political or spiritual—are you both?

November 3, 2009November 3, 2009Leave a comment

last night we gathered with friends and had a somewhat heated discussion about the state of affairs, the temperature rising at our table laden with fresh fish, vegetables and fancy, cheesy, re-baked potatoes. Aren’t WE the lucky ones to have such abundance, here in the good ol’ U.S. of A? I’m grateful. Are you? Everyday is Thanksgiving to me, not just when the calendar points to it.

when you're in the gratitude mode everything's extraordinary!

. . . instead of ordinary . . .

All six of us had spent a good bit of time living outside the country; three of us weren’t American born; two natives of oppressive Latin American governments that were really nothing more than authoritarian dictatorships; the other person was French. All of us well traveled in many areas of the globe.

The words flew fast and heavy when we began to discuss Cuba, a country five of us had recently visited, at different times and in different capacities. Two of my friends had just had their picture published, a portrait of the married pair standing in front of a mural of Che, as they grinned widely and holding a copy of their hometown newspaper: part of a special show-and-tell feature their small town paper offered to travellers.

my friends in havana

these two had lived through a lot of political unrest, suffering much painful harassment from drug cartels and government agencies alike when, for many many years, they had an organic farm deep in the mountainous jungle of Colombia. Their ordeal ended with fleeing for their lives, after finding out they were on a hit list to be “disappeared” … as many of their friends had been already–by government agencies working in cahoots with drug cartels. Unfortunately, the husband, my dear friend Miguel, had already anguished over leaving his native country after his own father was found murdered by the ruling factions vying for power in Colombia at that time, the eighties.

To live in such overwhelming terror leaves one permanently fearful of government power wielded for purposes other than the betterment of the populace. To live in such a nightmare scars one’s soul. Some who have survived this kind of emotional torture experience their hearts going hard, their faith in government, forget about God, turning to dust. I am happy to report that my friends, Miguel and Monica I’ll call them for their anonymity’s sake, are fully integrated, peaceful and loving folks, who have weathered their misfortunes with the help of level-mindedness, and a healthy dose of expressing themselves, releasing their sorrows, through their art.

Yet, whether from their horrific personal experiences or their own natural propensities, today they both subscribe to the belief that the communist Cuban government of Castro has been a success. In the eyes of people who have lived through hell in other violence-prone latino nations, this unseemly fact does make sense—if you reckon the alternative of unheard of violence and poverty are the cold hard facts of many other South American countries (the Argentinean and Chilean dictatorships of the past, Nicaragua of Central America, and today, Mexico succumbing to the influence of drug cartels more and more).

greeting at havana airport

To Monica and Miguel, the Cubans appeared as contented children, heralding their love for “Papa” Fidel, even crying at the suggestion he could ever die. Wherever Miguel and Monica went in Cuba, countryside, city or village, they saw contentment and peace, safe streets, unthreatening people, and no crime in either small pueblos or large cities. In effect, this latino experience for my friends was the exact polar opposite from their own, when they lived in dangerous Colombia, whether from local jungle-living guerilla; the FARC, a citizen-run counter-guerilla movement, organized drug cartels or drug-moneyed government agents–all were threats in Colombia when my friends lived there. Compared to the extreme violence Miguel and Monica lived through, the daily threat on their lives even while living in the remotest, most peaceful place, raising vegetables and tending cattle, Colombia was hell. To them, with this comparison, Cuba today is a model of a peaceful place, a country where one can live safely and with enough food and education for everyone. Even today, it is rumored that the president of Columbia is in power because of his associations (his past ones at least) with organized drug mafia. We shall see the development of that country, as we also watch with interest how the governments of Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela and Eva Morales’s Bolivia turn out, those two countries that are turning away from democracy and toward the communist philosophy espoused by the Castro regime.

yoani sanchez

The award-winning journalist and blogger Yoani Sanchez ( www.generaciony.com ) tells a different story. She, you see, LIVES in Cuba. She tried to move away, years ago, to Switzerland, but couldn’t leave the country of her blood, her heart. She tells her story to the world, and is now featured as part of the Huffington Post ( www.huffington.com ). But my friends Monica and Miguel think her view is slanted. And . . . I think theirs are. No doubt, people think mine is too.

Yes, each of our own perspectives —whether about life in general, religion, politics, sex, even the food we choose to eat — are affected by the experiences we’ve had in our life.

