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Thursday, February 29, 2024

Open Letter to Lisa Gretzky and the NDP on the issue of Antiblack Racism Inside the Ontario Public Service


Today is the last day of Black History month, an extra day because of leap year. I’m using this unusual day to bring attention to something else unusual – the absolute silence from the NDP on the issue of racism inside the Ontario Public Service.

Why does the Ontario NDP no longer care about black workers? This is the party of Howard McCurdy. I’m a Windsor guy, but only had the pleasure of meeting McCurdy once. When I was a child, I played piano at an Emancipation Day talent show in Amherstburg. It showed me how important the area is for black history and helped me believe there was a place for black people in politics. McCurdy fought for us.


Which is why, Lisa, I’ve been so confused by your lack of support. Why doesn’t the current NDP have the same passion for dismantling anti-black racism?

Only this morning I read about your plea for the children on Ontario. You stated:

"When will the premier act to ensure that children and youth with complex needs in Windsor have the mental health supports they need in Windsor?"


I ask you the same question. When will the NDP act to ensure that black workers inside the OPS have a safe work environment, free from harassment, free from the fear they will be terminated if they speak out.

The issue with mental health supports is messy and will take a great deal of time and resources to fix. Ensuring the safety of black workers inside the province of Ontario, however, could be solved with a single news conference. 

Help me be the last black worker fired from the province of Ontario for speaking out about antiblack racism.

WHO AM I?

In brief, my name is Joseph Murphy. I am a writer, director and former publisher. 


I am a witch who worships the divine as Mother. I am currently directing a feminist horror movie (Devil’s Mountain - where no women die and the killer only targets abusive men). I’m also the host of Alien Brain Fog, a podcast on dismantling systems of oppression. It focuses on systemic racism and patriarchy, discussing how oppression has physical effects on physiology and mental health.


During the last election, I canvassed for Gemma Grey-Hall, the NDP candidate in my area. I asked her how one becomes a leader and she gave me a whole masterclass in realness. She told me: "If you want to lead, lead. Don’t wait for others to give you permission." She also told me to learn as much as I can about governance, which I continue to do.

Since there is little money in the arts, I also had a day job. I was a caseworker at ODSP -  Windsor, a union steward and co-head of Tomorrow’s Ontario Public Service (TOPS) – an organization focused on training future leaders. 

I was also being harassed by Rachel Cohen-Kusmiercyzk, manager at ODSP – Windsor. It was previously my belief that she was related to Member of Parliament, Irek Kusmierczyk, and that was the reason she was being protected. I’ve since realized the problem is deeper than that.


Within only a few years, two black caseworkers left the OPS under mysterious circumstances. Even as a union steward, I was not privy to the details of their leaving. When the harassment against me started (in email form), I filed a grievance. This was back in 2021, three years ago. I informed Rachel’s manager, Melissa Kersey, there was a problem. Then I waited for my grievance date to arrive. It was scheduled for January 2022. 

In 2023, I learned two black women at work were also being harassed, after I had already informed Melissa Kersey of the problem. Nothing was being done to protect black workers. I was fired without cause and without notice just before my scheduled grievance date. I am certain this will scare the other black employees in the office into silence. Which is appauling.

Only the managers are protected.

You do not have to take my word for it. You simply need to look at the evidence.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

I am concerned about the province using public funds to supress reports of antiblack racism. A private company has limited resources. Fines for wrongful dismissal could be a disincentive. The province, however, has seemingly bottomless pockets. This explains the cavalier attitude of the union (OPSEU) and the callous behaviours of the civil service. They believe they can buy off anyone that complains with a small amount of money.

But they could not buy my silence. Because of the harassment and the termination, I had to sell my house. That means I have a certain amount of disposable income right now. I am in the perfect position to see this grievance through to the end. I am 100% convinced that anyone who looks at the evidence will see I am telling the truth.

Which may be why the Province of Ontario keeps pushing my arbitration dates further and further into the future. I have checked with my lawyers and the union. None of them have the power to hold our government to account. But you do.

WHY ALIENS

When I stated I was physically unable to attend an allegation meeting, the province called the police on me. The told the union they were concerned I was violent threat, but told the police it was a wellness check. In my mental state at the time, I perceived this as a threat on my life. You can see my response in the video below.


Later, the province accused me in writing of sending inappropriate videos to underage girls. The truth? A former coworker at ODSP told me one of the manager’s daughter’s found my videos’ on TikTok. It was framed in a way to imply I was grooming a minor. The letter stated they had contacted the police to file a report. I contacted the police and verified no such report had been made.

It felt like the province was weaponizing the police department, implying I would be charged with a crime and/or imprisoned if my behaviour didn’t stop. Unfortunately for the province, I taught business law and human resources for over a decade. I know my rights.

But my boyfriend got scared. He wanted them to stop calling the police on me. I knew the best way to do that is to act crazy. So I thought about aliens. Everyone knows if you believe in aliens you’re crazy, right? So in March 2023, I came up with the concept for Alien Brain Fog – a science-based program focused on gaslighting and how to tell fact from fiction. And it seems to have worked. Ever since I started talking about aliens, the province stopped using the police to threaten me. You can see in the videos below the effect this had on my wellbeing.


Then in July 2023, the United States held a congressional hearing that presented evidence aliens might actually be real after all. It seems they have been gaslighting the public about aliens the same way they have been gaslighting us about racism. Making it more important than ever for me to speak up.


WHAT I CAN GIVE YOU

It is likely, Lisa, you do not remember officiating my wedding. Maybe it was not you who stated you couldn’t help me back on Aug 10, 2023. Perhaps it was only an automatic response from an aide. You have little reason to trust me, but the black workers of Ontario need your help.

So let me prove my case. If you review the following, you can see I am who I say I am.

Author Website: mjosephmurphy.info

Below is a link with a video showing who I am and why I spoke out. 

It also has the email string showing how the WDHP actively works to suppress evidence of racism. They altered reports after I signed them. Every time I have tried to present my evidence, they have delayed the hearings. It has been going on for years.

