What Is This All About?

February 6, 2000

The choice of a Polar Bear as a literary totem animal was deliberate. The first time I used this pseudonym was on the Love@AOL message boards (which you cannot get to unless you have an AOL account and get into the message boards through AOL's software) where I originally went for fun, curiosity and entertainment. Before too long it was clear to me that if I were really going to bother I'd jolly well have to engage in a little consciousness raising without mincing words. The Polar Bear emerged after being attacked on my views by persons who had no idea who they were dealing with. I didn't use the pseudonym for initial intimidation but I did want the other posters to recognize that I was an earnest protagonist who took my views seriously enough to defend them staunchly, very willing and able to defend my positions with a "take no prisoners" or "eat them alive" attitude, which I particularly enjoyed demonstrating to the unwary, the careless of thought, the lazy or the stupid.

These pages are therefore addressed to those who would broaden their awareness, get themselves informed, those who want to wake up or are already wide awake, the thoughtful, the diligent and the intelligent. None of these attributes preclude having fun, which is itself a very important part of a well rounded life, except that probably the fun the Polar Bear has in mind is a bit different from what most people have in mind.

For example, the last entry, Saving the World, introduced some very important issues that the world must face and soon if we are to continue to live at the level we in the developed world have grown accustomed to. We'll get into some of these in greater detail. Other issues will be developed as well. We will get into the serious business of recognizing our enemies and paying attention to our friends, both inside ourselves and in the outside world. If each one of us could become better in any real way and influence two of our friends, and they in turn could do the same, maybe the world stands a chance.

If you have no desire to be confronted in what you want to continue to believe, then keep right on surfing. If you're ready to work on yourself, you'll get some encouragement here. It may not always be pleasant to get at the truth, but there's really no substitute for it. You'll either be up to being a playmate of the Polar Bear or end up being food for one. It's entirely up to you.

The Polar Bear