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There are times in the life of an individual, a family, a community and a country, where events happen which transform the emotional and physical landscapes and possibly even the culture, thereafter. We often do not realize the change until years or decades after such events, however there are instances where it is evident a tectonic shift is happening at the time events take place. Deep down we realize "things will never be the same", they are the signs and points of no return.  Response to Fukishima Daiichi Nuclear plant disaster 2011, Japan In the past twenty years we can look to the September 11, 2001 "attack" in New York, USA; the introduction of "smartphones" and "apps" in 2009, (initially from the US based Apple company) the earthquake, tsunami, and Fukishima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, Japan; the rise of ISIS/Daesh terrorist group and the fall of Mosul and other areas of Iraq in 2013, South and North Korea agreeing in 2018, to officially end the war which began in 1950; and I believe the live streaming on social media of a terrorist attack on the peaceful south island city of Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019, (after the years of earthquakes, destruction and upheaval) - will be seen as another turning point for their nation, their citizens and for the world. This tragic event in Christchurch will be unraveled and scrutinized more than previously. There will be international triangulation of what is reported, social media and the companies involved may even be taken to court (for once) and bias in main stream media initial reports and characterizations will be exposed. Seeming unrelated persons and movements will be linked and explored. The rabbit holes and warrens will be unearthed in a pivot that hopefully will shake awake more and more people. The "sleepy" south island will see this new nightmare for what is was/is. The world will be involved in the small population of Aotearoa/New Zealand and specifically Te Waipounamu (Maori for south island), to a greater extent. One could view this as the beginning of a journey to complete disarmament, censorship www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-03-17/22-year-old-new-zealand-man-appear-court-sharing-mosque-attack-video and the reason given by governments for installing 5G and more surveillance in public places, in cars (see link-www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/china-using-computerised-cars-to-track-its-citizens-movements-habits/news-story/c6d60fc61022b815ca3a44005249c98b) and in private places of worship. Questions will be posed which could not be dared in other mass shootings, such as in Las Vegas, USA (2017) or the Aurora movie theatre shooting in Colorado (2012) or even the 1996, Port Arthur, Tasmania mass shooting which resulted in banning firearms in Australia. Be alert to the changes proposed and connect the dots between relationships, vested interests and multinational agendas and who "benefits". (see links below for more details) www.activistpost.com/2019/03/nz-police-happened-to-be-in-a-training-session-when-mosque-shooting-began.html www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/experts-anticipate-quick-changes-gun-laws-after-christchurch-terror-attack www.wakeupkiwi.com/news-articles-64.shtml likethefuture.com/in-car-monitoring-surveillance-tech-will-make-your-car-less-private/ postmanproductions.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/every-one-wants-to-be-a-mexican/ www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread515668/pg1 www.veteranstoday.com/2017/10/02/vegas-odds/ vaticproject.blogspot.com/2012/09/aurora-shooting-whistle-blower-spills.html www.activistpost.com/2015/09/10-ways-to-spot-a-false-flag-mass-shooting.html There are some brave investigative journalists and writers from Oceania who have reported and predicted accurately. Above is one book from New Zealand based Ben C. Vidgen, I recommend. Here is an article he wrote back in the mid 1990s-a fascinating, prescient and cogent read entitled: "A State of Terror" whale.to/a/vidgen.html
On a personal note, many of you may also have experienced points of no return in your own life. You may be aware at the time if you are the victim of violence, if the sudden death of a loved one or ones happens, if you are forced to leave your home and even your country never to return, if you have a terminal illness, lose your job or have a spiritual awakening. You may have personal landmarks which signal you to "move forward" and not look back, not return. Above all, remember these are re-directions where you still do have an element of choice. As long as you are alive, reasonably healthy and able to think-you have the capacity to keep exploring, fighting for "truth" and adapting to the changes you have to create or which have been created for you. We still have the ability to be the "candle flames" to light the way to the next step on our paths and to see the tasks ahead no matter how daunting they may appear. When the consequences are worth it, the odds against us are never too great. I close this post with a waita (song) I happen to find by chance this evening. I had never seen this specific video before which includes my former "boss" and the son of the elder who adopted my children and I into the "Ngati Kahungunu iwi" back in 1990. Seeing (Te Mate) Tama Huata and other family members in the same rehearsal room where I worked for years with them, where both my children were in the kohanga and then running around the rehearsal hall, moved me to tears. Māori discourage people from concealing their emotions. It is regarded as therapeutic for all who participate to feel comfortable expressing their grief openly. However, here at Yun Tai and in China, tears-especially in public-are actively discouraged. Tangi A Te Ruru (translated into English) and sung by Kahurangi National Maori Dance members and whanau (family)-our extended whanau in Hawkes Bay, north island. My sympathy for all whanau and all who suffer from this recent wound on Aotearoa. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdn_qCvnz6M "The cry of the morepork keeps coming back to me. It is hooting out there where the paths meet. I was the one who allowed you to go. It was curbed, my deep love for you But now the formal return home; greetings to you, How my heart weeps with joy. Still standing tall is the prestige and the enchantment of the ancestors who have passed on. Bring back the true spirit of the people to help heal the survivor crying like a slave (with loneliness) and searching for the true path for us all. Te Hokinga Mai! Te Hokinga Mai! Stand tall! May your grief be eased and joy and good health return. Hope to see many of you over there soon when I do my hoki mai in May. From Henan province-Kia Ora whanau Jo/Hineatawhai
