The Gift of Hate or The Gift of Love?

When a gift is offered by the giver but refused by the recipient who does the gift belong to?
Obviously, the gift remains with the giver. The gift is theirs. They own it until the point when the gift is accepted.

So it is with hate. When someone presents you with hate simply say, "No thanks, I do not want your gift of hate, you keep it." That way hate does not burn you nor does it corrode your soul for hate need not be a two-way gift. Only  love can defeat hate not hate itself. 

10 Hours Rainfall w/Distant Thunder- Ambient Sounds la lluvia del sueño...

A Holistic Approach

People are always arguing and sometimes killing each other over our beliefs. On one side you have the fundamentalist extremists of whatever religion saying that anyone who doesn't believe as they do is a damned infidel. On the other side of the coin, you have the extreme materialists who feel that anyone who has spiritual or metaphysical beliefs is a damned idiot. Then you have those who are caught in the middle who believe that something beyond the material is at least a possibility but don't claim to understand the exact nature of it. We catch hell from both sides.

What if, however, we looked at it as everyone having their place in the scheme of things?

What if those among us who find the spiritual iffy and prefer the purely scientific are programmed that way, so to speak, in order to specialize in those things of a material nature?

What if the true believers among us have some sort of line to the higher realms and can help keep the rest of us connected?

What if those of us who are in between are this way in order to help keep the balance between the two?

What if we weren't constantly tearing at each other's throats but instead were working together for the good of this world at least, and perhaps even the good of the Cosmos?

When we go against our nature, it causes us pain.

I have found that every time I try to see the world from a purely materialist point of view, it makes me profoundly unhappy. To a hardline materialist, this probably means that I'm simply a miserable, delusional, mentally ill person who needs illusion in order to survive a difficult life which, when it ends, will result in me becoming a pile of ashes and mercifully existing miserably no longer.

Perhaps they're correct, but they may not be. The one thing the agnostic knows is that we don't know anything for certain regarding the possibility of spirit, afterlife or such.

I cannot see the world through the eyes of a true believer in any of the major monotheistic religions, because for me, it doesn't ring true. This does not mean that their devotion to their particular deity of choice is incorrect, it only means that said devotion does not work for this soul.

I'm something of a polytheist, but again, an agnostic one. At this point I'm not especially concerned with deities. I need to work closer to home. I enjoy working with and receiving ideas from the realm of spirit, but I realize that many people either do not approve of or disbelieve in what I do. With very little in the way of support, sometimes it is difficult for me to continue. This is when I start to shut myself down.

I want to be that person who shows others like me that it's okay to be what you are, but I don't know if there really are others like me. I want to be the person who tells others, whether they are like me or not, that it's okay to be what you are, but I don't imagine too many people give a rat's ass whether I think it's okay or not.

I would just like it if we could try to understand that maybe it is not a bad thing to be someone who focuses on the material realms, or someone who focuses on the high spiritual realms, or someone who is drawn to the dark realms, or someone who feels drawn to that which is between. I feel that if we don't start working together rather than tearing each other down, there is not much hope for any of us.

~Cie~

The Cheese Grates It: Don't Use Health Conditions As Insults: Bipolar Disorder

Not my creation

This is a much more accurate illustration of what bipolar disorder actually looks like than the bullshit idea that people have when they say someone is "so bipolar." 

For my own part, I get hypomania rather than full mania. I've never been prone to doing things like taking my paycheck, flying to Las Vegas, gambling it all away, and marrying someone I've known for only a few hours. 

The kinds of things I've done in the past include getting into relationships with people who might as well be wearing a sign that says I'M AN ABUSER because I thought there was some sort of "supernatural pull" and then allowing him to do really awful things to me because hypersexuality tends to collude with self-loathing in extremely bad ways. 

In both the past and present I do things like take on extra work when I'm hypomanic, writing checks that my euthymic and/or depressive self can't cash, so to speak, and then crashing big time.

