Farewell

I have very little time left. Now that the end is near I have many reasons that make me wish I could stay behind. However, I know my duty and feel that I am making the right decision. I can only pray and trust in the Lord to allow my life to near perfection in the future.

Achille's Heel

One would love to think of himself as enduring, influential, above normal passion. However, all is not so: even the great Achilles succumbed to Paris’s poisoned arrow, his image of superiority was lost.
When the one that was allowed to be closest chooses a strange path, even one must admit his error- with a sad joy, one watches the dawn of a new day; not only for himself but for those one wishes best.
Good Luck

Life Pictures

The Distant Shore

Pressing forward

never looking back

picturing the future

sailing to the Distant Shore


-Running Demon

You have dreamed of a perfect world, or simply a perfect society; somewhere nothing could go wrong, a place where you could live out life in peace and happiness. Unfortunately, Utopia does not exist on our decaying world, but it does exist in our thoughts and dreams. Utopia, explained here, could be the pinnacle of humanity, assuming the following conditions were met: and so we go.

To begin a perfect society, you need perfect surroundings, a geological and environmental setting ideal enough to host humanities greatest accomplishment. Thus an island, located in the vicinity of the Mediterranean would suffice. The tectonic setting, of said island, would be preferably (but uncharacteristically) stable, with a massive dormant volcano anchoring the central part of the island. The island would be ringed with a variety of tropical cloud forests, tropical dry forests, and workable agricultural lowlands. Before the peoples of Utopia can be mentioned, a fifty meter white sand beach must be incorporated, ringing the island, except for the cliff studded bay that would serve as Utopias only defensible and workable port.

The peoples of Utopia would have a perfect blend of the world’s races. Populations would be appropriately proportioned between an European’s fair skin, the Native American’s tan, and the African’s black complexion. Racism would be none existent; society would start mixed, raising all children in a diverse society. If one is not taught to hate another, one never will. Within these populations would be a need for society to provide for itself, but there is a twist, electronic technology is no longer compulsory but rather a negligible portion within the scheme of things.

People’s contribution would be critical to the survival of Utopia, creating a tight-knit society that would flourish with the personal respect for one another’s part. Employment would work under a system of learned Guilds. Masters and Apprentices would permeate through the populations, allowing one guild to every charge (ex. Doctors, Farmers, Engineers, Theologians, etc…). Currency, clearly, is a difficulty efficiently avoided; for if one performs his part admirably, his payment will be a life supported by his fellow Utopians, each performing their respective tasks worthily.

Education would work hand in hand with the Guild system. Those who chose to fill the positions allotted to teaching would run the education realm. Each individual would be asked to attend ten years of instruction, and more if it was their so desire to join an educated Guild or to become a teacher themselves. Compulsory attendance would not be necessary, for each individual would understand the importance of education and the existence of Utopia. Though ignorance is bliss, wisdom is a comfort that no imagination can replicate.

You wish to know of the government that would run such an ideal society, but you believe none would be necessary, unfortunately you are wrong. Societies, even in states of seeming perfection, are never perfect; they require leaders, customs, and ideologies to support the liberties of the peoples present. This Utopia would have a familiar three branch government; each branch would be headed by one individual, someone recognized through youth as a leader, someone that could be trusted in the worst of circumstances. One leader for each: Justice, Power, and Wisdom. Together and separately they would lead Utopia through disaster, euphoria, and peace, each holding their position until age required the recognition of another, by and through the guilds of Utopia, to be a leader, assuming the role of the respective aged mentor.

The military valor would be headed by the Leader of Power. Not to protect Utopia from within, but to protect it from those that wish to do harm to a society that they will never obtain. A task force of a few selected individuals would be allowed weapons of defense. Within this sector would technology be most prevalent, yet miniscule. Never would the military be in position to dominate the civilized people of Utopia, for before any military action can be dictated, agreement must be met by all three leaders of this society.

In the rare occasion that one would wish to leave Utopia for a higher understanding, or for personal reasons, they would be allowed to leave. But once an individual has deserted their home, return would always be discouraged and denied; for allowing the outside world to infiltrate the beautiful forests of Utopia would be a far greater evil than any one perfect society could stand against.

If my mind’s eye were to become truth, Utopia would be the place for me, a world I could live out my simple life in peace and serenity. Although it will never exist on this sphere, someday I hope to see it, or at least make it… a reality.

Collective Power

Resistance is Futile; this popular expression is from the sci-fi show Star Trek. The phrase is usually used moments before the Borg species attacks, annihilates, and/or assimilates their unwilling foes into the Borg Collective. The Borg Collective is the most powerful mixture of races in the known Star Trek universe. Even though this is merely a scientific fantasy, it shows principals that are very true in the real world. Everything working as a Collective, whether it is the Borg or an assortment of bees, finishes tasks faster, more efficiently, and produces a higher yield than any one individual.

Organizations around the world are hailed for how efficient they are, and many ask: how do they do it? I believe that a man, hundreds of years ago, answered this question when he said, “United we Stand, Divided we Fall.” I contest that he was on to something that could apply to his day, and to the millennia to come. What he was simply stating was, “As a group, a union, an organization: a collective, we realize what others will not, we oppose what others dare not, and we rise where others can not.”

