The 30th Anniversary of the Jim Jones Mass Suicide in Guyana was last week. I remember the initial reports of the tragedy. How could more than 900 people choose death?
It is possible. Charismatic people are seductive. Combine that with an ability to connect with any audience and a distorted ego-driven mysticism and you have a recipe for tragedy.
I have encountered several charismatic spiritual leaders over the last 25 years on the path.
Getting an audience is sometimes the most important priority for these personalities. Fortunately, Truth does not need a following.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A Tremendous Relief
At 10pm Central Time Tuesday November 4th my wife and I shared the joy of countless millions worldwide as Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.
The news flashed over ABC-TV which I was watching at the time; I immediately went to KIOS-FM for confirmation and indeed the voice of KIOS host and announcer Mike Jacobs assured me that it was official.
It is a tremendous relief. Those of us who have followed the national political scene since the 1970s know full well the opportunities for positive change that could have been taken years ago; but were not. National Geographic magazines in my possession dating back to the 1970s describe then innovative forays into wind and solar power that were marginalized for decades. In an earlier post I described seeing a commercial from the 1970s that discussed the possibility of using pod cars and other innovative forms of mass transit as a solution to unclog the roads.
The need for alternative sources of energy and improved mass transit is readily apparent. Ideas such as these will likely inspire action by Obama and his adminstration. That is what gives me hope.
The news flashed over ABC-TV which I was watching at the time; I immediately went to KIOS-FM for confirmation and indeed the voice of KIOS host and announcer Mike Jacobs assured me that it was official.
It is a tremendous relief. Those of us who have followed the national political scene since the 1970s know full well the opportunities for positive change that could have been taken years ago; but were not. National Geographic magazines in my possession dating back to the 1970s describe then innovative forays into wind and solar power that were marginalized for decades. In an earlier post I described seeing a commercial from the 1970s that discussed the possibility of using pod cars and other innovative forms of mass transit as a solution to unclog the roads.
The need for alternative sources of energy and improved mass transit is readily apparent. Ideas such as these will likely inspire action by Obama and his adminstration. That is what gives me hope.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Our Choice
Tonight, the United States stands on the brink of history.
Whom do we choose? Obama or McCain?
Impassioned arguments have been made for either man, both for or against, over the last year. Some of these arguments rank at the height of what is possible from a literary point of view; others sink like a stone to the regrettable depths of hate and blame and fear.
Which is what I would like to bring up tonight-fear.
Do we choose fear or courage?
Do we choose to fall back or move forward?
Recently I saw a commercial for pod cars and other mass transit ideas that was made in the 1970s. Coincidentally, I saw the tape of the old commercial at the same time I read an article about pod cars being reconsidered for mass transit use. Again. More than 30 years after the 1970s commercial.
For too long, this country has not had a forward looking view of the future. After carefully following the Obama campaign for some time, I am convinced that Obama will address the need to reevaluate mass transit in this country and invest in solutions that have long been deferred.
The need to address mass transit issues in this country has long been shelved in favor of investing in more highways and encouraging more car ownership. But the financial meltdown of the last month has finally brought into question issues which have too long remained on the back burner, one of which has been the future of mass transit in this country. One of the challenges now is how to grow the existing mass transit infrastructure while the economy is in a downturn. It is my belief that Obama is best suited to address this concern, and many others, for the future of this country. It is my prayer that he is elected by my fellow citizens to serve and lead the country forward, beyond fear, to a fuller realization of this country's vast potential.
Whom do we choose? Obama or McCain?
Impassioned arguments have been made for either man, both for or against, over the last year. Some of these arguments rank at the height of what is possible from a literary point of view; others sink like a stone to the regrettable depths of hate and blame and fear.
Which is what I would like to bring up tonight-fear.
Do we choose fear or courage?
Do we choose to fall back or move forward?
Recently I saw a commercial for pod cars and other mass transit ideas that was made in the 1970s. Coincidentally, I saw the tape of the old commercial at the same time I read an article about pod cars being reconsidered for mass transit use. Again. More than 30 years after the 1970s commercial.
For too long, this country has not had a forward looking view of the future. After carefully following the Obama campaign for some time, I am convinced that Obama will address the need to reevaluate mass transit in this country and invest in solutions that have long been deferred.
The need to address mass transit issues in this country has long been shelved in favor of investing in more highways and encouraging more car ownership. But the financial meltdown of the last month has finally brought into question issues which have too long remained on the back burner, one of which has been the future of mass transit in this country. One of the challenges now is how to grow the existing mass transit infrastructure while the economy is in a downturn. It is my belief that Obama is best suited to address this concern, and many others, for the future of this country. It is my prayer that he is elected by my fellow citizens to serve and lead the country forward, beyond fear, to a fuller realization of this country's vast potential.
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