You guys know how it works. This should be in the October 22 issue of The Circle. Enjoy:
On October 7, the War in Afghanistan entered its ninth year. Like the Vietnam War, there seems to be no clear mission other than the elimination of the, “bad guys,” that are ideologically opposed to the United States. Considering that Obama is to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and that there is a potential troop increase on the table in Washington, the political climate is ripe for true change.
But will there be any change in the strategy on Afghanistan. Just as General Westmoreland told President Johnson in 1968 that a troop surge in Vietnam would stabilize South Vietnam, General McCrystal is telling President Obama that a troop surge in Afghanistan in 2009 will stabilize the country. We all know what happened
in Vietnam, and I’m afraid of a repeat in Afghanistan.
There are some negative signs that only seem to dictate a negative outcome in Afghanistan. Like fighting the Viet Cong forty years ago, the Taliban are a decentralized military entity that is fighting on territory they are familiar with against troops on their lands. Trying to take out the Taliban hiding in the mountains is nothing short of a logistical nightmare.
Also, the fact remains that the Taliban is not Al Qaida. The US originally sought to take out Al Qaida and its networks but has been preoccupied with the Taliban in Afghanistan for years. Nearly everyone knows now that Al Qaida is predominantly in Pakistan, which is nearing anarchy itself. So, while Al Qaida is operating in Pakistan, the United States continues to keep its attention on nation building in Afghanistan.
The fact also remains that many Afghanis are still quite hostile towards westerners. In some incidents – such as an incident involving a Canadian Air Force Captain – Afghani civilians have attacked military personnel attempting friendly contact. Additionally, if 2009 could tell us anything about the situation in Afghanistan, it would say that violence is at higher levels now than it has been since the war began.
On top of all this, the Afghani government is a joke. The Afghani judiciary is so weak that it is laughable. The Afghani government as a whole is so corrupt that it holds nearly no legitimacy with the Afghani people. This is all very reminiscent of the incredibly fragile, puppet South Vietnamese government. This is not to mention that Afghani President Hamid Karzai has been accused of election fraud from the August presidential election.
With the situation the way it is, and the prospects of a positive change fading with every senselessly violent day in Afghanistan, I as a pacifist call upon President Obama to earn his Nobel Peace Prize. End combat operations in Afghanistan and put an end to the Bush Wars.
Regardless of Obama’s previous actions that caused him to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he will not earn it until the conflict in Afghanistan is over. It is time to put an end to this war before it truly becomes the modern Vietnam.
-mike
18 October 2009
11 October 2009
Defending President Obama
I wrote this article for The Circle, but (as I always do) I am publishing it here first. I wrote this article from the perspective of an internationalist with special consideration for diplomacy, enjoy:
To the surprise of nearly everyone in the world, President Obama was selected by the Nobel Committee to receive the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Naturally, his selection has raised many questions. His selection was made, however, on sound rhetoric based in the principles of international diplomacy and politics.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the individual who has done the most for world peace in the previous year. Most notably for Obama, is that he reversed the jingoistic – and at times borderline xenophobic – foreign policy of the previous administration; in doing so, he single handedly changed the attitude of most of the world toward America.
It also must be noted that individuals who promote world peace do not necessarily partake in specific actions. International diplomacy is incredibly formal, most of the attitudes and actions of individual nations are played out through speeches and gestures. In this way Obama’s contribution to peace is seen.
Some of Obama’s first actions as president set the tone for what the Nobel Committee dubbed as, “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” During his inaugural address he stated, “to all those other peoples and governments who are watching today…know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.”
These are strong words for an individual who just took office, that he is ready to help lead the world towards peace. His actions continued over the next few months. First, Obama signed an executive order closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, put an end to torture, and began withdrawing troops from Iraq.
In his first formal interview as president, he spoke with an Arab satellite network reaching out to the Islamic world. He later gave a speech in Cairo reaching out further to nations and peoples who had been so greatly dejected by the previous administration. Additionally, Obama has put pressure on Israel to desist their movement onto Palestinian settlements, refused to support radical right-wing coup leaders in Honduras, and has continued voicing his support for a nuclear free world.
To Obama’s credit, many world leaders have congratulated and shown their support for his award. Simply the list of individuals congratulating him, shows the span of his actions. Obama has been supported by public figures in France, Germany, Russia, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and by IGO’s such as the United Nations, NATO, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Former recipients of the prize such as Wangari Maathai, Desmond Tutu, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mohamed Elbaradel, Shimon Peres, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, and last year’s recipient Martti Ahtisaari have also expressed their support.
Meanwhile, on the domestic side, opponents of President Obama have been quick to criticize him. Most notably of the dissidents is the RNC chairman Michael Steele who attempted to portray Obama as, “unworthy.” So, while most of the world celebrates Mr. Obama and his strides towards peace, the minority political party in America has to resort to derisive politics. As one Floridian congressman put it, “If Obama somehow ended world hunger, they would try to blame him for overpopulation.”
It is time to put politics aside, because peace is more important that politics. America, your president just won the Nobel Peace Prize, let’s be proud of it.
-mike
To the surprise of nearly everyone in the world, President Obama was selected by the Nobel Committee to receive the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Naturally, his selection has raised many questions. His selection was made, however, on sound rhetoric based in the principles of international diplomacy and politics.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the individual who has done the most for world peace in the previous year. Most notably for Obama, is that he reversed the jingoistic – and at times borderline xenophobic – foreign policy of the previous administration; in doing so, he single handedly changed the attitude of most of the world toward America.
It also must be noted that individuals who promote world peace do not necessarily partake in specific actions. International diplomacy is incredibly formal, most of the attitudes and actions of individual nations are played out through speeches and gestures. In this way Obama’s contribution to peace is seen.
Some of Obama’s first actions as president set the tone for what the Nobel Committee dubbed as, “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” During his inaugural address he stated, “to all those other peoples and governments who are watching today…know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.”
These are strong words for an individual who just took office, that he is ready to help lead the world towards peace. His actions continued over the next few months. First, Obama signed an executive order closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, put an end to torture, and began withdrawing troops from Iraq.
In his first formal interview as president, he spoke with an Arab satellite network reaching out to the Islamic world. He later gave a speech in Cairo reaching out further to nations and peoples who had been so greatly dejected by the previous administration. Additionally, Obama has put pressure on Israel to desist their movement onto Palestinian settlements, refused to support radical right-wing coup leaders in Honduras, and has continued voicing his support for a nuclear free world.
To Obama’s credit, many world leaders have congratulated and shown their support for his award. Simply the list of individuals congratulating him, shows the span of his actions. Obama has been supported by public figures in France, Germany, Russia, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and by IGO’s such as the United Nations, NATO, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Former recipients of the prize such as Wangari Maathai, Desmond Tutu, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mohamed Elbaradel, Shimon Peres, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, and last year’s recipient Martti Ahtisaari have also expressed their support.
Meanwhile, on the domestic side, opponents of President Obama have been quick to criticize him. Most notably of the dissidents is the RNC chairman Michael Steele who attempted to portray Obama as, “unworthy.” So, while most of the world celebrates Mr. Obama and his strides towards peace, the minority political party in America has to resort to derisive politics. As one Floridian congressman put it, “If Obama somehow ended world hunger, they would try to blame him for overpopulation.”
It is time to put politics aside, because peace is more important that politics. America, your president just won the Nobel Peace Prize, let’s be proud of it.
-mike
14 September 2009
Intershiping equates to life searching
Published in The Circle some time in September, enjoy:
Imagine you just landed a great job, but then they tell you that you must commute everyday for an hour and a half by train and they won’t pay for your commuter pass. In fact, they don’t pay you at all. That’s the reality for many Marist students – including myself – who become interns on that dreaded slice of isle known as Manhattan.
I had a summer internship with a side project of a major political party. At first I thought this was great news. I’m a political science student and I got an internship with a political party; that makes perfect sense! But then I started thinking about what I was really going to be doing, and that really trounced my mood.
Interns for political parties do two things. They either call constituents to ascertain support or information or they talk to constituents to ascertain support or information. The first point means sitting at a table all day with a list of phone numbers to call where about 90% of those on the other end are either not home or refusing to answer their phone. The second point means standing in a square or park in the hot New York sun asking passerby’s for their support. It truly is a lose – lose.
I was stuck in the unfortunate situation where I had to be knowledgeable and excited for a policy that I was not too fond of. This was the one thing that truly crossed me morally about this past internship. The busy work that I had to do never fazed me, I simply input the information into the computer. What truly got to me was the fact that my job was to convince people that a policy that I believe will be ineffective is the way to go.
I began to have a very hard time collecting signatures and calling voters because of this dilemma. What made the whole situation even worse was seeing my friends out advocating for the policy I’m in favor of while I was stuck with my job. Fortunately enough for me, I was able to finish my internship early before things came to a peak.
My internship made me think about my career options. There was one good thing about this summer; it convinced me that working for a political party isn’t the right thing for me. I could never have a job where I am forced to advocate, sell, contribute to, or create something I am morally and ethically against. Fortunately enough for me, there are many different career options within the realm of politics where I could find something that suits me.
It may take a long time for me to discover what I truly want to do, but I know I won’t be content with something I can’t support. I think that is something everyone should consider, whether or not they are truly content with their career path. We are all in college for a reason, to learn and discover what makes us tick.
Unfortunately for us though, we will have to be interns and do things that we will look back upon and laugh. But for now, we just have to suck it up and try the world out.
-mike
Imagine you just landed a great job, but then they tell you that you must commute everyday for an hour and a half by train and they won’t pay for your commuter pass. In fact, they don’t pay you at all. That’s the reality for many Marist students – including myself – who become interns on that dreaded slice of isle known as Manhattan.
I had a summer internship with a side project of a major political party. At first I thought this was great news. I’m a political science student and I got an internship with a political party; that makes perfect sense! But then I started thinking about what I was really going to be doing, and that really trounced my mood.
Interns for political parties do two things. They either call constituents to ascertain support or information or they talk to constituents to ascertain support or information. The first point means sitting at a table all day with a list of phone numbers to call where about 90% of those on the other end are either not home or refusing to answer their phone. The second point means standing in a square or park in the hot New York sun asking passerby’s for their support. It truly is a lose – lose.
