I'm increasingly saddened by the on going gun violence around the world. Especially here in the US. I may rock the boat a bit here but we should really get rid of the 2nd amendment. Our "Right to bear Arms" seems to have become our right to kill each other, and it's getting out of control. I do not own a gun, nor do I want to. I live my life completely devoid of firearms and it really doesn't hinder or hurt me in any way. I don't hunt, I don't delude myself that a gun is protection, and I don't associate with people who feel a gun is a necessary part of life.
Why? Why do people feel that guns are necessary? I think people who want to hold on to their guns for hunting should stop hunting. Or develop a greater skill then pulling a trigger and holding on to the gun. Get a cross bow, learn archery if your going to hunt. It may make it more fun for you. But in my opinion stop hunting. Start believing in your bible and know that all God's creatures are special to him even the deer and antelope. If God had truly loved man more than an animal then the Ark would have been filled with humans, not animals and one family. Animals are a necessary part of the ecosystem and what makes this world beautiful to behold. Revel in the beauty of life, do not take joy in the power of death.
A gun as protection? Where, on safari? When I was growing up my mother did crime prevention seminars and I have always taken what she taught to heart. If you have a gun in your home in case of intruders, first you must always be prepared to fire that weapon at any time. Keeping the ammunition and the gun in separate places is an idiots way to get killed. In a robbery do you really think the criminal is going to wait and give you time to go searching through your drawers for your bullets? Second, you have to be prepared to shoot to kill. In the heat of the moment do you really think that you could kill someone? Would you then be prosecuted for murder? Third, you have to be so well trained in handling the gun that you can hang on to the gun and not have it turned on you. Fourthly, you must do all this so that your children and those you care about do not have access to the gun. You don't want your kids hurting themselves or others in the process. Finding a way to keep the gun handy but still keep it away from my kids is enough of a dilema, that I don't even deal with it.
For my family protection I have a canister of the mixture my mom used to sell. CS military tear gas combined with pepper spray and an ultraviolet dye. Even if my two year old was to get a hold of this and sprays himself, he would scream and cry but an hour later he'd still be alive. I have these canisters around my house, so I can easily grab it if someone attempts to break in. It will stop them in their tracks, I've seen it in countless demonstrations. That is protection that makes me feel safe, because I can use it.
Lastly, if we start breaking the cycle of Fear and meet Fear with Love then society would stop feeling like they need guns as a part of life. I know there are communities, gangs, where that type of view is prevalent. But in these communities you'd be hard pressed to find a family that has not been touched by violence in some way. We cannot continue to meet violence with violence and expect it to stop. Only when you meet violence with love and forgiveness will any of this senseless killing stop. We are all a part of this world and though we have different experiences from each other we must come to realize that at heart we are all the same.
Should we have better mental health care in this world? Of course we should! No one is arguing against that happening. But we need to see that even if we had better mental health care the guns would still be there and someone will always reach for that if it's the easiest thing to do. That's why we need to own up to our fellow man and get rid of the guns. Period.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Breaking the Cycle of Fear
“The reality is that most of us communicate the same way that we grew up. That communication style becomes our normal way of dealing with issues, our blueprint for communication. It’s what we know and pass on to our own children. We either become our childhood or we make a conscious choice to change it.” ― Kristen Crockett, The Gift of Past Relationships
Soundtrack for this segment: Jason Mraz – “Life is Wonderful”
The human experience is cyclical. Some cycles are very good, like the seasons, or when you have a wonderful family. A Family that teaches the children to be wonderful and those teachings continue down through the ages. But what breaks cycles? Experience breaks cycles. You may be thinking like I am that a wonderful family being a wonderful family down through the ages is preposterously wishful thinking. And it’s true that such a thing is hard to find for generations long stints. Most families have someone in them who didn’t have the greatest integrity or was just downright nasty person. But look at the experience surrounding those people and you’ll see how reacting to an experience out of your emotions can change you, alter your trajectory. Some experiences can heal, others destroy.
