#and he’s not blameless in this false reality game

[menfenced]

I know so many Republicans right now who are saying yesterday’s attempted coup was justified because of what happened with the election (ie they think there was fraud). I have been trying to figure out how they could believe that when there is no evidence.

I have also been trying to figure out it Trump is doing all this stupid illegal shit because

A. He is a corrupt self-dealing asshole who doesn’t care that what he is doing is illegal because he will do literally anything to stay in power

B. His ego is so big that he honestly can’t conceive of a reality where he’s not the most popular president who everyone loves and therefore how could he lose?

C. He’s dumb and doesn’t know how government and elections work.

I’m guessing it’s actually a combination of all 3, but the one that pisses me off the most is that 3rd one. Trump doesn’t understand how government works and had no business running for its highest office 4 years ago, but then he spent that 4 years NOT learning how the government he was in charge of works. He spent 4 years in our highest office and he didn’t learn shit. And nobody bothered to tell him he was wrong about this shit for 4 years.

That’s when I realized why his supporters are so clueless.

The average American doesn’t know much about how their government works, and that’s mostly fine. We don’t need to know everything. We need to know some things, but we tend to learn about those when they become relevant. And that’s the problem for Republicans because their leaders, the people who should and often do know better, are actively trying to deceive their base.

Democrats listened to pundits on their news stations explain how we should expect a red wave on election night, followed by a blue wave, because Democrats and Republicans were being encouraged to vote using different platforms (mail vs in person), because of state laws that required some states not to count mail in ballots until Election Day, and because it takes people longer to vote in areas with high density populations, especially when republican administrations are actively attempting to suppress the vote in those areas by providing fewer polling stations and making people stand in line for hours to cast ballots.

Republicans listened to their pundits kiss Trump’s ass and say he could never lose.

Democrats listened to their politicians who explained how vote by mail works, what you needed to do to ensure your vote would be counted, and how you could check to make sure your ballot was received in time.

Republicans listened to their politicians who told them that the only way they could lose is if the other side cheats because Trump won the last election so how could he possibly lose this next one? You are the silent majority and there are more of you than anybody else so the only possibilities after Election Day are us winning or Democrats cheating.

The average person can be forgiven for not knowing how politics and elections work. Pundits, reporters, and politicians have no excuse. They do know how this stuff works but those on the republican side are choosing to lie to their constituents about it. They know the truth and they are lying to stay in power. They are actively trying to deceive their own base.

So I can’t lay the blame entirely at the feet of republican constituents. The people who they SHOULD be able to trust are knowingly lying to them. Giuliani is an attorney. You think he honestly believes he can win any of these court cases with zero evidence? Of course not. He knows it’s just for show. You think Ted Cruz and the other republican senators don’t understand that a higher percentage of ballots counted later in the evening will be for democrats? Of course they know that. Their campaign managers have told them that and they have actively tried to block mail in ballots, early voting, and adequate polling locations in big cities or majority minority areas because they KNOW that those voters are not voting republican. But they don’t say that to their base. They play dumb and pretend this is suspicious instead of 100% expected. This is the shit republican constituents are hearing so we can’t be surprised when they don’t understand how they could have lost this election.

Republicans in positions of authority know what they are doing and they know what their colleagues are doing, and they know damn well that it’s wrong. If only more than one of them had the balls to admit it and call their party out.

“The objectors have claimed they are doing so on behalf of the voters. Have an audit, they say, to satisfy the many people who believe that the election was stolen. Please! No Congressional led audit will ever convince those voters, particularly when the President will continue to claim that the election was stolen. The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth. That is the burden, and the duty, of leadership. The truth is that President-elect Biden won this election. President Trump lost. Scores of courts, the President’s own Attorney General, and state election officials both Republican and Democrat have reached this unequivocal decision.” -Mitt Romney

[kitsoa]

Meta reality anon: Well when it comes to Yozora we'll know better (or won't) in a couple of days. ;) Yeah something like that. I do think the merging and confusion between fiction and reality will be a major theme in the upcoming saga. After all it's been built up since COM in various ways: false memories vs real. Nobodies. Data and Dream worlds. Woldlines. Different realities w/different versions (video game Yozora and real Yozora). I do think MoM will toy w/this a lot. I think I'm pretty -

