Anti-war, pro-peace and the Law of Attraction

[Sweet Freedom]

Mother Teresa said, “I will never attend an anti-war rally; if you have a peace rally, invite me.”

Recently, attention has been focused on the Law of Attraction. The book and DVD "The Secret" and Oprah's dedication of two shows to the subject have brought this age-old concept to the mainstream. I found this topic interesting, and wanted to share the basic idea (for those who don’t know about it).

The Law of Attraction states that "like attracts like". Whatever we focus on the most is what is attracted to our lives. So when we always focus our energy on what we don’t want, we are attracting that negative energy to ourselves, instead of the positive energy we intend. I was thinking how this applies to the war. When we say, “End the war,” or “Stop the surge,” or “We’re going to war in Iran,” our focus is on war—exactly what we don’t want.

Instead, if we focus on what we do want—“Bring peace to Iraq(n);” “Bring the troops home,” etc. —then the positive energy of peace is what we attract.

This made a lot of sense to me. To illustrate my point, I was going to give an example like “You know that person in your life who’s always negative compared to the one who's always positive?” Then it struck me: You know * and Clinton? W is always in an alarmist state, always fueling fear and the negative. Screaming about war and terror! terror! terror! Spewing irrational nonsense. And that is what we’ve gotten: war, terror and irrational nonsense. Clinton’s demeanor was calm and soothing. Rational. He talked about hope. Everything felt different then. With him, we attracted a different energy.

Like attracts like.

I found the concept powerful and wanted to share with you. I’m still learning about all of this and I don’t have all the answers, but would be interested if others have positive thoughts to share on the subject.

:)



nam-myoho-renge-kyo

[Fridays Child]

1. It is interesting. k/r

[Sweet Freedom]

2. On a side note: love the button! /nt

[Fridays Child]

6. Thanks!

:)

[Morgana LaFey]

7. Boy, I sure don't.

I'll leave the discussion of why not for another time and place instead of dusting up your otherwise lovely thread. But I do hope you'll think on it a bit, and the level of "respect" (or lack thereof) for the female in that equation.

[TahitiNut]

12. I choose to think equal-opportunity French-kissing.

:shrug: How I think and what I think is my choice.

[I Have A Dream]

3. Yes, like attracts like. Very nice! Recommended!

:thumbsup: dist22dem!

[Sweet Freedom]

4. thank you /nt

[stellanoir]

5. happily offering up the 5th rec

[lonestarnot]

8. What does nam-myoho-renge-kyo mean?

We made origami peace cranes at the Eyes Wide Open memorial in Phoenix today. An Indian mother who lost her son in Iraq reread his eulogy (that attracted many tears). We also watched as the white peace doves were released as they flew around the memorial in a - and then flew off to their home. (Homing doves - I had previously heard of homing pigeons but never heard of homing doves, they are very cool) It was a beautiful day with perfect weather. I would say overall, we attracted a very peaceful event. Peace.

[Sweet Freedom]

13. My daughter was just telling me the story of the peace cranes

How beautiful.

Two members of my family served in Iraq. I truly feel for those who have lost their loved ones. Peace, indeed.

What is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo? Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the ultimate Law or true entity of life permeating all phenomena in the universe. Also, it is the invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo or daimoku of true Buddhism, one of the Three Great Secret Laws.

http://www.sgi-usa.org/buddhism/faqs/nmrk.htm

[lonestarnot]

22. cool and thanks for the link.

Does this link state the Three Great Secret Laws? I will go there and see for myself, but just wondered as I have to bookmark for a later read as I am pooooooooped. Yes the peace cranes fellow who showed us how to make the cranes, which I donated to the boots for the Arizona dead, is quite a talented fellow. He played the flute today, but I understand he is a real one-man band. He has been all over the world making and demonstrating and teaching people how to make cranes in the name of peace. He learned very early as it was tradition in his Japanese family. My son was very good at it, but he also does the 1 second t-shirt fold. Heh. Mine looked more like peace ducks. heh. Peace.

[Why Syzygy]

38. Do you have any links for

this event? Or the teacher?

How wonderful! I was just in a crafts store yesterday, longingly eyeing the oragami books and papers! More info requested. (if you have it)

K&R.

[lonestarnot]

71. Eyes wide open and I think it's a dot com.

Also www.azmatsuri.org He's going to be at heritage & science park on feb 24 -25 10:30 -4:30 7th st. & Monroe.