I was stuck in the unfortunate situation where I had to be knowledgeable and excited for a policy that I was not too fond of. This was the one thing that truly crossed me morally about this past internship. The busy work that I had to do never fazed me, I simply input the information into the computer. What truly got to me was the fact that my job was to convince people that a policy that I believe will be ineffective is the way to go.
I began to have a very hard time collecting signatures and calling voters because of this dilemma. What made the whole situation even worse was seeing my friends out advocating for the policy I’m in favor of while I was stuck with my job. Fortunately enough for me, I was able to finish my internship early before things came to a peak.
My internship made me think about my career options. There was one good thing about this summer; it convinced me that working for a political party isn’t the right thing for me. I could never have a job where I am forced to advocate, sell, contribute to, or create something I am morally and ethically against. Fortunately enough for me, there are many different career options within the realm of politics where I could find something that suits me.
It may take a long time for me to discover what I truly want to do, but I know I won’t be content with something I can’t support. I think that is something everyone should consider, whether or not they are truly content with their career path. We are all in college for a reason, to learn and discover what makes us tick.
Unfortunately for us though, we will have to be interns and do things that we will look back upon and laugh. But for now, we just have to suck it up and try the world out.
-mike
31 August 2009
New Fall: New School Year
Hello All!
As we have just experienced the academic lull of the summer, I am pleased to say that the new academic year has just kicked off so there should be new material floating onto the Praxivism blog.
The Praxivists who will be at Marist this fall have informed me that they are planning to keep things up. So I will be pushing them (mostly Sam) to keep the blog flowing.
I myself will be spending the semester in Firenze, Italia. So I will be publishing things about my trip such as interesting stories, pictures, or poems. I also plan on continuing to write op-ed pieces for Marist's newspaper so I will publish them here as well when I write them.
Ci vediamo!
-mike
As we have just experienced the academic lull of the summer, I am pleased to say that the new academic year has just kicked off so there should be new material floating onto the Praxivism blog.
The Praxivists who will be at Marist this fall have informed me that they are planning to keep things up. So I will be pushing them (mostly Sam) to keep the blog flowing.
I myself will be spending the semester in Firenze, Italia. So I will be publishing things about my trip such as interesting stories, pictures, or poems. I also plan on continuing to write op-ed pieces for Marist's newspaper so I will publish them here as well when I write them.
Ci vediamo!
-mike
04 June 2009
Reflection: Mother Africa Mending
It has been an entire year and more since I visited South Africa. In the last week or so, I have been reading up on the current Marist group's experience in South Africa. Just today I read an entry they posted about their first day of community service. I was reading on some updates about the location I served at, a shelter for battered women and children named the Dusk to Dawn Haven. It really pulled my heart strings in the wrong direction reading about how little has changed over the course of a year.
When my group and I first encountered the shelter last May, we found a house in disrepair, and a yard that resembled a garbage dump at best. The shelter was horribly overcrowded. There was about 21 children there in total, about 15 women as well. I only know these statistics because Rob and I had reviewed our video footage extensively in the creation of our documentary (which is completed and will be distributed in the next 6 months).
What we encountered...
Our primary focus ended up being on the yard as it was littered with trash, glass, and assorted rotting piles. We tried our best to clean up the place as best we could but it seemed like every time we solved a problem another larger problem would come about. We cleared out a structure as well, but there was so much unused materials, bed linens, cloth, and other house hold items, it was hard for us to believe they were ever short handed of anything.
What we were able to accomplish...
This is simply a rash retelling of my service and you can read more about the first day here and the last day of our service here.
The whole thought behind this entry is that I assumed within in a year, things could change for the better. What I have learned through hours of documentary production, essay writing, reflecting, and talking is that it is not easy for people in the developing world to change the situation they are in, and it occasionally takes the intervention of a positive helping hand to give them the push needed to foster change.
A part of my heart will always reside at the haven because so much of my emotions - empathy, love, hope - is still residing there. I will never forget what I experienced and I felt like I left the shelter in a better place than I found it, and I can confidently say that. I hope that the group working there now feels the same way when their service is over.
My heart and thoughts are with the children there and the praxivists working to better their situation.
Peace and Love in the spirit of Praxis,
-mike
When my group and I first encountered the shelter last May, we found a house in disrepair, and a yard that resembled a garbage dump at best. The shelter was horribly overcrowded. There was about 21 children there in total, about 15 women as well. I only know these statistics because Rob and I had reviewed our video footage extensively in the creation of our documentary (which is completed and will be distributed in the next 6 months).
What we encountered...
Our primary focus ended up being on the yard as it was littered with trash, glass, and assorted rotting piles. We tried our best to clean up the place as best we could but it seemed like every time we solved a problem another larger problem would come about. We cleared out a structure as well, but there was so much unused materials, bed linens, cloth, and other house hold items, it was hard for us to believe they were ever short handed of anything.
What we were able to accomplish...
This is simply a rash retelling of my service and you can read more about the first day here and the last day of our service here.
The whole thought behind this entry is that I assumed within in a year, things could change for the better. What I have learned through hours of documentary production, essay writing, reflecting, and talking is that it is not easy for people in the developing world to change the situation they are in, and it occasionally takes the intervention of a positive helping hand to give them the push needed to foster change.
A part of my heart will always reside at the haven because so much of my emotions - empathy, love, hope - is still residing there. I will never forget what I experienced and I felt like I left the shelter in a better place than I found it, and I can confidently say that. I hope that the group working there now feels the same way when their service is over.
My heart and thoughts are with the children there and the praxivists working to better their situation.
Peace and Love in the spirit of Praxis,
-mike
15 May 2009
Thank Yous and Goodbyes
Today is the last day of finals week which means it is the offical end of the Spring 2009 semester. This semester was one of the best for the Marist Praxis Project in recent memory. Together we were able to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. For that, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the project this year for making it such a great year. I would also like to give our departing seniors a special spot light, because each one of them left something special behind that we will continue on with.
Anthony
This past year, Anthony served as the Assistant to the Public Praxis Project. During this year, Anth became the spiritual leader of the Praxivists. From his many meditiations he gave to the class and to the group to the countless conversations he has had with everyone, Anth's influence and spirit will always be with us. He was a calming spirit, a rallying spirit, he is my very good friend. Under his guidance, the Praxis Project reached heights that will not be soon met. As a parting gift, Dr. Mar gave Anth a walking stick with his name carved into the side, so that he could move on his path of life in style. As noted by Carola, "He looks like a Tibetan monk [with the stick]."
We will all miss Anthony and I wish him the best with the road ahead of him. Hopefully soon our paths will cross again.
Colleen
Colleen is one of our most veteran Praxivists. She would frequently collaborate with others and her involvement would almost guarantee the project would be successful. Most recently, Colleen helped run the Coffee House for Peace and Justice and has been advocating and informing students about alternative post-graduation options. She also worked with some other students on the Forum on Homelessness earlier in the month.
Colleen will truly be missed and the Praxis Project and the Praxivists is losing not only a great person but also a good friend. Thanks for everything you've done for the project.
Lauren
Although Lauren only discovered the Praxivists at the beginning of this past semester, she contributed with the passion and frequency of a veteran Praxivist. As a Vegan, Lauren took up projects relating to ending animal cruelty and alternative food options. She worked with organizations such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Veggie Fund which provides money for vegans to buy food for vegan events.
Thanks to Lauren, we all need to think twice about what we eat, and I'm sure she wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks so much for working with us Lauren, you are our Vegan Goddess.
Thanks to everyone
Peace and Love
-mike
Anthony
This past year, Anthony served as the Assistant to the Public Praxis Project. During this year, Anth became the spiritual leader of the Praxivists. From his many meditiations he gave to the class and to the group to the countless conversations he has had with everyone, Anth's influence and spirit will always be with us. He was a calming spirit, a rallying spirit, he is my very good friend. Under his guidance, the Praxis Project reached heights that will not be soon met. As a parting gift, Dr. Mar gave Anth a walking stick with his name carved into the side, so that he could move on his path of life in style. As noted by Carola, "He looks like a Tibetan monk [with the stick]."
We will all miss Anthony and I wish him the best with the road ahead of him. Hopefully soon our paths will cross again.
Colleen
Colleen is one of our most veteran Praxivists. She would frequently collaborate with others and her involvement would almost guarantee the project would be successful. Most recently, Colleen helped run the Coffee House for Peace and Justice and has been advocating and informing students about alternative post-graduation options. She also worked with some other students on the Forum on Homelessness earlier in the month.
Colleen will truly be missed and the Praxis Project and the Praxivists is losing not only a great person but also a good friend. Thanks for everything you've done for the project.
Lauren
Although Lauren only discovered the Praxivists at the beginning of this past semester, she contributed with the passion and frequency of a veteran Praxivist. As a Vegan, Lauren took up projects relating to ending animal cruelty and alternative food options. She worked with organizations such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Veggie Fund which provides money for vegans to buy food for vegan events.
Thanks to Lauren, we all need to think twice about what we eat, and I'm sure she wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks so much for working with us Lauren, you are our Vegan Goddess.
Thanks to everyone
Peace and Love
-mike
Alanna and Mar in Kolkata
Today, Dr. Mar and Alanna left for Kolkata to work further with the children at the Sree Durga Dump. I urge everyone to read updates on their blog here
I hope you read about one of The Beloved Community's global outreach projects.
-mike
I hope you read about one of The Beloved Community's global outreach projects.
-mike
09 May 2009
Poem: Meta-morph-praxis
I am ignorance
un-aware.
I do not care because
there is they and
here is me,
false-self, self, self,
and on
you I’ll pee.
Stratified divided,
un-united,
inside the closet’s where
I reside in.
Bright bright light consumes
me in my darkroom
this is expoooosuuuure
to perceived others
suuuufferrrrrs,
so I
can’t live ignorant
Annny lonnnnnnnger.
Inside a fire
begins to start, in-
side my heart it
is compassion. Now,
love in action is
what is hapnin.’
Monies, countries, and enemies…
illusions
are you separations!
The truth indeed is
self as we so
o-bese e-go
has, got to go!
Adios!
You are killer
as Killer coke
Killer cola!
And hola
Righteous Selflessness.
I exper-i-ence
mystical
unity
one-ness.
One heart.
One Love.
Solidarity.
