General Theorem of Existence

[Suki]

Short list of some people she has confronted directly< mom has been shot at, threatened with death, many times:

1) KKK (she confronts in their headquarters)

2)Nazi Party (she takes on the skinheads and debates directly)

3)Heritage Foundation and other conservative Washington thinktanks (she debates, writes and fights it out over with people over there)

4) Jerry Falwell and other Moral majority, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson (y un monton mas)

ademas de otras agencias no mencionadas. I doubt some attacking website people will faze her, te lo prometo. Love. Suki

[Eddier1]

Suki, I don't recall if it was to you or somebody else that I said that since I have been a professional revolutionary for most of my life, that I haven't really much of a personal life to speak about. Everything, all my energies, have been channled for the Cause. That is the way it has been ever since I realized what a hell-of-a-problem Puerto Rico has with regard to its political status and/or colonial status.

My parents which were Boricuas on all four sides, and therefore so am I, expired many years ago. And they were truly bilingual in that they spoke fluent Spanish and fluent English. They had the standard education of those days, which usually finished with a high school education, and then became members of the proletariat, and spent their lives working till they retired from their jobs. They both lived to ripe old-ages, my Mom expiring when she was 80 years old, and my Dad when he was exactly 100 years old. Yep he fulfilled the desire of the Masses to live to be a 100!

Now,I was sitting around with my old commie buddies, swapping stories about our adventures in La Lucha, and having a few drinks, and it was all very enjoyable when the latest breaking news about Vieques came out. I steeled myself then and there to do whatever I could do to help settle the problems of not only Vieques, but La Isla Nacion de Puerto Rico.

And so here I am using my cyber residence, my computer, which at my age wasn't easy to master, but I did it. And I will continue doing it even though I think it has alerted my old persecutors, you know whom, and I have had a revisiting of the nervous condition they gave me as a youngster. These flashbacks, with physical symptoms, are like an alarm to me that I am under scrutiny once again.
I am optimistic that it will not lead to the complications of Parkinson's that you mention, because I have been tested in the past for that, and have not the "rolling of the index and middle fingers" that is so indicative of that disease. The only thing I must be vigilent about is that because of my age, and the exhausting nervousness, I may not be strong enough to toss it off, but will have to accept it now as a cronic condition. But only time will tell.

Thank you so much for your kind and loving concern about that.

Regards Boricua Suki,
EddieR

[Suki]

a long and productive life...take time to enjoy it a bit more AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE. Remember balance is the key...there must have been not only friends but people who you have loved and they have loved you...eso es muy importante. Aunque no quiero presumir. I wish I were alive in that trying time of yours and could have protected you from whatever trauma you were put through. But all I can do now is use a special type of mantra (it is like a bendicion and send only focused positive energy your way) I know you might not believe in that. I could only tell you that every time I have done that with consistency the people on the receiving end have benefitted from it greatly.

If you have had vietnam style flashbacks from your war years just remember that I and Papotito and others don't think you are "crazy like a fox" but "listo como un zorro" you are one of the most articulate and sharp people I have ever met in my life. I miss so much that Boricua style of expression that you have in this western state. It brings me happiness to talk to you once in a while.

Was that you in a picture, with the white hair and the proud stance and the eyeglasses with the red tie or is that someone else? Do not feel discouraged about the "demise" of communism or socialistic democracy or scientific socialism. The human race is destined to learn from its stupid mistakes in all economic systems and they will evolve. It does not matter if it takes longer than our lifetimes and beyond...the victory for the betterment of lives will come out of the pains, the blood and the sweat of the legacy of struggle, and each of us individually are dust motes in time, but many dust motes swirling together over a long period of time will create a storm and the storm will be eventual transformation... I don't doubt it for a single moment. Neither should you (you are too stubborn for doubting any way). Ya te quiero mucho mi amigo, cuidate bien. Y este seguro en que yo y otros estamos respaldantote siempre...Suki.

[Raulgr]

Originally posted by Suki
I know this is a simple question Raul but simple questions are sometimes the best...Why do you think this planet is here? Do you believe in an ultimate purpose? Why is gravity and magnetism and degradation of living cells so orderly and what ultimate purpose does it serve to have such orderliness in the universe? And lastly how old are you, and are you married? (just keeping you on your toes)I wish I could cook for you. What kind of food do you prefer Raul? Are you a health food fanatic, vegetarian, vegan, prefer Asian, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Italian or Persian cuisine (I know all of them well)? Which one do you prefer? Love, Suki.

