Comments on: Hope http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/ Expose Yourself to Doubt Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:38:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Eric http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Eric Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:09:57 +0000 http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/#comment-117 Yeah I know, but at that age isn't politics the last thing on a teenager's mind ???? In my youth it was music and chicks, sometimes the order was reversed.... As for being a closet communist, I am not. It has done more overt problems than the covert ones capitalism has done. But that's another discussion. I wish Melanie all the best and to her boyfriend too, do I know him ? No and I do not stalk the local high school...hahaha But I think I've been skeptical quite a bit now. And it is very difficult to change or better yet transform after all these years. Being in your classes has brought a new dimension of thought and awareness. But old habits are hard to overcome. But we try and in the end, that's sometimes good enough. Maybe if I had mindful reflection in school, I would be more mindful in life and who knows what that would have done.... It's something to think about. Yeah I know, but at that age isn’t politics the last thing on a teenager’s mind ????

In my youth it was music and chicks, sometimes the order was reversed….

As for being a closet communist, I am not. It has done more overt problems than the covert ones capitalism has done. But that’s another discussion.

I wish Melanie all the best and to her boyfriend too, do I know him ? No and I do not stalk the local high school…hahaha

But I think I’ve been skeptical quite a bit now. And it is very difficult to change or better yet transform after all these years. Being in your classes has brought a new dimension of thought and awareness. But old habits are hard to overcome. But we try and in the end, that’s sometimes good enough.

Maybe if I had mindful reflection in school, I would be more mindful in life and who knows what that would have done….

It’s something to think about.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Stephen Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:26:21 +0000 http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/#comment-116 <p>Marx critiqued capital very well, but his only alternative was a dreamy utopia-nightmare.</p> <blockquote>“…democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” —Churchill</blockquote> <p>Back to the point: you seem to have formed a firm view of Melanie's boyfriend without ever having met him. How does that jive with non-judgemental, curious, present-moment awareness? Mindful reflection that only applies to some aspects of consciousness will get you nowhere.</p> <blockquote> “The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.” —Churchill</blockquote> Marx critiqued capital very well, but his only alternative was a dreamy utopia-nightmare.

“…democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” —Churchill

Back to the point: you seem to have formed a firm view of Melanie’s boyfriend without ever having met him. How does that jive with non-judgemental, curious, present-moment awareness? Mindful reflection that only applies to some aspects of consciousness will get you nowhere.

“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.” —Churchill

]]> By: Eric http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Eric Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:15:48 +0000 http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/#comment-115 You are right that we cannot define people but I think we can define people if they do not change or are not willing to change in the face of facts. Your daughter's boyfriend has the advantage of being "new" or a novice to the reality of politics. If he is surrounded by people who will advise him and tell him the truth, then he will become more aware of how things work. Frank Zappa had the same approach to his kid's brush with religion. Make your mind up if you want to join or not, it's your decision. As for your comrades, with what's happening with the financial mess we are in, they might have had a point. True some, if not most, were too radical and not media savvy to get their message through (think of Marx's beard....hahaha) but right now it would be hard to argue on some of their basic tenets. See you thursday.... You are right that we cannot define people but I think we can define people if they do not change or are not willing to change in the face of facts. Your daughter’s boyfriend has the advantage of being “new” or a novice to the reality of politics. If he is surrounded by people who will advise him and tell him the truth, then he will become more aware of how things work.

Frank Zappa had the same approach to his kid’s brush with religion. Make your mind up if you want to join or not, it’s your decision.

As for your comrades, with what’s happening with the financial mess we are in, they might have had a point. True some, if not most, were too radical and not media savvy to get their message through (think of Marx’s beard….hahaha) but right now it would be hard to argue on some of their basic tenets.

See you thursday….

]]> By: Stephen http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Stephen Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:38:46 +0000 http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/#comment-114 Eric: It's easy to be skeptical of big government and even bigger business, but I I think there's still hope for the human spirit. It's pretty limiting to define people merely by their abilities to dream or strategize. I came to my present path via politics (revolutionary, not parliamentary) and although I ended up walking out on my ‘comrades,’ it was nevertheless a hugely important step in my understanding of freedom. As for Melanie, she doesn't need us to tell her what to do. She <em>asks</em>, but we tend to throw it back on her; it's made her highly discriminating and independent. Eric: It’s easy to be skeptical of big government and even bigger business, but I I think there’s still hope for the human spirit. It’s pretty limiting to define people merely by their abilities to dream or strategize. I came to my present path via politics (revolutionary, not parliamentary) and although I ended up walking out on my ‘comrades,’ it was nevertheless a hugely important step in my understanding of freedom. As for Melanie, she doesn’t need us to tell her what to do. She asks, but we tend to throw it back on her; it’s made her highly discriminating and independent.

]]> By: Eric http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Eric Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:59:39 +0000 http://www.thenovice.ca/blog/2010/02/28/hope/#comment-111 Hi Stephen, I would watch out for this new boyfriend, as anyone who wants to run for office is either a dreamer or a very cunning person. I think change is only attainable by putting pressure on the system. Either by lobbying or showing our elected officials that if they don't do what we want we will not vote for them (petition or blogs). It's blackmail to be sure but it works. It's pretty obvious that I have no children of my own..... :O) Good luck. PS will you be able to know if he reads your blog to gain your favor ???? Hi Stephen,

I would watch out for this new boyfriend, as anyone who wants to run for office is either a dreamer or a very cunning person.

I think change is only attainable by putting pressure on the system. Either by lobbying or showing our elected officials that if they don’t do what we want we will not vote for them (petition or blogs). It’s blackmail to be sure but it works.

It’s pretty obvious that I have no children of my own….. :O)

Good luck.

PS will you be able to know if he reads your blog to gain your favor ????

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