The Jokes on us.

I read a thread titled the “Gift of the Magi to the Elite” or something to that effect, and wanted to respond directly to it but am unable due to a 404 error, so this gets it’s own thread.

In that OP, it was claimed that the ills all common citizenry face today are due to the Government and a handful of elite. It wonders about the roots of problems we face today; where they might come from. Well, I would like to share my take on what the problem is with writing a story.

On a freezing winter evening, a family gathers together for a New Years get together. Cousins in the living room pouring over photograph albums. Aunts and Grandma’s busy running into each other in the kitchen. Uncles and Grandpa’s smoking cigars and sharing nips of whiskey out in the garage discussing how horrible the economy is. Brothers and sisters playing card games in the bedrooms with the littler ones skidding down the hallways in their socks. There is laughter dotted with playful screams of joy. The house is toasty and smells of delicious pies and roast fill the air.

Ah, a family of love. Oh yes, to be thankful for a wonderful family and friends. Just blessed beyond all expectations. What a tremendous amount of love, caring and sharing this particular group of people hold for one another on this particular evening.

Ding, ding, ding! Oh my, the dinner bell has rung! It’s time to eat!

As this group of family and friends crowd in together they discuss how terrible the world is. How the rule of the jungle prevails, how the strong dominate the weak, and about how conflict and rule by thugs is the order of the day. They proclaim that their situation is so bad, they see no hope for humanity. Grumbling on about how extinction of the human race is the inevitable outcome and that they are no longer the only person who thinks so. They blame it on the psychopaths ruling humanity.

Meanwhile, a mother and father, pushing ahead of them two middle school aged children along a cold and windy sidewalk, walk past their house. As they go by they can see the people inside the large house gathered together around the table eating.

The father, looking surprised, says to the mother, “Well, well, well! If I’m not mistaken, this is the house of the owner of the hardware store chain. The store that laid me off last month!”

“Oh my!” sighs the mother.

The father and mother grasp hands and pull their children close. Thankful to have a wonderful family, such as their own, to have each other. Just blessed beyond all expectations. What a tremendous amount of love, caring and sharing this particular group of people hold for one another on this particular evening.

As this small family hurries past the house, they discuss how terrible the world is. How the rule of the jungle prevails, how the strong dominate the weak, and how the conflict and rule by thugs is the order of the day. They proclaim that their situation is so bad, they see no hope for humanity. Grumbling on about how extinction of the human race is the inevitable outcome and that they are no longer the only person who thinks so. They blame it on the psychopaths ruling humanity.

Now just across the street in a neat and tidy park, two middle aged men sitting at a bench watch the small family hurry along the sidewalk. Both have their faces buried in their heavy coats with just their eyes peering out over their collars. One wears a smart looking grey coat and the other a handsome black. They hunker down further in their warm coats as a cold gust of wind crashes over them. The man in the black coat passes the other man a tall drink wrapped in a brown crinkled bag. The scent of cinnamon and alcohol gently fill the air, but only for a moment, as another gust of wind angrily shakes a mighty fist at them.

Through the howling wind the man in the grey coat says to the other, “you see that fine looking woman over there and the taller child?”

“I see them’ clearly from here,” says the man in the black coat.

The man in the gray coat continues on somberly, “Well, that there is my ex-wife and our child. Should be about 13 now. When my wife worked at the hardware store years ago, she fell in love with her manager. She then straight up left me, took full custody of our kid, and I never saw them again until today. Damn that woman ruined my life. Quite surprised to see them now actually. Don’t know who the other guy is, or the other kid is for that matter. Strange isn’t it?” He then looks at his friend earnestly.

The man in the black coat, squinting his eyes against the wind, and what seemed after much thought, finally says, “I reckon so. Strange indeed.“ He then sighs and draws a deck of playing cards out of his pocket and pulls out the third card from the bottom. He turns it over and a joker grins back at him. He flips it around and around with his fingers, making it dance. All of a sudden, another strong gust of wind comes along and takes up the card, carrying it off down the street.

Before he has time to go after it, the two friends see two men passing by in the park. Realizing it’s their friends from the coffee shop down the street, they holler out to them to stop by. The four friends circle around each other, embracing each other in manly bear hugs. Oh they are so thankful to have wonderful friends, to have each other. Just blessed beyond all expectations. What a tremendous amount of love, caring and sharing this particular group of people hold for one another on this particular evening.

