Delta Forces/Change Agents

The sign for "delta" originated in ancient Phoenicia.  It was brought to Greece by the Phoenician Kadmus in the 8th century B.C., from an area of the world known as "the Levant" in English.   The geographical area is now where Lebanon, Syria and the northern part of Israel are located.  The images for "delta" are on shown below on the left.  You can see both the formal/capital letter and the small letter representations.   The delta "sign" has been used in mathematics (see right side image) and in the US military to designate the elite special operations force (CAG-combat operations group) unit.   The delta sign is also shorthand for "change" or difference in quantity.   In math, science and the military-delta signifies quantifiable change agents-whether for velocity, ratios, codes, data, gap size, strategies or for navigation purposes to designate a specific low flat land shape where a river divides.  In social sciences the delta is used as shorthand for convenience, when citing a difference or change.  In some circles,  "change agents" and/or "influencers" are referred to as "delta factors".

How do we calculate the speed of change?    The time it takes from a base line (for example ten years ago) to the present, and the quantifiable differences we note and specify - is one method.   Let's look at the way language is transforming in the past decade as one "delta" factor or change agent.  Case in point:  "Hate Speech". 

The initial laws stipulating what constitutes "hate speech" in the USA were first introduced in the 1940s.   Promoted, taught and indoctrinated ideologies in the last decades in America, and other countries, have led to a society preoccupied with policing speech through "political correctness."  In a recent article entitled:  Western Culture Has Died A Politically Correct Death" by Paul Craig Roberts, he states- "When a people are afraid to use the words and terms of their forefathers, you know they have been intimidated to abandon even their own language and ways of speaking."   
​"The political correctness people are the most alienated and emotionally weak element in the society.  Yet they dominate in the media, entertainment, universities, and art world."  https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2019/03/30/western-culture-has-died-a-politically-correct-death/

There has been a continuous push, especially by "the Left" in the United States, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia (FVEY)* to add more restrictions, definitions and laws against certain types of speech and expression.    Seeping into our language of discourse through directed media, is the manipulation of words and usage.   *https://vpnveteran.com/five-eyes-countries-what-you-need-to-know/

The word "phobia", for instance-means "an irrational fear of" - therefore to be "homophobic" technically means to be "irrationally afraid of homosexuals".   It is now used as a substitute for the more accurate word, "prejudiced against" or simply, prejudice-meaning to "pre judge" or judge before knowing fully, or an idea or opinion not based on reason or experience.   We all have prejudices and fears whether we are conscious of them or not.   However, it does not necessarily or statistically follow that if you are "afraid" or even "pre judging" someone or a group of people, that you will follow on with violence or harm to that individual or group.  

Anticipating a crime because of "phobias" or "judging" is akin to "thought crime".  Someone calling another a hurtful or prejudice based word may hurt their feelings but not do actual physical harm.  Exactly what words will hurt feelings or actually prompt action are not completely predictable.   It depends on the person, group they are directed at, the time and the place as well as their choice to respond or not.   Were you ever advised to follow the truism/advice in this children's sing song?

                                   "Sticks and stones may break my bones
                                    but words will never hurt me."

Other countries have more rigorous laws, policies and punishments for expression of certain ideas, use of certain words and speech.  Examples include: Canada which has already passed laws in the last three years (since 2015):  "Section of 319, in turn, defines an “identifiable group” as “any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or mental or physical disability.” (“Gender identity or expression” is a new flourish added by Prime Minister Trudeau’s infamous bill C-16, the controversial legislation that helped make Jordan Peterson a global celebrity for taking issue with it.)  Canadian Code Section 320(8) proceeds to classify “any writing, sign or visible representation” that would constitute a section 319 offense as “Hate Propaganda.” As a criminal good, such propaganda can be confiscated with a warrant of seizure, and Ottawa is obligated to prevent its import from foreign lands."   (Censorship laws)  www.nationalreview.com/2018/04/canada-laws-crack-down-on-hate-speech/
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This statement is one of the justifications for censorship-can you spot the irrationality of this "logical progression" they try on the public?   
“Censorship helps to promote tolerance and thus, diversity, while simultaneously protecting us from hate speech and bigotry, therefore creating a safer, less offensive world for all.” 
 