This is an interesting topic, because to me, I used to consider myself a totally un-political person, yet a true spiritual warrior. Yet I realized after 9.11 that I would have to, one day, make a stand about how I felt. After my country was attacked by terrorists who don’t approve of our democratic way of life, either for religious or political reasons, I decided that I felt strongly enough about democracy — when I seriously asked myself this very telling question—that if i had to, i would choose to die in upholding the values that our country stands for. I would rather die, yes, that’s right, than be subjected to the whim and will of any other system, be it a dictatorship, a takeover by renegade prophet or politician who self-proclaims his or her view to be that “of the people’s” as the revolutionaries of Cuba loudly sing. It’s the same song sung (different language, different rhythm, but same lyrics) by the silently menacing dark shadows of the Taliban that deepens the gulf between East and the West in our world today. Whether right or wrong, unless people get to VOICE their choice —that is, live in a democratic style where the vote of the people is the rule of the land —any system that is in power is going to end up putting out the flame of the human spirit: taking away our intrinsic freedom of choice.

free to choose whom to love, who to be ---what to dream!

To satisfy some of my own questions, I decided to sit and contemplate the difference between what “political” and “spiritual” means to ME. I believe all humans are a blend of many things. But some of us are very much more one way (emotional, intellectual, physical–and political or spiritual) than the other. No one can be absolutely un-political, unless they are brain dead. Maybe there are a lot of those types, the ones who watch too much TV, but i bet they tend to be more finantics than those who don’t watch TV. Even Daw Ang San Su Kyi, my beloved heroine of Burma, who has been under house arrest for nearly 20 years for opposing the military dictatorship of her country, maintains total peace and passive resistance as her political stance. In her quiet vigil she is a STRONG political figure, even though her warring-arms are nothing more than the single lotus tucked behind her ear.

she awaits the moment of freedom, in prayer and silence

When my consort Carter and I made the trip to Cuba last March (see previous blog postings when we traveled with the humanitarian group, Fundacion Amistad)— we had exactly the opposite feeling about how the people in Cuba appeared, as our friends Monica and Miguel had. We felt the Cubans’ deep sadness of those we met and spent real time with, saw the lack of vitality expressed in the words they spoke in public, viewed the counter-revolutionary sentiments in their art, noticed how their faces turned frightened when certain subjects were mentioned outside their homes. Countless times we were told household secrets only shared behind closed door by the frustrated, depressed Cuban people we visited. We met with several collectives of artists and artisans, an internationally acclaimed actor, an noted architect, and business and service people as well; all of whom felt incredibly depressed, they said in private conversation, because they were not allowed to participate with the rest of the world. They felt—in a word—unfree.

Here is my list of the differences of being political as opposed to centering on a spiritual way of taking ACTION to help humanity. You decide which characteristics suit you best. Hopefully you’re a blend of both.

A POLITICAL perspective on life is

divisive
authoritarian
filled with motives
replete with agendas
involved in the art and science of governing others
engaged in intrigue, shrewdness, contriving, dealing, promoting of policy and taking action either FOR or AGAINST a political system
argumentative and often, finantic about personal views

A SPIRITUAL perspective on life is

all inclusive
without rules or boundaries
has no judgement, motives, or agendas other than acceptance and forgiveness, knowing that evolution does not come without painful growth
involved in no-opinion but passive resistance, like Ghandhi and Daw Aung san su Kyi, Martin Luther King, and countless others
wants to help others attain spiritual freedom, and actively prays (engages in “mental thought battle”) to achieve this goal

the words themselves tell it all.

political: from the Greek word, politikos—about the people, the citizens

spiritual: from the Latin spiritus—a breath, to breathe (a.k.a., to LIVE)

Being in balance with both sides of our human nature, the political and the spiritual, is the healthiest. But in my book, it is better to be MORE spiritual than political. To pray for change is much more powerful than arguing or taking up arms. If all of us who believe in the highest possibilities for the evolution of our species, used prayer as our tools, holding positive thoughts as our weapons of change, the ONENESS, the UNITY, the SACRED DIVINITY of our human state will become a reality instead of some far-fetched metaphysical mumbo jumbo. Instead of fighting or arguing over politics—a lot of change occurs on its own when thoughts are attuned to the highest potential. Thought is action. Thoughts are “seeds” of change.

