This is a short segment that I helped shoot footage for in 2005. It aired on Current TV, a cable television station co-founded by Al Gore. Dustin and Dara, who appear in the segment, were my friends who I took to Burning Man and camped with.
...the following article was published in the Summer 2008 issue of Lilipoh Magazine. Four proceeding articles appeared in the magazine exploring this topic. (Click on the navigation category "Lilipoh" to the right and they will appear in order of most recent first.)
On A Path Darkly
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Human Kingdoms advance by force and violence with falling bombs and flying bullets, but God's kingdom advances by stories, fictions, tales that are easily ignored and easily misunderstood. (p.49) The Secret Message of Jesus
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In this article, I continue to explore the spirit of our times and what popular culture might be revealing about the emergence of a new guiding myth for the task before humanity. I continue to assess the media landscape for hints that we might be shifting from deconstructing previously important mythic signposts to raising new ones. While any hard and fast answers still evade me, several recent works have caught my attention and seem to illuminate a larger trend that speaks to our increasingly urgent condition. The brilliantly written novel by Cormac McCarthy,The Road (for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005), follows the journey of a father and son struggling to survive and maintain hope in an inescapably bleak post-apocalyptic world. The novel is set in a not-too-distant and all-too-possible future landscape of environmental devastation and human barbarism. As I read, I found myself identifying with the young son who says simply "I'm scared" as they approached situation after situation with little chance of redemption. Like the boy totally dependent on his father, the reader is put in the role of trusting that the author has something important to show us against the backdrop of sustained tension and dread. The father works to protect the boy's faith that there is a core of ethics left somewhere in humanity - an assertion that looks increasingly unlikely as the novel unfolds. This feeling is echoed in a recent adaptation of another McCarthy novel, the film No Country for Old Men. Like The Road, we find ourselves in a brooding, harsh landscape; this time the southern U.S. border of 1980. The film explores the inherent imprisonment of a determined world, where a coin toss can determine if one lives or dies, and the frailty of our biological existence hits home like the thunk of a killer's cattle gun - as effective on humans as on any other animal primed for slaughter. The Village Voice describes the characters of No Country for Old Men as "members of some endangered species trying to forestall their extinction." Though it's not always easy to watch, but there is something beneath the surface that elevates this film beyond a traditional shoot 'em up or just another depressing art house meditation on human fallibility. Its redeeming element is its unusually masterful crafting. An astonishing job by the Coen brothers (who won an Oscar for their directing) made me look harder at the feelings this film invoked in me. What does its message (and popular success) reveal about our contemporary self-concept and the hopes and fears of where we may be headed? I might have attributed whatever broader meaning these works revealed to novelist Cormac McCarthy alone, if, around the same time, I hadn't seen the film There Will be Blood. Like No Country for Old Men, it was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning Best Actor for Daniel Day Lewis' mesmerizing leading role. Set in the oil fields of the early twentieth century, There Will Be Blood shares an underlying dread with The Road and No Country for Old Men and a similarly unsentimental, near perfect artistic crafting that is hard to call anything other than beautiful. A sense of impending doom fills all three works. It stalks each frame and page, whether personified as an unstoppable bounty hunter, the relentlessly off-kilter and haunting score of There Will Be Blood (composed by Radiohead's Guitarist, Johnny Greenwood) or the ash falling with haunting regularity throughout The Road, fall-out from some never-explained man-made catastrophe. All three are soaked in a pitiless quality that captures the audience with a sense that "truth will be spoken here." We trust that we are going to receive something accurate even as we increasingly realize that it's not going to be a happy or even a clear outcome. We trust that there must be something important to see here, where the vultures swarm and where man goes horribly astray. There is a shred of unsentimental hope in each work: the soot-covered purity of The Road's boy; There Will Be Blood's deaf, adopted son's escape from his father's mad clutches; and the aging country sheriff of No Country for Old Men who dreams of his own father carrying fire in a horn, "going on ahead, and fixin' to make a fire" in the surrounding dark and cold. These three works felt to me like articulations of a larger realization happening within great swaths of our culture; like "Dead End" signs appearing along the road that we collectively race down. Things are bleak. Can anything be as depressing as knowing that you're headed for a brick wall, but, lacking visible alternatives, continue driving anyway? As parables, they tell a story which news headlines and stark documentaries can only hint at. They tell me that there is something dark in the human character, of which the evils of the world are only symptoms. This darkness forms a hole in our lives and a sense of loss that is hard to address directly. Perhaps an unflinching mythic glimpse into our own darkest corners is an important first step? If we can just put our finger on the lingering dissatisfaction that pulls us toward self-destruction, we may be able to redirect our course. Giving image and name to our collective sense of doom might rob it of some of its power otherwise so subtle and pervasive as to seem inevitable. Visible, it can be seen, named, and rejected. And here, for me, is where author Brian McLaren came in. While thinking over this dark picture of our shared mythic landscape, I read a couple of books by this leading proponents of the "emergent Christianity" movement. In The Secret Message of Jesus, Brian McLaren offers as hopeful a picture of the heights that human beings might attain as The Road and There Will be Blood show of our darkest depths. By no means alone in his re-examination of the life and teaching of Jesus (the Da Vinci Code phenomenon was just the tip of the iceberg), McLaren's technique is a decidedly integral one. Post-modern and pluralistic, it doesn't seek to create another doctrine or set of beliefs but rather brings self-awareness to the process of how doctrines are established and interrupted in the first place. Different from some of the other authors in this booming genre though, Brian McLaren's perspective is not that of a distanced researcher but of a true believer. A pastor of his own non-denominational church, McLaren is seeking to re-frame who we are and what our role in society might look like, while honoring the religious tradition he finds great value in. His explorations shed light on a new articulation of "the kingdom of God" - a kingdom that is of this world but based on very different virtues than the predominant ones around us. An interruption that is at once both generous and orthodox, the message he delivers is both radically different and yet familiar to what one would recognize at a traditional neighborhood Sunday service. In his books McLaren deconstructs the Christian church, offering a history of the institutionalizing of this mystical message. He moves beyond denouncing the exclusionary, self-serving tendencies of organized religion, responsible for countless intolerances and atrocities, to find these tendencies within himself. He articulates the impulses behind the differing traditions and denominations and how they correlate to important elements within his own understanding of what Jesus' full message might look like. What he discovers might be a beacon of renewal not just for the Christian religion but for the whole world. The message that he rediscovers for himself is as revolutionary today as at the time it was given, offering much more than just the foundation for the religion that followed. Heard again as if for the first time, this message offers an exciting present and future possibility of what could be; an unlikely secret that holds the power to divert us from the train wreck we seemed destined for. Perhaps a re-emergence of Jesus' original teaching, placed back into historical context and shown for the radical message it is, begins to articulate (or unearth) an alternative route running counter to our own personally engrained social, political, intellectual and spiritual beliefs. A message asking for as revolutionary a change to our daily lives as to those of any institution. The message of Christ hints at a way of being that can overcome the most inevitable forces of darkness within our own humanity. Radical forgiveness, service to the poor and sick, a slow and steady aligning of our will with God's ("Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven") - stripped of the nauseating rhetoric and distorted lens that the Christian church has all too often applied - this message offers a revolutionary and unlikely promise. Just as the potential for growth of the tiny mustard seed is invisible to the physical eye, so the "kingdom of God" asks us not just to look again, but to transform the very way we see. Like Rudolf Steiner's Higher Worlds, this kingdom awaits those "with ears to hear." This unseen kingdom is present, not just despite our despair and bleakness but also because of it. Recognizing the truth of our current situation, and accepting our personal responsibility for it will necessitate a radical re-thinking (the original meaning of metanoia "to repent"). If enough of us glimpse such a kingdom and, in our glimpsing, re-think our lives, and in re-thinking our lives believe that the impossible is possible, things could change dramatically. And given the reports on the condition of the road ahead, let's hope that we choose to shift trajectories soon.
