<![CDATA[Orchid Advocacy - Val\'s Blog 2]]>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:07:28 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Dan Snow, Tom Holland discuss the secular in christianity and our take on "Scapegoats"]]>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 01:59:56 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/dan-snow-tom-holland-discuss-the-secular-in-christianity-and-our-take-on-scapegoats
​Val's Take:  Tom Holland's understanding of the "SECULAR" and its relation to Christianity is a "REVELATION."

With regard to Jewishness being "EXCLUSIVE" and Christianity being "UNIVERSALIST"  --- that is much more of a MIXED BAG than presented.

Further, Holland is speaking of Christianity and Universalism in a particular sense --- that is a particular idea of Christianity is right for EVERYONE.  

Historically, Christians can and have given frightening meaning to "EXCLUSIVENESS," and the Nazis were in large part piggy-backing on that long scary tradition.

Of course, there are several ideas of Christianity out there.  The big break is between Catholicism and Protestantism --- BUT it goes far beyond that.

Additionally, Aldous Huxley promoted the idea of the "PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY."

Moving between a more "INTEGRATIVE  PERSPECTIVE" to more of a focus on a "PART OF THE WHOLE" is important.  The "INTEGRATION" is only as good as the understanding of the parts. 

The Founding Fathers were quite consciously trying to avoid the RELIGIOUS WARS OF EUROPE -.- but it certainly evolved into a situation in which one could not discuss RELIGION without fear of offending someone.

I am someone who takes IDEAS extremely seriously ---- and I appreciate these kinds of serious discussions.

On the other hand, "Anti-Semitism" of the past and certainly today often has little to nothing to do with "religion," and more to do with what Neuro-Scientist David Eagleman would classify as "IN-GROUPS" and "OUT-GROUPS" and what team you are on -- that "SEPARATION" can be the first step to violence.
​History Hit -- Dan Snow

Tom Holland On How Christianity Has Shaped Western Morality
​
The CATCH-22 is that one is very vulnerable if no one perceives you as part of their group.

To me, one of the messages of Jesus is that there are NO SCAPEGOATS.  But in Secular Society, we often seem to determine that we got the WRONG SCAPEGOAT.  What we need to do is get the RIGHT SCAPEGOAT.

In the last few years, the RIGHT SCAPEGOAT seemed to be MEN, especially WHITE MEN.  I think our politics of today is at least in some measure a reaction against that.  
​
Getting to some kind of Three Musketeers "All for One, and One for All" that includes everyone and is "universalist"--- isn't easy --- but MUSICAL SCAPEGOATS ISN'T GOING TO WORK.
]]><![CDATA[Minchin, Tutu, Dawkins and "White Wine in the Sun"]]>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:41:13 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/minchin-tutu-dawkins-and-white-wine-in-the-sun
​Val's Take: 

The lyric I'm riffing off of is "I'd rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu, to be honest"

Tim Minchin is singing about the primacy of family relationships over religious ideas at "Christmas Time."

For those of us who are close to our families and not particularly "religious,"  this resonates in a profound way.

But not everyone is close to their families, and one of the places they may have found a "family" is in some type of religious community.

More and more religious communities are not threatened by Science --- Although that took quite a long time and may be isn't completely resolved.

When Dawkins says our beliefs are largely mediated by the time and place in which we live --- he's not wrong.  Further, he's not wrong that many human "religious" ideas weren't "right."

Dawkins rejects "God" --- but the concept "God" is a moving target --- much like Science itself.

Science has made so many mistakes when it comes to "psychiatric disorders" that a lot people just rejected the "MEDICAL MODEL" instead of any one specific "MEDICAL MODEL." 

Desmond Tutu recognizes that our humanity comes in relation to one another.

