BlueOak

Part of the issue being missed is a non emotional, multi perspective take on Nato too. Its easy to say oh well its in the media. Is it? Where is the really indepth, historical perspective that takes all sides of what is and isn't, what its done to cause suffering as well as stop it. That I can look at? You might find one in a million but it won't be widespread. Because there is obvious fear of, fear from and demonization of Nato too. Almost in every post I respond to seems to have that demonization rather than understanding of where it came from, why it exists and all the benefits that have come out of it, as well as assigning things that simply don't exist to Nato. You may feel justified in demonizing Nato but you are still doing it. I realised just now that imbalance is what is bugging me here the most. On the other side of course we have nothing but praise or solidarity which right now I understand as its war time. I understand people's wish to demonize the opponents from either side, I also understand their wish to overlook flaws, in or from me and you.

Violence is never okay. Its not okay now. It wasn't okay then. It won't be okay tomorrow. We are here now, not then or tomorrow. All we can deal with immediately in a crisis is what is in front of us. That's why responses often devolve to the immediate, rather than a larger perspective.

Now sure, because the path we are on is the opposite. Even RT were putting this idea forward as late as three weeks ago. The video link is still up in youtube search but they have deleted it. There were quite a few moves in that direction a few years ago and its sad it didn't happen. Sure China would freak out and then? You might not have said it but you are advocating for it. Border disputes can lead to larger wars. People don't just do border disputes either, if this last 4 decades of my have taught me anything, countries have imperialist ambitions, also ambitions for resource gain and to expand spheres of influence. That's not just the big names you think of either, regional powers do this. You can't remove superpowers or regional powers even if you dislike them. Its a fact of population, technology, resources, culture, history and geography. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/ Just taking one factor population: India, China, America, Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil have the potential to move toward being the next superpowers. Russia is in decline relative to first three or four here in terms of their population growth certainly which is part of the reason we have this action being taken now as a land grab for power, control of the gas supply and 40 million more people. When you are talking about a global alliance you have to reflect globally not about Russia or America. The fact is, if Russia had joined Nato we wouldn't be here. If Russia was in the G8 still we wouldn't be here. That's not just Russia's doing, relationship are a two way thing or in this case as you raise China, and I other superpowers, it a multi-way relationship.

@Marv Just saw your post after I posted. Everyone lacks the necessary geopolitical nuance. You are dealing with large collective will that lacks geopolitical understanding and its important to be realistic expecting responses to not be nuanced. In life from the population usually they are not, they are emotional, they are using the information they can glean from the television or internet. Also I wouldn't start second guessing motivations. I mean I could spin that a Russian adviser gave Putin bad advice so he could then replace him or weaken him. Right now that would be just as plausible as a conspiracy theory because the invasion is so terribly executed, and the expectations of Russia buying their own propoganda of them being liberators that they planned for this rather than actually going to war. I mean what seems obvious is they planned for their propoganda rather than the reality.

What I didn't see and was thankfully reminded of by @Preety_India is just how individualist Russia acts as a country, while asking for collectivism from its citizens. While the west does the opposite.

Consider the following. If everyone were in the military alliance there would be 'world peace' or as close to it as we could aim for from an alliance. If all the major powers were in the alliance there would be no major wars or proxy wars. That's the happy fantasy land, but at one point Russia got closer to Nato and almost joined them, If China, India, Russia, America, and Europe were allied, the world would be much safer. Why you think all countries acting to individual interest will promote more peace than war, especially when most of the major powers have nuclear arsenals, the capacity and willingness to fight proxy wars in other countries, or rapid reaction forces that can deploy very quickly, and air or naval power that can reach across the globe, is reasoning that doesn't make any sense to me. For most of our existance we have had wars with our neighbors, what Nato has done for us, is stop that and brought some stability to the world. Sure its for us, but 'us' are most of the powerful economies in the world, the ones with the capacity to do the most damage to each other.

Do people form identity to support their emotional state? or Do people get feelings from their identity? Are both of these things true for most people? I would guess both is true depending on their situation, but I've never asked. This is one of those times how you phrase this question might help with definition or further understanding. Thanks.

@integral Thank you. That was a great synchronicity with something else about developmental hurdles :D I appreciate your words.