And then, in the same order as the previous groups they discuss how terrible the world is. How the rule of the jungle prevails, how the strong dominate the weak, and how the conflict and rule by thugs is the order of the day. They proclaim that their situation is so bad, they see no hope for humanity. Grumbling on about how extinction of the human race is the inevitable outcome and that they are no longer the only person who thinks so. And they to blame it on the psychopaths ruling humanity.

Down the street, in the nice big house with the family and friends eating together inside, a little sister, and cousin to some, holds a joker card in her hands, flipping it around and around in her right hand while nibbling a roll with her left. She thinks about the card game they were playing in the bedroom and tries to plan a way to reveal to the others that her brother is cheating. She then walks over to the big bay window, with the joker card clutched tightly in her hand, and presses her little nose against the cold glass. Her attention is soon drawn to the four men across the street, quite a distance away, engaged in hugging and shaking each others hands. Just then, her father quietly walks up and puts his arm around her.

“What do you see out there honey?” says the father.

“Oh, I just see some people out there,” says the daughter.
She puts a hand to her mouth and coughs gently.

“Come away from the window now then, before you catch a cold in the draft” the father says sternly. “Looks like just a bunch of thugs.”

As the daughter walks away from the window and her mind now somewhere else, she forgets she’s holding the playing card and the joker flutters slowly to the floor.

Next thing you know, the little brown family dog comes by, wagging his furry nub of a tail. He sniffs at the card lying on the ground, then carefully picks it up with his mouth and runs out through the doggy door in the kitchen taking the joker card with him.

Now just outside the window, down the street, right as the family of four is getting ready to board the bus, the father notices something whitish being carried by the wind down the sidewalk. So he takes a few steps back, reaches his foot out and steps on what appears to be a playing card. He bends down to pick it up and turning it over, he sees that it’s a joker card. He stuffs it in his coat pocket, hurrying his wife and kids on the bus, and doesn’t give it another thought, and goes back to thinking about his own family and their survival.

So there’s the story…

The point of my story is that it’s we, we the people, invade each other, invade each other’s families, jobs and communities. We take each other’s diamonds and precious resources so to speak. We are the problem. We just need to look right in our own communities and in the mirror. Neighbor can’t get along with neighbor, families breaking up, divorce, fighting over child custody, bosses can’ keep their employees happy and employees jealous of their bosses. Rage on the road. Pushing and shoving at the malls for merchandise. Irritation in the line because the grocery clerk is taking too long. Grocery clerk coming home and thinking the customers were rude. One thinking one person is rude and that labeled rude person thinking the other person was the one being rude. Nothing is ever good enough for anyone. In most cases common citizenry fighting amongst each other is not even about religion or the color of a person’s skin, it’s either about the money and/or just plain old mean spiritedness and/or selfishness. Everyone points fingers at someone else, conspiring against one another in order to have the upper hand, for the best jobs, best houses, best cars, best schools and best clothes. They say, my kids, my house, my car. Mine, mine, mine. From the big players to the little players, the selfishness is there. Some have more and some have less but the selfishness is still the same. It would come to be no surprise that those so called handful of elite, have a protected bubble around them and that they are looked upon with suspicion; with jealousy. I wish I was them, but I am not! Woe is me then! And you! If not woe to you, then zip it and TRY to be happy with what you have! It’s easy to blame them for the cause of all the world’s problems.

Before we start in on the tyranny of our government and the so called shadowy elite, lets take a look at our own school yards our children play in, or better yet, the school boards. Who are the tyrants in your neighborhood, complaining that such and such house is an eye sore? Oh my, look at that color! Purple, on a house? Or the music is too loud, or the damn neighbor’s dog won’t shut up. Or you can’t stand the sight of a bum on the street and he must go some where else, because oh your poor, poor eyes and so not in your neighborhood. Are you following me?

Until you all can hold hands and sing “come by ya” with one another in your own neighborhoods and schools, no one has any room to speak about the tyranny of the government and the so called elite as if they are some mysterious and separate entity that rules all and causes your personal problems. The citizenry make up the government, they could be your neighbors, your school board members, your fellow community members. And if your neighbors aren't nice and they are too controlling and dominating then well, they are just a reflection of OUR GOVERNMENT. It's all the same. When will you all see past your own noses…such short sight to not admit your own tyranny amongst yourselves and so quick to blame an entity and call it the shadowy elite or government?