I would say Religion, Reason and Science have to be understood in relation to one another.
Picture
René Descartes (1596–1650), regarded as the Founder of Rationalist Philosophy
Tim Minchin
White Wine in the Sun
​PBS NewsHour
Remembrance of Bishop Desmond Tutu
Richard Dawkins -- South Park
What if you're wrong?
]]><![CDATA[Hey Mental Health ---- Integrating Physical & mental Health]]>Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:59:04 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/hey-mental-health-integrating-physical-mental-health
​Val's Take:  Integrating Physical and Mental Health Care has been on the Agenda for the US and other countries for awhile.

I think what has happened with Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders --- one can't understand them without understanding the IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Further, there appear to be at least 2 bi-directional relationships that may be going on --- because of my cognitive impairment I'm having a hard time taking care of my physical health, BUT ALSO --- my physical health problems involving dysregulation of my immune system are not unrelated to my mental health problems involving dysregulation of the immune system.

Ironically, I'm really saying MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS SOMEONE TO PERFORM WITH --- BUT SO DID THE BEATLES.
​
I actually view Mental Health Professionals as extremely COLLABORATIVE --- BUT I'm not necessarily seeing them get this organized by themselves without some OFFICIAL AUTHORITY leading it.
​The Beatles
Hey Jude
Oxford Brookes Health & Life Sciences
Integrating Physical & Mental Health Care
(2017)
]]><![CDATA[Mental Health Conditions as immune responses throughout the body ---- Implications for medicine, criminal justice & the Society]]>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:47:37 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/mental-health-conditions-as-immune-responses-throughout-the-body-implications-for-medicine-criminal-justice-the-society
Picture
Val's Take/Conjecture:

​  Gun Rights Activists are right that many of these shootings are driven by Mental Illness (or Neuro-Developmental Disorders, Brain Injury, etc.)  The problem has been Mental Health Professionals do not currently possess the knowledge to effectively prevent these tragedies in many cases.

This isn't about Civil Commitment --- this about the State of Knowledge within a Profession.

These new paradigms have the potential to transform society.

In the meantime, there are SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS within medicine, criminal justice and the society generally to understanding Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders as profoundly driven by the IMMUNE SYSTEM and affecting multiple systems of the body.
​Neuroscience News
Overactive Immune System May Drive Mental Illness (2025)
]]><![CDATA["I JUST MIGHT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN"]]>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:18:22 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/i-just-might-pass-this-way-again
Val's Take/Conjecture:  I don't know that I'll pass this way again --- but someone else likely will --- "Those people keep comin.' "

Our understandings haven't been good enough.  Let me say that again, our understandings haven't been good enough.

Further, these issues are TRANS-GENERATIONAL in complicated ways that go beyond simple genomics.

It is CRITICAL that we get better understandings to people living now and build on that for future generations. 
Doobie Brothers
Toulouse Street
​The Grapes of Wrath
The Final Scene
]]><![CDATA[it's a mystery]]>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:41:57 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/its-a-mystery
​Val's Take/Conjecture:  I'm referencing here the DETECTIVE STORY/MYSTERY of the Underlying Causes and Treatments of Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders.

Certainly by 2013, Researchers knew the DSM was "INVALID" as a diagnostic manual.

In 2025, Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders appear DEVELOPMENTAL, MULTI-SYSTEM and NEURO-IMMUNE.  Immunological Dysregulation is a KEY FACTOR.

One of the great mysteries of Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders is this association between Intelligence and or Talent and Executive Function Issues, including Emotional Dysregulation.

Sometimes it is obvious ---- other times, bias of many types can get in our way of picking it up.  Further, if we're equating executive functioning with intelligence or talent --- we're going to miss it.

The Mitochondrial Bioenergetics of Synapses and Synapses of Greater Number are another KEY FACTOR in Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders.
PBS
Professor T Trailer
​Lorraine
Ben Miller Reveals How He Uses His OCD to Play Professor T
]]><![CDATA[tinkerbell --- "Therapy Dog"]]>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 03:15:48 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/tinkerbell-therapy-dog
Tinkerbell​ 
Val's Take:  Our 14-year-old dog Tinkerbell died at home Sunday.

