No More Regimes

The world has changed, people have power, social media is the communication, nobody will be suppressed - this is the feeling of the Arab Spring. This is the Echoes of the Atlantic Revolution. People will never stop fighting for their freedoms. Now, with social media, the revolutions will become exponential. They will come faster and more often. How long do you think Assad can hold on, how about Kim Jong Un, or the Ayatolla - how long will Iran be a theological political system. What about the freedom to think on your own, what if you do not believe in the Muslim faith and you question religion altogether? You have to wonder, how much longer are these regimes going to last. These people are suppressed and the more they read on social media about how the rest of the world is getting along, the more they are going to want it.

Why is the U.S. so desirable, is democracy really the way? Maybe a simple theological society is better than our. Our murder rate is more that all other countries put together. Our divide between the ultra wealthy and the poor is huge, the 2%. Yes we have our freedoms but at what cost. You can barely survive in the Bay Area on a six figure income, let alone think about buying a house. I guess it is all relevant throughout the world though, if you are somewhere where housing is cheaper, you will not make as much money.

I love the fact that after World War II, the British colonies were able to become independent. I really started to look at what they ruled and it was amazing. All of these colonies were freed without firing a shot, very cool. 

The Great Dying - Genocide?

What happened to them, the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans. Ever since I was a child and learned about these three types of South American tribes, I was fascinated with their art, religion, games and civilization. For me, they were in a word of their own. Yes of course, some of their beliefs were barbaric and must have been a little overwhelming to watch, but their infrastructure was amazing for such an underdeveloped society. They had Olympic style games, organized military, sewer and water systems, very ornate jewelry, communication - what a cool little civilization. 

Then came the westerners, who brought conquests, forced religion and disease. Disease that killed large parts of the population because the immune system was not developed in these native Americans. If the conquistadors did not get you then their disease did. I just could not imagine having this wonderful life, living among a well established society that you thought was well protected then - bam! You are hit by the white man and all the troubles that come with him. It is all about time during your life on earth, you just need to be living during the happy times and hope you are not part of the bad times. 

The Atlantic Revolution

 I am pretty well versed in the American Revolution, knew about the French Revolution, and have read about the Spanish Revolution in South America, what I did not know is the timeline of all of these events. I did not know that one fell after another. It is so interesting that the American Revolution kind of sparked this unrest across the globe. People did not want to be ruled by another ruler across the sea or where sick of being ruled by a privileged group while others starved. 

The American Revolution was a hard fought battle and was about freedom and the right to these freedoms. Not only did the Americans win their independence, but they also establish some basic civil liberties that would become on of the most fairest governments in history. Not that this does not eventually become corrupt with corporate power, but it has a great structure. 

It is hard to fathom that the French and Spanish American Revolutions went on for more than twenty five years. Could you imagine growing up during this time in that place and spending twenty five years living life during a revolution. You would be constantly in turmoil. There would be so much worry and you would be in survival mode. I guess if you have a passion for your freedom then you just become part of the history while it is being made. 

A positive is that questions started to arrive about equality, woman's rights, abolition of slavery, and new forms of elected governments. Though a lot of these positives did not come into full effect until years later, it is always the thought that get interjected into society that creates change.  

Muslim Religion - My Take

      When I joined the U.S. Army in 1980, I was trained that the Communist were our enemies. Well, being one not just to follow, I studied the work of Karl Marx and his Communist Manifesto. What I took away from this, was hey whats the big deal. I was attracted to socialistic aspects of this type of government. My research quickly turned to rebellion and I did not see eye to eye with the military. You cannot tell me that I should kill these people because of the political views, when the overall theory is not that bad. 

As I grew older and wiser, I found that it really is not the basis of they type of government, but that government in itself is a corrupt entity. The Communist party, the Congress, the House of Commons, it is all corruption at its finest. Greed and power prevail throughout all of the government entities, this gets infused with corporate money and then the whole thing turns into war and death. 

When I read about the six pillars of the Koran, I cannot help to have the same feeling as when I read the Communist Manifesto, not a bad thing. But once again, power and greed will work their way into anything. I enjoy the fact that the Koran speaks to taking care of the poor and being humble. But what happens is the words get twisted to benefit another agenda. The "Jihad" has been taken to a whole new level, and this is where I separate from this religion.  Even though it claims equal rights for men and women, I also disagree with the fact that the women should be fully concealed, eat in a different room and cannot be educated - Shariah Law. 

