Déjà Vu ~ Times II: Mobs for God?

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Mobs for God?

How do we counter the violence and alienation that is flooding our world? What is OUR cointelpro?¹—OUR overt (not covert) intelligence program to unite people of the earth against all the wars and destructions? How do we inspire the best in human nature?—the kind of harmony generated by the early flashmobs (some only made possible by technology)!?

Ode to Joy - Flash Mob Started by One Little Girl (Time 5:40) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87qT5BOl2XU

▪ Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium) (Time 4:01) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

▪ Flash mob in Dubai, international airport- ARTmob Must See! (Time 9:10) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KbVrOHfpVU

▪ Amazing Gospel Flash Mob -- Let's Mob the Streets for Jesus (Time 5:29) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJGe6PcNvYU

▪ Flashmob: Heathrow airport welcome (Time 3:12) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMG2vNVq0ww

▪ Train Passengers Sing Over the Rainbow! (Time 4:37) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xctzp0dp9uc

▪ Mamma Mia! - Flash Mob no Shopping Vila Olímpia (Time 4:49) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eOrABjYDJU

▪ Come Clog Dancing Flash Mob, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Time 7:53) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtESUuA2gTc

▪ Best Flash Mob ([r.a.'s] opinion) (Time 4:50) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROPesXv2z1U

▪ Grease - Central Station Antwerp (Time 4:13) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_hlvRNgGOQ

▪ Anti-Bullying Flashmob January 2011 (Time 5:05) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhYyAa0VnyY

Remember:

the

~~~

the

smiles ◦ sharing of

surprise gifts / talents

delight ◦ unity of all

laughter ages, shapes,

energy sizes, skills,

enthusiasm races, religions,

curiosity occupations

joy ◦ harmony of

applause good purpose

the	~~~	the
smiles		◦ sharing of
surprise		gifts / talents
delight		◦ unity of all
laughter		ages, shapes,
energy		sizes, skills,
enthusiasm		races, religions,
curiosity		occupations
joy		◦ harmony of
applause		good purpose

Now contrast the strategies of these singing, dancing, playing flashmobs with organized stalking, bullying, harassing flashgangs—a contrast of complete opposites.

Disrupt and Delight!!!

versus

Disrupt and Destroy.

Which brings us to the Stanley Milgram series of experiments.² The power of authority figures to generate psychopathic behaviors in normal persons (“teachers” who were instructed to use increasing levels of electric shock on “learners” to punish mistakes) was shocking to everyone. Against every expectation, about 65% of “teachers” continued to obey instructions despite evidence of severe pain and suffering on the part of the “learner.” BUT the shocking level of obedience is not the whole story. In Experiment 17,³ forty “teachers” were allowed to witness other “teachers” resisting and refusing the authoritarian instruction. In that scenario, only 4 of the 40 continued to obey (10% compared to 65%) with the other 36 “teachers” also resisting and refusing.

Does this tell us that example matters?—that others gain strength in witnessing good choices? Perhaps we need to spread more of the joy, enthusiasm, energy, unity, harmony, etc. that many of these flashmobs demonstrate; to use the best of our culture—not the things that divide—but the things we share, to bring us together; not to preach with hostile, disparaging words, but to freely share our gifts and talents without confrontation or bullying; and let God and our better natures do the rest.

---------------------/
1. Counter Intelligence Program ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment (See the section titled: Replications and variations: Milgram's variations
3. See the reference at footnote 2.

Revolving Accounts

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us." (Old Testament Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

"Dwell in the past and you'll lose an eye. Forget the past and you'll lose both eyes." (Old Russian Proverb)

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This Déjà Vu ~ Times II blog is devoted to my religious / spiritual musings (sometimes political), mainly concerning the recycling of our follies since the world began.

Over time, it will contain:
thoughts
observations
poems
quotes

Déjà Vu ~ Times II blog © 2009 - 2020 by SMSmith (unless otherwise noted). Some Rights Reserved. See Creative Commons License at the end of this column/page.

Déjà Vu ~ Times II blog was established August 17, 2009 while the author was living in Canada helping caregive an aged mother.

“No Comments” Rationale

1) Time & more needful priorities;
2) Problems observed with many open-comment blogs as so bluntly expressed at http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/comment-policy/
3) People are free to post divergent or convergent views on their own blogs;
4) Learning from comments here would be preferable, but— (see 1, 2, & 3).

Brief note to the OFFENDED: Just because allowing "comments" is a blogger's option, it does not mean every blogger must conform to the "expectations" of others. Every soul can consult the Spirit and decide what is best and right in their circumstance. And if one has a blanket policy not to read another's work because there is no opportunity to comment, it seems one has closed oneself off to potential guidance of the Spirit. Besides, in this world of "overwhelm," the guidance of the Spirit is the best resource we have to lead us to things of importance in our unique life. So, if you have found your way here, perhaps there are a few things of import for you here. I try to trust the Spirit to lead me likewise to things of import within my purpose and priorities.

My World / TransWorld View

▪ Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:24)
▪ If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed. (J. Reuben Clark)

▪ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5:21)

▪ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.(New Testament Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; 3 Nephi 13:24)
▪ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.(New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5:15)
▪ For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; ... (Book of Mormon Alma 41:15)
▪ Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:9, emphasis added)
▪ ... the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (New Testament 1 Corinthians 1:25)
▪ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Old Testament Isaiah 55:8 - 9)
▪ ... the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true. (Book of Mormon Alma 29:8)
▪ The Bible is true, as far as it is translated correctly. Some things are to be understood literally; others metaphorically or symbolically.
▪ God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat; a Liberal nor a Conservative, just as Christ was neither a Pharisee or Sadducee. [For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.(Doctrine and Covenants Section 3:2)]
▪ Life is an escalating series of tests.
▪ “...we will be asked again and again to release the parts of our lives that mean the most to us.” (Caroline Myss, Sacred Contracts, p. 76; also preview lives of the prophets and saints.)