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 Whether dreaming or awake, our subconscious and our connection to the universe are always present although we may never be aware of either, during our limited lifetime in our physical bodies. Throughout pictorial and written human history, dating back tens of thousands of years, there are records of human beings having 'lifted the veil' between the seeming reality of daily life, the passage of death and communication with the 'spirit world'. All major religions speak of a prophet or 'holy' man or woman, who was able to transcend earth and listen to 'God', or the angels or spirits bringing messages to their tribe, their kingdom, their family or just to themselves. You may remember some of the stories of Joseph, one of Jacob's 12 son's who had a special gift of dreaming and prophecy but the obstacle of his own siblings being terribly jealous of him and all the suffering that caused for Joseph. You may not be familiar with the prophetic writings, art and music of the Catholic nun and mystic Hildegard of Bingen of Germany (see links in references) or of Black Elk of the Lakota, or Valentin Rasputin of Russia-but all had a proven gift of "sight" into future events and all were healers of considerable influence in their time. There are many paths to reach an altered consciousness and refine the gift of "sight". Deep meditation and breathing, continual special prayers and chanting, ingesting specific herbs, trance inducing dance and music, can facilitate crossing thresholds. Certain drugs and traumatic shock can cause an individual to be propelled into another "world" or find her/himself "between worlds", seeing both their usual 'reality' and other dimensions; having their 'third eye'* opened. www.chakras.info/third-eye-chakra/ In my life I have had numerous "between world" experiences. At first, when I was a child, I wasn't conscious this was what they were but fortunately I had a very wise and psychic paternal grandmother who helped me understand not to be afraid of such 'visitations'. Often children who are abused physically, sexually, emotionally and who witness violence or abuse, will excarnate from their bodies to cope as well as compartmentalize the events they see. They do so automatically in order to keep their mind and spirit protected and functioning. Excarnation feels as if you are leaping out of your body. At times I would see things happening as if I was on the ceiling or be very tiny in a hidden corner of the room. My physical body was still at the same place, but my mind and spirit were elsewhere. The western neurological/medical/psychiatric description and label is "dissociation", but many other healing traditions report and treat this differently-with great success. www.omicsonline.org/trauma-and-dissociation-neurological-and-spiritual-perspectives-2161-0487.1000116.php?aid=12096 "Dissociation is viewed as an opportunity for the traumatized person to reclaim the soul parts and to experience a tremendous feeling of healing and wholeness. In Shamanic cultures, it is believed that during dissociation the spirit helpers place the traumatized person in an altered state. In this trance-like state, the person witnesses the soul part or parts in their frozen state. With the assistance of spiritual guides and helpers, the soul parts are removed from the trauma scene, taken to a safe place, offered a healing, and then reintegrated back into the larger and now more complete and whole soul." This happened to me at times when I was in locations where extreme violence was all around me, as well as when I was attacked and hit by a car. During the time I was unconscious because of injuries, I could still "see" myself and also a continuum of time and events into the future. bostonintuitive.com/2016/05/16/can-trauma-induce-psychic-awareness/ My training at Georgetown University helped me refine my skills in order to be able to "excarnate" and compartmentalize of my own volition. Later, I learned how to integrate these coping mechanisms, albeit with very painful memories and physical symptoms. These powerful electric like experiences could be "grounded". Yet another way to "travel between worlds" is in ceremony. Being a Sundancer, (WiWayang Wacipi in Lakota) for many years involved learning the language of traditional prayers, the protocols of the Inipi (sweat lodge) and learning the discipline of preparation, complete fasting and extreme physical exertion and concentration. These ceremonies are unique to certain Native American tribes. These ways have been used for thousands of years to help Medicine people with tools to help more people heal. Often in the times before, during and after Sundance, messages are revealed. Sometimes you need help to interpret those messages. Sometimes they are crystal clear. When you try to transmit what you have received you may be hit hard with disbelief, denial and accusations from others, but over time you will know if the message is/was true/valid. Most people will have no clue what you, (or I right now) are speaking about. Here is a short documentary to introduce some aspects of Sundancing to you if you do not know what the actual ceremony is about: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK4fCv5ekzI This week we were introduced to new music while performing simple Qigong and Tai Chi movement exercises. One piece seeped into my heart and spirit. I saw a number of images while doing the exercises. The music keeps playing inside me at various times of the day and night. I found it online and remarkably, the video made to this music had a few of the same images I created in my own mind. The only difference was that the "boy" in my mind was my son, Denali when he was younger and the boy in the video (click on link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulh3l_DWcdQ) is someone different. The title of the musical piece is: "Between Worlds" by Roger Subirana of Spain.  With Auntie Phoebe and Auntie Jesse, Gumbayngirr elders outside of Bowraville, New South Wales, Australia. Photo by Gumbayngirr elder Tresna Carraige 1998 We went into the mountains on Saturday (March 9), and again I heard the music and then "saw" scenes somewhere far from here. Maybe in the present, maybe in the future...this is not an exact science so I am not sure of the meaning yet. However, I decided to be brave and write about this realm of experience. Words are so inadequate to try and describe the sensations and "scenes" but I am making an effort for those of you who may know/experience this, too. I say "brave" because those who do not, or will never know of "between worlds", will call you (have jeered at me) "crazy" or "delusional" or "ridiculous", etc. In addition to my personal "sight" I have become familiar with over many decades, I have an additional transporting feeling since my son's death in 2013, of being between holding his hand in the skies (heaven) and holding my daughter's hand on earth. I am floating between the two. In the floating space sometimes I "see" people, events, places far away as if from a hawk eye's view. I breathe through these glimpses of another "world" and try to remain calm, peering in as long as I can before these "scenes" fade. Often in a daydream on planes, when I have a window seat and look out at the clouds-suddenly I am in the clouds in a vast skyscape. It is different than imagining-it is a type of "travelling" while I am on transport. It would be such a balm to meet others who have similar experiences/sensations/gifts. The few I used to speak to about these phenomenon have now crossed the threshold. They are no longer on the physical plane in human form. It does get lonely at times. Maybe you can relate? "...parallel but separate views of dissociation emerge from two distinct paradigms for managing the symptoms and for healing the dissociative responses. The psychotherapist trained solely in Western methods of helping focuses on the application of strategies to mainly gain the attention of the brain’s left hemisphere and thereby attempts to heal the cognitive mind. The traditional Shaman, and the therapist trained in spiritual healing practices believe the soul, like the body, has self-healing capabilities and offers strategies to assist the soul in reclaiming its wholeness. To combine the methodologies from these two distinct world views is to offer the trauma client an approach aimed at healing body, mind and spirit." www.omicsonline.org/trauma-and-dissociation-neurological-and-spiritual-perspectives-2161-0487.1000116.php?aid=12096 My dear "Aunties" Jesse, Phoebe and Bea-Gumbaynngirr elder women in Australia, counselled me years ago to go to the "waters" to communicate with them and with the "old fellas" if I was ever stuck or confused about what to do...my next step in life. This past summer swimming in the aquamarine Mediterranean sea off the coast of Malta, I remembered their advice. While snorkeling I had an other worldly "vision" of what was coming to me and the path toward Yun Tai mountain, where