To the Filmmakers:

And the [Katrina] debate goes on...who or what caused these horrible things, these tragedies to happen? Did the "underprivileged" or did the "separatist elitists"? Did we, when we decided to change ourselves?

I have been thinking about this for awhile and realize that truly our world is defined by what we call/name things. Natural disaster immediately implies hardships and pain. But how do you create a new world order without getting rid of the old world order? In the Hindu faith Shiva (the destroyer) is as important as Brahma (the creator) and as Vishnu (the preserver); all three are needed for the world.  

Is destruction necessarily bad? Or is it that we, each of us as individuals and together as a group, have become addicted to our current world states? Therefore, when something happens to wipe the slate clean gifting us with an opportunity to build anew, rather than face forward, clear eyed, excited about building our future from our dreams, we look to the past blinded by tears, muttering, "Why me?" We miss our addictions despite claiming that we want them to end.  

"The nature of the void, the nature of emptiness is just teeming, brimming with unmanifest energy." John Hagelin. In these places, where the earth has manifested our desires for change, we now have the unmanifested energy of the Void - what can we do with it? What will we do with it?  

Labels such as "underprivileged" and "separatist elitists" are of a disappearing world order even when we apply them to ourselves. Both imply that a life can only be judged and valued in comparison to another life - that paradigm is false. It is the same thought that if someone else succeeds, I have failed. When someone else succeeds, it lights my path even more. The reason the world looks darker is that the light of knowledge grows bigger - as the circle increases so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it. The more you know then the better you understand how little you know.  

May we all be blessed by opportunities to build our lives again. We don't have to wait for the earth to present the chance to us; we can make the opportunity for ourselves. The most fun is when you let the Universe dance through you and you consciously co-create your life with Its energy.  

Maria Seager Pasadena, CA

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To the Editor:

It is my opinion that labeling someone with a title such as “hero” is merely a projection onto the person who does not necessarily pursue their life’s work to bear the burden of such titles. When we put the responsibility onto others such as hero, guru, blessed, or gifted to name a few,  

we devalue our own worth in comparison and create grandeur out of one human plight to understand life. We then not only expect that person to maintain that high standard that comes with the title, but we tell ourselves how special that person is again by measuring our own self knowledge in comparison. The days of following the few enlightened ones have passed, as a modern society would agree - it is the collective experience of all human beings that is called upon for an awakening to occur both individually and collectively. Furthermore, this projection alienates the one who is to bear such a title – as “special” or “different” – and does leave room for the warmth of humility that surfaces out of growing when learning from the experiences of others less trained, or experienced or knowledgeable – because most people feel that have nothing to offer one who bears such a title.  One with such responsibility often times does not feel like a part of the whole but the leader, or teacher and the humblest of these deeply desire and yearn for oneness. 

I also believe that by creating the illusion of “heroes” we relieve ourselves- perhaps subconsciously- of our own personal responsibility to hold our light as bright as those we encounter. Truly an illuminated being denounces such grandeur and gives it back to the one(s) who try to give it to them in the first place. It is too much to ask one person to be the bearer of human light (or dark) when we as a whole must share this responsibility. 

Thank you,
AR Brown

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To the Editor: 

I found your article on bio-fuel extremely interesting, particularly as I've been myself wondering about the extreme voices on biofuels. I am writing to ask you if you could investigate further into what is happening in other countries. What then is the difference making it so impractical in our country? I would like to suggest that for a future article you might talk with Vincent Perez, who most recently, as Secretary of Energy for the Philippines, has instituted a successful biofuel program using coconuts and sugar cane, with the potential to lower costs at the pump 30%.

He is presently sharing his experience as a World Fellow at Yale University. Your global grass roots audience provides a perfect forum for gathering information as to what is really happening worldwide on these issues without the filter of special interests and research interests (supported by special interests and government (i.e. political) funding). Thank you! Very much! 

A concerned and interested Bleeper

Thanks for the suggestion. We’ll see about including information from overseas like this in future articles.

Editor