Works Cited
McLaren, Brian. The Secret Message of Jesus, Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2006 McLaren, Brian. A Generous Orthodoxy, Grand Rapids: Zonderum, 2004 McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York: Vintage, 2006 No Country for Old Men. Dir., Writ., Prod.,Ethan and Joel Coen. Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy. Miramax and Paramount Vantage, 2007. There Will be Blood. Dir., Writ., Prod., Paul Thomas Anderson. Based on the novel by Upton Sinclair. Miramax and Paramount Vantage, 2007.
Bill Maher brings the belief that unconditional faith in religion is a form of mental illness to his new documentary, Religulous . This is a funny film, an important film and a poorly executed and fatally flawed attempt to examine the oldest, most important and currently the most powerful aspect of human culture. Maher’s first mistake is that he takes on an enormous task with too little focus. There are approximately 22 major organized religions (with members numbering over half a million) in the world (all with various sects and branches) and countless smaller religions and spirituals practices and Maher examines basically just three: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. He mentions Scientology and goes into some of the sects of Christianity, but does not even attempt to look at eastern religions, which is probably a good thing because he spreads himself thin enough as is. Unfortunately, because he sets the film up as a non-specific look at religion, he inadvertently limits himself to a narrow point of view. His main claim is that people (but not all people) have evolved intellectually past the need for religion, particularly those religions based in ancient myths and traditions. He blames these three religious superpowers (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) for most of the blood-shed and violence in the world, certainly as of late, but throughout history as well. Unfortunately, Maher is only preaching to the choir and his methods are little more than cheap tricks that will only enrage those who are not already religious skeptics, atheists or agnostics and probably only inspire deeply religious people to be more rooted in their sometimes blind devotions. Maher and his director Larry Charles (of Borat ) use a technique popularized by Sacha Baron Cohen: basically they let the ignorance of their subjects trap, insult and make fun of themselves. This method is in poor taste, only mildly affective in making a meaningful point and ethically questionable as an artist, journalist or sociologist, which ever of these, if any, Maher is claiming to be in this film. He seems to be claiming to be all three while playing the ignorant, innocent skeptic at the same time. Early in the film, Maher seems genuine in his assertion that he is “just asking questions” and that his perspective on the subject of religion is “I don’t know.” That would be a fine place to begin if it didn’t so quickly become clear that Bill Maher actually believes that these people whom he interviews are in fact either ignorant, mentally insane or simple scam artists. He doesn’t believe in the possibility of any of the myths these religions claim, the power of faith or the need human beings may need for structured religious beliefs and practices to be an important part of human culture and development. His quick lack of open-mindedness immediately undermines his credibility as a journalist (and even as an objective artist) in the film. He proceeds to let subject after subject make fun of him or herself because Maher doesn’t want to seem disrespectful, even though most of his follow-up questions are set-ups for making them look stupid (Exposing ignorance? Yes. But in what context? For what purpose?). He questions their beliefs with no desire to learn from them—only to undermine them with what he believes is his superior intelligence. Not surprisingly, he avoids truly great and intelligent religious leaders like the Dalai Lama, for example, because he would be way out of his league. He sticks with simple followers, because he knows he will always have the upper hand. Isn’t this is in gross distaste? Perhaps the most questionable part of Maher’s exploration is that he completely ignores all the good that comes from religion and faith (two terms which he seems to use interchangeably with no regard for the fact that these are often two separate entities). Maher does a good job pointing out the ridiculous nature of some of religious myths (Jonah being swallowed by the whale or Moses communicating with god through a burning bush) but he does not interview people who use these stories as metaphors for positive teaching and living, only people who believe them as fact (there is an exception or two to this but he doesn’t allow these individuals to share the importance of still teaching these stories). He also ignores the positive affect the rituals of religion (communion, prayer, meditation) may have on the human mind and behavior of people. He writes off these positives as acts of mental illness of an insane or ignorant mind. If he at least acknowledged some of the positives that can come from faith and religion—foundations of hope, inspiration and charity—then perhaps his assertion that religion does much more harm than good (which is probably true) would hold more water. Alas, again he undermines the potential power of his film and the possibility of his insights and explorations effecting positive change. Maher claims that a large minority of people in the United States (and the world entire) are either atheist or agnostic and that this group of individuals is larger than any other minority group in the country. He asks us to rise up and make our voices heard to stop the senseless blood-shed, violence and the division that results from religion. Well, yes I agree. We should. But we should do so by trying to understand why religion is so important to most people of the world in a way that isn’t so divisive as Maher’s approach, where teaching and learning are of mutual exchange. Education is a path to true freedom but it has to be mutual. A well-educated atheist or agnostic can learn much from a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, etc (well educated or not) and vice-versa. But you’ve got to be open minded, willing to fully engage, give and take ideas and above all respect each other and each other’s beliefs. This conversation and exchange of ideas and knowledge is the way to root out dangerous extremists and fundamentalist religions. If you think, as a minority in this country and certainly in this world, that non-believers can just rise up and kill god like a coup of some third world dictator, you are sadly mistaken. Because one thing most of these religions believe remains to be true: god is still All Powerful, because that power lies in the belief of the people who worship him and their undying faith. Faith can be changed and faith can be altered, but it can never be killed or simply overthrown, because it is faith itself that is the strength and the will that binds humanity together; and it always will be, whether it represents bowing to an imaginary super-being somewhere in the stars or reaching out our hands to our human neighbors and trusting in the fortitude and love of their grasp as we pull and tow each other along in this life… See Religulous . Because I believe that the heart of Bill Maher’s film is true, even if his method and execution is flawed. There is much to be learned and taught from/to each of us. If we have faith in each other…
I think it is not a coincidence that Michaelmas and Rosh Hashanah converge this year. This is so because, call me egocentric, but I had a deep personal experience of St John's this year in Jerusalem - where the message w as - throw one's "sins" or fears into the fire. Now, coinciding with the festival of St Michael, I will be called by the Jewish tradition to do the same thing, but this time to throw these fears into the water. I intuit this to be the realisation of a full circle which may give one the insight one needs of how to achieve real peace. Inner transformation with the full support of the universe. If one only can call up the courage to let the fire blaze and leap into it, the waters will make this necessarily painful process of a higher form of love ultimately lead to a profound potential for creative forces to arise.
If one may also consider that in most countries this year the muslim feast of Ramadan ends on 30 september one could perhaps find even further insights into how personal struggles to overcome weaknesses and fears can lead to transformations within and beyond each individual...