I was this past weekend. In an earthbound sense I am between the Eastern and Western 'worlds' continually here in Henan province, China. There is a branch of Traditional Chinese medicine and Shaolin practice which also involves deep understanding of "spiritual" aspects of healing. They apply certain acupuncture points, Qigong movements and meditations for protocols to ease the effects of most human conditions including of: "mad and/or hungry ghosts" plaguing an individual, ancestral grief, aphasia and "spirits out of the gates" or ex-carnation/dissociation. It is a pity and a waste of knowledge that western medicine/science is most often skeptical, chauvinistic and dismissive of more ancient traditions. There are/were some "famous" Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors and Shaolin healers who could "see" into a patient's body to determine the ailment/illness. This is without the use of any technology such as MRIs, X-rays, ultrasound, etc. Watch this short video for some "uses" of certain skills by the US and former Soviet Union. www.youtube.com/watch?v=67vx9dK3irI Non-acknowledgement of forces greater than human beings leads to very narrow perspectives and diagnosis, in my opinion. Few bridges between the two spheres of thought and practice have been crossed, however there are more people who are opening their minds to the possibility, than before. This is a promising start. From my first person viewpoint, healing continues wherever I may be and progresses with my years on Earth. The merging of my western, eastern, Indigenous and allopathic treatments continues over time. Plasticity in our brains means we can "re-wire" if we choose to do the hard work required to re-orient our thinking. Habits can be re-directed. Our spirits are resilient if we nurture them. We all will eventually cross from this world to the next. For the time being, I am exploring this space "between worlds" which is the title of the beautiful, ethereal composition by Roger Subirana Mata, shared twice in this week's post. May you and your loved ones continue in "good health"! May those of you who know what travelling between worlds is...please feel free to comment and contact me. From Yun Tai mountain, Jo *Including another link to "Between Worlds" by Roger Subirana-same music different video images-for your double enjoyment www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUxOy5eI2n8 REFERENCES:
Sacred Music of Hildegard di Bingen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfoCap03Sg4 arthistoryproject.com/artists/hildegard-von-bingen/ www.gatheringspot.net/news-article/healinghealth/childhood-trauma-may-induce-epigenetic-changes www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBl0cwyn5GY Banned youtube of physicist and psychic US govt. worker Russell Targ-well worth watching  The type of power used to attract, co-opt and persuade rather than coerce or threaten has been labelled "soft power" in contrast to "hard" power associated with martial actions and military industrial complex (MIC) type strategies. There is also a "meta power" in the gray area between hard and soft power which may shape relationships, shift power balances by altering the matrix of possibilities, removing certain "actors" in a society or political system, changing orientation and spheres of influence by various covert and overt means. Meta power is very important prior to entering into negotiations on major issues, for example. The skillful application of meta power enhances "soft power positions" and even "hard power" drives. Presenting a formidable image can change perceptions, shift allegiances and reinforce a nation's defenses without having to invest in any additional weapons systems or bolster their armed forces. The context and environment in which meta power and soft power are used can also be interpreted differently by the states involved and the global actors outside the area of operations. Humanitarian aid, economic support, cultural enrichment projects and training/advising programs could be viewed as "soft" by the initiators but end up being vehicles for "hard power" and coercion over the recipients - examples would be forced vaccination programs, food for schools with a condition of implementing foreign curriculum, providing infrastructure in exchange for data access, providing "free" clinics where patients records are used to later identify the best candidates for organ harvesting and experimentation, introducing new arts and entertainment which are powerful propaganda channels, and so forth. Do any of you remember the American strategy for "winning hearts and minds" in Vietnam? That was supposed to be an application of "soft power"-appealing with American ideals of democracy and capitalism-as opposed to the imposition of communism. 'Winning Hearts and Minds' did not turn out well for either the Vietnamese or the Americans. Peace Corps, American councils and many American based non-governmental agencies (NGOs) are certainly "soft power initiatives" which work with other departments and agencies involved in diplomatic and/or hard power options. It did seem strange to me that in 2015, over 400 Peace Corps and Peace Corps Response professionals were assigned to Ukraine - when countries suffering from desperate poverty, lack of education and basic essentials with larger populations in Africa, had less than half that number. What was the real agenda for loading Ukraine with numerous USAID, Peace Corps programs? Think "disruption" under the policies of Clinton/Kerry as Secretaries of State and Victoria Nuland's heavy hand tactics. "USAID co-investing with Omidyar Network in Ukraine NGOs that organized and led the Maidan revolution in Kiev, resulting in the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych." pando.com/2014/04/08/the-murderous-history-of-usaid-the-us-government-agency-behind-cubas-fake-twitter-clone/ Language and culture programs offered for "free" (paid for with American taxpayer money) by the US government are a creeping soft power enterprise in many countries as are IT projects-"Teach Girls in Afghanistan to Code" is one currently funded initiative. New textbooks programs for Afghanistan, received over $791 Million dollars from 2015-2017. Access programs funded by the US Department of State and iLearn/Earn programs in Pakistan, were aimed at reaching over one million high schools students at a cost of over $21 Million dollars to the US taxpayer, and continue to this day. www.cgdev.org/page/aid-pakistan-number www.concernusa.org/story/foreign-aid-by-country-getting-how-much/ China provides a similar array of soft power invasive tools in the language, culture and education sectors in the form of "Confucius Institutes". Are you aware of how many of these institutes are in universities across the world in 2019? See this article with a chart and map for details: www.digmandarin.com/confucius-institutes-around-the-world.html For the United States, here are the current statistics: "As of February 2019, [National Association of Scholars) NAS counts a total of 104 Confucius Institutes in the United States. We identify 97 Confucius Institutes at American colleges and universities. We also identify 1 Confucius Institute at a private educational organization, the China Institute, and 6 Confucius Institutes at K-12 public school districts. Confucius Institutes may function as “an arm of Chinese ‘soft power’ and propaganda, aimed at promoting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s propaganda and stifling its critics around the world.” americandigitalnews.com/index.php/2019/03/02/confucius-institute-chinas-impact-on-u-s-education/ www.nas.org/articles/criticizing_confucius_institutes  Take the China Soft Power Quiz-just for fun and you might learn more about Chinese influencers in the process: ig.ft.com/quiz/china-soft-power/ Have you considered the media buy in China has succeeded with controlling in the USA? It's not just