2 pretty focused on those dark beings MoM told Luxu about in Union X. He made them seem very different from what Sora and anyone else besides MoM has encountered so far. More intelligent. More scary. I'm wondering if MoM isn't the only mastermind in the shadows. Like those dark beings he mentioned are beyond anything even existing in the Realm of Darkness and they're pulling their own strings to keep this war cycle going. Shoot for all we know they messed w/reality first and MoM got in-

3  on it later on. There's a lot to unpack and a lot we don't know. But I do think those dark beings are going to be a huge deal: possibly the true final bosses of the saga (not that I think MoM will be a blameless saint unless some epic twist is made. He's definitely a shifty guy just for what he put Luxu and all the other Keyblade weilders through. Good intentions or not). They say there was darkness before light and all light must have a source. Maybe we'll learn about the first clash-

4 between light and dark, battling for supremacy as reality was taking shape. MoM could be a ancient being as well from around that time. As one reality fell to darkness. People learned to create new realities like storybook tales. Ansem said a heart like Sora's could breathe life into anything, from wind to a puppet. Maybe MoM also had a heart like that. One that could create whole realities even. The heart is the most powerful and mysterious thing in KH. Kingdom Hearts itself will make anyone-

5 a god who opens it successfully. Kingdom Hearts is a character all on it's own. It's the one that truly decides what is or can be real. It certainly seems far less inflexible them most Keyblade weilders are. W/this in mind Kingdom Hearts already has a very mysterious connection or interest in both Sora and MoM. Maybe KH is more active then we think? Everyone just sees it as this thing to attain or protect. But maybe it uses the Keyblades as its eyes to watch all these realities w/hearts 

6 I'm not sure if this whole kh universe is MoM's creation or if it's Kingdom Hearts. But I do think MoM is fascinated w/ideas of what's real or not on many different meta levels. I think to a degree Sora (and Yozora) is too. Sora's very first lines are questioning if what he knows is real. He also thought more deeply about the nature of nobodies and found out they are real. Not to mention, again, Ansem's insight that Sora empathy allows his heart to create hearts in others. What's real again?-

7 In KH Idk. Honestly the very idea of questioning reality to this extent is unthinkable. You'd almost feel detached like you were in a constant dream. Then to suddenly to yoinked to another Final World when you're existence was suppose to vanish. That's insane. Do you think the MoM's and Sora's actions are causing a ripple effect on KH? One that's warping fact and fiction. MoM and Sora were brought to a world: Fantasy based on Reality (FF13V's original tagline). What does KH consider not real?

In regards, to the dark beings mentioned in the flashback, I’ve basically said my piece in my analysis of the scene. I personally don’t think he’s talking about an actual force of darkness. I think he’s taking advantage of the double meaning in KH terminology to make us think there’s another force of evil out there. I think he’s actually just explaining his ‘sympathetic’ back story. The reason for the smoke and mirrors is because it’d be in dramatic character, point to the themes of fantasy as a coping mechanism, and the reality of it being the interpretation of real world evil would give away the twist. 

That’s my meta reality lens. If we limit our ideas here, then yeah, MoM could be talking about a new dark force in the lore. I just think we have all the lore pieces in terms of opposition laid out before us.

And having someone behind MoM is always a possibility but it’d be a little tired due to MoM’s reveal that he’s basically behind the entire first saga too. Motive is one thing but I personally am not a fan of last minute villains. MoM’s being established as a villain for years now and it’d be a little low to change that in the finale. 

Ultimately if you view the KH world as an entirely fictional beast, the subjects within it unaware, then you can essentially explain any plot holes and contrivance as a “meddling god” or author. I’ve always been one to try to understand the inner mechanisms of mythological physics which is why I’ve gravitated to this reading. Making real that which isn’t. I refer to my interpretation of the Replica situation to best describe the entire function of the kh world. 

