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Free Speech Censored

So you have a radical viewpoint? Is free speech censored?  The internet is one forum for communicating your thoughts.  If it’s truly radical then someone is not going to like it and if that someone has some kind of power over you, then you are tempered.  So called “professionals” are typically tempered because they subscribe to a professional body which encourages members not to rock the boat so to speak.  In fact, such organizations go so far as to encourage a subdued temperament when communicating opinions on social policy through their codes of ethics.

Race relations in the U.S. is in the news and obviously a hot button topic and here we have a Detroit police detective with a radical notion who has now apparently been sanctioned.  He has characterized the “Black Lives Matter” movement as “racist and terrorist”.  I’m obviously not condoning such a position but I do ponder his right to the assertion in the context of maintaining his livelihood.  The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment clears a path for U.S. citizens to speak freely with impunity from their government.  Hence; should an extension of government being law enforcement have the right to discipline a detective for an opinion expressed through social media in spite of the opinion contravening the broader mandate of policing?  Does a detective with a skill set for solving crimes have a broader responsibility for aligning his philosophy or rationale with the goals of a largesse?  Apparently Rory McIroy who interviewed recently will if asked about his career describe himself as a “golf professional”. He has asserted that his goal in golf is to “win” and not necessarily serve a broader mandate of “growing the game”.  Apples and oranges you suggest?  I’m not sure.  Could it be that calling someone a racist or terrorist is simply a more passionate and socially contentious subject than is growing the game of golf of which both subjects are open for opinion based expression through the First Amendment.  We know for sure that that Mr. McIroy will not be excluded from any upcoming PGA events.  We also know that he wasn’t harboring thoughts of a sophisticated ethics code promulgated by his player association when commenting about not needing to grow the game.

In a time of race related turmoil, it is not helpful for law enforcement officers to utilize social media for a radical race related opinion.  President Obama articulated eloquently in his memorial address to fallen Dallas police officers a just need to communicate more effectively issues that lead to racial divide in an effort not only to prevent acts of violence but to build upon progress achieved since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

It is radical opinion which provides stimulus for change.  Radical opinion can be beneficial for discharging the energy required from taking a system burdened by mediocrity and turning it into a powerful productive positive force.  The power of radical opinion should not be discouraged because of its misuse by the few in contexts where it does not belong.

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The Concept of Cooperation

Acts of ego among those over fifty still leaves me awestruck in spite of others’ desensitization.  It must be my placing in the sibling chronology or my passion for self determination which perplexes me while witnessing others at work in their coercive self centered ways.

Thankfully, I’ve been self employed over the past decade and although there’s the occasional client who seeks to inject an unnecessary tone to deliberations, for the most part, I’ve exculpated myself from the inner workings of a power centered work subculture.  In fact, my compulsion not to be complicit in such an energy dynamic by middle age had much to do with starting my own company.  I had let it be a driving force in generating commercial enterprise.  So, what does this preamble have to do with “the concept of cooperation”?  Can competitiveness and cooperation coexist? Is ego required in order to stimulate competitive fire?

I contend that ego has been and always will be an element in the competitive make up of many.  The altruists operating on a self actualized plane will have dissolved ego within their competitive make up.  They will be focused on the end user in any and all transactions and hence; any ego driven pain body (term borrowed from Eckhart Tolle) will be eliminated.  It’s an evolutionary process inherent only to those who care enough to define experiences in ones’ mind with a secondary objective to move down a continuum of behavior optimization.  We optimize and then ultimately return to a place of peaceful pure spontaneity with ego driven from our past.

Every single day we influence in some way shape or form whether positively or negatively.  In your spirit of cooperation, you’ll be tempering the egoic flame, hitting some life highlights, and progressing down a path more passionate.

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Proud Advocate of Gun Control

Yes.  I am a proud advocate of gun control. The news of Christine Grimmie’s death today inspires me to write an argument in favor of gun control. This is one particular issue which distinctly differentiates Canada from the U.S. Without getting into the legal quagmire of guns laws, generally the sale of hand guns and semi-automatic weapons in Canada is outlawed, whereas it is permitted in the U.S. The U.S. federal assault weapons ban which was enacted in 1994 expired in 2004 and all attempts to renew the ban have proven unsuccessful.

I argue on the premises of reducing harm, the common good, a reasonable limitation to the rights of citizens in lieu of the common good, the unreasonable accessibility by potentially mentally unbalanced people despite society’s will and failure to make exclusions for such a group. Additionally, I argue on behalf of loved ones whose voice grows quieter with every passing day after the tragedy of a mass shooting. My last argument serves to defeat the notion that without access to hand guns and assault weapons, a citizen is left vulnerable to oppressive governmental regimes organized to strip one of his / her liberty.

A society has structure and can facilitate an individual’s wholesome aspiration to pursue and achieve happiness. This aspiration is undermined when confronted with the prospect that the person is not protected in public via public policy. If in every public theatre, one is presented with security measures reminding us of a “threat”, the prospect to attend subsequently grows dimmer thereby reducing the impact of such occasions to add value and affiliation-like health to our lives. Yes, it’s suggested that the banning of guns will not eradicate them nor prevent them from finding the hands of unbalanced individuals but I ask – whose fault is that? It is the fault of enforcement of course and the will of a society to apply sufficient resources for the success of a policy. Oh and of course the guns are flowing freely across the Mexican border, aren’t they? Yes indeed, and how robust are patrol measures leading to seizures? Can the taxpayer tolerate the cost of increased enforcement in the face of budgets with priorities hijacked by lobbyists? They are questions deserving of good answers instead of deference and indifference via an attitude suggesting that guns will always find their way into the wrong hands despite society’s effort otherwise.