[Chemical Bill]

9. That * example is right on target. n/t

[Sweet Freedom]

15. I was so happy the comparison came to me.

I started to write the explanation I referenced in the OP, and then the example hit me. It was one of those "Duh!!" moments, so I knew it was true!

[wovenpaint]

10. K & R #8

:kick:

I'm definitely pro peace!

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

11. How about "Pro-peace! Pro-choice! Pro-life! Pro-love!"

Tell me where to show up and march, lobby, sit-in, or just raise general hell and I'll be there.

[Sweet Freedom]

14. I love it. The four Pros. /nt

[davsand]

43. Would the "Four Pros" be anything like the Four Horsemen according to a NeoCon?

Famine, Pestilence, War, and Death would be one version, but for the NeoCons it'd be the four pros...

Wow. You are just EVIL Libruls!


:)


Laura

[bonito]

16. Thank you

And a warm welcome to this post, sometimes we get so caught up, and forget the truth.

[Beaverhausen]

17. The "war on terror" brings about more terror - "Secret" teacher

Thanks for this thread. :hug:

One of the Secret teachers yesterday pointed out that the so-called War on Terror only brings about more terror, just as the war on drugs brings about more problems with drugs.

He said we have to focus on the opposite, which of course is peace and understanding.

The audience applauded loudly when he said that!

[bonito]

21. Focusing on the opposite

Is giving energy to that witch is being opposed, with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, and will only give it energy, denying a thing also is resistance, or mental action again, I think one should accept, and understand, that which is blocking our progress, then let it go for what it is, nothing, or like the bubbles in a meditation exercise taught a number of years ago.
I really never grasped these concepts myself when I first learned them, but now I'm older having learned these things and still experience them as well. Peace

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

18. Oh yes

best thing to do now is to meditate on peace.

Om shanti shanti shanti

[Digit]

19. Oh, yes, yes yes! K&R

Fantastic post, thank you!

[spoony]

27. I concur concur concur :-) k&r

I love posts like this!

[DesertRat]

20. Interesting. I completely agree about * and Clinton.

[rumpel]

23. love your anaylsis

May Peace Prevail on Earth

:)

[Nevernose]

24. I was about to post something REALLY negative

It began with "What kind of woo woo hippy dippy bullshit is this?" Sorry in advance -- knee jerk reaction.

And then a song popped into my head, a song my parents used to sing ad nauseum:

You've got to accentuate the positive (and)
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene

Roosevelt talked also about the irony of fearing fear, and Kennedy talked about the irony of giving and taking; Gandhi talked about "being the change."

I might suggest that leadership (i.e. Bush/Clinton, or better yet Roosevelt/Hitler) doesn't involve energy, it involves psychology and science. It's more an explainable zeitgeist thing than a spiritual thing.

So while I don't necessarily buy into the "mystical" aspects of your post, and though I stopped believing in mystical energies as soon as I both stopped smoking pot and watching Star Wars ;), this is one secular humanist that is fundamentally WITH you.

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene

(To illustrate his last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do
Just when everything looked so dark)

Man, they said we better
Accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, do not mess with Mister In-Between
Do you hear me, hmm?

(Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear
About the elininatin' of the negative
And the accent on the positive)
And gather 'round me children if you're willin'
And sit tight while I start reviewin'
The attitude of doin' right

(You've gotta accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between)

You've got to spread joy (up to the maximum)
Bring gloom (down) down to the minimum
Otherwise (otherwise) pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate (well illustrate) my last remark (you got the floor)
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they say (what did they say)
Say when everything looked so dark

Man, they said we better
Accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No! Don't mess with Mister In-Between

[Sweet Freedom]

37. Nevernose

your post made me smile. I had that song in my head all day yesterday (before I read your post.) Needless to say, the earworm is back!

[Why Syzygy]

39. psychology and spirituality

are not distant relatives. They many times appear as twins. So called spirituality aims more at the "do it", and sometimes psychology fouces on "don't do it".

Thanks for the song. Evidently it made a lasting impression.

[JCMach1]

25. Shoot me the day I buy into pop psychology of this ilk

Good things happen lots of times when the focus is on the negative!



Remember the muckrakers?

Images of the starving in Ethiopia?

Any number of examples?

Are we better served by not seeing images of dead American soldiers?


Damn it, we often learn from the HORROR of our mistakes. And, we learn when we face it.