Before I was properly treated for bipolar disorder, the irritability and paranoia came close to ruining the one most important relationship in my life; the one I have with my son. I had a Jekyll and Hyde personality and when a kid doesn't know whether they're going to get the nice mom that lets them pick a toy from the toy closet or bids $200 on a basket of Beanie Babies for them at the school fund raiser or the mom who lectures them for two hours about some minor infraction, that is extremely stressful. 

I wish the truth about the disease had been discovered sooner, not only so I might have had a chance at pursuing a career that would have given me a good income (yes, it really is too late at this point) but more importantly so when my son was young he could have felt secure that Mom was going to be the person he needed, not the raging bitch who was going to rip him a new one for two hours because he didn't want to eat the god damn apple she packed in his lunch, or something stupid like that.

 At this point, I pretty much present as a porcupine, meaning that I might be defensive because I fear being attacked, but you wouldn't know that I have bipolar disorder unless I told you. I don't do outrageous things. I don't miss work because of my condition. 

My presentation doesn't radically switch suddenly from life of the party to gloomy. It sometimes does inside, but it won't show on the outside. I don't present as particularly mercurial. What you don't see is the constant battle that I have with myself. I know very well that I'm extremely different from other people. It is difficult for me to have actual friendships, and romantic relationships are entirely impossible.

The truth is, I make the decision whether or not to kill myself every day. Each day I weigh my options. Literally. I do this every day. A lot of people with this condition do. 

So, next time you're thinking about calling someone who is moody or mercurial "so bipolar", stop. Don't. Call them moody or mercurial if you must call them something. 

People with bipolar disorder aren't necessarily moody or mercurial, and people who are moody or mercurial may or may not have bipolar disorder. Don't make light of something that is a daily struggle for people.

~The Cheese Hath Grated It~

Guilt and Love

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

All humans have done wrong be it little or large. That means all humans are as equally guilty as the next human. Harbouring a grudge is as foolish as holding fast to your guilt. Forgive others as you forgive yourself. Be sincere. Try not to repeat mistakes but don't forever blame yourself if you cause inadvertent harm. Apologise for the hurt caused but remember when those you have hurt do not forgive you that they too are as guilty of having caused another grief. Life is too short to allow guilt, self-recrimination or another's blame transference to upset your equilibrium. Listen to others even if they do not listen to you. Be at peace with yourself.

In Memory of Bon Scott 2017

9 July 1946 - 19 February 1980

It is hard for me to believe that it is 37 years since Bon Scott's passing. I found out only a few days after I turned 15. This may seem like a real lame ass admission to the sophisticated types who may be reading these words, but I was rather in love with him at the time, and beyond that, I just liked him. He was a good person and something of a personal hero, someone who I would think of when I was trying to be brave. 

His death devastated me. I've actually never gotten over it, although, and you can take this as you want to, (but don't be a dick) I've accepted it because he's told me that things are okay. 

Bon may be best known for his infamously cheeky song lyrics, but I always thought that the best thing about him was his wish to bring a bit of laughter and fun into the lives of others. I always felt like he realized that a lot of people were living difficult lives and maybe he thought he didn't have a lot of ability to change that, but he did have a knack for writing songs and making people laugh. It was sort of like he was saying "I know you've had a raw deal in life, Mate, but here's something to take your mind off that for a minute. It's my humble gift to you."

That humble gift was worth a lot and far outweighs any of the mistakes he may have made along the way. He was a good guy, and I will always think of him fondly.

~Cie~

The Cheese Grates It: Thin Does Not Always Equal Healthy

Regarding the whole thin equals healthy bullshit. My great grandmother was a large lady for most of her life, and then she lost a lot of weight really quickly. She went from approximately 300 pounds to less than 100 in the space of a year, and then she died. Acute myelogenous leukemia will do that to you.

I've not been feeling well lately. My stomach hurts and I have to force myself to eat right now. The Eating Disorder part of my brain is thrilled about this. if we don't eat, we get thin! Yaaaaay!

