G-Poppers … March 10th, 2017

 Jonathots Daily Blog

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“An ear ain’t an eye.”

That’s what G-Pop told his grandson.

A thousand warnings, lectures or sermons are no match for one vision. The eye projects a cinematic view across the entire brain. It is deeply implanted and can last a lifetime.

I’ve heard hundreds and hundreds of speakers over the years and could not recite one thing they said, but honestly, I still have the experience in my mind of the first naked woman I ever saw.

So the eye can be used for good and it can be used for, let’s say, less good. Even evil.

But we spend all of our time thinking that we can instruct our children, when the only things being infused in their brains is what they see us doing–the craziness of the adult world around them.

We listen to what is said but we mimic what we see. After all, the saying is, “Monkey see, monkey do.”

Monkey hear? Well, monkey ignore.

Yes, hearing is probably our weakest sense. After all, we smell shit and call it what it is, but we don’t always hear bullcrap and identify it.

We taste sour and we pull away. But when we’re confronted with bitter words, we sometimes allow them in.

Especially if the words offered us are too challenging, too condemning or too overwhelming, we will always prefer what pops in front of our eyeballs.

So what are we seeing? Because we may be hearing hopeful phrases and promises, but we’re seeing a twisted manipulation of circumstances, supposedly in the name of righteousness or nationalism.

These snapshots make us jaded.

G-Pop wants his children to know that they need to be careful about what they see. If it’s an unpleasant sight, talk about it, object to it, and stand against the portrayals that don’t represent the values we preach and the virtues we have heard.

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Dear Man/Dear Woman: A Noteworthy Conversation … May 14th, 2016

 Jonathots Daily Blog

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Dear Man: If I remember correctly, I was eleven years old, in middle school, during gym class, and Miss Pontier shared with us girls. It was a rainy day and we were supposed to be playing softball. We were forced inside, and for some reason, our teacher decided to wax poetic about men.

 

Dear Woman: Really? What did she say?

 

Dear Man: As I look back on it, I realize that she was probably going through a hard time in a relationship, but she quickly–and kind of comically–explained to us the three things that men don’t do.

 

Dear Woman: This is interesting. What were her findings?

 

Dear Man: She said men don’t emotionally care about much of anything. Secondly, men find it difficult to carry on a meaningful conversation, and third–men don’t remember anything if it’s more than a week away and doesn’t involve food and beer.

 

Dear Woman: Wow. That’s pretty jaded. So what did you think at the time?

 

Dear Man: I thought she was the goddess of wisdom. Who was I to question her?

 

Dear Woman: I had a similar thing happen when I was playing junior high football. We were on the bus on the way to a game and the coach talked to us about girls. We were not just a captive audience, but captivated by the subject. He said that girls don’t like sports, they don’t like to be ignored, and they don’t ever want to be wrong.

 

Dear Man: I would assume you agreed.

 

Dear Woman: Well, from my lack of experience I decided to accept his insight.

 

Dear Man: You see–that’s the problem in our society. People think it’s funny to portray the other gender as ridiculous, stubborn or stupid. But once we think that they don’t do something, it colors our efforts, and pretty soon we translate it to “they won’t.”

 

Dear Woman: In other words, we take it personally.

 

Dear Man: Absolutely. So even though we feel the need to pair off and mate, we establish our main relationships within our gender, insisting that it’s impossible for a man and woman to get along completely.

 

Dear Woman: So let me get this straight. Because somebody tells us, for instance, that “women don’t do something,” we go out and confirm through our experiences, which are now prejudiced, that they won’t.

 

Dear Man: And it doesn’t stop there. Once we’re convinced they don’t and they won’t, we start believing they can’t. Despair sets in, disappointment, and a nagging resignation to having a relationship that is less than fulfilling.

 

Dear Woman: So we do a disservice to our children by telling them that the opposite sex doesn’t do things–because they will begin to believe they won’t, which makes them conclude that they can’t.

 

Dear Man: Yes. That’s why we have so much prejudice. Because if I believe you don’t do something, and I conclude you won’t, I disrespect you by thinking you can’t.

 

Dear Woman: So what can we do?

 

Dear Man: I think we can stop generalizing that men and women react as genders instead of individuals. It will block that deadly process that ends up with us thinking that the opposite sex is incapable of addressing our feelings.

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G-Poppers … November 20th, 2015

 Jonathots Daily Blog

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If A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C.

It is the only part of geometry that G-Pop seems to have retained.

It is called a syllogism. It is deemed to be valid–a valid syllogism.

It’s the kind of reasoning which allows us to make the necessary comparisons between things on earth which invite the pursuit of common sense.

G-Pop has spent the last week observing the raging tides of conflict which seem to tug at humanity from different spectrums, while simultaneously offering very little solace.

For we are given the option of religion, which often turns us into regulated bigots, with no compassion for those aroud us; or we are tempted with atheism, which insists there is no need for a God when we have the function of our conscience and intellect.

