Posted on 12/17/2011 2:07:50 PM PST by nuconvert
I have several recollections of Christopher Hitchens, who died yesterday at the age of 62.
The first is when I served in the George W. Bush White House and, in the first term, invited Christopher to speak to the White House staff. He spoke very well, of course, but what I most recall are a couple of things that occurred before the speech. The first is standing with him outside of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. He had gone out to smoke, which wasn’t unusual — and he confided to me that he was nervous, which was. The words “Christopher Hitchens” and “nervous” don’t usually belong in the same sentence. He also wore a tie, which he indicated to me he hadn’t done in years — and, he told me, he had gotten his shoes shined before the speech, which he didn’t recall ever having had done.
It wasn’t hard for me to fit the pieces together. Christopher felt it was an honor for him, a British citizen, to speak at the White House. For all his reputation for being a bon vivant, an iconoclast, and a man not known for his devotion to protocol, he was in fact quite moved to be a guest at one of the great symbols of American democracy. It was, I thought, something of a touching moment.
(Excerpt) Read more at commentarymagazine.com ...
I would say I totally understand your problem and take that beam out of your eye first than go for the sliver in the other guys eye...I don’t read minds just what you posted here on this thread and have no desire to research your other posts...have a great week end and Merry Christmas...
...did you even read my recent one to you????
You are a legend in your own mind.
Reason is a stage in Spiritual Growth too, at a measure of approximately 400-499 on a 1000 point scale. Check the Doctor Hawkins Scale of Consciousness:
According to Dr. Hawkins’ research, the scale of consciousness frequencies runs from 0-1000, with a turning point around 200, where we move from self-destructive to life-enhancing experiences. At the bottom of the scale is shame, progressing up through apathy, grief, and fear, to anger, pride, and finally, at level 200, to courage. Above this line, beginning with courage, it progresses up to neutrality, acceptance, reason, then further up to love, joy, peace, and finally reaching level 700 embarks on the various states of enlightenment. The journey up this scale is representative of our individual spiritual evolution.
According to Dr. Hawkins’ system the average human consciousness on the planet right now is just below 200, yet the collective human consciousness is above this line. This paradox is due to the fact that the people at a much higher level of consciousness along this scale helps to counterbalance the majority of others below 200.
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SHAME TO PRIDE SCALE:
Shame (20) – Just a step above death, this is the consciousness level of one contemplating suicide or thoughts of death. This level can be thought of as self-directed hatred.
Guilt (30) – This is a step above shame, yet perhaps still having thoughts of suicide. Thinking of oneself as a sinner, and unable to forgive oneself for past transgressions.
Apathy (50) – Feeling hopeless or victimized; the state of learned helplessness. Many homeless people are trapped here.
Grief (75) – A state of perpetual sadness, loss and depression. One might drop down here after losing a loved one.
Fear (100) – Seeing the world as dangerous and unsafe; paranoia. There is an urgent need to want to rise above this level, or else remain trapped for a long time, such as in an abusive relationship.
Desire (125) – Not to be confused with setting and achieving goals, this is the level of addictive desire, craving, and lust- for money, approval, power, and fame. Other examples include consumerism, materialism, excessive smoking, drinking, and drug abuse.
Anger (150) – The level of strong hate and frustration, often from not having one’s desires met at the lower level. This level can spur one to action at higher levels, or it can keep one stuck in hatred. In an abusive relationship, there’s often an angry person coupled with a fear person.
Pride (175) – The first level where one start to feel good, but it’s a false feeling. It’s dependent on external circumstances (money, prestige, etc), so it’s vulnerable. Yet pride can lead to nationalism, racism, and religious wars. This is often a state of irrational denial and defensiveness; religious fundamentalism is an example of this level. A person becomes so closely enmeshed in their beliefs that they see an attack on their beliefs as an attack on themselves.
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COURAGE TO REASON SCALE:
Courage (200) – The first level of true strength. This is where one starts to see life as challenging and exciting instead of overwhelming. This level promotes interest in personal growth, such as skill-building, career advancement, and further education. Here a person starts to see their future as an improvement upon their past, rather than a continuation of the same.
Neutrality (250) – This level is epitomized by the phrase, “live and let live.” It’s flexible, relaxed, and unattached. Whatever happens, there is no need to have anything to prove. One feels safe and easily relating with other people. This is a very comfortable place sometimes promoting a level of complacency and laziness. Here a person is taking care of their needs, but won’t push too hard.
Willingness (310) – At this level a persona is safe and comfortable, and can start using their energy more effectively. One begins to take action and thinks about time management, productivity, and getting organized, things that weren’t so important at the level of neutrality. This is the level where the development of willpower and self-discipline becomes important. This is the point where one consciousness becomes more organized and disciplined.
Acceptance (350) – This is the level where a powerful shift happens, and one awakens to the possibilities of living proactively. At the level of willingness one becomes competent, and now their abilities are multiplied to good use. This is the level of setting and achieving goals. This level drives many people to switch careers, start a new business, or change their lifestyle.