For getting together-ness
and
feeling alright-ness,
for the increasing of happiness
and the lessening of suffering,
for brotherhood,
for sisterhood,
and all that is good,
lets search for alternatives
so that
life can live, with
co-existent co-operation.
For the healing of the nations,
Come on and, lets
liberate liberation
Let her free
Let her see
Let her be
-Anthony
un-aware.
I do not care because
there is they and
here is me,
false-self, self, self,
and on
you I’ll pee.
Stratified divided,
un-united,
inside the closet’s where
I reside in.
Bright bright light consumes
me in my darkroom
this is expoooosuuuure
to perceived others
suuuufferrrrrs,
so I
can’t live ignorant
Annny lonnnnnnnger.
Inside a fire
begins to start, in-
side my heart it
is compassion. Now,
love in action is
what is hapnin.’
Monies, countries, and enemies…
illusions
are you separations!
The truth indeed is
self as we so
o-bese e-go
has, got to go!
Adios!
You are killer
as Killer coke
Killer cola!
And hola
Righteous Selflessness.
I exper-i-ence
mystical
unity
one-ness.
One heart.
One Love.
Solidarity.
For getting together-ness
and
feeling alright-ness,
for the increasing of happiness
and the lessening of suffering,
for brotherhood,
for sisterhood,
and all that is good,
lets search for alternatives
so that
life can live, with
co-existent co-operation.
For the healing of the nations,
Come on and, lets
liberate liberation
Let her free
Let her see
Let her be
-Anthony
05 May 2009
A First Hand Account Of Disability- An unnecessary Struggle
For much too long people with disabilities have been misunderstood. We are perceived, perhaps by some reading this, as bitter or weak or foreign or strange. I’ve seen all of them, and our push for equality has been hurt by these misconceptions. All too often handicapped parking spaces are taken by people who don’t need them and public buildings, including those here at Marist are difficult for those with disabilities to access let alone feel safe and secure inside of. I believe these sorts of things happen because people don’t fully understand those with disabilities. I believe this can only happen when somebody who lives with a disability speaks up and makes their voice heard by telling their story. I hope as you continue reading, you come to better understand those with disabilities and our cause.
I was born with Cerebral Palsy. A hemorrhage on my brain left me unable to walk without assistance. I was told by many as a young child that I wouldn’t amount to anything. At times the difficult of simple tasks, made me believe that they were correct. I was often very bitter about not be able to play like other kids or do things as quickly as other kids. Then at age 8, a doctor told me that I would never be anything more than a vegetable. My bitterness was soon overcome by a motivation I can barely put into words. That doctor quitting on me helped me realize one thing, the only person who decides what I am capable of is me.
That mindset has put me here on the road to a second college degree. I am not alone there are many others with disabilities just like me. On a mission to accomplish what others say we cannot. We overcome pain and doubt everyday because we have no other choice. We are not bitter individuals who are content wasting away but rather an unstoppable example of the human spirit, driven by an incredible desire to do the impossible.
This is why impediments such as taken parking spots and an unsafe campus are such travesties. People with disabilities overcome obstacles just by waking up in the morning, and having to constantly navigate curbs missing a cut or open a heavy door because there is no handicap button or worry about our safety in a second floor classroom because of absent security is part of an unnecessary struggle. Other students don’t have to worry about their safety and security the way those with disabilities do.
All I ask for is understanding. Remember that the greatest exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up. If you agree with this letter, park a little further away next time you go to the store. And help me make my voice heard, tell Marist’s administration and security that changes must be made and that safety is not too much to ask for. For those of you who have taken the time to read all of this you have my deepest gratitude
If you’d like a copy of this to distribute to your friends email me at- tribe716@aol.com
- Corey
I was born with Cerebral Palsy. A hemorrhage on my brain left me unable to walk without assistance. I was told by many as a young child that I wouldn’t amount to anything. At times the difficult of simple tasks, made me believe that they were correct. I was often very bitter about not be able to play like other kids or do things as quickly as other kids. Then at age 8, a doctor told me that I would never be anything more than a vegetable. My bitterness was soon overcome by a motivation I can barely put into words. That doctor quitting on me helped me realize one thing, the only person who decides what I am capable of is me.
That mindset has put me here on the road to a second college degree. I am not alone there are many others with disabilities just like me. On a mission to accomplish what others say we cannot. We overcome pain and doubt everyday because we have no other choice. We are not bitter individuals who are content wasting away but rather an unstoppable example of the human spirit, driven by an incredible desire to do the impossible.
This is why impediments such as taken parking spots and an unsafe campus are such travesties. People with disabilities overcome obstacles just by waking up in the morning, and having to constantly navigate curbs missing a cut or open a heavy door because there is no handicap button or worry about our safety in a second floor classroom because of absent security is part of an unnecessary struggle. Other students don’t have to worry about their safety and security the way those with disabilities do.
All I ask for is understanding. Remember that the greatest exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up. If you agree with this letter, park a little further away next time you go to the store. And help me make my voice heard, tell Marist’s administration and security that changes must be made and that safety is not too much to ask for. For those of you who have taken the time to read all of this you have my deepest gratitude
If you’d like a copy of this to distribute to your friends email me at- tribe716@aol.com
- Corey
01 May 2009
Recap: Praxis Forum
This past Thursday, April 30, the Marist Public Praxis Project held our annual forum. Featured at the forum were students who presented their projects from this semester, original poetry, songs, and spiritual meditations. This year has been particularly productive for the praxivists as we truly had an amazing collection of people who had one common objective, to make a difference. As Dr. Mar put it, “you were Awesome yesterday, today, and throughout the term with all your projects, and writing, editing, blogging, researching, critiquing, reflecting, journaling, singing, dancing, creating poetry, drawing, mentoring, instructing, fundraising, photographing, videotaping, sharing clips, offering meditations.” Attached are some pictures of the Praxis forum, I only hope in the coming years we can come near what we’ve accomplished this year. -mike
Anthony giving opening remarks.
Dr. Bruce Luske giving a short lecture about spirituality and praxis.
Cara singing and playing her guitar.
Alanna talking about her involvement in the Kolkata Children's Project.
Emily presenting about the ESL program she and Cass Rosado run for Marist's Hispanic employees.
Carola reading her poem about the effects of taking down trees.
Lauren talking about her experiences as a vegan.
Andy reciting some original poetry.
Mike speaking about the Nobel Peace Prize booklet and his refugee project which also took place on April 30.
Sam describing her project where she measured the importance of hugs.
Kasey, Joe, and Nicole presenting their project at the forum. They are doing fundraisers for the Kolkata Children's Fund as Mar and Alanna are traveling there soon.
Dr. Mar giving closing remarks at the forum.
Anthony giving opening remarks.
Dr. Bruce Luske giving a short lecture about spirituality and praxis.
Cara singing and playing her guitar.
Alanna talking about her involvement in the Kolkata Children's Project.
Emily presenting about the ESL program she and Cass Rosado run for Marist's Hispanic employees.
Carola reading her poem about the effects of taking down trees.
Lauren talking about her experiences as a vegan.
Andy reciting some original poetry.
Mike speaking about the Nobel Peace Prize booklet and his refugee project which also took place on April 30.
Sam describing her project where she measured the importance of hugs.
Kasey, Joe, and Nicole presenting their project at the forum. They are doing fundraisers for the Kolkata Children's Fund as Mar and Alanna are traveling there soon.
Dr. Mar giving closing remarks at the forum.
Happy May Day
As an individual who has a mistrust for business, I believe that the consumer and the worker have to be protected. I don't believe that in the unchecked, capitalist market that we live that there must be safe guards put in place to protect the workers from being taken advantage of by their employers. So, to that regard I wish you all a happy May Day, a day designated by many to be the symbol of the worker's rights and as a celebration for their freedom. This is, of course, an oversimplification, but I wish you all a happy May Day, especially if you are celebrating it today.
Unidad, paz, y justica.
-mike
Unidad, paz, y justica.
-mike
What is Praxis?
What is praxis? asks the masses. In the words of Bruce Luske praxis is “heads, hearts, and hands” “spreading like wild mushrooms” conscience and consciousness. How so? Through the universal flow. Through the unity, of critical theory with love in action. Like “Yab-yum” in Tibetan, it is in, essence, a union-ed representation, of female wisdom, locked in embrace with, male compassion.
Praxis is about, transformation. Praxis is about integration, of we the students in our study, purpose-ful-ly, into the en-viron-ment, and in so-cie-ty.
Praxis opens one, to hear the cries of the world, to feel the pains of other, genuinely, which is compassionate, deep empathy. When praxis exposure opens us, and has us, feeling that suffering, it vibrates within, and responsibility, organically arises. We begin to care, and we become eager to help. And this is why theory needs action, to allow us to walk the walk, after thinking the think, and talking the talk. Praxis is…to experience, to reflect, and to gain insight. To give meaning to the teachings, and to give…mean-ing to our be-ings.
Peace. Namaste blessings. and One Love, -Anthony
Praxis is about, transformation. Praxis is about integration, of we the students in our study, purpose-ful-ly, into the en-viron-ment, and in so-cie-ty.
Praxis opens one, to hear the cries of the world, to feel the pains of other, genuinely, which is compassionate, deep empathy. When praxis exposure opens us, and has us, feeling that suffering, it vibrates within, and responsibility, organically arises. We begin to care, and we become eager to help. And this is why theory needs action, to allow us to walk the walk, after thinking the think, and talking the talk. Praxis is…to experience, to reflect, and to gain insight. To give meaning to the teachings, and to give…mean-ing to our be-ings.
Peace. Namaste blessings. and One Love, -Anthony
21 April 2009
Article: Impure Tea Party Absurdity
There is an amazing thing about grassroots organization; it could lead to populist change. The grassroots is the place where you find fresh ideas brimming from personal experiences. It’s how women obtained the right to vote, how segregation ended, and how the Vietnam war ended. More often than not, grassroots organizations have been the forerunner of social change in the United States.
This notion has been tarnished by some recent rash actions. The so called “tea parties” that took place on April 15 were far from the principles present in the Boston Tea Party in 1773. The Boston Tea Party was a rejection of the massive corporate tax cut the British government created for the British East India Company, the largest corporation in the world at that time. The colonists – knowing that the BEIC would put them out of business – revolted against the tax by dumping the tea into Boston Harbor. The tea parties of 2009, on the other hand, were gross misrepresentations of this historic event.
