Letters to the Editor
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Not For Everyone
I think that it is unfair to unequivocally oppose the whole message of "The Secret".
Yes, the production is hard to sit through. And yes, a portion of it is perhaps new age consumerism in it's finest and most decadent hour. It is in no way perfect. And it's certainly not for everyone.
But I happen to know that it is also affecting lives in very positive and significant ways. And for that, I applaud Oprah for spreading the good word.
The basic tenet: think positively, and positive things are more likely to occur; Think negatively, and negative things... It all comes down to the fact that everyone has it in their power to chose a healthier state of mind. And in so doing, life is more likely to produce desirable results. (Nothing we haven't heard before, just new packaging.)
As with any philosophical teaching, one must always filter it for themselves. No system is perfect. And yet, found amongst the flaws are often brilliant nuggets of useful inspiration. You just have to know where to look and what to ignore.
Albeit at times arduous, It is this viewer's opinion that "The Secret" is actually worth the effort.
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A memorable scene from the DVD
The DVD was a laugh-riot!
Any number of people were introduced- caption including name and descriptive
title.
Did anyone catch that one clown who was [name escapes me], Visionary. (!)
Visionary, hunh? With the slick corn-rows and flashy daishiki?
Reminds me of those fried-hair hustlers I remember from my youth in the old 'hood.
tired brother, LOL
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The Secret DVD on eBay
Buy It Now price: $22.95 plus S&H.
Now visualize this: In about one more month, you'll be able to get a used DVD on eBay for about $9.99.
And it would still be a piece of shit.
It's garbage.
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give Oprah some slack
I've been using "new agey" ideals similar to those expressed by Oprah for the past 20 years, with sufficient success that I continue daily on that path. And although I believe in the power of these values and methods, I also fully understand how they can appear, to someone aligned with traditional ideology, as wholly unrealistic and impractical. Moreover, I've found that it's not so much thoughts that attract, but rather your heartfelt ideals, and the confidence you feel deep in your soul as you move forward towards your goals. For example, I have found that it is not effective whatsoever to assert over and over again, "I am rich", or some such positive statement, if you do not also feel the truth of that in your heart, and unless you also persist in taking small, concrete actions in pursuit of that end. And I don't agree with P. Birkenhead that the pursuit of "material success" is not a worthly goal. It's actually not my primary goal, but I don't have any quarrel with those who invest their all there.
WIth respect to the very difficult circumstances some face at birth, such as extreme poverty, and with respect to the challenge of AIDS or similar challenges, I agree that it's not helpful to feel that these tragedies are brought on by wrong thinking or bad karma or whatever. But it's also wholly ineffective to take on the role of victim to circumstance, and severe challenges have been used by many to express the awesome power and resilience of the human spirit (many others, of course, crumble beneath the weight of those challenges, but that only underscores the significance of the challenge), that is, these challenges provide great opportunity.
Give Oprah some slack ... she's on to something ...!
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Re: Coming around again...
"...When I worked in a bookstore at the beginning of the Reagan era, a bestseller among neo-Republicans was something called "Spend Yourself Rich," a self-proclaimed mystical tome with dollar signs like swastikas on the cover. It peddled the idea that by leading an outrageously materialistic, overconsuming lifestyle, money would be attracted to you, partly through the mysterious rules of like attracting like featured in "The Secret," and partly because rich people would be so impressed by your desire to emulate them that they would give you great jobs and, well, lots of money..."
Flashback:
oooOOOOooo-EEEEEEE-OOOoooooo (Cheesy Theremin imitation)
Oh man- so THAT's where our (thankfully former) CEO got that idea. I swear to G-d, that he actually coached his sales force with that notion. [Proudly, and by his very own verbatim admission to me!] He wanted them to live beyond their means, so that they would "become successful."
Success=sales, and another wing on the CEO's mansion.
Of COURSE everyone would have to sell more, to pay off their DEBT!
Duh.
Lordy- and Reagan was a hero of his... so sad.
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Re: Congratulations Salon, you just lost a subscriber
...and _I'm_ taking my ball and going home.
P.S. Don't let the door hit you in your generously upholstered posterior
on the way out!
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Emily
Wow. I don't even know quite where to begin with your last entry.
First, you state that the Bible is used to "socially prescribe morality by threatening imaginary ... " etc. While I agree with you, what does that have to do with you? YOU don't have to use the Bible to guide YOUR life. So what possible consequence is it if others do?
Also, I would be very interested to learn what churches charge their congregations to attend a service. I don't know of any. Could you please provide a list?
People of all stripes profit from people's suffering. What does that have to do with our discussion and the Law of Attraction?
When I said "All paths lead to god" (which I believe to be true), I wasn't "prescribing" a point of view, I was SHARING A BELIEF. Why do you find that so threatening?
I would never say that being an athiest would prevent you from experiencing happiness. That's absurd. The fact you would say such a thing shows you don't understand me or the LOA.
And I certainly take exception to your statement that if you took "God is a lie" on the road, I'd be marginalized. IT WOULDN'T AFFECT ME AT ALL!!!!! Likewise with your purple hippo. Yes, I would have a RIGHT to FEEL hurt, offended, etc. But I would CHOOSE not to. Because your beliefs don't affect me ONE IOTA.
And for people being so incredulous that people attract illness, consider this: I've asked cancer and AIDS patients why they attracted illness into their lives. Instead of being offended, they tell me:
"I can now say 'no' to people."
"My husband now pays attention to me."
"I want to die."
The Law of Attraction is not some boogey man in the night ready to tell you you're to blame for everything wrong in your life. THERE IS NO BLAME OR RIGHT OR WRONG with the Law of Attraction. It is a BENIGN FACT OF LIFE, just like gravity.