We are all taught to celebrate Juneteenth (June 19th) as if that were when the USA abolished slavery. But that happened with the ratification of the 13th Amendment on Feb. 1, 1865. Of course, the American government didn't bother to tell slaves and thereby free them. But that is when it became de jure (by law) illegal. De facto (by fact) we still have slavery in many forms -- human trafficking, working convicts, secretly employing the vulnerable, sexual trafficking of women, children, and boys...
End Slavery NOW: February 1st is National Freedom Day in the USA. Celebrate it by learning about and sharing with others the importance of being a modern-day abolitionist to finally end slavery now.
Feb. 1st is National Freedom Day in the USA, celebrated because in 1865, Pres. Lincoln signed the joint resolution from the House and the Senate that eventually became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution—the amendment that officially ended slavery in the U.S. even though it still legally exists. More
There may have been more Native American (Indigenous, "Indians," Amerindians) slaves than Blacks or African imports. Most of them were worked to death or contaminated with diseases they had no immunity to deal with, and they are rarely spoken of; however, historians have documented this fact.
And when the USA invaded the Old West using the "Monroe Doctrine" and "manifest destiny" as pretexts, it stole half of the land that was Mexico, under Spanish rule. So a large part of this country is in fact Mexico except that "might makes right."
What deeds (karma in Buddhism) lead to rebirth in the animal womb (tiracchana yoni). The simple answer is breaking any of the Five Precepts. Upholding these moral precepts is the basic minimum to ever be reborn on the human plane.
Animals in the Buddhist worldview are believed to inhabit a distinct "world" (loka) that is separat from humans. But the dividing line is not in space. Rather, it is in terms of state of mind. This "Animal Womb" (Sanskrit Tiryag-yoni, Pāli Tiracchāna-yoni) World is part of the downfall (apaya).
Rebirth as an animal is considered very unfortunate -- even though some animals are very beautiful, long lived, and treated well due to previous karma. In general, rebirth as an animal involves much more suffering than is found in the human world (manusya-loka).
The real "human world" we don't see
Humans live long lives in peace and prosperity...not here, but in other human worlds.
We think we understand the "human plane" because we are living on it. We do not. We do not understand even a fraction of human life on this plane, which we are told is a "plane(t)" and no one is allowed to question that and be taken seriously.
There are countless "human" worlds existing in "world systems" in all directions in space. But just here, wherever "here" is, the Buddha spoke of four "lights" or "islands" (dipas, usually translated as "continents," but they are more likely other divisions, places, dimensions because the strange beings that inhabit them are very different from the ordinary "humans" we take for granted all around us). What is behind the Ice Wall, the next human subdivision or "continent"?
FOUR "HUMAN" WORLDS right here, main divisions: (1)Jambu-dīpa, located in the south (of the axis mundi Mt. Sumeru (a "mountain" too big to be an actual peak here like holy Mt. Kailash, K2, Everest, or the even taller Mauna Kea when measured from base to peak as one would normally measure anything), named after the Jambu tree, with human beings who are five to six feet tall and length of life currently at 120 years (though varying between 10 years at its lowest ebb and 80,000 at its height); (2) Pubbavideha located in the east, named after the acacia tree, similar to Yggdrasil the "world tree" in Norse mythology, with humanoid people about 12 feet (3.7 meters) in height, living for an average of 700 years; (3) Aparagoyāna located in the west, named after a giant Kadamba tree (Anthocephalus chinensis), with humanoid inhabitants living not in houses but sleeping on the ground, standing about 24 feet (7.3 m) tall and living for 500 years (though usually 500 just means "a long time"); (4)Uttarakuru, located in the north, with a giant tree called a Kapparukkha, an "aeon-tree," because it lasts for the entire kappa (Pali) or kalpa(Sanskrit) with humanoid inhabitants living in cities built in the air/sky/space (akasha), extraordinarily wealthy, not needing to work for a living – with food that grows by itself – having no private property, standing about 48 feet (15 m) tall and living for 1,000 years under the protection of Vaiśravaṇa.
(Does any of this sound like "our 'planet' or 'human world,'" the one we know as we travel around? Or maybe The Jetsons were onto something.) More unbelievable details: The Earthly Realms in Buddhist cosmology
There are almost certainly more of these, as spoken of in Vedic, Hindu, and Jain texts, with a series of planes inside, below ground: Agartha (Hollow Earth).
The Animal World
Help, I'm drowning, I'm drowning in samsara!