Suki,

Might as well take care of the administrative matters first. I am single and every bit as young as I feel (a guy’s got to have some secrets, after all). As a kid I recall that fish came frozen in a box – those rectangular things that were breaded, perhaps you remember them? (not likely unless you were JAILED in the MIDWEST). Which reminds me of a trivia question: How many steakhouses do you suppose there are in Omaha? (Don’t worry - any guess above 10,000 is close enough.) Since then my epicurean horizons have broadened. I like all Asian cuisines, including Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Sezchuan, and Indian. In the states, I would frequent Lebanese delis – taboula and rice with lentils, delicious! A Peruvian friend introduced me to Lomo Saltado, strips of marinated beef (lightly salted) sautéed with a generous quantity of onions and green bell pepper. Cumin (comino) is the principal spice used in the dish – very good! And, of course, our friends on the Iberian peninsula have contributed Paella and Ceviche (small strips of white fish like cod or haddock marinated 24 hours chilled in lime juice). The Peruvian version of ceviche is served with blanched strips of red bell pepper, a small ear of corn, and some pieces of yam or sweet potato. There was a diner that I frequented in the Italian quarter, one guy from Sicily and one from the north – food to die for! There was one very long counter with stools facing the food preparation area and cooking burners, with a fairly narrow space in between. There was one waitress, Ariana, who was 300 lbs if she weighed a pound, and who would flit up and down the counter taking orders and serving in a kind of surrealistic ballet. How she managed to get by the two chefs is still one of life’s greatest mysteries as far as I am concerned. Between the hours of 11:30 and 2:30 in the afternoon, each stool was occupied with someone waiting directly behind for it to become vacant. You could go in for lunch and be serenaded by people from the local opera company. Happy people those Italians – they remind me a lot of Puerto Ricans. Not too familiar with Persian, but I do know Greek and Moroccan – they both feature lamb. Authentic Mexican is hard to find in the states. Still, I won’t turn up my nose at a chicken burrito with rice and beans and loaded with pico de gallo (extra hot) or Tex-Mex chicken fajitas, either of which MUST be in the company of an ice-cold Negra Modelo (made in Mexico - by far the finest malted beer crafted on planet earth!). There is a Vera Cruzano style of cooking red snapper that a friend who spent a number of years in Vera Cruz introduced me to. It’s grilled and served with a sauce of onions, fresh tomatoes and green peppers and lots of picante. Washed down with a cold Tecate with a slice of lime, it doesn’t get much better than that! My dad used to cook a Spanish version of arroz con pollo with lots of green olives, pimiento and green peppers – great stuff! I have made some killer pasteles with chicken or pork and either yautia, yuca, or guineo verde, or combinations thereof. I also make a knockoff of an appetizer that I first encountered in Café Amadeus in Calle San Sebastian in the old town. Here’s how it goes: Mash amarillos (ripe platano) together with incredible proportions of mashed garlic and saute the mixture with extra virgin olive over the stove top. Press the cooked mixture into small rounded cups or dessert bowls to form individual servings and reserve unrefrigerated until serving, Saute medium large shrimp (shelled, de-veined, with tails on), again with a generous amount of chopped garlic, some chopped green onion, juice of half a lemon, and either butter or olive oil or both, depending on your preference. To serve, place the reserved cups upside down on serving plates and tap (if necessary) to dislodge the banana cone. Scoop the shrimp sauté over the cones and serve with a fine chilled white wine – buen provecho!

