Judgment and Stereotypes

People judge and stereotype each other often and unfairly!  Why do people have the need to put others down?  Why do we stereotype?  Does it make us feel better?  Does it make us feel that we are above commoners?  Does it make us feel smarter? I believe that it is all the above and then some. By stereotyping people and grouping it becomes easier to compare to us and justify our shortcomings.  The skin color, spiritual beliefs, academic education, place of origin, ethnicity, and financial stature are some of the most commonly used stereotypes!  However, none of these stereotypes truly validates our opinions of others or provides a framework of reference to our quest to appear better than others.  A true measure of who we are and the most valid stereotype is the quality of our soul!  Interestingly enough, our soul has no color, religion, money, education, or a country to call home.  Our soul is an abstract idea of who we truly are as human beings.  Our soul is a measure of our kindness, compassion, humanity, concern, and consideration of others!  In the end this is all that counts.  How do we tread and care about others is a measure of our soul.  So, if you want to stereotype do it based on the measure of your soul.

Merry Christmas

Christmas is good!  People are generally happier, more receptive, passing love more freely to their fellow human beings, their spouses, and their families.  The surrounding environment puts a smile on everyone’s face.  The lights, the decorations, the music in the air give an upbeat vibe to everything that moves.  During Christmas we understand and appreciate other people’s problems better and in some cases we even rush to help.  We kind of feel guilty to have so much fun, spread so much happiness, share so many smiles, and spend so much money while others suffer.  It makes us feel better if we share! Christmas makes us almost better people as if we change, who we are, for three weeks every year.  If it weren’t for all the materialistic craze which has no logical underpinning I could say that December is the best month of the year.  But this race to buy everything freestanding drives me nuts.  I do not understand why people exhibit a purchase behavior which defies all common sense!  They behave as if they start a shopping list beginning in January of every year and in December they go shopping.  Give me a break!  What a waste!  My suggestion is for the government to regulate all expenses for the month of December to a maximum of 20% of each person’s income.  This way, people will make more rational purchase decisions and come January they will not need to consume antacids to deal with their debt indigestions.  BTW, the suggestion about regulating spending is a joke, so if any government technocrats are reading the page do not get any brilliant ideas.

Public figureheads and accountability

There are several and easy ways to filler buster any act of accountability but the brave, ethical people who love their country stand up and face the music. Easy to say but extremely difficult to find these type of people, because people willing to be accountable for their actions are a species on the endanger for extinction list. I am appalled with anyone passing the puck but I truly dislike any public figurehead who uses the public airwaves to avoid any responsibility or accountability.  Why the heck do we vote for these people at the first place?  Do we do it just to secure a comfortable income for them or to put them on a pedestal? It seems that it is the case, because as citizens we do not react strongly against the political bull shit.  The empty promises, public resources mismanagement, and negligence are treated as if it is “comedy central”.  The common theme for politicians and other public figureheads is that “they will have a meeting to discuss and plan on how they will address a specific problem”!  How about doing their job and implementing existing legislation by holding people accountable for their actions and most importantly holding themselves accountable as opposed to hiding behind “busy work” and “bulls shit fill blah blah”. Citizens should wake up and smell the coffee and realize that political figureheads are accountable to us and we should hold them to the highest standards and expectations.

Curiosity

The trouble with normal is that it always gets worst. Who wants to be normal in life!  What the heck is normal anyway!  By definition being normal is boring because the majority of people in this world are normal. I think someone who is considered to be normal follows the rules as they are set by the societal norms of where this person makes home.  The more these norms are followed the more boring it becomes and as a result it gives the perception that it always gets worst even though it is the same. So, the saying that goes like “the same old shit” is fit for normal people. How do people change, become innovative, create knowledge, question their surroundings, and in general become active participants who force change in the societies where we live? I have one word which when understood and embraced is a virtue; curiosity!  Curiosity is the single most important attribute a human being can posses.  Encourage your kids and people around you to acquire, nurture, and master this attribute.  Individuals, societies, states, governments, businesses, organizations and all other elements which comprise our world will be better off because of that.

On my last party

Just so there is no misunderstanding I want to have this in writing... When I die, not that I wish to die but I do know that some day (hopefully not soon) it will happen, I want everyone to wear yellow shirts!  I do not want the boiler plate discussion about not being appropriate! For things which concern me I define appropriate.  If it is true, as I hope it is, that our spirit stays alive after our physical self becomes obsolete it will make me smile to see everyone happy on that particular moment! On the other hand, if everything is gone along with the physical death, and my spirit cannot "feel", then who cares if it is yellow!  Anyway, the point is that I want people to celebrate my life, not mourn my death.  Also, I want music! The music can be a medley of 4-5 songs from various artists such as Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creed, and maybe some contemporary songs of the time! I want at least one Greek song as well.  But I want the full songs! Please do not mix them in the middle.  Ok... That's it on the subject! Cheers!

