jumping up and down, chasing and trying to pop these giant floating soap bubbles. I could even hear one of the women, while jumping up and down, yelling to her gray-haired husband, "Get that one, get that one." As he jumped and attempted to reach them, they were both little kids at that moment; even their adult daughter, who attempted to warn her father not to hurt himself and cautioned her mother against encouraging him, could not stop them.

We must not forget that the simple pleasures are what can keep people going in their daily lives. I know it is what can keep me going in the desire for a better world and the pursuit to achieve it for future generations.

Also, we must not forget to dream. When you dream, you could dream of faraway fields with flowers and butterflies, and clouds bright and full in the sky. When you dream, you could have the illogical but beautiful dream of hearing fireflies buzzing in the distance with bright fluffy clouds hanging in the sky.

The living of life is important to our well-being and releases stress that could prevent us from fully utilizing our capabilities. So, when you feel that life sucks, suck the life out of life.
**Endnotes**

**1 Cardboard Philosophy:**

Think of the stereotypical guy in pajamas, wearing an aluminum foil hat and holding a tattered piece of cardboard with something scribbled on it as he stands on the street corner yelling about the end of the world. The easily dismissible ramblings scribbled on those disposable pieces of cardboard are what I am referring to when describing something as "cardboard philosophy."

**2 Exostentialism:**

**Chaos**

It may seem at times that chaos is more prevalent in the universe than order. However, I believe it is just that we may not see that chaos itself has a pattern or order to it; we do not see the order or pattern within. When we do see the pattern or order within the chaos, we are responsible for ensuring that others can easily see it as well.

**Introduction to Exostentialism**

_Exostentialism (Ex-os-ten-tial-ism)_ and _exostentialist (Ex-os-ten-tial-ist)_ are terms that I coined many years ago while living in Seattle, Washington in the United States of America. Exostentialism is not to be confused with _existentialism_. While exostentialism may agree with some of the doctrines of existentialism, it does not agree with them all. It disagrees particularly with some of the more egotistical aspects. I also do not agree with some of the other personal beliefs of the more notable contributors to existentialism.

(An over-simplified explanation of existentialism, for those who could use a definition, can be taken from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: "A chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad.")

**Exostentialism and Society**

I take issue with some of the views of the existentialists on society. In some circles of existentialism, it is believed that society is not natural. Unlike the existentialist, _the exostentialist believes that society is natural_. I not only personally believe that society is natural, but I also believe ignoring this fact can be fatal. In my opinion, even science possibly confirms that society is natural.

•Within each of the following different explanations of the beginning, I believe society is an underlying, constant force in human nature and natural to the universe:

o I am by no means a physicist or astronomer, but I believe society has existed even back in the time of the big bang, when according to the big bang theory the fundamental laws came into existence as a result of the formation of the universe. The singularity gave rise to the society of forces and laws in the universe. I believe even the laws that cause one individual particle drifting in the seeming void of space to attract another, thus forming something new, are laws of society. Even non-conscious bits of matter drifting in the vacuum of space cannot escape this combining force to form a society of particles. The society of forces that created these astronomical bodies existed before the individual physical material was reshaped in the vastness of space. Thus, the pull of the community or society (or the society of the cosmic universe) existed before the individual particle.

o If you do not want to consider science as proof of society being natural, then consider the monotheistic views of the creation of the world. God forming the universe set the stage for a society-based world and universe. The fellowship of God with Adam is an example of society. So also is the creation of Eve to accompany Adam, in order to create a society of two, which by theological accounts set the beginning of us all. And before Adam, there was a society consisting of angels.

o Even the polytheistic views imply society. The very definition of polytheism necessitates more than one, thus implying society of some sort.

•I believe society is natural and can be seen even biologically within our own bodies. The individual cell dividing to become two completely separate cells, and continuing to divide for the goal of becoming something with capabilities beyond those of a single cell, is proof that society is natural.

•Take, for another example, what some would consider less advanced species on our planet, such as ants or bees. I believe they demonstrate that the view of some existentialists that society is unnatural is incorrect. In fact, by some accounts these insects often have even more stringent societal hierarchies than we.