The elite, who ever they are, this shadow group, well, they are either smart, smart, smart, and/or lucky, lucky, lucky because they have risen above the crap pile down below. And those swimming in it are jealous as can be at those that are protected from it. But don’t think that those that are above it haven’t sacrificed something of themselves in some way, because they have. And don’t think that the same people complaining about the elite would share their resources if they ever were to become elite themselves. Each and everyone one of us will pay a price in the end. Rich, middle-class and poor alike. There is nothing we can do about it. It is the demise of being a human being.

And so the little brown dog comes running by and lays the joker card right on this post.

tl;dr

Seriously, that is way too long. You should at least give us a head's up to know what this is actually about when writing stuff this long.

2 cents.

reply to post by Key-Minder


Very astute.
S+F

Pay no attention the poster or the stars he/she receives.
Lack of concentration, open mindedness, or comprehension, I suspect.

reply to post by Key-Minder

It's a good story - very well realised, and with a good point.
Vicky

reply to post by Key-Minder


I feel ya I was listening to David Wilcock talk about archetypes and shadow selves and we look at our shadow selves(our monstrous self) with no recognition,it is ourself appearing as monstrous to us we have to integrate this shadow and it's horrors into ourselves to be fully awake and aware

the so called Illuminati that we hate are us, they are what we all are given complete immunity from the consequences of our actions and unsurpassed wealth.

we have to master this conundrum in order to form a better way

so I agree with you the enemy is us we have to face the mirror. it is our own laziness ignorance greed and cowardice that we have to overcome in our collective and individual selves

It's too bad that you couldn't post this where you wanted to; it probably would have shut a few people up. This was a great read and I truly could feel your passion on this subject. Great story too. I absolutely agree that we as a society, like picking one's nose, have gotten into the ugly habit of reneging on our responsibilities to one another as compassionate, caring human beings. The golden rule - "do not do unto others as you would not have done to yourself" - has gone the way of the dodo, I'm afraid. We make choices in our lives that we ultimately have to live with, but when they don't work out in our favor, we immediately start pointing fingers with our noses firmly stuck in our self-righteous faultlessness. Reminds me of an old coworker who constantly whined and complained about her ex until the day I finally said to her, " Well, you picked him". Our society is incredibly lacking in patience and especially empathy. Have you ever seen the movie "Crash"? What great insight into how we affect each others' lives in everything we say and do. This post hit a personal nerve for me because my husband and I just moved from a city to a town and the difference in the people here is absolutely amazing! I wish that people would realize and remember the feeling you get inside when you do an unexpected kindness for someone. Anti-depression medication would cease to exist and so would so-called low self esteem if people would just start DOING for each other again. I have two rules that I try to follow in my life : live gratefuly & put yourself in the other guy's shoes. If the little brown dog comes to my house....I'll feed him some leftover turkey.

reply to post by Key-Minder


Dear Key-Minder

What can I say you are so right, other than I have been saying similar for years.

Are attitudes have to change or there is no hope for us. However I do feel it has to work from the top down.

While I have seen some positive moves at the top recently with American Native title, START treaty and Net Neutrality, it is these small changes that will make the difference. If we cannot learn how to live without conflict, then conflict will live with us.

I couldnt read that whole thread,and after what i have read I was thinking "this person clearly thinks they are god".

reply to post by Cocasinpry


"Seriously, that is way too long. You should at least give us a head's up to know what this is actually about when writing stuff this long."

I do apologise for your irritation regarding this terrible matter you and others have experienced.

reply to post by DIDtm


"Pay no attention the poster or the stars he/she receives.
Lack of concentration, open mindedness, or comprehension, I suspect"

Well, it is necessary to pay attention to a degree as it just exposes part of the problem that I relay in the OP.

And thanks for the compliment, but really I am just glad that what I wrote meant something to you.

reply to post by Vicky32


"It's a good story - very well realised, and with a good point.
Vicky"

Cool. Thank you.

Getting along with others can be frusterating but we can find happiness here and there.

reply to post by MrsBlonde

"I feel ya I was listening to David Wilcock talk about archetypes and shadow selves and we look at our shadow selves(our monstrous self) with no recognition,it is ourself appearing as monstrous to us we have to integrate this shadow and it's horrors into ourselves to be fully awake and aware"

Yeah, exactly. So this so called shadowy government and so called shadowy elite, can really be looked at as our monstrous selves.

"the so called Illuminati that we hate are us, they are what we all are given complete immunity from the consequences of our actions and unsurpassed wealth."