Replicas are objects imbued with data. Cold hard facts and information. A heart is the force that sparks that data into life. Whether its a heart placed in the object or born from surrounding relationship, the heart is the sole requirement to be considered an existing person. And by nature of this very basic law the object miraculously becomes the intended person down to the blood pumping in their body. It’s not magic, it’s like… the actual physics. Because this is a reality that is subservient to the emotions and those emotions are born from the story told. The fantasy being presented. I go into this in my Worlds as Stories theory but it’s the reason why I see these grand entities like Kingdom Hearts as simply the embodiment of the entire fictional realm. 

I think the 4th wall is going to be broken soon. That Sora is going to discover his origins and have to grapple with his philosophies of existence being put to the test. This could very well change the entire fabric of the KH universe as a result. I mean you can't undo that knowledge once it happens. (i mean unless you forget which could happen). I’m the weird one saying that I don’t think Sora and Yozora are in the world of Verum Rex but in the real world. Because if Yozora dwells in a Fantasy based on Reality. Then Sora exists in a Reality based on Fantasy.

[theologyinplay]

Born Blind: John 9 & asking the wrong questions

When you think of judgment what comes to mind?

Typically we think of making certain conclusions about someone or something with simply what evidence we have before us.

This isn’t automatically always a bad and negative thing, it’s just not usually the most complete and thorough way to make a deduction.

But it seems so natural and automatic sometimes, doesn’t it? It feels like sometimes we don’t even have to try to judge someone, we simply find ourselves already doing it before we even become aware of what we’re doing.

What about ourselves? When it comes to judgment, how do we handle ourselves? Often times there is a gauge we use, whether we realize it or not, of why we deserve something, good or bad, or maybe why something has happened to us. We make a case one way or the other and it then seems to make sense to us. And maybe that’s what we’re after anyway, for things to be comprehensive enough for us. But how do we ever know if we see enough to judge someone, or even ourselves?

There’s a perfect story in the Gospel of John about this very thing. We’ll be making our way through the entire chapter so bear with me and I’ll try and keep it as compacted as possible before this gets away from me too much.

In chapter 8 Jesus is having words with the Pharisees. Jesus tells them that if they’d just practice what he was teaching, they’d never have to look death in the face (v. 51). Of course, to them this was actual, physical death. Not the same kind of death God warned Adam and Eve about in the garden. Even there they were easily dissuaded by the serpent that God meant actual physical death and that “of course you’re not going to die…”

In the same way we have the Pharisee’s literalizing what Jesus is saying and they use that against him claiming that since their father in the faith, Abraham, died, is he saying he’s better than he? Jesus responds with something we’re going to need as we continue in chapter 9. He says, “If I turned the spotlight on myself, it wouldn’t amount to anything. But my father, the same one you say is your father, put me here at this time and place of splendor. You haven’t recognized him in this. But I have. If I, in false modesty, said I didn’t know what was going on, I would be as much of a liar as you are.” (v. 54-55)

The chapter ends with them grabbing whatever rocks were lying around to stone him, but he slips off and gets away. Nine begins with him walking down the street. John is simply continuing on from where he left us off in 8 since even in the beginning of 8 he starts out in the temple and 9 is all about healing on the Sabbath.

He and his disciples come up to a blind man sitting on the side of the road. The disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be blind?” (v. 2).

How often do we get caught up in this cause-effect game too? We see something happen and it must be at the result of something else? If we come across bad fortune, we must have done something to deserve it. If we’re on a lucky streak, we’re doing something right. Sound familiar?

We do this with almost anything and more often than not automatically, without even realizing that we’re doing it. But listen to Jesus’ response, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the one who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s light.” (v. 3-5).

The main theme I want to focus on here is what we can take away from Jesus’ encouragement. Whenever we feel tempted to play the cause-effect game, we should be reminding ourselves, “That’s the wrong question. Look for what God is doing here and now.” Regardless of whether it’s a bad situation or a good one, it’s not always at the result of something you did to cause it or at the hands of someone else. Or maybe it is. The point Jesus is making here is, this is not the time to ask those kinds of question because having the answer to them isn’t going to get you anywhere closer to resolving or continuing what’s going on. Looking for what God is doing at the center of that thing will.

