Occupy Wall Street

So much has gone down since I last posted on this blog:
The continued blooming of the Arab Spring with unrest in Syria, Yemen, and the killing of Gadhafi in Libya.
The relentless Obama bashing.
The obnoxious intrusion of the arrogant Tea Party in national politics.
The Republican primary circus. Opinion: A bunch of pathetic wannabees.
The relentless teacher bashing.
The still rising number of foreclosures.

The economic outlook remains dismal, due to, IMO, the refusal of the Republican house to compromise with any of Obama's proposals that involve raising taxes on the wealthy and the uber-wealthy, and the systematic, policy-driven oppression of the poor.

But the most significant and worthy event --Occupy Wall Street-- is, for me, the most promising global action in decades. Finally, Americans are once again exercising their democratic right to protest en masse. I hope that the numbers of protesters grow exponentially, and that we have a similar result as we did when we protested for peace in the 60's. Back then, the cops were pigs. I'm not sure that's changed, except that perhaps some are more discrete because of all the cameras that can broadcast abuses to the world instantly. 
It's two-faced to lecture foreign despots for abusing peaceful protesters when our own cops have done it and do it. The Kent State massacre is still vivid in my memory.

Even more than voting, peaceful protesting is the ultimate expression of freedom. To call the "Occupy Wall Streeters"  un-American reeks of Neo-Nazism. If you don't agree with their agenda, start your own movement.

AHA!

OK. I discovered that you can reverse the order of posts that are displayed, but then the viewer has to click on "Newer posts" each time she wants to move on, she can't scroll at all, so it's a hassle.
Or, I have more discovering to do.

. . . Still Counting.

One thing that sucks about Blog-sites (especially sites like mine, which is really just an ongoing personal journal for the most part), is that a reader really should start from the first post and scroll toward the most recent in order to avoid redundancy, but it's the most recent one that's posted on the landing page.  There's no easy reverse mode.

Maybe I just haven't discovered it yet.

Am I being picky? After all, a blog does not a book make.

Or does it?

Six Weeks and Counting.

Six weeks since I've visited you here, Bloggee. I should be ashamed of myself, I know. You were my very first social networking experience. We were hot weren't we? Posted a lot! I'll admit to tiny twinges of guilt, but nothing more. Even Twitter, your successor, with whom I tweeted endlessly, has been leaving messages in my IN BOX, probably worried about me, as I've hardly visited her universe either, lately. If it wasn't for the fact that I use my FB author's page to post consecutive chapters of "The Zedland Chronicles" every third day, I'd be a stranger in Facebook land, too. It's a good thing the novel has 98 chapters.

Just sayin'. 

The marriage between me and social networking is on the rocks, it seems. From Blog to Twitter to Facebook, I have lost the energy to fight for recognition, to gain thousands of friends, to become famous, and rich. It's all my fault, I'm sure: lame efforts, like the ones I made at bars when I was in college.

One can't keep giving without getting in return, so I have slacked off for self-preservation, which I remain good at.  So be it, I say. No more promises. I'll be back when it feels healthy.

Presidential Sound-Bite

"There is nothing as a nation that we can't do." (A ridiculous sound-bite by President Obama regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden today).

Dear Mr. President,

How about ending hunger and poverty in the USA -- with a quick pre-emptive strike! We can do it! Just pull out of the wars and redirect that money toward education and programs for the needy. Voila!
I want the man, not the politician.

Sincerely,
Ed

Life Before Blog.

Once again, life comes before social networking. I have been preoccupied, for a few weeks now, with an assortment of issues demanding much of my time and emotional energy. Inevitably, that state of mind annoys my muse who is undisciplined to begin with. Perhaps it's the stench of the real world that keeps her away. I can't blame her.

Another Letter To My Son -- 1990

Dear Adam,
I am the papa of two incredibly bright, precocious children. I mistakenly thought your little sister, Jillian, having such a tough act to follow, would never measure up.  My fears were unfounded. I am delighted to report, wonder of wonders, she stands tall as the ancient redwoods, shines as bright as the star of stars, and touches my heart, sending puddles of pride pounding through my veins.
Double N'iced Pop.

A Letter to My Son, 1990

Dear Adam,
In our present state of evolution we humans are extremely fragile emotionally and psychologically, so we build an elaborate barrier of defense mechanisms that render us obscure even from ourselves.  It allows us to side-step through the demands and pressures of society. By the time we are old enough to wipe our own behind, we have already incorporated and solidified a complicated, personalized method of negotiating the world around us rather than experiencing it in an objective, rational manner. We are weak, vulnerable,  un-trusting, self-imposed prisoners of our emotional baggage. This is not limited to, but is primarily caused by, poor parenting.