Who decides what "tolerance" is, and what is more or less "offensive" for "all" of us?  A platform for all viewpoints, including ones critical of governing bodies, leaders, and/or corporations or other organizations; is integral to real freedom of speech and expression. Restricting or censoring certain "intolerable" or "offensive" speech/words/text as determined by presiding government officials or corporations, is no longer "free speech" no matter what their  national legal charters may state.  "Tolerance" does not necessarily promote "diversity" either.   How does it follow that "censorship will "promote diversity"?   Quite a leap presuming that censorship will "create a safer... world....for all".

Take Sweden as an example of focus on "hate speech" online as a "terrible crime" instead of focus on the physical crimes of rape, attack, theft.   The "hate speech" however is only prosecuted if it is against muslims or Islam and not vice versa. www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/03/31/91-year-old-swede-convicted-anti-islam-hate-speech/

New Zealand has quickly expanded it's surveillance and punitive consequences to include online "speech, images, video" which they have determined by their "Chief Censor" Mr. David Shanks and their Prime Minister, Ms. Jacinda Ardern to be "offensive".  The penalty for distributing or even "watching" the online video of the Christchurch shooting is now, years in prison.  www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/world/asia/new-zealand-attacks-social-media.html

The British have instituted severe laws regarding "hate crime".  This was a country which once prided itself on permitting open platforms for freedom of speech.  Hyde Park pundits, alternative press, biting comedic satire, etc. - no more.   If it is not the government it is the corporations that now control media which the government(s) permit to continue censorship with impunity.    "...corporate censorship is out of control. It speaks to a new kind of tyranny: the tyranny of unaccountable capitalist oligarchs in Silicon Valley getting to decide who is allowed to speak in the new public square that is the internet." www.spiked-online.com/2019/02/27/why-tommy-robinson-should-not-be-banned/ 
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Germany is considered to have the most restrictive laws of any western democracy with fines for social media posts running into the millions of Euros per offence.  techcrunch.com/2017/08/21/online-hate-crime-to-be-treated-the-same-as-face-to-face-crime-in-the-uk/
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The first amendment to the Constitution (law of the land) of the United States includes "Freedom of Speech".  There have been numerous legal challenges to redefine what those freedoms include and what consequences there would be to go beyond the scope of what the first amendment protects.  "In Brandenburg v. Ohio, the Supreme Court held that the government cannot punish inflammatory speech unless it intentionally and effectively provokes a crowd to immediately carry out violent and unlawful action. This is a very high bar, and for good reason."  www.aclu.org/other/speech-campus

Under the Bill of Rights, adopted and passed in 1791, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Currently, it appears to be one sided in terms who is actually permitted freedom of speech to say/write that someone or some group is "offensive" or "intolerant", "racist" or phobic.   The definition of religious 'phobias' keeps expanding these days, in that we continually hear and read about "Islamaphobia", but the truth is, in terms of violent attacks and numbers killed and injured in the world due to prejudice against a religion; is really because of "Judeophobia" and "Christianphobia"  which has resulted in actual physical violence, terrorism and death against Christians, Jews, Yazidis, Druze and peoples who are not Islamic followers  (apostates), by those who believe in "jihad" and sharia law dictates.  Hundreds of thousands have been killed in the name of "Allah" since 2014, more graves are discovered weekly in places in the Levant, Iraq and Africa.  This begs the question-which group/belief system is "intolerant" and phobic not only in speech, text and propaganda but in actions?     www.counterextremism.com/content/isiss-persecution-religions 

Why isn't the text which urges jihad considered "hate speech" and why isn't sharia law text which rejects women's rights considered to be "discriminatory" and "gender biased" hate 'propaganda' ?!   Think about it.   Quite one sided, really.  Is just mentioning the name of the Divinity you believe in "Islamaphobic" if the generic "God" is not used?
   