I offer this blog as a seed to balance the anger and unrest in many people’s hearts who have been deeply affected by violently suppressing regimes.

In the Light, lordflea

American developer discusses Cuba’s future

February 4, 2009February 5, 2009Leave a comment

friends y amigos,

Don salutes the old car ingenuity of Cuba

and now…a word from our good friend Don Chiofaro, the developer of boston’s famed International Place, who was in our traveling party recently to Habana. this is his take, a requested Op-Ed by the Boston Herald newspaper, commenting on the current cuban situation, from Don’s personal and businessman’s point of view. He also quite liked the local salsa bands and was appreciated by swift-footed, hip-swaying cuban hombres y mujeres when he “did his thing” on the dance floor! a multi-talented fellow, that Donaldo.

Don Chiofaro at the fort in Habana

THE U.S. AND CUBA: TIME FOR A CHANGE

by Don Chiofaro

as appeared in the Boston Herald Jan. 31, ’09

I recently had the grand opportunity to visit Cuba legally, thanks to some old college friends involved in important humanitarian projects there. Unless you are informed by personal experience, forget everything you think you know about Cuba.

Cubans are not our enemies. Most of them are extremely friendly to Americans, despite our official policy intended to punish and degrade the Castro regime. Nor is Cuba unsafe. Nor are visitors restricted as to where they can go or do or see. In long walks through tough Havana neighborhoods off the tourist path, I never encountered the smallest hostility. The people are handsome, warm, and agile. There is no question that many are poor. The economy provides little opportunity to produce wealth or gain property; however, there are good schools and universal (though under funded) Health Care. I see more sad down-and-outers in a 15 minute walk from the Financial District to Downtown Crossing than I saw in a week’s worth of travel through Havana. The crime rate is low, and police are rarely in evidence.


Havana can look run-down, even shabby, but it certainly has good bones. It is easy to see the magnificence that was once there and to imagine its renaissance. Havana, still the jewel of the Caribbean, features countless numbers of beautiful buildings, ranging in style from Colonial to art nouveau to Art Deco to mid-century Modernism. The wonderful plazas have kept their charm. On many streets you could be in Florence or Palermo or Barcelona. And who can resist the 1950’s American cars still dominating the streetscape? Any population with the resourcefulness and ingenuity needed to drive a 1957 Plymouth fury deserves our respect.

Whatever motivated the original break in the U.S.-Cuban relations, it is incomprehensible to me why it continues. After fifty years it has not accomplished any sensible or reasonable objective. It’s time to change that failed policy, not just because the time has come for Cuba, but also because the time has come for the United States. We need to pursue our National interests with a view to the long run, open to reconciliations with former enemies (see Vietnam; see China) as well as the rekindling of old friendships. Cuba is a great place to start. Soon Fidel Castro will be gone. The country is preparing for transition. Let’s communicate a willingness to talk. Cuba should not be the last priority of our new Administration. It should be among the first.

Fortunately, a new generation of Cuban Americans seems to agree. They know that many grievances remain, and that those grievances need to be addressed fairly. But they are also saying that a better life for over eleven million Cuban friends and relatives is best gained through engagement and exchange. Let’s extend the outstretched hand that President Obama talked about. My bet is that it will meet with an unclenched fist.

Senor Don on Hemingway's Cuban balcony

to see a model of the Greeway Towers, Don’s latest project for the Boston skyline, please visit http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/02/03/deconstructing_bostons_skyline/

thanks don, i agree with everything you say, and appreciate your sending your view out to the world in this great piece of writing! next time we see each other hope you’ll teach me some salsa moves.

in the Light, lordflea

Being human in habana

January 19, 2009January 30, 2009Leave a comment

amigos,

view from old habana's la Hotel Sevilla

in Cuba we stayed at the Hotel Sevilla, the same hotel as Graham Greene did, where he gathered his hands-on research (lots of rum, hip-swishing women and enough political intrigue for three shelves of books) to subsequently write one: “Our Man in Havana.” Lucky Luciano, the Sicilian-American mobster, also stayed at la Hotel Sevilla, as well as Ernest Hemingway and a slew of other famous extrangeros, including eco-fable filmmaker Carter www.lithiumsprings.com and expanding-consciousness-artist www.tezalord.com as well as our traveling partners who represent a cuban-american humanitarian foundation that sponsored our trip and provided necessary visas from the US Gov’t and permission from Cuban authorities as well; a director of a non-profit fund who graciously invited us to participate in his Cuban endeavors of far-reaching proportions; a friend who’s an urban developer from Boston; a Cuban-American (born in Cuba), and an American (born in Cape Cod, America) who are New York City dealer and artist, respectively, traveling to habana to coordinate a special art event that i’ll share with you soon, on another post. stay tuned for news about

