Total Pageviews
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Political Solutions Are No Longer Working
So I was thinking after listening to this talk (at the highlighted link) by Howard Zinn on the topic of patriotism, government and citizens in a democracy. His words got me to thinking and then I began to write. Listen to his lecture.
He's an interesting guy who participated willingly in the destruction of Germany during WW2 and became a historian and social critic afterward. At the following highlighted link is Zinn talking about "Three Holy Wars."
Americans and the rest of the people in the world are in the grip of something that is strangling the life out of them. That something is the current economic organization of society which mandates the present world conditions as a likely outcome of the rules governing the economic system.
"Grin and bear it, it will get better." we have been told. The experts are not that hopeful anymore even as the politicians hold rallies and avoid confronting reality by selling promises never meant to be kept.
It's a bitter bread they're baking that we the people are being forced to buy and eat.
The people who were elected have sold us out. Ninety percent of the time lawmakers give the non-voting donor class what it wants. To support this obvious obfuscation the important decisions at the highest levels of our government have produced a propaganda program that has the characteristics of a madcap party hosted by the Marx Brothers, Albert and Costello and Laurel and Hardy. We recognize that madcap party as the Trump Administration along with it's supporters in congress and out.
People are capable of extremes of behavior. We can make war and we can make peace. Is it possible the present economic system does not hold the possibility of peace? So far it has not worked out. You can see that, right? (Smedley Butler at the link)
If you think your civil rights are still intact it might be a good time to begin using as many of them as you can. At the highlighted link is an audio essay by Henry Thoreau. Thoreau is an American original. This work on THE DUTY of civil disobedience has inspired many. At one time it was required reading. It was time of war with no end in sight leaving only a horrible past to remember and an even more horrible future to imagine.
Here we are again.
I'll let Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky leave something for your thoughts about what to do with your civil rights.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
"The April Fools Movement" (worker satire) APRIL FOOLS ISSUE
After posting I encountered this interview with economist Michael Hudson.
The movement began on the first day of January with a post on the internet by the eccentric and mysterious billionaire from Zambia, Melon Husk, with an offer of forming a world wide workers union. Husk offered to provide a 'bottomless' strike fund to support the workers while they were on strike. It was a brief message with a web address where workers anywhere in the world could register and join the union. There was no trouble convincing the labor force to join.
The movement began on the first day of January with a post on the internet by the eccentric and mysterious billionaire from Zambia, Melon Husk, with an offer of forming a world wide workers union. Husk offered to provide a 'bottomless' strike fund to support the workers while they were on strike. It was a brief message with a web address where workers anywhere in the world could register and join the union. There was no trouble convincing the labor force to join.
The message
said: "If you are underpaid, if the quality of your life is not to your
liking join the Worldwide Workers International Labor Collective.
The WWILC
will make your life better."
At the
website the goals of the WWILC were simple. A living wage, completely paid
healthcare, affordable housing, ample free educational opportunities, paid
vacations, and one year of fully paid maternity leave for each parent.
The idea
spread like a virus in a daycare facility and before the first day of March
a billion workers worldwide had joined and more were learning about it and
joining daily. There was to be, on the first day of April, a worldwide strike. And so there was.
On April 1 the entire WWILC membership of slightly more than one billion workers did
not show up to work. Instead they were on the sidewalks with informational
brochures explaining the strike and the conditions which caused the workers to
organize. Around the world commerce ground to a halt.
Banks could
not open, no restaurants opened, no gas stations opened, grocery stores were
closed, the doctor might be in his office, but his staff was not. Every aspect
of life that required labor to provide a service was affected.
It was a
successful strike that lasted the entire month of April. Every sweatshop around the world ceased
production and when it was over The People had won. The strike came to be known
as "The April Fools Movement" and the first day of April is now
celebrated annually and the workers lived happily ever after.
If you have not heard the song "Banks of Marble" listening to it may inspire you to rise up and improve your chances which are growing slimmer every passing day.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Mr. and Mrs. Goose
Mr. and Mrs. Goose returned some time around the first of March. When they began showing up I was pleased to see them again and began bringing out cracked corn each time they returned.