Although the organizers of these “tea parties” claim that it was in the spirit of the original tea party, there were many discrepancies that would say otherwise. For one, these events were virtually sponsored by the biggest corporate news spin machine of them all, Fox News. In the week leading up to the “protests,” Fox News would run on-screen prompts revealing locations of the protests as “Fox News Channel Tax Day Tea Parties.” Although this “news” network claimed they had no sponsorship of the event, they continuously claimed ownership of the events with these on-screen prompts.
Another large discrepancy between the two events is the organizers of the events. The Boston Tea Party was carried out by angered colonial merchants. The new tea party was organized and funded by the right-wing think tank Freedomworks whose founder is far-right conservative Dick Armey. Freedomworks gets their funds from the likes of Steve Forbes and ExxonMobil who has contributed up to a quarter million dollars a year.
This, “representation of the people,” seems to me like less of a true grassroots movement and more like a corporate puppet scheme involving hundreds of thousands of US citizens. I can understand one supporting the principle of these protests – lower taxes – but I urge people to understand where something is coming from before they jump on board. If this were a true movement for the lowering of taxes on families, it would include an increase in corporate tax to make up for the loss of tax revenues from the family tax cuts.
This movement was truly absurd. It was advertised as a “populist” uprising of people who reject tax hikes while in reality it was an orchestrated scheme by right-wing businessmen and politicians to smear the Obama administration. So as many donned the phrase, “Don’t tread on me,” in reference to the American fight against their colonial ruler, the power elite push their corporate agenda with Americans as their pawns.
As Jane Hamsher puts it, “Before any media covering these events accept the idea that this was just a grass roots outpouring of populist sentiment, they ought to take a look behind the curtain -- where Dick Armey is laughing and counting his cash.”
-mike
This notion has been tarnished by some recent rash actions. The so called “tea parties” that took place on April 15 were far from the principles present in the Boston Tea Party in 1773. The Boston Tea Party was a rejection of the massive corporate tax cut the British government created for the British East India Company, the largest corporation in the world at that time. The colonists – knowing that the BEIC would put them out of business – revolted against the tax by dumping the tea into Boston Harbor. The tea parties of 2009, on the other hand, were gross misrepresentations of this historic event.
Although the organizers of these “tea parties” claim that it was in the spirit of the original tea party, there were many discrepancies that would say otherwise. For one, these events were virtually sponsored by the biggest corporate news spin machine of them all, Fox News. In the week leading up to the “protests,” Fox News would run on-screen prompts revealing locations of the protests as “Fox News Channel Tax Day Tea Parties.” Although this “news” network claimed they had no sponsorship of the event, they continuously claimed ownership of the events with these on-screen prompts.
Another large discrepancy between the two events is the organizers of the events. The Boston Tea Party was carried out by angered colonial merchants. The new tea party was organized and funded by the right-wing think tank Freedomworks whose founder is far-right conservative Dick Armey. Freedomworks gets their funds from the likes of Steve Forbes and ExxonMobil who has contributed up to a quarter million dollars a year.
This, “representation of the people,” seems to me like less of a true grassroots movement and more like a corporate puppet scheme involving hundreds of thousands of US citizens. I can understand one supporting the principle of these protests – lower taxes – but I urge people to understand where something is coming from before they jump on board. If this were a true movement for the lowering of taxes on families, it would include an increase in corporate tax to make up for the loss of tax revenues from the family tax cuts.
This movement was truly absurd. It was advertised as a “populist” uprising of people who reject tax hikes while in reality it was an orchestrated scheme by right-wing businessmen and politicians to smear the Obama administration. So as many donned the phrase, “Don’t tread on me,” in reference to the American fight against their colonial ruler, the power elite push their corporate agenda with Americans as their pawns.
As Jane Hamsher puts it, “Before any media covering these events accept the idea that this was just a grass roots outpouring of populist sentiment, they ought to take a look behind the curtain -- where Dick Armey is laughing and counting his cash.”
-mike
18 April 2009
Reflection: Green Teen Community Garden Project
April Eighth. Two Thousand and NineIn the Green Teen Community Garden, in their, in the works, Green house, I Helped my good friend Zenote with Green Teen Tenoya build a temperature regulator, swing open window. Tenoya is skinny, light as a feather, and likes building and architectural design. Her sole volunteering for this construction-nature of work over cleaning or gardening revealed her confidence in the defiance of societal gender norms. Right away it seems as if I had admired her for that. Zenote and I had her hammering, lifting, moving, and holding boards for us while we circular sawed them. She flowed so well with us. So cooperative and quiet, happily and genuinely interested. The clouds were dark and the weather was stormy. At one point it snowed snowflakes. Before I found gloves in the shed, my fingers became red frozen. Lengthily into the path of our project, Tenoya found her way into another garden project where constructively we observed her contributing, so we let her be and returned to work, to finish the window installation, and drill in green house structural frame supports. Within a short while, Zenote’s partner, Green Teen Coordinator, Bria White slyly asked us for our help to cut open a surprise birthday cake for our Green Teen Educator friend Robin. We lit up a double chocolate frosted with candles and song-ing for her, “Happy Birthday,” the Stevie Wonder version. We warmed her with hugs and positive vibrations. There was a true sense of love, happiness, and unity in the community when all this was happening. In need of a way to get Vassar, Zenote asked me if I could help him by riding with him to Vassar for the purposes of returning Bria’s Volvo wagon to the Family Partnerships Center. We shared a hemp waffle, avocado, coconut butter, and banana sandwich humoring about riding on bicycles locked into bike racks on top of cars. Zenote is a shining spirit. He genuinely thanked me for my help and presence. We hugged long before the fork on our path would have us traveling in different directions. Zenote left me with a feeling of true friendship, wanting to be nearer to him, especially through more Green Teen garden days. This project is a continuation of cultivating relationships whose seeds have been planted more than one year ago by now. I feel it is vitally, healthily, and meaningfully important to engage in projects and relations on the long-term rather than short-term level to allow for the various potential fruitions and blossoming to occur. Staying with Green Teen last spring, and in the summer at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, to this springtime again, I can feel the interwoven-ness of connections that have evolutionarily developed, and are ever evolving. Returning Bria’s ride to FPC, I ran her keys up three flights of endless marble stairs to meet her at the Green Teen office room. Bria and Robin always greet you with some of the biggest smiles that you had ever seen. They told me that there was one piece of chocolate, chocolate cake with my name on it if I would like. “Of course!” Indulging, it was delicious, “They treat you well here,” is what my mind-heart said. I cleaned up the dishes and composted the fruit peels from inside my backpack. Bria was off to make a vegetable-ly dinner for Robin, so I walked her downstairs on our way out. She told me how good it was that Zenote and I connected that day. “He’s out of work, and up and down all the time lately.” She mentioned his down transforming into an up when we essentially reunited with each other out there. Zenote greatly inspires me. He is a hardest working construction worker and he is a spiritual, folklore, cultural, singer guitar player performer. I have witnessed him carry exhaustive amounts of food from his far away house down to the river to cook dinner for us with, he has told me great stories of him walking alone at night through the wild great distances, and I have crossed paths with him on his knees on the New Paltz sidewalks playing Spanish guitar with soul-force energy as if it were our last day here on earth, with two pizza slices that he had gotten, one for me, and one for my love Ella, “Hey, Come stay, sit down, eat, listen,” welcoming us he would say. And now he is in need of work, with out work, and he is helping with his hands, heart, and head to build a community garden green house for assessable to all, fresh local food access. “Is this what people are going to start doing exponentially more often, when the jobs keep vanishing, corporations poisoning our Mother and us in our food, and the scam of loans->money creation out of thin air->inflation->debt->slavery comes to an end?” Scarcity over needed resources often means war in the greed driven chase to control over them, but at the same time a common coming together, to make a better livable world possible, is another possible, possibility. This is how I see the relevance in Green Teen. There are too many oil petroleum stocks at Wall Street at stake, so the media is silent, but we are deeply listening and we an hear Mother Earth and all her creatures. They are asking us to live differently, so we, are voluntarily, adopting the lifestyle practices, of living simply so that others may simply live.
-anthony
Holocaust Rememberence Program
On April 16, the Praxivists attended Marist's annual Holocaust Remembrance Program featuring speaker Ed Lessing a Holocaust "escapee" from Holland. The Praxivists painted a mural of the "arc of justice" which is depicted in a few pictures below. Here are some other pictures of the event as well. -mike
Top left: Professor Mar discussing some of the principles of justice. Top right: The Praxis I/II class listening to Professor Mar. Middle left: A picture of the mural made by the Praxivists. Middle right: Mural painters Colleen, Anthony, and Mike. (Kelly not pictured). Bottom: Andy and Mike hamming it up a bit.
Top left: Professor Mar discussing some of the principles of justice. Top right: The Praxis I/II class listening to Professor Mar. Middle left: A picture of the mural made by the Praxivists. Middle right: Mural painters Colleen, Anthony, and Mike. (Kelly not pictured). Bottom: Andy and Mike hamming it up a bit.