But, beyond the fantasy realm of culinary delights, my usual modus operandi is to follow the RULE that, if it doesn’t have a FOOT, a FIN, or a STEM on it, I don’t eat it because it isn’t FOOD! In brief, corporate america, that cheery bunch of unconscionable raiders who have devastated the environment and destroyed the health of a nation, finds NO FRIEND in me. If my thing were to catch on, Safeway would have to go on a diet because 99.999 percent of what they have to sell would become SHELF ORNAMENTATION. Yes-sir-ree-Bob, as a DISCRIMINATING CONSUMER, I am their WORST NIGHTMARE! So, typical fare around here is a salad of chopped parsley, broccoli, green pepper, red or green onion, fresh spinach and/or dandelion leaf, red and green cabbage, Puerto Rican style beans, one pack of cubed extra-firm tofu, dressed with a dollop of fresh minced garlic, several squirts of homemade salsa picante, several heaping tablespoons of prepared mustard, balsamic vinegar, and a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil, all washed down with a glass of dry red wine – works for me! I try to balance the carbs with a little chicken or fish. It is a balancing act because you can listen to the “Sugar Busters” (a version of Barry Sears’ “The Zone”) or you can take the advice of Dr. Julian Whittaker (“Reversing Diabetes”) , who notes the american fascination with protein morning, noon, and night, average adult daily intake - 120 grams, and warns that this level of consumption is FOUR TIMES the amount recommended for good health (30 grams). Human metabolism is very limited in its ability to utilize protein (strictly for cellular repair, not for energy) and amounts not utilized must be eliminated from the blood (by the kidneys or liver, I’ve forgotten which). Therefore, excess protein places a tremendous burden on the body’s organs, taking years off an individual’s life and increasing the likelihood of a plethora of serious and debilitating medical complications. When I think about this I always recall Dad’s insistence that I eat a big steak before Little League baseball games so that I would have “lots of energy”. OH WELL! (Just find out what the average citizen thinks.) Now, if anyone doubts that america is in TROUBLE, I recommend a short stroll through your city streets, or, better yet, just hang out at the checkout line of your local food dispenser. Obesity is EPIDEMIC in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico, as is the incidence of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease, diseases that were relatively unknown to the generation of your grandparents and prior. But, don’t mind me, I’m just a VOICE in the WILDERNESS! (Isn’t it GRAND that life is so full of CHOICES? I recommend only the RIGHT ONES, however!)

But, I digress (what else is new?). I know that you are a great cook, Suki, and that I would be in HEAVEN at your table! Why do I think this planet is here? Do I believe in an ultimate purpose? Why is gravity and magnetism and degradation of living cells so orderly, and does that order imply an ultimate purpose?

Well, our sun and the planets of our solar system coalesced from interstellar material of a prior generation star or stars, dispersed in a supernova (stellar explosion caused by gravitational collapse). We know this because the heavy elements that we have on earth had to be cooked up (synthesized) in a solar oven. Gravity and magnetism and cellular degradation exhibit order because they follow RULES which lead inevitably to an ULTIMATE SET of rules, the WHAT of the universe. I believe, as do Weinberg and other theoretical physicists, that, even knowing completely the WHAT, we will be no closer to an understanding of WHY, if indeed such ULTIMATE PURPOSE exists. I happen to think that it does not exist, but if, at any rate, we can never know what such PURPOSE is, the matter of its existence is really moot, isn’t it? The bottom line is that, in the opinion of theoretical physicists, having a final theory of the universe is not likely to provide the answer that you seek, or even so much as a clue to its discovery. We will still be asking why THAT PARTICULAR SET OF RULES and not some other. The practical course, it seems to me, is to decide for yourself the purpose of your own existence. It at least strengthens resolve and brings into focus what is important to you.

Regards, Raul

[Suki]

All that food you described as your favorites, I have had and are my ALL TIME FAVORITES TOO! It is very scary (and I know you do not believe in a psychic (hahaha) connection) but la comida favorita tuya is what I have won prizes for!!! It is scary...and what you say you normally eat now. That is exactly what I eat frequently as well. It was not always that way. I have diabetes (my father had it, my grandmother) we all got it at the same age 34. I have had to deal with a very strict diet and more vigorous and consistent exercise. But I refused the drugs and the insulin injections. Now just with being extremely strict with the diet and exercise I have lost some weight and no more high blood sugar. I took some of Dr. Whittaker's advice. The doctor was kind of mad that my homeopathic and vitamin and mineral therapies were working better than all those drugs and pills and shots he wanted to give me. But INDEPENDENT THINKING FREQUENTLY WORKS WONDERS! I have had to face my mortality though. And I am pleased to find I have few and minor regrets (so far). I would love to be a mother. I will endeavor to become one soon. The process of becoming a mother is quite enjoyable (hahaha). If not I will adopt (after all my Papotito was adopted too ).