G-Pop just wants his children to understand that neither one of these hovering haunts offer any true sense of what it really means to be human. So please consider:

A. All human beings share a common planet.

Unless you plan to dominate the entire world, forcing it to submit to your will, you will find yourself situated in a compartment with other travelers, needing to share baggage space and conversation.

B. We do not naturally care for each other.

I suppose atheism would be a tantalizing possibility if human beings actually did have the will power to follow through on their whims. But since we don’t seem to be able to avoid eating the cake we renounced a few seconds earlier, it is safe to say that we won’t give enough attention to those around us who are screaming for space.

A life without God appears to be bold until you realize the limitations within yourself.

C. Human beings need a steadfast encouragement for participating and including one another.

G-Pop will not argue the point that religion does not grant the oil of understanding to generate the engine of mercy. But neither does atheism give us the impetus to continue to forgive the erratic behavior of others without becoming cynical and jaded.

So since A equals B: in other words, we share a planet, but don’t naturally care for those who share it with us

And B equals C: not caring for those around us means that we need some sort of special mentoring,

Then A equals C: human beings who are sharing a planet are benefited by believing there is something larger than themselves, which lovingly encourages them to co-exist.

G-Pop wants his children to understand that religion, like atheism, is just a different way to reject a loving Father and a path to mutual understanding with our fellow-humans.

Be careful–the greatest danger is believing that an extreme can ever turn into a legitimate compromise.

 

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G-Poppers… July 3rd, 2015

Jonathots Daily Blog

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It’s both.

Reality is realizing that human beings are capable of both good and bad.

G-Pop wants to communicate this to all of his children and grandchildren.

Those who envision a world where the only excitement is going to church and bingeing on episodes of “Little House on the Prairie” are imbalanced to the point of insanity.

Likewise, those more jaded individuals who have decided to transform the human race into vicious animals barely out of the jungle, possessing the brain power to destroy the earth, are equally as deluded.

Reality is admitting that human beings possess the knowledge of good and evil. We ate it up in the Garden, which thrust us into the jungle, where we must plot to get back to the Garden.

G-Pop wants to tell his children that he’s never actually been acquainted with a serial killer, although television and the movies would insist that every community probably has one. Likewise, much to the surprise of the movie industry, most folks don’t cuss and swear nearly as much as the average script demands.

G-Pop also wants his children to know that the forefathers of our country were neither saints nor sinners, but men who were trying to figure out a way to create a democracy lasting for more than a hundred years.

Men and women skirmish, it is true–but it is not actually an all-out war.

And there are millions of people in the world who believe without hating anybody.

Reality is a beautiful thing when it’s presented realistically.

For instance, terrorists are like everyone else. They are often too lazy or too broke to make terror.

G-Pop wants all of his family to know that even though there are many diseases floating about the cosmos, the human body possesses an amazing immune system to protect us.

How about this? Guns are not going to go away, so we should spend our time working on the people who own them, reminding them to refrain from killing each other.

Children are in more danger of being abducted by too much television than by crazy strangers.

It’s all about finding the reality–and any reality that is absent hope is evil, and any reality that fails to recognize evil destroys our hope.

Consider this: politicians are more inept than corrupt. But we’re stuck with them unless we decide we want to crown a king.

And even though many people enjoy escaping into fantasy, we don’t need too much magic. We need more mercy.

So looking at the world around him, G-Pop has come to the conclusion that to find good we must recognize the evil that attempts to block the path.

And in portraying evil, we must always truthfully admit that it is overcome by good.

 

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PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant… May 27th, 2015

   Jonathots Daily Blog

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Allow Me a Chance

I know the world is full of guile

But please allow me a chance to smile

I am fully aware of the anguish and pain

Yet reflect I will on remaining sane

To continue to believe in the common good

I must pursue what I think I should

For joining the shouting of the angry mob

Makes me nasty, failing at my job

Yes, I have a life that I must live

Solitary to me, my soul to give

A breath of peace to the exhausted clan

Remaining faithful to the glorious plan

For love is the only essence divine

Understanding one another the heavenly sign

So please, some room, a little space

To share my gift with the human race

By refusing to hurl that initial stone

Let people live, yea, leave them alone

Unless they cry out for a bit of relief

Perchance they desire some fresh belief

Then humbly I share the little I know

Gently support them as they grow

Step away, you cynics, and jaded fearful

Placing sweet hope in visions more cheerful. 

 

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Three Ways to Finish … March 19, 2015

Jonathots Daily Blog

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Arguably, the largest misconception in the ongoing pursuit of human relationship is the assertion that a good excuse is as powerful and proper as a promised result.

After all, we pretend to forgive those who give up along the way of completing a task. We really don’t. We join their retreat, sigh and walk away disappointed.

Unfortunately, it only takes a handful of disappointments before we just stop trying. When we find ourselves confined, unable to try, we are convinced that change is impossible.

The end result is a jaded population. It’s a prison for creativity.

