Nothing to hide/Nothing to fear

When it comes to the issue of domestic spying, the standard line is "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Most people may think that they live such inconsequential lives, why should they fear the government spying on them? It's not like we're doing anything to warrant suspicion.

And while this may be true, the underlying layer of "nothing to hide/nothing to fear" is that you will be held responsible for not only your own actions, but the actions of anyone and everyone else you communicate with. If you have a friend or acquaintance that is secretly a member of an organization that the government fears, and you communicate with that person regularly, then the government will also suspect you as being a threat by association.

Thanks to movies and pop culture, people don't realize that "people of interest" to a government spy agency also have kids and hobbies that have nothing to do with their political activities. Until that guy who planted that bomb took that action, he probably chatted happily with you at the arena as you both watched your kids playing hockey. Maybe you both planned on organizing a local street hockey tournament, which meant that you spoke and texted often.

If the government only looks at the meta-data of your exchange, even though you knew nothing of this guy's secret plans, you will look guilty as hell by association. Trying to prove your innocence to a suspicious government will turn your life upside down and hopefully you will land on your feet. Hopefully.

"Nothing to hide/nothing to fear" only makes you responsible for everyone else's actions. Are we really willing to buy this government line at our own expense?

Star Wars Day: Part 2

Again, not Pagan or Philosophical. Just more nerdery. It's my birthday... indulge me.

Lines That Sound Dirty In "Star Wars"

* "Get in there you big furry oaf, I don't care what you smell!"
* "Luke, at that speed do you think you'll be able to pull out in time?"
* "Put that thing away before you get us all killed."
* "You've got something jammed in here real good."
* "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"
* "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought."
* "Sorry about the mess..."
* "Look at the size of that thing!"
* "Curse my metal body, I wasn"t fast enough!"
* "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."
* "I thought that hairy beast would be the end of me."
* "Size matters not. Judge me by my size, do you?"
* "There's an awful lot of moisture in here."
* "That"s okay, I'd like to keep it on manual control for a while."
* "Hurry up, golden-rod..."
* "I must've hit it pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh kid?"
* "It's possible he came in through the south entrance."
* "And I thought they smelled bad on the outside!"
* "Control, control! You must learn control!"
* "Hey, point that thing someplace else."
* "I look forward to completing your training. In time you will call me master."
* "I never knew I had it in me."
* "There is good in him, I've felt it."
* "Hey, Luke, thanks for coming after me -- now I owe you one."
* "Back door, huh? Good idea!"
* "She's gonna blow!"
* "I think you"ll fit in nicely."
* "Rise, my friend."
* "I'm sure he wasn't on that thing when it blew..."
* "Wedge! Pull out! You"re not doing any good back there!"
* "Again you come before us, your highness."
* "At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi."
* "My Lord, is that, legal?" "I will make it legal."
* "Ani? My goodness, you've grown."
* "My Jedi protector will have to prove how good he is."
* "We don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor."
* "You remember what you told me... about your mother and the sand people?"
* "General Grievous, you're shorter than I expected."
* "Good relations with the Wookiees, I have."
* "I have waited a looooooong time for this moment, my little green friend..."
* "Lord Vader...rise."

Star Wars Day: Part 1

Not really Pagan or Philosophical, but I wanted to post this here for International Star Wars Day (and my birthday):

Lines from Star Wars that are improved by substituting the word "pants"