THE Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Habana!

sugar cane juice-making at the old Fort, with Habana in the distance

of all the many photos and video clips i took while in habana (the cuban spelling is “habana”–in english, haVana) here is an image of what epotomizes the current state of this once-elegant and passionately modern, but now nearly eroded, decrepit city (thanks to no maintenance, just basic needs met for the last fifty years). all i can see that castro’s regime has done is substitute the immoral era of cuba’s previous debauchery for the utter LACK OF OPPORTUNITY of cuba’s so-called “revolutionary” era. to me this revolution is more like a “revert”-olution … back to much LESS-than a civilized human deserves. the cubans i befriended are sad, hurt to the core, and depressed about there not being any feasible, reasonable, or timely end to their diemma.

shown here is the formerly glorious building called “maravilla”…”the marvelous” … which stands directly opposite the centuries-old Cathedral in la Plaza de Cristo, in once-prosperous Old Habana. feel the sadness, the despair, the thoroughly hopeless pain of all cubanos (IN and OUT of cuba) in this shot.

the old man and his city

yes, that IS a tree growing out of the stone facade of this once impressive city dwelling. its roots are not the only thing tearing apart the very fiber of the crumbling center of this Old-World civilization center.

if something isn’t done quickly about habana…it will be too late to save. the very infrasturcture of streets, sewers, water pipes, electricity, not to mention ALL old buildings’ exteriors and interiors, are imploding from lack of care. this city looks like a war zone yet there has been no war (not since argentinian Che, and cuban brothers Raul and Fidel’s violent takeover in 1959). habana looks like a virtual bomb site, yet nary a bomb has been set off except that which resides in the human collective heart of progress and freedom. the erosion of the human spirit speaks louder than the salsa music that blasts occasionally in earthquaked-looking streets. numbness and “being stuck” are the stunned looks reflecting back from people’s faces.

imprisioned spirits

this is a sculpture by yoan capote, a young, incredibly talented cuban who personifies the yearning for freedom that all cuban artists exude. it is through ART that the true revolution (and hence, EVOLUTION) of the human spirit will, and always has been, enacted by the people. artists becoming united (underground, first) are what made the berlin wall and the soviet block crumble. artists, writers, musicians, and ALL modes of creative expression are what will make help cuba open up, and the entire world change also–change from lack to embracing a human being’s potential full-ness.

the angels protecting habana

i’ll be making small posts with news of our trip in the next few days. meanwhile, i am pondering the future of cuba and how best I can help these dignitifed, soulful people regain a semblance of their famous “Oldest Colony”-pride. the cuban people want to contribute to modern life and swim back into the flow of healthy living.

all Obama can do, immediately, is lighten up the most recent U.S. restrictions about exiled Cuban-Americans visiting the island (from former yearly visits to once every three years, imposed by Bush in ’04) and sending money to family (restricted by amount and recipient(s) by Bush at same time). Obama can’t lift the embargo, in place for decades now, a feat which can only be accomplished by an Act of Congress, as the embargo is “Law” and hence, a much longer, much more complicated legal process to undo. And as we know, Obama has a lot more on his plate besides the tiny island of Cuba. What some of you might NOT know, however, is that the U.S.A. sells over $600 million worth of food to Cuba each year, because food is not covered by the embargo; but all other goods (such as industrial supplies and anything else commercial) are. Without the food sold to cuba by america cubans would be even more hard hit than they are, even though they receive aid from China and Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela in substantial amounts, and Europe too, but in lesser amounts.

i can help by blogging.