Once again, as I learn about this religion I will always keep an open mind and never discount the basics of the religion. For me religion is as corrupt as the governments of this world and that both are fear based entities.  

The Greek Empire or the Roman Empire 

I am fascinated with both the Greek and Roman Empires and I cannot decide which one I would to have lived in. Would I like to hang out with the Philosophers of the Greek Empire or the Great Commanders of the the Roman Empire. Both are so fascinating and it would be very interesting to live in either time period, one thing for sure, I would need to be born into royalty. If you are not in the upper class then you are a slave, worker, or soldier, but if you are in the upper class then you have a life of luxury. You have servants, fountains, food, and education. 

It seems to me that the Greek Empire would be the better of the two because of the education and artistry that was being created at the time - the "Golden Age", while the Roman Empire was more about conquest and territory.  The Romans did however construct some really cool building and completed some vast beautiful buildings and infrastructure; you just do not want to be part of the crew building. The Greeks were a feisty group and loved their separate republics, so there was a lot of turmoil. 

My final decision is - I am happy where I landed in the history books.    

The Silk Road

The Silk Road

5/29/19

This is probably my favorite part of history. This is when the world really started to trade and bargain. I would of loved to be living during this time. The people and goods that would be coming through these routes must of been so interesting. The adventures and dangers that lurked during a travel would certainly feel exhilarating. Unfortunately, this is also brings items to civilizations that cause determent.  

To be a trader during the beginning of the silk road would have been so interesting. You would see goods that you have never seen before. You would taste food that you have never tasted before. I am just picturing this path of constant caravans, with interesting people, interesting cultures, interesting clothing, and so on. You cannot help to wonder how they would interact when they came across each others path. Did they help each other out? Did they take up arms to protect themselves? Did they share food? It must of been so interesting. 

Being the adventurous business man that I am, I could see myself spending my life trading and bartering. Acquiring some goods and trading them for a profit or for a move valuable good. This is the route of business. It would be difficult to use currency since it came from so many different regions, so it would be all goods. You would have to have your sturdy cart and ways to protect your goods. What is really interesting, is that you would come across items that no one has ever seen, such as gun power. This would give you an advantage. The whole idea that silks were being made and trade along these route must have been incredible for the person who first laid eyes and felt such a beautiful material.   

Of course with the good comes the bad. You would also be introduced to disease, criminals, drugs and other items that could possibly destroy a home civilization.  You also would have rulers who conquered all the lands and then tax the merchants along the route. Black powder was the start of conventional warfare, can you imagine seeing a bomb explode for the first time - OK you win, I give up. Still yet with all the bad, it would be so great to be part of such an adventurous time and place. 

The U.S. Empire

IS THE US THE NEW ROMAN EMPIRE

As I read about the Roman Empire and how powerful it was at the time, I cannot help to think if the United States is that powerful big behemoth that is destined to fall. It has been talked about by many before and it is a scary thought. The United States is not conquering lands and taking over their political and economical systems - or are they. 

The new ware is a proxy war and the United States is very good at it. There are so many money motivated global political moves that is being done by the United States. It might not look like it but we have a lot of power and influence across the globe. At what point does the rest of the world say enough is enough. At what point does the rest of the world say that the United States is too big and too powerful. The citizens in general feel this is the land of the free, the Jedi Warriors, the good guys and we are spreading freedom across the globe, but are we? I do believe that there is good intent with the majority of the U.S. population but I also believe that greed and money also control the political machine in the U.S. 

We have destroyed entire countries, wiped them off the face of this earth, only skeletons of their buildings left. This is the wrath of the mighty U.S. military. The largest military in the world - the Roman Empire. If you did not become part of the Roman Empire you were wiped out, very similar.

The uplifting outlook is that the U.S. allows the freedoms that other nations do not have. The freedom of religion is a big one, the freedom of speech, and so on and so on. Are we being managed? Well if you think you have a private life right now, you are only fooling yourself. The technology that we have developed has ensured that we do not have our privacy and to that I say "who cares". If you are not doing anything wrong that whats the problem. Isn't our life a big movie anyway?

I just hope that we do not end up like the Roman Empire and that we are end up being the Jedi Warriors, spreading good across the globe. I am very fortunate to be born her and living here with such freedoms. We do not allow slavery like the Roman Empire - or do we? When we have workers making poverty wages, isn't that slavery. Again, very similar to the Roman Empire. When we have an administration like the one we have today, I become very afraid of the possibility that our empire might just fall.