[PAA-Discuss] [Article] Alternet: RE: Illegal Immigration

Sat Apr 1 14:12:58 EST 2006

I believe this discussion has touched on what we will all, sooner than
later, begin working on. Because of global warming, the probability
(certainty?) is that much of the US and other countries will have their food
baskets turn to deserts. The dislocation and  hunger that will create will
lead to different battles for humans (and other critters) to survive. It
will be the peace and justice and nonviolent movements and some of the
religious communities to help keep the fear from turning to violence. It
won't be easy. (and sometimes it is hard to be a grandmother - you worry
about your beloved grandchildren and what the future will hold for them -
and their children.) Lee Loe

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From: Discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org [mailto:Discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org] On
Behalf Of Kathleen kain
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 1:12 PM
To: Anne del Prado; graham2639 at mindspring.com; Discuss at paa-tx.org
Subject: Re: [PAA-Discuss] [Article] Alternet: RE: Illegal Immigration

Anne:

Your reply to the contention that Earth cannot sustain its population is
beautiful. It reminds me of the story of the loaves and the fishes in the
Bible. If we share with those in need, we'll all have enough and more. And
if sharing doesn't begin with the progressive community, where will it
begin?  Share without fear.

Kathleen Kain 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Anne <mailto:freespirit_41 at hotmail.com>  del Prado 

To: graham2639 at mindspring.com;Discuss at paa-tx.org

Sent: 3/31/2006 11:13:18 PM 

Subject: Re: [PAA-Discuss] [Article] Alternet: RE: Illegal Immigration

Kris,

How could anyone not love you......
However, this planet really has enough for everybody's NEEDS. If we think of
the resources versus needs, we will notice how we squander what we have.
GREED says "If I pollute your water, I can sell you bottled water". Water
from the stream was free. Clean water from the tap used to be rather
inexpensive. Now many people have to resort to filters and/or bottled water.
On what do we spend maybe 60% of our resources? On those things that hurt
us, things that keep us apart, things that destroy. If we lived the way I
think was intended, we could dispense with the 60%: locks and keys, secrecy
programs, arms, prisons. Greed is a symptom of fear. Fear is absence of
love; love is absence of fear. If we were not trained from the moment we
were born to be fearful, we could all live in a state of love. I'll share
with you what I picked up at a conference in Berkeley, CA, a year ago.

"Expressing the voice of people who grew up in colonized countries:

We were not colonized because we were poor, but rather because of our
riches; so, do not call us poor countries.

We were not colonized because of lesser intellectual capacity, but merely
because in most of our countries the people were more peaceful, kinder,
willing to share.

Most of you believe that you give us aid, assistance. However, for every
dollar invested, you take out at least three.

We are willing to ignore that, if you are willing to listen to us for a
change, hear us and not put us at the end of your agenda, an afterthought.

Please do not tell us to provide you with a solution if you are not willing
to listen until you understand.

Whereas economic and financial decisions made in the western world will
effect the entire world, it is imperative that well meaning people need to
take into account how their ideas and suggestions and recommendations will
effect the global community. 

For the non-western world, the imbalance is so extensive, that no balance is
possible within the current paradigm. World economy is beyond repair. 

In order to come to economic justice, we need to realize that the economic
principles we have been taught are merely the constructs of self serving
theorists.

Who decides what has value, or what productivity is. How does someone or
something obtain power. We need to examine these assumptions, go back to
basics and lay the groundwork for a spiritual economic system. The children,
now in elementary school, will manifest the vision. 

The prevailing atmosphere in a consumption fueled society is fear. Fear =
absence of love; Love = absence of fear. Since love is the strongest force
in the universe, those of us who believe in love ought to be able to help
heal the fears, able to plant the seeds of the new paradigm. 

When people fully understand how we bought into a system of definitions that
is inherently unequal, unfair, unjust, and potentially violent, we can start
defining economic and other terms in ways that are life affirming, just,
healing.

