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.
Hello Bloggers, it's Ed. I'm here at Write Makes Might to, mostly, write. Snippets from my novel, photos, an occasional video, a rare limerick, various witticisms, very short essays and stories, TRANCE TUESDAYS, assorted letters to my kids when they were young, and a lot of cynical social and political commentary, not necessarily in that order.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
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!
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!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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!
Sit, Muse. Stay. Good girl!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
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. |
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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).
"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).
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