All was well up until a couple of days ago when a second pair of geese landed in the pond and there was a flurry of interaction between the two pairs of geese.
Later that afternoon only Mr. Goose returned. Mrs. Goose had flown off with the other pair and abandoned him.
He came just before dark and called and called for her and she did not answer. I stood in the yard with him as it grew dark while he called over and over again. His voice was like the sound a saxophone with a split reed makes. His cry brought tears to my eyes because no one answered him. It was a lonely, sorrowful, heartbreaking squawking cry and he repeated it over and over before he flew away alone.
This morning a single goose flew overhead I heard it honking and looked out the window. Mr. Goose has not come for corn today. I hope he comes back.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Reflections (poetry)
Reflections
Several times
today
in windows and
mirrors and memories
I saw my face.
.
The years have
taken almost all
of what was "Me"
and what is left
is leaving...
for an eagerly
anticipated rendezvous.
Several times
today I thought
of a flower gone
to seed;
and the time for
planting once again
approaching.
© David H. Roche
2019
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Reality Check (political poster)
An Uncomfortable Truth
after making this post Jimmy Dore presented a timely interview with Norman Finkelstein it can be seen at the link.
The repairman says it cannot be fixed.
It has to be replaced.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Vespers (Poetry and photography)
Vespers
At dusk Mr. Goose
stands guard
as Mrs. Goose
eats corn.
This is a
protocol I have noticed.
She eats,
he stands guard,
and then he eats.
There will be
goslings this spring.
That's what this
is all about.
After dinner Mrs.
Goose preens
and Mr. Goose
eats
before both
waddle away
to watch the
sunset on the edge of the pond.
©
David H. Roche
Saturday, March 09, 2019
Cold Snap (nature photography)
I came across the video while looking for one I did not find. You might like it.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 05, 2019
The Sacred And The Profane (poetry)
The Sacred And The Profane
At 7:30
yellow sunshine spreads faintly across the grass and blacktop accompanied by
the long pale shadowy hints of trees and rooftops.
Two Canada
Geese eat corn sprinkled in the grass.
One eats and
the other stands guard
and then the
other eats
while the
mate stands guard.
They make
soft grunting sounds,
eating their share and leaving some behind
for the
scrappy jays,
the mourning
doves and
the
red-winged blackbirds.
"Purple-Dee"
the red-wings sing.
"Oooo,
Oooo" the mourning doves moan
and a chorus
of fifty Mallards quack softly while devouring grass and corn. .
It was a
beautiful day until 8:30
when I
turned on the news
(C) David H. Roche 2019
Monday, March 04, 2019
Mr. And Mrs. Goose Return
This morning ten Canada Geese, a much larger bunch of Mallard Ducks, a few Red-winged Blackbirds and a single Flicker showed up for a breakfast of cracked corn.
Last
year a pair of Canada Geese mooched off me daily until all at once they left.
They did leave, but of the two one returned for several days. It was the
male that returned to say good-bye on two or three successive days. Then he was
gone.
Both
were accustomed to greeting me and would walk up to within a foot or two of me
to be fed. I would speak to them. I wanted to touch him, but I didn't dare.
They may be birds but they can strike like a cobra. Their snake-like necks are
weaponized with beaks that bite like a lightning strike! Hard! It's
amazing to see. I didn't want any part
of that.
Anyway
Mr. and Mrs. Goose left at the end of May last year and I think they may have returned on
the first of March.
At this link is a video of Mr. and Mrs. Goose from last spring. And another from the day of his last visit when he encountered Spot, my cat.
At this link is a video of Mr. and Mrs. Goose from last spring. And another from the day of his last visit when he encountered Spot, my cat.
While
watching them there began among the geese a conversation that started with
honking. I recognized it as the signal
to take off. (Note: As the honking increases it rises into a frenzy until the flock takes off.) Eight of the ten
entirely agreed, and flew off.
The
two geese remaining have come back for lunch… and afternoon snacks. I'm hoping
they're Mr. and Mrs. Goose. I'm hoping they'll be back tomorrow morning.
Enjoy the videos
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Blog Archive
Links
About Me
- The Shaman
- A practitioner of the art of living with the intent of learning how to die without fear.