I know many people, – aquatances, friends, family – people from many different ethnicities, countries, religions, political leanings* – and all these individuals want the same things: life, love, food, water, shelter, friends, family, time, and a place in which to play. *anthropogenic constructs that do not physically exist in reality.

Out of all these human beings, none of them…no matter who they are, where they are from, where they live, what they choose to eat, what they choose to drive, who they choose to love, which way they choose to vote/worship (or not)…as far as I know none of them (even the ones with guns, knives, stones, and screwdrivers) are planning to harm anyone else or their property in the name of their chosen imaginary god being or political figurehead. That is just not a “normal” thing to do.

It is hard enough to just exist in a society, earn a living, and live this thing called life – whatever it actually is – and then, on top of all that hard work, actually decide to attack another human being who wants the same things you do but simply chooses to think, talk, live, or look different from you – just because they are different from you and/or they make different choices than you…that is absolute and total lunacy. Yet apparently, if you believe the urgent sounding talking heads behind the desk on the mainstream media, the politicians behind the podium, and the preachers behind the pulpits – it is happening more and more…but not from inside. They all point fingers at “the other” – immigrants – both legal and illegal, drug addicts, drug dealers, LGBTQ+, the poor, the homeless, those with anything but white skin and on and on. The problem is not from without, it is from within. This country is not perfect. In fact, it is seriously imperfect – now more than ever. There is a deeply seated rot eating away at the core of our government. The question is this: what do we do about it?

Then there is our mental health. Without it, we have nothing.

The current mental health crisis is not going away. We the people need some serious help.

We are our own most limiting factor.

We humans are a very strange species indeed. We have one of the most complex brains ever to exist, yet we still carry the bloodthirsty traits of our ancient ancestors deep in our DNA.

It seems that for some, when things do not go their way, they choose to be bad sports and vocally lash out with low brow profanities and often accompanying hoots and screams – like an enraged chimp with a small amount of rude and raw vocabulary – in an attempt to voice their holier than thou opinions in the childish attempt to get what they want.

Others, go even further, they go so far as to physically harm and kill.

I beleive this lack of self control, this lack of executive function, this is a evolutionary hold over from our chimpanzee-like days.

Like our closest living relatives, who will occasionally attack and kill each other over territorial disputes – and sometimes even form hunting parties and hunt, kill and eat other primates – raw – it seems that in some humans this genetic trait is still expressed and therefore they, like their ancient ancestors, must attack and sometimes even kill another. What triggers it? I do not know. However, it seems that fear of “the other” may play a huge factor.

The religiopolitical “leaders” of the world have known this fact for centuries and they have and will spin fear of “the other” at their congregations and constituents at a rapid fire pace. This only serves to incite fear and division which feeds wars between the tribes. In turn, war means control, conquest, plunder, booty, and more acquisitions for the rich.

Why don’t they choose to spread peace? Why don’t they choose to spread love? Why do they fear empathy and compassion?
Why do they hate and fear?
The answer is simple: they do not possess any of these more advanced qualities. They are far more concerned with selfish, greed and power driven control, and ephemerial wealth, than they are with the rose colored lies they so vocally preach.

If we continue to listen to the religiopolitical ancient sacred book and scroll thumpers, goose-stepping, warring, nationalistic flag and gun wavers, and grinning politicians – we will never have peace.

If we listen to reality, if we can take off the blinders and see and accept what is really happening, see and accept each other with all our unique differences – only then will we ever have true and lasting peace and true and lasting freedom.