I just started an online course for Intro to Philosophy and they asked us to introduce ourselves on the discussion board and talk about what we hope to get out of the course and what if any life philosophies we subscribe to...this was my post...thought I would share!
I enrolled in this course because there is a dichotomy that lives inside of me and I feel that the only way to ever find some semblance of balance is to keep asking myself why? When I read a profound quote I grasp its truth and relish in the discovery of knowledge. When I speak to others about my passion towards humanity and the adventure that is life, I know that it comes from a well of truth inside me. But...(and this is the piece of the puzzle I will endlessly strive to solve) my actions don't often mirror my most solid beliefs. I see that I am capable of making a difference in the lives of others just when I half ass it, so I often daydream about what I could accomplish if I could somehow manage to make my beliefs and my actions be one in the same. If I can live my life just being true to myself I feel that I will have a greater impact than all of the eloquent things I could ever hope to conjure up.  There is a fundamental difference between being introspective and self-absorbed. I know that to live up to my full potential and fulfill my purpose here in this small spot of the cosmos that I must look within and constantly question my behavior. I grapple with how I can be so sure of something and not just instinctively act that out...but alas I am flawed. However, accepting that I am flawed (and shedding the delusion that perfection is attainable) is only the first step on my road to self-discovery. At this stage in my life I feel it is my duty, to dissect those flaws and learn something from them if I ever hope to have inner peace and make a positive impact on those around me...which brings me to this class. I have long thought of myself as a philosopher :), but I have come to think that perhaps I am being a little self-indulgent. I don't ever want to be the type of person who subscribes to a particular attribute without putting in the work to earn it. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your posts and look forward to great discussions moving forward. And so we dive once again into the realm of the deeper tide that pushes our minds to contemplate...to me this is never idle time! Not all those who wander are lost!

Have you ever attended (or saw the poster) for a charity of a family trying to raise money to continue their child’s cancer treatment?  Have you ever met a single parent who lost their partner to an illness and now lives on food stamps in a government rent assisted apartment because they spent every last dime they had, even cashed in their 401k to pay the medical bills that accrued trying to save their loved ones life…and now have to struggle alone and raise their children in poverty?  Have you ever actually asked for an itemized bill from your doctor after a procedure and saw that they charged you $43 for that popsicle stick they shoved down your throat?  Do you know that the actual major component used in hip replacements costs $350 to make, but your total cost will be roughly $35,000?  The reason that we are not even close to being the greatest nation on Earth, and the reason why we are not respected in most parts of the world is because we are a nation filled with people who would rather let a child die than have their monthly premium raised.  Our respect for human dignity only extends to our close circle.  As we sit in front of our flat screen HDTV’s texting on our $400 cellphone, sending emails from our latest I pad…we bitch about “our rights” and “our problems”.  People go around saying that the government shouldn’t be involved in the medical practice and I totally agree…it is sad that it has come to this point, but the greed and indignity that is prevalent in our society has brought us to this point.  The ACA isn’t perfect, but it is a start.  This LAW mandates that all people will receive care regardless of their income, it makes it so that people like my Mother who has diabetes isn’t discriminated against and over charged because of her pre-existing condition.  It puts caps in place for how much doctors and pharmaceutical companies can charge for services.  So quit speculating about what might happen, quit making false and ignorant statements like Obamacare will allow the government to create death panels (insurance companies already have become that…deciding that if you can’t pay you die), quit spreading the lie that abortion will be a covered procedure.  I am disappointed that Obama hasn’t just come right out and said that fact...this bill is spreading the pain.  I for one (and I am a single mother just getting by) will gladly pay a little more every month for my insurance if it means that someone less fortunate can receive treatment…because I value human life and believe that everyone deserves to be helped in their time of need.  It is not for me or anyone else to speculate about what circumstances have put people in a place of need…our only purpose is to love and offer healing to as many people as we can while we are here.  There are a lot of good and generous people out there…but we need to stop being meek in our work.  And one more thing while I am at it…this whole thing about testing adults for drugs in order to receive welfare isn’t just affecting the addict…it is mostly affecting the children of the addicts.  As if it doesn’t suck enough to have a druggie or drunk as a parent…now we will let them grow hungry.  You wonder why our youth turn to crime, and our a generation that has record numbers of suicide and depression?  It is because they are shown from a young age that being poor makes you worthless and you most likely will not climb out of the pit of poverty…so they adapt to their environments and do what is necessary to survive.   Your pro-life and don’t think employers should have to provide birth control as a part of insurance to their employees…so you are willing to filibuster a LAW that’s very intent is to SAVE lives?  And in today’s top news Sarah Palin joined protestors in front of the Veteran Museum in an effort to re-open it?  REALLY…how about you protest for the government run before and after school programs that have been shut down and now little kids have nowhere to go, and aid was stopped for the government program that allows poor kids to get a free breakfast and lunch at school (sometimes their only meals)?  Why not protest outside the social security office so that our elderly and disabled don’t have their payments delayed?  If this rant lights the fire under even one person’s ass to begin to be vocal about the lies and ignorance that is spreading like wildfire in our own communities that would be cool.  This post is sponsored by the letters F & U and the good people at American Express J  Just kidding I am poor for an Amex J

My sister and I were just talking about how much we like the new Pope, whilst snickering that he probably has a bounty on his head from other members of the Arch Daises.  I just finished reading a TIME article about this very subject matter and it truly opened my eyes.  The position that the article was taking was that the Pope isn’t a new breed of radical…rather he is a radical traditionalist.  Most of the media does report the full interviews that showcase all of what the new Pope is trying to express.

 

When he says that we pay too much attention to the downfalls of homosexuality, abortion, and birth control…what he was trying to say is that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.  He for one as well as most of his followers believe in the moral code laid out in the pages of the Bible.  He encourages his followers to remain steady in their faith, but in order to remain steady in your faith you must not forget the very basis of Christianity…which is that God gave us free will.  Christians are guilty of forgetting that one important piece of information.  God laid out a series of moral guidelines which he encourages his followers to use as a guidepost to life.  However, for those that do not believe the words He has written, they are free to make their own choices.

 

Mandating someone to follow your moral code is doing exactly what the Almighty didn’t want.  If you believe that true judgment will come from God at the end of your journey…why waste so much time judging those here on Earth.  Therein I believe is what the Pope was trying to get at.  In a follow up interview that was much less sensational, the Pope said that our purpose here on Earth was to heal our fellow man and by being so outspoken in your judgment of others decisions you rob yourself of fulfilling your purpose.  Instead he encouraged his followers to open their hearts and minds so that you can be a healing force and plant the seed of your faith with your actions.

 

Furthermore he pointed out that the number of souls needing healing in today’s world is greater than ever and requires those with faith to be a stronger light for refuge and hope.  Powerful stuff!   So I sum this up by saying that I REALLY like this new Pope because he isn’t encouraging people to throw away their beliefs…he is simply saying that your faith should be measured by your kindness and willingness to not just heal those that agree with you but to go out and proactively search out those most in need of your greatest gift…the gift of healing the broken and lost.  This is the humanitarian outlook that could make drastic changes in the world…because we already tried the harsh, judgmental method and it simply doesn’t work.  I feel ever renewed in my efforts to continue to let my love for my fellow people to be what guides me in my daily interactions and I can only hope that this is the next thing trending on Google J  Also I am guilty of looking down on others that do not agree with my liberal views…and so this was a great reminder that if we are to agree with the Pope it should be in the sense that we take it to heart in our own lives even if we are not governed by a spiritual mindset…two sides to every coin and all that.