Why I Consider Books As The Second Most Useful Set of Helpers in Taking Lead In My Life

Other than the inspiration I got from watching the video above, I was prompted to write this posting mainly because I got reminded by my own set of memorable experiences in reading books all these years. Not to sound preposterous here, but I can claim that I've been reading books as far as I can remember being up on my feet. I was an early reader because I was influenced a lot by some relatives and family members whom I would see reading books, magazines and the like. My parents would buy me illustrated comics that have been among my earliest reading materials. We would have cabinets at home lined with books when I was growing up. Also, I was exposed to Sesame Street on TV where I learned so much on the English vocabulary, counting, numerals, symbols and, other tools used in improving your skills in reading. 

Books, needless to say, are essentially subversive materials, whether you agree to this notion or not. And reading them, particularly the best ones, literally will change directions of your life. But you don't have to take my word for it. Just observe and learn about the lives of the most important people in the world. Some examples: Jesus Christ,  himself, was into reading. In fact, in one of the narratives where he read parts of the Torah, he even proclaimed that what had been written has become real and actually happened in the very eyes of those gathered around him to listen to him read aloud from the holy books. And we all know that Mao Zedong was a book reader. He learned so much from his books, such that he used them in leading China, which is now becoming more and more the leading nation in the world each day.  And have you heard about the Persian storyteller Scheherazade of the book 'One Thousand and One Nights'? She would have been forgotten by now if she didn't hear or read about the stories that she shared with a certain Persian king, who wanted her killed but who would eventually spare her life, marry her, have children with her and make her into his queen. 

You may consider books as your lovers in printed or digital formats, especially when you are down and you feel neglected and ignored by your loved ones (or those whom you believe should love you in return for the kindness you've poured on them). In the pages of books, you'll be embraced by all the warm limbs coming from the outcomes of the very minds of the book authors. You'll be heard, strangely. At times in your reading experience, you'll get a sense that you're being listened to. And books are not exactly passive lovers as they feed you with a lot of ideas and that sense of wonder and accomplishment when you dwell on each word found in the many pages of your books. From this moment on when you feel depressed, you can always go back to reading the pages of your books that have been waiting for you for some time because you had been busy in other activities in your daily life. 

Practically every topic in life has been written in books. And a lot of these books have been gone forever (remember the famed Library in Alexandria that survived for hundreds of years until it was burned mainly because some groups of people believed books were dangerous things to possess, and so, they have to eliminated them once and for all). So many writers have been around before us and they have had the courage and took the hard time required to write books. Just do a research first so you'll discover that these statements are more truthful than falsely claimed here. And in case you don't agree with this, you can start writing your own books. Just make sure you share them with the rest of the world. In today's life, writers can most conveniently write books and get them published without spending as much money as before. They just have to actually find time to write, rewrite, rewrite, and publish --- tough activities that can intimidate a lot (hence, they're not writing at all). 

I don't understand it but I've met a number of people who have been intimidated by me just because they've seen me reading books, and even in having so many books in places where I've lived. Among other activities I'm into, I actually make a living from marketing and selling books, the core of my inventory has come from my books (400+) that I have gathered, bought, read, collected through the years. At least, I know who are the people I should keep some distance from, unless they go out of their way to reach out to me from time to time (which is just fine with me). 

And indirectly related to my efforts in book reading, I've met so many people who would give me their books, mainly because they wanted to help me out in my business. I'm not sure if they're into bookreading themselves. But I'm assured that I have known so many wonderful people who have recognized the value of books in our collective daily lives. In spite of most skeptics' belief in craziness of the idea of reading as a must-do daily activity as well as in marketing and selling books, you can be assured that the market has been expanded so long. These days, you don't really need to read the bestsellers; you just have to search online and you'll get all the chances to buy any book you may have in mind. Make sure you read those books you've ordered (or else, start your online bookselling venture, too).

Bookreading, chances are, will help so much in opening your eyes to many perspectives about life, people, places and events all over the world. In fact, you don't even have to travel physically to places unknown to you but you can do that easily by just reading books about these places. You'll meet and talk with people who have lived so many ages ago by reading books about them (or even those books they wrote themselves). You'll understand the nuances and differences of each individual by poring over the best rated books about people. You'll appreciate yourself better as you continue reading books that help clarify who you are in relation to others in your community and those living different lifestyles from yours.

