Is it the end of the world, or not?

2012, is it another Y2K or is it really the end? Many scholars have questioned the truths in the Mayan codex known as the “Dresden Codex or the book of Mayan Astrology.” This codex was one of many, but only four exist to this day after Christian missionaries destroyed many of the codex’s in the hope to stem the rituals of the Mayan’s, the missionaries didn’t understand the Mayan’s connection with the stars and the Earth. These included ritual human sacrifice and blood lettings. 

But what is the Dresden Codex? This apocryphal codex spoke to the end of the age of man. The codex currently resides in Europe. Each of these ages are based in a 26,000 year cycle. The Hope Indians on the South West United States also have an end of time prophecy. Both the Mayan’s and Hope timelines end at the seemingly same point in time. How much influence did these cultures have on each other in antiquity?  Even the book of Revelation speaks to an end of time prophecy.

Those in the Y2K conundrum saw that computers given their calendar design would reset to “00” and the system structure would fail, but it did not. The Mayan Calendar ends on December 21^st 2012, but is this really the end? The Mayan calendar has a system called the long count, which is accurate to a 15 second margin in the moon cycles. All calendars end, even our modern one, at the end of each year start the next cycle of 12 months. Is it possible that the Mayan calendar starts anew?

How did this ancient society create such a precise system of telling time without technology? The Mayan’s were highly observant and had a complex system of writing, this gave rise to noting what they saw and calculating from there how things worked in the sky. With their knowledge the Mayan’s were able to make accurate choices when to plant, when to harvest, and to when rains came. All of this though was not able to stop the fall of many of the Mayan’s cities, and eventually the Mayan empire.

Today, many of the Mayan decadence are sure of the human fall in 2012, but yet the Maya only rained for a few thousand years, not the 26,000 years their calendar notes. So, how do we as a modern and technological society give into this calendar that for most of us do not even understand? Simple really, most religions and cultures have their own end of time mythos. So as children we grow up to think this is how it is, not ever knowing we are being taught how to think and what to believe. But this is not the end of this story, but a caution to heed.

Will 2012 bring the end of all humanity? Well it depends on who you speak with. As it was during the Y2K scare, there were those who saw the fears as a way to capitalize on fear and make money. If the lessons of the past have not taught people anything that it is easy to give into fear and run away from things.

What will December 21^st 2012 bring? Well no one is sure of this. Humans are by nature are a bad set of prophets. Always being prepared is a good thing, but going overboard as many do is not a healthy way to handle fear. Think of it are a natural disaster, what would you do and how would you deal with it? If 2012 is going to be the end, then live life the best way you can, but on December 22^nd if nothing happens then what?

That is the hard question to answer! You find yourself on December 22^nd with the world still here? Much like Y2K you feel duped and now you’re angry. How do you face the day, or week, month to come? This is what a lot of people faced after Y2K, they felt as if they had been cheated or deceived. The truth is no one knows the future, but we learn from the past and with that we are able to build the future.

The most troubling thing is what will the world be like after 2012? 2050 – There are now 9 Billion people on the planet and they are looking back on all the fears coming out of the 20^th century into the 21^st century. Y2K and 2012 have passed and those in the future are upset by how recklessly we did not prepare for tomorrow. Oil is at an all time high in price, in the future it will go for $380 a barrel, petrol will go for $9 to $10 a gallon and energy shortages are common place, clean drinking water is $5 a 12oz bottle. But people of 2012 were worried about December 21^st 2012 to do anything to shape 2050 or 2100.

Are you sure? Are you sure December 21^st 2012 is the end? It is smarter to devote time and energy to the tomorrows that are to come. Worrying about ancient prophecies or religious fervor does not help anyone, it does though lead to anger, and fear, and missteps that could help us all.

What dose 2012 hold? That is like a lot of mysteries, after WWII people were sure that the reds (Communists) were going to take over, people were sure that an A-bomb (Atomic Bomb) would be used on America, people were sure Y2K (The Year 2000) would bring an end to technology, but Steve Jobs of Apple Corp. prove that wrong with I-phones, I-pads, I-pods, I-tunes Etc. . So 2012, what do you want to happen?  Is the end of humanity or is the beginning of people working towards 2050 or 2100 in strides to make a better world?

Whatever happens always know that the future is not set in a Mayan stone but in the people who live on this planet, with global warming and oil coming up less available in the future and governments worries more about themselves is a time for those yet to come and those living to change the paradigm  towards something better. 2012 is not the end, but it is a wakeup call to all people to make a better tomorrow.

Think of all this as a way to be prepared for uncertainly, to know your fellow man, to strive towards a tomorrow that is good for all humans, not just the few or the wealthy.  You and you alone dictate your tomorrow and never forget that which you worship made you free and strong.