The story goes on with Jesus spitting in the dirt, making mud, rubbing it on the guy’s eye and telling him to go wash. He does and is healed and can see. The man doesn’t ask many questions, he’s just excited that he can see again. The religious leaders see things a little different.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s remember this is the same day where a little while ago he’s nearly stoned because of the claims he’s making. And he says to them that the spotlight isn’t on him or else he wouldn’t even be noticed. It’s got to be on what God is doing. And so here’s a blind man, blind from birth, and we’re not supposed to focus on why he’s blind. Asking the why here is the wrong question.

Take a moment now and examine your life and see how many times a day you ask “Why is this happening”, or “Why am I going through this?” Think of someone that you know, or maybe it’s you, that has cancer. How often have you spent asking “Why”?

This is a perfectly natural and appropriate question during such tragic times. Please don’t hear me say you’re wrong for asking the question. Jesus didn’t condemn the disciples as wrong for asking, he simply said it was the wrong question. What if instead, we spent our time, energy and focus on looking for what God can do and is doing in the situation? I think, because we don’t see the full picture the way God does, it’s impossible for us to correctly articulate and judge a situation. If, instead of trying to make sense out of something that isn’t going to, we look for where God is in this and what is it he’s doing in the center of whatever it is we’re going through, we’d rest easier in his peace than our own understanding.

Is this making sense? Good! Let’s keep going.

The man is brought into questioning and then his parents are brought into questioning and the leaders can’t figure this thing out. Was he ever really blind? Is he lying? Maybe it’s a different person all together and he just looks like the same guy.

This all comes back full circle to Jesus (doesn’t it always?). The man reiterates what happened and explains that he doesn’t fully understand either but all he knows is that he can see now. Right there is a perfect example already of Jesus’ teaching put into practice. He doesn’t ask the question of why he was healed, or even how it worked, he rejoices and revels in the reality that while once he was blind, he now sees.

The questioning continues whether or not Jesus is from God. They determine that clearly he couldn’t be because he’s breaking the Sabbath law. I’ll come back to this point later with Jesus’ response, but this is another time when we often get caught up in what we think we already know and then move forward with judging someone or something because we think we have all the information enough to do so.

The leaders at that point, arguing back and forth with the healed man, claim they know the God that spoke to Moses but have no idea who this man is (now it’s good to note here the arrogance in their faith. None of them were around when Moses was around, yet they are emphatic about the fact they know God spoke to him. In this same train of thinking they conclude they have no idea where Jesus comes from).

To close here I want to focus on how Jesus ends this part of the story. He hears word about this man being harassed and comes back to him. It says that Jesus asks the man if he believes in the Son of Man. The man asks Jesus to point him out and he will believe. Jesus tells him he’s looking right at him, asking him if he could recognize his voice. Immediately the man realizes that he does, and he believes.

Jesus then confronts the religious elite. He begins in the same thread he left off with in the previous chapter. He says, “I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.” (v. 39)

Such a burn.

Of course the Pharisee’s at this point are already fuming and then adding this to the fire, they ask him if he’s calling them blind. His response is perfect, “if you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable for every fault and failure.”(v. 41)

Here’s where I’ll leave you. What I can take away from this story is that the point of the things that happen to me isn’t why it’s happening but what is God doing at the center of that thing that I can focus on. And if I spend all my time believing that I know precisely why someone is the way they are, why someone is acting the way they are, if I claim to see everything so clearly, I’ve already put myself under the judgment of never truly learning about life and the full picture. Jesus’ disciples thought they had a good grasp of cause-effect. The man is blind, must be due to sin. Jesus had something else in mind. The Pharisee’s thought that since this man (Jesus) is breaking their law, he must not be from God. Jesus had something else in mind.

If I approach everyone I come in contact with believing that I know their story and can judge their behavior according to what I see and if I come into a situation and judge what’s going on and why it must be happening, I cut myself off from truly seeing; I forfeit my right to actually understand to the core of that person and thing what’s going on and what God is doing in it.

Grace + Peace

*all verses taken from the Message bible*