No, I’ve actually been asked, “You’re going to vote today, aren’t you?”

My answer, “No, actually I choose not to vote.”

I’ve had the privilege of being engaged in several great conversations today and in the recent past regarding that statement.

Why do people feel like it’s “our civic duty” to vote…even when many people feel like they’re voting for “the lesser of 2 evils” most of the time?

How is that doing anything but perpetuate a system–or at the very least, a candidate–that they don’t really believe in?

If you vote, what prompts you to? If you don’t, care to share why?

…and if you’re looking for some non-election, tongue in cheek fun today, check out my review of the free online game OILigarchy at my other blog, The Fun Times Guide to Living Green–because democracy is way overrated.

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You’re dead.

Did I do something wrong?

I seriously doubt that there is a single person on the face of the planet who’s human ego would say that murder isn’t “wrong”.

That, of course, once again begs the question, “what does ‘wrong’ mean?”

The very idea that “right” and “wrong” intrinsically exist is called dualism, which I’ve written about before–so I won’t revisit it here.

The Problem:

I just killed you, remember? Your ego says that is bad, wrong, immoral, heinous, whatever (and so does mine, by the way). So what about if I go out and do the same to a cow?

Ohhhh, that’s “fine”, it’s for food…and a being not of my same species. What about when wolves attack and kill members of other packs?

“Hey, it’s the circle of life and all about survival of the fittest in nature”, you might say.

Ok, what if I kill a wolf?

Sarah Palin may say that’s fine (and offer me the bounty of $150 for a severed foreleg), but would you?

What if it were a domesticated dog?

All of the sudden it’s animal cruelty.

The Crux:

See how we make erroneous judgments?

Do you feel that it’s a possibility that there is no right and wrong? What if everything just plain IS. Nothing is inherently good or bad. Hard to imagine isn’t it?

What if everyone and everything are just different manifestations of what I’ve recently come to call “All”?

None are “bad” or “good” as those concepts do not exist in All.

What does that mean for the murderer, or the rapist, or the likes of Hitler?

Perfect representations of All.

Maybe they were mixed up in their human ego, but does that change who and what THEY are?

Ooo, that feels weird to consider doesn’t it? It does to me….to my ego.

Ironically, one must view themselves as separate–or, being completely disconnected from–another person or thing in order to pass a judgment on it/them.

The greatest lie of all man kind, in my current opinion, is the very concept of separation.

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Recently some friends and I have been discussing the possibilities of life…true life, real life.

Would you say that “real” or “true” life is different than the life you’re living now?

Do you see separation between the “physical” and the “spiritual” worlds/life?

Why do humans so persistently seek change?

Is it because of our “ego”–or that element of our physical nature that experiences, conceptualizes, and continually seeks “better” things–that we pursue change so relentlessly?

Why might it be impossible for change to be accomplished once it has become the goal in itself? Or do you think it can be?

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Check out the amazing 8×10 prints for sale by my photographer friend, Steven Bush.

He’s selling these beautiful prints for $35 each to help fund the last leg of his and his wife’s adoption process.

He only needs a little bit more to go and do to some unforeseeable circumstances, time is of the essence.

Check him out at stevenbush.org!

adoption, photography, steven bush

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“One long moment on August 31st, bloggers from all over the world will post recommendations of 5 new Blogs, preferably Blogs that are different from their own culture, point of view and attitude. On this day, blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering new, unknown Blogs, celebrating the discovery of new people and new bloggers.”

#1: Green Your Decor:
Many of you know that I write another blog called The Fun Times Guide to Living Green. As a result, I participate in lots of conversation on other “green” type blogs…and this one is one of my favorites.

Just like it sounds, it’s a GREAT guide to stylish, eco-friendly home decor. Check it out.

#2: Unreasonable Faith:
I really enjoy conversing with people who hold different views than my own. That said, this is a guy who went through the process of Bible college, pastoral training, and years of claiming to be an Evangelical Christian only to feel he had been wrong.

If you are open to different ideas and views than your own, it’s worth a look.

#3: Crema Coffee:
This is the blog/website of the hippest indy coffee house in Nashville, TN…not to mention with the best coffee! Recently, the owner told me, “I’m not sure a lot of people really ‘get’ what we do…”.

What she meant is that Americans are used to stale and/or burnt coffee. At Crema, they’re coffee snobs, without the snobbery. If you want the BEST tasting espresso drink or cup o joe you’ve ever had, you MUST stop by there sometime…whether you “get it” or not.

#4: Divine Nobodies:
This is the blog of a good friend of mine. He’s written a couple of half-way decent books (just kidding Jim). No, really, his books seriously ROCK!

If you feel like systems, institutions, doctrines, and works, works, works are leaving you wanting, Jim’s books and VERY open and active convo on his blog will be a breath of fresh air for you.

#5: The Fun Times Guide to Dogs:
Finally, The Fun Times Guide to Dogs is THE one stop shop for everyone who has beloved four-legged friends.

You’ll find everything here from product reviews, grooming tips, health care information, and anything else you’d ever want to know when it comes to dogs.

There ya have it, 5 blogs you maybe didn’t know existed. Check them out. When you post your own BlogDay2008 post, feel free to leave a link to it in the comments.

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Mmm, a quintessential question of human existence…yet one often muddled by foolishness of many varieties.

Time for some audience participation, b/c these questions are NOT rhetorical.

• Is Truth something that you come to know intellectually?
• If it is, can one person come to an understanding of Truth in its fullness?
• If not, why would a person seek it?
• What if Truth were something that we are all expressions of?
• What if it it wasn’t represented more fully in one person than another, but all energy, realms, and created things make up it’s totality?

The aphorism “Know thyself” has been attributed to a host of great Greek thinkers, from Heraclitus to Socrates.

If Truth were something that we are all an expression of, how could we come to view that saying?

Know Thyself…you are an expression of Truth.

Would that change anyone but me?

philosophy, spirituality, Truth, Jeffrey Davis

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“In modern society the opposite of courage is not cowardice;
it is conformity.”

Do you agree? What is conformity to you?

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Here’s a pic from a great time last night on a full moon lit greenway bike ride downtown for some dinner in East Nashville and pool shooting at Buffalo Billiards.

Fun stuff.

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I’m glad that I do.

Last night I was hanging with some friends at the Hermitage Starbucks (as we do every Wednesday evening) when the incident happened.

I can’t remember how it started exactly, but it came up that a misunderstanding of Take Your Should and Shove It had occurred.

We pushed each other (not physically–conversationally, logically, and psychologically), clarified points, explained motivations, and basically resorted to playing the “bullshit” card.

You might be thinking, “geez, some friends you have Jeffrey.” To which I would reply, “yes, they’re great indeed.”

You see, I (and the others involved) only push the ones we care the most about in those ways. I am only quick to judge, challenge, and call “bullshit” on someone I care about deeply.

What resulted from the pushing, the challenging, and colorful language were deeper relationships than before.

Which brings me to the question:

Why do so many of us feel the pressure to agree on everything with our “friends”, as if we’re afraid we can’t be friends if we don’t?

Why do we not press and sharpen those we care most about?

I, for one, am glad that I have friends whom I can press and who I know will press back on me…even to the point of calling “bullshit” on me.

[image credit]

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They are superb food for thought. You are NOT who you think you are. You ARE Love, Peace, Acceptance, Forgiveness, and Freedom…

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