Most humans at one time or another will also naturally seek out other humans for some common goal, even if that goal is not reproduction. Humans, and even non-human creatures that are solitary by nature, will seek out mates at some point, thus creating a society of two for the common goal of creating a third or more. Of course, there are many reasons other than reproduction that humans seek each other out, but the result is the same—society.

Years ago, in the early years of the first decade of the 2000s, I first attempted to explain exostentialism. I exclaimed, "I am an exostentialist—I exist outside society." Though living outside of that society may have been the case when comparing myself to other individuals living in that particular society at that moment and in that situation, that statement does not convey the definition of exostentialism. I may have existed outside that particular society in some respects, but we all do still exist within some society in some form or way. Exostentialism believes this to be true. We exist within a society, even if we just exist as a component or part of a system. Even simply existing in an environment makes us a component of the society of that environment, even if only temporarily. Even an individual with limited or no human interaction will affect the ecosystem around them, and thus the society of that environment. We can interact with different individuals or environments occasionally or regularly, and relatively simultaneously. Our actions and interactions affect others by causing or altering the actions and interactions of others, thus affecting all of humanity even without our knowing it or completely understanding how. We exist as individuals living independent and separate lives from society. However, we are at the same time components of society in some form. Even if we live in complete isolation, we are components of the society of our surroundings. And if we live in the most populated and densely packed city, we cannot avoid interacting in some way with some society, or multiple societies, within that city. Of course, with such an emphasis on society I feel the need to reiterate that I believe personal individuality is a crucial part of society. And individual societies (for example, ethnic areas that can be found in larger cities) are components of whole societies (for example, the entire society of that large city).

**Exostentialism Changing and Affecting Ourselves and Society**

The existentialist can believe that humans exist first, and then the individual spends a lifetime changing their essence or nature. The exostentialist sees society existing first, before the individual, because humans are born into society. And exostentialism takes the notion of a lifetime of change even further. Not only do we spend our lifetime intentionally or unintentionally changing our essence or nature, but we also spend our lifetime impacting and changing the essence or nature of a society somewhere and in one form or another. We affect a society and it in turn affects us; it is a cycle. We must remember that in the long-term, collectively remembered history of humans it is the individual that is most remembered for changing the essence, nature, or course of society. Yes, society affecting us and our essence or nature is what we most remember personally; however, in the larger collective history of humanity, it is the individual affecting the essence or nature of society that is most remembered. Yes, our history books may tell stories of how a society in the past affected citizenry. However, our history books primarily focus on how a single individual or group of individuals affected the larger society. And in reality, it is we who create the societies that are beneficial or destructive.

So, yes, we do intentionally or unintentionally change over our lifetime. But we also intentionally or unintentionally spend our lives attempting to change, or create society or a culture. And society/culture will eventually change us in one direction and to one degree or another. We can spend a lifetime not just changing ourselves but attempting to alter our surroundings to better suit us. Even abandoning the culture we are in to create a "culture of one" within someone who has succumbed to our definition of insanity has a result outside themselves. Our actions and inactions alter the society or culture that we are in; and our culture or society alters us. The many societies in between other societies that we intentionally or unintentionally inspire, influence, join, or completely abandon in favor of creating new ones will have effects not only on us, but on our surroundings. The individual spends their lifetime finding a place in society, finding a society to be placed in, or creating a new society. We spend our lifetime affecting a society somehow, and it in turn affects us.

**Freedom, Freewill, Choices, and Options for the Exostentialist**

I believe freewill and freedom of choices and options are important and vital to the human being. But unlike some existentialists, I do not agree with the assumption that people are entirety free. I do not believe we are entirely free because we have constraints set upon us. We are constrained in the sense that we do not have unlimited choices or options to choose from. There is an eventual limit to the choices and options available to us. The following are but a few of the reasons why I believe people are not entirely free.

•Just a few of these constraints placed upon us are our own human nature and physics, as well as constraints placed on us by societies or ourselves.

•We are limited in the sense that one choice may have to be abandoned, reduced, or set aside to explore or choose another. And the choices or options we make or take today set the stage for our available choices or options tomorrow.