1. The last time I felt this was in the presence of my old master.
2. You are unwise to lower your pants.
3. We've got to be able to get some reading on those pants, up or down.
4. She must have hidden the plans in her pants. Send a detachment down to retrieve them. See to it personally Commander.
5. These pants may not look like much, kid, but they've got it where it counts.
6. I find your lack of pants disturbing.
7. These pants contain the ultimate power in the Universe. I suggest we use it.
8. Han will have those pants down. We've got to give him more time!
9. General Veers, prepare your pants for a surface assault.
10. I used to bulls-eye womp-rats in my pants back home.
11. TK-421. . . Why aren't you in your pants?
12. Lock the door. And hope they don't have pants.
13. Governor Tarkin. I recognized your foul pants when I was brought on board.
14. You look strong enough to pull the pants off of a Gundark.
15. Luke. . . Help me take...these pants off.
16. Great, Chewie, great. Always thinking with your pants.
17. That blast came from those pants. That thing's operational!
18. Don't worry. Chewie and I have gotten into a lot of pants more heavily guarded than this.
19. Maybe you'd like it back in your pants, your highness.
20. Your pants betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially one. Your sister!
21. Jabba doesn't have time for smugglers who drop their pants at the first sign of an Imperial Cruiser.
22. Yeah, well short pants is better than no pants at all, Chewie.
23. Attention. This is Lando Calrissean. The Empire has taken control of my pants, I advise everyone to leave before more troops arrive.
24. I cannot teach him. The boy has no pants.
25. You came in those pants? You're braver than I thought
26. We have no choice, our pants can't repel firepower of that magnitude.
27. Great pants kid! Don't get cocky!
28. I happen to like nice pants.
29. A tremor in the Pants. The last time I felt it was in the presence of my old master.
30. Don't try to frighten us with your scorcerer's pants, Lord Vader.
31. Emperor: You have paid the price for your lack of pants!
32. "You know of the rebellion?" "That's how we came to be in your pants sir"
33. Yeah, I just got a funny feeling. Like I'm never gonna see my pants again.
34. I have altered the pants, pray that I don't alter them further.
35. Yahoo! You're all clear kid. Now let's blow these pants and go home!
36. The pants are down! Commence attack on the Death Star's main reactor.
37. Put Captain Solo in the cargo pants.
38. Fear will keep the other systems in line--fear of these pants.
39. Phew! And I thought pants smelled bad... on ... the outside...!
40. Tell them if they don't do as you ask you will becom angry and use your pants.
41. But I was gonna' go down to Toshi Station to pick up some power pants!
42. Sir, my first job was programming binary pants lifters.
43. This little one's not worth the effort. Come, let me get you some pants.
44. I am a Toydarian! Pants do not work on me!

Simple ideas, spiritual discoveries

I know this presentation is about science, but I also found it to be pertinent to exploring spirituality and how we express and relate to the Truths we find in it.

The following points I found to be spiritually relevant. Also, Adam Savage rocks.

• The simplest questions can lead you to the edge of human knowledge.
• We discover things with our eyes, our ears, and our minds. We learn via real-world experience.
• When you are struggling with a concept, read up on its mythology and you'll discover the hidden truths about it from a variety of cultures. This is because we are all bags of meat and water, living in different parts of the world, and in very different circumstances. And yet, we struggle with the same ideas, but we reveal different layers of the same Truth.

Self-Declaration

Some people ask me why I would dare call myself the Pagan Pope, or even that the very idea of a Pagan Pope is ludicrous at best and offensive at worst. Anyone claiming to be Pagan Pope would only do so as a blatant attempt at power. Pagans would never submit themselves to such a hierarchy, so what can a Pagan Pope ever hope to achieve if he can never claim any power over the community?

To this idea, I ask this question: if I, as the Pagan Pope, write an article or make a statement, will you agree/disagree with it because of my self-imposed title, or will you agree/disagree based on your own information, reasoning, and feelings on the matter.

I believe the answer to be the latter and that is why I lay claim to the title. I don't want to be right or wrong, but I'm hoping to make a meaningful contribution to the discussion.

And I've always wanted to be Pope. I can't lie: it's a factor. The hat rawks.

Valuing Heroism

I've been pondering a recent news piece in the States about a couple of football players who are being charged with kidnapping and sexual assault of a drunk and passed-out girl. They allegedly found her unconscious from too much alcohol, picked her up, and dragged her to various parties unconscious while sexually assaulting her. Personally, I hope that they rot in prison for their crimes.

Many people have expressed disgust with the people who witnessed this event and did nothing to prevent it. "If I had been there, I would've stopped those horrible people," is a paraphrasing of a popular statement. I question the sincerity of that declaration because Heroism is not valued in our society.

