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America, there is a giant elephant in our living room. It is fear. It takes the form of racism, sexism, lying, cheating, name-calling, rumor and innuendo mongering. It’s ugly and it does not become us. As the presidential elections draw nearer, I find my inbox bombarded with sleazy attacks on the presidential candidates by those who identify themselves as the “opposite”.

Labels of left, right, conservative, liberal, democrat, republican, middle of the road are for those who can’t think independently. Labels are for lemmings; and everyone has the capacity to think and feel the correctness, truth and quality of a person and his/her message.

But once someone identifies themselves as “liberal” or “Republican”, someone stops listening altogether. Nary another word they have to say is given any listen by the closed mind and locked heart caused by fear. This is what I see happening in my inbox. Friends and family send these political missives; the latest one today was from a friend in Virginia. The e-mail was a compilation of the best bumper stickers - all of which were defaming Obama and the Democrats. As I read them, I realized that people who create this kind of “information” are afraid. Only fear can make people attack others.

The presidential race ought to be all about the issues; rather fear reduces it to slurs, rumor and innuendo. Another friend forwarded to me an e-mail that was reportedly written by a soldier in Afghanistan recounting that Obama had snubbed the troops on his recent world trip. This e-mail is not verifiable: it cannot be traced back to the author’s original e-mail address but just gets forwarded on, like it’s Gospel truth…out of fear.

I trust that Americans can figure out for themselves what is Truth and not; but the key to this is that you have to come to the table with an open mind and an open heart. You have to come to the debate with the attitude, “Tell me who you are.” You can’t come to the table with fear that obscure you from ever hearing what they have to say, let alone giving yourself the opportunity to FEEL the truth or experience their beauty.

Fear is irrational. It has no reason; it simply lurks within a heart and obliterates the Light. Fear is why we are at war. Fear is why we fight with each other. Fear is why we are sick. Fear is why people pass on information that is without verifiable truth, because it supports your fear, which is basically lack. You believe that your good will be at the expense of “their” good. This is categorically a lie. My good is not at the expense of yours. There is enough, plenty, for everyone.

If you want a safer, better, and happier America, then each of us needs to take a good hard and honest look at who we are as individuals, first.

No one need know what goes on in this conversation between you and YOU. But we each had better have that private and intimate conversation with our self. Because it is we, the people, that make up this country. You, me, and all the John and Jane Doe’s across these 50 states. However much fear and hatred that we harbor in our hearts, that is what we are going to experience as a country in this world.

It’s time for some individual house keeping. I challenge you to have that conversation with yourself. Come to terms with the fact that you are afraid of those of different colors, different creeds, and different ideas. Now, I challenge you to love them. I challenge you to listen with an open mind and open heart.

This is no airy fairy exercise, my friends. This country is only as good as the people who comprise it. If you love America, but clearly hate certain Americans, how can this Nation stand? It won’t. It will crumble from within; and it won’t take any foreign enemy to bury us.

This country is advanced citizenship. It takes clear hearts and clear minds to deal with serious problems. To be a citizen of America means you must defend the right of someone to voice their opinion about something you would spend your life trying to defeat. It means you will disagree with that person vehemently on the issue; but you will respect that person as an equal citizen and a worthy being. This is not an oxymoron. You can disagree with someone and still respect them and their right to their opinion. If you respect their right to their opinion, you will not defame, slur or disrespect someone by making a policy opinion into a personal slur. That is spiritual immaturity. We are called to become spiritual adults, now.

It’s time to grow up America. We can conduct healthy, spirited debates and actually learn from each other. Only fear closes our ears to what someone has to say. It costs us nothing to listen, not just with our minds, but also with our hearts. Times are changing, as they always do. It just feels so much better when you listen with your heart open, even to something you don’t like. It’s the idea you disagree with; the person is just like you: God having a physical adventure.

We have a duty as Americans to be very good stewards of democracy. Democracy is a place where everything, every idea, every people get to be here, much like the books in a library. The books in the library sit side by side offering their unique and individual thoughts for those who wish to read them. Those books don’t hop off the shelf at night and duke it out. So it is in this wonderful and promising place, America.  It all gets to be here. It takes advanced citizenship and spiritual maturity to fully grasp what this really means and how great a challenge this is to each of us every day of our lives.

