Shearing of the Sheep

Last month we learned about a sheep that escaped shearing for six years, hiding alone in caves in the New Zealand wilderness. To live solitary is already against the sheep’s basic instinct and the absence of the predators made its survival possible. But nobody, as far as I know, has posed the question: what made the sheep escape shearing, its flock and humans? I feel I may have answer:

Many years ago, I won’t say where, I witnessed a sheep shearing. Decent looking young men in their twenties behaved as … Read More

…Can Democracy Survive?

The West as we know, has developed a dynamic history and civilization. Other cultures, no matter how long lasting, have remained more static, therefore weaker. We all pay for it now. Let’s keep in mind that somebody’s power is dangerous only in the presence of somebody’s weakness. Sixty years after WW2, the West’s shining democracy declines. The West’s unmatched power has engendered its limitless appetite for riches wherever they are. Neoimperialism constitutes a mortal threat to the world’s peace and stability. The neo-Caesars, neo-Napoleons, neo-Hitlers lurk.

#77-excerpt, “Can Democracy Survive?”, Read More

Do Humans Change?

I had a debate with a friend who holds the politically correct opinion that humans evolve toward universal harmony as can be seen in world metropolises. Only a few “primitives” like those in the Balkans don’t understand this yet, and through persuasion, or force if necessary, everybody should be brought toward the ideal human condition of coexistence.

Since the most remote times leaders have tried to impose their ideals of perfection on societies at large and all they have achieved in the best of cases was truce not peace. Even … Read More

Afghanistan — East is East…

East is East and West is West
and Never the Twain Shall Meet
 (5/24)
If Canadians believed Kipling they wouldn’t parade to celebrate the glory of the Canadian Army in Afghanistan. What kind of business drives them into Central Asia anyway? Immigrants come from East to West mostly to westernize. Are Westerners going East to ‘Easternize’? The USA follows an imperial policy that’s as old as the world. Canada, even as an ally, doesn’t have to loyally follow in all its steps. Do gooders should seek and act where they … Read More

Who, What and for Whom?

In the parking lot I overheard some interview on NPR radio. What stayed in my memory were the words: “This is a global war … not a matter of giving a little more water to the Palestinian farmers.”
Who has to give what and for whom? As if the world were somebody’s colonial property to distribute or give away, water, blood, air, life, death … Who was this ghoul from the eighteenth century who woke up just now, and uses lingo from another epoch?

Open Bouquet issue 94 July August Read More

Justice / Injustice

Injustice is what angers us most. If we can do nothing about it, the anger turns against ourselves. Nothing is more harmful than helpless stress. Shared love is justice because both sides enjoy more or less equal satisfaction. Frustrated love joins the stress of injustice. A child’s love is not justice, it’s necessity. A parent’s love is an instinct. Social connections which form families, friends, neighbours, nations, are not based on justice but on reciprocal interest and/or competition. There cannot be justice in competition, only victory of the stronger. In … Read More