Is war really necessary?

http://obrag.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/War2.gif

   

By Briana Booker

   In class we have discussed whether war was necessary. In some instances I think war is necessary. Sometimes, people have to experience negative consequences to allow positive change in behaviors. I do not like the thought of war, but I know that not all conflicts can be resolved verbally nor can they be walked away from by any means. I say this not by observations of society, but the natural state of nature. Nature demonstrates inequalities, for one to survive, sometimes another must die. War in nature has nothing to do with emotions, simply instinct. But most people say humans are different because we have the ability to rationalize our actions. We have the ability to articulate our discontentment and flaws. We have the ability to know right from wrong. But is this a gift or a curse to have the ability to rationalize? Is it a gift or a curse to feel emotions, to know you are alive and have the ability to hurt?

 I know in most monotheistic religions people say the word of God and of God’s prophets is to love. Not love specific people or things but to love. It is the word of God. But at the same time I see violence in scripture. It demonstrates to me that violence is part of life. Survival of the fittest flows in my head when all else fails. I am not saying it is wrong or right. But I am asking what makes war right? What makes peace right? Both seem emotionally driven in every sense of the word. Most wars are fought based on clashes of beliefs and clashes on how systems are ran. Most peace comes when people learn to compromise. People learn that they gain more by being at peace. I find both war and peace self-fish attributes because they still consist of gaining something at the expense of someone else.                                                                                                

For example, in war the United States motto was ‘it is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country?’ Yet troops lose their lives everyday in a war I feel can not be won simply with violent tactics.

Or how people say we must make peace, to protect our own securities. It is still self-fish in context, but at the same time I would rather choose peace over war.  From my own personal experience, war is only a short-term solution. It makes no one happy or better off in the long run. However, sometimes I think it is necessary when the need of communication is prevented, yet a threat is still imposed. But perhaps that is a debate for different day.

Hoop Dreams: See you down, but when are you going to get up?

By Briana Booker

In life we all shoot hoops for our dreams, ambitions and passions. We hope with a little effort and luck we can achieve getting our life ball in the hoop. But sometimes, the ball will circle around the rim and not fall in the hoop. Three results can occur when this happens:

We give up. We have resentment. Or we try again.

Today, I was inspired by a man named Eddie Ellis. A man that ended up serving 15 years in Prison, but not coming out of Prison without a lesson learned. He chose to try again in life, and live a life to help not only himself, but his community.

Now, some people, going through  a system such as Prison would be bitter and revolt against society. I am not saying Ellis was happy to be in Prison. I am not saying he had no regrets, but I admire his ability to acknowledge that he was given a guide to choose to practice or not to practice certain principals in life so certain outcomes are less likely to occur. Ellis might not have chosen the best paths in his life, but he most certainly has learned and improved himself, through his pains and struggles.

We all have choices to make. And sometimes when we make the wrong choices we tend to grumble on those choices. We tend to regret.

I have regretted certain actions and words I have said in my life. I have regretted certain interactions I have allowed to enter my life, even when I was warned before-hand. I often use to question: What did I do wrong to make someone treat me badly? What did I do wrong to deserve a certain outcome?

But hearing how Ellis went from ex-con to motivational speaker really made me realize we all have challenges in our lives that make us who we are at present. I can not be ashamed of my past enough to hinder my future. I have to realize it is the past, I cannot change it but I can work for something better for my present and future. I can cherish what I work towards.

I see Ellis working to overcome his challenges has made his life more fulfilling. He let go of seeking revenge and allowed improvement to happen for himself. It made me want to do the same.

Often when I have been hurt by people, just because they wanted to hurt me( yes, I have had immature people say they wanted to hurt me, just to do it.), I have wanted revenge. I have wanted karma to catch up to those people. But I realized the fact I was hoping for that outcome to happen, really meant I needed to escape the negative environment that I was around. I was allowing those people to have too much power  and influence over me.

The choices we make in our own lives, always will effect someone else, some way or some how. It is best to realize that. It is best to live not just to gain pleasures for ourselves, but to give back to our communities.

Being so self-absorbed in ourselves, allows us to do more harm than good to both ourselves and those surrounding us. No matter what we think of the world and the people in the world, we are all inter-connected. It is not all about us.

Being introduce to Ellis today really touched my soul. It really inspired me to build on something solid as I transition to the next part of my life very soon... 'real adulthood.'

What decisions will I make now, that will affect someone later? Will I take a stand to do better? Will I grow, or will I simply change?

I want to grow. I want to inspire. I want to improve the world. I do not want to simply change.

What I always will remember about Ellis is that he mentioned everyone has a fight to fight. Systems do not reform you, you have to reform yourself.

 I can not make anyone be a better person. I can not make someone love me. I can simply make myself be a better woman. I can simply love myself( but not make it all about me). I can simply love.