We have nothing to fear, except fear; because fear will undermine us and crumble us from the inside out.

Next time you see someone whose political views you think you hate, try this: take a deep breath. Acknowledge that he/she is a unique individual with unique things to say, just like you. Acknowledge that you might be afraid of some of the things they might offer. Now, listen to them with your full attention and respect. Breathe in again, and now breathe out. Can you realize that you are in no way diminished because they have that idea? You can thank them for sharing. You can chew over what they had to say. You can discard all of it; some of it; or, surprise, none of it. Nothing bad is going to happen just because you listened with an open mind and an open heart. The only time something bad can happen is when you fear it; then, my friend, you will attract it.

This Universe can supply every one’s needs at the same time. There’s enough for everyone. America is the place on Earth where we are either going to learn to do that in the physical as a Nation; or we will go the way of all the other civilizations that came before us.

We can trust in the Good in each of us. Speak to that. Listen to that.

Everyone is God at center. America is the great experiment. Can we learn to live with all those different Gods in the same place and know that each of our Good is always at play?

I say we can. That is applied spirituality in action; that is spiritual maturity.

Kathy Kirk was raised in Ohio and PA and now resides in the back country of San Diego County . She has a BS degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Cornell University. She has authored one book, Well Done, and recently has been published in Mystic Pop Magazine at http://mysticpopmagazine.com Her website is http://www.appliedspirituality.com Kathy has spoken to such groups as North Island Naval Air Station, Qualcomm, BAE Systems, SPAWARS, Mensa and the US Post Office. She gives Seminars,Trainings and Worships to groups and corporations on Applied Spirituality. She can be reached at appliedspirituality@gmail.com or 619-445-0972.

Your immune system is an elaborate defense network that can easily shame even the technologically advanced defense systems employed by the Unites States in places like Iraq, South Korea and Afghanistan. It may not be visible to the naked eye, but your body wages war against all sorts of intruders like bacteria, viruses, and germs. And amazingly, your body wins these wars most of the time; otherwise you will be sick for most of your life. Thanks to your immune system, you are protected from diseases and harmful microorganisms.

But even so, your immune system is not a perfect mechanism. Your disease-fighting cells also need help. Your immune system’s performance is only as good as the strength of its functioning. And there are times that your immune defense system just can not perform its tasks effectively, so you get sick.

The biggest factor that can make or break your immune system is nutrition. That’s right; the strength of your disease-fighting cells is determined by the quality of the food that you eat. Above all, there are herbs and essential substances that are considered as natural boosters for the immune system. Whatever happens, building up your immune system owes a great deal to the food that you put in your mouth. Here are some very important herbs and essential substances that can boost your immune system.

Vitamin C

Whenever you start sneezing, you hear your doctor telling you to grab your Vitamin C. This substance has been proven to help ease away the symptoms of common colds. Vitamin C is good at fighting viral infections just like the ones caused by various cold viruses.

A few years back, there was a bird flu epidemic in most parts of Asia. And one of the most important things that separated people who were spared from people who succumbed to the bird flu was extensive amounts of Vitamin C. Truly, this essential substance has become synonymous with the term immune booster. You can get this essential substance from fruits like oranges, Brussels sprouts, and raspberries.

Goldenseal

This herb belongs to the Buttercup family of plants. It has been used for medicinal purposes by the aborigines long before their country was known as Australia. For a time, it was chiefly applied as a cure for gonorrhea and syphilis. But through the years, studies have concluded that Goldenseal can help stop all major infection in your body. As for colds, this plant can considerably reduce the inflammation of your mucous membranes, thereby decreasing your sneezing and the itchiness in your throat.

Echinacea

In Europe, this plant is a favorite item among the list of treatments for cough and colds. Doctors and practitioners of alternative medicine also prescribe this herb for severe viral infections like flu. Some experts believe that Echinacea can stimulate your immune system, making it ready at all times to ward off disease-causing bacteria or viruses.