I just bought your recommended book de Weinberg. I will crack it open tomorrow and start on what is bound to be quite an interesting adventure. I love negra modelo, Papotito and I went on a three week vacation this past July, we took a first class train from Chihuahua to Los Mochis and passed through Las Barrancas del Cobre in Mexico (It is a great journey through some out-of-this-world scenery. You start in some Reno Nevada (but prettier) coniferous forest topography and wind up in a tropical forest. (The canyons were huge and as numerous as the stars in the heavens) we stopped in a tiny town near Divisadero. Then visited the Taraumara Indians and visited their church and saw some incredible rocks with naturally occurring shapes like Frogs, Hands, Elephants, all of them shaped into the most unreal shapes by the ravages of wind, rain and sun...the lake was spectacular...there were German Mennonites who moved to Chichuahua and made the state their home. Mexican Amish folk...yep for me it was heaven for a cultural anthropologist. The Taraumara are tough cookies...they absolutely flatly refuse to speak to outsiders. They ask for donations, but non-Taraumaras are simply non-existent. You are talking to a brick wall. But if you are friendly, keep your mouth shut and spend some money they get less uptight and start to act naturally with each other and if you are observant (which I am... you can see they are very proud, and very loving towards each other).

They are related to the Apache tribes in New Mexico and Arizona and Texas area. But the North American version is much wealthier materially but dead culturally. No language, no tradition and suffer from massive amounts of heart disease and diabetes and stroke. (Violation of the rules as you say Raulito). I worked with the American counterparts (the Apache are an interesting ethnic and cultural group). I have visited almost all the Mayan and Toltec, Olmec, Zapotec, Tarascan and other ruins and sites in Mexico and Central America. I will talk about that more in depth with Eddie later on. Some of the stuff I have done I will take to my grave as some of the most awe-inspiring adventures and intellectual challenges I had ever experienced. Someone gave me massive fortune in this lifetime. Anyway after staying overnight in the strangest Hotel (I will describe it in another conversation ) we wound up taking a bus to Mazatlan....it was sheer fun as soon as we arrived until 10 days later we had to leave...we were like honeymooners again. I felt like I was seventeen and had the enthusiasm of a teenager to explore and see and ask questions. Sailing, scuba-diving, swimming at midnight, touching dolphins, la carreta con Miguel Angel en La Isla de la Piedra, the Coconut Farm, the very sweet Chambermaid at the Hotel, the Theater "Angela Peralta" a little colonial jewel of a theater with Cuban Ballet dancers, and a school of Music, Dancing, Painting and the Arts (including acting) Gustavo the Tourism students who loved Puertorriquenos...so many unforgettable memories. I love that country. Mexico I have visited it over 100 times 40 different cities over the years...so many friends, so many memories. How I love all its virtues, flaws and contradictions. Como Mexico no hay Dos!!!

I can still recall the exact fragrance of my husband's skin...las caricias, and the tiny miniature mangos at the market that we bought...I have been extraordinarily fortunate indeed. I will have a philosophical question of some depth as soon as I finish this great book of Weinberg's. By the way, gracias for recommending it Raul!!!! You are so COOL! Amor. Suki.

[Suki]

Eddie pursuing the Bliss of Freedom. That is such a wonderful philosophy.

And Raul, you have to find your own purpose and meaning in life...I love that as well.

I knew I was going to learn in this philosophy thread and I have way beyond my highest expectations for joining it was at the beginning...Perhaps I should stay at Puerto Rico com and not just dump all of my computer related activities. I am learning so much. Politically I probably won't convince anyone...every one is already set in stone practically. And I am not the best writer for politics (I like both of you better than I writing any day of the week!).

Well, it is very, very late or should I say very, very early in the morning this Saturday night (or Sunday morning)...off to bed and la-la land. Love to both amiguitos y Don Raul and Don Eddie. Suki

P.S. Merecen el Don no por viejos pero por el respeto que siento por los dos.

[Suki]

And everything I said on it was true. And I still feel the same way about Eddier1. I don't think I ever will feel anything different. What a wonder it was to have met him, and all the other people I have learned from at pr.com. I don't know if my time is up on this forum. But, this thread and what it reflected was very beautiful.

Suki.
Post Data. One always remembers beginnings. Such a lovely beginning I had in this forum.