Government, self determination, and reality

I do not understand how people think most of the time.  Imagine how diverse we all are to have a need for so much regulation and laws just to be able to function.  Society would collapse if there was no legal framework.  That is the loudest example that humans cannot just get along!  Unless life is regulated, society cannot function.  Is that a sign of individuality which as some say makes us special and differentiates us from animals OR is that a sign that most people are assholes and they are just troublemakers and cannot get along?  I hate to disappoint you but I truly do not know the answer!  My gut feeling is that moderation is the key! It seems that the mantra of democracy saves us from ourselves; Personal democracy and freedom stops where someone else’s personal democracy and freedom starts!  If we adhere to this basic rule we will do fine.  I will discuss how regulators fuck up by not using this basic mantra when they regulate with a separate note.  

The role of government

The role of government should be simple!  Ensure the well being of its people and get the fuck out of the way! Unfortunately governments do not do that.  Governments assume the role of a guardian and they believe that unless they get deeply involved in our lives we will not make it.  Bull Shit!  Governments’ job is basic in that they should provide security and the framework/facilitation for job creation.  The guardian mentality trickles down to government employees as well. Some people working in government fail to realize that their job is to facilitate citizen requests and ensure that the government responsibilities towards its people are carried out. As a result, citizens, public employees, and the institution of government should work in accord to benefit a nation and its individual inhabitants. Most fail miserably in this quest!  

Simple recipe for a successful long term relationship

Most of the time all relationships start with love! Most times but not all because I have seen relationships which start because of money or other “like” irrelevant shit involved. However, in the end what counts is that when the initial floury of love, excitement, and sex passes and life becomes a routine, and responsibilities come to play, how does this relationship evolves? Does it become a mature relationship where the parties in the relationship help and support each other and draw a common road map or do they begin to argue, disrespect, and ignore each other? In most cases the later happens and that is the reason I suggest that sex, even though important in a relationship, is not the most important pillar which makes a relationship successful and fun! In my opinion the most important attributes in a relationship are respect, honesty, truth, honor, support, and common goals. When people achieve these six principles in a relationship then I guaranty to you that sex will be wonderful, exciting, great, and crazy for life and not just for the first few months. If those six principles cannot be achieved then better do not have a relationship, better go pay for sex and go home without any worries (assuming sex is important to you)! Anyway, most relationships never achieve a comfort level, commonality, or the road mapping essential to building a successful and fun relationship. I have a philosophical question for you; how many couples can tell each other what they really think about their partner’s haircut, weight, dressing habits, cleanliness, intellectual capacity, opinions etc in a mature way where there is no fighting or bitterness? I will submit to you that the answer to that question is “Not many”!

Relationships with the opposite sex and physical contact

I watched a movie called "The 40 year old virgin" the other day and it was one of the funniest movies I have watched in a long time. The story is about a 40 year old guy who is still a virgin and when his co-workers find out about it they try to "help" him overcome his "predicament". This movie even though made me laugh for a couple of days, it also made me think about a lot of issues. One of these issues was the issue of sex and how important it is in our lives or not. I had some discussions about the issue with friends and a common response (or opinion) I get is that ... "If an adult is not interested in sex it means that he/she is gay and they just do not want to look reality in the face and accept their sexuality"! I strongly disagree with this opinion. My theory behind it is that, even thought sex is good, enjoyable, fun, makes you feel alive, brings you closer to your companion (with the exception of compensated sex or casual sex which I do not condone) etc., it can lead to tremendous problems and responsibilities. For one, when a human starts having sex the childhood innocence which is so nice is done! Sex can also lead to other unexpected problems such as disease, unwanted pregnancy, violence, confidence problems, academic trouble, friendship, and society adjustment issues. My suggestion to kids is wait! Enjoy at least the first 20 or so years of your life without the burden of sexual/physical contact. You will have the rest of your life (on average the next 50 years of your life to mess with sex. Imagine 50 years of sex.... I guaranty that no matter how great sex is, doing it for 50 years will become boring.... so wait. There are so many other fun things to do the first 20 years of your life. Second, introducing sex into a relationship at the early stages does not allow the relationship to evolve and mature because the only thing people think about is sex! It becomes an obsession as if it is the most important thing. To the contrary, if you want a relationship to grow and flourish look for the following six principles; respect, honesty, truth, honor, support, common goals! OUT!