We react out of emotion. Emotions are what make us human, everyone has them, everyone has to deal with them on a moment by moment basis. Now, simplify all the emotions that we experience and know that Love and Fear are the foundations of all that we feel. All negative feelings come out of Fear, but all positive feelings come from Love. To truly break any cycle you have to consciously choose to not act from Fear, but to react with Love.
I see so much Fear in the world, because I see Anger, I see Hate, I see Greed, I see Stubbornness all of these come from Fear. But when Fear is met by Love, Love will always win out. I think of September 11, 2001, when the planes hit the towers. The hijackers of those planes lived in Fear, and Fear is what caused that experience to happen. Because those hijackers lived in so much Fear they felt it was their duty, calling, whatever you want to call it, that they force Fear back on those people they felt were responsible for making them live in Fear. So they struck a symbol and millions were hurled and crumbled into living that Fear.
So let’s talk about Fear for a minute. I’m not going to give you the definition of fear because we’re not talking about that. You’ve probably felt the Fear most of your days on this planet. But let’s instead clarify how all your different negative emotions are Fear. Let’s take 9/11 again, of course there was pure fear being felt by the victims of those attacks, but how does what the hijackers did come from Fear? Take all the suppositions or determinations about why they did it: To punish America for the government support of dictators, wars on their people, our military involvement in the region, taking their land; torturing, kidnapping or vanishing their citizens, I could go on and on. All of that hatred, all of that Anger, comes from Fear.
American Government support of dictators: Fear that they have no control over their own lives. American wars perpetrated against their people: Fear that they will lose their lives. American Military involvement in the region: Fear that their family will not be safe or lose their lives. Taking their land: Fear that they will have no place to go, lose everything they have built for themselves. Torturing, kidnapping or vanishing their citizens: Fear of losing a loved one.
That Fear leads to Anger at what is happening, Frustration at the circumstance gets added in, and the Anger and Frustration if not met with Love at some point leads to Hate. Then when you have this Hate only fueled by more people feeling this Fear cacophony it leads to what we saw that bright September morning. For us to truly change the world, break the cycle, we have to confront that Fear with Love, as individuals and as a whole. As with anything the earlier you confront the Fear with the Love the more chance you have of stopping it in its tracks. The longer you let the Fear grow the greater challenge Love will have to fight it off. If you let the Fear grow to where it got to on 9/11 then you will only see the Love in the aftermath, cleaning and healing those touched by the explosion of Fear. But Love will always come meet you, and Love is always there for you to call on. Love is always the right choice to be made and to make. If my choice is to choose Love or to stay still and let that Fear grow, to not rock the boat; Baby grab your life vest if you can’t swim because I want to choose to dump everyone in the waters of Love.
But let’s be real here, to not feel Fear would be unnatural. To say, “I’m never going to Fear again” would not only be deluding you’re self but would be an exercise in futility. We are basically wired to feel Fear. The main key to breaking the cycle is to relentlessly and consistently meet the Fear with Love. In the small ways and the life changing ways.
I listen to NPR every morning, and every afternoon. I like the politics, and I have a need to hear about my fellow man. A question that I often hear is “When do we have a responsibility to be the police or the humanitarian of the world?” It’s a typical American Journalist question that I would love to answer now. We always have a responsibility to care for our fellow man.
I don’t care who you are, what you believe, what color of skin you have; I have a responsibility to Love you. I have a responsibility to care for you and what you are going through. I have a responsibility to help you in times of need. I have this responsibility for EVERY PERSON ON THIS PLANET. And you have that same responsibility as well.
Until we all realize that, that we are not separate, we are not as different as we would like to believe; Fear will continue to permeate our societies. But once we do realize this. That we are all feathers in the same bird, we are all crystals on sand on the same beach we can and will join together in Love and defeat the fear and tragedy in our lives together.
Soundtrack for this segment: Jason Mraz – “Life is Wonderful”
The human experience is cyclical. Some cycles are very good, like the seasons, or when you have a wonderful family. A Family that teaches the children to be wonderful and those teachings continue down through the ages. But what breaks cycles? Experience breaks cycles. You may be thinking like I am that a wonderful family being a wonderful family down through the ages is preposterously wishful thinking. And it’s true that such a thing is hard to find for generations long stints. Most families have someone in them who didn’t have the greatest integrity or was just downright nasty person. But look at the experience surrounding those people and you’ll see how reacting to an experience out of your emotions can change you, alter your trajectory. Some experiences can heal, others destroy.