the AMC theatre chain, Legendary Entertainment or Dick Clark productions; China owns the Waldorf Astoria and Four Seasons hotel chains, Motorola, theme parks, sports teams, banks, food chains, Forbes magazine, General Electric Appliances-here are others in the articles linked below: www.thewrap.com/hollywood-companies-owned-by-china/ fortune.com/2016/03/18/the-biggest-american-companies-now-owned-by-the-chinese/ What about China's "humanitarian aid and loan" programs as examples of soft power mission creep? Let's look at the African continent to start. According to a number of studies and articles, "African countries generally attach greater hopes to the Chinese arriving with primarily commercial and investment purposes than the developed countries intervening in humanitarian and security terms. [and possible exploitation of their natural resources] According to the public opinion researches conducted in the countries of the continent, the African aspects of the soft power function efficiently. The number of African inhabitants having a positive opinion of China is close to the number of people who like the United States." www.geopolitika.hu/en/2018/02/08/chinese-soft-power-in-the-developing-countries-africa/ China continues to give aid, no interest loans and education/health programs to 51 countries in Africa, 30 countries in Asia and 20 countries (including Venezuela) in South America. Did you know that "China is Venezuela’s biggest foreign creditor. Since 2014, China lent approximately $60 billion to Venezuela in opaque deals, the details of which were mostly not made public? Nor did the National congress approve the loans. The debt was mostly to be repaid in oil, and if other restructured China debt is any indication, debt payments will value that oil at below market rates. China received, in return, preferential access to infrastructure and factory deals and market access for about $6 billion per year in Chinese consumer goods. Venezuela became China’s strongest ally in Latin America. China’s loans to Venezuela have included regular infusions of $2 to $5 billion as Venezuela needed it with the drop in oil prices. $20 billion in loan repayments were softened." www.forbes.com/sites/anderscorr/2017/04/21/remove-maduro-and-china-send-80-billion-in-emergency-aid-to-venezuela/#7ed3df392a2f Chinese media-all government run-continues to blitz the world with announcements of their "advanced" scientific, medical, IT, infrastructure achievements and ambitions. This is in part to counter the perception that Chinese made goods, buildings, materials and research is "cheap", not original and not up to western standards. Which more often than not is true. https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-infrastructure-projects-reshaping-the-world-2017-1 Although there are many nations using soft power which includes media manipulation, cultural and language program offerings, humanitarian aid, training and investment, the countries spending the most money on these efforts are: USA Germany, the UK, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Norway and Sweden. Even smaller countries such as Japan and Israel gave more money than China. www.statista.com/statistics/275597/largers-donor-countries-of-aid-worldwide/ Whether to permit the "soft power" of Confucius "Institutes" in the USA to continue and for the Chinese media outlets and Chinese investment to remain unfettered in the USA, are important questions to consider, especially if policy makers and security experts decide a counter move is necessary. Yes, there are tough decisions ahead especially in light of the upcoming summit between American President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Junping. Keep alert. From Henan province-until next week, Jo  It is been argued that the only real solution to prevent and resist indoctrination on an individual, community, or national level - is to have excellent teachers. Excellent teachers (which include parents, mentors, and other knowledgeable adults) train students in observation skills, listening, logos, methods of argument and analysis while supplying substantive subjects for consideration, action and reflection. They teach a human being to evaluate, to discern and determine what is true and what is false, to make judgement calls and to find solutions to problems on their own, with their own faculties. The best teachers, importantly, don’t succumb to promoting one ideology over another because they trust their student to reason through to "the right" (the ethical/moral/noble position)'way' and choose the course of action they have selected after thinking the problem through - then making an informed decision. Considering the consequences of their decision and the follow on effects are also part of logical thinking skills...an integral component of an actual "education". (see blog post of February 19, 2019 linked here for more details) www.jopatti.com/blog/education-need-not-versus-training Tragically, (and it is a tragedy what has happened to what was once a quality public education system for the USA compared to other countries) there has been an agenda to "dumb down" the entire public education system for many decades. This is/was a deliberate campaign to push back the advances made in teacher education, curriculum and school facilities in the late 1950's through the 1960's, promoted with enthusiasm under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. The United States encouraged and produced innovation in all realms, especially the scientific, engineering, design, aviation, communications and medical fields. This was part of a national endeavor which for a short time included substantial funding and expansive opportunities for a greater number of children and adults from all economic, social, cultural and racial backgrounds in America. In part, this was sparked by the "Space Race" and competition with the then, Soviet Union. However focus and standards in education slipped during the "Great Society" programs ushered in by President Lyndon B Johnson and his administration, which diverted funds from equal opportunity and educational projects to the Vietnam war effort. The Department of Education was formed and institutionalized by 1980, and President Reagan's administration battled a recession that siphoned off funds from social programs yet again. President Clinton proposed a plan very similar to President George Bush's "No Child Left Behind" (called by many educators/teachers..."Every Child Left Behind") passed in 2002, which was by most accounts a dismal failure for children, students and teachers. Standardized testing and the pressures attached to "scoring" pushed the whole system down the slippery slope in America. The "Educational Testing Services", materials, preparation and tutoring industries thrived. Then "Common Core" and "Race to the Top" (nicknamed by many in the schools as "Race to the Bottom") was initially drafted by a corporate consortium funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. "That program foisted a set of national academic standards upon the states. Unfortunately, those standards suffer from severe academic deficiencies and their implementation diminishes parenthood, imposes a fiscal burden on the states, and establishes a governance precedent that is irreconcilable with our Founding. It is a federal takeover affecting public school, private school, and home school children." As one school board administrator pointed out, "Common Core seemed much more like a marketing campaign than a coherent educational plan." truthinamericaneducation.com/race-to-the-top/ After a few years of implementation here is what one Math teacher (representing the majority of skilled Math teachers) wrote: "I predict that if we continue implementing Common Core, average students will drop out of math as early as they are allowed. Even math-bright students will hate math. Tutoring companies will proliferate to