Equally well-defended as one's ego, the church gets up in arms when we try to give our children a rational education. The difference between religions' attitude toward illusions and mine is that one must defend the religious illusion fanatically. If it were discredited then there would be nothing but despair. I am free of that bondage. Since I am prepared to renounce a good part of my infantile wishes, I can bear it if my illusions explode in my face.

POP.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911

Inevitably, blood fertilizes the tree of freedom and progress. It's not limited to wars. Apathy and greed run deep, a sad commentary on the human condition.

This year, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. The resulting, albeit temporary, public outrage was, perhaps, the first breath into the lungs of the New Deal—which didn't come to pass until the 1930's in response to the great depression!

Now, almost a century later, greedy conservative politicians threaten workers' rights again.

The man who locked the doors of that factory in 1911—ostensibly to keep out union organizers because there had been a massive demonstration earlier—still is representative of the thinking of the corporate world.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

St. Patrick's Day Limerick

Every year, on my birthday, I write another St. Patrick's Day limerick. Here's the one for 2011:

An Irishman dressed all in green,
had the longest wang I've ever seen.
When he peed, said his daughter,
his thing reached the water,
so the loo never needed a clean.

Many folks consider that a limerick must be obscene, or it's not a limerick. I'm not that rigid. I just enjoy the obscene ones more.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

TRANCE TUESDAY -- VIII

Well . . . the third Tuesday of the month is here . . . and it's way too soon . . . I  thought I'd be fine . . . with only one hypnosis-related post due each month . . . but I find myself unprepared . . . Could it really be a month . . . since I posted the last Trance Tuesday? . . . I'm beginning to realize . . . why I could never work . . . in a normal capacity . . . with writing schedules and deadlines . . . They stop me in my tracks . . .

My muse is undisciplined . . . like my dogs . . . She disappears for weeks at a time . . . sometimes, months . . . doesn't come when I call . . . never has . . . Then she appears . . . suddenly . . . magically . . . in a puff of smoke . . . with words and ideas spilling out of every pore . . . until the room overflows with prose . . .

In the haze, she smiles . . . and sits on the piano seductively . . . as I gather the pieces of the puzzle . . . and attempt to arrange them . . . in an interesting and meaningful fashion    . . . She laughs . . . and I can't tell whether it's at me . . . or for me . . .                            But as ideas coalesce . . . and the syntax begins to sing . . . and the words quick-step into line . . . and the tenses begin to agree . . . and the passive voices have all headed to the gym to bulk up . . . I finally breathe deeply . . .

She waves goodbye . . . then slowly fades away.

Relax, read, reflect. Train your muse.
Sit, Muse. Stay. Good girl!

YESTERDAY WAS The 100th INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA- Equal Rights For Women) was approved by both houses of congress in 1972, but never received ratification by the required 38 states within the allotted time frame -- originally 7 years, extended to 10. So it never became a part of our constitution. (Only 35 states ratified). All of us, who believe in equality, should be aware of which 15 states didn't ratify and never spend any money there!

1. As a teenager, I protested for equal rights for minorities in '64.  (and got gassed)
2. As a young adult, it was for equal rights for women, starting in '68 to the present  (and got gassed)
3. And I have been very active in all anti-war campaigns starting in '68 to the present  (and got gassed)

I have personally observed Washington D.C. policemen continue to club anti-war protesters repeatedly even once they were down on the ground just trying to protect their heads. It is fascinating to me that our gov't preaches restraint against protesters to foreign leaders currently under siege, in light of the lack of restraint I have witnessed here. And of course there was the Kent State massacre and a less publicized killing of a couple of black students on another campus. Is anyone besides me afraid of the National Guard?

I'm tired.

1. Though racial discrimination was outlawed in 1964 (WOOT!), I believe we still harbor the same number of racists.
2. And if the ERA HAD been ratified, and discrimination against women WAS against the law, I believe we'd still harbor the same number of macho jerks.
3. And the war machine marches on.

I'm tired.

Laws don't change men, so I question myself: Why have I used so much energy in my life working to change laws?

I'm taking a different tack. I'm no longer down with pounding the pavement or getting gassed or clubbed to accomplish anything. Younger folks need to take over the front lines.

I'm tired.

I need to work to change people, one person at a time. That's my comfort zone now. F--k the laws. If people weren't racist why would we need a law against discrimination?
If men weren't assholes, we wouldn't need laws protecting women.

