I’m a volcano. I may be dormant, but I’m fuming inside.
I read newspapers. I watch MSNBC, CNN, Democracy Now, The Young Turks, and FOX (a little). I listen to my friends (a lot).
Puffs of smoke belch from my skull.
I unroll my yoga mat. Settle down. Cross my legs. Follow my breathing.
In. Hold. Hold. Hold.
Out.
In. Hold. Hold. Hold.
Out.
In. Hold. Hold. Hold.
Out.
I lose myself.
I feel better, even though there’s no self left. Ah, the paradox of Buddhism. (And Christianity at its Buddha best.)
The prophets tell me—self or no self—I live in an empire. Its current face is clownish.
The next face could be urbane. Still, just another mask—a mask on an empire of crushing militarism, rampant materialism, corporate greed, and endless entertainment.
I’m told this is our “Hong Kong moment.” Marches, letters, petitions, and sham trials aren’t getting it done. It’s time to flood the streets and stay until the revolution is over—until the beast is driven into the sea.
I get it.
I’m living in the belly of the beast.
I get it.
Love is not enough.
I get it.
If not now, when? If not here, where? If not me, who?
I get it.
But I really don’t want to miss the Super Bowl or the next episode of Mrs. Maisel.
Each week I will post one of Paula’s photographs as the featured image on the home page. This week it’s Sleeping Man, Albuquerque, NM.
Methinks you have lots of company. Methinks I am in that company. Letting the young people do it worked until Jane Fonda took to the streets at 82. She was on Colbert the other night explaining what to take with you when you expect to spend the night in jail. (Answer: lots of clothing to use for a pillow.)
Where are Captain America and his cronies when we need them? I want to do my card-making (Valentines Day is right around the corner), and I promised myself I would learn a little Spanish this year. None of this is my doing! I voted for the right candidate, and it’s not my fault the electoral college system didn’t work right…..
Or look up from the iPhone. I just might see how many people are in distress. I might see how disconnected our politicians are with the realities 90% of us face, who don’t care about much of anything except keeping the corporate donors happy and–most of all–getting reelected.
I wonder about the inaction myself, except for the personal fuming. While some of it is a disbelief of the times that we live in, I wonder if it is any different than what we lived through in the Johnson and Nixon era. There was no choice but to take to the streets at that time because social media was non-existent, outside of posters and newsletters.
There is much we can do along with protest. We need to address food security in the face of weather uncertainty…which to my mind translates to greenhousing at a community level. Big question is how to heat. Certainly not with propane. Stay tuned for workshops this spring and summer by Jamie Byron and I on greenhouse/aquaponics/rocket mass heater triad.
“May you be born in interesting times!” I’ve always heard that this statement is an old Chinese curse, speaking of a Hong Kong moment. Who knows? Maybe this is simply a universal curse? Perhaps it’s a back- handed wish for a good performance, as in “Break a leg!”? But most importantly, “Take it easy, but take it!”
Reading the Devil’s Gift today I am reminded of my favorite modern philosopher and poet, Morrissey, and the words in his song “Spent the Day in Bed”:
“And I recommend to all of my friends that they
Stop watching the news
Because the news contrives to frighten you
To make you feel small and alone
To make you feel that your mind isn’t your own”
Never took this as escapism but rather a call to focus on self care and a reminder that my mind is my own. Thank goodness for my yoga mat!
I still believe that when all us dreamers, misfits and Pollyanna optimists get together we will overcome. Bill O’Brien quoted Martin Luther King in his column to day “If you can’t run then walk.” Maybe we all need to walk a little faster and continue to believe.
Yes, You got it and I get it too. But……damn! Too many choices, too many distractions. Like living in a department store, which I found frightening as a child and still do. Meditation helps, yoga helps, but when you’re done, the choices and distractions and strings pulling on you are still there. Thanks for putting it down so clearly and eloquently.