Swarm Theory on the Mind

I recently ran across Seth Adam Smith's post Marriage Isn't For You .  Thinking that this was another of those worldly denouncements of all that is good in life I almost didn't read it. Well, I'm glad I did.  Especially when I read a response article on another website.  This other post  sits on the edge of what I had feared the first to be.  The author takes Seth's realization to an extreme and basically calls it detrimental to marriage. So, what am I getting at with this post? First, ideals are worth living for whether they are obtainable in this life or not.  And I believe that the best ideals are more realistic and more obtainable than society gives them credit for being.   Our society is losing the vision of living for ideals and the grace of allowing others to do the same. Second, marriage is a thing of faith and work.  No, you will not have all the answers before you get married, even if you wait until you're 99.  And, no, you w...

How can we save ourselves, our families, and even our country? Desire and live a life of virtue. Whatever your faith, creed, or system of belief you must make a thorough self examination. Pare down your life to the core virtues and principles that influence everything you do. If you find yourself lacking or without any core virtues, don't despair. In making the attempt you have shown desire to do right. That is the first step and perhaps the most important. Take that desire to improve and work with it. Seek out virtues and principles that are true. Then make those the modi operandi of your life. It will take time, but it will be worth it. You will have a greater sense of fulfillment in the things you do, you will attract people of similar caliber who will become lifelong friends, and you will form such a foundation for society that it will not fail. Once you have found your core virtues and principles, stand up for them. Do not be afraid of what others w...

I'm not sure how to say this, or how to let you see, but it's as simple as the title makes it:  It's NOT about the PARTIES!!! Really people, when you think about it, saying you're a Democrat or Republican means absolutely NOTHING!!!  Those terms have been used in a completely opposite sense from how they are used now.  And technically, being a Republican should mean you are for a Republic style government (which is what the US is and what each state is.).  Democrat is a harder word.  Technically you would be for democracy, but a pure democracy would have every person voting on every issue in order to get anything done.  It just doesn't work.  As for how the term "democracy" is used in everyday language, well...  It depends on who you are and where you live...  but generally it is used as a synonym for a republic-style government with representation and certain unalienable rights and the whole bit. I digress, but for a good reason. ...

How did we come to be here, at the highest point so far in history, and yet at such a historic low.  The morals of individuals and society are together crumbling to the ground and leaving only a mockery of right in their place.  Organized religions are under attack from all quarters.  Society thinks nothing of weekend affairs, getting drunk, or half-naked women everywhere. Somewhere along the line we have also lost any common sense we once had.  It seems to go hand in hand with the degradation of society.  Decisions that once were obvious now take so much double speak and politics to make that when all is said and done the problem could have been fixed twice over but is indeed just barely getting underway. Here you may say, “But, now we are more enlightened and understand that one must be thorough when making a decision.”  It’s perfectly true that we need to look at both sides.  But when there is an obvious moral issue why does it take so much skir...

If you watch the tags on my posts, you’ll notice one or two that don’t really make sense.  One of these was on the post “Meditation.” I had added the tag “Founding Fathers.”  Now why would I do that?  Surely the Founding Fathers weren’t really into meditation?  No, they probably weren’t.  It was the last quote in my post that made me decide to add that tag: “You believe in freedom of speech; you strive for articulation. We believe in freedom of silence; we lapse into meditation.” –Proffesor Hari Dam It made me think of the couple hundred years the colonists had to exercise true freedom and live in true liberty away from the English mainland.  Having such an unrestrained use of land and their own labor gave many men the opportunity for leisure.  This leisure was used, among other things surely, for study and self-improvement.  There were many well-read people who had no pressure from war, insufficient means of living, or an established state re...

is AMAZING! I'm not talking about the Western misconception of trying to fly or have an out-of-body experience or whatever else the majority of us thinks of when we hear the word "meditation." I'm talking about moderation in all things; about temperance, self-control and restraint.  I'm talking about taking a few minutes out of the day to shut down the computer, turn down the radio, pull out the earplugs, turn off the TV and just clear your mind, let the stress of life go, evaluate your life, enjoy your blessings, give thanks for your friends and consider how you might make new friends out of old enemies. You know, this sounds a little like Christianity, doesn't it?  I have heard it posited, and believe to be true, that meditation is indeed part of Christianity.  Here's a few scriptures from the Bible: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. (Joshua 1:8)  Let the words of my mouth, and ...

This may be stretching swarm theory further than it actually goes, but I shall apply it nonetheless. I have just had the idea that the title of this blog is more fitting than I at first perceived.  Originally it was just an intriguing bit of science that I had read up on and noticed every once in a while.  It also became a sort of running inside joke between me and a friend.  Now, however, I posit that this blog is bound by the theory of the swarm. It is a loose binding, as I am the primary author at the moment and there are precious few posts by others, but it fits to a point. All these various posts and bits and pieces of information go to make up a sort of swarm.  They are varied and deal with several subjects.  However, like a swarm of bees or otherwise, a dominant theme appears and best theory, idea, or decision comes to the forefront as more posts come to one or another point.  If I can get a full, cohesive view of this beast I may see the best ...

I think I am starting to see how we might survive as a nation.  There is the slightest chance of success. I don't know what the path looks like yet, but I can feel it's there and I can see the foundation that must be used to succeed. The format I use to organize this project will change over time.  Whether a little or a lot I don't know.  The purpose and end of this will not change however. It may take me several tries to state the end how it needs to be stated, so stick with me and try to understand. The foundation is made of correct principles and values.  The path we must take is the correct application of these principles and the living of these values.  The end is a nation properly run, righteously judged, and perfectly free. My first draft will be a compilation of ideas from others who have started the same thing.  Why not just join someone else?  I may.  Indeed I could join them all.  But first I must understand my personal bel...

There is no right or guarantee in the Constitution or any other Founding document that can be construed to uphold any immoral practice or policy. Since all rights listed and implied are unalienable rights, and since unalienable rights are endowed by God, there is no place for the upholding of such items as gay marriage.  All our laws lie on moral and eternal laws of the universe.  Since right and wrong are mutually exclusive the latter cannot be based on the former. I know I’ve stated the same thing three times now, but there is no other way to say it.  It is that simple.  There are eternal moral laws.  There are eternal, unchangeable, unalienable rights based on these laws.  The only proper role of Government is to uphold and protect these unalienable rights.  Thus the written laws of these proper governments are centered around ensuring moral laws are established among men to allow men to exercise their unalienable rights.  In short, our law...

Amid all the recent chaos and confusion of the political scene several organizations have come to my attention that I feel reflect my basic principles and beliefs.  Rather than try to explain each of these organizations myself I’ll just post links to their respective sites and let them explain themselves. http://www.the912project.com/the-912-2/ http://www.unitedinliberty.org/12_Principles_of_Liberty.html http://thetitleofliberty.org/about.html These links are not the home pages, but rather the pages that state each organization’s values.  I invite you to explore these organizations’ websites further and learn how you might get involved.