So, keep up the positive! Go ahead, drink the koolade! We are all going to heaven after all. Right? (:sarcasm:)

[spoony]

26. But simply being horrified

does not propel change. Horror is paralysing, not inspiring. Horror can bring awareness, but what the OP is talking about brings action.

For example, a problem is seen in a derelict playground unsafe for kids. Images of weeds growing over the swingset etc. are publicised. People become aware. People denounce the state of the playground (negative reaction). People who are so moved by civic, community pride go fix it (positive reaction).

[JCMach1]

28. Horror doesn't bring action... you really believe that?

It can and does... as can other negative feedback.

It doesn't mean there can't be positive action and activity.

I just believe it is naive to think it is the ONLY thing that works.

[LaurenG]

29. You do not understand so you make judgments based on your understanding?

There are those among us who have an understanding beyond the physical, like it or hate it its all around us.

You will go much further if you have a goal, it will give you direction and a place to focus. Why is that so hard for some to understand?

Who is drinking "koolade" here?

[ForeignSpectator]

31. yeah but as I understood it...

...it's not about ignoring horrors caused by previous errors or about ignoring images of dead soldiers. Sure, you're right that not facing the negative facts leads to inactivity but the message was about attracting other people to your cause ( once YOU got active while they are not, yet ).

Personally, I can see "undecided" people ( however that may be possible in these times concerning Iraq etc but okay ) being more attracted to notions like "Peace" rather than "War" ( even with an "against" in front of it ). So they can be "for" something instead of "against" and join you. It would be the first step for them to maybe become activists themselves ( after an "MSM sheep life" ).

When protesting FOR "peace", the focus is still on the ( negative ) issue Iraq but the "package" is more attractive for "bystanders" to join on the issue.

I'd say it's just one other way to get people to open their eyes...

[JCMach1]

33. You will never convince me this isn't recycled Norman Vincent Peale

:(

It's magical thinking (same as any other religion) just cloaked in secular clothes.


Not only do I think it's a bad thing, IT'S DANGEROUS thinking for our country and our movement.

Actually, you guys should be happy... being liked has been the Democratic strategy since 2000... and where exactly did it get us? Nowhere until a few folks began opposing the insanity.

[I Have A Dream]

44. Your post made me think, ForeignSpectator.

I think that many people who are not really interested in politics would be more open to the positive focus. Some people who don't get involved in the war debate are uninvolved, whether appropriate or not, because they don't want to always see the negative pictures, etc. If they can instead focus on the positive, they can envision aesthetically pleasing images (such as a world at peace) rather than disturbing images, and we've got another person who is supporting what we believe, and hopefully during the next election they'd vote for the candidate who supports peace.

It's weird the way the human mind works, but psychologically, this might make a difference as to whether some formerly uninvolved people might take an interest in and start getting involved in making changes in the world in which we live. It might even be a paradigm shift for some people.

[stellanoir]

35. I'll shoot some awareness your way. . .

No one is encouraging complacency here.

And sure negativity can be a fantastic motivator for redemptive action.

The reality is that the powers that be are not maintaining their stance through logic, linear, or rational means alone.

They may just thrive on the hatred they inspire which is so often flamed around in activist circles.

I've watched some of the most brilliant intellectuals in various scientific, historical, technical, and diplomatic fields have their arguments discredited as being "reality based."

We all know of the utterly disingenuous nomenclature of "Healthy Skies," "Clean Forests," "Leave no Child Behind," and "Help America Vote" Acts.

Pssssssssssssst. . .the powers that be are using low level mind control through incessant repetition of mantras like "fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here," and "we can't just leave."

Someone told me decades ago that there would be another flood. It would be a flood of ideas.

Media control by those profiting off military blunders, crimes against humanity, are masked by incessant distractions such as the relative triviality of the illusive paternity of ANS's infant. We are told that support of the troops means to support a surge when an adequate number of armored vehicles is not available.

I read a while ago that due to the nature of the powers that be, they would only lose their power through a massive elevation of global consciousness.

With the reality of a series of compromised elections and a sycophantic media, those of peaceful orientations perhaps could get creative.

Here's a suggestion I just received. . .

"We are creating with spirit that the military make an announcement to this cabinet that they cannot win and a surge will be pointless. We are creating with spirit that an inspired thought get through *'s seemingly blockheaded arrogance. We are creating with spirit that the suffering being perpetrated on this sphere can be deterred and greater enlightenment can come to be, globally. We are creating with spirit that more become far more aware than any media details allow. We are creating with spirit that awareness overcome disregard for humanity's health and happiness."