Yeah, except getting thin probably won't happen unless I get really sick like my great grandmother did. My body is not wired for thin.

I just know, though, if I got really sick and started losing a butt ton of weight, people would be praising how "healthy" I look, even though my hair was falling out, my skin had the pallor of death, and I was so weak that I couldn't stand up.

I'd rip them a new one. Might be doing them a favor, so they could get rid of all those shitty ideas they'd been harboring.

~The Cheese Hath Grated It~

Democracy, Religion, Faith, Philosophy

Without dialogue, democracy dies. Communication is the fuel that feeds debate, debate empowers democracy. No doubt Socrates was right, Democracy can only succeed if the electorate is educated, well informed. For that, you need education, education and a free press. Intelligence without compassion is merely knowledge. Knowledge without compassion is moderation without morals. What point is having moderation managed by the immoderate? Morals matter. Without morals, humankind ceases to be human.

When we think of nations who purport to have democracy who is it we think of? The USA? The UK? Europe? You'll be surprised. The following is from the Democracy Index as compiled by UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit...

"that measures the state of democracy in 167 countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 165 are UN member states. The index was first produced in 2006, with updates for 2008, 2010 and the following years since then. The index is based on 60 indicators grouped in five different categories measuring pluralism, civil liberties, and political culture. In addition to a numeric score and a ranking, the index categorises countries as one of four regime types: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes."