Reason (400) – At this level one transcends the emotional aspects of the lower levels and begins to think clearly, rationally, and start making meaningful contributions. Hawkins defines this as the level of medicine and science. At the very high end, this is the level of Einstein and Freud.
—————————————————————————————
LOVE TO ENLIGHTENMENT
Love (500) – Unconditional love, a permanent understanding of one’s connectedness with all that exists, a deep sense of compassion. At the level of reason, one is living in service to the mind. At the level of love, one now places their mind and all your other talents and abilities in service to one’s heart. This is the level of awakening to one’s true purpose. All motives at this level are pure and uncorrupted by the desires of the ego. This is the level of lifetime service to humanity and beginning to feel as being guided by a force greater than oneself. Examples are Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Hawkins claims this level is reached only by 1 in 250 people during their entire lifetimes.
Joy (540) – This is the ultimate state of pervasive, unshakable happiness. Eckhart Tolle describes this state in The Power of Now. This is the level of saints and advanced spiritual teachers. Just being around people at this level makes one feel incredible. At this level life is fully guided by synchronicity and intuition. There’s no more need to set goals and make detailed plans — the expansion of your consciousness allows one to operate at a much higher level.
Peace (600) – Supreme transcendence. Hawkins claims this level is reached only by one person in 10 million.
Enlightenment (700-1000) – The highest level of human consciousness, where humanity blends with divinity. Extremely rare. The level of Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus. Even to just think and study about people at this level can raise one’s consciousness.
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I hope he did as well. All of us will return to the Love that is God, though, I don’t agree with all mankind’s religions, that some of us won’t.
Is this your personal belief system?
I have had too many people ask me that and its none of their business...And I have probably read it more than those that ask....sorry for butting in....
In the last couple of days have had to apologize a couple of times, guess its time for me to take a "time out", but afraid it won't happen. FR is too addicting..again Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Frankly, I never thought Hitchens was all the great. His venomous attacks on Mother Teresa were unforgivable. I will hate him forever for that. It showed him devoid of all humanity. So, he was a wit. So what. Not a terribly great wit at that. All this fawning and celebration of his life is way over the top and misplaced.
Frankly, I never thought Hitchens was all the great. His venomous attacks on Mother Teresa were unforgivable. I will hate him forever for that. It showed him devoid of all humanity. So, he was a wit. So what. Not a terribly great wit at that. All this fawning and celebration of his life is way over the top and misplaced.
He's a long time 12+ year friend.....and we can agree to disagree......
I wasn't trying to embarrass him ....I would never do that.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Thanks for the apology but on my side it’s not needed. I didn’t mind her asking if I read the Bible. I read lots of spiritual literature, so sure I did! :)
A small part of it. Too much to cover tonight, though, but yes, it is a factor. You can see obviously that Jesus was a 1000.
Friend Laz, are you equating Jesus with Krishna and Buddha?
I wish you a Merry Christmas and healthy Happy New Year...GG
Many thanks kristinn for confirming that Chris Hitchens spoke at a Free Republic rally in 1999. Being he was a good guy warts and all
Orale!
You’re welcome. That was a very interesting day. First there was a rally at Lafayette Park in front of the Clinton White House, then an on-the-cheap dinner with Hitchens and Keyes as featured speakers.
SNIP
As raindrops began falling, the group of Freepers grew slowly and eventually moved across Pennsylvania Avenue to Lafayette Square for the organized portion of the rally.
The program highlighted speeches from Clinton's high school sweetie Dolly Kyle Browning, Christopher Hitchens, a frequent contributor to the Nation and Salon News, and perennial presidential candidate Alan Keyes. The ideological breadth of Clinton's enemies is impressive. Where else but at an anti-Clinton rally would Keyes and Hitchens share the same bill?
Hitchens was a crowd pleaser. He took to the podium, casually smoking a cigarette, and recharged the audience amid the unbearable Washington humidity. "We don't have to allege a conspiracy. We just have here the revelation of a very sinister and power hungry and dishonest and corrupt official mind," he told the roaring crowd. "The man in the Oval Office is a rapist, a war criminal, a psychopathic liar and a man who doesn't just respond to, but solicits offers to sell his office."
Aside from Hitchens, the bulk of the crowd was rock-ribbed conservatives. "We are conservative. I am proud of being conservative," Klayman continued. "I am proud of not being bipartisan, I am proud of Judicial Watch being non-partisan. Because bipartisanship for the last six years and a half years has been another word for betrayal."
Klayman went on to detail the progress of Judicial Watch's five-year investigation of the Clinton administration and remarked on recent allegations of racist postings on Free Republic's Web site saying: "Well, who is speaking at this rally -- Larry Klayman, the grandson of Jewish immigrants, and Alan Keyes, a great African-American."
SNIP
Thanks for this!
That’s a line of scripture I’ve never fully understood. “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” But I judge all the time, especially when I’m unaware I’m doing it. I guess I should expect that others will do the same to me. I guess that judging (internally) and then acting on that internal judgment would mean that the same (judgement followed by action) will then fall on me.
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