Our Only Salvation

Many recent movies propose various end-times scenarios: solar flare, chaotic weather, mass infertility,.. But I propose the end will resemble none of these. Okay, perhaps something like the last example .. Mass impotence combined with failing ozone - I could see those easily pushing us over the edge of world insanity. So the precursors or stimuli for the 'end of the world' could be something like those mentioned and the actual end is our loss of world sanity.

Not that I personally think we're very sane to begin with - ignoring warning signs - as if we're living inside a convenient delusion or dream world. The repeated market crashes, the ozone hole, 'mysterious disappearances' such as the honey-bee,.. Unable to wake up. Unable to shake ourselves free from our own self-made nightmare.

I use such verbiage because they are appropriate for our times. We are confused. We are borderline delusional/insane. We have lost our focus. Perhaps we never had it to begin with.

Why my generation would be faced with 'the end of the world' is beyond me .. Is it a test of our faith? Is it a test of our facility with 'many things at once'? Our fathers and grandfathers created this mess but we must clean it up for our children .. The burden falls on us - my generation - the children of the 60s .. We watched the world change dramatically 'before our very eyes'. The rate of change has accelerated and we are expected to accommodate. During the Apollo years, Americans were so proud. We were putting men on the Moon. We seemed able to do anything.

But we have lost our ability to lead effectively, reasonably, and consistently - if we ever had that ability .. The world has lost faith in America as we have lost faith in our leaders .. And the world is losing grip on reality. Did we ever have it?

Because of our squandering of resources and power, we are in this chaos - and no amount of 'self correction' or 'fixing things' 'just before the end' will save us. So why do I bother talking now?

Because there's still a chance for you to listen .. There's still a chance to make things right. If we do one thing - we still have a chance at salvation. I will tell you that thing in a moment .. But first I must reveal the discussion with my father about 'my solution' to world problems. If you read my last essay, you would know I propose a Chinese-American union to solve our many problems. My father disagrees. He thinks/feels we must focus on America to solve our problems. I feel this way of thinking will only dig our grave deeper. I will tell you why now.

True salvation is not based on what you do for yourself; salvation is based on what you do for others. If we focus on me or we - on our way down the 'greased chute to hell' (or toilet - whichever you prefer), we truly have no hope - as we deserve no hope. But .. If we focus on others - if we try our best to save someone else - only in that way - do we save ourselves.

That is why I say to Americans: focus on saving China (not spiritually as we have done in the past - I'm not talking about missionary work - I'm talking about saving their economy, ecology, and culture). At the same time I say to China: save America. You see the reasoning for my solution now? It is not so insane or impossible as you might have imagined before.

What is insane is to ignore my solutions .. What is insane are our focuses 'before the fall'. We are so close to 'buying it'. We are so close to 'snuffing it' on a world scale. Don't you feel the urgency as I do? Am I the only 'indicator man'?

Years ago, during the '87 market crash, my personal life was in chaos. This seemed to reflect world situation and vice versa. I was on my way to California, the 'land of dreams'. But I was financially bankrupt - as this was to recur repeatedly at various times since then. Brief periods of chaos interspersed with marginal stability. This seems to characterize the last 50 years as well.

If this is the best we can do as a race, we have little hope for the future / our children.

There were only two times in my life when I felt I was close to buying it. The details are vague in my mind - perhaps a defense mechanism .. But I recall the resulting 'contract with God': make it meaningful; be responsible. These letters/essays are part of it. My commitment to Arthur and integrity - another.

Yes, occasionally I do feel on the verge of losing my sanity - but I feel this for our civilization as well .. Would it benefit humanity if I signed my rights away - to live in an asylum? I'm not dangerous - only my words carry any 'danger' for those in power now: give it up before it is taken from you. That is not a threat from a revolutionary; that is a warning from a visionary .. I see the world easily spiraling 'out of control' into chaos (as if it was ever really in control - that's laughable - that way of thinking). The illusion of those in power - is exactly and only that - an illusion.

Money, power, force, control - these are illusions - just as ego is the nightmare part of our dream. If we focus on feeding the nightmare (our egos), we will die an insane race - destroying ourselves. If, on the other hand, we focus on saving another - only in that act can we hope for any salvation.

Save another; save yourself.