Have an inspired Michaelmas! Shana tova! Ramadan Mubarak!
twinlab colon care The Coalition for Nonviolent Living is proud to present: the 2008 Nonviolence as a Way of Life Conference Featuring: Marshall Rosenberg creator of Nonviolent Communication Julia Butterfly Hill environmental activist, author and poet and Rev C.T. Vivian friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and key civil rights strategist Thursday, September 11, 2008 through Sunday, September 14, 2008. at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
Yoga Month, a non-profit needs volunteers for the Yoga Health Fest 9/20-21. I have been trying to get 60 committed volunteers to help out at this 2-day event. In return, they get a free VIP pass good for all workshops. I need some feedback. You can reply through the message board: 1. Confused about how to volunteer 2. Lack of information 3. Not sure what the benefits of volunteering are 4. Lack of or no support or response when trying to contact Yoga Month 5. Not sure about how to sign up as an Associate or the benefits 6. A combo of the above 7. All of the above 8. Want to attend a volunteer orientation ASAP Just indicate # on your response. Thanks! http://yoga.meetup.com/552/messages/boards/thread/5191363
I am the editor for NewPages.com - a webssite of news, information and guides to independent bookstores, independent publishers, literary magazines, alternative periodicals, independent record labels, alternative newsweeklies and more. I am always on the lookout for alternative publications - both in print and online - to add to our resource. If you know of any you don't see listed on our site ( http://www.newpages.com ), please let me know by sending me a link, and I'll check them out. Thank you!
The new Weezer album of all things has got me thinking. The last line of the last song on the regular edition of the album: “WE ARE the angels and WE ARE the ones that are praying.” God is in all of us. God IS all of us. It’s up to US to answer our own prayers and those of each other. It’s time we stopped putting each other up on pedestals without believing that we too can rise so high. It’s time we stopped rising so high without reaching out our hand to take others with us. You too can be Gandhi. Together we can, not only change the world, but reverse the fucking rotation of the earth. Remember, never forget, we are all in this together. Whether it’s a girlfriend that’s starting to get on your nerves, your husband who has been getting on your nerves for a dozen years now, a teenager running wild or an overbearing parent, you were brought together, if only for a time, to love and to support each other. And above all, to pray to and to listen and to answer those prayers with all the passion of Christ, Muhammad and The Incredible Hulk combined. Because if it was in them, it’s in you as well. Peace, Shalom
“Walls” can act as metaphors for many things. You can talk about the walls we put up to protect ourselves psychologically or the walls we have to climb in order to progress in life. I want to talk about the walls we inevitably run into in our progression of how we see the world, that is, how open we are to new ideas and other points of view. It seems to me that it is inevitable that we, no matter how open minded we think ourselves to be, reach a place in our lives or come head to head with an issue that we just can’t see past. This is true for individuals and this is true for society/countries/cultures as a whole. I think the U.S. hit this point or ran into this wall sometime ago and maybe only now are we, as a whole, beginning to break it down, climb over it, see past it or however you want say it. Even the most seemingly liberal people run into this wall and I fear most never break it down. They are no different than the most conservative “right wing nut” or “backwards redneck” that can’t break out of their “traditional” ways of thinking. It’s not about being liberal or conservative. It’s about being progressive and both red and blue voters, right and left thinkers can be progressive and have an open enough point of view to listen to new ideas, to forget on almost a daily basis all they have been taught to know as the truth, and for at least a moment in every argument or discussion, see things from the other’s point of view. It’s arrogance of opinion and a sense of superiority that often keeps this wall standing strong in front of us, perhaps all around us. And this can be liberal arrogance or conservative arrogance, but when it comes down to it, they are both the same thing because both are rooted in the same kind of stubborn ignorance. I consider myself a very liberal person. But some of my favorite moments are when I sit back and let a gun loving cab driver or Bush loving graduate from Indiana (I mention those two specifically because they are interactions I have actually had) rant their opinion with as much passion as any tree hugger in all of Berkeley campus. And when their rant is done, they shut up and listen to my own rant with as much respect as I gave them. Even if in the end of the conversation neither of us has seemed to inch any closer to the other, I know that progress, true progress has been made because there wasn’t that wall between us, the wall that seems to too often keep us all apart. Or if their was at first, we at least broke it down for a moment, or removed just one brick, just enough to make a peek hole to the other side. I think sometimes we forget that WE are all in this together. WE are on the same team. In fact, there are no teams. There are no sides to take. Not really. WE ARE ALL THE SAME. So why build walls on invisible borders that only exist as an existential means to divide us?
chronic hyperglycemia
This is from the guys who wrote a book called "Affluenza - when too much is never enough.". Its a really interesting take on consumerism in Australia. http://www.wellbeingmanifesto.net
As chemical agriculture became the norm over the past 100 years, carbon's significance in soil and plant processes was nearly forgotten. In the agricultural lectures of 1924, Rudolf Steiner states "In recent times, carbon has fallen from its former aristocratic status to a very low one..." Going on to say that carbon is the carrier of nature's formative forces, Steiner observes that this neglected element is constantly at work as the great sculptor of all forms in the natural world. Interestingly, Steiner notes that were it not for respiration, carbon would bind humans into rigid forms. "The carbon would make our body too stiff and rigid, too much like a palm tree, if it weren't for our respiration, which tears the carbon out of its rigidity..." Further, carbon serves as a kind of sculptor for the human ego as well. "[T]he human spirit...moves through our blood along paths moistened by sulfur and laid down by the weaving and working, shaping and dissolving activity of carbon". With these insights in mind coupled with the growing awareness and concern of rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the preeminence of carbon's place in the world's becoming is once again being recognized. And one of the simplest ways in which a connection with carbon can once again be established and cultivated is by working with plants and soils through biodynamic gardening. It is estimated that over the past one hundred years, 476 Giga-tons of CO2 have been released into the atmosphere through improper agricultural methods. By contrast, 270 Giga-tons have been released from fossil fuel use. This fact that improper agricultural methods are a major culprit of rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere is virtually unknown. Encouragingly, it is relatively easy to actually sequester CO2 into the soil by proper gardening methods. And, by default, these methods must be in concert with nature. A typical soil contains around three percent organic matter in its profile. By increasing this content, huge amounts of CO2 can be sequestered into the soil and held there by the magically complex organic compounds of humus and glomalin. As an example, by increasing the organic matter by just one percent over an acre of land, it is estimated that thirty-eight tons of CO2 is sequestered into that soil each year. Groups such as Carbon Farmers of America are working in such ways, and in some cases are increasing organic matter levels by far greater levels than just one percent a year. Biodynamic gardening methods are a superb approach in achieving increased organic matter levels of the soil. Biodynamically prepared compost creates a stable "humified" compost that will hold on to carbon and not release it to the atmosphere. The application of BD500 and BD501 to the soil and plants increases biological activity to peak levels, thus enabling the sequestration of large amounts of CO2, and its subsequent incorporation into the humus complex and glomalin complex of the soil profile. Coupled with proper tillage and watering methods, biodynamic gardening is unsurpassed for its benefits in carbon sequestration. Though little consideration was given to the importance of sequestering carbon into the soil years ago, it is a beautiful synergy that biodynamic gardening can now add aiding in carbon sequestration to its long list of beneficial applications.