We adopted her from Pet Smart with the idea that she could be an unofficial therapy dog and companion for our other Black Lab Buddy.

Most of that did not work out.  We might have guessed when one of the workers at Pet Smart said, "Someone finally bought that crazy puppy."

There were training programs and some progress --- sort of.  She was the most affectionate dog in the world and protective and aggressive.  She was unlikely to bite anyone, but she probably would loudly bark, circle and lunge.

For those 14 years it was never easy.  The neighbors said we must be saints [read idiots], but we loved Tinkerbell and she loved us.

On a bright September Colorado morning, Tinkerbell flew away.​
SciShow
Pet Therapy
]]><![CDATA[Robert Redford, a river runs through it and Mental Health]]>Sat, 20 Sep 2025 01:37:40 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/robert-redford-a-river-runs-through-it-and-mental-health
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Val's Take:  I'm going to riff off Robert Redford's sentiment that sadness and contradictions are a part of life.

I'm an emotional person, I cry easily.  On the other hand, I'm a logical person.  If "Catch-22s" in life are Red Flags, so are "Pain" and "Contradictions."

There are "INACCURATE UNDERSTANDINGS" --- but there aren't any "TRUE CONTRADICTIONS."

One of the things that is slowly happening is the recognition that "INTELLIGENCE," "SENSORY PROCESSING," and "MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION" are more complicated than we thought. (High IQ and Psycho-Neuro-Immunology).

The ancient Greek myth of ICARUS --- and the Aristotelian Golden Mean come to mind.

Life is often not either or --- but some Goldie Locks "Just Right Range."

For many people with Neuro-Developmental, Psychiatric and/or Addiction Disorders --- they are absolutely coming with some GIFTS --- but it is quite a MIXED BAG.

And strangely, IMMUNOLOGICAL DYSREGULATION is a more significant factor than we previously knew.
​Oftentimes Bi-Directional Relationships will be referenced in these dysregulations --- and that is important.  BUT the University of Texas has made the point that INFLAMMATION occurring IN UTERO --- is generally a more significant factor than post-natal inflammation.
"A River Runs Through It" (1992)
Picture
​This is going to the Developmental Origins of Health & Disease.  The ramifications of IN UTERO INFLAMMATION and even transient IL-6 spikes are HUGE for the LIFESPAN.  

This isn't the way most of us look at things right now, but the research is becoming more and more compelling.
]]><![CDATA[In-Groups, Out-Groups and Horror]]>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 01:47:06 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/in-groups-out-groups-and-horror
Val's Take:  After World War II --- there was a lot of soul-searching --- not just about how Germans could commit such atrocities --- but how could Human Beings commit such atrocities.

There was talk of the problem of "Following Orders" in a hierarchy, and the need for a SUPRA NORM.
​Neuroscientist David Eagleman brings a different dimension to the problem of genocide and our split second defaults to in-groups and out-groups.  He sees genocide as a neural phenomenon.
Big Think --- David Eagleman 
How to Unbias Your Brain
​PBS NewsHour
A Glimpse of Life in Gaza
PBS -- David Eagleman & the Brain
Massacre at Srebrenica
​Tim Minchin
Not Perfect
]]><![CDATA[Why is it so important to get a new label or at least an additional label?]]>Sat, 23 Aug 2025 22:21:52 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/vals-blog-2/why-is-it-so-important-to-get-a-new-label-or-at-least-an-additional-label
​Val's Take/Conjecture
  • We've come a long way in reducing mental health stigma.  
  • When we talk about why we aren't fully funding a Mental Health Continuum of Care, there are many reasons.
    • Policymakers would say --- we are spending a lot on Mental Health.
  • Many people view "MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT" as "SUBJECTIVE" and a "FINANCIAL BOTTOMLESS PIT."
  • There is a big need to lean into PRECISION PSYCHIATRY and understanding Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders as Complex Neuro-Immune Disorders.
PBS
The Brain with David Eagleman​

A single one-word label is enough to change your brain's basic pre-conscious response to someone in pain.
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