YOU can help by supporting any humanitarian effort that brings help to cubans still living in cuba.

lordflea’s blog is a forum for ALL people seeking freedom, for all who wish to embrace the right to voice political, religious, material, or psychological choices. but most especially, here we sing about the right of all humans to experience spiritual freedom. spiritual freedom being defined (by lordflea) as the sense, the knowledge, and the experience of the connectedness of All, the Oneness of All.

for those who care to find out more about the “meditation revolution” practiced by hundreds of thousands around the globe, who along with buddhists, chrisitans, muslims, jews, and any from the world’s religions who believe that God, Allah, Mohammed, etc. is just “a different name” for The ONE Source of Consciousness, and that all people are representatives of the Oneness of ALL, please investigate the teachings found on www.siddhayoga.org

the collective unconscious--we are ONE

carter and i went to habana to participate in a fact-finding, humanitarian mission: delivering medicine to kids with cancer (email address: carmenreykids@gmail.com if you’d like to help the kids with cancer Carmen and Rey so lovingly nurture through their challenges. we also supported other non-political efforts while we were there. we had opportunities to gather information about the revolution’s effects on the island. we participated in a group that tries to discover ways to inspire the citizens of havana, to help the people there to cling to the hope that rustles still, ever so gently, in the hearts of all cubanos, on or off the island. even though the breadth of castro’s regime is so thorough, that a person’s voice of freedom cannot be spoken (in public) above a whisper…we heard from citizens wherever we went, with whomever we talked, that cuban people wish, earnestly wish to be free from the tyranny of oppression. they are ready for change. CAMBIO!!! CHANGE!!!

another citizen, an innocent, of habana…

una quinceanera azul

a girl and her family prepares for her “sweet sixteen” party, celebrated at age 15 in latin america. here they are in a church plaza, readying for their photo shoot. but–what does the future hold for this young lady? will she be able to feed herself, her children? will there be a job for her when she’s ready to work? will she ever even know what is happening outside, in the “real” world, since the government only allows her to see the two state-supported TV stations? will she ever have access to the internet, as so many in cuba don’t?

i brought a gift for a blogger who was “lying low,” according to the informed friend with whom i spoke. apparently the blogger is being closely watched by castro’s government, and of course, being denied access to the internet to stop blogging. but–i have just discovered that another blog, www.babalublog.com is able to receive the cuban blogger’s messages, and is posting them translated in English. i send out the white light of protection and guidance to this brave solitary voice, and to all bloggers who dare to speak of freedom even when they can’t speak aloud where they live. the bloggers who get through to the rest of the world, who have courage enough to speak loudly and bravely, cause IMMENSE impact wherever their blogs are read. even amidst the fierce oppression of cuba, the voice of bloggers is slowly going to amount to a cyber-spiritual-revolution. our combined blessings surround you, y and all bloggers, who risk so much to send your versions of the truth out into the world via the internet.

yoani, she fights with her sword of words

y, she fights with her sword of words

according to rumor fidel is near death; the end of his terrifying reign imminent from colon cancer. what irony, that this revolutionary’s originally noble efforts should backfire so tragically. true, he freed his country from the grip of batiste’s obsession with greed, gambling, and gansters, and i suppose a revolution was the only way to have broken the ironclad fist of debauchery that cocooned habana, yet made the rest of cuba’s people suffer so. but fidel didn’t stay in touch with the needs of his people, once he ousted batiste. without recognizing his people’s lack of freedom, from the overly strict standard imposed by castro’s regime, fidel certainly never acknowledged that his revolution had any tragic consequences, such as the far-reaching suppression and oppression his fellow cubans (on the island) suffer today, instead of the more beneficial lives he wished for them, once upon a time–for ALL his people of cuba.

what WILL happen when fidel passes? will the people of cuba find courage to take action and allow more freedom, provide more world-opportunity to its citizens? can raul fill the intimidating shoes of his older brother? acccording to one friend to whom i asked the question, “Will cubanos change and overthrow the goverment after fidel dies?” the answer was a nervous, eyes-looking-around-everywhere whisper: “No, because we are too exhausted just trying to get something to eat each day. And mentally, we are too frozen with fear to change.”

we can only hope that enlightened diplomats, such as Obama and others who advise and work with him, will be able to come up with solutions that will spell f-r-e-e-d-o-m for the cuban people. they have suffered quite enough.

the hope of los cubanos ever changing lays with each one of us. we–the combined hearts of the human family–can help to inspire others, by sharing and offering our belief that hope is real, is possible, and that change is a matter of choice!