So how can we finish? Please consider three steps:

1. Don’t start.

Yes, there are times that even if the cause is noble, the circumstances and surrounding attitudes are insufficient to even begin the endeavor.

We must be careful to never ignore the history that precedes us and boastfully tout that we can overcome it. There are just some things that should never be started because they cannot be finished.

And there is nothing worse in life than laying the foundation and being unable to complete the project, leaving behind a constant reminder of egregious stupidity.

Listen carefully. If it doesn’t seem plausible or pleasant…pass.

2. Don’t hurry.

The best way to make sure that you will fail to finish is to hurry and make mistakes that have to be redone, producing the frustration that causes us to want to throw in the towel. Slow down.

I have taught my children that if you find yourself late to an appointment, take your watch off, stop looking at it, set it aside and just realize that you’re going to be a little late–and will be much later if you worry and hurry.

Yes, sometimes in a project you reach a point where it’s not certain you will finish, so the best you can hope for is to pace yourself in a joyous way that allows for the possibility.

3. Don’t quit.

Consider your inventory.

• Do you have the ingredients?
• Do you have the time?
• Do you have the energy?
• Does the need exist?

Then hang in there.

Oftentimes, assistance arrives when people finally realize that you have no intention of fizzling out.

For after all, why would you give help to someone who is hapless and on the way to defeat? We help people who are working hard.

These are three great ways to finish. You will notice they are absent excuses, completely devoid of self-pity and all the frustration has been ripped from them.

What you have is the decision-making power to begin, pace yourself and stay with it–because who’s to say this project is any less viable than the next one? 

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Populie: Stand Up for Yourself … June 18, 2014

Jonathots Daily Blog

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 To gain any understanding of human relationships, we must learn the difference between bullying and physical abuse.

There is no doubt that if a we are physically attacked, a certain amount of defense is necessary to protect ourselves. Yet to channel that aggression into our everyday lives simply because we are dealing with critics, bullies and self-centered opponents is to open the door to cynicism and allow ourselves to become defensive and jaded.

There is a popular belief that we are required to defend ourselves against personal assault. The populie is that we should stand up for ourselves in all circumstances and never allow anyone to put us down.

Religion loves this simply because it allows them to drain creaky energy from the Old Testament, which permits a much more vindictive attitude towards those who are their enemies. (Allow me to warn you–every time you use the Old Testament to support your spiritual and emotional choices, you are denying the purpose for the lifestyle of Jesus.)

Politics loves “stand up for yourself” because it opens the door to deniability. In other words, even though you’ve done stupid or careless things, as long as you can deny them and act offended by the assertion, you can outlast your critics. This is the way politics works.

And of course, entertainment wants to put the hero in the corner with his or her back against the wall, and then have them fight their way to acceptance or freedom, to the applause and cheers of those who bought a ticket and a bucket of popcorn.

But if everybody in the world retaliates when challenged, then we will spend all of our time putting out brush fires of arguments instead of discovering the truth about ourselves and better ways to live.

Candidly, I almost didn’t write this essay because I knew my approach on this issue would be unpopular and even considered unnatural. But the greatest thing you can do when accused, verbally attacked, questioned or placed in a corner is to refuse to participate in the exercise because it only leads to a back-and-forth, meaningless futility. I attack you, you attack me, we attack each other, and then everyone around us is forced to take sides.

Writing a daily column on the Internet constantly puts me at risk of being questioned or even ambushed by people who choose to be critical of the work of others instead of venturing an effort of their own. I have developed a three-step process for everything I do in my life:

1. I said it.

In other words, as long as you’re quoting me correctly, I don’t have any problem with your disagreement and I refuse to question how you approach your comment. You are entitled to be upset with my words, my life and my choices. The power I have is in standing behind my words, my lifestyle and my choices.

I am not sure I know the value of an apology that begins with, “If I offended you … ”

When I offend you, I will apologize dearly, but if my mere beliefs and presence is a source of annoyance to you, I will continue my life and pray that you get over it.

2. I did it.

I am hungry and thirsty to see and hear human beings admit what they’ve done without clarification, excuse or defensiveness. I will tell you right now, if Richard Nixon had admitted what he knew about the Watergate break-in, been honest about his involvement and shared it immediately, he would never have been forced to resign.

I don’t know when we started thinking that diversion, lying, cheating and misrepresentation can ever win the day. Not only will the truth make you free, but if you reject the freedom, your sins will find you out.

3. This is who I am.

It doesn’t mean I’m not working on getting better; it doesn’t mean I’m always right. Certainly there are things I could learn from you. Yet I got over the need to pretend when I stopped being a child.

This is who I am.

I know there is such a thing as bullying, but if our children had more confidence about what they say, do and who they are, the silence they offer to the aggressive individuals around them would soon rob the varmints of the pleasure of riling them up.

Yes, we empower our enemies when we take their insults seriously.

So when we turn the other cheek, we are not being noble; rather, it is a sophisticated form of stubbornness … refusing to be curtailed by the whim and wishes of others.

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