It happened again just a few weeks ago. The Ford government keeps changing my grievance dates and refuses to release my employment file because they want the evidence to go away. If you stay silent on this, they win.


WHAT YOU CAN DO

Review the evidence. As a sign of good faith, I have agreed not to publish the items revealed through disclosure until the grievance has finished. I have sent you copies of my performance reviews as well as the letter I sent the arbitrator. Please do no make this public. Reviewing these will mean you don’t have to take my word for it.

There is a problem at ODSP Windsor. A manager is harassing black workers and having them fired when they speak up. I was the third. I fear I will not be the last.

It is within your power to ensure no other black workers are fired from the OPS. All it needs is your voice. Bring the same passion to my evidence as you did for the mental health of children in Windsor and help expose how the civil services is suppressing black workers.

I ask you to either:
  1. Review my case. Look at the evidence I’ve provided. Decide if I’m telling the truth or not. And if I am telling the truth, if the civil service is truly suppressing evidence of antiblack racism, what is the NDP going to do about it?

  2. Bring up the issue of anti-black racism and the suppression of evidence the same way you brought up the lack of funding for mental health resources. On the floor. Show the black workers on Ontario that their health and safety is important to the NDP

  3. Use me as a resource. Recent polling suggests the Ford government is still leading in the polls. This is ludicrous because the people of Ontario are begging for a change. They are desperate for a leader to step up and hold the powerful to account. By showing the people of Ontario how the civil service is altering reports to “fudge” numbers, you could bring the entire government down. I have the evidence. All I need is someone with the power to make change.


IN CLOSING

I’ve been in Windsor a long time and have met several leaders of the NPD. If memory serves me right, Rick Limoge was my neighbour for a few years in the Villages of Windsor, before he joined city council. I met Joe Comartin through a mutual acquaintance (Adrian Jones – sadly now deceased). You were the officiant at my wedding and, as I’ve stated previously, I campaigned for Gemma Grey-Hall during the last election.

Many problems in the world today are complex. The health and safety of black workers is not one of them. If black workers are not safe working INSIDE the government, how can they expect the government to protect them at private industries? By shining on a light on what has happened to me and others, you can ensure it stops happening. 

All it takes is an act of courage.

P.S.
For Janelle Brady - The best part of writing this letter was learning about your work. I will be watching your "Learning About Racism" series tomorrow. It lines up nicely with the work I hope to do on Alien Brain Fog. Thank you for leading the way.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:




Monday, February 19, 2024

Alien Brain Fog - Episode 003 - What is The Rule of Law?

 



Transcript of Episode

OPENING

If an alien shows up at the mall and robs your store, can you charge him with theft?


Are certain people like Donald Trump really above the law or fooling themselves? 

Both of these questions can be answered by looking at the Rule of Law. What is it and who does it apply to? And more importantly, do we currently live under the Rule of Law or are WE fooling ourselves?


WHAT IS THE RULE OF LAW?

Recently, Donald had a court case postponed while the courts determined if he has immunity. Immunity to what you may ask? The law. It is Donald Trump’s belief that he is above the law and can face no consequences for his actions.

Federal judge postpones trial in Trump’s DC election interference case

So is this true?

Fair warning, this does involve a little history. But I believe it’s important to remember your past. That’s why our brains have memory. It helps you predict the future.

Which may be why certain groups of people want to ban books. And tell you people educated in history are the enemy.

Our history in the Western world is complex. We have not always been run by rule of law even when we claimed to be.  In the past the rich and those of certain bloodlines were held above the law. Almost like you’re a hockey player in Canada.

Your degree of economic power determined whether or not the law applied to you. 

So a very brief history of western law.

I know some people are obsessed with the Roman empire. So let’s start there. It was understood during roman times that without the law, people would be at the mercy of violent men. Romans believed without the law, civilization would collapse. So they codified the law, meaning put in writing and, at least in theory, made sure everyone followed the rules.

Game of Thrones was fiction, but the behaviour of the rulers was pretty historically accurate. At one point, the people were led to believe that their leaders were chosen by god. To question the leader was to question God. Which meant you were a demon and should be unalived. 

In 1215, England made the bold move to putting in writing that maybe the king was not above the law. That maybe no one was above the law. This is what we mean when we say Rule of Law. That the law is supreme. The law applies to everyone. 

The Magna Carta also gave us other rights. For example, it prevented unlawful imprisonment. Prior to that, you could just be arrested and thrown in jail without charges or trial. Kind of like the Patriot Act.

 The English Bill of Rights was passed in 1689. It allowed the election of representatives without the royal approval and prevented royals from interfering with the law. Because your leadership is not supposed to sway the way you vote. Like in Gerrymandering.

. In Canada, we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that was included in our Constitution Act of 1982. This gave the courts the power to strike down laws that were unconstitutional. So what does that mean?

In Canada, no law can be passed that contradicts your human rights. The rights you have because you were born a human. In emergency cases, like war, the government can ignore some civilian rights. But there is also something called the notwithstanding clause. This allows law makers to break the law and ignore constitutional freedoms, but only for a limited timed time. In Canada, the government can limit our rights, but it has to PROVE there was a need to do so. 

Because the law has more power than people.


TRUMP vs. TRUDEAU


Both of these men are loved by few, hated by many. But are they the same? Trump incites an insurrection, found guilty of sexual assault, found guilty of fraud, took money from foreign leaders while in office, and is currently telling the world how he will become a dictator and turn America fully a Christian Theocracy ruled by him, the second coming of Christ. And because a certain group of people believe he has been sent by God, it appears they also have decided he is above the law. 

I have a friend with a DUI who can’t cross the border. Trump gets to run for office and command armies.

Meanwhile in Canada, Trudeau used the Emergency Measure’s Act to break up a disruptive event in Ottawa that began as a protest but turned into a circus. 

The courts here ruled the government exceeded their authority. Leaders in Canada do not have the right to do whatever they want.

This would give the appearance that the rule of Law is more in effect in Canada than it currently is in the United States. Because a growing number of Americans seem to believe the law does not apply equally to everyone.

So who does the rule of law apply to?

WHO DOES THE RULE OF LAW APPLY TO?

