Core Principles

• Impermanence (Mujo): Recognizing that all things are temporary, change is constant, and aging is natural.
• Asymmetry and Flaws: Valuing irregular shapes, rough textures, and unpretentious natural forms over factory-made perfection.
• Appreciation of Time: Honoring the marks, cracks, or patina left by use and history rather than hiding them.

My Thoughts

• Nothing is ever finished or complete (ever changing)
• Nothing is ever perfect. That is humbling and what makes us and everything around us unique and worth appreciating.
• Nothing last forever. Enjoy and cherish every moment!

The Living Force: This is the energy generated by the “here and now” of biological life. Every plant, animal, and sentient being produces this energy through the act of living. It represents localized empathy, raw life-force, and instincts. Jedi who focus heavily on the Living Force (like Qui-Gon Jinn) prioritize the immediate present, trusting their instincts and focusing on saving the lives directly in front of them.

The Cosmic Force: This is the “big picture” macro-verse. It is the vast, overarching wellspring that binds the entire galaxy, space, and time together. It possesses a grand, unified consciousness—the literal “will of the Force” that orchestrates destiny and guides galactic events. Jedi who focus on the Cosmic Force are more prone to experiencing visions of the future and dealing with grand prophecies.

The eternal cycle

The relationship between the two forms a literal spiritual ecosystem:

1. Generation: Living organisms live out their lives, actively generating the Living Force.
2. Transition: When an organism dies, its individual life energy doesn’t disappear; it passes away and feeds into the grand wellspring of the Cosmic Force.
3. Communication: The Cosmic Force then speaks back to the physical world. It communicates its macro-intentions to living beings influencing the Living Force to correct imbalances.
4. Rebirth: New life is continually sparked from the energy of the Cosmic Force, restarting the cycle.

Understanding the distinction is also exactly how Qui-Gon Jinn discovered the secret to becoming a Force ghost. By anchoring his consciousness securely within the connection between the Living and Cosmic fields, he learned how to retain his physical identity even after his individual life-force had dissolved back into the cosmic whole.

Jedi factions argued over which aspect to prioritize because their choice directly dictated a Jedi’s moral duties, political alignment, and daily actions. Choosing one over the other completely alters how a Force-user interacts with the galaxy.

The ideological divide

The debate split the Jedi Order into two distinct philosophical camps, creating major internal tension:

• Living Force advocates (The Mavericks): Jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn argued that prioritizing the present moment was the only way to do true good. They believed that by focusing too much on grand cosmic destinies, a Jedi becomes detached from reality, missing the suffering and needs of individuals right in front of them. To them, the future is always in motion, so fixing the immediate present is what matters most.

• Cosmic Force advocates (The Traditionalists): The Jedi High Council and Grand Master Yoda (prior to the Clone Wars) leaned heavily toward the big picture. They argued that without focusing on the Cosmic Force, a Jedi is blind to overarching galactic imbalances, dark side conspiracies, and long-term consequences. They believed that micro-actions in the present are meaningless if they inadvertently lead to a macro-disaster in the future.  ( “It doesn’t matter if an action seems good right now if it ends up causing a much bigger problem later.”)

The tragic consequence

This philosophical argument had catastrophic real-world results for the Jedi Order:

• The Council’s blindness: Because the Jedi Council was hyper-focused on the Cosmic Force—watching for grand prophecies and massive shifts in galactic politics—they became politically rigid and emotionally detached.

• Palpatine’s exploitation: Darth Sidious easily exploited this detachment. The Council was so busy trying to decipher the grand future that they failed to notice the immediate, living suffering of citizens, cloning conspiracies, and the emotional collapse of Anakin Skywalker happening right under their noses.

Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world, a Savior who would offer the promise of salvation to all mankind. Just as the three wise men did on that night, this Christmas heralds a time to celebrate the good news of a new King.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus – Republican press release celebrating Trump’s Presidential win

On Wednesday, 21 August 2019, President Donald Trump turned, looked to heavens and proclaimed, “I am the chosen one.”

Are Republicans asking people to worship them?

– Rev Benjamin Cremer

The classic Just-War Theory has its origins in Christian theology. Saint Augustine is usually identified as the first individual to offer a theory on war and justice. Augustine referred to the Bible and regarded some wars as necessary to amend an evil. Saint Thomas Aquinas revised Augustine’s version, creating three criteria for a just war: the war needed to be waged by a legitimate authority, have a just cause, and have the right intentions. The moral justifications for a war are expressed in jus ad bellum; whereas, the moral conduct of the war is expressed in jus in bello. The Just-War Theory is a set of rules for military combat.