Perhaps in this still new millennium. . .wars are simply no longer winnable.

Have a nice day.

Oh and LOL. . .Mother Theresa. . .former pop psychologist at large.

[Why Syzygy]

40. There are the matters of contrast.

Which you state. Focusing on 'positive' would suggest "feeding all the people of the world".
The planet is quite capable of that. Is is due to 'governmental' and corporate greed for power and gold which keeps the starving in place. It isn't due to lack of Resources of the Planet.

There wouldn't be any pictures of dead soldiers and civilians and torture victims if there were Peace. Now would there? How does focusing on Peace juxtapose to pictures of violence?
Unequal equation.

The "Horror" is the contrast. What we do after noticing, is choose. Which will we have?
Choose Peace, Wealth, Equality and Prosperity for All.

[omega minimo]

46. the pop psych package contains basic truth about how the universe works

and yes it has been told before-- including by Peale and others-- in many forms and disciplines.

However it is not sappy "positive thinking." All you need to know is, it works. All you need to prove it to yourself, is try it. As you do, every time you focus your intention on what you want and take steps to bring that into your life, rather than think only of what's wrong with your life.

The examples you gave allowed people to see problems and focus intention on doing something about it..

[LaurenG]

30. Kicked and rec'ed : - ) nt

[babsbunny]

32. I'm learning about this too! I am feeling much better!

I bought the movie and you can watch it too! Go to www.thesecret.tv

[Sweet Freedom]

36. Babsbunny

I see you beat me to this topic by posting a similar thread a few months ago! :hi:

[babsbunny]

47. Yay! Let's spread the word!

ThankYou for your post! :hi:

[all.of.me]

34. and ghandi said...

... "be the change you wish to see."

neale donald walsch said, 'thought is creative.'

whatever energy you put out comes back multi-fold. i love the example of bush and clinton. it is so true.

[Me.]

41. Good

The more this goes around the better. LOA is becoming a topic that is discussed in more mainstream arenas such as Oprah. Critical mass is building.

[seabeyond]

42. one is in battle, confrontation. one in peace and healing. i absolutely

agree. how i live life. we create. anti creates battle,... peace creates just that

[Lisa0825]

45. New Age flavor of the month.

I swear if Christian or Scientologist terminology were subbed in, it would sound like the same old story. Get saved and you too will be blessed. Focus on the positive, and all good things will come your way. People on Oprah talking about this made it sound like life would be perfect if you just lived by the principles of the law of attraction. You WILL be rich, thin, happy, and find your soulmate. All you have to do is put the right thoughts out into the universe!!! :eyes:

[Beaverhausen]

48. This is about one's own thoughts and actions, not some outside force

Lisa, I have been living by these principles for almost 10 years and I have had only good, positive results.

Please don't roll your eyes-give it a try.

[Lisa0825]

49. Well, the folks I saw being interviewed about it

presented it like it was the melding of physical forces and spirituality.

Here's a clip from an Amazon review that is one of many examples that make me skeptical: "Cosmic observations reveal that thoughts, which vibrate at different frequencies determined by their emotional content, create observable energy fields in the earth's atmosphere."

And the people I have met who believe in this tend to look like the folks in the stadium/church in awe of Joel Osteen because he is so positive! And most of them gush about success and money.

I find it to sound very "classish." Nice way of saying rich and successful people deserve everything they get and so do the poor and downtrodden.

Is there power in positive thinking? Sure. But New Age gobbledy-gook like this makes about as much sense to me as thetas inhabiting humans.

edited to add: Actually all the hype and the way people are entranced with the Secret and the Law of Attraction reminds me VERY MUCH of the Celestine Prophesies. I remember a lady on the shuttle bus I rode to work talking about it... she didn't say, "Yes, I read it." She said, "Yes, I am currently studying it."

[tanyev]

50. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.

I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?


So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

[stellanoir]

53. a yocal disc jockey has annoyed me for hears by dedicating that song to me

"What's so funny about peace, love, and understanding. . .woh oh oh oh"

Only plausible answer is EVERYTHING.

:rofl:

[kimmerspixelated]

51. Don't knock it until you have really tried it.

It's more than just positive thinking. It has different levels. I don't know about The Secret, I haven't read that....but I have read, The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent and it is so powerful. The day I really concentrated on what I wanted, several things happened to help the progress of the desires. It was like magic. It is hard to keep your thoughts on an even line, though, it is something that has to be worked at. You have to find a place where you make yourself feel better about any setbacks you may have to help yourself on the emotional guidance system. Everything that keeps you from attaining your goals has an emotion attached to it! I hope you will give it a try, and have something positive come into your life. Cheers!