And why do I say books are the second most useful set of helpers in taking lead in my life? We still have to go out of our way to connect, relate, communicate, experience loving and supportive links with other people. The wise among us have learned it early on that by merely connecting with others, they gain so much useful knowledge in life.

My take on why certain politicians get voted to their positions

This posting is about my take on why certain politicians handily get elected to positions despite the disbelief of certain individuals that they don't deserve to be voted at all by the general population. Well, first of all, that's how the political structure has been set up, so you can't do so much about it, except if you  work to destroy and replace with something the very political structure (which is easier said than done, of course!) that is in place. Second, you have to ask why the general populace is even allowed to vote at all during national elections (I think they should only be allowed to vote in local elections, i.e, that is limited to where they actually live and work because the effects of politics in people's lives can only be felt in the local level---everything else is mere noise and distraction).  I don't even understand why the general population is even allowed to vote (probably, because the state is still a functioning democracy, for all intents and purposes, and despite its inherent defects) their favored politicians into positions from time to time.

As to the other reasons, check and read again the first. You can't do much unless you revise the very structure. But I'm being cheeky about it, and so allow me to make some suggestions if the structure can't be changed soon.

And this over-all set up will continue working and bringing similar results as they are now, unless other factors that affect the collective mindset of the population will be put in place. This means ensuring certain developments to take place:
1) providing for honest-to-goodness quality free education from pre-school to college. Free means free meals while in school, free books, free supplies, free fare to and fro schools, free healthcare. Yes, literally free.
2) providing for well-compensated teachers and education administrators, plus awesome package of benefits so they'd continue to be inspired to run the education mill where (practically) everyone born in the country goes thru to be formally educated and hopefully become a functioning and responsible citizens of the state. Obviously, you can't expect much of their best from most of your workers, in case you're the owner, i.e., those who are in power and politically vested, if you're paying these people so little for so much work to do. It simply does not make sense.
3) providing free, quality health care from birth to death to all citizens of the state. Yes, make these services free and easily accessible so people will have less concerns with their already-complicated, geneally poverty-stricken lives and so that they will be able to spend pursuing their other interests and other energy draining activities without the hassles of being concerned on these issues. Give most of the population much needed break, and you'll be rewarded amply.

Actually, those three suggested steps boil down mainly to cascading thru the many levels of society the accumulated wealth and powers of the state. It means sharing and distributing more equitably the wealth of the state, i.e., the nation.

With all sincerity, I do hope this is not asking for too much. Don't really bother about providing for those who are wealthy or those who consider themselves wealthy by affiliation (they can take care of themselves and their interests). Let's bother (yes, always bother) to help and extend our support to provide logistics in our own little, unique ways to make those suggestions enumerated earlier to happen now. We can continue sending to school our relatives as well as those people who are not even related to us (including those whom we can't even imagine meeting personally immediately). Let's share our own individual wealth and riches to others as part of our over-all strategy to create, build and distribute wealth. Yes, wiser people who came ahead of us have realized that it only makes sense to be wealthy and rich if we can share these gifts and blessings (we simply can't bring them to where ever we are going when we die). Look at those richly decorated tombs and monuments of the Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, etc. now found in many parts of the world. The last time I checked they're still very dead up to now, even if they tried so hard to ensure their wealth and lofty positions would be displayed for us who are fortunately still alive. Such useless ways of spending wealth!

I doubt, honestly, if the situation will improve in the future elections. Those suggestions would require spending a lot of public money. I think members of the elites would like to keep most of the members of the masses ignorant, misinformed and malleable to serve their own very feudalistic interests. Who would be doing most of the dirty work if these people would  become enlightened? That's simply unimaginable a set-up to happen. If such a situation happens, it's even too mind boggling to imagine how to sustain it. But as change is always the only constant things in life, change will happen. These aggregated changes by each one of us will affect and make the very structure crumble in its very foundations.

In the meantime, we can't really expect much from the electorate, even if we work that extra hard and do one-by-one reaching out to them. They simply won't get it. Everyday life conditions are too tough for them so they won't simply listen to your pleadings and other arguments to vote for change (no matter how valid your points are).

