creative commons – Page 5

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022

Native Americans’ decadeslong struggle for control over sacred lands is making progress

Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii, with an observatory visible on its summit. Native Hawaiians consider the mountain sacred and object to construction on it. Chris Condon/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Rosalyn R. LaPier, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Who should manage public land that is sacred to Native Americans?

That is the question that the United States government and some states hope recent policy changes will address by giving Indigenous people greater input into managing such land. Co-management, as the policy is called, might alleviate the friction that emerges when sacred landscapes are managed without Native American input.

Mauna Kea, a 13,802-foot dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii, is one example. The mountain is managed as public land by the state of Hawaii. Native Hawaiians have protested the state’s management of Mauna Kea for decades, saying Hawaii has allowed too many research buildings on their sacred mountain, which disrupts their ability to practice their religion.

This kind of conflict is not unique to Hawaii. Indigenous peoples have lived in what is now the United States for thousands of years and developed intimate relationships with the lands they call home. For years, Native people across the country have demanded more input into how the government manages areas they consider sacred.

Now, the government may finally be listening.

‘We worship there’

As a Native American scholar of religion and the environment, I am interested in Indigenous peoples’ relationship to the natural world and their struggle to protect their sacred landscapes.

Native Hawaiians believe that Mauna Kea is the first creation of the Earth Mother, Papahānaumoku, and the Sky Father, Wākea. The mountain is an important part of their origin narrative.

For astronomers, the mountain has another significance. They believe the summit of Mauna Kea has the clearest skies for conducting research. For the past 50 years, the state of Hawaii has leased the summit of the mountain to dozens of research institutions. Together, they have built 13 telescopes and numerous buildings on Mauna Kea.

Three telescopes on a mountain top, sitting above the clouds — The Subaru, Keck I and Keck II Telescopes at the Mauna Kea Observatories. Julie Thurston Photography/Contributor via Getty Images

For years Native Hawaiian leaders have argued that the state ignored their concerns over such construction. When Mauna Kea was selected in 2009 as the preferred site for the Thirty Meter Telescope, a new class of extremely large telescope, Native Hawaiians protested to stop the project.

Native Hawaiians, like those from other Indigenous religious traditions, believe that sacred areas should be left alone without roads or buildings because they are the homes of the divine.

“We worship there, the iwis of our kupuna [bones of our elders] are buried there,” Mililani Trask, the Hawaii island’s trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said at a public meeting regarding an environmental impact statement of Mauna Kea with the National Science Foundation on Aug. 9, 2022. “No,” she continued, “you will not build here.”

The state of Hawaii is hoping to address this ongoing conflict with the creation of a new eight-person commission that includes three Native Hawaiian leaders to manage Mauna Kea.

“I believe we can find a way for science and culture to coexist on Mauna Kea in a mutually beneficial way,” Hawaiian Gov. David Ige said on Sept. 12, 2022, when he announced the new commission.

What makes land sacred?

Native American religions, similar to other religions, view areas as sacred because they are the homes of gods or places that are sanctified by a god. Sacred places may be physically small or large areas, they may be built or natural areas, such as churches and shrines, or mountains and rivers.

Religious studies scholars such as Tisa Wenger have argued that religious freedom for Native Americans has been difficult because “the U.S. government has often acted as if Indian traditions were somehow not truly religious and therefore not eligible for the constitutional protections of the First Amendment.”

Two men stand with signs reading, 'Protect sacred places' on the National Mall, with the Washington Monumemt visible in the background. — People call for the protection of sacred Indigenous spaces to commemorate the delivery of a totem pole carved by the Lummi Nation as a gift to President Joe Biden on July 29, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Native Organizers Alliance

In one dispute in the 1980s, the U.S. Forest Service wanted to construct a road across a sacred mountain in Northern California. A consortium of tribes fought back, and the case ended in the Supreme Court; the tribes lost.

Following that decision, in 1996, President Bill Clinton created a definition of Native American sacred land as a “specific, discrete, narrowly delineated location on Federal land.”

This language intentionally excludes large areas such as mountains or open landscapes in favor of smaller sites. That does not fully represent the variety of places that Native peoples consider sacred, say religious studies scholars, leading to inevitable clashes over the meaning and uses of such lands.

