Mushroom

I know there’s not been a lot posted — I have a few topics rolling around in my head, but nothing that really merits a full-fledged blog post. So, it sounds like a good day to cut up some stems and pieces…

Celtic Research — so, I keep getting poked in the chest on doing more in-depth research on Lugh and on Taliesin. And it boils back to that little concept of synchronicity.  Every time I turn around, there’s something there that reminds me that this is the next Path I have been set in front of. About the deepest understanding of Celtic mythology I have is through the wonderful podcast The Celtic Myth Podshow. Gary and Ruthie have been doing the show for a long time, and I treasure every episode I have from them. Sadly, its the closest I have come to the Celtic myths – aside from Morgan Llywelyn‘s fiction books. So I am being prompted to dig even deeper. A good thing I live in a college town – access to research platforms is very good here.

POW Swap — there’s been a little talk of the POW swap that happened a short while back. I have been slightly interested in the entire debacle, but merely from a spectator’s point of view. I have heard and read many positions that Sgt. Bergdahl is a deserter and a traitor and should be hanged after a trail here in the US courts system. Only one small problem with that – the US courts system does not and will not apply here. Sgt. Bergdahl is a member of the United States military, and will be dealt with under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (USMJ). Apparently, the American public is slightly ignorant of the fact that US service members actually waive their Constitutional rights when they join, and agree to be held responsible to the UCMJ. What this implies is that if there is a question of whether the military member would be tried under penalties in relation to the Constitution or the UCMJ – the UCMJ will trump the Constitution every single time. US service members swear to uphold and defend the Constitution against all aggressors – but they also agree to be held to the laws and penalties of the UCMJ instead of that very Constitution. Once Sgt. Bergdahl is deemed to be capable of re-integration into the military, he will be investigated by the military and if any wrong-doing is determined, will be prosecuted under the UCMJ. When I read and hear people making comments about hanging or shooting Bergdahl for desertion, I can only smile and shake my head. Debate is not anything to engage in with these folks…

Debate v. Discussion — which brings me to an interesting area of thought. Yesterday, John Beckett put up a blog post on “A Reasoned Defense of Paganism“. Now, John’s post is actually some good reading and makes some really relevant points. But I noted that a lot of the material was based off of the idea of debating and defending one’s perspective. Now, I know there are a lot of people who thrive on the back-and-forth adversarial style of debates. I am not one of those people though. My preference is for quite, calm discussion. Honestly, I learn a lot more when I talk with someone about their beliefs. Nothing turns me off more than to hear someone say something like,,,”You’re wrong. The fact that Jesus died on the cross is proof that my beliefs are right and yours are wrong.” For me, that’s adversarial debating – point, counter-point – or if you prefer Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate. A secondary bone of contention that I have is that in a debate – there are “winners” and “losers” – and I see no benefit in that. I want to have a discussion, where I can learn new information or see new perspectives. A debate, in my mind, is an attempt to convince someone – an audience member, your opponent, yourself – that your point is correct or false. For me, that’s stuff best left to a court-room, where you are trying to convince a jury of your peers or a panel of judges of your innocence and/or your opponent’s guilt. But that’s really a small issue that I have with John’s blog post — what he presents is some very good reasoning of his perspective. And the post is well worth your read – please click on the link above and give it a read.

Futbol World Cup — I have not seen much of the World Cup so far. I did not watch the opening ceremonies, and none of the first day matches interested me. I am watching, however. Just certain teams. My beloved Mannschaft (the German National team) is a must watch for me. I am also watching England, Mexico, Italy and Brazil. I would watch the US team, but Jurgen Klinsmann seemed to be more interested in growing younger talent, rather than bringing some of the more seasoned players to the Cup. I am not sure I really want to watch that potential train wreck.  Over the many years, I have repeated this statement often:  Futbol is not a game.  Its a world-wide religion. I’m not a fervent adherent to the belief, but I am a member of the religion. I am just not about to head outside and overturn cars and light trash cans on fire when my team wins or unexpectedly loses. I might throw a plastic water bottle out the door and into the backyard. But rest assured, I will immediately go out right behind it and retrieve it for the recycling bin.

Well, that should be enough stuff for the stew.  Time to put the lid on the slow cooker and let it get to cooking.  –Tommy /|\