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EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK:
Juan
is renamed Neo
Political Debate At The Gym – Juan Questions Our Perception Of
Freedom
One weekend we
were all hanging out at the gym, (Of course), Somehow the
general topic of the gym got on the subject of politics. It was
the general consensus that all politicians were corrupt and that
generally Democrats were for the little people and Republicans
were for big business. Of course there were the arguments that
too many social programs created a welfare state which made
people weak & cost the tax payers too much money. Some of the
members felt that Republicans were helping the corporations
because they knew corporations were concerned about both profits
and giving us jobs.
Everyone believed that the court systems were messed up and that
the common people were powerless to influence our legislators to
make things good. Everyone agreed that it was next to useless to
vote because regardless of the politician you voted for they
inevitably lie to get elected and then they renege on their
promises. Everyone agreed on this except me.
Regardless of
political affiliations most everyone expressed their dismay that
the political system of the United States. as I said, I was the
only one in the gym who believed that the system was one hundred
percent fair and that anyone could become what they wanted and
justice was always at hand, even for the little guy. Almost
everyone thought I was naïve’. Juan just looked at me with an
odd look and smiled. There was a general consensus that despite
the corruption in our government, despite the hopelessness, we
had the best system in the world. Juan had been listening the
entire time while he had been at the other end of the gym
meditating in his Lotus position. Just as we were winding down
with our whining Juan speaks up.
Juan asks all
of us point blank, “How it was we knew that our system in the
United States was the best?” “Best system as far as what?”
A bunch of gym
rats spoke up, “Well we have the most freedom.” “We are able
enjoy protection from crime that people in other counties do
not.” “We are able to vote for who we want to vote for.” “We are
able to speak our minds, without fear of reprisal.” “We are the
most powerful nation on earth.” “We are the most influential
nation on earth.” “We have the most tolerant system on earth.”
“We are the richest nation on earth.” “We enjoy more wealth than
the other countries.”
Juan said, “How
do you know you have the most freedom?” “Has anyone here been
outside of the country?”
I said, “Just
Juarez, Mexico.”
Harry said, “I
have traveled all around the world, Europe, South America, Asia,
Vietnam, military stuff.”
Most the people in
the gym groaned in disbelief.
Juan just
smiled as Harry’s face turned red and his lower jaw jutted
forward as he said in truculent tones, “Well I was.”
I smiled when I saw
his jaw jut out because I had learned that whenever he lied he
jutted out his jaw if confronted. Most of the ex-service men
said that they had been to Korea, Germany, or Vietnam.
“So, Juan said,
“Except for Vinny and Harry, he smiled wider as he said Harry, a
few ex-service men no one has been anywhere outside of the
United States.
A few people
mentioned Canada, and Cliff said, “Canada doesn’t count man,
they’re just like us.” That got a laugh from more that a few
people.
Juan says,
“Okay and Canada.” “So the fact is almost no one present has
ever been out of this country and yet every ones natural
inclination is to say that we have the best system and the most
freedom.”
Some one said
to Juan, “Aside from Australia, have you been out of the United
States?”
Juan smiles and
says, “Just like Harry ….. I have been all around the world, and
I have some countries are great and others are worse.” “It’s
true that in some countries people do not have the freedom to
leave the country.” “It’s also true that many people can not
choose their careers or education, or religious practices.” But,
he said, “Many countries allow all of these freedoms.”
Juan also said,
“In many countries people vote for their choice of people, and
in some of these countries people are much freer of crime than
the U.S.” “You say your system promotes tolerant and liberal
rights, yet as late as the early sixties black Americans were
still denied many rights taken for granted by white Americans.”
“I could give many examples.” “In other countries Blacks and
other minorities enjoy legal and civil rights along with
acceptance.” ”When you say that you are the most powerful or the
richest, in some ways that is true, yet as far as first world
industrialized nations go, you have more poverty than many of
these countries.”
Juan went on to say, “As far as educational standards are
concern, your educational system is rated 16th
to 20th
in the world.” “Your nations power and wealth does not come from
your countries system being superior, it comes from your
country’s large land mass and until the turn of the century a
seemingly endless well of natural resources and because of many
coincidental circumstances the massive prosperity that your
country enjoys for now comes from the largest middle class in
the history of the world.”
Juan said, “The
sad fact is that if you Americans do not take things into their
own hands, this will change, because you will see the shrinking
of your middle class, you will see more of the haves and have
nots.” “Juan sat back with a reflective look and said, “So
consider closely what you consider to be the greatest system.”
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(JUDGMENT DAY)
ADVENTURES IN MARINE BIOLOGY
THE MARINES: GOD'S CHOSEN
WARRIORS
CONVERSATIONS WITH NEO
NEO TEACHES ME THE ART OF WAR
& PEACE;
His Version of The Matrix
MEMORIES OF MY FATHERS
ZEN & THE ART OF RESISTANCE
TRAINING:
A Yogic & Scientific Approach To Weight
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ZEN & THE BIOLOGY OF
TRANSCENDENCE:
The First Matrix of Psychic
Phenomena
ZEN & THE ART OF KINESIOLOGY:
The Yogic & Scientific
Approach To Movement
ZEN & YOUR ENERGY SYSTEMS
ZEN & VARIOUS ASPECTS OF
TRAINING
HOMEPAGE TO VINCE'S GYM
HOMEPAGE |