Co-management is one small step

On Sept. 13, 2022, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland released new federal guidelines to help address these long-standing conflicts.

This new policy, which focuses on publicly managed areas that Native Americans view as sacred or culturally important, will allow some tribes to share management responsibilities with federal agencies.

“By acknowledging and empowering Tribes as partners in co-stewardship of our country’s lands and waters, every American will benefit from strengthened management of our federal land and resources,” Haaland said.

In a related effort, Congress on Sept. 14 held hearings on two new bills to address this same issue. If they pass, their backers hope they will facilitate the inclusion of “tribal management of public lands” and strengthen the “protection of sacred and cultural sites.”

Such changes are “a small step, but an important one, in giving Tribal nations the respect and authority they deserve,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona.

But, he added of the federal government’s new desire to share land management with tribes, “There is no deed that can undo or fully compensate for this country’s historical neglect and desecration of Indigenous Peoples’ culture and places that are sacred to them.”

Rosalyn R. LaPier, Professor of HIstory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

October 17, 2022

Yom Kippur: What does Judaism actually say about forgiveness?

Two women embrace before a Yom Kippur service held outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles. Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Adam B. Cohen, Arizona State University

The Jewish High Holidays include Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Traditionally, Jews view the holidays as a chance to reflect on our shortcomings, make amends and seek forgiveness, both from other people and from the Almighty.

Jews pray and fast on Yom Kippur to demonstrate their remorse and to focus on reconciliation. According to Jewish tradition, it is at the end of this solemn period that God seals his decision about each person’s fate for the coming year. Congregations recite a prayer called the “Unetanah Tokef,” which recalls God’s power to decide “who shall live and who shall die, who shall reach the ends of his days and who shall not” – an ancient text that Leonard Cohen popularized with his song “Who by Fire.”

Forgiveness and related concepts, such as compassion, are central virtues in many religions. What’s more, research has shown that it is psychologically beneficial.

But each religious tradition has its own particular views about forgiveness, as well, including Judaism. As a psychologist of religion, I have done research on these similarities and differences when it comes to forgiveness.

Person to person

Several specific attitudes about forgiveness are reflected in the liturgy of the Jewish High Holidays, so those who go to services are likely to be aware of them – even if they skip out for a snack.

In Jewish theology, only the victim has the right to forgive an offense against another person, and an offender should repent toward the victim before forgiveness can take place. Someone who has hurt another person must sincerely apologize three times. If the victim still withholds forgiveness, the offender is considered forgiven, and the victim now shares the blame.

The 10-day period known as the “Days of Awe” – Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and the days between – is a popular time for forgiveness. Observant Jews reach out to friends and family they have wronged over the past year so that they can enter Yom Kippur services with a clean conscience and hope they have done all they can to mitigate God’s judgment.

The teaching that only a victim can forgive someone implies that God cannot forgive offenses between people until the relevant people have forgiven each other. It also means that some offenses, such as the Holocaust, can never be forgiven, because those martyred are dead and unable to forgive.

Many people dressed in black and white stand in a courtyard between ancient walls. — Thousands of Jewish pilgrims attend penitential prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem ahead of the Jewish High Holiday of Rosh Hashana. Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

To forgive or not to forgive?

In psychological research, I have found that most Jewish and Christian participants endorse the views of forgiveness espoused by their religions.

As in Judaism, most Christian teachings encourage people to ask and give forgiveness for harms done to one another. But they tend to teach that more sins should be forgiven – and can be, by God, because Jesus’ death atoned vicariously for people’s sins.

Even in Christianity, not all offenses are forgivable. The New Testament describes blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as an unforgivable sin. And Catholicism teaches that there is a category called “mortal sins,” which cut off sinners from God’s grace unless they repent.

One of my research papers, consisting of three studies, shows that a majority of Jewish participants believe that some offenses are too severe to forgive; that it doesn’t make sense to ask someone other than the victim about forgiveness; and that forgiveness is not offered unconditionally, but after the offender has tried to make things right.