•We also are not entirely free because we have responsibilities. Responsibility in itself, although necessary, implies constraints on total and complete freedom and freewill. But in addition, we must also accept responsibility for the choices of our so-called freewill. Even if someone ignores their responsibility, chances are that others will not. And the availability of future options or available choices will be affected if a person ignores the responsibilities of the present. It is important to also remember that along with ensuring freedom comes the acceptance of the consequences thereof. And being dictatorial comes with even more consequences.

The responsibilities we have for our actions, and the results from those actions, may conflict with freedom and freewill. However, the human species must have freedom, freewill, and choices, as well as some responsibility, to survive.

**Responsibility and the Exostentialist**

Our limitations, in the sense of our not having unlimited choices to choose from, do not negate the fact that we must accept responsibility for what we choose from the choices we do have and the results therefrom. We must accept personal responsibility for choosing from our choices and options, for the consequences of the decisions we make, for our actions and inactions and their results, and for the extenuating circumstances that arise from all these things for ourselves and others. It is also our responsibility to ensure that we, and others, are offered a variety of choices and options—and to create them if need be. We are responsible for making sure that those choices and options are visible to ourselves and others and also obtainable. I believe it is a responsibility of all to ensure that all have available choices and are able to create additional choices and options. I believe this is something that we all can, and sometimes do, fail in, resulting in many of the current issues that we have. So, we must make efforts, and practice diligence, and ensure that there is no faltering in this endeavor.

Yes, I agree with the existentialist that the individual should be responsible even without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions. However, we must also not forget that these are often guidelines over a society for a reason. Some may need outside clarification of responsibilities or may need to be forced to accept their responsibility. Yes, it may not seem like it sometimes, but there are eventually consequences for the irresponsible. And even those who are the most irresponsible and self-satisfying still make decisions based on responsibilities, even if those responsibilities are only to themselves or their own wishes. They are still not entirely free, due to the responsibilities of fulfilling their own personal desires. They are not free in the sense that they must make their actions or inactions fulfill their own goals.

There are some circles of existentialists that believe the attitude of "It is not my fault" _is not acceptable_. I agree, but I go even further and believe that, in some way and to some degree, we all are responsible for more than we admit, understand, or even know. We may not be able to perceive all of the "degrees of separation" that contribute to one action affecting another. I believe the average individual must accept more personal responsibility for the world around them. I believe that the average individual is in reality more personally responsible than they may even understand. We must even extend our acceptance of personal responsibility to that which we may think we have no direct control over. We set the stage for the future. We must make the honest effort to accept some responsibility for even that which may seem to be beyond ourselves. For we do have an effect, even if at the time the effect appears to be insignificant. It is still an effect.

**Exostentialism and the Forcing of Choice**

I also take issue with the belief of the individual being at their best when being forced to choose, which is held by some existentialists. And also, with the concept that the individual should be forced to choose at all. Exostentialism believes that the individual should not be forced to choose. Yes, sometimes it is necessary to encourage a choice being made, but choice should not be forced. Sometimes, being forced to choose clouds judgment and results in rash decisions.

Plus, we must not forget that being forced to choose is itself a reduction in freedom. Being forced to choose diminishes freedom. For starters, being forced to choose can take away your freedom to postpone your decision or even to choose whether or not to make the decision in the first place. I also believe forcing a choice can erode or destroy individualism and creativity. When someone or a society tries to demand choice, it can be just as dehumanizing as demanding beliefs and values or demanding that rules be faithfully accepted and obeyed without question. It reduces the validity of the individual to a part of an existing collective.

We must have the choice of not accepting the available choices. For example, the options of either to stay or to go should at minimum be offered, but to be forced to choose only between those options limits freedom. We must have the freewill to choose at times to not accept the choices that are offered, and at other times to accept the choice of choice. People should have the individual freewill not to choose, for one example, abstention. But more importantly, the individual should have the choice to choose from their own choices as well as to not be bound to strictly choose only between the available choices that seem to be offered to them. The freedom to not choose and the freedom to choose differently from the choices that are offered them can bring out qualities that are not yet discovered in the individual and the situation. Of course, I feel obligated to give at least one counterargument. One counterargument in favor of the existentialist forcing a person to choose is the situation of forcing a person to choose when to pull the rip cord when skydiving, which will cause a greater probability of the survival of the skydiver.