We react out of emotion. Emotions are what make us human, everyone has them, everyone has to deal with them on a moment by moment basis. Now, simplify all the emotions that we experience and know that Love and Fear are the foundations of all that we feel. All negative feelings come out of Fear, but all positive feelings come from Love. To truly break any cycle you have to consciously choose to not act from Fear, but to react with Love.
I see so much Fear in the world, because I see Anger, I see Hate, I see Greed, I see Stubbornness all of these come from Fear. But when Fear is met by Love, Love will always win out. I think of September 11, 2001, when the planes hit the towers. The hijackers of those planes lived in Fear, and Fear is what caused that experience to happen. Because those hijackers lived in so much Fear they felt it was their duty, calling, whatever you want to call it, that they force Fear back on those people they felt were responsible for making them live in Fear. So they struck a symbol and millions were hurled and crumbled into living that Fear.
So let’s talk about Fear for a minute. I’m not going to give you the definition of fear because we’re not talking about that. You’ve probably felt the Fear most of your days on this planet. But let’s instead clarify how all your different negative emotions are Fear. Let’s take 9/11 again, of course there was pure fear being felt by the victims of those attacks, but how does what the hijackers did come from Fear? Take all the suppositions or determinations about why they did it: To punish America for the government support of dictators, wars on their people, our military involvement in the region, taking their land; torturing, kidnapping or vanishing their citizens, I could go on and on. All of that hatred, all of that Anger, comes from Fear.
American Government support of dictators: Fear that they have no control over their own lives. American wars perpetrated against their people: Fear that they will lose their lives. American Military involvement in the region: Fear that their family will not be safe or lose their lives. Taking their land: Fear that they will have no place to go, lose everything they have built for themselves. Torturing, kidnapping or vanishing their citizens: Fear of losing a loved one.
That Fear leads to Anger at what is happening, Frustration at the circumstance gets added in, and the Anger and Frustration if not met with Love at some point leads to Hate. Then when you have this Hate only fueled by more people feeling this Fear cacophony it leads to what we saw that bright September morning. For us to truly change the world, break the cycle, we have to confront that Fear with Love, as individuals and as a whole. As with anything the earlier you confront the Fear with the Love the more chance you have of stopping it in its tracks. The longer you let the Fear grow the greater challenge Love will have to fight it off. If you let the Fear grow to where it got to on 9/11 then you will only see the Love in the aftermath, cleaning and healing those touched by the explosion of Fear. But Love will always come meet you, and Love is always there for you to call on. Love is always the right choice to be made and to make. If my choice is to choose Love or to stay still and let that Fear grow, to not rock the boat; Baby grab your life vest if you can’t swim because I want to choose to dump everyone in the waters of Love.
But let’s be real here, to not feel Fear would be unnatural. To say, “I’m never going to Fear again” would not only be deluding you’re self but would be an exercise in futility. We are basically wired to feel Fear. The main key to breaking the cycle is to relentlessly and consistently meet the Fear with Love. In the small ways and the life changing ways.
I listen to NPR every morning, and every afternoon. I like the politics, and I have a need to hear about my fellow man. A question that I often hear is “When do we have a responsibility to be the police or the humanitarian of the world?” It’s a typical American Journalist question that I would love to answer now. We always have a responsibility to care for our fellow man.
I don’t care who you are, what you believe, what color of skin you have; I have a responsibility to Love you. I have a responsibility to care for you and what you are going through. I have a responsibility to help you in times of need. I have this responsibility for EVERY PERSON ON THIS PLANET. And you have that same responsibility as well.
Until we all realize that, that we are not separate, we are not as different as we would like to believe; Fear will continue to permeate our societies. But once we do realize this. That we are all feathers in the same bird, we are all crystals on sand on the same beach we can and will join together in Love and defeat the fear and tragedy in our lives together.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Getting Started
I'm hoping that with these first few words that I will set in motion of chain of events that could possibly change the world someday. It's a lofty goal, I know; but I feel called to help anyone that I can. I'm working on a book so I can start getting the word out that I have a message I want to share, to help some people. This will be the start of my blog, where I will talk about current events. But first you need a little about me. My name is Courtney, and I'm a Brick House Mama.