Take this specific example: In one of my research studies I asked Jewish and Christian participants if they thought a Jew should forgive a dying Nazi soldier who requested forgiveness for killing Jews. This scenario is described in “The Sunflower” by Simon Wiesenthal, a writer and Holocaust survivor famous for his efforts to prosecute German war criminals.

A color photograph of an older, balding man in a blue shirt and striped tie. — Simon Wiesenthal at the White House during the Reagan administration. Diana Walker/The Chronicle Collection via Getty Images

Jewish participants often didn’t think the question made sense: How could someone else – someone living – forgive the murder of another person? The Christian participants, on the other hand, who were all Protestants, usually said to forgive. They agreed more often with statements like “Mr. Wiesenthal should have forgiven the SS soldier” and “Mr. Wiesenthal would have done the virtuous thing if he forgave the soldier.”

It’s not just about the Holocaust. We also asked about a more everyday scenario – imagining that a student plagiarized a paper that participants’ friends had written, and then asked the participants for forgiveness – and saw similar results.

Jewish people have a wide variety of opinions on these topics, though, as they do in all things. “Two Jews, three opinions!” as the old saying goes. In other studies with my co-researchers, we showed that Holocaust survivors, as well as Jewish American college students born well after the Holocaust, vary widely in how tolerant they are of German people and products. Some are perfectly fine with traveling to Germany and having German friends, and others are unwilling to even listen to Beethoven.

In these studies, the key variable that seems to distinguish Jewish people who are OK with Germans and Germany from those who are not is to what extent they associate all Germans with Nazism. Among the Holocaust survivors, for example, survivors who had been born in Germany – and would have known German people before the war – were more tolerant than those whose first, perhaps only, exposure to Germans had been in the camps.

Forgiveness is good for you – or is it?

American society – where about 7 in 10 people identify as Christian – generally views forgiveness as a positive virtue. What’s more, research has found there are emotional and physical benefits to letting go of grudges.

But does this mean forgiveness is always the answer? To me, it’s an open question.

For example, future research could explore whether forgiveness is always psychologically beneficial, or only when it aligns with the would-be forgiver’s religious views.

If you are observing Yom Kippur, remember that – as with every topic – Judaism has a wide and, well, forgiving view of what is acceptable when it comes to forgiveness.

Adam B. Cohen, Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

October 17, 2022

What is a bodhisattva? A scholar of Buddhism explains

Boddhisatva Avalokiteśvara, considered to be a compassionate protector, is believed to regularly visit Earth. taikrixel/ via iStock Getty Images Plus

Pierce Salguero, Penn State

“Bodhisattva” is a key idea in Buddhism. The word is constructed from the Sanskrit root bodhi, meaning “awakening” or “enlightenment,” and sattva, meaning “being.” The core meaning of the word is “a being who is on the way to becoming enlightened.”

As I explain in my book “Buddhism: A Guide to the 20 Most Important Buddhist Ideas for the Curious and Skeptical,” the word bodhisattva is understood in divergent ways by different groups of Buddhists.

Who is a bodhisattva?

In Theravāda Buddhism, which is most prevalent in Southeast Asia, the term is exclusively used to refer to Siddhartha Gautama, as the Buddha was known before he became enlightened. In this school of thought, the word bodhisattva can also refer to Gautama in one of his previous rebirths as he worked toward enlightenment through numerous lifetimes as animals, people or other types of beings.

According to legend, Gautama was born as the crown prince of a kingdom in far northeastern India, but he gave up his throne and all of his riches in order to pursue enlightenment. Eventually, he fulfilled his destiny and transitioned from a being who is on the way to becoming awakened to a fully enlightened person – in other words, a Buddha.

In Mahāyāna Buddhism, practiced widely in East and Central Asia, the term bodhisattva can be used in a similar way. However, this form of Buddhism says that there are many more than just one Buddha; indeed, the ultimate goal of all true believers of Mahāyāna is to become a Buddha themselves. Most serious followers of this path take the bodhisattva vow to become recognized as bodhisattvas.

Additionally, in Mahāyāna belief, there are certain highly evolved bodhisattvas who have been practicing Buddhism for so many lifetimes that they have become superhuman divine beings. These so-called “celestial bodhisattvas” are said to have accrued immense merits and powers. However, they have intentionally chosen to delay becoming Buddhas in order to dedicate themselves to compassionately helping others.

