Forecast for Thursday 31 December 2009

Thursday 31 December 2009

~Invoking Wisdom~

Much as I despise the studied and craven bitchiness of Maureen Dowd, once in a while she says something intelligent, as today (New York Times): If we can’t catch a Nigerian with a powerful explosive powder in his oddly feminine-looking underpants and a syringe full of acid, a man whose own father had alerted the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, a traveler whose ticket was paid for in cash and who didn’t check bags, whose visa renewal had been denied by the British, who had studied Arabic in Al Qaeda sanctuary Yemen, whose name was on a counterterrorism watch list, who can we catch?

As I have said many times, but no one seems to be listening, intelligent airport security would have prevented 9/11/01, hands down. It is so simple! The Republicans who now rant about airport security (but don't do anything about it) prevented our congress from passing proposed legislation, 'way back in the '90s, to tighten airport security. "Oh, it would cost too much! It would burden the poor, poor, suffering airline industry! Let us weep for the rich and exploitative, and ignore the plight of the vulnerable, in venerable Republican style!" If we had had such security, the very obviously suspicious men responsible for that attack could easily have been detected and prevented from getting on that flight. The responsibility for the success of the attack lies on Congress and the airline industry, who lobbied Congress to prevent intelligent legislation to protect its customers. Who is pointing that out except Cosmic Piper? Am I the only one who has a glimmer of common sense? We are chasing our tails, killing people indiscriminately, and our own men, in a primitive mountainous region on the other side of the world, poorest country on earth, to "protect" us, but meanwhile the attacks we have suffered on our own territory could have been prevented easily with heightened and tightened security to protect our borders--and obviously that includes airport security.

But no, we have to go to Iraq and Afghanistan with no clear plan and stir up endless hatred of us, as counter-productive a plan as could be imagined. Instead of just locking our doors. Afghanistan has been called "the graveyard of empires" and it seems Americans collectively have a longing for that graveyard.

I am wondering if Cosmic Piper is the only American with common sense? Or is common sense really very uncommon?

As for New Year's Eve, it looks pretty dismal. I would say, Stay home. Your soul needs its inward reflection, recollection, and musing upon whatever seems real and important at this difficult turning point. Profane and noisy entertainment could just make things worse.

Or, if something in you wants to celebrate the new year in the conventional style and you go to a party or club, you can carry your soul's longing for something better with you and meditate within the superficial chaos (perhaps even while chatting or dancing, like the Sufis).

Don't be surprised if you find others and yourself mysterious, hard to fathom, seemingly even crazy. Who is totally sane? Who can see everything from the Supramental levels pointed out by Sri Aurobindo as our salvation from Ignorance? Just about no one. Realizing that, today or tonight, could help you on your quest, for unless one knows one is lost in the woods one cannot find a way out.

Faith, of course, is important, if it is faith which looks for the truth rather than faith which trusts in a lie.

Caution and secrecy go with positions of authority. Not all those celebrating in a public place or private party will be open about what they are thinking.

Surveying the crowd, you may note amazing things about the differences among human beings. It might be said that our differences are our reality, for if we were exactly the same there would be no consciousness of individuality. Estimating the value of individuals in distinction from one another is not arrogant if one sees that each has a different sort of value.

Someone prosperous and idealistic could invite you to his or her place, or you could be that one inviting someone else. We admire those whose success has not spoiled them, but rather fostered their ability to uphold high standards.

Whether you are lonely while surrounded by people, and then go home to a vigil of your own during which despondency could change to lofty wisdom; or stay secluded while reaching for something beyond misanthropy and dread; you can do this latter, that is, pass through a test of your endurance, with revived hope in what is more substantial and less evanescent.

Happy New Year!

{Thursday} ~Invoking Wisdom~

Cosmic Piper