Democracy Index 2016

Rank	Country	Score	Electoral process and pluralism	Functioning of government	Political participation	Political culture	Civil liberties	Category
1	Norway	9.93	10.00	9.64	10.00	10.00	10.00	Full democracy
2	Iceland	9.50	10.00	8.93	8.89	10.00	9.71	Full democracy
3	Sweden	9.39	9.58	9.64	8.33	10.00	9.41	Full democracy
4	New Zealand	9.26	10.00	9.29	8.89	8.13	10.00	Full democracy
5	Denmark	9.20	9.58	9.29	8.33	9.38	9.41	Full democracy
6	Canada	9.15	9.58	9.64	7.78	8.75	10.00	Full democracy
6	Ireland	9.15	9.58	7.86	8.33	10.00	10.00	Full democracy
8	Switzerland	9.09	9.58	9.29	7.78	9.38	9.41	Full democracy
9	Finland	9.03	10.00	8.93	7.78	8.75	9.71	Full democracy
10	Australia	9.01	9.58	8.93	7.78	8.75	10.00	Full democracy
11	Luxembourg	8.81	10.00	8.93	6.67	8.75	9.71	Full democracy
12	Netherlands	8.80	9.58	8.57	8.33	8.13	9.41	Full democracy
13	Germany	8.63	9.58	8.57	7.78	7.50	9.71	Full democracy
14	Austria	8.41	9.58	7.86	8.33	6.88	9.41	Full democracy
15	Malta	8.39	9.17	8.21	6.11	8.75	9.71	Full democracy
16	United Kingdom	8.36	9.58	7.14	7.22	8.75	9.12	Full democracy
17	Spain	8.30	9.58	7.14	7.22	8.13	9.41	Full democracy
18	Mauritius	8.28	9.17	8.21	5.56	8.75	9.71	Full democracy
19	Uruguay	8.17	10.00	8.93	4.44	7.50	10.00	Full democracy
20	Japan	7.99	8.75	8.21	6.67	7.50	8.82	Flawed democracy
21	United States	7.98	9.17	7.14	7.22	8.13	8.24	Flawed democracy
21	Italy	7.98	9.58	6.43	7.22	8.13	8.53	Flawed democracy
23	Cape Verde	7.94	9.17	7.86	6.67	6.88	9.12	Flawed democracy
24	France	7.92	9.58	7.14	7.78	6.25	8.82	Flawed democracy
24	South Korea	7.92	9.17	7.50	7.72	7.50	8.24	Flawed democracy
26	Costa Rica	7.88	9.58	7.14	6.11	6.88	9.71	Flawed democracy
27	Botswana	7.87	9.17	7.14	6.11	7.50	9.41	Flawed democracy
28	Portugal	7.86	9.58	6.79	6.67	6.88	9.41	Flawed democracy
29	Israel	7.85	9.17	7.50	8.89	7.50	6.18	Flawed democracy
29	Estonia	7.85	9.58	7.86	6.11	6.88	8.82	Flawed democracy
31	Czech Republic	7.82	9.58	7.14	6.67	6.88	8.82	Flawed democracy
32	India	7.81	9.58	7.50	7.22	5.63	9.12	Flawed democracy
33	Taiwan	7.79	9.58	8.21	6.11	5.63	9.41	Flawed democracy
34	Chile	7.78	9.58	8.57	4.44	6.88	9.41	Flawed democracy
35	Belgium	7.77	9.58	8.57	5.00	6.88	8.82	Flawed democracy
36	Cyprus	7.65	9.17	6.43	6.67	6.88	9.12	Flawed democracy
37	Slovenia	7.51	9.58	7.14	6.67	5.63	8.53	Flawed democracy
38	Lithuania	7.47	9.58	5.71	6.11	6.25	9.71	Flawed democracy
39	South Africa	7.41	7.92	7.86	8.33	5.00	7.94	Flawed democracy
40	Jamaica	7.39	9.17	6.79	5.00	6.88	9.12	Flawed democracy
41	Latvia	7.31	9.58	5.71	5.56	6.88	8.82	Flawed democracy
42	Slovakia	7.29	9.58	7.14	5.56	5.63	8.53	Flawed democracy
43	Timor-Leste	7.24	8.67	7.14	5.56	6.88	7.94	Flawed democracy
44	Greece	7.23	9.58	5.36	6.11	6.25	8.82	Flawed democracy
45	Panama	7.13	9.58	6.43	6.11	5.00	8.82	Flawed democracy
46	Trinidad and Tobago	7.10	9.58	7.14	5.56	5.00	8.24	Flawed democracy
47	Bulgaria	7.01	9.17	6.07	7.22	4.38	8.24	Flawed democracy
48	Indonesia	6.97	7.75	7.14	6.67	6.25	7.06	Flawed democracy
49	Argentina	6.96	9.17	5.00	6.11	6.88	7.65	Flawed democracy
50	Philippines	6.94	9.17	5.71	7.22	4.38	8.24	Flawed democracy
51	Brazil	6.90	9.58	6.79	5.56	3.75	8.82	Flawed democracy
52	Poland	6.83	9.17	5.71	6.67	4.38	8.24	Flawed democracy
53	Suriname	6.77	9.17	6.43	5.00	5.00	8.24	Flawed democracy
