(no subject)
It is a strangely hollow feeling to be aware of the fact that I have absolutely nothing to look forward to in my life.
(no subject)
It should read like an Onion story: Steve's spirit passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 24th. The cause of death was disillusionment. It will be buried in an unmarked grave. In lieu of flowers or sympathy, please send money.
The bell tolls for thee
Man it is a hard thing to spend your life thinking you had something meaningful to communicate, only to realize that you are mute and fundamentally inarticulate.
(no subject)
I don't feel strong. I feel week and lost and weary and and just so tired. I don't feel capable. I don't feel capable of anything. I want to try to write, but I can't, beause writing takes focus, and I don't have the energy to focus. I just want to curl up in a ball somewhere and hibernate. Is there something in the soul, in the psyche, that requires regular exercise the way muscles do, else it loses its capacity and strength? Is will power something that can be practiced, and made stronger by its mere exertion? How much of my weakness is lack of strength, and how much is lack of capacity?
Why Do Teens Try to Kill Themselves?
Why Do Teens Try to Kill Themselves?
Most teens interviewed after making a suicide attempt say that they did it because they were trying to escape from a situation that seemed impossible to deal with or to get relief from really bad thoughts or feelings. Like Ethan, they didn't want to die as much as they wanted to escape from what was going on. And at that particular moment dying seemed like the only way out.
Some people who end their lives or attempt suicide might be trying to escape feelings of rejection, hurt, or loss. Others might be angry, ashamed, or guilty about something. Some people may be worried about disappointing friends or family members. And some may feel unwanted, unloved, victimized, or like they're a burden to others.
Most teens interviewed after making a suicide attempt say that they did it because they were trying to escape from a situation that seemed impossible to deal with or to get relief from really bad thoughts or feelings. Like Ethan, they didn't want to die as much as they wanted to escape from what was going on. And at that particular moment dying seemed like the only way out.
Some people who end their lives or attempt suicide might be trying to escape feelings of rejection, hurt, or loss. Others might be angry, ashamed, or guilty about something. Some people may be worried about disappointing friends or family members. And some may feel unwanted, unloved, victimized, or like they're a burden to others.
God and Suffering
God took my friend's wife. It's God's plan.
She had cancer. It's God's plan.
She had two young children. It's God's plan.
She prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
My friend prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Her children prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Her family prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Her friends prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Does He ever answer?
When a mother dies of cancer?
When a father is killed on the job?
When a child does of leukemia?
Does He ever answer?
There seems to be a lot of suffering in God's plan.
Suffering of people who don't deserver to suffer.
Suffering of children.
How much of God's plan involves the suffering of children?
A lot of it, apparently.
Why is there suffering? It's God's plan.
Why did God put suffering in his plan?
Why does He make us suffer?
What the FUCK kind of god do you believe in that you are required to believe that he wants you to suffer?
What is missing in your life that you feel you have to worship and make little bargains with a silent, sadistic super being whose only clear plan for people is suffering and misery.
She had cancer. It's God's plan.
She had two young children. It's God's plan.
She prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
My friend prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Her children prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Her family prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Her friends prayed to God everyday. Did He answer?
Does He ever answer?
When a mother dies of cancer?
When a father is killed on the job?
When a child does of leukemia?
Does He ever answer?
There seems to be a lot of suffering in God's plan.
Suffering of people who don't deserver to suffer.
Suffering of children.
How much of God's plan involves the suffering of children?
A lot of it, apparently.
Why is there suffering? It's God's plan.
Why did God put suffering in his plan?
Why does He make us suffer?
What the FUCK kind of god do you believe in that you are required to believe that he wants you to suffer?
What is missing in your life that you feel you have to worship and make little bargains with a silent, sadistic super being whose only clear plan for people is suffering and misery.
(no subject)
OH MY GOD!!!!
I have already started unconsciously humming Christmas tunes! Egads.
Quote of the Day
"What I want and what I want are 2 different things!"
Us Vs Them Part 2
Here is the continuation:
And here are some good exercpts:
History is littered with the corpses of great empires and economies that were toppled when their people got distracted from their shared identity and goals, and gave in to internal culture wars that weakened their countries to the point of eventual collapse or conquest.
...the hard core authoritarians among [the right wingers]-- the intransigent 12-15% -- can never be reasoned with. They have always been among us; and they always will be. But -- and here's the point of this week's essay -- we have not always allowed their paranoia to run the show.
In this [Us versus Them] view, the world is seen in polarities: black/white, right/wrong, male/female, either/or. Humans are driven by competition and conflict; life is a zero-sum game in which survival depends on your ability to seize control over a piece of a finite pie. Winners matter, and deserve to dominate. Losers deserve whatever happens to them; and winners cannot be bothered to care.
Us versus Them exists because it's a useful and adaptive worldview in a few limited circumstances. It's the natural logic of war and revolution -- and also of political elections, class and race conflicts, and fundamentalist religion and holy warriors.
But, as we've seen, this winners-and-losers logic can corrode the foundations of a civilization if we allow it to dominate every aspect of our lives, or stay stuck in it too long. It's useful in short doses, but extremely toxic in the long run.
The biggest danger of Us-versus-Them is that it makes it almost impossible for cultures to invest in the common good, let alone plan coherently for the future. When people are in this mode, ideology and fear carry every decision. Those who want to discuss other worldviews or see a wider range of possibilities are considered traitors; and this forecloses almost all creative responses to problems.
And here are some good exercpts:
History is littered with the corpses of great empires and economies that were toppled when their people got distracted from their shared identity and goals, and gave in to internal culture wars that weakened their countries to the point of eventual collapse or conquest.
...the hard core authoritarians among [the right wingers]-- the intransigent 12-15% -- can never be reasoned with. They have always been among us; and they always will be. But -- and here's the point of this week's essay -- we have not always allowed their paranoia to run the show.
In this [Us versus Them] view, the world is seen in polarities: black/white, right/wrong, male/female, either/or. Humans are driven by competition and conflict; life is a zero-sum game in which survival depends on your ability to seize control over a piece of a finite pie. Winners matter, and deserve to dominate. Losers deserve whatever happens to them; and winners cannot be bothered to care.
Us versus Them exists because it's a useful and adaptive worldview in a few limited circumstances. It's the natural logic of war and revolution -- and also of political elections, class and race conflicts, and fundamentalist religion and holy warriors.
But, as we've seen, this winners-and-losers logic can corrode the foundations of a civilization if we allow it to dominate every aspect of our lives, or stay stuck in it too long. It's useful in short doses, but extremely toxic in the long run.
The biggest danger of Us-versus-Them is that it makes it almost impossible for cultures to invest in the common good, let alone plan coherently for the future. When people are in this mode, ideology and fear carry every decision. Those who want to discuss other worldviews or see a wider range of possibilities are considered traitors; and this forecloses almost all creative responses to problems.
The difference is not in the specific problems we face; it's in the logic and processes we choose when we set about solving them.