16 April 2009
Reflection: Food not Bombs
Tonight was Praxivist’s third Food Not Bombs. Christian at Earth Goods donated it food and drink for it. Mar helped to her surprise with the refrigeration. Earlier at six o’clock, I brought twelve eggs over to Emily’s to cook them there. She shared her time, her kitchen, plastic cups, granola bars, and bread. We made twelve golden browned egg sandwiches. They finished miraculously just minutes before meeting up with Alanna, Sam, Sam’s friend, Lauren, her sister and their friend. The coordination of all this just fell smoothly, right into place. Everyone showed up timely; we had slightly enough room in the two cars, and gracefully, an array delicious nourishment diversity. We dove on roads, through signs, through lights, then parked the cars beside the Millhouse Panda. Opening of trunks unveiled our abundance. We are privileged. We are in abundance. What are implications onto others with this abundance that we are in? Others do not have because of our abundance. We know where the food is, and we know who is, and where they are without access. Therefore it is our duty, our moral obligation, and our niche to reduce suffering, to not waste and feed the hungry, empty bellies. Arms fully full carrying boxes and bags in between traffic; we survived crossing the highway-natured street together. On a brick ledge before the grass of the First Baptist Church, we laid out the spread. Pizza squares and circles, garlic knots, pasta, breads, chips, orange juice, raisins, yogurts, granola bars, and egg sandwiches. I went up to the church steps to embrace and welcome the community there to join us. They receive us kindly, friendly, and gratefully here. The unexpectancy of it all must feel like some kind of surprise party. Within minutes people were accumulating and congregating, uniting through meal sharing. Food brings us together. Sharing it, eating it together breaks down barriers. Barriers of society’s accepted versus society’s rejected, higher class versus lower class, have versus have not, color, gender, sexual orientation, and age. The solution to many of our problems, crises, and suffering exists in un-separation, in inter-relations, inter-dependence, and interconnectedness. From far away I noticed a familiar face from crossing paths before. It was O.T. Not “Old Timer,” but “Otis Thomas.” I love that name. He is fifty-seven, sleeps beneath the walkway over the Hudson in the trellis. “Who is that? Woody the woodpecker?” He once yelled out in a disturbed sleep from jackhammer thundering construction out there. O.T. is my favorite person to see on the streets. He is lively in his energy, always with a story. This time he told me that he has been collecting cans, hiding them like squirrels do their nuts, scattering his can, bottle stashes around Poughkeepsie. For breakfast he gets a bagel and a coffee from recycling them. How earth friendly I thought. O.T. is happy to live, but ready to die. He believes in the Lord Almighty, he believes in angels, “and there are devils, so look out!” is what wisdom he gave me. I saw the cosmos mystery in his eyes. He remembered me from the last time we crossed paths on the crossroads. “Cross-roads, you get it? I’ll see you at the cross roads.” He said, looking at me with eyes that knew, that had seen, and had met. We hugged in his departure, as he left to catch the bus. All men, we are brothers. In some way, in some form I will meet him again. Many who are homeless are college educated, were skilled dedicated culinary artists, professors, or servers on tropical cruise liners. Then outsourcing happened, 9-11 happened, the economy happened. Jobs are scarce and the times are hard. People shiver around nights in the dead of winter, in countless layers. The homeless shelter does not welcome all. Sometimes there are less beds the number of heads who are in need, so cocooned outside is where some sleep. How is one expected to stay sane, to keep cool, live rightfully in health, under such societal rejections, trials, and tribulations? In retrospect, I reflect and tonight was beautiful, insightful, sunny delightful. It is clear to see that we are welcomed and appreciated by this beloved community. The dynamic is angelic. I wish to be here more often. I intend to do this again. The energy is right, and all the people are nice. All the leftovers are donated to the shelter. What would have been wasted attains meaningful purpose. Beings with gifts, gems, and high potentials are in a homeless situation. Society deeming them waste, I can only rest my head and pray for the day, which like the food, that they to will be given the opportunities, recognition, and means to attain theirs to, their accepted, meaningful purposes.
-anthony
Reflection: Food not Bombs
Our first Food Not Bombs adventure of the semester. I was able to talk with two veterans, both homeless. One fought in the Vietnam War. I heard fragmented pieces of what he experienced: Holding together the torn arm of one of his dyeing friends. Warning another soldier not to pick a child up, because once the kid’s feet were off the ground, a bomb would be triggered. “I just knew how to blow stuff up,” he declared. He showed me his faded military picture he kept safe in his brown leather wallet. He was seated in uniform, with an American flag behind him. Land of the free? “So I guess it’s really me that should be thanking you guys,” I told him.
It is easy to ignore the homeless. To draw a line that separates you from them…the poor…the other. But in reality, we are all on the same side. I told one of the men that I am doing a project about homelessness in my social work class. “What would you like me to tell them about the homeless population?” I asked. “Just that they know that we are the same as them. We are smart people,” he replied.
-Sam
It is easy to ignore the homeless. To draw a line that separates you from them…the poor…the other. But in reality, we are all on the same side. I told one of the men that I am doing a project about homelessness in my social work class. “What would you like me to tell them about the homeless population?” I asked. “Just that they know that we are the same as them. We are smart people,” he replied.
-Sam
06 April 2009
The Civil Disobedience of Henry David Thoreau Blossoming Gandhi-an Satyagraha
Coined by Gandhi in Africa, to describe the non-violent, civil disobedient, independence movement in India, “Satyagraha” is truth-force. Seeking and teaching. The soul-force. Spirit invisible. Roots of the fruits are self-discipline, self-control, and self-purification. Con-version not co-ercion . Transformation and Liberation… all of wrongdoers. “Satyagrahi’s” are fearless lovers. Self-suffer-ers and self-sacrifice-ers. Evil eradicators. Community servers and unjust authority resisters.
In the words of Gandhi…”Why, of course I read Thoreau.” “I actually took the name of my movement from Thoreau’s essay, ‘On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.’
Thoreau and Gandhi… similar-ly rejected, and protested, and criticized interpretations of the Hindu Bible, The Gita, as a means for violence justification. Reading them often, in prison, in his newspaper, called Indian Opinion, Thoreau’s words spoke deeply to Gandhi. Impressively. Enormously. Inspirationally. Thoreau was one who also entered jail willingly, “for the sake of his principles and suffering humanity.” Thoreau philosophized that the true place for a just man is also in prison, under a government, which imprisons unjustly. Divinely, it is our duty, to resist against oppression, slavery and robbery. We should all realize this responsibility, then pledge ourselves independently. Let us not have, any longer, such evil-ous machinery.
Gandhi teaches us that being in jail is “of one’s good fortune” and in good name of one’s country and one’s religion. Going to jail is a season, for undergoing suffering, a place for fasting. For Reading, and writing. Meditation and reflection. Ultimate happiness in privation. Opportunistically a time for the purpose of perceiving the machine from a different perception.
For Gandhi, Henri. David Thorreau was a man who’s beliefs he practiced, guided by his consciousness, who confirmed the effectiveness, of societal and governmental defiance, non-violence, and non-cooperative, unjust law resistant, civil, disobedience. Thoreau was Gandhi’s encouragement, his nourish-ment for the move-ment, for the Salt March, that in flower-nature blossom, manifested… India’s Independence.
29 March 2009
Introducing (however late it may be) the Praxis Mural
So this is far overdue, but I finally have a good picture of the mural to post. This is our Praxis Mural which we completed way back on February 10. Take a good look at it! -mike
28 March 2009
Rasta and Babylon
Babylon is ‘polytricksters’ (political tricksters), ‘downpressors’ (oppressors), and ‘downgressors’ (aggressors). Babylon is imperial, colonial powers. The vampire. Suckin’ children and suckin’ the blood of the sufferers. Men eating men. Babylon the establishment. Governments, police agents, humans, systems, institutions, and empires against the ways of God, Jah. Rastafari. In the eyes of Rasta, Babylon is wicked, the worst of evils, identifiable sin, hell on earth, real and re-vealed.
“Come we go chant down Babylon one more time” sings the honerable, Robert Nesta Marley. Rasta are rebels, soul rebels, resisters against slavery, degradation, exploitation, and humiliation. This is why rasta unkeep their hair, and wear, “natty dred, natty dred locks”. Locks are like the hair of victorious biblical Solomon. Locks are the mane of the lion. Power, strength, and freedom, wandering through the wilderness on the path of righteousness, ranging, roaming, headed towards the promised land. Dred is a way. A way of resistance, expressing grievances, spreading peace and love with confidence, and holding self together in the face of societial forces which have been aimed at tearing self into pieces and shreds.
I-and-I. We. Are all ‘Lords of Creation’. Not commodities, and not units of labor for any slavery, or any profit in pockets. Rasta never seek to be accepted in wider society, and never conform to the standards or norms of Babylon. Smoking Ganja herb sacredly is not only a spiritual ritual, but a living practice of rebellious, societal, deviance. Ganga is the smokescreen that brings into consciousness Babylon’s trickery, the poverty, brutality, and inequality. Enlightened, awakened in mind and spirit, start come off, the brainwash.
Reggae, is the healer. Heart’ically and ear’tically. Babylon will end apocalyptically, and the present order will be transformed spiritually, supernaturally, a.k.a. divine intervention-ally. Salvation is a certainty, manifested through experientially and introspectively seeking, testing, reasoning, and discerning to realize the divine book within, and to discover what is true and what is false. Rasta path is about determining events rather than being determined by them, determining who self is, and determining how self is manifested and where exactly it is, that self is going.
The refusal to be defined by, along with the stripping ourselves of material possesions allows us to see, that we, are organic beings connected with eachother, living and non-living. “I-and-I” consciousness calls for a new responsibility for ones thoughts, words, and actions. To live naturally, ‘sitting in the dust’, in rhythm, in harmony, and closeness with the creatures and the nature of our loving mother, Mother Earth.
May lightening and thunder strike the downpressors, and may peace, wisdom, and good health be rewarded to all righteously planting, cultivating, respecting, protecting, dancing, chanting, and singing…
Jah Jah love,
is like a burnin’ fire,
that keeps on burnin’, burnin’ burnin’
down in my soul
Babylon burnin’,
Babylon bur-ur-nih-ih-in’,
Babylon burnin’, burnin’ burnin’…
...and we got no wahhh-ter'.
-anthony
25 March 2009
Article: Shunning His Holiness
Another article written for Marist College's weekly The Circle. It should be out on campus March 26.
It saddens my heart to hear that the South African government will not allow the Dalai Lama to participate in a peace conference in Johannesburg. In a statement, the South African government wrote that they did not want to stress their relations with China, an important economic ally to the country. Although it is difficult for the country to rectify its role as a leader of the developing world, I would expect better from their government.
Although South Africa has only been a democracy for 15 years, they have demonstrated great pragmatism in the field of human rights and peace. As the spiritual leader of millions of conflict ridden people and one of the most respected peace advocates in the world, the Dalai Lama is the symbol of harmony and hope in the world; barring him from participating in the conference would be a distinct step back for South Africa.
This decision on the part of the South African government is being described by some solely as a “business” decision. This is quite clear as the South African government is engaging in a very poor attempt to please the Chinese government, one of South Africa’s largest trading allies. As a nation that has overcome so much oppression and segregation, South Africa should understand the importance of peace.
Many Nobel peace laureates who were planning on attending the conference are now planning on not attending because of the absence of his holiness. Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town and a Nobel peace laureate, is one of the absentees who was quoted in saying that excluding the Dalai Lama is “disgraceful.”