While progress in the last 100 years should be celebrated, we must remember that in too many societies women are second class citizens, denied their fundamental rights.

It will take a multi-generational re-education of the masses to achieve any real social progress even here, in the USA.
Model tolerance for your children.
Men, model sensitivity for your sons.
Women, value yourselves, demand reasonable behavior from your men, then your daughters will pass on that legacy.

Until women have equal rights under the law and in the minds of men, we cannot call ourselves civilized.

Too Little, Too Late.

Headline from the Vatican: Thursday, 3/3/11
"Pope says Jews innocent in the death of Christ."
Well, hal-a-f--kin-looya.
Interpretations to the contrary have been used for centuries to justify the persecution of Jews. But, just as the civil rights laws didn't alter the perception of racists, this new admission by the Pope will not change the perception of bigots. Sweeping generalizations about Jews and Blacks will continue to flourish in our society, and the marginalized communities will continue to suffer. WE don't represent a shining example of humanity. I think, to find that, you'd have to visit one of the few remaining primitive cultures.
(Consider Zedland).

The Measure of Democracy

Diane Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. In addition, she is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

From '91-'93, she was Assistant Secretary of Education and Counselor to the Secretary of Education in the administration of President George H.W. Bush, where she led the federal effort to promote the creation of voluntary state and national academic standards. She is a good person, fighting tooth and nail for teachers rights, currently in Wisconsin. Good work!!

But:

I do Twitter. Diane Ravitch tweeted the following a couple of days ago:

"Income inequality in this country is largest it has been since 1980 and it is growing. Middle class is shrinking. Danger to democracy." (my emphasis)

Her statement is true regarding income inequality, however her conclusion leaves me thinking, enlightened and progressive as she is, she needs to take a few sociology courses.

This was my response tweet to her:

"With all due respect, the living conditions of the lower class and the beleaguered classes should be the benchmark for any nation's self-image and the measure of its democracy. To what democracy do you refer?"

She didn't respond.

So, I'm all for teacher's rights and strong unions for public employees. Go Wisconsin protesters!! But even most of our teachers are unaware of their implicit contribution to the entrenched racism that exists here.

The marginalized classes have been waiting centuries for the benefits of democracy to trickle down to them. Among many other atrocities, schools in poor neighborhoods don't have enough books! To correlate the strength of the middle class with the strength of a democracy is totally missing the boat. And to not recognize the continued, systematic oppression of the lower classes reflects the deep denial of the public-at-large.

Secular Sunday Sermon.

Spirituality is a very personal thing and assumes many different shapes and sizes, sorta like body parts. For bunches of people, spirituality has nothing to do with a "Supreme Being." I tend to like those kinds of folks because, typically, they are introspective, compassionate people who have the ability to engage in discourse and debate regarding spirituality without rancor.

For most others, spirituality has to do with their supreme being, and they take it seriously. Early on, the futility of discussion becomes apparent. Suggest to a believer that, possibly, there are cracks in his foundation, and he immediately mans the turrets with big guns. If the walls of Jericho were as sturdy as blind faith, they never woulda come tumbling down!

I don't like to label my spirituality, but I'm pretty damn sure there are no supreme beings.

Like an agnostic, though, if one actually did present itself (not simply perform some anonymous miracle that believers attribute to their god), you know like:

"Greetings, Ed, I'm Flibrok, the supreme being, what's up? Watch this!!!"  And some amazing thing happens on the spot, I would immediately recognize and accept Flibrok's existence, by god. Shit. Facts are facts.

But, even if Flibrok was real, I would never consider worshiping him, anyway!

He would have to earn my love, respect, and admiration by doing good works.  Become friends? Yes, if we had some commonality. But the moment he demanded anything smelling faintly of worship, I'd unfriend him in a flash! No entity—supreme, human, or otherwise—warrants worship.   

I've coined the term Worshipitis. It's a kin condition. 

CHEERS!

TOP-NO-SIS TESTIMONIAL

Hi Ed,

Just wanted to let you know that we bought a Topnosis from you in Dec 2003 for my son Tyler (who was 7 at the time), and it has always been one of his favorite toys. We bought it directly from you at Toys-r-Us in Times Square. You were even nice enough to sign the board for us! Recently, my two younger sons Jack (5 years old) and Will (7 years old) stumbled upon the Topnosis in Tylers closet...it has quickly become their addiction! They love it! We have two Xboxes, an iPad, and a Wii, and they both fight over the Topnosis! Just wanted to let you know! 

Thanks!

Bob Andrus