The Buddhist commentaries (tika) depict the many types of suffering associated with the animal world. Even when human beings are not present to torture, imprison, slaughter, and devour them, they are attacked by other animals and ripped to shreds -- or live in fear of it. They endure extreme changes of environment throughout the year and have no secure habitation.
Animals that live among humans are often groomed, molested, experimented on, then slaughtered for their bodies, or captured and forced to work with beatings until they are slaughtered at the premature end of their miserable lives.
This is nice. Diane and I are rich and live well!
Moreover, animals as a rule suffer from ignorance even more than humans, not knowing or understanding with any clarity what is happening to them or why. And they are unable to do much about it, acting primarily on instinct, if they can manage to figure anything out. Some animals understand what is going on, remembering past lives and wondering why humans cannot hear them or respond to their feelings and cries and complaints. (See an animal communicator if this seems impossible to believe). More
Metal and men clash once more to the end/ Warriors above, with the power to kill, descend/ Militia of blood, troops of hate march to die/ Soldiers of Hell, veterans of death arise
[CHORUS:] Prepare for attack/ Your body will burn/ Endless war/ There's no return/ Prepare for attack/ Death will arrive/ Your orders are clear/ No way to hide/ Fight till death
Senseless death of all mankind overtakes/ Armored assassins destroy, at will, your escape/ Children of sorrow are trampled into the grave/ There is no future, no fucking world to be saved [CHORUS]
To reign in Hell [guitar solo: Jeff Hanneman]/ Gods of steel unleash their destruction on man/ Reign of death, what is the final command?/ Scepters of hate are dropped upon this Earth/ Clouds of terror destroy all hope of rebirth [CHORUS]
Prepare for attack/ Your body will burn/ Endless war/ There's no return/ Prepare for attack/ Death will arrive/ Your orders are clear/ No way to hide/ Fight till death/ Fight till death/ Fight till death/ Fight till death.
(CBC News: The National)
CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service. Jan. 24, 2026: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been on a hiring spree, but some of its tactics are raising questions about who it’s really trying to recruit.
White supremacists welcome, even preferred. Neo-Nazis, preppers, KKK members in good standing, MAGA, American First, Proud Boys, incels, Groypers, Republicans, Christian Zionists, Evangelicals, gun nuts, White Anglo-Saxon Protestants, fans of Trump, Bibi Netanyahu, Nick Fuentes, Tom Homan, Kash Patel, Kristi Noem, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Ben Shapiro, Michael Levin, Nazi memorabilia collectors, history buffs, dead Rush Limbaugh, living Alex Jones, drunks, wife beaters, undercover journalists looking for story ideas, "Patriots" (wink wink)...
Get 'Pretti Good shooter' patch to wear.
CBC’s Jonathan Montpetit breaks down the disturbing parallels in the messaging and why the danger goes beyond who might get hired.
00:00 Who exactly is ICE trying to recruit?
00:57 Breaking down the coded language (dog whistles)
ABOUT: The National is the flagship of CBC News, showcasing award-winning journalism from across Canada and around the world. Led by Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault, its team of trusted reporters helps make sense of the world, wherever viewers are.
ICE: Immigration (La Migra) and Customs Enforcement
CIA, NSA, NSC, FBI, KGB, Shin Bet, Mossad and other international Intel Agencies involved in securing evidence to blackmail powerful individuals to do what they are told to advance wars, capitalism, and empire, particularly the Zionist "Greater Israel" plan
Murder of children to cover up child sex crimes
Blackmail of powerful billionaires and politicians involved in child molestation, child sex trafficking, torture and rape of children...
I'll sell you my Eastern European girlfriend, Don. - Did you two bang? - Did I, no, no, she's pure.
But you're dead, right, Epstein? - No, no, I faked my suicide and am back on my Pedo Island.
I feel so ugly compared to rich pro Melania
He is so disgusting and stupid.
(pale blue wave) I stopped her in the park, and what she told me broke my heart. So I photographed her portrait.
If "ugly" is a feeling (emotion), is beauty? Is self-confidence beautiful and doubt revolting? Personality is incomprehensibly important so that even dwarves, Elephant Men, Beasts, and other hideous creatures are beautiful to some Beauties out there. Beauty is only skin deep. And deep inside the skin are very lovely things -- charming, comely, funny, rich! What is anyone after other than being loved, loving, feeling protected and comforted, understood and accommodated?
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