Aloe Vera

Since the time of the Egyptian civilization thousands of years ago, Aloe Vera has been harvested for its vitamin and mineral contents. This plant gives you more than just smooth and silky hair; it can also significantly enhance your immune system as it also contains important infection-fighting enzymes and amino acids.

Indeed, a strong immune system is the key to preventing most, if not all, forms of infection or sickness from happening to you. While you may not have the time and resources to gather all the important herbs and substances like the ones mentioned above, the good news is you can use products like Immunitril which already contain the nutrients you need for a stronger immune system. For more information about boosting your immune system, just click on www.immunitril.com

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO) consists of 26 members: 23 of which are European countries, 2 North American countries, and only 1 Eurasian country; i.e., Turkey. This basic military alliance, states that if an attack should occur from one non NATO country to one of its members, then this attack should be considered an attack against all NATO members. This means that NATO members must unite to defend the attacked member with armed forces, if necessary.

Bush’s strong support of Georgia and the Ukraine to become members of NATO is not shared by several of the 25 members, due to the strain this would impose on Russia’s relations with Europe. Russia’s President Putin has already threatened Ukraine, that if they were to join NATO and to later join in housing installations for America’s planned Missile Defense program in Europe, then he would be forced to target short range rockets on Russia’s neighbor.

The U.S. Missile Defense installations came about in response to Russia’s announcement of their intention to suspend the treaty on conventional armed forces in Europe. This treaty, literally called ‘ The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, or ( CFE) ‘ had been established during the last years of the Cold War. In short, this treaty mandated set limits on military equipment and demanded the destruction of excess weaponry. However, on July 14, 2007, Russia gave notice of their intention to suspend this treaty; and in August of 2008, Russia announced their intention to suspend ties with NATO.

EU countries, which make up the bulk of NATO’s membership, are dependent on Russia for more than 40 percent of their energy supplies. And it is because of this, that NATO is reluctant to accept former Soviet states, Georgia and Ukraine, into its Membership Action Plan. Can Europe risk becoming involved in a new Cold War?

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that ” the consequences of the suspension of the CFE are the halting of inspections and verifications of its military sites by NATO countries”. But isn’t this Iraq all over again? Are possible sanctions placed upon Russia currently being discussed by NATO?

As we already know, the US military is thoroughly engaged in a war against terror: which is predominately targeted against Muslim countries. We also know, or we should know, that Russia is a long time enemy of neighboring Afghanistan. US involvement there does not lighten the fury between us, but only adds more fuel to the fire in our international relationship with Russia. Don’t forget, that it was the US who did support Afghanistan against Russia in times past.

In summary, Russia is becoming a very ‘behind the scenes’ threat to former NATO relationships and treaties. Our current war against terror has limited our capabilities to defend former Soviet States from Russian invasion. The European Union is reluctant to support any actions that might further infuriate Russia’s economic relationships with European countries. Russia’s current suspension of CFE treaties are actions which reflect a possible new Cold War against NATO. Can the US defend themselves from both terrorist harboring countries and Russia; and especially if the EU is reluctant to support the membership of former Soviet states into NATO? Is the US in a position to override diplomacy with the European Union, and continue its support of Georgia and the Ukraine? Is the US in danger of being isolated by NATO, and therefore, becoming very literally “on their own”?

Lies done for the sake of liberty

Demonize all who disagree

Personify dissidents horrifically

Never listen patiently or wholeheartedly

Run off bravely to war in Iraq hastily

Secure the military industrial complex

Ensure their ongoing pride and profits

Never mind the loss of life among innocents

Spew fear over the airwaves to all citizens

Launch an executive order to regain power

Remove power from the people to decide

Trust in the arrogant President to chide

Goad and get at all evil world dictators

While our chief henchman becomes one himself

Overthrow all dictators sitting on mineral resources

Never mind false fabrications of WMD which we created

That’s right they were manufactured in the great U.S.A.

Sold abroad to tyrants we ourselves happily armed and made

Hypocritically turn when they don’t with us profitably play

We break loyalty, turn the tables, and think to for imperialism

Write our own geopolitical play and remove them away

From the global chessboard as we greedily move forward

Meanwhile our half ass job done in Afghanistan effects Pakistan

Why don’t we root out evildoers in that Islamic fanatical land?