Why do bodhisattvas matter?

Some of the most famous advanced bodhisattvas, such as Avalokiteśvara, Kṣitigarbha, Mañjuśrī, Samantabhadra and Vajrapāṇi, are regularly prayed to and given offerings. Texts and mantras associated with most of them are regularly chanted in temples around the world. Devotees hope that the bodhisattvas, in their infinite compassion, will hear these calls and respond by sending blessings of health, good fortune and happiness.

Buddhists believe that celestial bodhisattvas reside in heavenly realms called Pure Lands located in faraway dimensions of the cosmos. The bodhisattva Maitreya, for example, is said to currently live in the Tuṣita Heaven, where he is awaiting rebirth as the next Buddha of our world.

Because they can manifest in different bodies simultaneously, bodhisattvas can also appear on Earth disguised as humans, animals, or other types of beings. For example, Tibetan Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama is a manifestation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, called Chenrezig in Tibetan, who regularly comes to earth to spread his message of compassion among humanity.

Pierce Salguero, Associate Professor of Asian History & Religious Studies, Penn State

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

October 17, 2022

Evangelical college students often feel misunderstood – what helps boost understanding between students of all faiths?

Do students’ views of people with different beliefs really change on campus? AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Matthew J. Mayhew, The Ohio State University; Christa Winkler, Mississippi State University, and Musbah Shaheen, The Ohio State University

Our research team has studied college students’ attitudes toward evangelicals, a topic that tends to prompt strong reactions.

Some liberals don’t see the topic as worthy of discussion – why study whether Americans appreciate a privileged group with strong influence on society? Meanwhile, many conservatives are adamant that evangelical perspectives are not tolerated, let alone welcome, on U.S. university campuses.

Yet our findings about students’ attitudes underscore important lessons about fostering tolerance and appreciation on campus for any group. Views of evangelicals are particularly interesting, since they highlight the complexities of social privilege: how individuals can feel discriminated against, even when their community as a whole is influential.

Surveying students

The Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey, or IDEALS, surveyed 9,470 college students from 122 institutions across the country at three times: the beginning of their first year, the end of their first year, and the end of their senior year, which wrapped up in spring 2019. As part of this project, conducted by a team of researchers from Ohio State University, North Carolina University and the nonprofit Interfaith America, we asked students about their attitudes toward religious, spiritual and secular groups, including but not limited to atheists, Jews, Muslims and evangelicals.

We asked students to indicate their responses to four statements on a scale of 1, or “disagree strongly,” to 5, or “agree strongly”:

1) In general, people in this group make positive contributions to society.

2) In general, individuals in this group are ethical people.

3) I have things in common with people in this group.

4) In general, I have a positive attitude toward people in this group.

Our analysis controlled for other variables – such as the institution’s type, selectivity and size, and students’ race, gender, sexual orientation, major and political affiliation – to home in on the specific ways the campus learning environment was related to students’ views about different religious groups.

Compared with their attitudes toward other religious groups on campus, students’ appreciation for evangelicals grew at a slower pace, but still grew. On average, students’ responses showed an increase of over 40% in appreciation toward evangelicals by the end of their first year. By the time students graduated, they demonstrated another 30% increase between the end of their first year and fourth year of college.

Campus climate

After seeing that students’ views of evangelicals improved, on average, we wanted to better understand why.

First, we looked at the experiences students said were related to their gains, such as whether they took a religious studies course. Then, we conducted 18 case studies at institutions of various sizes and affiliations to learn about campus culture and hear from hundreds of students in focus groups. In these groups, we showed students data on the gains reported by their peers on campus and asked them why they thought these gains were made.

We found that appreciation increased for students on campuses they consider committed to inclusion for people of faiths, and people of no faith – regardless of whether the institutions were public or private, large or small, selective or not.

Some students talked about the impact of simply living and studying alongside people from different backgrounds. Many named the influence of interfaith and multifaith centers, spaces dedicated to bringing people from different religions together.