serve wealthy families. The educational gap between rich and poor will widen. If we want to destroy math and science education in this country, keep Common Core." www.educationviews.org/engineer-explains-common-core-math-disaster/ Unfortunately this prediction has proved true. The pivot from an education system promoting original thought, inquiry, expression, and debate while diligently requiring teachers and students to be competent in a well rounded curriculum in order to graduate, and proudly espousing a "value system" based on honor, integrity, family, selfless service and belief in God; to a more self-centered, completely secular, socialistic, globally oriented and bureaucratically monitored education system with fewer standards or requirements - started in the 1980's in earnest. The resulting plunge in all rankings and measurements of basic literacy competencies for American children-particularly in public schools from the late 1970's-can be documented up until 2019. The USA is barely in the top 20 (except in spending) for all indicators. This is a fall from the times the USA was consistently in the top ten. Take a look at the countries ahead of the USA now-Russia (for example) listed as number five. Finland is consistently number one for the last decade. These governments put a very high value on "education" and revised their entire system beginning with teacher preparation and training, to curriculum, smaller classes, no multiple guess testing, student incentives and higher pay for teachers and administrators: worldtop20.org/2017-world-best-education-systems-1st-quarter-report These countries provided financial support and incentives for professional development and novel approaches within their respective school and higher education programs. The books shown below (in the uploaded images) are ones which provide an in- depth analysis with numerous examples of how and why the United States education system has been "dumbed down", engineered socially to handicap thinkers- create more of an "idiocracy" in the USA. I suggest you start with John Taylor Gatto's books or search him on youtube, for his compelling and instructive talks on this subject. All three authors are subject matter experts in pedagogy and served in a number of capacities in the public education system and US government positions, over decades. These authors reveal the mechanisms of increased "indoctrination" and bureaucratization by various political forces over time and the disastrous consequences to our generations of children and to our unique society founded on principles of a Republic, and the ideological commitment to freedom, liberty and justice for all. Here is an excerpt from John Taylor Gatto's interview. I highly recommended it. More of his talks are available for free on youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ogCc8ObiwQ While it may be sensibly argued that "indoctrination" is part of life no matter what family, society, culture or country you grow up in...there are degrees of indoctrination as well as different methods of coercing or imparting indoctrination on a people. Emphasizing patriotism and the "special" characteristics of your family, culture, community, country or religion-for example: 'Our way is the best, strongest, truest,' etc. - is one way to drill/instill beliefs into a people and succeed with a program of indoctrination. Indoctrination relies upon the "passive" and cumulative actions by those in authority and those who have access to social control: the media, internet, education, law enforcement, public figures - to inculcate (put into) children and adults a constant, repetitive ideology whereby the individual is encouraged not to think but to absorb and accept certain beliefs and to shut out or mentally barricade themselves against other competing beliefs and/or narratives. There is a negative aspect built in to denigrate "nerds", "eggheads", those who "think too much", "read too much" and those who question "too much", "swim against the stream", try to be "tall poppies" and so on. Indoctrination includes shaming those who resist and provokes others to quash viewpoints which counter the narrative they are promoting. Let's look at a few current examples of indoctrination successfully woven into the very fabric of a country's education system as well as media, politics, law enforcement and focus for all societal behavior. I will include countries I have had first hand experience with, working in their education system. I shall begin with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or KSA. "Saudi Arabia has one of the most comprehensive government school systems in the Arab world, consuming roughly 30 percent of the kingdom’s budget. A third of the school day is taken up by instruction in Wahhabism. Private schools exist but must follow the same Wahhabi religious curriculum as the government schools. All books entering or leaving the kingdom are subject to scrutiny. All textbooks are commissioned or selected by the central government. Consider some examples from recent or still-current textbooks: A text titled “Pictures from the Lives of the [Mohammed’s] Companions” describes how Jews and Christians were cursed by Allah for accepting polytheism and were turned into apes and pigs. An eighth grade textbook explains that the most important duties for a Muslim are jihad for the sake of Allah and the spread of Allah’s religion on earth. Fifth graders are put on notice that “the whole world should convert to Islam and leave its false religions lest their fate will be hell.” object.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa511.pdf Excerpted from the report: "Education and Indoctrination in the Muslim World: Is There a Problem? What Can We Do about It?" The "role" and position of females in the KSA has been discussed at length, but the basic freedoms we enjoy in the West and in many countries such as: access to education, freedom to move at will, the possibility of obtaining a driving license, owning property, having a voice in decision making from the family to representation in government, or a choice in religious beliefs and personal expression-including what you are permitted to wear...is repressed in the KSA. Indoctrination is reinforced by restriction and punitive consequences, most of which are based on fear, monitoring, religious text interpretations and physical punishment/violence.  With faculty colleagues and students at Princess Noura University for Women, KSA 2013 " The current situation in China is known and reported by many but is escalating on a weekly basis. This government uses sophisticated surveillance to "shame and name" those who don't conform and comply to what they consider to be "acceptable behavior" of a citizen-this includes posting names of "debtors" online. It also "resists" any ideology which does not put "the State" first. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6620879/China-launches-app-tells-500-yards-debt.html The recent government edict against any decorations and/or celebrations or greetings about Christmas showed their hand against Christians and Christianity. The Chinese government and their President have escalated tactics by promoting atheism openly, especially in all schools and training centers. No children are allowed to attend or even visit any church. All teachers must sign an "Atheist Manifesto" and are not permitted to attend church services. (see link below) The forced relocation of Muslim Uighurs, detention camps and "ideological education, psychological rehabilitation and behavior correction" started in 2017. "Islam must change to be compatible with Chinese socialism". To these ends Uighur children can be separated from their families based on religion. www.dw.com/en/chinas-xinjiang-region-legalizes-muslim-internment-camps/a-45837413 Children can be put in camps and orphanages. They must attend compulsory "Loving Heart" schools to be "re-educated" away from their families and communities. The Chinese government has taken cues from the policies used in the past by England, the USA, Australia, Canada and Cambodia. Since 2013, there has been a significant government propelled crackdown on "western laden values infecting Chinese traditional culture and values". Document 9, was created and leaked which is an internal communiqué́: "to stop universities and media from discussing seven taboo topics: Western constitutional democracy, universal values, civil society, neoliberalism, the Western concept of press freedom, historical nihilism, and questioning whether China’s system is truly socialist." www.chinafile.com/features/whys-beijing-so-worried-about-western-values-infecting-chinas-youth  Children dressed in uniform sing after raising the national flag at the Beichuan Red Army Elementary School, in Beichuan, Sichuan province, January 21, 2015. Fred Dufour—AFP/Getty Images This new policy of forced atheism and propaganda against religion may soon affect Shaolin training centers and Buddhist temples, even though they are the holders of ancient traditional culture from China. See this article for more details. Very concerning: www.breitbart.com/asia/2019/02/22/chinese-kindergartners-forced-to-sign-atheist-manifesto/ The Chinese government's justification for the Uighur's internment camps and "re-education" is the threat of terrorism by Muslims and they have had serious incidents and cases of Islamic radicalization in their own citizenry. foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/01/the-islamic-state-pledged-to-attack-china-next-heres-why/ thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-terrorist-threat-in-china/ However, Christians have not perpetrated any "terrorist" crimes against the Chinese. They have not resisted the government, killed or injured people in the name of "Jesus Christ". The churches have paid for the properties and permits needed to build churches and conduct services but under new guidelines, they may be in danger of forfeiture or their locations may be on an unwritten "no go list" for Chinese citizens who want to maintain a positive "social credit/social score". Their churches and communities are being 'squeezed' by the current Chinese in authority. In order to present a more balanced view of why a number of countries in the Middle East and East Asia have determined the influences from the west, most particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom, are to be prevented from entering their countries in any form-we do need to re-examine what they might be referring to and how they see our "education, entertainment, news and social mores" as "corrupt and evil indoctrination" and as "western propaganda endangering their children and citizens". Consider the words of one Christian scholar, historian and writer Dr. E Michael Jones, from the United States, commenting on it's society and it's own corruption: "The steady normalization of degeneracy and corruption occurring in the mainstream USA, the political and social control and indoctrination are achieved through the manipulation of people’s desires. Further, we consider the manifestation of socialist central planning that drives cultures away from their true identities, and this capitalist form of warfare feeds on exploiting illicit passions." Or for a more secular point of view-read this text excerpted from a longer article referenced below: “Crimes of the Educators” by Alex Newman reveals how the architects of America’s public school disaster implemented a plan to socialize the United States by knowingly and willingly dumbing down the population. In the author’s estimation, it all adds up to indoctrination. www.wnd.com/2015/07/public-schools-ruining-u-s-kids-with-indoctrination/ “We need to draw a clear, defining line between education, which enables people to know how to think, versus what the government is doing today, which is indoctrination, training people what to think rather than how to think and how to process information and how to have critical thinking ability,” Newman explained. The public education system is too far gone to be saved, Newman argues, largely because progressive educators such as John Dewey designed it specifically to dumb down and indoctrinate children. Therefore, he says modern education reformers need to start over if they wish to save the system." The previous reform movements and programs have not worked well for America...mostly because they were not founded on the principles of "educare", but on the agendas of social engineers. There is an antithetical relationship between true education and indoctrination. On both an individual basis, and as educators, parents, policy analysts, concerned citizens - we need to know what our focus is and what we are aiming for in our education system, in our children, our society and the next generations. This should be a priority and a rally to action. As a closing this week, please watch a "pop culture" icon's music video entitled: "Work B**ch". This is a famous singer/performer from the USA who started off as a child actor/singer/dancer when she was only three years old and became known after her roles in Disney's 'Mickey Mouse Club'. Look closely at the costumes, sets, ways women are presented (as slaves) the violence, decadence dripping from every angle. Ask yourself honestly, is this what you wish for yourself or your daughters, your grandchildren-any children to aspire to? What kind of values are drummed into you (do you recall) after these few minutes of images, music and lyrics? What if these violent, erotic, images were pounded over and over every day year after year to children? Well they are and this is a very tame music video and lyrics compared to many in the "West". www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8VYOfr8To Are other countries policies designed to "protect" their children and/or all their citizens from being corrupted by western culture so unreasonable? Does freedom mean to be completely free from accountability in what is created, displayed and sold? Have a look at the photos below and remember-this is in place now and our children are subjected to this brainwashing, indoctrination, propaganda in our public schools, through media, conversations and curriculum. Are you Ok with this?! How will you work to change this social engineering 'movement' or find a balance? There are no easy answers. Goodnight from the hills of Henan until next week, Jo REFERENCES: John Taylor Gatto talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk-MP8r38t0 thefederalist.com/2018/10/26/public-schools-indoctrinate-kids-without-almost-anyone-noticing/ encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/indoctrinating-youth www.wnd.com/2015/07/public-schools-ruining-u-s-kids-with-indoctrination/ www.nytimes.com/2017/10/15/world/asia/china-schools-propaganda-education.html https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2019/02/22/chinese-kindergartners-forced-to-sign-atheist-manifesto/ "As we’ve shifted to a knowledge-based economy, the clear lines between the worlds of training and education are blurring, and both educators and employers need to recognize the shift. Education and training historically come from very different places. Education was meant to teach the upper classes to be well-rounded leaders, whereas training was learned through apprenticeships to guilds. Until recently, education was focused on imparting knowledge; training was focused on teaching specific skills. But in today’s economy, the skills that workers need to be trained in are of a higher order than ever before, therefore requiring more time to teach. Education must be more practical and training must be more advanced. Employers and educators need to come together to meet the needs created by this convergence of education and training." collegeforamerica.org/difference-between-training-education/ The first written record of the