I don’t know about you, but sometimes when someone is poking you with a stick, you just need to grab hold of it and beat them back with it a few times, just for good measure.

So, ok. We ate the damn fruit. Where’s that forgiveness? And why do we need to be forgiven, anyway? Was it your apple? Or are you just pissed off because we didn’t do what we were told? I just don’t see how that is freedom.

Personally, I think we could do a lot of really nice, great and cool things with the knowledge and abilities that we have. Yet here we have some lady coming onto the ruler stage who would rather burn down the apple tree than let us eat an apple. Apparently, that archangel must know better than God. Or maybe she’s so beautiful that God only talks to her, telling her what we need to do. Now that’s some vanity. An angel who thought themselves so wonderful and beautiful. Falling from grace, through vanity. Sounds familiar.

What is it that causes so many leaders, based in religion, to relentlessly drive doom and gloom into people? And then, preach about positivity… I suppose it isn’t a coincidence that similar techniques are used in interrogation and domination. And possibly why bondage is all about “trust”. Perhaps we’re really not as complicated as we might imagine, when it comes to influence and control.

Maybe it is difficult choosing between the person that will dominate you, straight to your face — and the person who would provide you with an illusion of self-determination. Sadly, that’s what is left to us in our political system and our business world. Mutuality has given way to agendas. And systemically, this is held in place with iron.

This recent strike by the Aerospace and Machinists Union against Boeing has an almost surreal quality. There is a hint of old-world nostalgia, like imagining one of those frame-clicking black and white movies with no sound. People’s unions against unfair labor practices. What a joke, right? They’re actually hurting those corporations. And that hurts us. What’s to keep Boeing from moving their assembly to China where they can save a bunch of money, just like Cheney’s Halliburton, moving to the Middle-East? The threat of the US Government refusing to buy from them? Or other US companies? If our government doesn’t buy from Boeing, there are plenty of other governments who will. And US companies will buy from whoever has the best price — and Boeing’s prices would be better off with a labor force from China.

But, like all “free” markets, the rain will trickle down to us eventually. Clear from China. I honestly don’t know what is keeping Boeing here. A sense of loyalty to Americans who only want to see how much money they can take from Boeing? Or maybe Boeing doesn’t believe we would buy from foreign companies, like Air Bus. Yes, more change is afoot.

Strangely, we have a few neighbors who are Republicans, and union members, and are currently on strike. They are very upset with Boeing for not meeting more of their demands. I suppose this isn’t much stranger than gay Republicans, though such comparisons would likely cause some fascinating in-fighting. Unfortunately, these labor issues, and nearly all issues related to corporations and the economy, are no longer differentiated in any substantial way by any party lines.

That’s why I am now advocating anarchy. Go on, everyone just run around doing whatever, whenever. Everyone is equal. Well, except for those assholes who get big sticks and make everyone else do what they say, setting themselves up as rulers. Hmm. Back to feudalism. A little like the anarchy of free markets, I’d imagine. Or do you have religion? It is a conundrum…

It was more than a little bizarre reading today about a girl who killed herself because scientists were switching on the Large Hadron Collider. She had been told that the LHC would destroy the earth when it was switched on. Actually, lots of people are believing this. I suppose she was upset that she would be killed. So she killed herself. I know! There are lots of people who don’t really think things through. But, at least her death was squarely within her control. It was a free choice. Sort of.

We know that the government, and more accurately, the people with power, are only concerned about maintaining and furthering their “elevation”. They accomplish this by providing for the needs of corporations because corporations can continue to elevate them even after they leave government. They help us only to the extent that they must, to gain and maintain their positions. Yes, there are a very few exceptions, but those exceptions are powerless. And it is a rare person of character indeed who can pass through those forces ethically and morally in tact, to achieve such powerlessness.

I believe that any true change will not appear at the top. True change will be local and it will be individual. Contrary to our given paradigm, change must result from a trickle up effect. Our smallest decisions can have far-reaching consequences, even though we are conditioned to believe otherwise. For us, individually, to take a stand, even on issues that may appear insignificant — for us to hold true to what we know is the right and good thing to do, despite any potential consequences — is a monumental force. Others will see it, in real life. It is tangibly felt, and effective. We must ourselves actively do what we expect from others.

How else can we expect our leaders to stand up for what is right, despite any consequences to themselves and their families? But we do expect them to, because we know that change must come. But how can we expect this of others, if we are not willing to stand for change ourselves? Do they truly have such awesome and far-reaching power, to make change happen all around, for us, like some convenient service? I do not think so. But we do have that far-reaching power. Each of us.

We are the ones who must stand firm in our convictions: convictions that are beyond any incidental cultural or belief system, but are instead fundamental to humanity. Truth, perhaps being the most important. Fairness. Mutual respect. It is astonishing how willing we are to compromise these. And as such, it is not so surprising that we are in the situation we are. With each decision we make, we create the world we inhabit. Even when it’s a secret. Especially when it’s a secret.

Now there’s a yummy apple. It’s an ancient apple, too. But we’ve eaten it. And so has everyone else. They know as well as you. There are no excuses. Now, watch for the prodding angels. You’ll see them all over any more. You can beat them up. Or, if you prefer, give ‘em a big smooch. They could use it. We all could.