Christmas and New Years Break

Hello Readers,

It is Christmas and New Years, so I am breaking til January 5th. I am wishing all a happy Christmas and a Joyous New Year. For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you peace, joy, and serenity. 2012 will start with a set of new articles and stories dealing with all kinds of topics, I will also time to time have guest writers and contributors to this blog.

2011 was a year of many historic and tragic things, from the Earthquake and Tsunami to Libya and Egypt, there were so many things that brought the world together and split it all at the same time. 2012, especially December 12st is this big issue with Mayan calender running out, I still think this another Y2K, but I will cover it as 2012 progresses.

But for the close of 2011, I wish everyone peace this time of year and a good start to 2012.

Editor and Chief:
Patrick Lynch. 

Respect

Article by: Patrick Lynch

There moments in life where we think somehow we have been wronged. People use the term “Being Disrespected”, but in truth were they? How much respect do you give to another person? This all depends on what culture you might have grown up in. Some cultures think it is their right to be respected without giving respect.

The truth is most people don’t give respect, they give courtesy. What is the difference? One is a learned behavior taught in schools and by television. Respect starts with self! Courtesy is please, and thank you. Respect is having understanding and empathy. These come from example and life lessons.

Respect is that key to knowing how another person feels and being able to see yourself in their shoes. Respect comes from something deeper, it is know a gay man is gay and not being rude or calling them names out of discomfort, respect is knowing your wrong and admitting it, respect is seeing another race and not saying something bad under your breath after they pass.

Courtesy is getting a burger at a fast food place and saying thank you, but respect comes when you see the order is wrong and asking politely can you fix this it is wrong. Courtesy is holding a door open, respect comes from when someone doesn’t do it in return and letting it go.

Men are taught to be respected, but women are sources of sex, this is not respect but a negative stereo type. Women and men are equals, not objects, that is respect. “In a man’s world”, this is a way of disrespecting the opposite sex, now think if you were a man and the roles were reversed? You would feel disrespected. But these biases continue on. If a woman works and a man takes care of the children and house work is he any less than a man? “NO!”

Certain demographics think a woman’s place is in the kitchen and caring for children even when these women have 40 an hour a week jobs. It is a humans place to provide for their family and share equally the household duties. This is called a “Partnership” and this is true respect.

In this 21^st century society some things have change where others have not, in some countries in the Middle-east and Africa young girls are vaginally mutilated so that they will not stray from their husbands, other are raped and beaten, in the name that the man was disrespected. Is this respect or torture? It is torture, but comes from societies and cultures where a misbalanced sense of respect is taught.

How does one define respect? Respect comes from understanding and education. When a person understands the self, then they are more likely to see themselves in others, but with poor knowledge in this area people can become disrespectful and potentially harmful to others. The old adage “With knowledge comes power,” this is very true.

But where do we start as people to teach the ideals of respect in a proper manner? Respecting others is one of those perception points and a lot of disagreements throughout his have come from misunderstandings seen as disrespect. In the Arab world throwing ones shoes at another person is a great-disrespect, here in the U.S. it is seen as juvenile and insulting, in Italy thumbing ones nose is like the middle finger in the U.S., these two examples illustrate how what is disrespectful in one place isn’t in another.

So how is one to know, well this isn’t always easy, some societies are closed about their customs and culture, so in these cases it is always best to do your homework before you deal with other cultures. Respect is earned not always given. But you say what if I am in a situation where I couldn’t have prepared for; well in these cases asking in a humble manner for forgiveness always goes a long way to gaining respect.

Respect is a tricky thing, and many people can always point the finger at other cultures and say they are disrespectful. But are they, or are you? This falls back to perception and culture. Most people are raise to have courtesy and to say please and thank you under the guise of respect. Respect come when see’s something wrong and acts on it if they were the one in the situation, most have a “NIMBY” stance. What is “NIMBY” – (Not In My Back Yard)!

We are told to respect our elder’s, and yet teens and some young adults push past the elderly and treat them as they haven’t a clue or they are unimportant. The truth is they were young once and just as disrespectful. 

AH! So it falls to this generation to step up and be the mature ones and not repeat the past.

This is true respect and maturity, but as soon as one falls to calling people names, or bullying, or being inconsiderate then you have no respect. A good example of this is a tagger who paints his name or gang name on a tax paying, hard working person’s outer wall in the claim that it is their turf, when in reality they live with family who pay the bills, this is disrespect. That person now has to pay money and time to clean up after this tagger.  

The tagger sees this as disrespect but in truth they disrespected the homeowner and community. This is why perception and culture play there parts in respect. Before you think you have been disrespected think about how your actions might affect others around you.

Once you have empathy not apathy then the respect quota might shift and then one might be able to see how to be respectful and gain respect. Respect does not come from being married, it helps but if you are a bad spouse than no gain there. If you have a good job that helps, but if you are a bad co-worker than respect once again means nothing, as you can see from these examples, when one does well as a student, a lover, as good worker, etc. Then one earns respect.