54	Croatia	6.75	9.17	6.07	5.56	5.00	7.94	Flawed democracy
54	Ghana	6.75	8.33	5.71	6.11	6.25	7.35	Flawed democracy
56	Hungary	6.72	9.17	6.07	4.44	6.88	7.06	Flawed democracy
57	Dominican Republic	6.67	8.75	5.71	5.00	6.25	7.65	Flawed democracy
57	Colombia	6.67	9.17	7.14	4.44	4.38	8.24	Flawed democracy
59	Peru	6.65	9.17	5.36	6.11	4.38	8.24	Flawed democracy
60	El Salvador	6.64	9.17	6.07	4.44	5.00	8.53	Flawed democracy
61	Romania	6.62	9.17	5.71	5.00	5.00	8.24	Flawed democracy
61	Mongolia	6.62	9.17	5.71	5.00	5.00	8.24	Flawed democracy
63	Lesotho	6.59	8.25	5.36	6.67	5.63	7.06	Flawed democracy
64	Serbia	6.57	8.75	5.36	6.67	5.00	7.06	Flawed democracy
65	Malaysia	6.54	6.92	7.86	6.11	6.25	5.59	Flawed democracy
66	Sri Lanka	6.48	7.83	6.79	5.00	6.88	5.88	Flawed democracy
67	Mexico	6.47	7.92	6.07	7.22	4.38	6.76	Flawed democracy
68	Hong Kong	6.42	3.92	5.71	5.56	7.50	9.41	Flawed democracy
69	Tunisia	6.40	6.00	6.07	7.78	6.25	5.58	Flawed democracy
70	Singapore	6.38	4.33	7.86	6.61	6.25	7.35	Flawed democracy
71	Namibia	6.31	5.67	5.36	6.67	5.63	8.24	Flawed democracy
72	Paraguay	6.27	8.33	5.71	5.00	4.38	7.94	Flawed democracy
73	Guyana	6.25	8.33	5.36	6.11	4.38	7.06	Flawed democracy
74	Senegal	6.21	7.92	5.36	4.44	6.25	7.06	Flawed democracy
75	Papua New Guinea	6.03	6.92	6.07	3.89	5.63	7.65	Flawed democracy
76	Moldova	6.01	7.92	4.29	6.11	4.38	7.35	Flawed democracy
77	Zambia	5.99	7.08	5.36	3.89	6.88	6.76	Hybrid regime
78	Georgia	5.93	8.67	4.29	6.11	5.00	5.59	Hybrid regime
79	Honduras	5.92	9.17	5.71	3.89	4.38	6.47	Hybrid regime
79	Guatemala	5.92	7.92	6.07	3.89	4.38	7.35	Hybrid regime
81	Albania	5.91	7.00	4.36	5.56	5.00	7.65	Hybrid regime
82	Ecuador	5.81	8.25	4.64	5.00	4.38	6.76	Hybrid regime
83	Tanzania	5.76	7.00	5.00	5.56	6.25	5.00	Hybrid regime
84	Bangladesh	5.73	7.42	5.07	5.00	4.38	6.76	Hybrid regime
85	Montenegro	5.72	7.08	5.36	5.00	4.38	6.76	Hybrid regime
86	Ukraine	5.70	5.83	3.93	6.67	5.00	7.06	Hybrid regime
86	Mali	5.70	7.42	3.93	4.44	6.25	6.47	Hybrid regime
88	Benin	5.67	6.50	5.36	5.00	5.63	5.88	Hybrid regime
89	Fiji	5.64	4.58	5.71	6.67	5.63	5.59	Hybrid regime
90	Bolivia	5.63	7.00	5.36	5.00	3.75	7.06	Hybrid regime
91	Malawi	5.55	6.58	4.29	4.44	6.25	6.18	Hybrid regime
92	Kenya	5.33	4.33	5.00	6.67	5.63	5.00	Hybrid regime
93	Liberia	5.31	7.83	2.57	5.56	5.00	5.59	Hybrid regime
94	Uganda	5.26	5.25	3.57	4.44	6.88	6.18	Hybrid regime
95	Macedonia	5.23	6.92	3.21	6.11	3.75	6.18	Hybrid regime
96	Madagascar	5.07	5.92	3.57	5.56	5.63	4.71	Hybrid regime
97	Turkey	5.04	5.83	6.07	5.00	5.63	2.65	Hybrid regime
98	Kyrgyzstan	4.93	7.42	2.93	5.56	3.75	5.00	Hybrid regime
98	Bhutan	4.93	8.33	5.36	2.78	4.38	3.82	Hybrid regime
100	Thailand	4.92	4.50	3.93	5.00	5.00	6.18	Hybrid regime
101	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4.87	6.50	2.93	5.00	3.75	6.18	Hybrid regime
102	Lebanon	4.86	4.42	2.14	7.78	4.38	5.59	Hybrid regime
102	Nepal	4.86	4.33	4.29	4.44	5.63	5.59	Hybrid regime
104	Nicaragua	4.81	4.50	3.29	3.89	5.63	6.76	Hybrid regime
105	Morocco	4.77	4.75	4.64	4.44	5.63	4.41	Hybrid regime
106	Burkina Faso	4.70	4.42	4.29	4.44	5.63	4.71	Hybrid regime
107	Venezuela	4.68	5.67	2.50	5.56	4.38	5.29	Hybrid regime
108	Sierra Leone	4.55	5.68	1.86	2.78	6.25	5.29	Hybrid regime
109	Nigeria	4.50	6.08	4.29	3.33	4.38	4.41	Hybrid regime
110	Palestine	4.49	4.33	2.14	7.78	4.38	3.82	Hybrid regime
