Is There a God? Or Gods?

We have no scientific proof whatsoever that a deity exists. Or angels or demons.

Yet, from time immemorial, humans have displayed a belief in such beings. Everywhere human beings tread the sod, they have some form of belief. Some, like Christians, Jews, and Muslims are Monotheists who believe in one Supreme Being. And even among Christians, there is a belief in two other Gods, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. Many others, especially older societies are Polytheists who believe in many Gods. There is one thing in common with all of them. One God is superior to all the others. And those with multiple gods, each has an area of concern and many of them have faults similar to humans. But, almost all of them are humorless.

That's why I thoroughly enjoy the myths and beliefs of American Indians. The vast majority of them have deities who make jokes or even fall on their faces. Brother Coyote who continually gets in trouble but always gets out of it and never dies. And there is brave Brother Rabbit who fears nothing and always fights for the others. And, far before the arrival of Europeans had tales of a great flood and coming from The Land of Ice. And many have stories of the creation of the lands where they live.

So, what causes this? Why do humans need to turn to mythical beings outside of their physical realm who somehow are responsible for all their ills? Or miracles?

Could it be that such beings truly exist?

I'm an avid fan of science fiction having started reading it about the time I entered kindergarten. One of the thesis I remember was our solar system or universe being but one atom of a large molecule in another existence. Another was about highly advanced civilizations existing in which beings terraformed our planet and guided the creation of everything upon it, watching over it to view the course of their creation.

Could these beings be the Gods we have come to believe in?

And, what about the belief in Karma and the Resurrection? Why do so many believe in an existence beyond our current existence?

Another theme that has always interested me is that we were created like some insects that go through changes; a pupa changing into a chrysalis into a beautiful butterfly. Are we simply in the pupa stage? And how we act on this plane of existence determines whether we become a butterfly - or a moth?

So, are gods and angels and demons simply beings who have progressed beyond our plane of existence to a higher one? Or, could we be a breeding ground for advanced civilizations that no longer recreate physically?

Or a whole lot of other things?

And finally, there are those who believe in none of the above and are ready to support their beliefs by any means - to include denying all beliefs but their own. Atheists and agnostics who want to removal or destruction of all mythical beliefs. Why are they so virulent in their disbelief?

Okay, so what are my personal beliefs? First, I do not believe that man-made beliefs and structures are the final say in our existence and possible future. I think everyone has a right to believe what they wish without the interference of others or that their belief does not require them to belittle or even destroy anyone who does not agree with them. If sitting in a special building to listen to someone explain what you should believe is what turns you on - good for you. Go for it. The few times in my life when I felt close to something above and beyond myself were in the midst of places of such calm and beauty that my spirit felt beyond my existence. Muir Woods. Overlooking a spot on the rugged California Coast. A few others I'm not going to dig too deep for.

So, back to my original question. Is there a God? Or Gods?

To me, that's up to each individual to believe or disbelieve. I hope whatever that is, it gives you peace and a desire to live a better life to include respect for all of Creation and the creatures in it.

In other words, have a good life.

What is DACA? Who are The Dreamers?

There's been a lot about this in the news but I don't think a lot of us understand what it's all about. I've thought it was designed by DemocRATs to gain votes.

Wrong!

It is NOT a pathway to citizenship.

This came to my attention when I was at my eye doctor the other day. One of his technicians turned out to be a so-called Dreamer. He was born in Baja California, Mexico and his parents brought him here illegally before he was 15. He got a good education and is obviously quite technically skilled. Speaks excellent English. He also told us he has two siblings who were born here. I asked him if he'd applied for a Green Card and he told me that he wasn't eligible for one.

That surprised me and got me looking into the two programs.

First of all, there are no Dreamers.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act was passed in the Senate but was never taken up in the House. So, it was never enacted into law. No law = no Dreamers.

That left Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It isn't even an Executive Order signed by the president! DACA was formally initiated by a policy memorandum sent from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to the heads of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The memo formally directed them to exercise their enforcement discretion on behalf of individuals who met the requirements.

To apply for DACA, illegal immigrants must pay a $495 application fee, submit several forms, and produce documents showing they meet the requirements. They do not need legal representation.

So, what are the requirements?

To be eligible, illegal immigrants must have entered the United States before their 16th birthday and prior to June 2007, be currently in school, a high school graduate or be honorably discharged from the military, be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and not have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor or three other misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to national security.

The program does not provide lawful status or a path to citizenship, nor does it provide eligibility for federal welfare or student aid.

So, what the hell DOES it do?

It allows them to work and pay taxes until the program expires and they're forced to return to their home country. And, it doesn't stop their illegal parents from being deported. And what about their siblings born here in the USA. According to the law, they are American citizens with all the rights thereof. So, if their parents are deported, they either stay here alone or go with their parents to be aliens in the country they are being sent to.

So, what now?

On September 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the program is being repealed. Sessions said that the DACA-eligible individuals were lawbreakers who adversely impacted the wages and employment of native-born Americans. Sessions also attributed DACA as a leading cause behind the surge in unaccompanied minors coming to the United States from Central America. Trump said that "virtually all" "top legal experts" believed that DACA was unconstitutional. Fact-checkers have said that only a few economists believe that DACA adversely affects native-born workers, that there is scant evidence that DACA caused the surge in unaccompanied minors, and that it is false that all "top legal experts" believe DACA to be unconstitutional.

Sessions added that implementation would be suspended for six months; DACA status and Employment Authorization Documents ("EAD") that expire during the next six months would continue to be renewed. DACA recipients with a work permit set to expire on or before March 5, 2018 would have the opportunity to apply for a two-year renewal if their application was received by USCIS by October 5, 2017. In a follow-up statement, Trump said "It is now time for Congress to act!" The approximately 800,000 immigrants who qualified enrolled in DACA will become eligible for deportation by the end of those six months. A White House memo said that DACA recipients should "use the time remaining on their work authorizations to prepare for and arrange their departure from the United States."

In other words, Illegal Aliens brought their children here and President Obama dreamed up a program to allow the kids to go to school, receive benefits, work, and pay taxes with no other benefits whatsoever. Not a single chance for a Green Card (Permanent Residency) or citizenship. He made promises and effectively screwed them.

And, when they're forced to leave, a whole lot of them will be forced to go to S**thole countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador where there are no jobs and murder is the number one crime.

So, what should be done?

Congress has to get off its lazy butt and either resurrect the DREAM act or some up with something better to allow those people affected by DACA to be able to find a path to legal residency or naturalization if they meet some very strict guidelines. Nobody with any criminal record whatsoever allowed to stay and immediately removed/deported.

Your comments?