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The sound of the word food , when you repeat it mentally and boil it down to the tones and gestures, seems to describe a movement out from a center, a gathering of substance and energy in an embrace. The embrace hold this in way that would solidify or fix these energies and substances in a form that organisms can approach for their sustenance. The relationship we have with food has rapidly become unconscious in the affluent world with markets abundant with food riddled with questions that do not get asked by the "typical consumer". What is this I am purchasing to eat, really? How is my body going to respond to this food I am ingesting? What are the conditions by which this food is produced? How does this food come from the point of origin to the point of purchase? What are the human costs of this system? How is our natural world effected by our production, distribution and consumption practices? Where does the money go and is someone getting 'the short end of the stick'? What is needed to become more conscious of what is going on and create a food system that gets better quality food with impacts and rewards that are an improvement on the current state of affairs? This last question inspires me to reach out and share a conversation with you. I am working professionally in this arena and would like to share what 'striving', processes and ideas we can relate to one another.
the treatment of diabetes insipidus Let me speak a moment about the nature of spiritual practice and the future. It is my understanding that Steiner said we need to increasingly tune into what is coming to us from the future – more than the practices we've inherited from the past. It is precisely with this impulse that the archai Michael is guiding us, the “sun-bright sword” cutting away unnecessary things of the past obstructing our emergence as individuals – and building our sense of self on our spiritual character rather than our earthly race, religion, ethnicity, etc. In this immense calling the use of spiritual masters and religious systems are losing potency and the momentary connection with higher spiritual realms of increasing necessity. In light of this I feel I have found in Clairvision a place where “the School of Michael” is alive and thriving.” I asked Samuel Sagan about this while I was there. He said that is Steiner's terminology. Which reveals another future-thinking aspect of Clairvision. If you look on the website www.Clairvision.com under Free Stuff – “A Language to Map Consciousness”, you will see a glossary of terms. Steiner lamented the lack of language to describe metaphysical realities – but here you'll find Clairvision is boldly filling in the gaps as it does spiritual-scientific research, increasing the range of concepts and building an important language-bridge, for the future to make its way into our consciousness. In terms of the future on earth – Sagan could be considered something of a “futurist”. In one of his novels, Bleeding Sun, he goes head to head with important issues facing us. Even though he is well versed in ancient practices, studying Sanskrit at university, training with a Taoist master, etc. he is also an M.D., so his scientific background draws his interest to futuristic issues around technology, genetic engineering, life in outer space, artificial intelligence, virtual reality – which he tackles from a spiritual perspective. A motto of the school is, “Take the best out of technology without technology taking the best out of you.” Some of the lessons revolve around protecting oneself from negative aspects of it, therefore you will find people in Clairvision comfortable with technology. Apparently Samuel is good at programming himself and for spiritual reasons oversees the coding of the on-line materials, such as the Clairvision Virtual Astrologer. For those who get involved more deeply with Clairvision, there is actually a virtual school that is invisible to those visiting the main website. It has been steadily and quietly growing as a supportive community since the schools inception. Because of this “techno-transcendent” nature, the school is also a global school, as can be seen from the different languages available on the homepage. When I was at the Catskills lodge in November, more than half the people were from outside the US. People from all over the planet are finding this work, creating a worldwide network of connections. Some of you have downloaded the free PDF of Awakening the Third Eye and have seen the wealth of information – but also see the value of a weekend workshop to help establish some of the “doing” of the practices. I am currently corresponding with one of the senior instructors of the school who would come to give the course – probably first weekend in April, and perhaps an introductory talk, mid-winter. In the meantime , Merry Stressless and here's a little Ho Ho http://badaboo.free.fr/merryxmas.swf
I am now living in Santa Rosa with the rest of our small group here, the One World Family Commune.As the energies rise toward the great world transformation, we look forward to world recognition of the truth being channeled thru Allen Michael, the Galactic Messenger.Check our new blog, galactic.com.
human brain diagrams A Night in Tehran Yesterday we went out at night.By car we went to a big square, where young people meet at night. Two tracs for each direction, full of cars with boys and girls-seperated-looking after a car with the other sex.boys are more active...with hand-signs they are trying to make you open the window so that they can give you their number, if you take it, the boy is waiting for your phonecall. Sometimes they also try to invite you to restaurant. Sahar and me went to a fast food restaurant-really "in" here-, pursuit from a car full auf beautiful iranien boys. They tried to connect to us allready on the square and now they followed us from the parking to the restaurant, inviting us to dinner...telling us nice things and on and on. I felt pursuit and did not know how to make them understand that we dont want to be invited.Sahar had the right behaviour to make them go away...she got angry with them. So we ate there alone and a hospitalityclub member joined us. But he was strange and we decided at mitnight to go home. On our car we found a little love letter from our boys with telephone numbers and nice words... BAckground informations:Iranien girls and boys find their boy/girlfriens like this.They can meet on some less public places in restaurants for waterpipe f.E. Iranien boys are horny-they try with all what they have to have a sexual relationship to a girl. I think only 5% of the girls would go with them. So the boys are trying everything to get one of the 5% girls. A iranien girl normaly chooses her boyfriend like this: does he have money?-you can see it on his car. is he handsome? An Iranien girl expects her boyfriend to go shopping with her(he have to pay), to take the taxi not the bus to go to the restaurant with her(it is clear that she is invited.) Iranien girls are always afraid that her boyfriend has more than one girlfriend.They do not trust them. when a iranien girl has a boyfriend, that does not mean that she has a sexual relationship with him. The Iranien people i was talking about are all well educated and not poor. For Iranien girls, make up is really important.They are waering the same clothes like european girls, but always a hedjab-scarp, to cover parts of their hair and alwys their butt have to be covered.Here in Tehran is no club to dance in. The people have to meet on private parties where they are drinking alcohol {normally forbidden), dancing and getting near to the other sex.On this parties they are really dressed up in evening dress. For girls it is not everywhere allowed to play billard...because one could see their butt. I like Iran....it is differnt and difficult for me, it is not easy to talk to a man when you do not know him. especially when you are european. When i m on the street, sometimes i enjoy that every man is looking at me but sometimes it is like beeing from an other planet or beeing unprotected game. Girls have to be strong here with all this smiling man:) love Annie
13 Reasons To See Todd Haynes’ New Bob Dylan Bio-Pic, I’m Not There… Because true artistic craft is too often missing from movies. In a year in which I was honestly giving up all hope on film as a meaningful form of art, this film has redeemed it with oblivious and beautiful abandon. Because when just about every filmmaker right now (in the US anyway) is getting it wrong, Todd Haynes gets it right. Because postmodern has become a topic of discussion at hipster coffee joints everywhere and now you’ll have another worthy example (besides The Big Lebowski) to cite if and when such a conversation should arise. Or just do what I do and avoid conversation with hipsters all together. Because I don’t love too many movies. I have never seen a film in the theater twice in one week (Well, not on purpose. The exception being the first Kill Bill, but both times were free of charge and I believe there were extenuating circumstances, that I don’t need to discuss here, for both viewings) and been in awe both times to boot. Because Cate Blanchett is the best actress in the world! Because philosophically, culturally, and politically speaking a lot of the same issues Dylan wrote and spoke and sang about are still happening right now. Dylan said, “People today are still living off the table scraps of the sixties. They are still being passed around - the music and the ideas.” How much lasting effect has the ideals and the movements of the 60’s/Vietnam Era actually had? Or do we just pretend? Because “without music, life would be a mistake.” That’s Nietzsche. Because Bob Dylan’s music changed your life whether you like it or not, whether you listen to it or not, whether you care to admit it or not. Because “music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” Confucius said that. Todd Haynes proves he’s right. Although, I’m not sure Dylan would necessarily use the word “pleasure.” After all, it’s just a word. But I think you get the point. Because of the questions that are raised about the relationships between art and change, between desire and effect, between care and action. Because as human beings we should support when an artist does something honest, unique and important. Without supporting meaningful creation, we will consume more than we produce and eventually we will run out. Because the philosophies and poetry of Dylan is beyond meaningful, whether he’d admit it or not. Dylan said, “I define nothing. Not beauty, not patriotism. I take each thing as it is, without prior rules about what it should be.” Good stuff. Because maybe, “I’m not there…” But then again, are any of us? I don’t know. But I think this film will help each of us get a little closer. Wherever that may be…