Weekend: Another Must-See Movie

This write-up should have been due, following a personal deadline, more than a year ago, but I only managed to prepare this after a lot of events happened in my life lately, and which led and strongly prompted me to share my thoughts about this film made in 2011. I know some people have been raving over this film, which I believe is a must-see movie if you're wanting to understand, other than to merely enjoy being in the company of, what goes on in the private lives of the members of the LGBTQ communities all over the world (or in your own little world). Or you may just want to see a very ordinary love story told with a twist, this time, after having exposed yourself to the usual crappy stuff shown in most media outlets. Of course, each one of us is different, as may have been represented in this film, and which is fact that is needless to say but most of us would conveniently forget. But with the way the film narrated its story, I'll recommend that you watch this one. 

This film shows a searing portrait on how male gay people, in this instance, lead their lives when enough acceptance is felt, experienced by them coming from and shared most lovingly without judgment their relatives and friends. In so many words, it's not typical, not clique. And you'll be comforted yourself about your own uniqueness, which trait you have to recognize and share with everyone else around you.

Also, I was prompted by seeing how similar in looks one of the film's protagonists with the looks of a roommate who's a straight Puerto Rican guy (I should tell him about this and wait how he would react). I was wondering if I should ask him to watch it and make him uncomfortable with his issues; he can be homophobic at times when he relates with me. And I have read somewhere that the actors who played the interesting characters in this film were straight in real life. I've seen and met a lot of straight-acting types in my life, and I can tell you, these actors have done a great job.

Just like straight people, gay people are just so varied in terms of their values that they hold dear to their hearts, their levels of education, respective social backgrounds, every day life directions, hopes, and other aspects of lifestyle."Weekend" will give you an honest introduction to some interesting characters who are trying to fall in love with each other, sustain these feelings, and build a significant relationship even amidst built-in distracting and off-putting elements in the surrounding environment where the two individuals happened to meet each other. The plot runs almost very similar with any other love story you'll find in any movie or book you've pored your time on. Except that one character was a slut, in normal straight terms.

Despite your reservations and biases, watch this film because you'll see how most young people don't really bother much about issues related to their friends being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender these days. It has been like that for the past few years, probably a decade or so. Most of these young people simply don't, at least from what I've seen and have heard about. They don't even bother to intellectualize these issues as they're basically no-brainer ones because they're very much part of the list of emotional experiences available to someone who would like to open up to possibilities of loving and living with other individuals of the same gender as yourself. And loving is actually something you're capable of doing, as long as you open your mind and heart to it without expecting much in return. Also young people don't anymore carry the baggage that the more elderly try to continue to carry the burden and cover themselves up with and which make their relationships more complicated when it comes to facing LGBTQ issues. An example of this can be gleamed from how surveys in the USA consistently show that younger people are more accepting of marriage equality issues. What matters to most young people is that they like to deal with authentic friends who are true to themselves and would want to be better when shown opportunities. 

What the film endeavors to present to its targeted viewers maybe deemed amusing to some. But as a curious viewer, you'll probably end up wondering where the world has gone if you consider what the film's attempting to share. It's saying "mind your own business" in so many words. As many accomplished and notable artists have been saying all along, it does not matter whatever sexuality you have---what matters is that you have a heart and an open mind ready and wiling to love another person who is also taking a great risk of loving you, given the presence of so much hatred in the world now. As to what kind of love you've got  does not matter much anymore----what suffices is that you've had the experience and you're a better person because of it.

A version of 'The Lord's Prayer' from Aramaic into English

I don't remember where I copied this from (please let me know right away if your site is the one where this came from, originally), as I have kept it in draft form until I rediscovered it today. But be that as it may, it's reassuring experience to be able to read and know about this awesome prayer that will help take lead in whatever undertaking we now have. Among other blessings it brings, it helps set our minds and lead us back to the very purpose we got in our respective lives.

A beautiful rendition and translation directly from the Aramaic into English of "The Lord's Prayer"

Oh, Cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration!
Soften the ground of our being
and carve out a space within us
... where your Presence can abide.
Fill us with your creativity
So that we may be empowered
to bear the fruit of our mission.
Let each of our actions bear fruit
in accordance with our desire.
Endow us with the wisdom to produce
and share what each being needs
to grow and flourish.
Untie the tangled threads of destiny
that bind us, as we release others
from the entanglement of past mistakes.
Do not let us be seduced by that which
would divert us from our true purpose,
but illuminate the opportunities
of the present moment.
For you are the ground and the fruitful vision,
the birth power and the fulfillment,
as all is gathered and made whole once again.