The easy answer is everyone. Well, every human. Every human is seen as equal under the law meaning that no one has more or less rights than the other. No person is more or less protected by the law than others. 

So why would any government agree to this? Why would the rulers be willing to give so much freedom to their citizens. The answer is history. We know what happens when they don’t. To understand that better, lets look at France 1789-1799. A period we now call the French Revolution.

Prior to the revolution, the people of France lived under a system called Feudalism. You can read the Wikipedia page about feudalism but it boils down to this. It was a system in which all the land was owned by a few people, called Lords. All the work was done by peasants who were given a place to live in exchange for their work.

The peasants grew to believe the lords of the land, or landlords, had more rights  than they, the peasants, did. Which was a problem. One of many. Let’s look at a few of the key reasons behind the French Revolution.

  1. Poverty - The feudal system had created unsustainable income inequality. This led to widespread famine, death and starvation. The average person was not sure where their next meal was coming from. At the same time, the upper class lived a lavish lifestyle.  

  2. Royal Absolutism – Those in power, the royals, could overrule any law. In effect, a crime was not a crime if the royals said it was not a crime. Which meant that members of the royal family could do anything they wanted. While peasants were held accountable for minor infractions. Like stealing food to live.

  3. Noble Privilege – Social preference was given to those of high birth rather than to those who worked hard. It didn’t matter how hard you worked, only who your parents were. No amount of hard work would bring you wealth.

  4. Clerical Privilege – We forget now the POWER the Church once held over people. The fear of eternal damnation and/or torture can be persuasive. During the revolution, the church was essentially taken over by the government, and made accountable to the people, not the Vatican. Once upon a time, the church was above the law. If you were a priest you could do anything you wanted and face no consequences. Thankfully that’s different now.

  5. Bifurcation - The final straw was a bifurcation – humans were placed into one of two groups. You were either the working class, a peasant, or the ruling class, a landlord. This created two levels of person-hood. While the rule of law applied to all persons, maybe some humans weren’t people. Because if you can convince enough peasants that a certain group of humans are not “people”, well then you don’t have to follow the rule of law. 
Faced with the evidence of their eyes and ears, the peasants realized the wealthy had taken advantage of them. And if they didn’t act, the peasant’s children had no future. They rose up. It was messy. 

Messy.

This is why it is so important for civilizations to follow the rule of law. If the general population believes those in power are not following the rule of law, they stop following the rule of law too. It is essential for the stability of democracy that everyone BELIEVES the rule of law is in effect.


HISTORICAL EXEMPTIONS TO THE RULE OF LAW

Earlier, I asked if an alien robbed your store, could you charge him with robbery? The answer is no. Our laws currently only apply to humans. For the same reason, if a squirrel eats the apples in your backyard, you don’t call the police. You take the law into your own hands. You throw a rock at it.

Historically, there have been other groups, aside from aliens, that were seen as not human and therefore not protected by the rule of law. Let’s look at a few examples.

Indigenous People

How could followers of Christ take children from their homes, assault them and neglect them all while believing they were doing God’s work. If they children were seen as human, this would never have happened. Instead they were labeled “savages”, a dehumanizing word. Literally a word that makes a human into a non-human.

When we teach our society that a group of people, like Indigenous people around the world, are less than us, less educated, less civilized, less worthy, it sends a message to certain people. Certain people hear that since this group is not-quite-human, they are fair game. 

It is against the law to unalive a human. The racial background of that human should have zero impact on the degree to which the crime is investigated. And yet Canada has a problem. Indigenous people, especially indigenous women are not statistically safe in Canada. That’s not a judgement call. That is looking at reality. Because the way Canadian society reacts when an indigenous person is unalived is very different than when a non-indigenous person is unalived. We can all see that. The evidence is right there. So maybe instead of pretending it’s not, we should be doing something about that.

Let’s look at another group that the law historically did not protect.

Women

October 18, 1928. That is the day women in Canada were finally considered “persons”. We celebrate that it’s been less than 100 years that we men have acknowledge that women are also sentient beings. 

This is not something to celebrate. Math states women make up roughly 50% of humanity. Sometimes they are the majority. Which means for most of written history, more than half of humanity was not fully protected by the rule of law. 

It was not until 1960 that all women could vote? The last group of women given the right to vote? Indigenous women. I know. Shocking.

In 1971, we passed a law in Canada guaranteeing women the right to equal pay for equal work. That’s the year I was born in so I can tell you it has 52 years and women as STILL not paid equally for equal work. It’s almost like the law isn’t being followed.

Much of the reason for the subjugation of women was the Church. Society deemed them not equal to men because the bible said it was true. And if you disagree with the bible, you are demon. Men were doing nothing wrong. They were only following God’s will. Remember, this podcast deals with gaslighting. Phew.

Now, let’s look at another group of humans historically not seen as people.

African Americans/Canadians


Me.

Me as a black person, with one black parent and one white parent. There are many people in the world who do not see me as human. I am abomination, and not just because I’m gay. Many believe that people with my colour of skin are not human, that having a relationship with a black person is like having a relationship with a dog.

In fact, for many if they had to choose between saving the life of a black stranger or a dog they’ve never met, they would save the dog. And see nothing wrong with that choice. Because the dog, to them, is more human.

Lynching only became a federal crime in March 2022. It hasn’t even been two years. Mostly this was symbolic. But think for a second. Until a few years ago, some states would not publicly concede that lynching should be a crime.

And ya’all expect black people to believe they are truly protected by the rule of law? 

You expect women to believe they will be fully recognized and compensated for their work when Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie are still in the news?

Here’s where it starts to play with your sense of who you are and what you are. If a group of people is not protected by the rule of law, why would they follow the rule of law? Let’s say that a different way.

An alien walks into the Miami Mall and buys a dress. As soon as he leaves the store, you say he stole it. The law sees you as a human and alien is not. Therefore, the human must always be right. The alien must be lying. The alien goes to jail. 

After his, why would the alien try buying from the store again? He might as well steal it if you’re going to be blamed for stealing anyway.

