Biases and Truth - hard to tell the differences today

Journalism and the Truth

Our lives are dominated with modern technologies that gives us information in less time than ever before. We live in the age of social media and the truth swirls around us in rapid speeds we cannot or even begin to understand. The transfer of information is extremely powerful and if the source provided is not truthful, then lies are spread pretending to be the truth.

Social media has become a measurement of government approval or disapproval. Wars are fought in the dissemination of information that justifies the means to kill people or invade countries for reasons fabricated to suit the needs of these aggressors. So vital is the maintenance of controlling the flow of information, people are manipulating the truth to justify the means.

Sadly, we live on the other side of this coin dubbed truth. A greater power has wielded the ability and opportunities to spread deliriously evil contrived fables, myths and stories with deliberate misinformation, and their efforts to do so are at an all-time high as they not only feed the mainstream media outlets, but they have organized bloggers spread their ideologies around the world in nanosecond times.

Because the delivery of such untruths are so smooth, so consistent and deliberately formulated for mind-control, this method of spreading information has become very dangerous.

It is the core value of the foundations involved that impact the cognitive abilities of others by establishing falsehood and misleading facts to ensure their arguments are valid and airtight in any cross checking process as the system has been designed to reflect consistent parroting or digital echoing of the information already established to be labeled truthful.

So how do we know we are being misled? How do we find out if the author or journalist has an internal bias? The best way to find out if there is a bias is to test the author of the writings.

Step 1: Test primary source information – every story has a genesis of fact or fiction.

     Identify primary source information within the article. Has the primary source been reliable in the past? Do you understand the information or does it consistently refer to a third party (not related to the source) to back up parts of, or the entire story itself?

     Challenge the information. Keep focus on the fact the “source” is not the third party but rather the writer or journalist of the story posted. A common distraction is place trust on the writer or journalists, rather than the primary source the information came from. To balance this process, identifying any third party to confirm or back up any part of the story, or the entire version, is what makes the article written more legitimate than without it.

     Run your fact-checking sources to challenge the information. Snopes, Politifact, and others are excellent sources for a litany of links to challenge all information delivered or written. It must be mentioned, even using these sources is flawed and more depth may be required to find the facts consistent with the writings.

Steps 2: Identify the bias – every writer or journalist has a bias.

One of the best ways to identify an article’s or journalist’s bias it to run a crude test that consists of three (3) things:

     Does the title itself create a feeling for or against one subject of the story?

     Does the writer use a lot of sarcastic indicators, such as “quotes” around unspoken words?

     Does the writer paint a positive picture of one subject, and a negative picture of another?

Preconceived notions commonly referred to journalist’s biases are everywhere, and learning how to identify them will help you dodge their obvious, and sometimes not so obvious, attempts at manipulation. Ask yourself the following questions:

      Has the author written any articles for or against a subject of the article before?

      Does the author have a conflict of interest?

      Does the author have an announced political bias that fits the profile of someone who would take one side or the other on a subject?

      Are there political key words, codes or red flags that may be associated to political groups or other lobbyist or propaganda associations that may influence the writings? Is the writer known to have written or expressed opinions as conservative, libertarian or liberal?

When faced with multiple theories, always choose the answer that requires the least assumptions. If it’s different than your belief, find ways to eliminate assumptions by proving them. Follow the way of peeling the onion and remove the layers that hide the truth, and you’ll avoid the final manipulation trap used to damage your credibility. 

Toleration, a whole different meaning than Tolerance =

Tolerance or Toleration – there is a difference

Our laws have progressed to take us passed color barriers of the past, yet, many are bringing those stigmas back and using the law to exert their bigotry, biases and racism as a form of expression that is hateful and destructive. There are intentional efforts out there to separate us again by color for various reasons, most of them theological, personal and political in nature.

Using religion, we have armed ourselves with fear and opposition to change or different cultures. We, as a nation, have become oppressed towards anything and anyone who does not look like us, speak like us, dress like us or pray or belief in God like us.

Thus this has contradicted our laws in many ways but quietly reinforced by those who are filled with hate and ignorance about race or religion and not bothering to seek the truth, but rather, follow the falseness of others who speak lies.

We have become a nation of politically correct people who allow the practice of passively or quietly but deliberately, allowing or permitting acts of bigotry, prejudicial attitudes or behaviors and other things we disapprove of and say nothing. In other words, we have developed a pathway of toleration that is self-destructive and destructive to our society.