What if you pray in public and say the name "Jesus" or "Yahweh" or "Tunkashila" (Lakota-Indigenous language in the USA) or Dios?  Councilman Curtis Jones introduced a resolution accusing Clinton County Rep. Stephanie Borowicz of being inappropriate and Islamophobic on the day that Movita Johnson-Harrell  (a Muslim woman) took office after winning a special election to represent West Philadelphia.  Rep. Stephanie Borowicz said a prayer which invoked the name of Jesus more than once in the opening of the assembly.  Ms. Movita (Muslim) expressed outrage at the text of the prayer and the continuous mention of "Jesus".
 
Why are media and certain organizations conducting a campaign to malign businesses, public figures and government appointees/employees and their families, simply because of their Christian based religious beliefs? www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/03/29/texas-ag-to-investigate-san-antonio-ban-on-chick-fil-a-for-christian-values/  

Why are public schools in the USA allowed to conduct classes on Islam but not Christianity or other religions?   Why is anti Israel and anti Jewish propaganda permitted as part of curriculum in US public middle and high schools?
www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/01/11/top-10-worst-countries-christian-persecution

​www.breitbart.com/tech/2019/04/02/yale-law-school-pulls-funding-from-students-working-with-christian-organizations/

prophecyinthenews.com/world_news/new-world-order-starts-in-our-schools/

www.thespectrum.com/story/opinion/2018/07/11/liberal-left-waging-war-against-christian-ideals/775740002/

www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/17/why-mike-pence-went-catholic-tv-say-attacks-christian-education-should-stop/2609876002/

Who are the change agents, the delta factors navigating this direction regarding freedom (or restriction) of speech and expression?   One bold Prime Minister decided to speak and his speech was edited in most of the media, but I urge you to read it yourself.   Here is one short excerpt:  “Europe is the community of Christian, free, and independent nations. Mass migration is a slow stream of water persistently eroding the shores. It is masquerading as a humanitarian cause, but its true nature is the occupation of territory. And what is gaining territory for them is losing territory for us.”

www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/22853-hungarian-pm-mass-migration-a-plot-to-destroy-christian-west

Many of the change agents, the delta factors, are/were in the arts/entertainment industries, not just the political, military or tech realms.  In the USA, April is designated as "National Poetry Month".   Poets, throughout the ages and in many parts of the world are/were hailed as harbingers of change.  They could write in layers and thereby (often) subvert the censors of "political correctness" under various regimes.  They wrote, sung and spoke "truth to power" in ways ordinary writers/speakers could not.   

Perhaps the greatest living American poet, lyricist, musician, painter and world famous singer/composer is: Bob Dylan - born Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941.  He was called "the voice of a generation" but that should be amended to "generations" now he is 77 years old and still composing.   Bob Dylan has been on a deeply spiritual quest for most of his life with a foundation from his Jewish family and his personal conversion to Christianity.   He has sung his expression, his pro peace politics and his incisive observations about humanity and uniquely American experiences, for many decades.   Bob Dylan sings about Jesus in many of his songs...would you call him an "Islamaphobe" for doing so?   I absolutely would not.   I call him a genius and a national treasure.   He was and is a force to reckoned with. He was an agent of change-musical change, mind change, commercial and cultural change. 

This week I will end this post with music & lyrics written by Bob Dylan for a song entitled:  "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall".  He wrote and performed this song when he was only 21, which is over 55 years ago.   You can review his words and see how prophetic a poet he is in the youtube video linked below. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXn9ZKPx6CY

Enjoy your freedom of expression if you are still fortunate enough to live in a country where the cyber and legal clamp downs have not made you self censor...or scared you into silence.  I urge you to listen and read carefully-delta factors are spreading.

From Yun Tai mountain-until next Tuesday,

Jo