The Revolution of Evolution

I have seen many Facebook statuses and Instagram photos regarding the George Zimmerman verdict. Many people are still upset regarding the outcome of the case, but I'm not sure people understand why. Many people are crying out for justice and feel as though nothing is being done and that laws in Florida are archaic. I wanted to take time to delve deeper into the reasoning behind society's anger and what needs to happen to move forward.

The Rage

Although I have yet to see anyone mention what I'm about to say, I've figured out why many people are upset at the Zimmerman verdict. Everyday, many of us must go to work; and for many people work consists of going to a place where one doesn't want to be, working for people they dislike, doing routine and mind-numbing tasks.  Here's the issue, many of us work for people who are systematically trying to keep us back. Let's say for instance, that there is a news company called Wolf News, and the owner of Wolf News is a known racist and sexist. You get word Zimmerman is found not guilty, you get upset and cry out for justice. Monday, is back to work for your boss over at Wolf News. Your boss, being apart of the one percent that makes billions of dollars annually, has power to influence the "democratic" process and uses his position to lobby for stricter laws, bribes congressman to cut social programs and uses his network to alter public opinion.

Knowing this, you still must show up for work, day in and day out, amidst an inner turmoil of feeling like you're not treated as an equal in this country. You shop at clothing stores and use banking institutions where the CEO's and board members think and act just like your boss over at Wolf News, and here lies the biggest problem in regards to the Zimmerman case. We work for and support a country and corporations who hate you and disenfranchise minorities. We work 40 hour weeks, pay bills, buy products, market these products, and enrich the lives of men who take this money and our time to create more resources and create more ways to kill innocent people, bailout there friends on Wall Street, send your kids off to die in wars, helped flood cities with crack cocaine, poison your body with GMO food, and pharmaceutical drugs, lock up innocent people (especially the darker skinned people) and let the murders run free. WE ARE BEING USED! Subconsciously we feel this and know it, but what does one do?

JUSTICE

,

"First they came for the communists
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me."

This is a poem by Martin Niemoller about the Nazis rise to power, simply divide and conquer. This poem illustrates what happens when people allow those in power to keep them marginalized and at odds. One dare not ask for justice if one isn't helping out their fellow man in their hopes of attaining the same. I must fight as hard for gay rights, women's rights, as I do for my own. It's disgusting to me that people will deny someone peace or justice just because their religious books or television set tells them they should.

RELIGION

Many people may become upset reading this, there's your warning to skip this section. Whether it be Trayvon Martin, the Boston Bombing, the Sandy Hook Middle school shootings or the Sean Bell shooting, many people find comfort in praying for the families and going to God. Here's two issues,  firstly, these prayers are not stopping any violence. Asking God to comfort the families of murdered victims also seems counter-intuitive; I mean why wouldn't god just protect the victim from getting murdered in the first place. Secondly,  it removes responsibility for people to help each other in more meaningful ways. I could say a prayer for the starving children of the world or I could volunteer at a soup kitchen. 

If you were to meet a thirty year old man and asked if he paid his rent and he said, "No, my dad does that." or asks if he has food to eat and he says, "No, my mother has to cook because I can't." you would think he was a childish man and this is what religion does to people. Religion affords them a way out of being responsible for their own actions; even George Zimmerman said killing Trayvon was apart of God's plan. He chose not to take any responsibility because religion let him do so. We probably don't have much more to undergo in terms to physical evolution, so the next steps in human evolution will be one of the mind; creating new dogma and opting for different ideologies on what it means to be a human being in this world.

SACRIFICE

What are you willing to give up to get peace, to attain happiness? Most people grow accustomed to their lives and accept things as they are and thus will become complacent in life. What are we as a people willing to give up to get justice for Trayvon Martin or anyone else? Are you ready to quit your job, be thrown in jail, or beaten up for standing for truth? Let's say that everyone marches to D.C. and demands justice and they are greeted with...NO! Then what? Do you go home and say, "Well we tried." Or do you try another tactic, one that takes more time and energy? What are we willing to give up to get justice? Many people will update their statuses for another week or so, and then it's back to their jobs, and watching television again. Does anyone really care? How many more innocent young kids must die for anyone to say enough is enough? What are you willing to sacrifice?