The administrative measure of outlawing the sale of hand guns and semi-automatic weapons is a lot easier than conducting a nation-wide campaign in rooting out unbalanced individuals capable of committing mass murder. Teachers are busy teaching, adolescents restrict thoughts from parents, psychologists are seldom sought until it’s too late, and community groups have lost lustre as activity hubs.  Time during formative years outside classrooms is now oftentimes spent in solace playing video games, watching 60 inch TV screens, or texting on cell phones blind to the world of wonder and isolated from the norms of socialization. Amidst such sustained periods of introversion, could mankind be churning out more monsters?

The living heirs to the deceased of murders and mass murders have had life loss as well that immeasurably prolongs year by year from the void. While some will endure better than others, these people’s strength to pursue justice can be stifled by sorrow. No advocate is immune from the potential of a policy and one ponders if this pain is cost worthy of a “right” deriving benefit. What is the value of a life lost?  How has society lost from future contributions of the murdered? Is there a cultural loss in spirit when failing to address gun laws in the aftermath of a civil slaughter? Are there compounding forces at work when the loss of a loved one permeates and plagues a people?

I for one am contented to permit my country to restrict my “right to bear arms” for the cause of public safety. It gives me piece of mind. It gives me faith that there’s an earnest effort to foster a climate of security in the land that I live. It feeds my spirit to know that those with whom I associate can communicate freely without suspicion that the country does not have our back. I’m comforted that despite a constitution purporting equality there is acknowledgment that not all people have been equally blessed with a balanced mental and emotional state at all times.

Given decades of proven democracy and the new found transparency of scrutinizing politicians, do we now in the western world seriously acquiesce to the notion that we’ll vote a candidate in majority for office who would oppress our ideals toward liberty? In such unlikely event of oppression, would not our voluminous laws, power in numbers, and passion for justice suffice in extricating such an tyrant without the deployment of every hand gun from every bedroom across a nation? Are we no more mature as a civilization than times past when the only reactionary measure meant a shoot out on the board walk?

Our defense department carries weapons in the spirit of “defense”.  Hunters have long guns to hunt. Law enforcement carries guns to serve and protect. These are worthy endeavors in which guns play roles as benefactors to society. In any other capacity, they are deadly tools and are in direct contravention to the life pursuing agenda of humanity.

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Magic Land Eau Claire

James Jordan is much more than a magician.  I incidentally caught his show today and it’s is full of spontaneity and personality delighting adults and children alike.  His sharp wit captures the wonderment of a crowd perplexed by his playful persona.  It may be a sign of the times but on this beautiful spring day in a Calgary city centre park where belly laughs were many and the mood pulsed with joy, there were still some peculiar indifferent souls on a Sunday apparently too busy to stop and watch a man blessing a city with tricks, comedy, and charisma.  It got me to thinking that humanity is overlooking the obvious appeal of play and its right role as nourishment to the mind’s need for balance and harmony.  For those who laughed instinctually today, I commend you.  For those who gave James Jordan some attention today I commend you too.  And, for those who materially supported James Jordan – you’ve done more than remunerated a man but you’ve culturally endowed your town.   http://www.jjordanmagic.com/

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Roger Shah Sampler

Following is the ordinal presentation of four tracks from Roger Shah’s Magical Island – Music For Balearic People Volume Five.  It’s artful how he put these particular tracks together in this two CD set.

You come to discover the quality of this release at “Balearic Session – Visitas”.  Naturally infused with a trance beat, the tempo alters adding dimension.  The harmonic undulating synthesizer brings it in after a subtle catchy set of chords.  Well positioned chimes soften the beat and there’s silkiness to the sound putting you on notice that this is good music.

“When You’re Here” with Shah and Aisling Jarvis is a continuation and keeps pace flowing naturally with brightness.  Jarvis has a comforting voice which fades in and out weaving you through a mosaic like auditory quilt.  You’re now tracking into a new mood spellbound by a DJ cognizant of how to captivate your senses subliminally.  You are grateful.

Next up is “Could This Be Love” with Brian Laruso and Mila Falls.  A little more pop like, synthesizers and percussion still pulse keeping Falls in line within a soft romantic range.  The same reverberating ambience pervades and we align.

Raul Pablo Sanchez next sings “Million Questions”.  Now that we’re more impressionable, Pablo accompanies with vocals absent of vocabulary like a Buddha.  This medium alto gets inquisitive with a provocative theme.  Simpler and more impactful than predecessor pieces, Sanches delivers groove while subsequently articulating the language and communicating a message.  The denouement fades into Dimension by Verano.

Verano elevates, pulls back and then thrusts forward in a kicking chord progression which then bounces right into some rave like trance.  You turn the dial, phase out, or turn to your neighbour for the repartee amiss having been subject to a period of profound musical bliss….but then you’re right back to another remix accentuating lovely female vocals in “Back To Paradise.”  You’ll be in paradise should you investigate Shah’s Balearic Music Montage.