Under the disguise of religion, we have been taught to endure or bear the burdens of toleration. However, these "tolerations" are skewed to benefit the sponsors of such speech, ideas or acts.

They are not fair, objective or developed to sustain harmony or peace, but rather to attack or criticize the opinions of others who do not conform to their own religion or practice and therefore, lash out with harmful and damnation of words and acts that creates a fear that those condemned beliefs, practices or racial differences, all who are different from their own, are harmful and must cease to exist. Some religions extend this hate and fear to the point of genocide.

We need to examine toleration when it comes to religion and allow various cultures and groups to engage in their own beliefs and practices without condemnation as long as their actions do not interfere or impede the lives of others who do not want to be exposed or taught this different way of life or beliefs.

It is acceptable to disapprove, decline or refuse to accept other means of religions and that should be made clear. Whether you are an atheist or a Christian, a Jew or an Arab, the matter of religion is private and should not be interfered with unless it is imposed forcefully or illegally.

Toleration and tolerance are two different words and have two different meanings. 

You must know the differences. 

Tolerance is an attitude of mind that implies non-judgmental acceptance of different lifestyles or beliefs, whereas toleration implies putting up with something that one disapproves of that but that is taught, fostered, mentored or sponsored by someone else who’s influence on your own mind, frees you for thinking for yourself.

Unfortunately, through the evolution or revolution of time and space, an analysis of modern doctrines today has been expanded to include political and ethnic groups, homosexuals and other minorities, and human rights embodies the principle of legally enforced toleration.

Islamitc Radicalization Continuum Illustrated version

Fictional and Non-Fictional short story - Nana's House , the Lemon Tree

Nana’s house is a short story about an Arizona family enduring the political storms of SB 1070, the economic hardships of finding work and the daily stress and multi-cultural challenges found in most Hispanic homes living in the Phoenix metro area and exposed to different dynamics that are related to immigration, basic household living, cultural clashes and festivities, life, death, sorrow and imprisonment of family members associated with street or prison gangs.

The lemon tree is an analogy of the bittersweet fruit that exists in every household that endures the daily anxieties and struggles of a minority family living during troublesome times and dysfunctional elements of raising kids in the poor side of town and making sure they finish school and do something productive with their lives.

The Zest of Water

The Zest of Water

The Lust for Water does not resist temptation

A human’s lust for thirst is never a sin

The feel of water is often soft as it falls out of the sky

As it was never meant to harm you

The strength of water is bound by laws of nature

To give you what you truly desire inside your soul

Because it is true to nature and all its power

It can shift your moods from rapid thinking to a chilling slow

Water always returns back to its true form or shape

It is granting your lust for life, and is endlessly changing

It can find you love, grief or sorrow or joy

For it does not lack the desire to please or disappoint you

The zest of water brings endless passionate desires

It fulfills an endless life of enrichment to soothe your soul

Whether you are letting it go, or bringing it close to you

It is always constantly changing by letting it flow

Water can bring you enrichments of life or cause a sudden death

It does not cling to either without a special purpose

It finds its own level and essence in life as far as we know

By forever and never letting things go without a reason

So do not cling to water for too long as it may drown you

Even though its ecstasy is eternally giving

Like the sun, the heavens and moon above

It permeates all living things around us light or night

And when things eventually die, the water remains

It teaches us reason and purposes under the stars of heaven

It reasons with us that all things that are born shall die

Yet, when it is all said and done, it is never really over

Water is here for us, fulfilling our ego

As it fills our body and soul with vibrations and ripples for living

A mystery woman - an unusual attraction

Sinuous Expressions of a Mystery Woman – an Unusual Attraction

It came to pass my ears heard a song coming out of the dense jungle. Surely, this was my imagination.  The song was mesmerizing like the rhythm of the rain, and its sinuous melody handled my heart and mind with love and curiosity. Surely, it was not safe to enter the density darkened foliage without a guide to help me stay on the path and not stray away from civilization.

Once again, my will was formed by my own curiosity, as my footsteps hastened towards the sounds of laughter and joy. My ears were blazingly hot from the desire to find the source of this sinuous expression of music, while my body felt the impact of the pouring rain steadily falling on my head. Mysterious visions were forming in my imagination. It was like I took a drug or something intoxicating.