Where a corrupt government lets terrorists rule with a heavy hand

Bin Laden was just a pawn for lewd American political grandstand

To leverage for declaring a worldwide war of our own making

So we can arise, reshape the world, and be about lustily taking

The earth’s prized possession, petroleum to fuel our endless fun

Yet the security of the American people is primary and paramount

And the clever name in which all of this geopolitical posturing is done

To uphold a failing dollar from which every member of OPEC does run

Hence gasoline prices soar as the American economy is being undone

Yet the dying dollar and U.S. credibility doesn’t financially hurt everyone

Don’t forget the Carlisle Group, Blackwater, and Cheney’s Halliburton

Lies done in liberty’s name for political profiteers fame and fortune.

Paul Davis is a highly sought after worldwide professional speaker, prophetic minister, purpose coach, and change master transforming organizations and empowering individuals to live their dreams.

Paul is the author of several books including United States of Arrogance; Poems that Propel the Planet; Update Your Identity; Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; God vs. Religion; and many more!

Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul’s organization Dream-Maker Inc. builds dreams, transcends limitations, & reconciles nations.

Contact Paul to speak at your event or for consulting:

RevivingNations@yahoo.com
407-284-1705

http://www.PaulFDavis.com

The new Patriot Express loan is offered by SBA’s network of participating lenders nationwide and features our fastest turnaround time for loan approvals. Loans are available up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA’s maximum guaranty of up to 85 percent for loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75 percent for loans over $150,000 up to $500,000. For loans above $350,000, lenders are required to take all available collateral.

The SBA has many programs targeted to assist economically and socially disadvantaged individuals, and to help rebuild economically depressed or hurricane shattered communities. According to Joel Szabat, the SBA’s Chief of Staff, “The SBA has only one set of programs designed to help people, not for who they are or where they live, but for what they done.

These are programs the SBA has established to serve those who have taken up arms and risked their lives for our country.“

Patriot Express was recommended to the President by the task force of returning global war on terror heroes, led by the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs, Jim Nicholson.

There are approximately 1.2 million men and women on active duty, 1.8 million in reserves and the National Guard. Of that total, 1.5 million have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since the war on terror began.

There are nearly 45 million veterans in America today. Veterans are an important part of the small business community. According to the SBA’s statistics, 15% of veterans are self employed.

Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative

Overview

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the SBA’s Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses. Eligible military community members include:

• Veterans
• Service-disabled veterans
• Active-duty service members eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program
• Reservists and National Guard members
• Current spouses of any of the above
• The widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability

Eligibility for Reservists and National Guard members is limited to current members of the Reserve or Guard (and their current spouses). Former Reservists and National Guard members (and their spouses) are not eligible, unless they qualify from active duty as Veterans.

Certified copy of a DD Form 214, which is provided for everyone other than dishonorably discharged veterans is required.

The Patriot Express loan can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases.

Due to the special nature of Patriot Express, particularly the level of authority and autonomy delegated to lenders under this initiative, SBA is particularly concerned that Patriot Express loan proceeds be used exclusively for business-related purposes. SBA therefore expects lenders to use reasonable methods to ensure that loan proceeds are used for business-related expenses, which means conformance with verification procedures at least as thorough as those used for their non-SBA guaranteed commercial loans. At a minimum, lenders must thoroughly communicate to borrowers that all SBA loan proceeds must be used only for business-related purposes, must clearly set forth that requirement on the loan authorization, and must secure a certification from the borrower that all loan proceeds will be so used.

Patriot Express loans feature SBA’s lowest interest rates for business loans, generally 2.25 percent to 4.75 percent over prime depending upon the size and maturity of the loan. Lenders cannot charge prepayment fees on SBA loans.