Principles of Just-War Theory

1. Last Resort
   • A just war can only be waged after all peaceful options are considered. The use of force can only be used as a last resort.
2. Legitimate Authority – Jus ad bellum
   • A just war is waged by a legitimate authority. A war cannot be waged by individuals or groups that do not constitute the legitimate government.
3. Just Cause
   • A just war needs to be in response to a wrong suffered. Self-defense against an attack always constitutes a just war; however, the war needs to be fought with the objective to correct the inflicted wound.
4. Probability of Success
   • In order for a war to be just, there must be a rational possibility of success. A nation cannot enter into a war with a hopeless cause.
5. Right Intention
   • The primary objective of a just war is to re-establish peace. In particular, the peace after the war should exceed the peace that would have succeeded without the use of force. The aim of the use of force must be justice.
6. Proportionality
   • The violence in a just war must be proportional to the casualties suffered. The nations involved in the war must avoid disproportionate military action and only use the amount of force absolutely necessary.
7. Civilian Casualties – Jus in bello
   • The use of force must distinguish between the militia and civilians. Innocent citizens must never be the target of war; soldiers should always avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are only justified when they are unavoidable victims of a military attack on a strategic target.

St. Augustine’s just war theory outlines conditions under which war might be considered morally permissible. He believed that war should be a last resort, undertaken to achieve peace and to punish evil, rather than for the sake of war itself. He emphasized that the desire for peace should be the primary motivation, and war should be waged only when necessary to restore order or prevent greater harm.

Here’s a more detailed look at St. Augustine’s key ideas:

• Purpose of War:
  • Augustine saw war as a means to an end, specifically the establishment of peace and the punishment of evil. He believed that war could be just if it was waged to punish sinners or to return the world to a state of peace.
• Just Cause:
  • A just cause for war, according to Augustine, could be self-defense, defending the innocent, or punishing those who have broken the law.
• Legitimate Authority:
  • War must be declared by a legitimate authority, such as a state or leader, not by individuals or factions.
• Right Intention:
  • The intention behind the war must be to seek peace and justice, not to gain power or territory.
• Last Resort:
  • War should be a last resort, only undertaken after all other peaceful means of resolving the conflict have been exhausted.
• Proportionality:
  • The use of force must be proportionate to the harm being inflicted, and the potential consequences of the war must be weighed against the benefits of peace.
• Reasonable Chance of Success:
  • There must be a reasonable chance of achieving the objectives of the war and bringing about peace.
• Divine Will:
  • Augustine believed that war could be seen as just when it aligns with the divine will, even if it is not explicitly stated in the Bible.

St. Augustine’s just war theory has had a significant influence on the development of just war theory in Western thought, providing a framework for evaluating the ethical implications of war. His emphasis on peace as the ultimate goal and the need for just cause, legitimate authority, and right intention remains relevant in contemporary discussions about war and peace.

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

Core principles

Modern liberalism supports a blend of classical liberal ideas with a broader social and economic role for government. Key tenets include: 

• Individual rights and freedoms: Emphasis on human rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
• Consent of the governed: Governments derive their power from the people through democratic processes.
• Rule of law: The idea that all individuals, including government officials, are subject to the law.
• Equality of opportunity: While all liberals believe in equality before the law, modern liberals also support government intervention to address obstacles to equality, such as poverty, disease, and discrimination.
• Market economy with regulation: Liberals generally support a market-based economy but believe government regulation is necessary to correct market failures, prevent corporate monopolies, and protect the public interest. 

Evolution and variants

The meaning of liberalism has shifted, especially in the United States, leading to distinctions from earlier forms. 

• Classical liberalism: Emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries in response to monarchies and aristocracy. It advocates for a limited government and laissez-faire economic policies, often aligning with modern American libertarianism.
• Modern liberalism: In the United States, this variant took shape during the 20th century, particularly influenced by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies. It combines an emphasis on civil liberties with support for government intervention to promote social justice and a mixed economy. This form is typically what is meant by “liberalism” in the US today.
• Neoliberalism: A more recent variant that emphasizes free-market policies and globalization. It has been criticized for exacerbating inequality. 

Key issues in the 21st century

In the modern day, liberal ideology continues to shape debates on many topics. 

• Social issues: American modern liberals have been strong advocates for LGBT rights, reproductive rights, civil rights, and affirmative action.
• Economic issues: The ideology supports increasing taxes on the wealthy to address income inequality and backs a social safety net that includes expanded access to healthcare.
• Criminal justice: Modern liberals support reforms to address issues of police misconduct and disproportionate impacts on minority communities.
• Environmental policy: The ideology supports government action to address climate change and other environmental issues, as seen in support for measures like the Paris Agreement. 

Challenges to liberalism

Despite its historical influence, liberal ideology faces contemporary challenges: 

• Erosion of social trust: Populist and authoritarian movements are exploiting social media to stoke division and erode trust in liberal institutions and pluralism.
• Inequality and populism: Criticisms suggest that the emphasis on individual rights and capitalism can lead to significant economic inequality, fueling populist backlashes.
• Questioning of institutions: Some on both the political right and left argue that liberalism’s emphasis on rules and procedure can hinder decisive action.
• Inadequate response to modern problems: Challenges like technological change, globalization, and climate change have raised new questions that inherited liberal political institutions are struggling to address effectively.