Certainly, my heart was pounding faster, seeking the satisfaction of the impending bond of the unknown with deep anticipation. For once in my life, I felt alive. There was a strong reincarnation deep inside of me that caused this sinuous melody to move me like I never moved before.

With the sounds of a strange and never heard before melody closing within with every step I took, I drifted away into an imaginary world of romance. There it seemed, I found an unusual persuasive passion, strumming my soul along with the beat of the jungle now wide open as the rain clouds began clearing and showing me the clarity of the night under the heavens and moon above.

There was silence, complete silence as the rhythm had been drowned out to voice. Voices that invited me to sit with them and retire for the night. Fully awakened at midnight, I stared up to the stars and felt a blessing come over me as the stars twinkled brightly as if they were saying I was home, I was home.

Sometime early morning, I awoke with a beautiful woman by my side. Her jade green eyes flashed announced herself as a goddess of love and beauty. My heart, softly beating and nearly still, told me she was the one, she was the one. Flashing her stunning smile, she held my hand as she spoke to me softly.

Melodious and rhythmically vibrations responded to these enhanced ambiences, drowning out my past and only envisioning my future. Surely, such a captured moment of romance would not last forever, it never does or had, as I had experienced it at best, last very long.

This curvaceous woman only added to the mystery of what was happening. Seeking an answer, I whispered to her softly in her ear; “what am I doing here.” Her smile was captivating; her voice was made of silk. Her mere presence as she gazed into my eyes, was that of a beneficent flower that had the power to confer harmony, melody and symmetry to take my love for her to a spiritual elevation and joy beyond anything I had ever experienced before.

These heavy cosmic rhythms personified our romantic interlude and emotions. Her presence the night before was like an ascending star coming down like an angel from heaven. An angel who wanted to be loved and held by me, and only me.

Somehow, at the end of the second day, this special moment had turned into rare occasion of peace and harmony inside of me. For once in my life the stars, universe and the earth, wind, rain and fire, all had come together and coincided to bring me the most beautiful woman I have ever met, declaring my soul completely full with human contentment and desires.

Setting Boundaries

Setting Boundaries with Difficult People

 

Tim Richardson

Life is not as complicated as we make it when we follow or establish some reasonable boundaries in our lifestyle, behaviors or choices. Boundaries are not about making threats or ultimatums. This is a process that determines choices, and consequences for good or bad decisions made. One cannot function in a wellness state of mind without boundaries.

Boundaries are space setters. It is an imaginable or intangible limit imposed between you and another person either in personal or professional relationships. What makes boundaries difficult to adhere to or follow is the fact that they are guided on your morality or values and not identified clearly by a razor wire fence or stakes in the ground telling you where you should go and how you should proceed. This places all the responsibilities on you, the gatekeeper of your mind and heart. Whether or not you cross that line and open that forbidden gate is entirely up to you.

Setting boundaries are invisible arrangements of rules which ensure your trustworthiness as well as those of others. Boundaries serve as tools for protection as well as comfort. It is a simple way of taking care of yourself in life. Good boundaries don’t always come easy and have to be learned the hard way sometimes. It can be easier if you could watch others cross boundaries and see what happens to them when they do but it just doesn’t work that way.

Therefore, the way you grow up sets up these boundaries and hopefully you learn from your mistakes and not repeat them as you define their consequences in your life. If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, then chances are you have not learned how to set a boundary or even really know what it is.

Learning to set our own healthy boundaries is an exercise in personal freedom. It means getting to know ourselves and increasing our awareness of where we stand and what we stand for. It means letting go of the unhealthy things or people in our lives so that we can grow into the healthy person that we were meant to be.

How to set boundaries requires the ability to communicate and communicate without blaming or lying about the circumstances, emotions or the impacts. Avoidance is not conducive to setting these parameters in your life and the better you detail your feelings, expectations and perspectives, the more effective these boundaries serve your purpose in life.

It is impossible to set boundaries without setting consequences. If you are setting boundaries in a relationship, it is important that your reactions and interactions are consistent with your values and expectations and if the other person(s) disregard your attitudes, then you need to confront them and tell them you cannot or will not tolerate such abuse of your values and not put up with it without taking the appropriate action to either redirect the relationship or terminate it.