Why do people ignore the rule of law? Almost always – Greed. Sadly, there are standard ways around the rule of law. They are often very effective. 

For example, let’s say you are person in power and you want something. Say, land. If a group of people has something you want, you can’t just go take it. That’s against the law. But, and hear me out, what if you can convince enough followers that one group of people aren’t people after all? They are “savages” who must be saved and brought into the light. You’re doing them a favour by stealing their children. God’s work.

Or you say women can’t decide what to do with their bodies because they are women. You know how women are. Overly emotional. They need a man to come in and take charge with his big logical brain. It says so in the Bible. God’s work.

Historically, when people come together to overturn the rule of law, it has not been good. Especially for minorities. Imagine if everyone came together tomorrow and said lefthanded people are evil. Only right-handed people are allowed to accumulate wealth. Maybe the majority would say yes. Lefthanded people would be condemned to poverty because of the will of the majority.

Let’s take it further. The church gives Lefthanded people a name. Sinisters. Did you know the term sinister comes from the latin word for left? And did you know that darkest form of magic is called the Lefthanded path? What are left-handed people hiding? 

Do I need to continue? We can laugh a bit today because we know it’s silly to believe there is a difference between right and left handed people. But it wasn’t that long ago humans felt very different. There are many alive today who remember the ruler across the fingers for trying to write with their left hand.

There are also many are alive today who remember a time when women could not open a bank account or get a credit card. Many old grey men remember they could assault their wives and children without consequence. They could smack the uppity boy with the dark skin and everyone would understand. Those men are still here. They are still in power.

And that needs to change. But I’ll move on.

The second you see one group dehumanizing another, stop. Ask yourself why. Why are they are making the other group appear less than human.

Because they can’t call them what they really are:

An inconvenient obstacle in their attempt to ignore the rule of law.

The most important thing for the stability of a civilization is the appearance that the rule of law is in effect. Because once enough people believe that the system is rigged, that the system doesn’t protect them, when enough people believe THAT … we have problems with social stability. A reminder of the events that caused the French Revolution.

  1. Poverty
  2. Royal Absolutism
  3. Noble Privilege 
  4. Clerical Privilege
  5. People vs. The Rulers

I’m not trying to predict the future here. Just pointing out historical events. You can draw your own conclusions.


ALTERNATIVES TO THE RULE OF LAW

The rule of Law is not the only way to organize society. Let’s look at a few other options.

  1. ANARCHY – every person for themselves. Without the rule of law the world could devolve into a post-apocalyptic nightmare. If you’ve seen or played The Last of Us, this would be life outside of a protected city. The law is what the strong say it is.

  2. DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS – In this case, a ruler or group of rulers, convinces peasants that he has been chosen by god. Everything they say and do is interpreted as the will of the divine. To challenge the king is to challenge God, making you under the influence of demons. Because only a demon would question the will of God.

    Speaking of men who abuse women and believe they speak for God, Trump. FFS. History is very clear what happens to a society when a man like Trump gets unlimited power. Can we seriously not let that happen? But I’ll move on.

  3. PLUTOCRACY – It has nothing to do with the planet and everything to do with money. Pluto is another name for the god of the underworld. Also called Hades. Hades is the more common name now, but in ancient times people grew afraid to say his name. Like Voldermort.  So they called him Pluto, the wealthy one.

    Under Plutocracy, the law and those that enforce it treat you differently depending on how much money you have. The more money you have, the more you can ignore the law. That means that with enough money, the rule of law does not apply to you.

  4. MOB RULE –A group of people decides to take the law into their own hands. The law is whatever the group says is the law. It can change at any time.

WHAT SYSTEM DO WE CURRENTLY LIVE UNDER?

So, do we currently live under the rule of law? The answer depends on where you live. And who you are. Which means, no. We do not currently live under the rule of law. In my opinion, we live in a plutocracy where those with the most money can do whatever they want. They do not have to follow the law. Even if they are caught, they will be forced to pay a fine. But they have so much money, they fine is not a disincentive. No matter what the powerful do, they do not have to go to jail. Jail is only for poor people.


I would love to proven wrong. But I can see reality. We all can. 

We need to stop pretending everything is okay.

So what do we do about it? We fix it. How? Simple. Hold the powerful to account. That’s it. We need at least the appearance of fair play. Because if the powerful stop pretending the rule of law is in effect, my fear is so will the rest of the country. And that won’t be good for anyone.

We do not currently live under the rule of law but we STRIVE TO. The law is not perfect but it is the best tool we have to ensure a safe, stable democracy.

RULE OF LAW AND YOUR IDENTITY

So what does all of this have to do with you? You have grown up in a system which clearly demonstrates some people have more rights than others. Our educational system, our political system, and especially our religious systems have all created a world in which certain people are closer to god than others. If you grew up here, those thoughts are in your brain, influencing the way you think and they things you do. 

In many ways, you are who you THINK you are. And some of the things you think about yourself are not really you. Some of your personality is based on your culture and your upbringing. You may not see the difference but it can show up in your biology. Oppression and trauma show up in our bodies, even if we are not conscious of it.


Some of you may have seen this image. It represents the order in which we secure a health environment. Meaning before you can manifest your biggest dreams, you have to make sure you have food and shelter. If you can’t eat, you can’t start a business. Similarly, before you gain a sense of connection, you have to feel safe in your environment. You need stable employment which gives you the power to create all the other steps.

So what if you don’t feel safe? If you are constantly worried about your physiological and economic safety, kind of hard for you to reach self esteem.

That is what we have done to indigenous people, to women, to visible minorities. And, as we’ll discuss later, those with disabilities. And IT IS intentional. Because the people running the plutocracy know this. As soon as the peasants come together, it’s all over for them. Which is why they want the peasants to keep fighting amongst themselves. But I’ll move on.

How does this fear show up in your body? I’m going to show you a graphic that will annoy some people. But stay with me. Remember, not everything can currently be explained by science. 




Chakra work is magic, not science. Remember, with science, something is true whether you believe it or not. Magic needs you to believe it before work.