Yesterday I was at the Youth Congress in Munich, a small (30 people) but neat conference, with the question "Peace and War, and what do you want?" as a theme. In the Open Space session I offered to have a Network M Meet Up time, to watch Nicanor and Kathleen, and to have a conversation about it afterwards. The interest was big, as at last years Youth Congress here in Munich Nicanor was present. The feedback was great. In a conversation with 8 people after watching the Podcast we reviewed the topics he spoke about, made sure everyone undestood, and discussed themes such as Identity, where am I in the whole process of inside and outside, world and spirit, as well as the Network Quality Nicanor touches on... It was great to have this input, as it complimented all conversations we had had before. Especially beautiful was the ending note, the quality of youth, the understanding of spiritual and worldly things youth bring with them into the world when we arrive. What struck me most was the expression "cultural creatives", which I have heard many times before, but which only made sense to me today! I have known of Meet Ups for more than a year now, and only now have I experienced one myself. I think it is a great idea, a very beautiful picture to think that people all over the world thought about the same stuff in the course of yesterday. Greetings from afar... Katha
It’s difficult to get excited about the 2008 election. The only thing I find remotely appealing is that, unless some miracle of Satan occurs (but Jerry Falwell is dead, so I’m not sure there’s much he can do), George W. Bush will not win again and it seems the Republicans will have a tough time replacing him. Still, I find myself in search of a candidate, because it feels like we’re in the midst of a major turning point in this country and what’s potentially exciting about that is getting involved, being an active part of that history. But I am having trouble being remotely inspired by the politicians that are a) running for president and b) stand a chance at winning. I know you’re supposed to vote your conscience (and I’ve tried that, I voted for Nadar in 2000) but wouldn’t it be great to have a candidate that not only reflected your ideals, inspired people to stand up for those ideals and proposed new policy, but was also in the position to be elected? Dennis Kucinich (in my estimation) says all the right things, has the ideals that most closely reflect my own, seems to be honest in everything he preaches and has no chance at winning the Democratic ticket. At a time in which the media controls the election and money controls the media it seems that it always comes down to two or maybe three candidates in the primaries and, of course, only two in the general election. It seems that this democratic primary will come down to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (the Republican primary seems less certain but I’m putting my money on Mike Huckabee to come out of deep right field to challenge Giuliani and maybe Fred Thompson) the two candidates who have greatly out gained every other candidate in terms of both money raised and media attention. For someone who is not greatly involved in politics but who has an above average (and that’s not saying much) but not astounding knowledge of it, I feel the overwhelming desire to be realistic in this election and support a candidate that has a chance to win. This gives me a choice between two candidates that aren’t saying anything strikingly new about policy and government (Obama and Clinton) and perhaps a long shot (John Edwards) who seems to have the people’s interest at heart (he actually talks about poverty and domestic issues more than he dwells on Iraq) but doesn’t seem to have what it takes to break into the race in a relevant way. I hate to seem like I’m settling my values or ideals by going with a more likely winner but there’s only so much time and energy an individual can devote to an election while trying to sustain his own personal life, ambitions, pursuits, etc. If I could be an active part of a campaign (for example, being paid to campaign so that I might be able to eat, pay rent, etc) then it would be worth devoting myself to the most ideal candidate. But even then it would take a real inspiration to change the (current) devotion of my life and energy, if only for a year, to politics. And still, I am concerned… So, here’s a good question: When’s the last time we (out here in left field) have had a candidate that can actualize our dearest values and ideals, our hope for the future and our ability to actually win the election? (And actually I’d be interested in any opinions from the right side as well because I often wonder how devoted conservatives really are to Bush and the like. I feel like most conservatives are much more gung-ho about their candidates, thus a decisive advantage). Because I’m not sure there’s been this kind of candidate in my lifetime (at least not on the left side, but both sides please chime in if your opinion differs). In fact, looking back over recent history, the last time I can definitively state that there was a candidate whom inspired and proposed new, progressive and universally relevant ideals as well as had a great shot at winning the presidency was Robert Kennedy in 1968. Robert Kennedy was the last of the a small group of individuals who rose to the occasion, not in spite of, but in reaction to the challenges of his time, to inspire a nation of people to look outside of their suburban comforts and see that neighbors aren’t just people who live on the same block as you, but those on the far side of the city, across state lines, from region to region and even around the globe. His ideals spanned races and borders and his charisma was not just founded on the way in which he articulated his words and expressed his ideas but in the warmth and human emotion, the integrity he put into them. When Bobby Kennedy spoke (much like JFK and MLK) you not only listened and believed, but you listened with all your heart and believed in a way that gave you hope and inspired you into action. Bobby, like his older brother John, spoke for people to give back to their nation, to give of themselves so that others could be free. His ideas remain relevant today, perhaps because he did not live long enough to do anything about the problems that plagued his generation, still forty years later we are faced with a dumb war, racial inequality, poverty, a divided nation, etc, etc, etc. I have never felt the same kind compassion or determination or even the same kind of patriotic reverence that Bobby Kennedy had from an American politician in my voting lifetime. Barack Obama has been touted as this candidate or this type of candidate since his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic national convention. There are comparisons to be drawn between Obama and Bobby Kennedy. They were both passionate advocates for troop withdrawal and the end of an unjust war. They both spoke for equality and against poverty, both for the opportunity and potential of this nation. But the way in which Barack Obama frames his positions on the issues says nothing new about how to solve these problems or why his ideals and his solutions are right. Without changing people’s perceptions, without adjusting their consciousness, we cannot inspire them to change the world in which we live. This is what Bobby Kennedy did simply by speaking. I have never felt this from Barack Obama or any Presidential candidate. And if Obama is our best chance at having this kind of candidate, well, then I guess that makes me sad. But I hope that he rises to the occasion. His greatest opponent right now is someone who campaigns to the middle and inspires hate from the conservative side because they fear her liberalism. This has, seemingly, pushed Obama to the middle, perhaps toning down his idealistic vision and, in my opinion, weakening his candidacy in the process. He was touted by the media from early in his campaign as an inspirational candidate because he seemed to be different, to speak different, he seemed to be a refreshing change, but change inspires fear in many Americans and it seems that Obama is afraid of this as well. Bobby Kennedy was never afraid of change. He embraced it, he endorsed because he knew that without change there is no progress. And what are we without progress? I strongly suggest listening to some of RFKs speeches at: http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/kennedy/speech.html Quotes: “Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies. It is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. The future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task. There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not? Ultimately, America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired. All of us might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we don't. And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity. People say I am ruthless. I am not ruthless. And if I find the man who is calling me ruthless, I shall destroy him. Gross National Product measures neither the health of our children, the quality of their education, nor the joy of their play. It measures neither the beauty of our poetry, nor the strength of our marriages. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It measures neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our wit nor our courage, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything in short, except that which makes life worth living. It can tell us everything about our country, except those things that make us proud to be a part of it.”