THE GAME

Let's be honest, there are a number of people getting killed everyday for many of reasons, and the mainstream news just ignores it. Stories like Trayvon's are used to sensationalize the news, get viewers, and ultimately make money. It's also used to keep people fighting one another. This is what the TV says, "Hey whites, don't trust them negroess, hey ugly girl, you'd be prettier using this eye liner or mascara, and shave those legs; hey guys you want that pretty girl then buy this car and $500 tie, she'll definitely like you then; hey kids don't pursue your dreams, just eat junk food and watch Miley Cyrus twerk her way to fame." It's all nonsense used to keep you from coming together as a people to create a better world. Keep them stupid, keep them fighting and keep them chasing after happiness by supplying them with things they hate. We can change the game, but first we must understand the rules and know that it isn't about winning the game; it's ensuring that we all have fun in playing the game together.

Life is a Boat Ride

"Life is like stepping onto a boat which is about to sail out to sea and sink." - Shunryu Suzuki

This quote explains so much about life. I would opine that, instead of stepping; life is like being forced onto the boat. How many people would want to take a trip knowing the boat will sink. What's the point? Hence mankind's longest, and thought-about philosophical question...What's the purpose of life? In the aforementioned quote, I think the meaning of life can be extracted. The purpose of life is to live. Life is just a recollection of memories about experiences and your feelings about such experiences, and hopefully there were more good memories than bad.

The first thing to do, however, is accept that our boat is going to sink, or that we are going to die. Some people will become so frightened that they sit on the boat in a corner and contemplate the end;,entering depression because their demise is inevitable. Others will understand that fact and live each moment as their last -- not knowing when the boat will sink -- they will make the most out of their time on the boat. The few dangerous men will use that fear as a way to control and manipulate them; telling them there may be ways to ride the boat forever, and they can be happy by buying cheap boat shoes and other crap made by the very people telling them that they need it to be happy. These men are described as dangerous, because they possess a deeper understanding of the trip, but use that knowledge to only enrich themselves, and keep others miseducated and miserable.

So here we are on this boat; that's no doubt going to sink. What do you want to do before the ship sinks? What sights do you want to see before the boat sinks? Can you still appreciate the beauty of the sunset or respect the majestic waters and be amazed by all the life she can carry in her waters? Or are you so self-absorbed that you can't get out of your own way to enjoy the ride at all. Don't be disillusioned by the ego! Enjoy the ride, see the sights and appreciate the fact that you at least got the chance to ride.

Love or Career?

There aren't many people who realize the reason why they get up everyday and trudge to work, struggling to make ends meet. Goal-less and soul-less with no ambition. A life of absurdity, banality and mediocrity. However, there are those that do have a mission in life with hopes of achieving everything they set out in life to do; with dedication, determination and discipline. The people who aren't scared to take risks, and not conform to rules or abide by other people's opinion; they will accomplish a great deal. Sometimes, we meet people or obstacles, that keep us from fulfilling our full potential. The key to being successful, and most importantly, happy; is to not let these obstacles or people deter us from our mission. Love or career? This is the question faced to many young adults in their twenties and early thirties. Optimally, we would choose both, however, what's more important? Here's what you must ask yourself, would you rather be with someone that makes you happy or do something that makes you happy? Will you depend on another person for your personal happiness or will you take a leap of faith and try becoming the person you want to be and make yourself happy?

Once you answer that question, some choices will become clearer; albeit, a little tougher. Ultimately, you'll be able to look back with no regrets; knowing you tried with all your might and energy to make the most of this wondrous life. Living with passion, creating new experiences and hopefully creating something of value for someone else; being charitable. Thus, when you come across those people who do you dirty, steer you wrong, and situations that make you want to throw in the towel; just press on. Forgiveness, not forgetfulness, will help you through the pain. But that's the lesson; you get through the pain and continue to grow and evolve as a spiritual being. 

Do your best to smile when all you can to do is frown. Some people you must let go, some things you must discard, but it'll all be worth it and make sense in the end; if you continue to follow your heart!