word education is found in the 1530s. It comes from the Latin educare - translated as: to educate, to train, to rear, to nourish, to bring up. The word for education in Middle French is éducation. Educare is a combination of the words e (out) and ducare-meaning to lead or drawing out. Most contemporary etymologists agree that this implied meaning is the true meaning of educare-to draw out, to elicit, to lead a student to knowledge and understanding. This is quite different than filling a student's mind or controlling the direction of a student's thoughts or subjecting a student to repetition for the sake of repetition. While instructor directed repetition is necessary in training and as one step in the education process, the simple act of repetition is not education itself, according to the gatekeepers of education...academics. However, it could be reasoned that even repetition in regards to physical movement, language acquisition, memorizing formulas, anatomical terms, repeating prayers or lyrics-ultimately does "educate" the body and mind and even the "spirit". The photos below are taken from different types of education and training in different countries. Are you able to tell which are labeled "education" and which "training"? (You can hover over each image for the caption with more details) There is a tendency to label any "classroom" experience after high school or college as "training". Adults "train" for specific jobs, for physical fitness, for operating machinery or handling new tools, for the military, and for training others..."teacher training". It is presumed "training" will be of shorter duration than "education". There is also a different credentialing system used for training. In the education sector, (which I have been a part of for many decades in a number of different countries and with diverse curriculum), there is often a bias against those with only training credentials even if the individual is highly skilled. Fields and professions such as music, mechanics, coding, sports, art and design, public relations, IT-web development, agriculture, animal management, trades technicians, law enforcement, equipment operators, paramedical positions, maintenance and repair, facilities management, secretarial, entrepreneurial and administrative, child care, construction, dance and even politics do not require university degrees but do require competency based skills often gained by credentialed training courses or acknowledged practical experience over time. Yet ideally, even most academic "educators" and "professional PhDs in the Ed sector" would at least pay lip service to the idea of "life long learning" and except for a semantic argument, would consider "life long education" to include "training". It seems the lines are starting to merge in a number of areas, yet lagging behind are the social constructs of "status" regarding each label. Do you consider yourself educated? Are you trained? Are you both trained and educated?! How do you differentiate. Does your experience with either of both of these processes require more full spectrum thinking skills in one "versus" the other? Let's look at some popularly accepted constructs defining these activities.  The practice of "drilling" words, moves, assembly of machinery, procedures, grid points, bona fides, etc. is repetition for specific outcomes that become habitual and have a greater probability of being remembered even in high stress situations and diverse environments. These drills are often adaptable and are included in "training" and even segments of "education" (ex: languages, music, physical education) but they are usually designed and delivered/taught by someone in authority. While learning initially may not require much thinking at the time they are imparted, more often than not-repeating these skills will require thought in use outside the schoolrooms or training centers. Quick response adaptations require both training/drilling and fast thinking skills. It is crucial to take into account the fact that there is no guarantee that any particular education or training template or course(s) will reach everyone or even most of those who are the students/trainees. What may motivate, resonate and be easily comprehended or copied by one human being - may not be by another. Even with apparently the same standard measurements of physical ability, IQ, Emotional intelligence, experience, etc. applied to a group of people who have been screened for education and/or training - the outcomes will be different. The "mental/emotional" attitudes will vary since each individual has a unique neuro-network based on their unique background, childhood, culture, experiences, environments, thoughts, spiritual or lack of spiritual teachings, conditioning, pressures, fears/phobias, traumas and dream life. The conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind informs the response to education and training as they do to all significant life events and endeavors. newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/mind-over-matter-study-shows-how-177580 Research has indicated that the "barriers" to progress in most learning are often self-generated. The reverse is also true-overcoming any obstacle to learning is also possible given a self-generated will, discipline and focus even without support, stress or threat of punitive consequences from an outside authority. trainingmag.com/4-stages-motivation-demotivation/ Three pressing questions for all of the above categories of learning: training, drilling, education, are: 1) How effective was the course? 2) What is/was the retention time? 3) How do you accurately measure each of these ? Depending of the field of endeavor and skills required, addressing these questions constructively and accurately before someone starts working in their respective field can actually mean the difference for the doctor/patient or the equipment operator, the train engineer, fire jumper, navigator, combat military, safety rigger, communications lead, police officer, mother/child carer, martial artist, and many other professions -...between life and injury, property damage and...death.  As always, an excellent master trainer/teacher for either children and/or adults - reflects on the questions posed above. They go beyond the minimum to impart their knowledge, skills and experience and imbue each class/lesson/course with the appropriate weave of history, rationale, clarity, patience, persistence, rigor and sometimes, humor. I am fortunate to experience this every day up in the Henan hills with the Shifus (master teachers) of Shaolin, who carry on a tradition of martial arts education that covers over two thousand years of trial, error, success for their candidates. Yet they are also refining, re-working and evaluating as well as discussing and comparing with other Shaolin schools and training centers. The Henan mountain Shaolin are unique in the world, though there are tamer, more anemic versions in other parts of the planet, and even other parts of China. Shaolin stick to standards and demand commitment and "love". For some, it will be a life long journey of training, learning and passing knowledge on through direct human interaction. They are also required to vow never to use their "knowledge and training/education" to kill. They may defend themselves and those vulnerable. They may protect and that may include having to incapacitate and restrain those attacking them. They also vow to help those who are defenseless and in need. There is no substitute for the real "Shaolin way" though they, too, are starting to permit some collaboration with technology as evidenced by this video shot and uploaded to youtube. (click on the link below) Most of the students in this video have already trained for at least five years and still have at least as many years to go before being "tested" to pass on to performance and/or the next stage and another test later if they wish to be trained as a monk. You may have seen a commercialized demonstration of some of these Kung fu moves by thousands of Henan province Kung Fu students, during the Chinese national broadcast celebrating the 2019 Chinese/Lunar New Year. Click on this link for the more authentic practice in Henan. One note*-the music is an add on for the video. In reality, there is no sound but nature and the Shifu's commands or comments: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ_xD_sFLJY For those of you who are passionate about learning-whether it is in the fields of design, history, sports, nutrition, gardening, languages, music, cultures or martial arts-I encourage you to determine how you think you learn best and then try another way. I pass this strategy on to you all because it is working for me even at an "advanced age" for learning martial arts full time. Shifu pushes me, encourages me "not to listen" to those who do not support me or societal narratives that repeat "you are too old to do this, et al". My previous injuries are finally healing after being told that some were not possible to "restore".