symptoms of ulcers If you do come, do you not know, that you might blind me with your Presence. I long to be washed clean from all the soot and dirt I've gathered. But this is not for your ears to hear, for it is only another desire, another wish no different from all the others. If you are listening, it is this that I would wish be heard and taken to heart. All the pain, the struggles, all the petty vices and silly insecurities, they are mine. Me, I cannot wash them away but nor should they be. They are what I have gathered to work with. Their transformation though is not for me for I do it for you. Allow me to offer the only thing I have with which to offer. Have patience, for when you come I wish that you need not concern yourself with the washing of my sins. For even though the blackness was blotted out it still remained beneath the surface of your white, shinning mantle. So let me fall, let me work to create a space for you Let me fall, for how else will I gain the strength to bear your Presence. Let me fall, so that I, in you can truly rise again
In 1968, my husband and I and our 4 children joined the One World Family Commune in San Francisco after recognizing the truth Allen Michael was channeling from Galactica. It was an awakening that has continued to this day, an awakening to the truth of this planetary cleansing and the coming sharing world of absolute freedom, security and abundance. When we are sharing all things in common and serving without thought of reward, our consciousness is is lifted to the higher frequency coming from Creation Universe, and we are able to see the relativity of all things. We have published Allen Michael's books of the Everlasting Gospel series that reveal the reason there is negated energy on this planet, causing the duality in the consciousness and the negative effects. war, crime, disease and poverty, which don't exist in normal Universe. To know more of this check our website www.galactic.org.
i rise above the final hill and turn the final bend and then i’m there the nullarbor plain at dusk the long dark line of it under the last orange horizon glow like driving into a vast and silent ocean – while scattered stars open slowly in the pale sky above i turn off the lights and watch the road as it straightens, fades and goes as the ocean stretches out to all directions and i surrender whole my beginninglessness – my loneliness – pouring out from every edge of my eternity onto the endless plain
The beauty was real The image is gone Where did you go? It was late The sun was setting Trees preparing their winter sleep It seemed like nobody cared The wind was cold The earth was dying People were busy Gathering like hamsters Warm love for the long nights The leaves were falling Whispering in the wind 'Where did you go?' I was dreaming How to change the world But I had no clue I knew a friend Who helped me dreaming I betrayed her We had visions Shared philosophies I betrayed her She trust me I warmed her And then I burnt her She was hurt I played with fire I didn't notice She was hurt Her life at risk It was shocking She still trust me Now I noticed I was shocked She loved me But what for? I was sad... I didn't care enough for her I was too busy with myself She doesn't trust me anymore... The leaves were falling Whispering in the wind 'Where did you go?' I was too busy with myself I had found a striving soul Who was sensible about the world I wanted to be part of that Change my life and Change the world... Looking for beauty I found an image The beauty is real Beauty is a strange thing It's never what you are looking for Always surprising, like a dream It seemed like our goals Were on the same path It was like a dream We had so much to do It looked like a life-time Wouldn't even be enough I looked forward for the dream To become reality... The beauty was already real The dream came to visit me And turned out to be The strongest-willed woman I had ever seen I said to myself 'I will care for this soul Till the last of me' days' I knew this woman had the power And the modesty required She can't, but change the world The little boy I was Was honoured to be Her crazy mate, the dream was real! Soon the time would come They would share their home And be happy ever after The boy was dreaming Of this illusion Day in, day out His dream went home again Working hard and diligently Slowly waking up, to reality again She realized her destiny Was laid out in the land Of the long white cloud She told this the little boy Still dreaming of eternity. Eternity alone? A night mare dream It wouldn't be long Till he would wake up With the sound of his dream I went to Africa The heart of Darkness With the last sound of my dream It was an angel He said to me 'She is free not to love you' This is where the dream had ended I was walking on red earth again But the image was gone I went to the land Of the long white cloud But the image was gone The amazing woman Turned out to be Quite down-to-earth She had made time for me To show me where she lives In the land of the long white cloud Time was precious for her For she was always busy Diligently, never sitting still She asked me what I wanted With her precious time Wanted my opinion I was too slow, I didn't know My ways were changing My preferences thee I just wanted to be Take what I get Less choice; More freedom 'Talk to me!' I found it hard I was changing from inside 'Did you loose your voice? You were different Last time we met...' Was my ever-changing nature Incompatible with every friendship? Our hearts beat on a different rythm. The image was a dream The beauty is real But our hearts Beat on a different Rythm
Save the Date! October 4 Portland Waldorf School (Oregon) is hosting a talk and reception with Torin Finser -- he'll speak on Organizational Integrity - Applying the wisdom of the body to building healthy organizations. Also, if you are a part of socially/environmentally conscious organization or Steiner work in any way in the Portland metro area, please ask me about a events calendar we are preparing -- you can list your organization in it. We're celebrating 25 years of Waldorf education in Portland -- join in!
If I were a squirrel in this park All the trees would be massive acorns And the clocktower would be a giant treetrunk Piercing the sky. And all the ground would be one continuous treelimb to be scampered across, cautiously. But then, I'm not a squirrel. I'm a gum wrapper. And the wind picks me up And takes me out of this park, Where all the trees are acorns And the people are like ants and the clocktower is just a clocktower. Then I think that this place is not so big And I not so stuck here That I can't go lifting off with the wind just as soon as heaven beckens.
Every star is an individual. Every single spark can change the world. Some people are afraid of darkness. Fear of the unknown, yet to come. Though every spark is hope. Hope is confidence in the meaning of one's deeds. Have you found Your spark yet? What is it that makes your eyes sparkle with joy? Is it dark enough yet? Or is your spark still hidden behind the light of the veiling greyness? The darker the unknown of the future grows, the more hope will shine from the sky. Darkness is the food for sparks of hope to grow. Darkness is full of surprises. Surrendering to the Darkness means letting go of yesterday's knowledge. It means daring to find things out anew. Searching even though an answer is already given. Taking the time to dream, to be hopeful, to see the world in a different light. But not to find the answers now. Instead of giving answers, creating an image. An image that tells a story, that asks questions, that makes people wonder, that touches them deep in their spirit, that nourishes their will. It is the quest that leads our heart to truth. Will you transform the sparks of hope of those people that are waiting? Will you transfrom those sparks into passionate fires of brotherhood? Then, the next time you will wake up your vision of the world will have changed and it is time to find the answers, and the true answers will be found when the daylight of the sun opens your eyes to the wonders of growth, life and death. I am the world, you are the world. If you change yourself, you change the world.