111	Pakistan	4.33	6.00	5.36	2.78	2.50	5.00	Hybrid regime
112	Cambodia	4.27	3.17	5.71	3.33	5.00	4.12	Hybrid regime
113	Myanmar	4.20	3.17	3.57	4.44	6.88	2.94	Hybrid regime
114	Iraq	4.08	4.33	0.07	7.22	4.38	4.41	Hybrid regime
115	Mozambique	4.02	4.42	2.14	5.00	5.00	3.53	Hybrid regime
115	Haiti	4.02	5.17	2.21	2.22	3.75	6.76	Hybrid regime
117	Mauritania	3.96	3.00	4.29	5.00	3.13	4.41	Authoritarian
117	Jordan	3.96	4.00	4.29	3.89	4.38	3.24	Authoritarian
117	Niger	3.96	4.75	2.21	2.22	3.75	6.76	Authoritarian
120	Armenia	3.88	4.33	2.86	4.44	1.88	5.88	Authoritarian
121	Kuwait	3.85	3.17	4.29	3.89	4.38	3.53	Authoritarian
122	Ivory Coast	3.81	3.42	2.86	3.33	5.63	3.82	Authoritarian
123	Gabon	3.74	2.58	2.21	4.44	5.63	3.82	Authoritarian
124	Comoros	3.71	4.33	2.21	4.44	3.75	3.82	Authoritarian
125	Ethiopia	3.60	0.00	3.57	5.56	5.63	3.24	Authoritarian
126	Algeria	3.56	2.58	2.21	3.89	5.00	4.12	Authoritarian
127	Belarus	3.54	1.33	3.57	3.89	6.25	2.65	Authoritarian
128	Cameroon	3.46	2.00	3.21	3.89	4.38	3.82	Authoritarian
128	Cuba	3.46	1.75	4.64	3.89	4.38	2.65	Authoritarian
130	Angola	3.40	0.92	3.21	5.56	4.38	2.94	Authoritarian
131	Vietnam	3.38	0.00	3.21	3.89	6.88	2.94	Authoritarian
132	Togo	3.32	3.58	1.14	2.78	5.00	4.12	Authoritarian
133	Egypt	3.31	2.58	3.93	3.33	3.75	2.94	Authoritarian
134	Russia	3.24	2.67	2.50	5.00	2.50	3.53	Authoritarian
135	Qatar	3.18	0.00	3.93	2.22	5.63	4.12	Authoritarian
136	China	3.14	0.00	4.64	3.33	6.25	1.47	Authoritarian
137	Guinea	3.14	3.50	0.43	4.44	4.38	2.94	Authoritarian
138	Rwanda	3.07	0.83	5.00	2.22	4.38	2.94	Authoritarian
139	Kazakhstan	3.06	0.50	2.14	4.44	4.38	3.82	Authoritarian
140	Zimbabwe	3.05	0.50	2.00	3.89	5.63	3.24	Authoritarian
141	Oman	3.04	0.00	3.93	2.78	4.38	4.12	Authoritarian
142	Swaziland	3.03	0.92	2.86	2.22	5.63	3.53	Authoritarian
143	Republic of the Congo	2.91	1.67	2.86	3.33	3.75	2.94	Authoritarian
143	Gambia	2.91	1.75	3.21	2.22	5.00	2.35	Authoritarian
145	Djibouti	2.83	0.42	2.14	3.33	5.63	2.65	Authoritarian
146	Bahrain	2.79	1.25	3.21	2.78	4.38	2.35	Authoritarian
147	United Arab Emirates	2.75	0.00	3.57	2.22	5.00	2.94	Authoritarian
148	Azerbaijan	2.65	0.50	2.14	3.33	3.75	3.53	Authoritarian
149	Afghanistan	2.55	2.50	1.14	2.78	2.50	3.82	Authoritarian
150	Burundi	2.40	-0.33	0.79	3.89	5.00	2.65	Authoritarian
151	Sudan	2.37	0.00	1.79	3.89	5.00	1.18	Authoritarian
151	Eritrea	2.37	0.00	2.14	1.67	6.88	1.18	Authoritarian
151	Laos	2.37	0.83	2.86	1.67	5.00	1.47	Authoritarian
154	Iran	2.34	0.00	3.21	3.89	3.13	1.47	Authoritarian
155	Libya	2.25	1.00	0.00	1.67	5.63	2.94	Authoritarian
156	Yemen	2.07	0.00	0.00	4.44	5.00	0.88	Authoritarian
157	Guinea-Bissau	1.98	1.67	0.00	2.78	3.13	2.35	Authoritarian
158	Uzbekistan	1.95	0.08	1.86	2.22	5.00	0.59	Authoritarian
159	Democratic Republic of the Congo	1.93	0.92	0.71	2.78	4.38	0.88	Authoritarian
159	Saudi Arabia	1.93	0.00	2.86	2.22	3.13	1.47	Authoritarian
161	Tajikistan	1.89	0.58	0.07	1.67	6.25	0.88	Authoritarian
162	Turkmenistan	1.83	0.00	0.79	2.78	5.00	0.59	Authoritarian
163	Equatorial Guinea	1.70	0.00	0.43	2.22	4.38	1.47	Authoritarian
164	Central African Republic	1.61	1.75	0.36	1.11	2.50	2.35	Authoritarian
165	Chad	1.50	0.00	0.00	1.11	3.75	2.65	Authoritarian
166	Syria	1.43	0.00	0.00	2.78	4.38	0.00	Authoritarian
167	North Korea	1.08	0.00	2.50	1.67	1.25	0.00	Authoritarian