For example, a student at a Protestant-affiliated institution who identified as agnostic noted that she had “experienc[ed] a lot of toxic Christianity” growing up. She credited her interactions with a “progressive Christian” chaplain at her campus’s interfaith center with helping her understand that Christian beliefs and identities are diverse, and not limited to the type of faith she was introduced to as a child.

A crowd of students in a classroom, many of them with their hands up in worship, facing two singers at the front. — Members of a Christian group at California State University Long Beach worship in a lecture hall in 2014. Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images

Survey data also suggested that, on average, students whose views of evangelicals improved reported having at least two curricular experiences related to religion. This included many type of activities: for example, enrolling in a course specifically designed to enhance knowledge of different religious traditions; reflecting on one’s own religion in relationship to other perspectives as part of a class; and discussing other students’ religious or nonreligious backgrounds in class.

Personal relationships

How students related to one another was another important theme that often came up in discussions about views of evangelicals.

Evangelicals have to negotiate a seeming paradox: As Protestant Christians, who have long held influence in U.S. culture and politics, they belong to a privileged group. Yet many evangelical students say they feel unwelcome and misunderstood because of their beliefs.

Many non-Christian students who themselves feel marginalized because of their identities wrestle with how to make their evangelical peers aware of their relative privilege, and of how their beliefs and actions might affect other students.

For example, one student who identifies as atheist at a small, secular college recalled a Christmas tree put on their door by another student. “The person has literally no idea that that could possibly be upsetting,” they said, but added it was “a very sweet thing to do.” In other words, they believed that the other student was likely ignorant of why the Christmas tree could bother other students, but acting out of good intentions, tempering their anger about the unwelcome decoration.

Many students discussed developing empathy and humility. A Catholic student attending a Catholic college summarized, “Myself being a more liberal Christian, I’m not as accepting of the close-minded evangelical Christian … but that’s kind of being close-minded myself. … So I have to examine myself and be like, ‘I’m okay with them being them, even if I don’t agree with them.’ They’re saying, ‘All of these people are saying let’s accept everybody, but you’re not accepting me.’ And I said, ‘That’s absolutely right.’ … Even in political realms, too, I don’t agree with you, but I need to be okay with you.”

Finally, student gains in appreciation also seemed to stem from recognition that evangelicals are diverse, not one homogeneous group – as with the student who appreciated her conversations with the Christian chaplain at her campus’s interfaith center.

As a research team, we found this project’s findings left us considering ways to address deep divisions in the U.S. today. Some principles apply to fostering respect in many other situations beyond religion, and beyond college, from our offices at work to the halls of Congress: intentionally but empathetically engaging with one another’s differences.

Matthew J. Mayhew, Professor of Higher Education, The Ohio State University; Christa Winkler, Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership, Mississippi State University, and Musbah Shaheen, PhD student in Higher Education and Student Affairs, The Ohio State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

June 29, 2022

Ray’s Random Thoughts 6-29-2022

group of people in standing on brown grass field

Be kind to everyone and don’t fall prey to the instinct of self-preservation, go beyond the tribal instinct we all seem to still have. Humans tend to group up into tribes / social circles, be it physically or just through our personal world views. It is self-preservation that brings us to want to be part of a group/tribe. There is safety in numbers and that has worked to keep humans alive up to this point.

The downside to the tribal way of life is we tend to find ourselves stuck in us versus them mentality. We thrive on having an enemy to focus on, something to rally against for some reason. This usually leads to wars of one sort or another. Maybe if we look at our tribe being the whole human race, maybe then we can focus on the real enemy/problems that we face as a species.

It really saddens me that we still have people in the world that look at human life or life in general as something cheap and disposable. So many deaths in the world due to the lack of respect for life and human beings in general. Really sad that any group of humans, be they grouped by race, nationality, political belief or even religion could think of themselves as superior and all others as inferior. All life is sacred, all human beings are equally important and there is no superior race.

person holding world globe facing mountain — Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

I don’t think it is so much the form of governments we have but the fact that the governments become corrupt when the same people stay in office for too long. For instance, the Democratic Republic of the U.S.A. is a wonderful governing style but it is being weighed down by senators and representatives that have been in office/power for way too many terms. The longer a person has power the less they seem to put responsibility and the welfare of those they serve to the forefront of their priorities, they get caught up in partisan politics and self-serving agendas. Corruption happens when people have too much power for way too long. Term limits would be a good solution to the problem and maybe a pay cut, making it less profitable for them to keep in office. I find it unfair if they serve one term they get a full benefits package for retirement and the salaries they make only make them more distant from those they are supposed to be serving.