One powerful example of the rise and fall of a collective is the Ancient Egyptian Empire. As an Empire, the Egyptians were hailed for much. They raised a civilization out of the vast deserts of Africa, created the last standing of the Seven Wonders of the World, and exercised control over peoples that were later documented to be an "unstoppable force". This Empire, at the height of its power, was a fully fledged collective, made up of Monarchs, Priests, Scientists, and, to borrow a term from Star Trek, drones. Their wealth was insurmountable, and their knowledge and armies were vast. How then, did they seal their fate? One could easily argue that Pharaoh “Let his people go.” He broke the collective ties that had held his empire together. A civilization that stood as a beacon for generations was demised to nothing without its work force. Egypt once stood united, but as a divided, weakened group they sure came to the sands of the desert.

We as a civilization now need to look at ourselves and compare what we have become to the ancient worlds and the scientific spheres. We do not stand truly united; we have lost the direction that is necessary for a nation, a collective, to walk forward achieving all. We would not have to fear if our goals were concise, accurate, and reflected our values. We bicker and fight within our own states, which leads to states combating states in the Senate. If we truly wish to make a difference in this world, we should position ourselves as a collective. As we achieve this, we will be able to say confidently to ourselves and to those opposing us: Resistance is Futile.

Running Demon

An Ongoing Transformation

Transform:
Main Entry: trans·form
Pronunciation: \tran(t)s-`form\
Function: verb
1 a: to change in composition or structure b: to change the outward form or appearance of c: to change in character or condition : convert
2: to subject to mathematical transformation
3: to cause (a cell) to undergo genetic transformation
intransitive verb: to become transformed: to change

To transform, or to change, is vital to the continued existence of any living entity. Arguably, humanity could not survive without the constant of change. Following, it has been said the only true constant, in life, is change. History has documented ‘change’ perfectly, throughout the millennia. Change has captivated the hearts of nations, bewitched the minds of young, and enthralled the master’s hand. So ask yourself this: Why when one changes, when one seeks higher ground, does humanity recoil?

There are those who exist to thwart progress, hold to the past, and envision a false and flawed future. They are not evil, nor are they damaged, they are merely the dregs of past ages, vestiges of previous glories, and they are they that cannot transform. Looking back will do no good, not accepting will bear no progress, and false accusations include abhorrence and suspicion. Experience is the cure for a decayed environment; knowledge is what breeds the desired change.

Positive experience rears pure euphoria, producing resourceful feelings of ease and elation, which encompass one’s new surrounds with feelings of comfort or adventure. This is the nature of human life, thus it is a required change needed in everyone. Without it, one cannot hope to grow beyond one’s bounds, but to be tied with the bands of desire, deceit, and innocence. Without change, humanity could never have hoped for the better life, the worlds beyond, and the endless imaginings of the mind. Without humanities transformation, from one degree to another, humanity would never have resolved to the complex organism the breaths change to an ever syndetic earth. Now is the time to change.

Running Demon

Mother Russia: Awakened

"It is easy for people in the West to forget that Russia is the world’s largest country by landmass – nearly twice the size of the United States or China. Although economically weakened, it retains the mentality of a giant." It has been argued that Russia changed after the Cold War, yet the West may be surprised, to note, that the change was not for the better.

Russia, soon after the collapse of the U.S.S.R., was a less than a shadow of its former image. It hardly had the ability to provide for itself, to maintain the lands that remained loyal, and yet, it lived a life situated to be doomed. Instead of a new Democracy, thieving monarchs rose to seize commodities and power, disregarding Democracy's foundation, the law. As these crime lords grew, the seeds of distrust, foreboding, and hate emanated toward the West. Thus, Democracy's last hope to establish itself died; a mere few years after the fall of the communist state.

Distrust was indeed seeded long before the end of the Cold War, and never uprooted. After the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia still saw itself as a strong influence in its old satellites. It felt honor bound to oversee their needs, as they believed the former satellites would provide for Russia's. The United States, however, felt that Russia's influence ended along with the Cold War... who is meddling with who's internal affairs? Russia rightfully feels the West is strangling its chances for a seat in world affairs, by destroying diplomacy with its old domains.

Ending the Cold War brought Russia's weapons industry and economy to a thunderous halt. The United States, however, was bestowed with the final title of 'Global Superpower', with no opposition to the West, the world became a vast playground, in Russia's eyes. Russia only had the ability to state its opinions, confined, within the walls of the Security Council. Enmity grew as the United States disregarded most of what the UN and Russia had resolved. The ability for any one country to oppose America was history.

During the past fifteen years, above all, Russia's symbolism and pride has been attacked: Russia became the punch line to most Western jokes, symbols highly regarded were tarnished, and old ideologies were mocked. Russia felt the West was intentionally belittling it, the West enjoyed gloating over its fallen foe. Mother Russia, too weak and soft spoken to defend, was morally tattered, and dreamed of revenge.

When Putin became president in early 2000, he felt a need to cooperate with the West. After September 11, 2001 Putin saw himself as aiding the West by allowing US forces to operate out of bases in Russia’s former southern region. He did not feel, however, that meaningful gratitude was returned and represented.

Seeing the dire situation of his country, Putin felt the need to revive the economy. In the few short years of his presidency, Putin has been able to restore a failing economy to a growing international vault. Statistics show his implementations raised the Russian National GOP by almost 6.25% per year, and shows no sign of slowing. Putin has unnerved his international equals, and feels that it is time for Russia to awaken, to step to the plate as another 'World Superpower'.

Unfortunately, I do not believe that Russia can be denied Global Status any further. The atrocities toward the Russian pride, I fear, run too deep. Now that Russia is in a position to regain part of its former strength, I believe it would be wise to instill as many cooperative, joint, operations and decisions as is possible between. Now is the time for the world to change, now is the time for a revolution of ideas, now is the time for the Bear and the Eagle to stand united, inseparable, for the world lies in their overpowering claws; for if they fight, everyone loses.

Running Demon