In my experience, chakras in the body tend to align with the hierarchy of needs. Anxiety is a first chakra issue. Anxiety is often tied to trauma related to unfulfilled security needs. If people can’t secure housing and food, you can expect anxiety rates to increase. Anxiety can be reduced by ensuring all physical needs are met.

If you’re experiencing lower back pain, look at your money situation. 

Science says chakras do not exist because we don’t have the technology to test if they exist or not. Our currently technology can’t see them. But maybe our bodies can. 

Unless you’ve done a lot of self-analysis, you probably don’t realize why you feel the way you feel. That’s who you are. An anxious person. Maybe you feel guilty because of your anxiety, even though anxiety is a perfectly normal reaction when you’re living through the times we’re in. Maybe you are not the problem. 

I’ll end with this. The most revolutionary act you can do is not taking to the streets or arguing on social media. If you want to change the world, start by changing yourself.

Sit in a quiet room by yourself. Meditate. Think about the things you do and the things you believe and the things you don’t believe. Get to know yourself.

The more you understand who YOU are, the real you, the most clearly you will see what you should be doing. And once you know yourself, it’s impossible for other people to manipulate you.


NEXT TIME


Next Time on Alien Brain Fog we look at Tribalism. Why do we feel the need to attach ourselves to a collective? Why and how do our brains assign people we meet into groups? And more importantly, how can we determine if our actions and beliefs are based on our own individual sense of right and wrong or a desire to remain part of the collective.

Thank you for joining me. Be kind. The world is a little messed up out there.


Sunday, February 18, 2024

Alien Brain Fog - Episode 002 - What is an Ontological Crisis


Transcript of Episode

Hi. I’m Joseph Murphy and welcome to Alien Brain Fog, a science-focused podcast on memory, identity and the systems of oppression that effect both. How do you know who you really are?

In the last episode, I gave you my hypothesis. The reason everyone in the world is a little big crazy right now is we are all undergoing an ontological crisis. So the heck is an Ontological Crisis and how do we get out of it?

Opening

I’m a word nerd. I love etymology, which is the study of how words evolve over time. Whenever you see this part (ology) it means “study of.” Sociology is the study of how societies work. Psychology is the study of how the mind works. And so on.

Ont comes from the Greek “on” or “ont”, and means “being” or “existence.” So ontology is the study of what it means to exist. The Wikipedia page says this:

An Ontological Crisis occurs when the nature of reality is very different than you thought it was. You’re shown evidence that is so fundamentally against the world you believed you lived in that you don’t know what to believe any more.

It’s a metaphysical crisis. Like Barbie leaving BarbieLand.

Or realizing that aliens are real.

In laymans’ terms, it’s a crisis of faith. We have faith we understand the world around us. We do not what is real.

My ontological crisis began when I systemic racism was real. I learned we don’t have a capitalist democracy. We live in not in a neo-feudalistic state ruled by a plutocracy. Slavery never ended. We just traded in chattel slavery wage slavery. We are not as free as we think we are. 


Source: LessWrong.com

What does Ontological Stability Look Like?

This paper speaks specifically to the impact home ownership has on sense of self. Extrapolate. Does the world still feel like your home? Or do you no longer recognize the world you’re living in. 

Dupuis and Thorns’ four traditional markers of ontological security. Those markers are to have a place: 

  1. of social and material constancy;
  2. where daily routines can be enacted and carried out; 
  3. “where people feel most in control in their lives because they are free from surveillance;” 
  4. “around which identities are constructed” (Dupuis and Thorns, 1998: 29). 

Source: Home, Home Ownership and the Search for Ontological Security (Ann Dupuis, David C. Thorns

So what could cause an Ontological Crisis?

  • Home Ownership – do you have a place in this world? Is your home secure? Do you constantly worry you might lose your home and be unable to find another? Unprecedented inflation has eroded perceived wealth.

  • Crisis of faith – your religion is not what you thought it was. Or elements of your religion are at odds with established science (otherwise known as reality).

  • Robots and Artificial Intelligence – have you lost your job because of a robot or AI?

  • Covid and the governments response to it – Misinformation spread faster than the government could control it. People expected to be safe. They no longer feel safe. Death rates were higher compounding the grief.

  • Lockdown - Endless months of Lockdown forced us to re-examine our freedoms.

  • Long Covid – increased physical and mental illness around the world. The World Health Organization estimates 771, 191, 203 infections. 700 million. What percentage will develop long term symptoms? Around 10-20. That is a lot of newly disabled people all at once. Covid can also lead to mental health problems like anxiety, depression, derealization and depersonalization. Cognitive disfunction.

  • Me Too Movement  - The movement clearly showed we are living in a patriarchy where large numbers of women do not feel safe.

  • Gender Studies - the existence of trans men and woman, the existence of non-binary people does not fit into the established worldviews of many people. Rather than integrate new evidence they reject it and say it can’t be real. They truly believe trans people can’t exist so they must be mentally ill. Or demons.

  • Aliens – the existence of UFOS, or UAPs and If non-humans are real and there there goes all of our specialness. How are we any different than squirrels?

  • War between Russia and the Ukraine have shown us the world is not as safe as we thought.

  • Donald Trump showed us any idiot with a following can get in power. And we started looking at all our leaders.

  • Climate Change and the idea that human race could go extinct within a century

All combined, the world we live in is not the world we thought we lived in.

And now we have to integrate the fact we’re not alone? It’s too much for the brain and the mind to take. So we disassociate. Get a little crazy

HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

How do you solve an ontological crisis? The answer is simple to explain but hard to do. All you have to do is change your mind. Changing your mind is not easy. That’s where all your programming is. Everything you believe to be real. The hardest part is realizing our brain may be lying to you.

Here are four steps to solve any problem.

  1. Admit Reality – Acknowledge the Problem
  2. Evaluate and Consider Solutions
  3. Choose the Best & Implement Option
  4. Evaluate the Outcome

The first step to overcoming an ontological crisis is to acknowledge it. If it seems like the world is not what you thought it was, it’s time to act like Bo Burnham and go inside. That’s where all the work has to take place.

