Roger B. Burt's Blog, page 21

Caribbean Reality

 

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Let’s take a break from our land of conflict.

Dreams Versus Reality

The Caribbean is a land of dreams. Beautiful islands, lush waters, jungles and happy, welcoming people. That is what we see. Reality is always different. Not that it isn’t lovely but the experience of life is complex. We had been seduced and were building a home on a beautiful island with which we had fallen in love.

Complex History

As a tourist what you see is a bewitching landscape and the lush experience of the moment....

The Search for Matriarchy

 

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What does matriarchy mean to you?

We Seem To Be Having a Debate

Was there a time in human history when matriarchal (matriarchy meaning female rulership) societies dominated and then were replaced with serial patriarchy which is where we are now? There seems to be real passion involved and terms such as matriarchalism, matrifocal and matrilineal swirl through the debate.

Notable in the debate is the book The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why An Invented Past Will Not Give Women a Future b...

Health Care Alternatives and Reality – Series – Pt. 2

Overcoming Innocence

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A Lifelong Process

In a previous post I wrote about the lessons I learned from my father, a surgeon.  While he loved his profession, he also had deep reservations which he spoke to me about. It seems I took it in at a deep level because I was not exactly a rebel at such a young age. But over time I found myself having to clear my perception of all kinds of health care alternatives. And each time I found myself examining alternative pathways. And, looking back I think wha...

The Image of Woman

 

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If you were to construct one essential image of a woman, what would you choose?

Broadening Our views

This is such an interesting time in human history. There are so many possibilities. I’ll try to focus. 

Our image of ourselves is changing and diverging. When I was a kid, Leave It To Beaver was on television and a show called Father Knows Best. These were All-American families with a central male character and the woman was the housewife. What else was there? We were to find out.

Gradually...

Women in Power

 

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The Depth of Nicole

In my Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy Nicole Cloutier brought a whole different set of values and weapons to the Andromeda. Once again her origins for this series was not at all clear. She came and offered an irresistible set of talents and powers. Of course such women are found in various forms throughout history across our world. But she had a special heritage.

The Pain and Wonder of Haiti

The history of Haiti is intriguing. It was a colony of France and gave France considerab...

Nathaniel Sent Us This

From my Christmas Letter — 2017; your piece
today (The Fog We Are Living In of 4/2/18)reminded me of this:

À propos of nothing at all, one of the ways in which we cope with reality is to adopt the role of a victim and project blame on others.  A good example is the recent massacre at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.  President Donald Trump blamed mental health issues with some justification: Devin Kelley, the shooter, did spend some time in a psychiatric hospital.  (Mr....

Freud Versus Jung

Two Forms of Reality

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What do these names mean to you?

Once again we encounter the question of what is reality. These two names represent very different views and relationships to the larger elements of society and culture.

Anyone in the mental health field will inevitably come in contact with the writings of Sigmund Freud. Not necessarily Carl Jung. Freud was important in advancing the field of mental health and forming it into a system used to treat what were called mental disorders. He mad...

The Fog We Are Living In

 

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The present status of America justifies deep concern. Suddenly we are no longer the leader of the Free World. Even worse, we are foundering. It is as if we are living in a fog of indecision and quandaries. Have we forgotten who we are? It seems we cannot see ahead.

Our Present Malaise

In past eras in America I have seen celebrations of who we are and enthusiasm in regard to possibilities before us. Granted there were major conflicts among our people but we prevailed and forged ahead. Now i...

Health Alternatives and Reality – Pt 1

 

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To what school of health do you belong?

Okay. You got me. Recently I posted about my experience with vitamin D deficiency and it produced obvious resonance. It made me think about what else you might find of interest. I can’t say I come from a specific school as it relates to health except maybe the School of the Doubting Thomas. So, I looked back and found the roots of my position.

Revelations

My father was a surgeon. He pioneered abdominal surgery in t...

Author Issues

Do you believe writing fiction is a straightforward endeavor?

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A Complex Endeavor

I opened this new series with a post about choosing categories. Writing actually has become an increasingly complex endeavor. I thought I might share some thoughts for my fellow authors. But the rest of you are invited to listen in. You might find it amusing or even interesting.

What Happened?

Many (very many) years ago I had the inspiration to write fiction. I found it engaging and interesting. It was fun to be...