Any individual who states they support democracy has to be able to discuss their point of view without fear of abuse from another. The abuser abuses those they cannot debate for lack of a solid argument. Disapprobation of political policies based on moral grounds cannot be wantonly maltreated purely because what is being said upsets one person's point of view. The whole point of democracy is to air opinions the better to create a moral, just society. Without this balance harmonious accord fractures into a distinct division. And there is too much division in this world and too little love and compassion.

The same is true of religion as it is of politics. Exclusivism excludes. Having your own faith is all fine and dandy but not when belief belittles others of a different faith. Singularity slides into division perpetuating discord. What is surely needed is a plurality.  Exclusivism comes awfully close to fundamentalism much in the way neoliberalism comes awfully close to authoritarianism, even fascism. Extremism of any sort is not only fundamentalism but fundamentally flawed. 

I am a non-theist, that is I do not worship or follow a single, or a pantheon, of deities. That being so does not mean I need be disrespectful to those who do. For me, God is but a word that describes the unknowable, the undefinable. Tao is another for Tao means the way and early Christian's believed their worship of God was the way. If we hold true to the Golden Rule, if we hold true to being compassionate and loving toward all sentient beings then surely having a kinship of faiths is preferable?

To achieve this we must have discourse with those of other faiths. We must endeavour to listen even when sceptical and to be respectful at all times for those other faiths, those other philosophies all hold true to the same Golden Rule I live my life by.

The key to democracy, religion, faith and philosophy is communication and to communicate we must listen.