[Lisa0825]

52. Sorry, but I am not interested in converting.

Between the vaccine debates and psuedo-science/new age religion being touted here, I am starting to think DU is slipping.

[stellanoir]

54. then don't and be a total snob

and keep bitching insuffably. . .But Molly and Ann were of great humors. . .too bad you aren't. You may want to rethink your avatars.

Have a nice day.

[Lisa0825]

57. You may not see yourself the same way, but....

All your "just try it" and professions of the magic it has worked sound exactly like a fundamentalist Christian attempting to convert my poor lost soul. Have you ever gotten annoyed when someone thinks you need saving, or need to just see the light?

I shouldn't have come into the topic at all, but it has been so heavily publicized lately, that I felt like "OH NO! Not here too!"

Sorry about coming off as rude. You are right. I should have just kept my mouth shut. It's just that the coaxing made me feel just like the last time a well-intentioned Christian tried to explain why he was praying for me to see the light.

[WestHoustonDem]

59. Is this an example of your positive attitude? Here's a clue

It's not working if you're so threatened by someone who doesn't conform to your beliefs.

From what I read and heard of Molly's work, she would never have bought into this think positive stuff. She and Ann both believed in confronting evil head on.

Don't lecture Texans on Molly and Ann, you clearly haven't done your homework.

[Chemical Bill]

60. How do you make the connection between...

thinking positively and not confronting evil head on? Peace is actively confronting war head on. Thinking about a positive solution is exactly what it takes to confront a negative situation head on.

Bill

[WestHoustonDem]

61. Maybe I didn't explain myself well

Thinking positively is one thing, but neither Molly nor Ann ever minced words about the Bush family or any of the other poisonous factors we've been suffering in Texas and national politics. Yes, they had positive attitudes, but they called it like they saw it.

My objection was to this supposedly positive person taking potshots at a fine Texan in a very negative way. And invoking two of my Texas' finest womeo to do so. Surely that can't be part of the positive philosophy.

[Chemical Bill]

64. I'll always remember Molly's story...

about the Texas repuke that she mentioned in her column, calling him a scum-sucking hound or something even more colorful (that I can't hope to replicate). The next time she saw him, he came up to her and said: "You talked about me in your newspaper!"

Bill

[WestHoustonDem]

65. She was awesome! n/t

[LWolf]

55. Attitude.

For those unable, or unready, to handle the concept of the law of attraction, it could be said that attitude is a choice.

You can't choose the situation, but you can choose the attitude you take.

You can find something positive in everything; in everything, there is at least a positive action we can take, and we can work for a positive outcome.

Or we can moan and groan, or thrash in rage, or threaten, or fight.

The first way is less stressful, and more productive, than the second, in my opinion.

Many think that anger is a positive thing. It is a completely natural thing, anyway. An honest response, that, when it is brief, is part of responding to conflict. It isn't exactly productive, though. An adrenaline rush in the fate of threat prompts a "fight or flight" response; a quick conclusion to the threat, one way or the other. Prolonged anger is corrosive and more damaging to the one holding the anger than it is to the target.

Much of what we have to be angry about these days cannot be quickly resolved. To hold jealously to our anger, to cling to our right to rage, accomplishes nothing good. In my opinion.

There are those, though, that seem to be addicted to fear and to anger. They look for things to be fearful of or angry about, and worry them incessantly, like a dog with a "hot" spot. They growl at the idea that it's possible to let go, and will bite if cornered.

They will be the first to deride the "law of attraction." For good reason. It suggests that an attitude change might be in order, which triggers the "fight" response they are addicted to.

Just my observations, interpretations, and point of view, of course.

I am glad to work for peace and for sustainability. There are so many good things to move towards; why not move forward, instead of remaining stuck in the place of fear and rage?

[Lisa0825]

58. Fundie

"For those unable, or unready, to handle the concept of the law of attraction, it could be said that attitude is a choice."

If you can't see the parallel between your statement and a fundamentalist Christian, you are blind. This is a perfect example of the attitude that pisses me off.

Oh, poor me... I am just unable, unready, or too ignorant to recognize that you are right and all other philosophies are wrong.

THANK YOU for being a perfect example of my point.