Interesting. Maybe part of paying the price for being elite, as I mentioned in the OP, is knowing our monsterous selves mirrored in others. What do you think? Question is, how does one get to play the role of the elite and actually be that self and someone else gets to play the role of the mirrored self, but the role is one of the working class? Or the other way around.

"we have to master this conundrum in order to form a better way"

If it's not too late. I feel the collective concious has been contaminated, picture the BP oil spill...this is what is also in our collective thoughts that we share with one another. The layers of thought forms are thick with pollution. I am thinking new ones need to be made and then merged into the contaminated ones a little at a time, while still protecting the "virgin" thought forms by keeping them hidden from the main stream conciousness.

"so I agree with you the enemy is us we have to face the mirror. it is our own laziness ignorance greed and cowardice that we have to overcome in our collective and individual selves"

Yes, what a frusterating experience. It feels like trying to run in water.

reply to post by Tasty Canadian


"It's too bad that you couldn't post this where you wanted to; it probably would have shut a few people up."

Yeah, I don't know what happened to it. It is a long read, but those that are supposed to read it will. It is my message to give and then you, and others, give me messages back, which are your messages that I am supposed to recieve. Any lurkers reading contribute in their own way as well just by having read.

"This was a great read and I truly could feel your passion on this subject. Great story too."

Thank you. Like I told another member, I am glad it meant something to you.

"I absolutely agree that we as a society, like picking one's nose, have gotten into the ugly habit of reneging on our responsibilities to one another as compassionate, caring human beings. The golden rule - "do not do unto others as you would not have done to yourself" - has gone the way of the dodo, I'm afraid. We make choices in our lives that we ultimately have to live with, but when they don't work out in our favor, we immediately start pointing fingers with our noses firmly stuck in our self-righteous faultlessness."

I am guilty of finger pointing myself. On one hand it can be productive to make a point realized and other times it can be damaging to the point. It is hard to be compassionate and caring to someone who has hurt you or your family or friends. I struggle with this. One way I deal with it is to not make the situation worse with inacting revenge or seeking justice for myself. Again, it is hard to do. While I may not have full compassion for that person, there is a small measure revealed just by the mere act of refraining from seeking revenge or seeking personal justice. This may be enough to help our mirror selves, aka other people. It's worth a shot, even though it hurts your heart and can make one feel empty to not engage in physical personal justice/revenge, but more fuel is given by the thought form of mercy, which is what we would be grateful for if we were to be the bad guy. And as far as being the bad guy goes well, just like in the story, the owner of the hardware store doesn't view himself as a bad guy, he loves his family, but the dude who got fired by him does. But even that dude doesn't view himself as the bad guy, but he is a bad guy to the dude sitting on the bench because he helped the dude on the bench's wife leave him so he could have her for himself. And the funny thing is, the dude on the bench doesn't realize that is the guy his ex-wife left him for, but the bad thoughts are still there! We are all responsible for being bad guys. Each and every one of us has infringed on someone, in one way or another. This is what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tried to convey when he said, "Father, they know not what they do."

"Reminds me of an old coworker who constantly whined and complained about her ex until the day I finally said to her, " Well, you picked him". Our society is incredibly lacking in patience and especially empathy."

Ha, ha! And to the latter, it is hard to give patience and empathy to others when it feels you are getting none yourself. I am only acknowledging the difficulty because it is important for anyone reading that it is easier said than done. It is true, but we must try. I struggle with this myself.

"Have you ever seen the movie "Crash"? What great insight into how we affect each others' lives in everything we say and do. This post hit a personal nerve for me because my husband and I just moved from a city to a town and the difference in the people here is absolutely amazing! I wish that people would realize and remember the feeling you get inside when you do an unexpected kindness for someone."

No I have not. I am glad to read that you are happy with your move to a new town, that is great!

"Anti-depression medication would cease to exist and so would so-called low self esteem if people would just start DOING for each other again."

I agree, but it is complicated. In my opinion I think anti-depression medication along with other drugs that change and fool with the human body's chemical balance is hindering our progression toward full enlightenment as a whole and contributes to artificially inducing thought forms that are not naturally supposed to be there. These artificially induced thought forms, which are positive, have no chance weathering a strong storm that comes into the concious stream. One can compare these kind of thought forms to a cubic zarconia diamond, where as the naturally induced positive thought forms, those formed drug free, and shined and polished through blood, sweat and tears, are the genuine diamonds, and will weather through any storm. Because anti-depressants are contributing to artificially enduced positive thought forms, it is my personal opinion, that it will be impossible to achieve full enlightment as a whole and that instead we have to be personally responsible for our own enlightment, where others of like and sober mind will follow in suite, and to which that will be branched off from the so called collective ONE.

reply to post by MAC269


"Dear Key-Minder

What can I say you are so right, other than I have been saying similar for years.