One issue that is clearly not being addressed here is that peace is not something that a government can deny on the basis of business. Although the Dalai Lama advocates for a free Tibet, it doesn’t mean that he is going to slander the Chinese government during the conference nor does it mean that South Africa’s relationship with China is going to be jeopardized.
More than anything else in the world now, peace is something that we should all be striving for. Through all the turmoil of the global society, with the interconnectedness of the world becoming ever clearer, peace is becoming more of a necessity. Excluding his holiness from the proceedings at this conference is not going to achieve any additional positive outcome for the world.
We will only achieve peace if we all strive for its attainment, people and government.
-mike
It saddens my heart to hear that the South African government will not allow the Dalai Lama to participate in a peace conference in Johannesburg. In a statement, the South African government wrote that they did not want to stress their relations with China, an important economic ally to the country. Although it is difficult for the country to rectify its role as a leader of the developing world, I would expect better from their government.
Although South Africa has only been a democracy for 15 years, they have demonstrated great pragmatism in the field of human rights and peace. As the spiritual leader of millions of conflict ridden people and one of the most respected peace advocates in the world, the Dalai Lama is the symbol of harmony and hope in the world; barring him from participating in the conference would be a distinct step back for South Africa.
This decision on the part of the South African government is being described by some solely as a “business” decision. This is quite clear as the South African government is engaging in a very poor attempt to please the Chinese government, one of South Africa’s largest trading allies. As a nation that has overcome so much oppression and segregation, South Africa should understand the importance of peace.
Many Nobel peace laureates who were planning on attending the conference are now planning on not attending because of the absence of his holiness. Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town and a Nobel peace laureate, is one of the absentees who was quoted in saying that excluding the Dalai Lama is “disgraceful.”
One issue that is clearly not being addressed here is that peace is not something that a government can deny on the basis of business. Although the Dalai Lama advocates for a free Tibet, it doesn’t mean that he is going to slander the Chinese government during the conference nor does it mean that South Africa’s relationship with China is going to be jeopardized.
More than anything else in the world now, peace is something that we should all be striving for. Through all the turmoil of the global society, with the interconnectedness of the world becoming ever clearer, peace is becoming more of a necessity. Excluding his holiness from the proceedings at this conference is not going to achieve any additional positive outcome for the world.
We will only achieve peace if we all strive for its attainment, people and government.
-mike
12 March 2009
Recap: Spiritual Circle Discussion
This past Tuesday (10 March 2009) the Praxivists hosted a spiritual circle discussion. At the discussion, the particpants discussed their personal spirtual experience along with what effects them spiritually. After, Mike and Anthony had another discussion with Evan Pritchard about the history of religion. During the discussion, Evan gave us a diagram about the history of religion which is attached below. You can click on the image to view it on a larer scale. I hope you enjoy it. -mike
05 March 2009
Reflection: Hare Krishna wisdom gems for Praxis Journeying
Lord Krishna,Supreme Being,
all-attractive one,
symbolic cow finder and herder of symbolic cows.
This soul-guider, destroyer of material, selfish, and divine sin, is a shedder of wisdom, providing several gems of divine insight for us to bathe in, and consider deeply in our Praxis approaches and paths of Praxis actions.
Krishna’s council to us as Praxis peoples goes a little something like this…
Do all Praxis without seeking reward, and seek never the fruit of your Praxis. Seeking fruit rewards means putting your ego, your false self, the selfish self into your Praxis. Ego into Praxis spoils Praxis. This blinds us, and impures us, corrupting, and infecting, even when Praxis appears as if outwardly good. Do the dance of Praxis, surf its wave in harmonious peace, so that you can, act spontaneously, rhythmically, perfectly, and naturally. Spiritual practice is a pure, fresh, and clean source of rest and renewal that is often necessary for such endeavors. Be free from those… selfish desires! They are disturbers that manifest disturbances. To wherever your Praxis path leads you, be unmoved by success, and be unmoved by failure. Enjoy your Praxis, but enjoy it with detachment to whether the fruit will be good or bad, for it will be neither, as it just “will be”. Do your Praxis with your whole heart and whole soul force. Wisdom and love into praxis. Skill in action. Love into our wisdom, love into our understanding arises insight, knowledge by love. The entire creation is understood through experiencing balanced, the unity between a female named “Action” a male named “Contemplation”.
May these words be the heat of self-guidance, self-control and self-discipline. Inner heat from an inner fire. Inner fire that is in all, every single, one of our hearts, the place that is the dwelling center of those little love-lights of ours, that we all let shine. Let them shine. Let them shine. Let them shine.
-anthony
03 March 2009
Article: Common (Liberal) Sense
Here is another article I wrote for Marist College's newspaper The Circle. It's due out on campus Thursday March 5.
Considering all the hardships this country is facing, one of America’s greatest founding fathers is becoming progressively more notable. As the government is shifting gradually towards liberalism, Tom Paine is now one of the more important ancestral figures. Paine’s importance derives from his discussions on the necessity to embrace change and to break from unnecessary and cruel tenants.
In the introduction of his pamphlet, Paine writes, “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.” I think this quote applies to the current debate in Washington over economic policy. For too many years now, we have been embracing “trickle down” economic policy while deregulating important governmental welfare functions. It is time for us to stop embracing a system that we perceive to be right, and begin to embrace a system that, at first, seems to be the enemy.
I know it is difficult to break from the status quo, but we are living thorough very trying times and there is a need to try new policies. Change must come now at the first realization of wrongs. The change will break from customs, and we cannot be afraid of it. For too long this government has been allowing for the suffering of the least fortunate; individuals who have been suffering at the hands of budgets designed to benefit the wealthy.
So the “redistribution” of the nation’s wealth to benefit those who have been suffering – to provide them affordable healthcare, education, and services – is bad? Have you ever heard of the saying “we’re only as good as our weakest player?” This nation will continue to be weak if we do not help the weakest individuals in this nation. No longer should this country be the country of unregulated corporations, it is time for it to become the nation of the people.
To those who do not want to pay their share: you can afford to live comfortably while paying slightly higher taxes. It is much easier for an individual to pay more taxes if they are making a quarter of a million dollars than it is for someone who is making less than $35,000. For that, I applaud Mr. Obama. As Paine noted, “Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.” In an equal and just society, every individual who is well off should bear the responsibility of helping those who are unable to support themselves.
It is time for this country to stop believing in the mantra that capitalism is always right. People in this country are suffering at this very moment because of simple issues like malnutrition and improper health care. We must now seek alternative models that will, in the end, help those who are suffering the most. With this logic, our country will improve from the bottom up, not the top down.
-mike
Considering all the hardships this country is facing, one of America’s greatest founding fathers is becoming progressively more notable. As the government is shifting gradually towards liberalism, Tom Paine is now one of the more important ancestral figures. Paine’s importance derives from his discussions on the necessity to embrace change and to break from unnecessary and cruel tenants.
In the introduction of his pamphlet, Paine writes, “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.” I think this quote applies to the current debate in Washington over economic policy. For too many years now, we have been embracing “trickle down” economic policy while deregulating important governmental welfare functions. It is time for us to stop embracing a system that we perceive to be right, and begin to embrace a system that, at first, seems to be the enemy.
I know it is difficult to break from the status quo, but we are living thorough very trying times and there is a need to try new policies. Change must come now at the first realization of wrongs. The change will break from customs, and we cannot be afraid of it. For too long this government has been allowing for the suffering of the least fortunate; individuals who have been suffering at the hands of budgets designed to benefit the wealthy.
So the “redistribution” of the nation’s wealth to benefit those who have been suffering – to provide them affordable healthcare, education, and services – is bad? Have you ever heard of the saying “we’re only as good as our weakest player?” This nation will continue to be weak if we do not help the weakest individuals in this nation. No longer should this country be the country of unregulated corporations, it is time for it to become the nation of the people.
To those who do not want to pay their share: you can afford to live comfortably while paying slightly higher taxes. It is much easier for an individual to pay more taxes if they are making a quarter of a million dollars than it is for someone who is making less than $35,000. For that, I applaud Mr. Obama. As Paine noted, “Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.” In an equal and just society, every individual who is well off should bear the responsibility of helping those who are unable to support themselves.
It is time for this country to stop believing in the mantra that capitalism is always right. People in this country are suffering at this very moment because of simple issues like malnutrition and improper health care. We must now seek alternative models that will, in the end, help those who are suffering the most. With this logic, our country will improve from the bottom up, not the top down.
-mike
Reflection: Kagyu Blizzard Iron Wind Trip
03.02.2008.
Today there were cancellations of both work and classes. I interpreted this as a signaling to embark in journey to Kagyu. Through blizzard-ing snows and iron winds, long strides I took, fast-paced, in admiration of extreme elements. SPIRIT WIND. Breath is strength today. White particle movement reveals before me air. Resembles the cosmos.. I experience gratitude. I experience suffering. There exists an Arjuna in nature, inner battle occurring inside of me. It is paralleling of external real situations.
Balancers of experience. We are all seekers of happiness. We are all avoiders of suffering and pain.
Scarf frozen attached to the grown, unkempt beard hairs of my face. I am indoors! I come for refuge! Meet-ed and greeted. Loose green tea defrosts, un-thaws my weathered bodily surfaces and regions.
Monastery is filled with monks and nuns pouring into lamps heated butter, in the liquid state, for an EMPOWERMENT retreat, as an offering to Buddha. How aromatic, merit-ous, peaceful of a practice. Thousands are filled for future ceremonial purposes. Placed within racked shelving, butter solidifies slowly at a temperature, considered “room.”
Cleaned up the messes. Then Lekshi, Orrin, and I all ate walnut and crystallized ginger cake. Taste sensual delicacy. Sharings of wisdom and laughter. When no more was left, Orrin and I left, for the barn house, for more tea warmth, and conversation deeply.
Small bedrooms promote intimacy. Insight upon insight. Consciousness expansion…
We cry heavily when born into this world. Every orifice development is abundant with pains. This is life essence. Enlightenment is sought for the transcending of “samsara”, the endless cycle of death and rebirth, a.k.a. suffering. This realized however, life experience is not strictly suffering, with many joys and meaningful growths are to be had, in this very lifetime.