allergy asthma ...So now we turn our eyes and minds to the middle east, based on the framework I suggested earlier it has many significances. Economically it is an important asset to the global capitalist economy its oil rich landscape needs not be mentioned. Race is used there as a function I described in my fictional Alabama, where they created a black state to use against white resentment and offer the people a diversion away from the bigger struggle towards independence and human freedom. In the movie “Reds” an important aspect of this is portrayed. Jack reed an American communist journalist goes to Russia to write the speeches for the Bolsheviks when bringing the communist revolution to the middle east. When he was given back the scripts he had written after the party leaders had revised them he was furious. “I wrote liberation struggle not holy war” he is then informed of the reality of such a socialist method of global manifesto which attempts to communicate one cause and theory in a homogeneous global context. You either sacrifice mass produced revolutions or “global freedom campaigns” or you use the people as a tool to force a cause on them that may not be exactly in their interests. Race and religion in the middle east have been used as tools of western imperialist interests. Just as it was in the practice of early American capitalism before peoples movements broke down the most extreme of these barriers. In the post World War Two world the asset of the middle east is quite significant. Russia and America arose out of the war as the two major superpowers competing over control of all the resources that lay between them and each other. The middle east was one of those frontiers. This initiated immediate American support for the independence and security of Israel. They essentially created a dependent state of Jews in the middle east. Surrounded by resentful states their very existence depends on how pleased America is with their implementations of Western interests. Most of these interests are military and strategic interests although others certainly exist resource wise as it does anywhere in the globe. Terry Bordman a political historian mentioned in a 2005 lecture at Emerson College in the UK that maintaining military bases in Iraq is a significant move to keep China surrounded in case it has desires to attain the regional controls that the US now holds. Western interests are embedded in the American decision not only to arm Israel with large amounts of military aid but also to allow it to become a fellow nuclear state. However contrary to the claims of Noam Chomsky and the anti US empire crowd, the responsibility of this empowering relationship is not solely that of the American elite, but also of the Israeli elite. Looking at the bigger culture of Zionism there is not another culture in the world that has such a devout historical attachment to its homeland. After its loss of independence 19 centuries back, its people have professed their love for the land of Zion daily through religion and expression. This relationship is evident in all Jewish literature for centuries past. There were of course also Jews that maintained their presence in Israel over many years through oppression after oppression, empire after empire. The only empire that did not oppress and exile Jews was the Ottoman Empire.(Katz 42) This was the period where a resurgence of Jewish life began to claim its existence again. It always had even through centuries of oppression. For this the Jewish people have a valid claim to this land, as they do to the many countries that have historically oppressed and exiled Jews throughout history. This demonstrates the existence of a strong national interest from the Jewish side as well. Two political scientists, John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago, and Steven Walt of Harvard University issued an 81 page report on the strength of lobbies including one called the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The conclusion of the report is somewhat similar to that of someone like Noam Chomsky, that US policies in the Middle east act on the basis of interest not moral ideology. And the main influence on what those interests are is lobby groups. But thats where the two theories separate. There is a crippling fear amongst the US of being labeled anti semitic when it comes to public discourse regarding the actions of Israel. It endangers all democratic functions when fear prevents individuals from stating important facts regarding controversial situations. Using accusation upon accusation regarding antisemitism, the Israeli lobby is the only lobby that not only emphasis on its driving cause, but invests energetically in silencing criticism of its cause. That said, an investigation must take place into the power this has on American democracy and middle east policy. A key point in this issue is that AIPAC is quite successful at silencing dissent towards Israels policies. James Abourezk an ex senator from south Dakota from 1972-78 said”the support Israel has in that body is based completely on political fear, fear that anyone who does not do what Israel wants will be defeated by the lobby. He goes on to state “on grounds that if congress is completely silent on the issue, the press will have no one to quote which effectively silences the press as well” either way a well orchestrated economic pressure is exercised against any prominent press or public organization caught speaking out against Israel.(Adbusters March 2007) Abourezk is not alone in stating this point. He is joined by Jimmy Carter in recent commentaries who stated that all political commentary on the issue is silenced by AIPAC. Not only does AIPAC influence debate through such pressures, they also influence policymaking by placing “analysts” from their off branching organization, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) in such policymaking positions as Middle East Policymaker for the administrations of George HW Bush and Bill Clinton, a position held by Dennis Ross Who returned to work at WINEP afterwards. Martyn Indyk was another who served in the Clinton Administration he was originally a member of AIPAC and later was the first director of WINEP. (Adbusters March 2007) These men are described by Mearsheimer and Walt as being at the core of the AIPAC lobby. The lobbies of the Christian right also support Israels occupation of the territories because they believe this is where Jesus Christ will re appear. Ad busters magazine also points out that 1700 unions in the US own more than 5 billion of Israels bonds this is effectively an obligation to these unions to support Israels policies. There is a strong possibility pointed out by Mearsheimer and Walt that this has something to do with why the organized left hasn't made Palestine an issue in the anti war movement. A good number of politicians who have spoken out against against the Israeli occupation have either dropped the call or were defeated by the lobby. Howard dean the 2004 presidential candidate was one of these people.(Adbusters March 2007) Noam Chomsky asserts that the lobbies interests conform to the corporate government interests. Such people as Chomsky have always claimed that the US foreign policy, acts for the advancement of American imperial and corporate interests. However the Mearsheimer and Walt documents lead us to investigate this relationship because maybe there are aspects of the US decision to attack Iraq and the possibility of attacking Iran that aren't solely in the “American” interest. There is a good possibility that we have a certain obedience to the needs of Israel, an obedience that could based on the 70-80% hostility towards America (Adbusters) severely endanger our future. After all the fact that Israel kept building settlements despite the US's “road map” peace plan calling for all settlement construction to be frozen, reduces the American president to a position of powerlessness. Yet despite its disaster on American policy they still receive 2-3 billion dollars in military aid each year.(Reinhart 69) This figure is easily enough money to rebuild Palestinian life and infrastructure, but we'll come back to that possibility later. Recently I have watched a few of documentaries that show both the Israeli and Palestinian sentiments when it comes to the issue of the current conflict and implementation of apartheid policies in the occupation. In these documentaries two prominent elements come up elements that come up in all situations of conflict. There is a set of grievances but ultimately the majority of todays populations in the occupied territories and within Israel have a desire for peace and coexistence. During the height of the Palestinian uprising in 1988, the Palestinian National Council voted in Algiers 253 to 46 in favor of a two state solution along the borders set by the 1967 UN resolution(Reinhart 17). In later polls despite the fact that it would have entailed settlements being dismantled 2/3 of Israelis supported the Oslo plan (Reinhart 16) which we will discuss later. This sentiment could have possibly been created through decades of struggle for control to no recognizable gain by either side. Palestinian resistance has not been able to gain anything more than brutal military response, and Israels military occupation and creation of apartheid like divisions has never been able to achieve safety, instead it constantly endangers them through retaliation. The idea of some kind of coexistence didn't always exist on both sides of the conflict. So we must look back to the origins of the dispute and gain an understanding of the basis of today's resentment. Jewish people have lived in the middle east for thousands of years but always under great amounts of oppression. Samuel Katz in this book Battleground speaks of how Arab states before the founding of Israel subjected their Jewish citizens to routine intimidation, humiliation and oppression, making it illegal for them to migrate elsewhere. They would then routinely open the borders briefly allowing the Jewish people to escape in masses and empty handed.(Katz 91) Jews were often unwelcome in many Arab countries throughout the middle east. This situation worsened after the Balfour act of 1920 claimed the Jews a state in Palestine. Immediately to prevent their Jews from migrating to Israel many Arab countries locked their borders and refused to let Jews leave. Jews breaking this law were often sentenced to hang. Eventually most countries hastily allowed Jews to leave in the 1950s forcing them to leave behind all their belongings and property which were confiscated.(Katz 92) These patterns of property confiscation and exile were heightened after the Arabs initial unsuccessful efforts to destroy the Jewish state. In the year of Israels birth 900,000 Jews were forced into exile from the surrounding Arab states. Of these refugees Israel absorbed ¾ of a million.