See in an ontological crisis, the main problem is the way your brain processes information. It is not equiped the world no longer functions. Our brains run on algorithm. The old algorithms can’t process the new data.  Which is why we need new ones. 

Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/KLaJjNdENsHhKhG5m/ontological-crisis-in-humans 

Since the first step to solving any problem is acknowledging it, it’s time to break through all the lies. Deal with reality as it is instead of how we wish it was. 

CLOSING

Join me next time on Alien Brain Fog as we take a closer look at reality. What is the Rule of Law? And do we currently live under the rule of law? Or are we fooling ourselves.


BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:


Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo





Alien Brain Fog - Episode 001 - Are We All Crazy?

 


OPENING

I’m Joseph Murphy. Welcome to Alien Brain Fog, a science-focused podcast on memory, identity and the systems of oppression that affect both. How do you know who you really are?

For our first episode, we’re asking the most important question. How can you tell if you’ve lost your mind?

Is it just me, or does everyone seem a little crazy right now. Everywhere I look, I see the same expression on people’s face. Shock and anger, like no one can believe what’s happening is really happening.

The government announced aliens are real.  No one cares. More and more angry young white men are taking out their rage on innocent people. People are looking for the Loch Ness monster again. There were even protests in China last year

Trump talks about shooting his political rivals and it’s just a normal news cycle.

Are aliens real? People online don't seem to care either way.

Compare this to what we expected about a year ago

Contact with ET: How would humanity react?

If there’s one thing I’m an expert on, it’s conspiracy theories. I’ve been interested in UFOS since I was child. I have a clear memory of the first time I saw an object in the sky that didn’t make sense. I was five. We lived in Owen Sound at the time. Dad drove us to gramma’s house (my mom’s mom). I looked over the treelines and saw a black shape in the air. I asked my dad what it was. Without looking he said it was a weather balloon. I accepted his answer and decided to investigate weather balloons.

My memory is confused here. I want to say I started researching weather balloons immediately, but that doesn’t make sense. I didn’t start researching UFOS until we moved to Windsor. Tecumseh Mall used to have a library. My mother would drop me and my brother off at the library while she did her grocery shopping. To me, that was heaven. I started near the beginning of the library. UFOS and the paranormal, in my memory, were the first shelves as you walked in. I realize as I’m writing this, I dream of the library often.

I read about UFOS and paranormal encounters from childhood into my teenage years. In my memory, I do not recall ever believing I’d seen UFOS or aliens. I was interested in the subject but had no personal connection to it.

And I kept that belief until I read Communion by Whitley Streiber. 

I loved Whitley Streiber. For me, he was up there with the greats. Steven King, Dean Koontz, and Whitely Streiber. I felt a special affinity for one of his lesser-known books, Cat Magic. Something in it thrilled me.

I was in Grade 12 or 13. I’ll have to review my diaries to confirm, but I remember the major assignment for an English class was to read every book by a specific author and make a summary of their entire work. I chose Whitely because I loved his horror.

I didn’t read Communion when it came out. I remember seeing on book shelves and being intrigued. But it wasn’t until the class project that I read Communion. And even then nothing clicked.

Until about half way through the book. Hearing Whitley’s experiences made me look at some of the strangeness in my life through a different lens. He mentioned seeing owls everywhere or dreaming of owls. I distinctly remember that was a chilling moment for me. I remember thinking; oh my god. I see owls all the time. 

Does that mean I’ve been visited too?

The annoying part is looking back now, I can’t remember ever seeing an owl in real life. I scan my memory for Owls” and the only reference picture I have is a few pictures my boyfriend took of owls in his back yard. My mother loved owls. Collected owl figuring. I know that but I can’t “see” those owl figurines in my head. That bugs me. Because I have to have seen an owl at some point in my life. On television. A zoo. I can vaguely remember the mechanical one from Clash of the Titans, but I have a mental barrier around owls now that I can’t ignore.

The real kicker was when Whitley talked about reviewing his old notebooks and diaries. He said he’ found sketches of the visitors he didn’t remember making. The same big eyes, same shaped head. I remember reading this part in class, feeling cold. Because I knew at that moment I’d been sketching them for years. I even gave one of them a name. Kisma. 

When I wrote about the visitors in Demons of DunDegore, I named one of them Kisma. I don’t know where the name came from but that is her name. And I knew the figure I drew was female. After school, I raced home and looked at my old journals. And I saw the sketches. I need to find those. I think I still have them.

I have several memories that do not agree with our shared reality. They should be impossible. But they happened. And I didn’t tell anyone because I was afraid no one would believe me. Only crazy people see aliens. Everyone knows aliens aren’t real, so if you’re experiencing it, there must be something wrong with you. It’s not like the government has been lying to us for years. If aliens were real, they would tell us. Right?

After realizing my encounters were consistent with other people’s encounters, I put it in the back of my mind that there was a possibility I was visited when I was younger. But real or not, that time of my life was over. I saw what happened to Whitley when he told other people about his experiences. They laughed at him. Made fun of his trauma. There was no way I was going to do that to myself.

Since I couldn’t talk about my experiences, I wrote about them. I channeled my encounters with high strangeness into writing. In my twenties I focused on building a career. I had several weird encounters that aren’t easy to explain but nothing world shattering. Nothing I couldn’t ignore. Maybe it was bad for other people but aside from the occasional nightmare, my old encounters didn’t’ affect me any more. I could just let it go.

Besides, I’ve read what happens to people who come forward with their encounters. Speaking up could destroy my life. Some believe the reason JFK was assassinated was because he wanted to go public with the existence of aliens. There was no incentive to tell people.

So I stayed silent.

Now, let’s talk about racism.

RACISM

When you look at me, do you see a white man or a black man? The way you see me may impact how you treat me.

My mother was black. My father was white. No one mistook me for a white man until I shaved my head.  Now, to some I am racially ambiguous. They don’t know how to classify me. When I walk into a room, I can tell if they are treating me as a black man or a white man. 

I’ve always known racism is real. I’ve been turned away from restaurants because they were closed for lunch.  Tons of microagressions. But until I worked for the Province of Ontario in Canada, I didn’t believe systemic racism still existed. I believed the government propaganda that programs had been put in place to protect black people.

