Security
It occurs to me that at the core of our conversations over the past week or so, has been the issue of security.
Why do we need security?
Do the things that we believe provide us with this quality actually do the trick or is security an internally produced phenomenon?
How much of it is beneficial and at what point does it become destructive?
How do you recognize the difference between stagnation and security when you're actually in the midst of making choices and what advice do you have for breaking the mold?
What is it about human beings that makes them so interested in this quality? Has the rapidly changing and ever more stressful "outside" world made us gravitate more and more towards securing our lives?
...or any other issues or thoughts on this general subject.
dharma explorer
Posts: 388
(1/23/03 8:37 pm) Reply
Security
The world is a big scary place. Everyone we meet has certain expectations of us. When outside of our secure space, we are always 'on guard' to some extent. Without a safe place to recharge we would melt down.
The idea that anything external to the self can provide security is an illusion. Security is a state of mind; although most people can more easily produce the feeling when certain physical/external things are in place.
When does it become destructive? When it inhibits expanding your experiences in any way. That's also when it crosses the line from security to stagnation.
I don't think our seemingly increased interest in the subject has as much to do with modern day stresses as it has to do with more available time to explore issues such as this.
---------- The next best thing to playing and winning....is playing and losing
DeShaz Registered User
Posts: 30
(1/24/03 1:14 am) Reply
control
I wrote a very nice post about control being equivalent to security here and the f'ing laptop deleted it. And that really torques me off.
In summation....we spend our lives trying to control ourselves, our near environment, community and world. When things happen outside our control - we are uncomfortable. Perhaps that is why religion was invented. If we can't control the universe...perhaps we know someone who can.
.
I think we can swaddle ourselves with far too much security, and we can suffer when we are bereft of it – I feel vulnerable sometimes – I am getting older and still haven’t got over a relationship that almost killed me, loneliness and alienation. I’m still broke too, and still have a huge student debt that I’d feel much more secure if it didn’t exist, worry and threat financial, but then, only the lucky ones real financial security….
What do I hold onto for security? Not a great deal right now, just faith in the fact that life, in all it’s rich variety, will turn out for the best, and if it doesn’t, well, who am I to argue?
I was an independent child who roamed the streets of Europe, country to country, from an early age – I made friends and flew away from them on a 6 monthly basis for 18 years so I guess I feel somewhat hardened – in reality it just makes it hurt even more when it happens again, snowballing sorrow when all I want to do sometimes is gather some moss.
…and then the feet start to itch, I’m bored, I need change, environment, personalities. I think that’s why I love to act, I can shed the securities of being one individual and don the attire of others – I feel the need to be what I am not which counters my more basic urge for stability, equilibrium – I love to be held but not for too long, I’d love money in the bank but what’s it there for if not to be spent? I want a warm bed but I crave the outdoors and I love the land of my Fathers but long to tread new lands….
The predators and dangers that our ancestors sought security from are gone from Western life– a warm hearth, a full belly and someone to share your furs with was the stuff of security in the dawn of our species, and to a degree they are the same now – roof over your head, feed the kids – but there are so many other pressures, social, employment, family, health – how can a person ever feel secure with so many facets of stress and vulnerability – give it all up and fish for crabs in Trinidad?
Re: .
I very much agree with LaHibou on this one. I think too much security is not a good thing.
I know that for me, a lot of what I'm looking for is based on what I've been missing. When I married my ex, I needed stability and security that I hadn't had since I was a very young child. But after four years and change, I was stifled and bored. Now I think I have a better handle on what I'm looking for - security and vulnerability at the same time. Perhaps that's why so many people want to fall "desperately" in love. When you can be with that person, you have the security of knowing you're not alone, but there's the vulnerability inherent in loving someone that much - they might not continue to need/want you, and you could lose them.
I like that edge though.
fluttersby
. . . her arms are wicked and her legs are long . . .
dharma explorer
Posts: 398
(1/29/03 7:53 pm) Reply
The Edge
I know what you mean, flutter. It's that feeling of balancing precariously. Sometimes you regain control, and sometimes you don't...but either way, the time spent on the edge is awesome.
---------- The next best thing to playing and winning....is playing and losing
EXCELLENT TOPIC!!!
Flying commercially, I witnessed what seemed to be a "normal" businessman, prepare to pass through security. He removed his laptop from his road warrier bag and switched it on and placed it on the bag. He removed his coat placing it there as well. He emptied his pockets into a tray, removed his watch, cell phone, and belt...placing them in the tray. He then removed his shoes and put them in the tray as well. He then picked up the entire pile of stuff and shuffled (so his pants wouldn't fall down) to what might as well be "Check Point Charlie." It was going slowly because they were searching a three year girl with the wand.