[Chemical Bill]

63. I'm sorry you feel we are trying to convert you.

Most people here don't know you, and mean no ill will to you personally.

Bill

[Chemical Bill]

62. I agree.

It comes down to choosing the attitude with which you meet the world.

If I am looking for a solution, I may see one that presents itself, whereas if I am thinking that the situation is hopeless, I may ignore that same opportunity.

Certainly I would judge two equal job candidates by attitude. One comes to an interview saying she can do the job and is sure that she'll be happy working for me. Another comes to an interview saying that he never seems to find the right position. Who do you think I'm going to hire?

Bill

[pauldp]

56. Just as Kucinich wants a Department of Peace, we should visualize

a world that is safer for our children. Corporate criminals safely
behind bars. A media that is truly independent. A greener safer world.
VISUALIZE IT. CREATE A CLEAR PICTURE IN YOUR MIND.
Indeed it's not new-age hocus pocus... it's a matter of positive focus.

I am convinced it is true what you resist will persist.

Pro-Peace NOT anti-war!

Thanks for the post.

:thumbsup:

[Beaverhausen]

68. I do think Kuchinich knows about and uses the law of attraction

Once we visualize peace and give it energy, it turns into positive actions in the direction of peace.

[InvisibleTouch]

66. Important concept.

In the movie there's a point where they talk about how a lot of negative focus on the political candidate you don't want, can often add enough energy to him to tip the outcome of an election in his favor. I believe that's exactly what we saw happen in 2004 with * vs. Kerry. So many people here were more anti-Bush than pro-Kerry (remember ABB?), driven more by their (entirely understandable) loathing of the Shrub than by true support for Kerry. Despite the fact that, in terms of sheer numbers and ideology, Kerry had the edge. And we saw how that turned out.

That's also why I think Hillary has a very good shot at winning - because she does generate a lot of energy and passion, both good and bad. And all the uproar and publicity can, in the end, only help her. I'd rather see someone polarizing, who has a lot of vehement supporters and detractors, than someone who doesn't generate much passion at all, either way.

I'm struck by how many members of this very site pick their usernames as "mad"-this and "angry"- that and "hate"-this-and-such, and other negative designations that point to what they're against, not what they're for. Not meant as a criticism, just an observation that has jumped out at me more and more in the last months. Believe me, I understand "mad," "angry," and "hate." I understand it very very well, from the course of my own life. I understand being driven to fight against, to throw oneself with all one's soul and passion into an attack on the outrages of the world. That's very much a reflex response for me by now, because I've been doing it all my life. But when I step back and ask myself, "How's that been working for you?", the answer is, "Not all that well." So I'm working on changing my approach, changing the energy I put out. It's a long and laborious process for me, but I'm working on letting it sink in.

You'll find the concepts expressed in "The Secret" in lots of other books - it's a law of the Universe that's been known and acted upon since the dawn of history - it just hasn't always been given a name or even a conscious formulation. All those famous people listed in the movie who supposedly knew "The Secret"? I don't think they called it any such thing, nor that they consciously tried to keep some great power from the "common masses;" that part is just a dramatization. They simply did what worked.

I highly recommend this movie even to the "skeptics" - because even if you only pick up one small insight that's of use to you, that 90 minutes hasn't been wasted.

[Fire Walk With Me]

67. So this makes BushCo a definite manifestation of the selfishness in Americans

We have to see greed and brutal selfishness if it's in us, and change it. If BushCo are our responsibility.

[Fire Walk With Me]

69. I'm interested in replies to this one, if any care to do so.

If we don't like conniving, selfishness, negativity, domination, greed, stonewalling, passive-aggressive behaviour, and a general "fuck you" attitude in those in positions of power, we must recognize these things in ourselves and work to change them. If we create our own reality, we have created BushCo at a national level. Don't like the mirror? Choose something else.

Or wait and see where these things take us, now that they are in control of all of the "guns and ships", to quote a very bad person.

If we want to see an inclusive, tolerant, supportive, creative, sharing, encouraging seat of power, we must first create it through actions of these sorts in our own lives.

[Nutrino]

70. I read this Law of Attraction Interview

I really love that this topic is receiving broader discussion. By the way, I'm not really a *newbie*. I've been around DU since 911 but changed computers...

Anyway, I ran across this interview with Bob Doyle from "The Secret" explaining how to use the Law of Attraction. I don't know if this is a "law" or whatnot. But it's fascinating to consider.

~Nutrino