Paul Chavez is business consultant with over 10 years of experience specializing in assisting small business owners obtain the financing necessary to realize their dream of starting their own business and is very proud to be aiding America’s Heroes. The Patriot Loan Initiative can be used for most business purposes. Free consultation, no obligation. Let our expertise help you raise the business capital you need. Visit us at: http://www.candacapital.com/SBA_20_Loans.html

The election of Abdullah Gul as President of Turkey on 28 August 2007 is controversial because of his Islamic background. Now that both the Prime Minister and President have religious backgrounds, his election is widely viewed as a threat to the secular ethos of the Turkish State.

Although Mr Gul, in his accession speech, pledged allegiance to the secular constitution and the legacy of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, there are many who view such commitments as cosmetic.

Mr Gull entered parliament in 1991 as a member of the Welfare Party. This was a pro Islamic party which ruled in 1996, until it was forced out of power by the military. The reason for the intervention of the army was that the party was failing to respect the secular values enshrined in the constitution. Leaders of the party were banned from political office for several years.

Mr Gul reappeared in 1999 as a member of the Virtue Party. This party was also closed down in 2001, for the same reason. However, there was not a disqualification order and Mr Gul was instrumental in founding the Justice and Development Party (AKP). This party won a significant electoral victory in 2002, and has remained in power since then.

The fact that Mrs Gul wears a headscarf in public may seem a barely relevant point to many international observers, but it is deeply significant in Turkey. This is because Turkish women are forbidden to wear headscarves at school, university and in government. Women lawyers are also forbidden to wear headscarves in Court.

This is the legacy of Ataturk who considered Islam part of the Ottoman tradition which he and his followers were dedicated to eradicating from Turkish society. The secular nature of the Turkish state is safeguarded by the Constitution of 1982.

The Turkish establishment, including the military, are deeply committed to the secular ethos. However, they are perceived by many ordinary Turks as out of step with contemporary trends such as economic liberalism and social mobility within Turkish society.

The AKP party reflects the growing aspirations of many Turks for improved standards of living and a pro EU stance, and they compare Turkey’s economic performance in recent years with the periods of stagnation and inflation of the post war period.

Mr Gul became president at his second attempt, the first being blocked by the military in May which forced a general election. The AKP were returned to power with an increased majority and the military have not, as yet, intervened.

The newly appointed president’s wife, Mrs Gul, was notable by her absence at the Victory Day festivities which celebrate the victory of Dumlupinar, the final battle in the Turkish War of Independence of 1922, as she was not invited by the military. The military have a longstanding practice of not inviting the wives of AKP politicians who wear headscarves to civic events.

It is important to recognise the fragility of democracy in Turkey. The military have ousted four governments since 1960, and their complaints should not be taken lightly.

Mr Gul and the AKP need to tread very carefully during the early months of his presidency, due to the risk of military intervention. One way he could defuse the tension between the government and the army would be to accede to the military’s desire to take a harder line against the Kurdish Peoples Party (PKK) insurgents in eastern Turkey and to allow the military to strike at their bases in Northern Iraq.

Kurds have been flocking into Kirkuk in anticipation of a referendum which could grant a measure of devolved power to a relatively autonomous Kurdistan. In addition to the dimension of terrorism, the area is rich in oil and therefore has major strategic importance.

Mr Gul’s avowal of secular values is considered a sham by many commentators who point to his Islamic political past. However, it should be noted that many politicians modify their views during the course of their careers.

In the UK, the transformation of the Labour party from an organisation committed to state ownership of major industries and pacifism to a liberal, market oriented economy party is astounding. The fact that the party leaders embraced a bellicose foreign policy with respect to Afghanistan and Iraq provides an example of how politicians can radically change their policies.

Although opportunist politicians change their policies in response to public opinion, and the UK Labour Party is a prime example of this, one can question whether such an analysis holds in respect of religious beliefs. Contemporary events in the middle east indicate that Islam is a matter of deep conviction and not simply political convenience.

On this view, one could argue that it is only a matter of time before the AKP and President Gul adopt a more Islamic tone. This would have significant implications for NATO, of which Turkey is a member, and for Turkey’s relations with Israel, which are currently cordial. It would not bode well for Turkey’s accession into the EU.

Leslie Hardy has written extensively on North Cyprus Property and is Chairman of Wellington Estates Ltd, a North Cyprus company. He has already written a series of articles on Turkey, including EU accession negotiations.