My mental barriers to my own progress are being dismantled. We must perform physical training on both right and left sides and most exercises are also done going forward and backward, very slow then very fast. This expands the neuron connections as well as works the muscles, tendons, joints and bones. The meditation and chi gathering exercises lift my mind and spirit as well as lighten the burden I carry of a cobalt chromium right arm glenoid process and humerus bone, and the constant companion of profound grief. Until next week From Yun Tai Mountain in Henan, Jo   Since you are reading this online-you have not yet been locked out of the grid. How much of your day involves clicking online for one site and/or another? Do you know how much time you spend online? Have you ever added up the hours you spend on screens with some form of electronic device? The average adult US citizen is estimated to spend over 11 hours a day online-the most comprehensive study to date was done in 2015, by the Nielsen company. "The media-stats company found that the average American adult over the age of 18 spends more than 11 hours per day on electronic gadgets." ww.geekwire.com/2015/nielsen-reports-that-the-average-american-adult-spends-11-hours-per-day-on-gadgets/ The statistics for teens in the USA is even more concerning: "Fully 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and 45% say they are online 'almost constantly', according to the latest Pew Research Center poll, increasing concerns, about what many call the most crucial question of our age... "Have smartphones destroyed a generation?" www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-07/zombification-america-accelerates-45-teens-are-online-almost-constantly My New Year's resolution (both western and Chinese New Year) is to spend less time on screens. I almost wasn't able to post this week due to a crackdown on VPNs combined with the electricity going off in the area probably because of extra usage in the snowy weather, celebrations and faulty wiring. I'm using this platform to issue a warning about always having Plan B and C for emergency light, water, communications and hygiene. There are a number of excellent resources for preparing and I will list a few in the references below. Meanwhile, here in China the "citizen social scoring/social credit" system created by Google corporation is fully operational, no matter what you may read. (see my blog post of October 2, 2018 for details: www.jopatti.com/blog/echelons ) Even international students in provincial universities are scored. During this winter/Chinese New Year break we have more international students trying Kung Fu and Sandpa boxing for a month. Many of them are already studying at universities in China, yet hail from other countries such as Panama, Pakistan, Denmark, the USA, Israel, Holland, France and many from Germany since the martial arts website was translated into German and English. One of the trainees from Panama and one from Austria explained they already have a "score" after only being in China for less than a year. Their score was "moderate". Their behavior is measured against what Chinese government workers consider "social norms". Can you imagine what happens if a different political party gains control and changes the parameters of "social norms"?! Now, these trainees told me, they are more careful about what they purchase by credit card, what they text, what they search online and where they go to shop but in large cities most stores have the biometric recognition installed so it is only in rural towns you are not under surveillance constantly. The areas not under surveillance are dwindling. Please watch this short video which reports on these programs and the implications for other societies in the very near future. It also explains the operations for the Data Industrial Complex (DIC) for the non-tech professionals, which should cause you to pause before buying the "latest" tech or "smart" (spy) devices-including in clothing ('smart wear'), books, shoes, appliances: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP-yweVg2q4 We have a glance at what some would want for the entire planet and every human being. Be aware, this creates self censorship as well as self masking very quickly in a population. For those of you who remember the band, "The Police" their song "I'll be watching you..every breath you take, every move you make..." comes to mind. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs Privacy is still not designated as a human right. Some establishments are advertising they do not have wifi or surveillance cameras as a draw to the more discerning customers. Just as companies and governments have monetized most every aspect of essential living from paying for water to paying a tax if you collect rain, the drive for making money off locations which are private and "off the grid" will increase. You can already imagine the market for clubs, recreation sites and business meetings which have premium offers of "no connection". Privacy may become an experience for only the elite, wealthy and criminal networks if we don't fight against this invasion and work for legislation recognizing privacy as a "right" to be protected. Ironically enforcing this right may in fact necessitate the use of "surveillance" and we have all become reliant on tools reliant on electricity. Up in the mountains of Henan province the electricity goes off periodically and often at the most challenging times in terms of weather. It has been snowing but the time tested means of clearing snow is still hand held, hand made brooms which work remarkably well. They are light to hold and require physical movement which does warm you up performing this task. When the electricity is off, so are the surveillance cameras and the internet. They have gas for cooking, no need for refrigeration in the winter and their own water storage in tanks and food storage in underground cellars for emergencies. There are no elevators, lots of bicycles and scooters for transport, and solar panels. This is the way they have been living for centuries, only adding on modern conveniences carefully and not relying on them.  Hand broom for clearing snow in Yun tai ,February 2019-photo by Jo Patti Hoping I will be able to post each Tuesday while I am still here in Henan. Please check on Tuesdays to see if my post is online. If not, thank you for your support and I shall have to find a work around while in China or wait until I depart. Your comments are always appreciated and please excuse any delay in responding.
Until next week-keep a low profile while you can, Jo REFERENCES: modernsurvivalblog.com/communications/10-survival-preparedness-reference-books/ www.homesteadandprepper.com/preppers/ offgridsurvival.com/survivalwebsites/ |
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