I stood behind him, and he commented to the person in front of us both..."This may be a pain but I sure feel safer."
Once he was through, he reassembled himself and went on to Milwaukee or where-ever.
The terrorists are winning. They have convinced the populace that the government should be able to remove the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution. This precedence will cause further errosion. Afterall...it sure is a lot easier to "get things done" if'n you ignore the constitution.
If this momentum continues the government will even start attacking other countries without international support which puts us on an equal level with other historically despicable regimes...but that's OK because "we're the big dog now."
When we do this, the rest of the world will begin picking at us like crows and the slide will begin. Pictures of dead Iraqi citizens will be shown with US soldiers in the foreground. The burning oil wells and starving children...collateral damage.
The US is losing it's remaining chastity. The terrorists could not have foreseen this but their actions on 9/11 DID put into action the demise of the United States.
The stoked perception of the need for ridiculous levels of security is the justification for consolidation of power. Even the employees of the "Department of Homeland Security" should not be offered their civil rights...that may slow us down in our quest to arrest "folks" and put 'em in an orange suit in Cuba.
The current administration is as dangerous as the Brown Shirts were.
(Gee Dave...so give us your real evaluation of the current administration and don't hold back).
----- Other than THAT, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
You're right
While LaHibou explained security or lack thereof on a personal level, and Dave shifted the focus to a national level, (and I agree with you both) let me add a touch of the venom at an environmental level. I know we've all got our problems, but this is beyond war. This is the water we drink.
Ever since the first gulf war (the second starting
very soon) U.S. forces stationed in Saudi Arabia have
been systematically and deliberately disposing of
their depleted uranium waste into this country (Saudi Arabia) with no regard for human life. Encouraged by our
governments apparent ignorance to what is being
perpetrated, it seems that this crime has been going
on for the past 10 years.
Depleted Uranium… (The suspected cause of Gulf war
syndrome, a “condition” witch has claimed the lives of
1000 U.S. and British soldiers since the end of the
first Gulf War) is now polluting the water supplies,
air, and the earth of this country. Once a D.U. shell
hits its mark it leaves its target (tank, plane,
building, or bunker) completely contaminate. Without proper decontamination, this material remains
for hundreds of years.
The Americans stationed asked the Saudi government to
provide them with land to be used to dispose of
“garbage” and “military waste”…a site was given to
them in Hafr Al-Batin.
However, when the authorities became aware of what was really being dumped, they asked the U.S. to clean it up, and were told that that would cost them trillions of dollars to carry out if they were willing to pay. (Isn't this biological warfare already?) The Saudi government said no and attempted to clean it up themselves. When the earth was dug up in the location of Hafr Al-Baten, seven
sites of waste disposal were found… each exposing the
level of deception carried out by the U.S..
First, they removed earth to reveal a cover of
garbage… secondly… the garbage was removed to expose
barbed wire, then a layer of 10cm concrete…. Then,
sitting there was a tank… in total. 6 tanks were found
and one plane, all disposed of in this manner…
These items were dragged out of their graves placed on
a military transport truck and moved, all the time
left EXPOSED to the open air, to the region of
Al-Jouf… where they were buried in a concrete tomb and
covered with earth and more concrete… several days
later a device was brought in to take radiation
readings and the indicator went off the charts… it did
so as well when readings were taken of the truck used
to transport the deadly cargo… all workers involved in
the transport were contaminated…
Inspectors were dispatched all over the country to examine every location upon which the Americans set foot. In one such location a 2 kilometer plateau was dug up to expose a grave site for used Depleted Uranium shells.
The entire east coast could be contaminated… as well as water sources from Qaseem, and al-Joof… Every time a dust storm kicks up it potentially carries this stuff all over the kingdom. This material thrives in arid and dry conditions…
I have heard from doctors that the rise in cancer
rates in this country over the past few years is a
direct result to what is being discovered now.
For those of you living in this region, please avoid drinking water from Al-Qaseem and Al-Joof.
And still the U.S. wages war for Freedom, kills for
security, and looks down at the people of the world
with arrogance and hate, propagating media the instills further ignorance and racism, spewing hypocrisy.
And still I have yet to meet a single American who is for the war. In every demonstration I have been to, hundreds of Americans as well as other Westerners marched in peace demonstration upon peace demonstration.
There are plenty...
...of Americans for the war. Frankly in discussions I am often the only one against it...of course I live near the intellectual capital of the world...Reno, NV. In my little writers group there is only one supporter for the war...so at least that...but damn it is frustrating.
The supporters would read your paragraph and either say it is a bunch of lies cooked up by the liberal press...or they would say so what? It's just a bunch of sand over there and who gives a shit about a bunch of Arabs getting sick anyway. This is ALL their fault. Screw 'em. They are lucky we don't turn the whole thing into a sea of glass.