To live in harmony on and with our planet, we have to assign more value to a
healthy forest than to a warehouse full of unnecessary furniture. Greater
worth to the beauty of a mountain  than to the minerals below its surface.
Once we allow that clean air, pure water, nature's health and beauty are
more valuable that the products that cause pollution; we can put together an
economics system.  

When we think of a global economy, we have to admit that the resources of
the world belong to the people of the world. At this point, the world may
still have enough for everybody's needs, but as Mohandas Gandhi said, it
will never have enough for one man's greed. 

Therefore, take away the perceived reasons for fear:
a. Resources are finite
b. We have to compete for what is
c. There are winners and losers and nobody loves a loser

Have a system in place that:
a. Entitles each and everyone to total satisfaction of primary needs
b. The open candy jar system -- no hoarding, no waste 

Eliminating that which is detrimental to life on this planet (such as
weapons, locks, secrecy mechanisms, materials and processes that cause
hazardous waste) eliminates  40-60 % of work currently performed. All this
frees up people to pursue their hearts desire. Once we know that we can have
anything we want, our wants become fewer and our needs become what we want
to see fulfilled. Putting in five years of service per person should be more
than sufficient to provide all that we need. 

We have to stop focusing on and tinkering with the symptoms. We have to
address the illness, which is fear.

This is a brief synopsis, perhaps too brief to be understood. For better
understanding, interaction and contemplation are key."  

Kris, if we do not give power to someone or some title or office, the
person, title or office would have no power. That's why "question authority"
is so scary to the authorities. Money is only a means of exchange, that's
why it is so scary for dollar dependent countries that oil nations want to
go on the Euro. My dream had been that at one point one or two people in the
world would have all the money in the world. We could then tell them that
their gazillions could not buy one loaf of bread. The majority gives power
and we have squandered our power, seduced by silly TV programs, addicted to
unhealthy mind altering foods. Money and power in and of itself are neither
good nor bad. Anne

  _____  

From: "Ron and Kris Graham" <graham2639 at mindspring.com>
Reply-To: <graham2639 at mindspring.com>
To: "'Anne del Prado'" <freespirit_41 at hotmail.com>,<Discuss at paa-tx.org>
Subject: RE: [PAA-Discuss] [Article] Alternet: RE: Illegal Immigration
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 21:29:24 -0600

Thanks very much, Anne, for your thoughts and the history lesson. I didnt
know some of those things. Yes, I did know that the U.S. has and continues
to depose democratically elected leaders through coups or murder and props
up tin pot dictators. I would have to disagree, though, that this world has
more than enough for everyone. I believe this planet is overpopulated and
cannot possibly continue to sustain everyone. The planet will not die, but
it is my feeling it will slough off humanity like so much dead skin. I agree
with you that greed plays a big part in the worlds problems and so does
power. You know the old saying: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts
absolutely. It is the pure truth. There is also another saying that is
biblical in nature: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven. I may not have that
exactly right as I havent dusted off the old Bible in quite some time, but
you get the general meaning. Youve also heard this one, Im sure: Money is
the root of all evil. It sure has turned out that way, hasnt it? 

Do you think land ownership has contributed to the problems facing us today?
Im curious. I agree with you that the fascists in our government want to
foment race wars. They need a scapegoat, and theyre finding it with
undocumented workers. They are loathe to admit that it is they and their
policies that have caused the horrendous problems here and abroad. How do we
stop the greedy men if no one is willing to wake up and pay attention and
then actually get off the couch and do something? This is what disturbs me
the most; the apathy of the American people. Why did we not have 500,000 to
1,000,000 people at our M18 protest a few weeks ago? In a city of this size
you would think that many Americans would hit the street in protest to an
illegal invasion. How is it that half a million Mexicans will hit the
streets of L.A. to protest a racist bill but the American people wont
dislodge their butts from their sofas to protest an illegal invasion that
has killed thousands upon thousands of people? I dont understand at all.

Kris

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Planning <http://g.msn.com/8HMBENUS/2737??PS=47575>  a trip for Spring
Break? See the area before you go 

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