I also do believe there should be more oversight of the lobbyist and regulations to keep the rich corporate lobbyists from having the upper hand over the just as important but less funded lobbyists. Too much money is passed through to campaign funds and other ways to politicians from the lobbyist groups as well. Which in its own way gives the lobbyists that are funding the politician sway over policies and takes away from the real needs and wants of the taxpayers.

Enough of my political rantings for now, but there is so much going on in this world that needs change, and a whole bunch of things I am pretty sure we do not even know about that is going on as well. Either way, I wish everyone a blessed life and hope we all can stand up for positive change and be good to one another.

Blessings and Peace to all

Ray Barbier

June 27, 2022

Where are we going, where is the world heading?

close up photo of assorted color of push pins on map

Where are we going, where is the world heading? Watching the world knocking on the door of world war and my country going through political division and social upsets has got me a bit concerned. It is almost like someone has rolled back time to the 1950s in many ways. Cold wars, war, civil rights issues, abortion rights, and fearmongering.

Between the horror of mass shootings, inflation, and politicization of almost everything one can debate over, it is a very troublesome world to try and navigate and live in at this moment in time. We all need to take a step back or a time out to recollect ourselves and come back together to find a better path for us as a nation and as a species, so we can change the uncertain course the world is on at this moment in time.

I believe the majority of us are kinda feeling helpless and that we have no control over the world around us. Our Governments act like they hear our pleas but then do nothing to help those in need because they claim it’s too expensive as they spend our tax dollars on wars, pay raises for themselves, and to support the super-wealthy companies with bailouts when times are hard.

brown and silver round coins — Photo by Dmitry Demidov on Pexels.com

With a Congress here in the U.S. that seems to be set on bickering and arguing and blocking each party’s agendas more so than trying to find a compromise to pass legislation that could help the American taxpayers and those in need. They need to get over themselves and put aside party politics long enough to do what is needed to be done instead of doing what may get them re-elected or get them the most sound bytes on the news.

I have a feeling all of the nations out there that are not so friendly to the U.S. are all having a good laugh at how dysfunctional our congress is at this moment in time. The world is watching all of you Senators and Representatives and how you are showing the world how you all can not be adult enough to work together to get things done when the pressure is on.

Where are we going, where is the world heading and what will be the destination if we do not change course. Unless we start working together to change its course towards a more benificial one, it doe not look promising.

God Bless and Happiness to all

Ray Barbier

June 4, 2022

Ray’s Random Thoughts 6/4/2022

In times like these, we either succumb to fear or rise up to the challenges ahead of us. Fear is something we all deal with, it is something we are supposed to have in dire and life-threatening situations. Sometimes we manufacture fear out of lack of control or lack of the knowledge to deal with a situation. Feeling fear is normal but one must learn to control it and move beyond it.

Right now I see a lot of fear in the world, I watch fear cause division within the world. Fear can transform into anger and hate as well. That is the reason why we all need to learn how to manage our fear. The problem is what may work for one person may not work for another, since fear can arise from different sources and situations. So I suggest seeking out help dealing with your fears if you are unable to cope with them yourself, try meditation to calm your mind and remind yourself it is okay to not always be in control of everything.

anonymous ethnic man strolling on ocean beach — Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com

There is so much more to life than fear, we as a species need to focus more on solving the issues before us than the possible outcomes if nothing is done. The future is not set in stone and if we all work together towards a better tomorrow it will become a reality. If Life becomes overwhelming, you can meditate or go find a calm and peaceful place and relax there till you can clear your mind.

Focus your mind on what you can change and do to help bring positive change in your life and the world around you. I know the pandemic and lockdowns have put a big mental, emotional and financial stress on people and It has both brought out the best of people and the worst. It is time to heal ourselves mentally and emotionally so that we can move forward.