...and I am not kidding. That is what they would and do say.
----- Other than THAT, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
Re: There are plenty...
Are there really that much? I was under the naive delusion that maybe the polls were all being rigged. The friends I contacted about this actually weren't surprised and didn't doubt it in the least. But most of my friends have traveled a lot and been beyond the USA, which makes them more compassionate I think.
I'm glad that I know for sure there's one guy in Nevada who's protesting the war.
Countdown
Watching the news...They're talking about B1 jets - carpet bombing! Isn't that illegal?
Yeah, I know they did it in Afghanistan. They were dealing with mountains and caves, but Baghdad is one of the oldest cities in the world. Before Saddam, Iraq was the highlest developed Arab country the region, with the most education population, avante garde thinkers, and presitigious society. Saddam is intolerable, but the people of Baghdad are as civil as you and me. Carpet bombing cannot be an option!
I'm having a party at my house today. Drinks by the pool, soft music, hopefully no politics. Its so absurd. I've tried to do so much, but at the end, it seems like nothing we do really matters. Even Robin Cook's resignation, which I thought was extremely admirable, will not stop the war planes from attacking.
And the saddest thing of all, is that the United Nations - probably the 20th century's greatest step in the direction of human rights institutions - has lost all its bearing because of the USA's obstinate pride.
Rumages through mail...nope...checks e-Mail...nope...looks outside to see the sky writing...nope. Hmmmmm. Guess my invitation was lost.
--
I feel an almost overwhelming sadness over the events which are sure to unfold. So stupid. So unnecessary.
Yep...the UN is toast. We killed it.
----- Other than THAT, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
Re: Countdown Hey Dave! Of course you're invited!
Just wondering, whats the status of US/Saudi air flights?
No, seriously, if any of you happen to be in the neighborhood, do drop me a line!!! (Neighborhood: Damascus, Beirut, Riyadh...I sorta commute between all three. Was in Beirut when I joined you good people, now I'm in Riyadh and I think I'll be staying here for a month or so )
My party went well by the way. Great weather this time of year. Spring will last all of 3 weeks, and then its the scorching summer. But last night was sweet and breezy. At one point everyone got glued to the TV watching CNN, which really annoyed the hell outta me, but I got them back to the music and the socializing... This morning I'm hearing about anti-American movements popping up all over... Indonesia, Yemen, even Kuwait. We all strive for the American dream, we all admire the American ideal, but the American reality - at least in Foreign Policy - remains to be a dispicable series of actions in bad faith
Naw. You are too hard the Americans. They are just plain ignorant. For years every politician in every speech throws in the term "this is the greatest country ever"...or..."we are the greatest people"...or...blah...blah...blah. And you know what...THAT is what most Americans think now. They believe it.
Any poor SOB who happens to live elsewhere is a dumb shit who is not smart enough to know what to do...they NEED America to set them straight.
The arrogance is astounding.
To tone this down a bit, I think the problem is that most Americans have not traveled. The majority of those who HAVE traveled went on an "It's Tuesday so this must be Belgium" type of tour...that is not really traveling in my book.
I'll get off my soapbox now. I am really upset to think how many people will be dead within a month who would have not been dead if America didn't take the actions we are about to take.
ps...I could put in a ferry-tank and fly the Reno-Chicago-Gander-Iceland-England-Italy-Egypt-Riyadh...but that seems like a little more trouble than having to undress and bend over at security so they can check whether I have a bomb up my...er...you know. Guess I'll have to pass right now unless you throw damn good parties.
Take care over there.
D
----- Other than THAT, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
Quote:Any poor SOB who happens to live elsewhere is a dumb shit who is not smart enough to know what to do...they NEED America to set them straight.
Quote:To tone this down a bit, I think the problem is that most Americans have not traveled.
These sentences brought to mind a piece I wrote from an eye-opener years ago. I posted it in Ex Nihilo under its title "The Beggar's Gift", but you can equally find it at: knowgramming.com/pilots_p...s_gift.htm
Re: Countdown
Great story. I remember reading it...perhaps here or your earlier web-site...don't remember.
Bush is not quite blissful. There is still that issue with them damn Canada-folks...up there actin' all like they have the right to think their own stuff 'n all. After Saddam, and then the DemocRATS, Canada is next.
edit to add
You did have this posted somewhere else didn't you or am I going nuts?
----- Other than THAT, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
Re: Countdown
Well, I usually avoid these discussions like the plague, but I've gotta take issue with something you said DJ: (underline mine)
Quote:They are just plain ignorant. For years every politician in every speech throws in the term "this is the greatest country ever"...or..."we are the greatest people"...or...blah...blah...blah. And you know what...THAT is what most Americans think now. They believe it.