I hope this post inspires others, just as it inspired me. Do not let wrong doings towards you or bad occurrences in your life, make your life. Find peace. Give back. Stay fierce. 

How to reach ' Ibada'? Is it feasible?

Know who this fierce woman is? Sade! Amazing. When my hair gets long, I am taking an epic picture like this.

By Briana Booker

Today, I had an epic moment of thought....thought to the point I felt slightly intrigued more than my daily routines would normally allow. I was contemplating Ibada.

 What is Ibada? Ibada is the belief that the purpose of mankind is the service of God or existence.  It reminds me of that government motto of ' It is not what your country can do for you,but what you can do for your country.' 

I often feel like a blood sucking vampire of the earth. What do I give? Is my life really worthy of sustaining if I lack purpose? If I am selfish? If I do more harm than good to my external environment?

For Ibada to be complete, it requires existence of organized community and order. I understand the logic of that but then when I read about community requiring government, I became alarmed. Would serving existence mean I would need a fixed order of morals that the community as a whole followed? Would I not need a government that would serve the purpose of that order? Could the government be trusting with such power? 

Would not there have to exist a global community? A global government for the full idea of purpose of existence to be fully served?  Is it actually feasible to do this? But these thoughts have simplistic answers to them, have they not? Answers we can not understand until we find our way back to the basics.

In a Practices of Peace and Principals class I attend  in college, I was intrigued by two men living by the morals of time is art. Two men promoting people to speak up with purpose. Two men promoting people to be without need of government demands. Can Ibada still be achieved that way?

There was something peaceful about viewing two men not too worried about outcomes, but living in the moment. Living without fear. Living without worry. Living with a passion. Is that not serving Ibada?

The next few months, I will like to start at small experiment of my own to see what form of Ibada increases my purpose and peace with life. I welcome Fromgirltogirl readers to join in this discovery. Will keep you posted on the experiment throughout the next months. Cheers!

Believe. Take risk to change into a better you.

Check out Briana Fierce:the face behind the blogging new post on believing and taking risk to be a better you.

Believe without seeing.

Fun but informed: What's drowning look like?

By Briana Booker

Today is the 4th of July, the Untied States of America's independence! It is a time to acknowledge freedom, however it is also a time to practice safety while having fun!

During this holiday many travel or spend time with family! And of course, when the weather is hot...we love to be near water! There is something calming about the presence of water! It can be relaxing and fun to be around! It can also be life threatening if we are not careful or informed enough!

A day ago I read a great article on twitter that Kimora Lee Simmons H, Designer and business Mongol, spread to her followers. The article was about knowing what drowning looks like!

I have heard horror stories about drowning, including one my mom experienced as a child,but I have never been present when someone was in fact drowning.

I have no clue what it looks like,but I know from this article it is nothing like the television makes it out to be! It is not dramatic. And It has no sound. It sounds like an eerie peace to death.

Please read the article below! Let me know your thoughts! Be care this holiday!

http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

Justice or not? : Ronnie Lee Gardner executed by firing squad.

By Briana Booker


Now that Ronnie Lee Gardner, a man that shot an attorney and another man in the 80's has been put to death, i am not sure what to think. I personally think he may have tried to repent for his sins. Gardner never announced he was innocent for the crime. In fact, he said if you live by the gun, you should die by the gun. It is a bold statement.

Maybe we should all be treated for how we live our lives. If we are assholes, we should be treated like assholes, not just by some people,but by all people. Act how you act with everyone. Do not try to appear a decent person in the public eye and then be a rotten person behind closed doors.

It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when nice people finish last in this world. However, it leaves a worse taste in my mouth when the world still punishes people that went from cruel to humble people. There is a difference when a person that is cruel remains cruel, while another person tries to repent for their sins. I honestly believe Gardner was trying to repent for his sins.

Maybe Gardner felt death would finally give him peace. After this lifetime, I am hoping death does give peace.

A few hours before Gardner's execution he was napping in his cell. Reports stated he looked calm and collected going in for his execution.

Gardner's last words were "I do not. No." when asked if he had any final words. His last meal was steak, lobster, apple pie and vanilla ice cream.

It was not the meal that was strange,but that he chose his meal to be 48 hours before his execution so he could fast before his final day.

If there is a life after death, I hope those that have learned and practiced better actions since those mistakes are allowed a second chance for rebirth.

I am not sure if Gardner found peace,but I do respect the fasting and admitting of his wrongs. I can not get that from people still living and breathing on this earth.

No one likes to take blame for his or her rotten actions. It takes guts to do that. People rather point fingers and lie instead. So those applauding the death of someone, you should seat back and think on that. We all have a judgement day. And I find this firing squad execution revolting.