One of the first things I read this morning was a posting from one of my favorite medical gurus, Dr. Joseph Mercola, a D.O. who specializes in natural approaches to health. The article discusses how Big Pharma (largely through the American Academy of Pediatrics) is organizing a campaign to stop the informed vaccine choice message being displayed on the Times Square Jumbotron in NYC. The article points out that the AAP gets large sums of money from Big Pharma, and how the AAP has been trying to strongarm CBS, owner of the Jumbotron billboard, to take the ads down. (You can read the article for yourself here: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/05/06/doctors-denying-vaccine-risks-an-american-tragedy.aspx.)
The whole topic made me take a hard look at the United States, the home of the "free". Many Americans hold up the Constitution and the freedoms it protects as one of the things that makes the United States one of the best countries in the world. We have the right to worship as we want, speak out as we want, write and publish as we want. However, if you look at the reality of life in the United States, you will see this is not the case.
Look at the idea of free speech. The nonprofit National Vaccine Information Center is behind the informed vaccine choice being posted on the Jumbotron. While the government itself is not responsible for attempting to take the message off, other powers that be have done their best to restrict the message using some very underhanded tactics. Big Pharma makes billions of dollars every year distributing their patented vaccines. Of course they don't want people to think about the risks! If people knew more of the statistics on the problems with vaccines, many would keep their children from getting vaccines! There are those in this country with money and power who would keep the "little guy" from knowing the truth, all because of greed. If we are not allowed to hear the truth because it is kept from us, are we free to make our own informed choices?
Now look at the idea of freedom of religion. While I do not appreciate religious fanatics who would try to force others into worshipping their way, I also do not appreciate those who would try to limit how we worship in public. What is wrong with saying the Pledge of Allegience at a high school ball game? Just because two people in the crowd don't want to say the words "under God" means the rest of us can't say it? If you don't like it, you are still free to sit down, walk out or not show up! What gives a vocal minority the right to legislate what the rest of us can do?
The heart of the matter is, America has become a place where truth and freedom are bought and paid for by those who have the money and influence to control what we are exposed to! It isn't about truth. It isn't about freedom. It is about control, and control is not the natural order of things. We were given the gift of free will so that we can choose for ourselves what we learn about and experience. True freedom can only come when we have access to all the availabe information and are allowed to choose those things which serve us.
The whole topic made me take a hard look at the United States, the home of the "free". Many Americans hold up the Constitution and the freedoms it protects as one of the things that makes the United States one of the best countries in the world. We have the right to worship as we want, speak out as we want, write and publish as we want. However, if you look at the reality of life in the United States, you will see this is not the case.
Look at the idea of free speech. The nonprofit National Vaccine Information Center is behind the informed vaccine choice being posted on the Jumbotron. While the government itself is not responsible for attempting to take the message off, other powers that be have done their best to restrict the message using some very underhanded tactics. Big Pharma makes billions of dollars every year distributing their patented vaccines. Of course they don't want people to think about the risks! If people knew more of the statistics on the problems with vaccines, many would keep their children from getting vaccines! There are those in this country with money and power who would keep the "little guy" from knowing the truth, all because of greed. If we are not allowed to hear the truth because it is kept from us, are we free to make our own informed choices?
Now look at the idea of freedom of religion. While I do not appreciate religious fanatics who would try to force others into worshipping their way, I also do not appreciate those who would try to limit how we worship in public. What is wrong with saying the Pledge of Allegience at a high school ball game? Just because two people in the crowd don't want to say the words "under God" means the rest of us can't say it? If you don't like it, you are still free to sit down, walk out or not show up! What gives a vocal minority the right to legislate what the rest of us can do?
The heart of the matter is, America has become a place where truth and freedom are bought and paid for by those who have the money and influence to control what we are exposed to! It isn't about truth. It isn't about freedom. It is about control, and control is not the natural order of things. We were given the gift of free will so that we can choose for ourselves what we learn about and experience. True freedom can only come when we have access to all the availabe information and are allowed to choose those things which serve us.
But the Pledge of Allegiance is a form of control on the people. Think about it...people are pledging allegiance to a material object. I objected to it in high school because it became a pointless ritual that kids didn't even want to do. It loses meaning when its required every day. If people want to pledge allegiance to a material object, they can do it whenever they want. Just leave me out of it!
ReplyDeleteAs for the control of information, I agree. The alternative forms of healing (such as acupuncture, reiki, hypnotic regression and homeopathic medicine) is often derided and dismissed by the medical community, yet I know people who swear by it. As I like to tell people, "Its just information." Experiment and see what works. Nothing wrong with that.
If the pledge is limited to the narrow-minded view of it you speak of, I would agree. The thing is, there is much more to it than that. Most people don't even think about the words as much as they feel the feelings of unity such a statement provokes. As limited and control-oriented as religion is, I believe there is some value in it if it helps connect you to Source in some way. It does this for many people, as limited or as wrong as you think it is. I still enjoy listening to praise music, not because I see myself as needing to be lifted up and saved but because of the feelings of Oneness the intentions express. You, of course, are free to judge it as you want. Personal feelings do not negate its value. It is up to each individual to decide to be offended by it or not.
ReplyDeleteMy point with both issues is that control is not a good thing. Trying to force others into what you think is best (or what is best for you) is simply not an acceptable approach for those who aspire to become enlightened and evolved.