Respect is that when you are doing the right thing for no reward but just to be a better person then your journey to respect has begun. Action always speak louder than words, so always do the right thing and speak little to what you have done, but in this don’t be a push over, know right from wrong and always stand up for yourself in a responsible manner and with respect. Life is a journey not a destination, work towards being the better person always and respect will come to you.   

No Article Today

I will be posting next week a new article

I had to postpone for private reasons, just know I am committed to bring you the reader thought provoking ideas and elements to discuss.

This has been a rough week and I have been unable to give my full attention to this blog, I apologize and hope to complete 2 articles in the week to post on Thursday.

Thank you for your readership

Editor and Chief
Patrick Lynch

The paradigm of the human ego

Article by: Patrick Lynch

The paradox nature of human behavior and the ethical ideologies that are programmed in to all people. Have you ever thought about why you think, or do things that are contrary to your thinking? Such as self sabotage, or being angry for no reason.

How much thought do you give to your idea of self or ego?

What if you knew the greatest enemy you have lives within you. Most would deny this; this is called minimization, denial, and blame. We all do this, lie to ourselves in very rational ways. Example: "You see a homeless man on the street asking for change, do you A: go around him and tell yourself he would only use the money for alcohol; do you B: give him change and tell yourself I did a good thing; do you C: take the man to the closest fast food establishment and buy him a meal; or do you D: curse him and tell him to get a job?"

Surprisingly up until a few years ago most people would have done "A & D" but given the economic climate people are becoming more aware of people falling through the cracks. But what drove this leap in thought?

The ego or self has a way of both building in empathy and apathy towards others. This especially true in the instance when a person goes through what once he or she ignored before. Now in context the time the ego or self is always telling you what is right or wrong.

Without knowing it one can become a killer, or a thief, or worse; this happens when what we know to be right and wrong is clouded by other emotions or circumstances. It works in this way, a person by themselves is rational and can think for themselves, but add in opinions of others, or social conditioning also known as domestication, or intoxicants, or a mob, or religious fervor. In these circumstances we can take the thought and act on it in immunity or so we think, the chains are dropped of the social contract. 

Understanding what is real is another part of the ego or self’s job. It compares always to what is going on to what has happened in the past or that which we have learned. This is when studies are done to see how reliable witnesses are it has be shown that humans done see what they think they saw. Again this is the ego or self telling you "You know what you saw and you are right!" If this is true how illusionists do their tricks? Misdirection; they know that the ego or self will tell you what you saw, but in truth the whole time the illusionist has been misleading you.

So what is real? "Perception" This defined by a socialization or domestication into a given society by all people. This is the basis for Psychiatry and Psychology.  Understanding one’s own mind or thoughts is a long and hard process; this takes a willingness to look honestly deep within yourself and confronting what most stay away from. Law Enforcement are taught these and use them to see when a person is lying, Illusionists use this to entertain, Psychologist and Psychiatrist use this make diagnosis.

So how do you gain this understanding without years if school or training? This is easy for some and very hard for others. Every person has masks that they wear in this world, or the analogy hats they wear can be used as well. 1: is secret self, this is the person you are when no one is around. 2: is the public self, this is the person you are out with friends and other people. 3: is the private self, this is the person you are in a relationship or marriage. 4: is the work self, this is the person you are to your bosses, employees, coworkers, teachers, classmates, etc. 5: is the family self, this is the person you are with family and close friends. 6: is the spiritual self, this is the person you try to be by using religious or spiritual teachings.

We all have fears, regrets, and or jealousies depending on the person. But the ego or self once again is in control of this, breaking this control starts they process. Once broken how does one gain control over the mind? A key is how one acts and speaks. Our mind has a way of going against us, once you make an assumption to tell yourself a story which becomes true in your mind, but this assumption isn’t true.

Another issue is taking thinks to heart or taking things personally, this once again is the ego or self saying to the mind I have been wronged, but were you, or was it your perception? These are concepts which allow our minds to deceive our behavior. A glance while thinking, or blinking too much, or sweating when it is cold out, you can see these are some of the many tells people have giving away what they are truly thinking.

This is how a polygraph works, it measures breathing, sweat levels on the skin as known as the galvanic skin response, blood pressure, and they employ a pressure pad to measure body movement, these are use in concert to see the underlying processes in the brain. Our ego or self can in this way be seen betraying our thoughts. Now the truth is our minds are always working, and a polygraph is not a perfect instrument.

When all these points are taken together a picture emerges of the power of the ego or self. Many books have been written to this effect. Knowing the enemy within allows you gain control and understanding of not only yourself but others around you. One can never free themselves totally from the ego or self, but once you understand the mechanics of this then it allows for wisdom and success in life. When one starts a journey there isn’t always a destination, the journey is the truth and the ego or self will always be with you.