We can emulate the way of the “bodhisattva” by renouncing our own peace vow to work for the liberation of all beings, eventually attaining ENLIGHTENMENT, but being so to speak, “the last to enter into its door.” We awaken our minds, and become rooted in solid ground. This way, when we attempt to help liberate others from their drowning into spiraling quick sands, we will better be able when not in spiraling quick sands ourselves.
In coexisting interdependently among others, all help in the fundamental understanding of “us” as individuals, and “us” as we are collective. Saints, lovers, healers… killers, rape-ers, drug junkies, material chasers, and being harmers. We are all the opportunity for us all to practice our practice with. Our PRAXIS with. All are vehicles. All are helping in the ELEVATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS. Helped by all we understand. INTER-CONECTEDNESS. Ego, BIG I dissolvent. One-ness. Bliss.
Suffering inevitable.
All beings
suffering on and off
inescape-ably.
We all ought to be understanding of all others,
of their suffering.
For being a sufferer myself,
I intend to practice
and intent to cultivate
patience,
understanding,
compassion,
and love onto others,
onto which
are in many various forms suffering,
spectrum-ing
from
radically differing,
to mirroring
similarly
alike.
-anthony
26 February 2009
MadLib: Praxivist Warrior
Anthony, Sam, and Mike did this MadLib about their praxivist friend Jaimee who is studying abroad this semester. All the additions are in green!...
Jaimee DePompeo is no joke, a praxivist warrior. When her consciousness became aware about Food Not Bombs she fasted for four-hundred and twelve trillion days. She arised compassion in many others, and even became skinnier than Gandhi did. When Docter Mar showed her a short about Thoreau she became graciously inspired. So much so, that she dumpster-dived an elephant sized wood just so she could spread the message “Resist Mc-Domination!” all over this land. Change manifested. It blossomed like a sun flower. Separate became unity. Beauty in her, radiated outward, and happily ever after, liberated in laughter, THE ENTIRE KINGDOM CREATURE COMMUNITY. So next time you see this prophet in person, give her a hug or a high-ten. Heighten and enlighten. All right then!
Peace
-Anthony
-Mike
-Sam
Jaimee DePompeo is no joke, a praxivist warrior. When her consciousness became aware about Food Not Bombs she fasted for four-hundred and twelve trillion days. She arised compassion in many others, and even became skinnier than Gandhi did. When Docter Mar showed her a short about Thoreau she became graciously inspired. So much so, that she dumpster-dived an elephant sized wood just so she could spread the message “Resist Mc-Domination!” all over this land. Change manifested. It blossomed like a sun flower. Separate became unity. Beauty in her, radiated outward, and happily ever after, liberated in laughter, THE ENTIRE KINGDOM CREATURE COMMUNITY. So next time you see this prophet in person, give her a hug or a high-ten. Heighten and enlighten. All right then!
Peace
-Anthony
-Mike
-Sam
24 February 2009
Article: The new wave of Liberalism
This is an article I wrote for Marist College's newspaper The Circle and is due out on campus Thursday February 26. Enjoy...
With all the ideological struggle in America over the alleged culture war, it seems natural for there to be massive backlash by the political right in response to the changes Mr. Obama is attempting to push through in Washington. But the change from conservatism to liberalism is nothing new, particularly in American politics. What we may see now, though, is a general shift in public opinion and governmental policy that will reflect a more liberal model.
It isn’t too much out of the ordinary to see minor sways in the government’s policy nor is it uncommon to see slight changes in public opinion over the course of 20 years or so. What is major is seeing a complete realignment of public opinion to another ideology. This type of massive shift is usually a result of massive social and political unrest. We saw this with the election of Roosevelt in 1932 and the election of Reagan in 1980, the public changed their political alignment towards another political view based on economic hardship.
Now we are confronted with a new scenario: was the election of Obama a response against the conservative America built by Reagan, Gingrich, and the Bushes? This is a possibility. It seems as though the voting public dramatically swayed towards liberalism and, in doing so, gave the Democrats a mandate to try out their policy. Pundits have been noting that it seems as though America is fed up with the conservative economic and foreign policy of the previous administrations including Clinton.
The issue now is to what extent is the government going to liberalize. I find it hard to believe that the government will sway as drastically left as conservative pundits are speculating. Although the conservatives are worried about the extent to which the government will liberalize, they must allow Obama to try out his policies to try and better America
It is time for welfare reforms, to increase funding into education, and to mend one of the most tattered healthcare systems in the industrialized world. Who knows? We may even catch up to Europe in our quality of healthcare. We may even catch up to Cuba!
The conservatives have had their opportunity to lead the country, they have been doing so for the last 28 years. Now it is liberals turn to try and run the country with their policies. Trends dictate that within the next 20 years – if Obama succeeds in leading the new liberal movement – there will be a transition back to conservative politics.
I would like to close this article with a quote from conservative columnist Bill Kristol: “Liberalism’s fate rests to an astonishing degree on Obama’s shoulders. If he governs successfully, we’re in a new political era.”
-mike
With all the ideological struggle in America over the alleged culture war, it seems natural for there to be massive backlash by the political right in response to the changes Mr. Obama is attempting to push through in Washington. But the change from conservatism to liberalism is nothing new, particularly in American politics. What we may see now, though, is a general shift in public opinion and governmental policy that will reflect a more liberal model.
It isn’t too much out of the ordinary to see minor sways in the government’s policy nor is it uncommon to see slight changes in public opinion over the course of 20 years or so. What is major is seeing a complete realignment of public opinion to another ideology. This type of massive shift is usually a result of massive social and political unrest. We saw this with the election of Roosevelt in 1932 and the election of Reagan in 1980, the public changed their political alignment towards another political view based on economic hardship.
Now we are confronted with a new scenario: was the election of Obama a response against the conservative America built by Reagan, Gingrich, and the Bushes? This is a possibility. It seems as though the voting public dramatically swayed towards liberalism and, in doing so, gave the Democrats a mandate to try out their policy. Pundits have been noting that it seems as though America is fed up with the conservative economic and foreign policy of the previous administrations including Clinton.
The issue now is to what extent is the government going to liberalize. I find it hard to believe that the government will sway as drastically left as conservative pundits are speculating. Although the conservatives are worried about the extent to which the government will liberalize, they must allow Obama to try out his policies to try and better America
It is time for welfare reforms, to increase funding into education, and to mend one of the most tattered healthcare systems in the industrialized world. Who knows? We may even catch up to Europe in our quality of healthcare. We may even catch up to Cuba!
The conservatives have had their opportunity to lead the country, they have been doing so for the last 28 years. Now it is liberals turn to try and run the country with their policies. Trends dictate that within the next 20 years – if Obama succeeds in leading the new liberal movement – there will be a transition back to conservative politics.
I would like to close this article with a quote from conservative columnist Bill Kristol: “Liberalism’s fate rests to an astonishing degree on Obama’s shoulders. If he governs successfully, we’re in a new political era.”
-mike
Poem: Conscious All Versus American Capital “M” dash “Pyre”
Invader!
Raider of turf!
Why must you kill
all the creatures
and Earth?
Where inside
it
are you find-
ing
any worth?
We demand
you disarm
all us be-ings,
we are hurt!
[M-Pyre:]
Aww,
come on now!
You ought to better know me.
I gotta gotta eat
more of
them resource-ceez.
Cause the only highest power
that my eyes can see
Is a mighty common acronym,
“G” to the “O”
Tuh’ tuh’ the “D”
[ Conscious Chorus:]
For the Gold, Oil, Drugs is why
He’s spreading the blood
For the Gold, Oil, Drugs is why
He’s spreading the blood
For the Gold, Oil, Drugs is why
He’s spreading the blood
[Conscious All:]
Elite!
This thug
Is American!
Capital letter “M” dash “Pyre!”
Napalmed grand mom’s
in Vietnam
and melted
skeletons
on fire!
Possesed by his possessions,
Expansions
All he
Desires
[Conscious Chorus:]
M-Pyre!,
On you a demon made a spell!
M-Pyre!,
Truth, all your hurt-
ing is yourself!
M-Pyre!,
Should share it good
Share your wealth!
M-Pire!,
We pray for you,
To soon get well.
[M-Pyre:]
Conscious all,
all
yall
is no victims
in this
system.
You got to feel my ism’s!
Capital,
political,
military,
industrial.
Connected by all them
chords umbilical.
Live life in a bubble,
and don’t knock my hustle.
Any questioning
of the weaponing,
out in public
I will call you…
unpatriotic-al!
[Conscious All:]
M,
hold up now,
just for one minute.
We here you propaganda,
but we just don’t dig it!
So get out of town.
Please take the next train or bus,
cause’ your nuclear arms have been toxic-ing us,
And you’re ish’ outta’ luck,
cause we mean
most serious.
Hands,
hearts,
heads…
Please spread
like on bread
with peanut butter
these truths
to many others…
Thank us
will our Earth Mother
when we
wake up and love her.
And end
will many suffers
when we
all free each other.
And end
will many suffers
when we
all free each other.
-anthony
18 February 2009
Poem: Observations through glass
Looking into the world through the
Safety of glass encasement allows one
To see the world as it is, unbridled
From the worst and simplistic as to
Only view motion.
I see (a):
Woman running, sleek and slender moving
Easily as each step allows for another
Spring forward.
Friends walking along a path moving toward
A shared destiny as each step brings
Them closer to me, or further away?
Trees gently rustling in the breeze
Swayed by nothing more than nature
Existing, for no purpose?
River gently flowing pushing along its
Contents without purpose propelled by
Nature’s currents.
Snow dripping away into the soil without
Concern to what it has been or where
It is going or what affect it has.
The observations show me that
Things change naturally with fluidity
And foster positive outcome. Things
Created by sudden occurrences are formed
From malice and the unintentional and are
Not meant to be emulated.
Change comes with
Ease and Peace.
-mike
Safety of glass encasement allows one
To see the world as it is, unbridled
From the worst and simplistic as to
Only view motion.
I see (a):
Woman running, sleek and slender moving
Easily as each step allows for another
Spring forward.
Friends walking along a path moving toward
A shared destiny as each step brings
Them closer to me, or further away?
Trees gently rustling in the breeze
Swayed by nothing more than nature
Existing, for no purpose?
River gently flowing pushing along its
Contents without purpose propelled by
Nature’s currents.