I believe that until I was harassed at work. In an office with three managers, one was actively engaged in harassment of black staff members. The other two watched. When I discovered that the harassment was aimed at all black people and not just me, I spoke up. 

And that’s when things got so much worse.

In Ontario we have a law called Bill 168.

Ontario - Preventing workplace violence and workplace harassment

Here is how the Province of Ontario classifies harassment. Keep in mind, this is organization I worked for.

Workplace harassment means:
  • engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome or
So what are the employer’s obligations under this law once an allegation has been made?

Duties

To protect a worker from workplace harassment, an employer must ensure 
that:
  • an investigation that is appropriate in the circumstances is conducted into incidents and complaints of workplace harassment
  • the worker who has allegedly experienced workplace harassment and the alleged harasser, if he or she is a worker of the employer, are informed in writing of the results of the investigation and of any corrective action that has been taken or that will be taken as a result of the investigation
  • the harassment program is reviewed as often as necessary, but at least annually, to ensure that it adequately implements the policy with respect to workplace harassment
I experienced what I believed to be harassment. I took steps. I spoke with the two other managers. No corrective action was taken. I spoke with the regional manager, Melissa Kersey. She showed remorse that I was experiencing racism but no corrective action was taken. I met with Melissa’s manager (Patty Redmond), emailed the head of the Workplace Harassment board, the head of the civil service, Michelle DiEmmanuelle. I emailed the union for assistance. No one was willing to help me deal with the harassment. I started to realize I was playing a very difference game.

Let’s talk about something life for a moment. Playing games. What is game theory anyway?

GAME THEORY

A game is any activity with a set of rules and strategies for winning. All players know the rules and agree to follow them. Strategies are a way to turn random events to your advantage.  If you know the rules and the strategies, you can make predictions on various outcomes and make informed choices about future moves.

For example, chess. Hundreds of books have been written about chess strategy. To play the game, you have to know the rules. You learn the strategies over time. Chess, like drag, is not a contact sport. Normally, the person with the best strategy wins.

I love games. My favourite is a MMO called Elder Scrolls online. My main character is Grandmaster Wisdom, a tank. When I’m not running dungeons, I pay their mini-game Tales of Tribute. But I noticed something this week that makes it less fun to play.

I noticed that it didn’t seem to matter what I did. The decision whether I was going to win or lose was decided before I started playing. The system ensured that each time I drew a card it was “meh” but each time my opponent drew one it was amazing. No matter which cards I chose or how I laid them down, the system had decided I wasn’t going to win. Eventually the “randomness” change and I started winning again. But by then the illusion was gone. I realized it wasn’t my skill advancing me. It was the system. If ESO wanted me to win, I won. If it wanted me to lose, I lost. And my individual actions had no bearing on it.

Now back to racism.

When it appeared that the agency investigating harassment (WDHP) was suppressing reports, I reached as high up as possible. I emailed Michelle DiEmanuelle repeatedly asking for assistance. I told DeEmmanuelle that I had uncovered government officials suppressing evidence and altering reports.. I told them the public had a right to know there was problems within the public service. I wanted it to come from them. 

And that’s was the first time they tried to fire me.

So how did they fool me? They took advantage of my disability. I have lived with Long Covid wince January 2021. After the first attempt to fire me failed, they waited until Had a mental health crisis in November 2023. I was forced to watch a video I found offensive while the manager who had been harassing me smiled. This happened on the day I had to put my cat down. Sneakers was going on 20 and he was my best friend. 

I snapped. And by “snapped” here’s what I mean. 

I sent an email to Patti Redmond’s replacement saying enough is enough.

I asked how many more people were going to be traumatized before something changed. Her response was dismissive. I went to Facebook and complained. I had been talking about racism for  months on Facebook. Management and union were aware. I was told my actions would be monitored if I would be told if I said something inappropriate. I was promised that I would not be fired without cause or without warning.

I caught those promises on tape. At the time, I believed them. I can see now I was incredibly naïve, but for that I blame COVID. My brain has not worked the same since. At the time, I was easily confused. They took at advantage of that. I lose my job, my sanity, and quickly lost my house.

The union stopped responding to my emails. Friends from work started ignoring me including my closest work friend, Erin. Erin also happened to be the local president and had seen every piece of evidence about harassment. It was because of Erin’s encouragement that I proceeded with the grievance. 

Once the grievance actually started, she stopped returning my texts and phone calls. I haven’t heard from her since December 2022.

Then I reached out to external agencies. I emailed every Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario. I emailed news agencies, local and national. I reached out specifically to Lisa Gretzky because I campaigned for the NDP in the last election, knocking on doors for Gemma Grey-Hall. I also trusted Lisa because she was the officiant at my wedding. We haven’t spoken since, but I was impressed by  her fire and passion. And she does have passion for many causes. Just not the safety of black workers.
I reached out to CBC and AM800. I know a local radio personality. We dated briefly in our youth. I reached out to him. Didn’t get a response for a year. 

No news agency would help. No politician would help. And no one inside the company would help. It was almost like no matter what I did, I was going to lose this game.

Because the system decided I wasn’t supposed to win. My only strategy at this point is to stop playing the game. Which is why I’m doing a podcast now instead of spending the next five years in court.  It’s important to me that send a warning out. If you have brown skin and work for the province of Ontario, you are not safe. It is not a safe space. If you deal with harassment, leave. Do not report it. Because the system is set up to suppress your report and fire you. I wasn’t the first one. I  won’t be the last.

It is sickening that black people in 2022 had to deal with blatant racism. How blatant? She made all the black people sit outside her office.

 and wanted to exposure the corruption. But I elived it would be better for the public if the information came from them.

The only corrective action that was taken was an attempt to fire me

The problem for me, is I don’t trust those memories because for the whole world around me told me aliens weren’t real. The world told me if you say aliens you were insane. So I told almost no one about my experiences.

Then in January of 2021, I got sick with COVID. I had nearly every symptom. One of the worst is total mindfuck we’re all calling Brain Fog.