How is that possible, you say? After all, our media and culture celebrate the Hero. Every movie, TV show, and piece of music sing the praises of the Hero who swoops in and saves the day from the Evil Doers and their Henchmen. Everybody *loves* the Hero and wants to be the Hero. The problem is that being the Hero is only fun after the challenge is over and the success is ensured. While the challenge is happening, being the Hero sucks.

When an event takes place where you could step in and prevent it, stop it, or take a stand against it, most of us will freeze, not knowing what to do. It might also be that you just don't understand what is happening and you are unsure what action to take, and by the time you figure it out, the moment is passed and there's nothing you can do. There is also an unwritten rule, especially in urban areas, to not get involved. It's not your business, you don't want that kind of trouble, and you might get hurt, so just move on and let someone else take the risk.



Also, being the Hero is lonely. Unless you can get some support, it's usually the Hero against the world. The Hero needs to be confident that his position is the right one and that he is willing to put himself at risk (both personally and socially) to secure that position.

Remember the hockey riots that took place in Vancouver in 2011? People went on a mad, violent spree in downtown Vancouver. There were instances where Heroes tried to stand up against it and were met with violent resistance, sometimes resulting in hospital care. Watch what happens when these guys try to take stand against the destruction:





It's scary being the Hero. It puts you in harm's way and occasionally, you will get hurt or even killed. Most people don't want that kind of trouble, they stand idly by and hope someone else will do the right thing.

When I think about that incident in Texas, what would have happened if someone had taken a hard stance to defend the unconscious girl? I can see at least a violent confrontation between the Hero and the other football players and their supporters. And if the Hero decided to call for police intervention, I can see that there would be social backlash against the Hero, both privately and publicly.

I have a friend in Northern Ontario (let's call her Bora) who is being actively shunned by her community for being the Hero. She was at a party where a friend, who drives truck in the military, was intoxicated when he tried to get behind the wheel of his car. Bora tried to stop him, but he drove off anyway. He crashed his car into a tree, but miraculously, walked away from the wreck with only minor cuts and bruises. He returned to the party, but when he tried to leave again, Bora again tried to stop him. He shook her off and borrowed a friend's car and subsequently wrapped it around another tree. Bora then called the police and the ambulance to deal with the person, despite her friends insistence that she shouldn't. Now Bora is being shunned socially because her community sees her heroic act as irresponsible because the public record of his DUI put the guy's job in danger (I forget if he did lose his truck-driving job or not).

Bora did the right thing, but her Heroic action was not valued by her immediate community. Would she do it again? Knowing her, absolutely, and Gods love her for it. Does she regret her Heroic action? Knowing her, probably not. Did any of this make it easier to do the right thing? Definitely not, but we're all safer knowing that Heroes like her are out there and they should inspire us to be Heroes when we get the call.

The Good News

It's within all of us to be these Heroes, but we need to practice Heroism. You don't need to jump into a hail of bullets to be a Hero, but walking away in fear not only weakens you, but it also weakens others. It doesn't need to be dramatic Heroism all the time: it starts with small actions, inconsequential gestures that can have huge impacts, not only on the people you help, but on yourself as well. You can take your stand, make your mark, and know that you did your part to make the world a better place.

The good news is that feels great to be kind, to be generous, and to know that your small gesture helped someone else. It can even be as small and personal as taking the time to notice and share beauty. In social media, it's trendy to share pictures. video, and commentary that exploit the worst of humanity. Your Heroism can express itself in simply not indulging in that kind of negative pornography, but rather sharing moments of positive and beauteous inspiration.

Your small acts of Heroism can also be contagious and inspire others to act on their Heroism. With enough practice, when the big moment comes for you to be a bigger Hero, it won't seem so impossible, so daunting.

Go on: give a little Love and get a little Love in return.

Changing the World in 2013

It's a silly little illustration, but it demonstrates perfectly how beautiful stories can change the world for the better.

By the way, happy holidays to you and yours, however you choose to celebrate this time of year. The Pagan Pope blesses you.