Open Thoughts - A Note on Chaos and Love

If you are frequent reader of this blog, or just so happened to stop by, you may have noticed the cadence to which we are producing pieces has slowed down. At one point we we're churning out at least two a week, and now it's one every few weeks, if that. To blame a busy schedule would be an excuse, because in truth, time is not the issue.

Some time ago one of my best friends was over my place grilling, and the food he produced was excellent. It may be cliche, but when asked what his secret was he said it was love. For some months I have mulled over that short exchange in the back of my mind. As I began this endeavor of writing and communicating my thoughts with you I decided to adhere to a very simple philosophy rooted in that discussion. Every piece I write must come from a place of love, and each article or essay must feel like my best piece of writing to date.

Lately, I have struggled to stay focused due to what feels like constant heartbreak. I've been observing for many years now the political apartheid that has spread from Washington D.C. to boardrooms, to classrooms and corner offices, and to broken and lost communities. I've read many books, listened to numerous podcasts, and engaged various other forms of media in searching for the real causes of many of our problems. Since Joe Biden and Kamela Harris have assumed office, the world has felt a heightened sense of chaos, and organizing it all is no easy task.

You might think the chaos began under Donald Trump, but I would have to disagree. Rush Limbaugh once said, "This is what fighting the political establishment looks like, it was never going to be pretty." In truth, the battle we are engaged in is a dogfight. The elitist structure of this country is desperately clinging to power by a thread, and they will do everything possible to maintain their authority, despite who may get hurt in the process. Donald Trump has been practically tarred and feathered. Just look at this story - Actually, Trump Was NOT Wearing His Pants Backward At A Weekend Rally: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/07/1003916275/trump-pants-backward-fact-check. Joe Biden has dementia, and yet these are kind of daily attacks levied against Trump over the years as a way to purge him from obstructing the continuation of corruption by the most parasitic amongst us.

What confuses me the most, is people like Liz Cheney and her family are responsible for causing endless war in the Middle East. Her father had a stake in Halliburton, who provided logistics to troops in the Middle East - so what was his incentive to strive for peace, when he and many other corrupt individuals were profiteering to an extreme end? Thousands of young Americans and innocent lives have been lost to needless war in that region, yet Liz Cheney comes out against Trump, and the media is happy to carry her water. They are elated to promote her profile, despite the damage her and her family have wrought upon countless regular everyday people who make the world work. It baffles me. It's a question I struggle to answer - why would anyone carry the water for such a slimy family?

Donald Trump is not perfect, but neither are you or me. He had a happy life filled with wealth, success, and a beautiful family, but he was willing to give all that up, and in the words of William Shakespeare, "...to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune..." to try and make a difference. Would you be willing to sacrifice your wealth, fame, and even peace of mind to try and better the lives of those struggling the most? Do you have that kind of courage?

Regardless, back to the topic of writing - I stumbled upon the following quote I want to share:

Write even when the world is chaotic. You don't need a cigarette, silence, music, a comfortable chair, or inner peace to write. You just need ten minutes and a writing implement." -Cory Doctorow

The chief reason I started this blog is because I love America. I love helping people, and I believe in this land, unlike no other place in the history of the world - you can become anything and be anybody, you can reach your full potential. Todd Herman once said, "America is the lifeboat of the world, and if we sink the lifeboat, then we all have no chance at prosperity." A stronger American creates the byproduct of a better world. Immigration for example was improving, and now under a Biden Harris regime it has totally regressed, and the life boat has sunken deeper into the ocean, struggling to stay afloat as issue after issue compounds.

I want us to be able to genuinely solve the problems confronting us. The forces against America are not as strong as the forces within America. I am not referring to the forces of DC, Hollywood, or corporate boardrooms and institutions - I am referring to the heartbeat of all the communities that want this country to continue to strive for greatness. Life is like a campfire. You need a spark to light the fire itself, but then you must continuously add logs to keep it going or the fire will run out. We need to keep our campfire alight. All the problems of the world were not solved in 1776 when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, it was only the lighting of a fire that we must strive to eternally keep aflame.

I've hopped around quite a bit in this piece, but the moral of the story is don't be afraid of imperfection and chaos. Confucius once said, "Wherever you go, go with all your heart." Embrace the chaos. As long as what you are endeavoring to do comes from a place of love, and you devote all your heart to it, then you're on the right path.

As always - all the best,

Joe