there's always hope

adios mis amigos, lordflea, in the freedom of the human Spirit

desdecuba.com, a blog speaks of freedom

January 10, 2009January 10, 20091 Comment

hola mis amigos!

the waterfall of life, we are all One

yes, we’re off to Cuba, but first I want you to know about www.desdecuba.com/generationy

this is the English-translation of yoani sanchez’s award-winning blog from havana, in which she realizes that, after studying literature and philology, the modern blog is the most meaningful method of putting language to use. right on soul sistah! so check out desdecuba. she even returned to the island from living freely in switzerland, in order to follow her bliss…to help her fellow cubanos liberate themselves, through blogging, from the tyrany of the castro regime. raul, castro’s brother, has done nothing but clamp down further on people’s abilities to live openly. we should all send our prayers, and gratitude, to yoani and her fellow bloggers, there at www.desdecuba.com the spanish-language portal that hosts several other blogs.

one of which is about the kids with cancer that Carter and i will be bringing meds to. the kids’ project that we’ll be helping out with has their own web page, if you wish to see what we’ll be up to, at least some of the time we’ll be in cuba. www.desdecuba.com/carmenrey there is an email link there. and click here if you’d like to know more about www.fundacionamistad.com the humanitarian group that is sponsoring our trip.

who says we're not all possible angels?...or devils?

for those of you interested in speaking spanish i’ve discovered a terrific FREE website with upbeat, very comprehensive lessons! i found this site when i was looking for a “quick-look-up” web dictionary. you know when you have an entire list to look up, after reading a book, or a newspaper? well, instead of turning those cumbersome paper pages, just visit this site. i’m directing you to the lessons sections, which are fun and have lots of support materials, so you can click here and find the dictionary on your own: www.spanishdict.com/translate/learn

the power of art is truly miraculous. did you know that it was through the organized, under-ground efforts of artists and writers, actors and artists of all sorts, that caused the Berlin Wall to be brought down and the collapse of the entire Soviet Union? amazing. art. heart-art, I call it. who would have thunk it, that art made with soul–any creative endeavor done intentionally–could be so powerful.

art is magic...channels of Light

we’re very excited to be able to travel to cuba. it’s a huge honor, to participate in this volunteer effort, and to help bring outside influences to a people who, instead of looking out to the sea and embrace it for the wonders it signifies, and the countries it’s linked to … cubanos stand with their back to the Caribbean Sea, because to them, it is the walls of their island-prison.

our new prez & amigo, the Dalai Lama

i know Obama has it on his plate to open up cuba, at least more than his predecessor. but of course, especially now with the ongoing slaughter between Israelis and the Hamas, the immediacy of freeing cuba from oppression is not as grave as the escalating situation in the Middle East.

for those of you who are looking for a great eco-comedy indie film, try www.lithiumsprings.com not only will you laugh at this treasure story, but you and your kids can share a great lesson about stewardship of our precious planet by watching it together. check out the headstand-yogini thousand year-old woods nymph. she’s my favorite character. pretty great acting by a dachshund too, believe me.

with my love I’ll say farewell until we return from cuba. here’s a painting to contemplate about all of us, wherever you are.

adios amigos, en la Luz, in the Light, lordflea

we are ONE

time to come together & unite as ONE

November 7, 2008November 14, 2008Leave a comment

hello friend,

politics, religion, nations–why can’t we just stop the separation among ourselves. i don’t know about you but i’m so tired of all the bickering, whining, blame and anger over not just these things, and want to interject some positive focus, by introducing new currency for ALL countries who celebrate life on planet Here and Now.

that’s something to think about, ain’t it? so let’s go for it!

i know i know you’re asking who asked me, lordflea, to design this new currency? you may think the U.N., or he, our new leader-elect:

guided by his counselors, the Great Man ...

but no, i must admit i have not yet received “the commission.” but when i do, i’ve got the design all figured out, which i’m giving a sneak preview to you, here. just a few little details to work out, like the color of the ink (soy based of course), the dimension (how ’bout the sacred geometry rectangle ratio?), the paper quality (look to Crane Paper for the magic formula that the USA uses…high cotton content).

whatever we use to exchange our energy with, be it money, friendship, sports, entertainment, politics or religion…keep it focused on the highest good. please. as we think, so we become.