Find solace in the way that works for you and be kind to yourself and others

Ray Barbier

June 1, 2022

Ray’s Random Thoughts 6/1/2022

world map on wall and laptop near cup and container

We are living in trying times, the world is on the brink of being at war, soaring energy and food prices along with politicization of almost every topic and the polarization of political views. With the war going on in Ukraine we watch the killing of civilians in the crossfire and the death of soldiers on both sides. Too many children suffered in this war and a sad percentage of the children died as a result of the conflict.

Both the East and West are playing a part in this tragic situation in Ukraine, They need to pause and look at the pain, suffering, and instability that’s being caused by the conflict, not only in Ukraine but across the globe. I ask the leaders of all the world nations, be it they are an active part or just a spectator of this conflict to think of the long-term damage that will come from this war. It will affect all of the countries of the world in the end economically and if we do not find a peaceful resolution to the situation it could cause a third world war. Being that there are too many nations in this world that poses nuclear weapons it could be the end of life as we know it.

different flowers shaped in word peace — Photo by Disha Sheta on Pexels.com

So, I plead with all the leaders of the nations involved to seek out a diplomatic solution to this conflict, the cost of this conflict is too high for what may be gained. After all, we are brothers and sisters in this world, even if we sometimes think differently or allow political, religious, and national policies and agendas to separate us. Deep inside we all want the same thing I believe, a safe and happy world for the future generations to live in and the economic success of the nations we live in.

Being just a Citizen, I see all people from around the world as part of my extended family. I firmly believe the people of the world are in general good and caring in nature. I just hope and pray that goodness is in the leaders involved in this conflict and we can go from military conflict to diplomatic discussions before it is escalated to a full-blown world war.

I Also pray that China can get its outbreak of Covid-19 under control so no more people will suffer. China could take the lead in trying to get the diplomatic discussion going, being one of the superpowers in the modern world, it would be great to see them step up and play a peaceful part in this conflict. I also hope China can slow down the aggressiveness towards Taiwan and find some sort of diplomatic solution there as well. War may benefit some financially, but for the majority of the people involved it only brings suffering, death, and destruction.

world map made of nuts and dried fruits — Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com

The East and West need to stop Saber Rattling, Finger Pointing, and posturing. As my mom always told me, be a part of the solution not a part of the problem. I know it all isn’t as black and white as it seems, but we are capable as a species to find peaceful solutions to these issues. The world needs a change in direction away from this aggressive and divisive path towards a diplomatic and cooperative path if we as a species are to survive and thrive in the century to come.

I Pray for peace and prosperity for all of humanity, I hope there will be diplomatic solutions to all the problems we face geopolitically. I hope as well we come together as species to deal with all the problems we face as a whole. God bless and best wishes for all.

Ray Barbier

May 31, 2022

My Experience with Youtube and Copyright strikes

Recently I uploaded a Video that was Creative Commons Licenced and Done by the Blender Foundation, it was a short animation called Caminandes 3 LLamigos, It was removed and got a strike, Someone claimed it had music in it that was copyrighted, the music was from India from I could find and nothing in the video resembled what I found. The Animation short has been on youtube by many other YouTubers, even the Creator and Blender have it there.

Caminandes 3: Llamigos – YouTube is the link to the one by Blender if you wish to check it out.

The purpose of this post is to Complain about how Youtube does not Verify a Claim before putting a Strike against a user and then if you wish to Contest it, it all falls on you legally if there is a problem. Making it less likely for most YouTubers to contest due to the lack of desire to be sued over something be it legit or not.

My Suggestion is to Do not upload any content to youtube that you, yourself have not made yourself, and make sure to have permission from any music you use even if it’s creative commons. Since it seems anyone can claim a copyright infringement without verification that your video contains it. Been watching and using Youtube since it first came around decades ago, bad enough they advertise you to death on most videos, they don’t seem to support the content creators and suppliers as they should. Though I do understand the Legal issues they must face, they need to also take into consideration that some copyright claims are bogus and done in a trolling fashion as well.

From now on I will no longer upload videos to Youtube that I didn’t create if I upload any at all. Won’t stop me from viewing Youtube though. Just not happy with the situation, even though I can understand the legal issues running a Video sharing site.

Blessing to all and be Good to one another.

Raymond Barbier