Are attitudes have to change or there is no hope for us. However I do feel it has to work from the top down."

Hi there. Well, these thoughts were yours then before mine and my post serves as a reminder to you that you are not alone. And now I know my thoughts are not my own or that I am not alone in them. Cool. I know what I say is not original although my sentence structure may be. Everything I say, was taught to me by someone else, much like a biological programmed robot with emotions. Ha, Ha!!!

reply to post by kwakakev


"While I have seen some positive moves at the top recently with American Native title, START treaty and Net Neutrality, it is these small changes that will make the difference. If we cannot learn how to live without conflict, then conflict will live with us."

Positive moves are always, well, positive

reply to post by whipsandchainsamerica


"I couldnt read that whole thread,and after what i have read I was thinking "this person clearly thinks they are god"."

Look for a Joker card to be placed on you door step. Then you will know I am of affiliation.

If no card, then I guess I'm not affiliated with the almighty one.

good story, well put.

excellent post and story

my view on life as a whole is that its one big lesson and i think we're nearing a major graduation, people need to start recognising the abundance of both possitive and negative and then ask them selves the question what would they as an idividual and we as a collective like to experience now i don't think many people truly want themselves or anyone else for that matter experience a negative existance it makes no sense other wise all the countless wars and starvation, genocide all these "negative" things would have served no purpose other than to perpetuate the "negative" aspects of life, which i don't beleive is the case i think its all part of the lesson of how to truly be a human being and coexist with one another and prosper and thrive as a colective and i don't mean in a monetary or material way we're getting passed that now thats what the collapse of the monetary system is about to me, its showing us that these old ways are no longer nessicary, anyway i could rant on about this stuff all day i do it in real life more than i do in an internet enviroment. thats my 2 cents anyway here's to a positive 2011 focus on positivity and the world will become a very different place for the individual and the collective as a whole.

peace

Good story !! Good post !! I would like to add that your point about one group having compassion and love for each other while also looking down upon another group in some way is definitely a big hurdle to overcome in our society and even in ourselves. But to ignore the obvious influence that the government and the elite have upon us would be a huge mistake.

The problems of society like greed, jealousy, hate and having no compassion for one another in the struggle of life as human beings. Are not caused by our government and the elite. I agree that we must accept our own responsibility as being part of the problem. Our consumer society and lack of spirituality as a nation is a large part of these problems. Although, what about war, unemployment, drugs and alcohol? Which are some key factors that the elite do have a large part of control and influence in perpetuating these problems.

We are being influenced by the mainstream media in music and television towards the love of money, the acceptance of adultery and infidelity, encouraging the use of drugs and alcohol. The hatred towards other religions and cultures We are being tricked into beliefs that all religion is false and corrupt. We need to realize that many of these Elite are "smart, smart, smart" and they are viciously going about promoting these tactics of murder and starting wars for the sake of greed. Using methods of distraction, deception, misrepresentation, fear mongering and influencing our behavior as a society..

It is agreed that you must start the improvements within yourself and look in mirror and then start with your own actions to improve your own life, household and local community. But at the same time you cannot.and should not be blind or ignoring the outer influences of society that would easily counteract any positive changes you attempt to make or are able to accomplish.

The bad parts of the government and the influence that the elite has on our government must be changed and improved at the same time as we change ourselves or else it is quite futile. It is silly to believe that we can change the world just by changing ourselves. To just work on ourselves and our own community would again just be a selfish act of improving your own while forgetting about others who are not so fortunate and blessed with intelligence and the ability to effect change.

Without speaking out against the inequality of the monetary system with it's use of "interest". Which is essentially taking money from the poor to pay the rich for being rich. Without speaking out against the greed and the tyranny and the evils of war that exist in this world. And to not speak or act out with some kind of activism against the problems of elite power and government control would be a dark day indeed.

I would like to hear your opinion as to your beliefs about who caused 9/11 and why did we attack Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also I would like to know if you fully understand the way the FED has created the global monetary system that exists today..