Appreciate it everyone :D, been insightful. @Random witch I know the body/mind are the same. I do feel emotions sometimes first in the chest or stomach before I do anywhere else. These trigger thoughts and then reasoning of the identity they are linked to. @ValiantSalvatore Did that. Faced violence. My Ego came back bigger and more overbearing than ever. I have no idea how to live ego free when confronted with violence or intense anger. Loving all things was the only way I managed to get ego free previously and if someone is shouting in your face or wishing you harm that is almost impossible and also not healthy in any way. Any insight would be gratefully received. Gratitude to you all again.

I wish there was a forum for this and art. I could use it right now! thanks for the music thread(s) felt this song was a better fit here.

@integral This is the most difficult request in wartime or times of severe stress, when the tendency is to do the exact opposite, but yep reminders can be useful.

When a country is in war, nationalism becomes critical, people move to the right. This happens everywhere. Russia targetting the civil infanstructure will bring this about quicker, as the rule of law and moderating civil authority is removed, extremism takes its place. We had this discussion in the other thread but as its been deleted no doubt it'll repeat.

And this explains the human cost. I hope to see a million more videos like this. It will be what stops this. Getting people to see humanity in the other.

1) Yes. 2) Yes but isn't everything distraction. 3) Yes. I still feel like helping others is the way to go and letting them make mistakes is fine. I make them all the time. *I know there are no mistakes

Thank you both again. I've read this through a few times now. @Gianna Thank you. I would suppose the desire to be anything but what was happening right now, would also be a cyclic experience repeating from a previous identity. @ValiantSalvatore This is difficult because I used to consciously do this. Manipulate identity to achieve results but the old me never felt in control just in reaction. Maybe I just need to pick the right identity like you say. The emotions attached to old identities are often familiar and so they are harder to let go of. I need some practice in shifting identities and holding them for sure. Thank you I appreciate it.

You know that. I know that, but I choose to anyway. Why do I choose to. Because I live here, not in the reality we'd like it to be. When the concept of god comes up, as it just did in a discussion then I have a response. Rather than saying [ ] - and even this defines god and lessens the meaning because i've had to respresent god with a symbol or box, or space at all. Most people don't know that. The vast majority in fact. You are not the first to say they want a higher consciousness section that is more moderated, or exclusive. I prefer a mix of everything :D, I learn more about myself and feel its more helpful to everyday life. I understand though why people want to just go somewhere where people think or reference life more like they do, or don't have to deal with things they don't want to. I get it, we all do that to an extent. I know collectivism is individualism. I get it. I am just giving you as best I can perspectives of people who identify more with those labels or choose to identify for whatever emotional attachment or identity they have formed to put them there.

Right there with you buddy. That's a feeling that's reflected in this particular illusion of yourself you are now talking to. Its directly and very present here. I've come along a bit but I never had a healthy awakening. I hope you find meaning, love and support. You create the feeling of meaningless and the feeling of meaning.

Greetings! I'll be the ahole for your post today . What about collectivism. Universal experience. Unformed thoughts reaching for understanding or an I moment. Collective identity. Universal love yada yada. More sections can be helpful though.

Also you can help 'other' you's, infinite, source, whatever you want to call what you now realised, from a completely different place. Because you know they are you. You see the illusions more clearly, you see why we post what we do, why or how we created the illusions we do. The feelings, the identities and maybe have some empathy for every other illusion or other you that exists on the planet.

Yeah losing mystery is the worst aspect of any kind of awakening. All the way from childhood to now we lose it. The why or the unknown. The feeling of so that's it then. I wonder if that's why I never had a complete folding of reality like you did, just snapshots along the way. Maybe a lot of us resist losing the last bit of magic or mystery left. I was there last night a bit closer again but i'm still in the box . It was enough to create a well of apathy and acceptance though in me for the last 10 years. Well go create some mysteries? Have you studied sacred geometry or the real power behind symbols/language before? Fascinating mysteries to replace the old ones. If you want to lose yourself back in some aspect of fantasy, maybe a good book? Ego is always there, you created it, you shape it, and you can rebuild it however you want. If you have more of a mathmatical lean, try Dan Winter.

Create something. Love? Happiness? Understanding? Sounds like you could use some certainty. A strong, deep and meaningful connection to your signficant other? Whatever you like, the shackles are off right?

I've tried banning people I don't like. It's a lonely life. Anyone even your pet can lead to development or understanding of yourself/yourselves. Life.

@WelcometoReality @Benton Thank you both for your thoughts I'll take a look at the video tomorrow also.

I never saw that side of it. Thanks.

Also I just heard the threat could be to put him in a stronger negotiating position, and seeing the negotiations are scheduled lets hope that's the main reason for it.