(Katz 86) The creation of the Jewish state was mainly as a gesture to the Jewish people for their assistance in fighting off the Arab Revolt and contributing to ensured British control of Palestine. This land was then declared the homeland of the Jews and a Jewish state was to be established as soon as the Jews became the majority in a Palestine which as Samuel Katz says previously was home to 90,000 Jews and half a million Arabs, leaving a majority of the land uninhabited. Katz however didn't cover certain grievances that seemed to be very prominent in the documentaries I recently viewed (Occupied Minds, Wall, and I Know I'm Not Alone) which state and are undeniably evident by the walls and barbed wire fences that regardless of the supposed abundance of land as the Jewish claim, the Jews confiscated huge numbers of homes and properties, driving out large numbers of Arabs who today are not even allowed access to these areas. I mentioned in my fictional account a scenario of differences regarding private property. Ironically enough it is the opposite situation in the real account. The Palestinian people in the years before the Israeli states existence, farmed by resources in a very sustainable and cooperative way. The Palestinians owned and farmed plants, they would own a certain amount of trees, or in other instances watermelon plantations, or flocks of livestock.(wikipedia.com/creation of Israel) But before the British gained control of the mandate and Jews began settling in droves, the concept of land ownership was relatively unheard of in Palestine. So here a problem began to arise. The Jewish settlers arriving in large groups began to set up, a system of land ownership. As anyone who has ever debated the possibilities of cooperative living should know. A collectivized land system is most threatened by land ownership, because all land can be bought when nobody “owns” it. A common situation for Palestinians was that they owned trees and plants, and grazing land that could no longer be accessed because Jewish settlements now held claim to their land. Someone looking at an agricultural and resource based map of Israel can see clearly in many cases that the majority of fertile farmland and valuable resources are inside the areas settled by the Jewish people(Reinhart 98), areas where, despite the low population in pre Jewish Palestine, were previously the fertile areas where that small population were settled and cultivating the land. Arabs today are living in much more arid, and infertile portions of Palestine, but this too we will come back to. So resentments and tensions were building regarding this forced integration by an occupying force (Britain). Looking at early maps of the proposed Jewish state, one can see that the original proposals of Jewish homeland were much smaller than todays state of Israel. However the threat of Jewish majority rule in these areas of Palestine was intimidating to the Arabs living there. It marked the future with uncertainty and already the Arabs were upset about forced settlement and land ownership. They were affected by it in many ways. The British rule of the Palestinian Mandate, like any occupying force, acted along the lines of its own interests. Agitation amongst occupied factions is a historically effective method at maintaining an occupation over a long time line with seemingly no choice to end it. We see this pattern in many occupied countries. Iraq is a good one to look at regarding current events (weapons and finances are funneled into both Sunni's and Shiites either directly or indirectly through wandering funds) an increased agitation of internal conflicts from a strategic military standpoint, is a very effective way to both divert attention and resistance away from the greater occupying force and to create an excuse for further profitable occupation over an extensive time line. This was the case in British Palestine, although Samuel Katz has another perspective we should hear. Samuel Katz complains in his book that the British occupying force turned a blind eye to the violent resistance and and protest against Jewish settlement of great portions of Palestine. And in essence they did, to a certain degree he is right. As he claims, along the lines of rather uniform claims in defense of Israels retaliation, there were many very violent and oppressive acts from the Arab dwellers of the land, towards the Jewish settlers. Pogroms,discrimination, and harassment were everyday occurrences towards Jews in British mandate Palestine. Testimonies of British soldiers of the time, quoted in Samuel Katz's book, stated their frustration at having to turn a blind eye to justice when they saw a crime being perpetrated against Jews. The truth is that Britain's interests lay in tipping balances in their favour as an occupying force. The Majority of civilians in Palestine at the time were Arabs and it is almost pure logic that when occupying a country even a monarchical society must appeal to the majority to maintain control. This is a pattern in any dictatorship, democracy, or hierarchy of any kind, it is inherent in the concept of government. I say this not to defend the actions of the British, or lighten any blame whatsoever for their actions. But instead of creating an argument as Samuel Katz does in accusing the British of being pro Arab or anti Semitic one should look at it as being beyond the sole situation, and realize it wasn't just the British, it is every imperialist or colonialist society, it is the concept of occupation that we should be accusing as wrong, it is the concept of racism we should be proving wrong, there are many other things that are endemic in our hierarchal society in every part of the world that should be looked at before we point fingers at the manner in which they are carried out. So world war II came and went and the Jews entered Israel by the thousands. Throughout the whole existence of early Jewish settlement since the Balfour act, it is clear fact from many accounts that the Jewish people were met with a violent and racist lack of reception in the middle east. It became clear to the Jews that the British were not going to protect them in any way, so they began to form militias. These militias became strong and were used not only for the protection of the Zionists but also in ensuring their promised independence from Britain. However on the Arab side there was an immediate, seemingly decided calm once the Zionists began to fight the British forces(Katz 80). Arguably this could have been an opportunity for the Arab population to assert their might against the British and win a joint independence, or at least fight alongside the British to maintain a possibility of independence that Britain had been offering them, an independence that the Zionists endangered. this could have also been a chance for the Israeli's to establish the Arabs right to share statehood, but instead a Jewish state was established with no recognition or citizenship given to the Arabs at the time. Having established the state of Israel after the war of 1948, the Jews went on to divide the land and create more settlements, spreading the areas that were Jewish owned and cultivated. Settlements began to be more divided and restricted and over years the Arabs were slowly pushed further and further into landlocked, more arid corners of the country. Many of these Arabs also left the state of Israel. It is a common Israeli argument and dream that the Arabs should leave Israel permanently, and that Jordan is the land where Palestinian Arabs can claim a legitimate statehood. Israeli's have been known to emptily promise on record that the Palestinians will eventually have a small Palestinian state. But as Tanya Reinhart speculates, it could be part of a larger Israeli plan to make life so hard and rough that they will want to leave.(51) Even Katz writes in his book that all Arab countries are home to Arabs and they could be just as happy in any of them so why not leave.(96) Although his argument doesn't intentionally get that radical, there seem to be elements of such motives, and a strong bias towards Zionist sentiment based on such a point of view that driving the Arabs from their homeland is justified because they didn't accept a huge immediate system changing immigration of Zionists. So now we'll look at some of these more recent issues since the forming of the State of Israel. Many people have heard of the Oslo agreements of October 1993 which were ceremoniously signed at the white house, a ceremony that many saw as a climax in the peacekeeping process. The PLO disarmed, and were interviewed on the TV stations speaking of the new era of peace and reconciliation.(Reinhart77) there have always been two lines of thought in Palestinian society one is to wipe out Israel and regain all of Palestine, and the other is to recognize the rights of both nations in a one or two state solution. For the Palestinians the two state solution requires them to give up at least 80% of the historical land of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza are 22% of this landmass) this 20% of the land was what was under discussion and yet the majority of Palestinians were optimistic and awaited the implementation of oslo with joy.(Reinhart 77) On the Israeli side optimism was high among the majority who believed the occupation was over. The prices of housing shot up in central Israel in anticipation of relocating settlers. But that's not how it turned out. By 2000 which is seven years after Oslo the situation was considerably worsened. Something that prime minister Yitzhak Rabin stated in the Oslo accords was that no settlements would be dismantled during the 5 year interim period despite the settlers wish to leave and be compensated for their properties. A compensation Israel refused to give its own people. Worse still it released the projected maps a month later and sadly enough not only did it leave the settlements under Israeli control it also appropriated much more land for bypass roads and other land between the settlements. (reinhart 83) Yet even after the maps were released, as a last glimpse of an idea of peace Arafat and the Palestinians signed the agreements in secret because the people were expecting nothing less that what had originally been promised them. The situation now in Gaza is that 6000 Israelis live in 1/3 of the strip and the other 2/3 house 1 million Arabs surrounded by barbed wire fences and military outposts. Gaza's living standards are some of the worst in the world, and exit permits even to visit family in the west bank are virtually unattainable. The Gaza situation has been able to since worsen and spread in the west bank as well as Gaza, due to a growing network of “settlements” (which in some cases entails a few caravans) and bypass roads, with barriers and checkpoints to connect them all(Reinhart 107) In July of 2000 the next Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak led the world to believe that Israel was ready to sign a peace accord and offer reconciliation. The Camp David Summit was to be a turning point for peace, Barak was going to offer the Pales
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