WHAT IS BRAIN FOG

Brain Fog isn’t a medical term. Think of it like short hand for a series of biological experiences that science can not yet full explain. 


Once upon a time, there was medical term called Hysteria


Brain Fog has many sources. This article is about chronic fatigue from ten years ago. 


Is COVID Brain Fog different? Since I’m not a neuroscientist, I can’t answer that question. But I can tell you what it feels like to me.

Delirium. Derealization. Depersonalization. My neuropathways were erased. I had to relearn everything. Reading was physically exhausting. My muscles would not respond to my mind. Walking was nearly impossible. I lost object permanence. Out of sight and it never existed. I forgot how to gargle. I wasn’t blinking properly. Memories from childhood were suddenly super vivid. I could smell them. But I could forget what happened that day.

And I’m stuck with the feeling that human consciousness is not localized. But this body is just a robot housing a portion of my soul. But my soul never fully came back after being so sick. Some days I don’t’ feel real.

Some times  I lose sense of place. I can’t tell you what city I am in. Or sense of time. I’ve had a more than a few cases of missing time. But I can’t blame all of that on COVID. It appears I may have a history of blocking out certain parts of my memory.

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?



What makes a person "crazy?" Is that a personal problem or a social problem? Does mental health have a physical basis? And if so, will that make it easier for society to tolerate those with mental illness?

Or maybe mental illness is a warning sign. Maybe we’re not supposed to tolerate it? Maybe when everyone starts losing their mind, it means we need to make a change to society? Maybe that.

Statistics from Mental Health Canada - Mental Health in Canada 

Statistics on Mental Health - Forbes magazine.



WHAT PARTS OF "YOU" ARE "YOU"?

Last year I experienced a lot of trauma one after the other. At work I was harassed due to the colour of my skin. When I asked for the harassment to be investigated, reports were suppressed. When I called them on this behaviour, I was fired. Afterwards, I had a mental break down.

But is that because of ME or because of the actions of others. 

What if your own mental illness is because of the actions of another person. Or the actions of an entire society.

Women called crazy – history of hysteria

Black people called crazy for wanting not to be slaves

Many are called crazy for reporting encounters.

In each of these cases, a person may be told they are crazy. They may internalize this and BELIEVE they are crazy when in truth they are responding to reality as it exists

So when other people say you’re crazy, how can you tell if their telling the truth? Because maybe they are trying  to gaslight you.


EXPERTS VS. NON EXPERTS

I am not an expert in Neuroscience. Although I am a black gay man I would not call myself an expert on systems of oppression. So what I am an expert on? Accounting. Writing but more importantly, Teaching. I’m very good at helping people learn complex and challenging material.

I’m also a bit of an expert on conspiracy theories. Over the last forty years,  I’ve read hundreds of hbooks about UFOS, reptilians, Atlantis, and cryptids (strange animals). I’m deeply familiar with the work of David Icke. His work on reptilians inspired me so much I’ve published three books so far featuring reptilians, with more on the way. 

Which is why I’m here. Many of you believe some completely utter nonsense that gives a bad name to conspiracy theories. And I can’t blame you. World governments and corporate owned news media have fed us lies and half truths for decades. They lie so often without consequence that we no longer know who to believe. 


WAYS TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING IS REAL.


Science

  1. State the problem. State the problem that you will study as clearly and concisely as possible. 
  2. Form the hypothesis. Describe what you think the result of your study will be. 
  3. Observe and experiment. Observe or set up an experiment to test your hypothesis. Tally your data.
  4. Interpret data. Once you have collected your data, you must understand what it tells you. The data can be 
  5. Interpreted by comparing numbers visually and/or in graphic form. 
  6. Draw conclusions. Did your observations and/or experiments support your hypothesis? Was your hypothesis proved or disproved by your study? Did your results show a strong correlation? Were there things that could be changed to make a better experiment? Are there things that need to be studied further?

In science, results and conclusions are repeatable. Meaning anyone who performs the same experiment will come to the same conclusions. If they come to different result or difference conclusion, science says the results are wrong.

Magic

So what is magic? For the Harry Potter fans, it’s the waving of wands and boiling toads. But what do real magic workers do? Aleister Crowley was seen as the most evil man of his time. He is the inspiration behind Belasco, the evil spirit in Legend of Hell House. 

So how did Aleister Crowly define magic? “The science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will.”

Dion Fortune defined magic – the art of changing consciousness at will.

For those who practice magic, it has far more in common with the Power of Positive Thinking, Visualization, and a religious experience than waving of wands. Magic, like science has it’s own rules. Unlike science, magic doesn’t work for everyone. And science cannot yet explain why.
For example, what is the placebo effect? Why does it work when logic says it should not?
Magic in it’s purest form uses the power of believe to harness the placebo effect


Science vs. Pseudoscience.


No matter what I do, because I didn’t go to university for science, some people will believe I’m not qualified to be doing this podcast. No matter how objective I am, I will be accused of pseudoscience because of the topics I’m discussing.


In the article above, the big difference Popper identifies between science and pseudo-science is a difference in attitude. While a pseudo-science is set up to look for evidence that supports its claims, Popper says, a science is set up to challenge its claims and look for evidence that might prove it false. In other words, pseudo-science seeks confirmations and science seeks falsifications.


There is a corresponding difference that Popper sees in the form of the claims made by sciences and pseudo-sciences: Scientific claims are falsifiable -- that is, they are claims where you could set out what observable outcomes would be impossible if the claim were true -- while pseudo-scientific claims fit with any imaginable set of observable outcomes. What this means is that you could do a test that shows a scientific claim to be false, but no conceivable test could show a pseudo-scientific claim to be false. Sciences are testable, pseudo-sciences are not.

I don’t want to believe the conspiracy theory that we are all slaves in a neo feudalistic empire. I don’t want to believe aliens are real  and our government has been lying to us. 

But the evidence is pretty overwhelming.

How I got hear: I thought I was being harassed at work because of the colour of my skin. I assumed it was incompetence. I learned out the hard way it was not. What happened to me has happened before. And if it’s repeatable, it’s harder to write it off



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