“We have the ‘water drugs’ — I call them the water drugs — they’ve been pretty much stopped,” Trump declared during the interview. “In fact, I think water fishing, I think almost anything where you have to get into a boat right now in that area would not be doing too well.”

“Basically, what we’re doing is equalizing. There’s a new word that I came up with, which is probably the best word,”

Equalize – May 2025

“You know more people tell me about groceries… the word grocery, I’ve heard it more in the last… year than any other word I think. Other than the word garbage, garbage… “

“I haven’t used the word ‘groceries.’ It’s like an old fashioned word. But really it’s not. And people understand it.”

“We have a term ‘groceries,’” “It’s an old term but it means, basically, what you’re buying, food… it’s a pretty accurate term. but it’s an old fashioned sound”.

“A bag with different things in it.”

Groceries – May 2025

“They’re not sending the good people out. They’re sending the bad people out, and they put them into caravans. I think I came up with that name,” he said, before ultimately declaring, “That was my term, and fake news and lots of other terms we came up with.”

Caravans – Trumps first term

By Elizabeth Stauffer
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/3803244/progressivism-is-killing-americans/

Three savage acts of violence, unfolding in rapid succession, reveal just how profoundly progressive ideology has infected America. What began as far-Left dogma spread gradually at first, mostly through academia, then accelerated until it took root in the mainstream of the Democratic Party. Today, the consequences are impossible to ignore: progressivism is killing Americans.

In recent weeks, we’ve lurched from one act of depravity to the next. First, a mentally ill transgender man opened fire on children during a back-to-school Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, killing two and wounding 18.

As disturbing as the tragedy was, the surreal, and at times even grotesque, reactions from the Left were nearly as unsettling — responses that ranged from callous indifference to outright empathy for the killer, Robert “Robin” Westman, who identified as a female.

One far-Left activist made it clear that her sympathies lie not with the innocent victims, but with the perpetrator himself. In a video posted on social media, she said, “That poor girl who attended the school and went in there and shot up the school after transitioning and after attending that school, and we can only assume that that school, as a Catholic school, did not welcome her, did not make her feel seen, included, safe, during her confusing years, during her transitional years, during her becoming who she needed to become.

“But the goal was to become happy when you transition. And so this is going to feed a lot of conversation about mental illness around trans people and this is why people shouldn’t encourage people to transition. And it’s just so sad because it affects the LGBTQ+ community.”

Regrettably, there are many similar videos out there from progressives whose reactions to this diabolical act were to reaffirm their support for the brave souls who have the “courage” to transgender.

Possibly even more alarming were the messages from Democratic leaders and influencers such as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. At a press conference following the killings, Frey had the audacity to lecture reporters on the hatred being directed toward the trans community as a consequence of the violence.

He made a remarkable statement: “I have heard about a whole lot of hate that’s being directed at our trans community. Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community, or any other community out there, has lost their sense of common humanity.”

Next came the horrifying video of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska being brutally stabbed to death on the Charlotte Light Rail by a repeat offender with more than a dozen priors — someone who would have been behind bars were it not for liberal judges and a no-cash-bail system.

The murder occurred on August 22, but did not make headlines until footage from the train’s surveillance camera surfaced nearly two weeks later. It showed Decarlos Brown Jr. — a large black man with a lengthy rap sheet — pulling a knife from his pocket and, without provocation, savagely stabbing his unsuspecting victim multiple times before walking away, blood from his knife dripping onto the floor as he muttered, “I got that white girl.”

Unbelievably, the legacy media failed to report the story. When they were called out for their silence, they were forced to cover it.

Axios was among the first liberal outlets to acknowledge the story. But instead of confronting the horror, they twisted it into yet another “Republicans pounce” narrative. Their headline read: “Grisly Charlotte stabbing video fuels MAGA’s crime message.”

The article began: “MAGA influencers are drawing repeated attention to violent attacks to elevate the issue of urban crime — and accuse mainstream media of under-covering shocking cases.”

Before even acknowledging the tragic — and preventable — death of a 23-year-old woman, Axios trained its fire on those “opportunistic” Republicans. This framing might please its regular readers, but the author’s barely concealed contempt gives the game away to the rest of us.

Just as we were catching our collective breath after that atrocity, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. A towering figure in the conservative movement, his murder sent shockwaves through the Right and ignited outrage across the country.

Even as Kirk lay dying, the character assassins over at MSNBC could not set aside their reflexive contempt, smearing this man of deep faith as a purveyor of “hate speech.” [Derogatory comments from the Left in the aftermath of his death were truly shocking, but are beyond the scope of this article.]

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, Kirk’s assassination was a pivotal moment for America. It changed the dynamic between the Right and the Left and the country will never be the same.

But, rather than rioting in the streets, destroying public property, and looting stores as the Left would do, the simmering rage that lies beneath the surface of our collective grief will turn into a steely resolve to take back our country from those who have quietly engineered its destruction. 

We will grab the reins, ruthlessly rather than politely, and break the dangerous grip of progressive ideology that’s taken hold in our once great nation. We will restore America to its former glory.