Snow dripping away into the soil without
Concern to what it has been or where
It is going or what affect it has.
The observations show me that
Things change naturally with fluidity
And foster positive outcome. Things
Created by sudden occurrences are formed
From malice and the unintentional and are
Not meant to be emulated.
Change comes with
Ease and Peace.
-mike
17 February 2009
Approaching a creature named PrAxiS
When approaching non-thing named Praxis…
For the insights for this one thanks be to
-Ram Dass
Approach is your attitude, your state of being, your frame of mind/heart/soul when participating, publicly serving, helping, or promoting any form of life in community. It is mindful to wanting to understand others, being open to being helped, and to receive as well as to learn. Percieving our”selves” as separate “selves” often obstructs us from being generous. Feeling unity and one-ness in our approaches can counter obstructions, increasing our potential to be generosity. Loneliness, angriness, and powerlessness feelings may manifest helping efforts to gain intimacy, power, control, etc. Catering to our own needs may lessen our abilities to serve others. Help others as they truly are, whole and complete. When you are seeing, see wholly. Although in some situations this is unavoidable, generally try avoiding the roles of active helper and passive helped. For attachment to roles is limiting to our outreach. Approach with intentions to destroy, but create. Not to separate, but to unify. To heal wounds. In all seriousness be humorous, have a trip when you uplift. Utilize your inner-most gifts and spread shining light, illuminating as the sun, when you approach praxis. In our beings is every non-thing, the universe, for us to disperse all around affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. In essence, our actions and our states of mind matter, because we are so deeply interconnected with one another.
“I would say that the thrust of my life has been initially about getting free, and then realizing that my freedom is not independent of everybody else. Then I am arriving at that circle where one works on oneself as a gift to other people so that one doesn't create more suffering. I help people as a work on myself and I work on myself to help people.”- Ram Dass
-anthony
For the insights for this one thanks be to
-Ram DassApproach is your attitude, your state of being, your frame of mind/heart/soul when participating, publicly serving, helping, or promoting any form of life in community. It is mindful to wanting to understand others, being open to being helped, and to receive as well as to learn. Percieving our”selves” as separate “selves” often obstructs us from being generous. Feeling unity and one-ness in our approaches can counter obstructions, increasing our potential to be generosity. Loneliness, angriness, and powerlessness feelings may manifest helping efforts to gain intimacy, power, control, etc. Catering to our own needs may lessen our abilities to serve others. Help others as they truly are, whole and complete. When you are seeing, see wholly. Although in some situations this is unavoidable, generally try avoiding the roles of active helper and passive helped. For attachment to roles is limiting to our outreach. Approach with intentions to destroy, but create. Not to separate, but to unify. To heal wounds. In all seriousness be humorous, have a trip when you uplift. Utilize your inner-most gifts and spread shining light, illuminating as the sun, when you approach praxis. In our beings is every non-thing, the universe, for us to disperse all around affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. In essence, our actions and our states of mind matter, because we are so deeply interconnected with one another.
“I would say that the thrust of my life has been initially about getting free, and then realizing that my freedom is not independent of everybody else. Then I am arriving at that circle where one works on oneself as a gift to other people so that one doesn't create more suffering. I help people as a work on myself and I work on myself to help people.”- Ram Dass
-anthony
Poem: A Peaceful Heart (Inspired by Thay, a.k.a. Thich Nhat Hanh)
If we are anger
We a living in hell
What we put into our minds
Brings us
To where we are
Our own weapons are…
Prejudice, fear, and ignorance
Working for peace is
Uprooting roots from
Within us and others
What of us others ask…
Give
There are always ways to
Solve our problems
Always ways
Without killing
The person we call our “enemy”
Is also suffering
Deeply
When we
See
This we
Have the capacity
To love
We have compassion for
And accept one another
“Enemies” are illusions
They are individuals who are
Suffering and greatly need our compassion
Forgiveness is
The fruit of awareness
Forgive kindly
Mindfully
It will allow you to see
Root causes that lead to them
To suffering
This occurs naturally
And this allows
Compassion
To be given
-anthony
We a living in hell
What we put into our minds
Brings us
To where we are
Our own weapons are…
Prejudice, fear, and ignorance
Working for peace is
Uprooting roots from
Within us and others
What of us others ask…
Give
There are always ways to
Solve our problems
Always ways
Without killing
The person we call our “enemy”
Is also suffering
Deeply
When we
See
This we
Have the capacity
To love
We have compassion for
And accept one another
“Enemies” are illusions
They are individuals who are
Suffering and greatly need our compassion
Forgiveness is
The fruit of awareness
Forgive kindly
Mindfully
It will allow you to see
Root causes that lead to them
To suffering
This occurs naturally
And this allows
Compassion
To be given
-anthony
12 February 2009
Lesson is “The Roots of War”…
Consciousness is collective
The president is us
We are responsible in our
Support for love and understanding
We cannot be supporting
Of violence, hatred, anger, or fear
War causes suffering unto everyone
Its wounds are deep
In our souls
Is war
In us is toxicity
Society has become infected with illness
Not being happy enough
We need to begin with practicing
Peace, joy, and happiness,
Mindfulness within ourselves
Being in touch
With what is refreshing
And healing inside all around
Will transform the seeds of war
Within us collectively
By perceiving and doing
We influence others
Transformation
Is possible
We are all co-responsible
What we fill society with
Manifests into
What is inside society
-anthony
The president is us
We are responsible in our
Support for love and understanding
We cannot be supporting
Of violence, hatred, anger, or fear
War causes suffering unto everyone
Its wounds are deep
In our souls
Is war
In us is toxicity
Society has become infected with illness
Not being happy enough
We need to begin with practicing
Peace, joy, and happiness,
Mindfulness within ourselves
Being in touch
With what is refreshing
And healing inside all around
Will transform the seeds of war
Within us collectively
By perceiving and doing
We influence others
Transformation
Is possible
We are all co-responsible
What we fill society with
Manifests into
What is inside society
-anthony
10 February 2009
Poem: energy, flow
Solitude in wisdom, energy in flow.
We are the observers of the flow
Bearing witness to the constant
Moving of the people wrought by
Time and forced into observance.
We know not what we see for
Believing what is unknown is the
Folly of the believer and the
Knowledge of the thinker is to
Know that nothing is definite and
That finite particles can mean the
World or nothing at all.
We are the keepers of the gate,
Those who allow energy to
Flow and the guardians of what
May seem right but only truly
Express self-interest and offer
Nothing but the gentle rise of
Personal ego letting wind to the
Fruitless nature of passionless action.
We are all part of one, cog wheels in
The motion of life ticking in unison to
Strive for what ought to be and to
Berid this planet of what shouldn't;
That which is unfortunate was never a
Friend of us but we need not hold
Disdain towards things, objects that we
Cannot necessarily control as they are
Meant to be, meant to be wrong?
Nothing is inherently wrong, simply
Misguided by negative principals or
Strung about by mantra and partisanship.
We must accept the word of another to
Realize that we are truly citizens on a
Ship, a vessel known as a planet, the
Celestial body that we hold and too often
Ruin out of greed and want and other
Misguided principals.
It is our obligation to right that
Has become wrong and to strive for
A better planet to inhabit, to
Advocate for the truly ideal, to
Become Citizens.
-mike
note: the picture before this poem was taken by me while I was in South Africa in the countryside an few hours outside of Durban.
07 February 2009
Poem: Citizen Ship
Soul journeying
Across universe’s space
Inter-depend-ed
On inter-connections
We are citizens
In a ship
Harmless
Standing under
So that others uplift-ed
How high they are shining
On us they are sun
Love one
Teach one
See one another
As one
Help all others
For the benefit of all beings
The conscious-ness
The cultural collective
Spiritual village
Humans
Right and left ten fingers in unity
We as privileged members giving back in society
Response-ing
Able-ly and willing-ly
Theraputical remedies
Healing inner and outer
Natures in need
Pollinate harmony
Pure waters
Disobeying-ly
Cease hell fire civilly
The force
The source
Positive energy
The creative ingredient
That disrupts injustice
In-volve
En-gage
En-lighten
Inter-be
Seek Truth
Speak Truth
Act Truth accordingly
Publicly
Non-violently
Like Jesus
Like King
Nhat Hanh
And Gandhi
Being the change that you wish to see
Reuse
Reduce
Recycle
Respect
Repair
The world
Change her
Care for her
Pour local
And global
Community all over her
Be a vessel
For spreading the light
Get up, get out,
And stand up for your rights
Share
Serve
Plant
Vigil
And sing
Liberation
Alleviation
Solutions
Revolution
Cultivated
and
Gravitated
Towards higher realms
Higher states and
Higher planes
All on board together
Rocket shipping
In the cosmos
We are tripping
Roots oriented
In the right directions
Unique are our perceptions
On our individual paths
We are practicing
Citizens in a ship
-anthony
Across universe’s space
Inter-depend-ed
On inter-connections
We are citizens
In a ship
Harmless
Standing under
So that others uplift-ed
How high they are shining
On us they are sun
Love one
Teach one
See one another
As one
Help all others
For the benefit of all beings
The conscious-ness
The cultural collective
Spiritual village
Humans
Right and left ten fingers in unity
We as privileged members giving back in society
Response-ing
Able-ly and willing-ly
Theraputical remedies
Healing inner and outer
Natures in need
Pollinate harmony
Pure waters
Disobeying-ly
Cease hell fire civilly
The force
The source
Positive energy
The creative ingredient
That disrupts injustice
In-volve
En-gage
En-lighten
Inter-be
Seek Truth
Speak Truth
Act Truth accordingly
Publicly
Non-violently
Like Jesus
Like King
Nhat Hanh
And Gandhi
Being the change that you wish to see
Reuse
Reduce
Recycle
Respect
Repair
The world
Change her
Care for her
Pour local
And global
Community all over her
Be a vessel
For spreading the light
Get up, get out,
And stand up for your rights
Share
Serve
Plant
Vigil
And sing
Liberation
Alleviation
Solutions
Revolution
Cultivated
and
Gravitated
Towards higher realms
Higher states and
Higher planes
All on board together
Rocket shipping
In the cosmos
We are tripping
Roots oriented
In the right directions
Unique are our perceptions
On our individual paths
We are practicing
Citizens in a ship
-anthony
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