There are a lot of disciplines and activities that I love, but the one thing that I'm really passionate about is my family. And, I have a concern about how to raise my family in today's world. I see pain and destruction in the world and wonder how I can help. I'm interested in politics and I'm a staunch democrat, I proudly own up to being a socialist. Go a head and call me a liberal, socialist, loony lefty, what ever you want; I don't care. I like our president, I don't always agree with his policies, but I can see when Congress is being a douche and when Obama just flubbed it.
I was a normal person before I had children, but with each child I felt a surge of love for my children that I couldn't contain it to just my children. Soon the love filled me up so much that anything I would hear about someone moving through would send me in to tears. Especially when children were involved. These days anywhere in the world where there is pain, my heart is there with them. As it is always with my children.
So what are the challenges I face as a parent and wife in this socio political climate? How many I will name in the blogs to come, I don't know. But you and I will become friends. My computer will get to know me well. We will work on these issues together, working from Love not Fear. We will make a home together that is strong.
In the 3 Little Pigs story, the brothers build 3 houses. One of straw, one of wood, and one of brick; the brick house saved the pig when the big bad wolf tried to blow them down. I'm my story the pigs are women, and like the 3rd little pig I have built a Brick House, I welcome my world family to join me in the Brick House so they can be protected from the Big Bad Wolf. The Brick House is stable, the Brick House is warm, and you shall find refuge in the Brick House. That's why I call myself a Brick House Mama.
When I feel down on myself, start doubting myself, start losing myself; I start the personal soundtrack I have in my mind. The first song on the playlist is Brick House. I hear the drums, then the base, a whistle, then the horns come in, "Ow, oh she's a Brick...House. She's mighty mighty just letting it all hang out." How can you not feel better when you hear that?! That song helps me to go on becuae I know that I can be a Brick House, I can be mighty, and stable. That's why I call myself a Brick House Mama.
Coming Soon: My Story
The Story of the Three Little Pigs
There are a lot of disciplines and activities that I love, but the one thing that I'm really passionate about is my family. And, I have a concern about how to raise my family in today's world. I see pain and destruction in the world and wonder how I can help. I'm interested in politics and I'm a staunch democrat, I proudly own up to being a socialist. Go a head and call me a liberal, socialist, loony lefty, what ever you want; I don't care. I like our president, I don't always agree with his policies, but I can see when Congress is being a douche and when Obama just flubbed it.
I was a normal person before I had children, but with each child I felt a surge of love for my children that I couldn't contain it to just my children. Soon the love filled me up so much that anything I would hear about someone moving through would send me in to tears. Especially when children were involved. These days anywhere in the world where there is pain, my heart is there with them. As it is always with my children.
So what are the challenges I face as a parent and wife in this socio political climate? How many I will name in the blogs to come, I don't know. But you and I will become friends. My computer will get to know me well. We will work on these issues together, working from Love not Fear. We will make a home together that is strong.
In the 3 Little Pigs story, the brothers build 3 houses. One of straw, one of wood, and one of brick; the brick house saved the pig when the big bad wolf tried to blow them down. I'm my story the pigs are women, and like the 3rd little pig I have built a Brick House, I welcome my world family to join me in the Brick House so they can be protected from the Big Bad Wolf. The Brick House is stable, the Brick House is warm, and you shall find refuge in the Brick House. That's why I call myself a Brick House Mama.
When I feel down on myself, start doubting myself, start losing myself; I start the personal soundtrack I have in my mind. The first song on the playlist is Brick House. I hear the drums, then the base, a whistle, then the horns come in, "Ow, oh she's a Brick...House. She's mighty mighty just letting it all hang out." How can you not feel better when you hear that?! That song helps me to go on becuae I know that I can be a Brick House, I can be mighty, and stable. That's why I call myself a Brick House Mama.
Coming Soon: My Story
The Story of the Three Little Pigs
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