Any poor SOB who happens to live elsewhere is a dumb shit who is not smart enough to know what to do...they NEED America to set them straight.
This implies the average American has some sort of say in what's going on over there. I don't remember it being called for a vote. What I do remember is The Shrub being elected in what was, at best, a fishy election. What I do remember is after the WTC was attacked, every pundit and pollster from here to Podunk, BFE knew it was The Shrub's perfect opportunity to go after the bullies who picked on his Daddy back when he was in office. This is one man - one short, ignorant, spoiled, egomaniacal asshole using the devastation our country went through as an excuse to wave the sabers and make sure he gets re-elected.
None - I repeat that - NONE of the regular folks I've spoken with think we should be over there. None think we have any right to tell another country what to do - that whole adage about stones and glass houses comes to mind. I don't know anyone who really cares all that much about who's in power in Iraq.
And for me - if all of a sudden we're going to start punishing deep-pocket countries who support terrorism, when do we move to those that support economic terrorism - suburban terrorism - and any other -ism that runs rampant in this country? We've make it okay to for ourselves to take on the role of the world's police force. The problem is, when the biggest, baddest dude on the block is in charge of enforcing the "rules," what usually happens is a bunch of smaller, but cunning and wiley guys get together and beat the shit out of him. The analogy hold true across the board, IMHO.
Okay. I'm going to take a deep breath now and crawl back into my little cave of indifference.
fluttersby
"The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck."- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I kind of thought we would hear from you eventually on this issue. Your points are completely valid and in harmony with my opinion...outside of the fact that I HAVE talked with A LOT of people who support our aggression over there...in fact the majority of the people support it...but I remind you...I live near the intellectual capital of the world...Reno, NV. Perhaps (and I hope this is true) your sampling is more descriptive of the opinion of the general populace.
And you are right. Bullies always get knocked down eventually.
----- Other than THAT, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
DeShaz Registered User
Posts: 117
(3/19/03 6:13 pm) Reply
another wrench
I stay out of political debates. I know I don't know enough. But I'm opposed to war morally. We are supposed to be a highly evolved species and we can't find a better way to solve problems than to kill people? Continues to blow my mind.
What does concern me is that while I can't support the war, I don't want to see the unforgiveable behavior toward our troops that was evidenced during Vietnam. I know a lot of Vets and have spoken intimately about their experiences in Vietnam - and their experiences when they came home. Hard to say which was worse. I can't see that happening to our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, co-workers, neighbors and friends now.
How do we balance on that tightrope?
And btw, Falderal...incredible essay. Reminds me of some lessons that I keep getting beaten over the head with. Perhaps one day I will really learn them.
Z
Better your own truth, however weak, than the truth of another, however noble.
~Shakyamuni Buddha
CNNian Hollywood
Again watching the news today. I should really stop doing that.
CNN covering Iraq and Kuwait from every single angle. Live coverage first from the North near the Kurds, then the south at the Kuwaiti border, than Kuwait city, than the East in the Persian Gulf, every minute on the minute, so you can live the drama of the war as it unfurl at your very home screen t.v.
"We've had 4 calls for bunker bunker bunker, we head to the bunkers and put on our gas masks, we heard what sounded like air bursts, but as far as we know, nothing hit anything, no one got hurt, 12 minutes later the all clear was being signaled, we got out, there were a couple of American soldiers having their picture taken with their masks on. Already they have grown accustomed to the strains of war."
And then Tom Clancy, "There's a knowing calm here in Kuwait as Kuwaitis prepare themselves for possible invasion from Iraq. Just 12 minutes ago we had our 2nd bunker call since this morning. We heard "air bursts." Yes. Um. I'm sorry you missed it. We'll try to catch it for you live on CNN next time."
I'm sorry you missed it???!!!!!!!
Meanwhile, from USS Constellation, "We've had 24 missile attacks on Iraq since this morning, with our whateverthey'recalled jets. We disabled the electricty, communication, transportation, and radar system of the country. Of course we avioded civilians as much as we can."
Does anyway see the imbalance in this so called war or is it just frigging me? Do Americans realize what a joke this all is?Bunker-calls and sorry-you-missed-the-action reporters on the one hand, missiles raining down on a darkened and silent society on the other. Friggin showbiz! And don't forget to catch the pretty blonde reporter with her so-uncomfortable-in-the-heat gas mask on. If you really want to be there, we advise you to get a toilet plunger and stick it to your face, suctioning your nose and mouth, but make sure your eyes are clear so you can continue watching the war sequen on CNN.
)
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