Some Y(i)an(n)g(s)
It is time to mention some websites of note that take on certain essential tasks:
1. Acknowledge that the hawks exist
2. Fulfill a role that is essential by its very existance and important by its function: counter the forces of war that are blowing over the world.
In this era, where it matters whether an entity is known or not; even God has to and can transmit his outlook through the airwaves and indeed the Internet, it is important to acknowledge known people who are engaging in active non-violence. In no particular order:
1. Democracy Now
2. Dissident Voice
3. Outlook
4. The Guardian
5. Z Magazine
And many others I am sure. This list will be updated regularly.
It is time to mention some websites of note that take on certain essential tasks:
1. Acknowledge that the hawks exist
2. Fulfill a role that is essential by its very existance and important by its function: counter the forces of war that are blowing over the world.
In this era, where it matters whether an entity is known or not; even God has to and can transmit his outlook through the airwaves and indeed the Internet, it is important to acknowledge known people who are engaging in active non-violence. In no particular order:
1. Democracy Now
2. Dissident Voice
3. Outlook
4. The Guardian
5. Z Magazine
And many others I am sure. This list will be updated regularly.
Watch out
New York is truly one city that gives you the chance to be non violent. If you so desire. Imagine Los Angeles. Or Miami. Or Does Not Matter.
In one of these towns, a young evening is like a lover you have known for many years. You step into little capsules, wear your defenses and be sure to keep your distance. Then you make your way to a known place and a known moment in time.
Not so in this city that never sleeps. The streets may be the same. But you have a chance to discard your labels, fears and with a song in your heart and a joke on your lips assimilate with the rest of humanity. It is like an adventure. But you have till the light turns yellow.
Don't feel bad if you don't do any of the above. There is another block round the corner.
New York is truly one city that gives you the chance to be non violent. If you so desire. Imagine Los Angeles. Or Miami. Or Does Not Matter.
In one of these towns, a young evening is like a lover you have known for many years. You step into little capsules, wear your defenses and be sure to keep your distance. Then you make your way to a known place and a known moment in time.
Not so in this city that never sleeps. The streets may be the same. But you have a chance to discard your labels, fears and with a song in your heart and a joke on your lips assimilate with the rest of humanity. It is like an adventure. But you have till the light turns yellow.
Don't feel bad if you don't do any of the above. There is another block round the corner.
Don't just say yes
I nod often. However today I saw a person nod and talk at the same time.
I played back the scenario. This person used to nod all the time to gain acceptance. When he grew up and felt courageous enough to stand alone (save the times he had to go to the cobbler to mend his shoes), he stopped feeling the need to conform.
Today, he nods just out of habit.
A lesson for the Democrats?
I nod often. However today I saw a person nod and talk at the same time.
I played back the scenario. This person used to nod all the time to gain acceptance. When he grew up and felt courageous enough to stand alone (save the times he had to go to the cobbler to mend his shoes), he stopped feeling the need to conform.
Today, he nods just out of habit.
A lesson for the Democrats?
The spark
He who works alone with ceaseless vigor
In the hill by the high sunset
Chisels away not with one
But hammers of varying sizes
Each one smaller than the last, for the rest of the
Body must be in tune to the flare of the nostrils
Even though he marvels in his trifles
He leaves the rest to the One that
Will drive millions of people to see his work
Many of them who
Do not even like marble very much.
He who works alone with ceaseless vigor
In the hill by the high sunset
Chisels away not with one
But hammers of varying sizes
Each one smaller than the last, for the rest of the
Body must be in tune to the flare of the nostrils
Even though he marvels in his trifles
He leaves the rest to the One that
Will drive millions of people to see his work
Many of them who
Do not even like marble very much.
Monday
Monday morning,
Death of a thousand desires
that we had time for over the last two days
Before fearing the demise of a thousand more,
It is time to walk in the middle of Park Avenue
Filled with snow, ghosts of cars and smiles of children
And marvel just a little.
Monday morning,
Death of a thousand desires
that we had time for over the last two days
Before fearing the demise of a thousand more,
It is time to walk in the middle of Park Avenue
Filled with snow, ghosts of cars and smiles of children
And marvel just a little.
Then imagine it is Sunday
It is one more day you fail to go to church, fearing that they will pick you again to collect money from the worshippers, a task which not only does not give you a chance to pray and communicate, but in some subliminal way strikes at the root of certain intangible beliefs.
You can see God in more ways than one. Such as in the sketches of Leonardo DaVinci at the Met. It is truly awe-inspiring. A perfect match of art and science, which can only arise from a conscious effort not to treat them as different.
There was one sketch that caught my attention. Leonardo had drawn two nudes riding a swollen frog. The swollen frog was supposed to represent imperfection. This is a way of seeing that we should all perfect, i.e. the ability to spot injustice, decrepitude, "a not is ness" even in objects that are supposedly beyond repair in our world of absolute, carefully conditioned concepts.
It is one more day you fail to go to church, fearing that they will pick you again to collect money from the worshippers, a task which not only does not give you a chance to pray and communicate, but in some subliminal way strikes at the root of certain intangible beliefs.
You can see God in more ways than one. Such as in the sketches of Leonardo DaVinci at the Met. It is truly awe-inspiring. A perfect match of art and science, which can only arise from a conscious effort not to treat them as different.
There was one sketch that caught my attention. Leonardo had drawn two nudes riding a swollen frog. The swollen frog was supposed to represent imperfection. This is a way of seeing that we should all perfect, i.e. the ability to spot injustice, decrepitude, "a not is ness" even in objects that are supposedly beyond repair in our world of absolute, carefully conditioned concepts.
Imagine today is Saturday
Imagine that it is the day of the peace protest. As one who believes firmly in non-violence, a peace protest to me appeared like the lap of a beautiful model must to a publicity hungry dog.
Essential.
But while a hundred thousand people were marching away on First Avenue, I was inhabiting a land devoid of dreams. For I had stayed awake the entire night living a nightmare. I had the misfortune of watching a cricket match between India and Australia. India was massacred. The reasons given for the dismal show were many. My friend placed the blame squarely on the inability to play fast bowling. The commentator said that the Aussies play the game many levels above all other teams. The owner of the restaurant where we were watching the match said that the defeat was because of the lack of education, religious differences, corruption and poverty that kept us in a state of mental slavery to the white man.
I don't know which is the most relevant reason. I know one thing though. It does not matter.
India is a nation where seven hundred people have died recently at temperatures of three degree Celsius for lack of clothing. This clearly indicates that there is a lot more to get angry about. A nation full of passive people who specialize in the art of compartmentalized thinking have little right to place all their hopes, expectations and frustrations in a team of eleven people (or an army of one million) and vicariously take on the entire world through their exploits.
I shall now reproduce an imagined retort in letterform.
Dear Sir,
As regards your "Imagine it is Saturday" posting, I entreat you not to be a damp squib. It is perfectly normal for a nation to be passionate of its sportsmen. Take the example of Brazil and soccer. Or New Yorkers and the Yankees.
If here is water running in your veins and not blood, that is not sufficient cause to bring on the dawn of the age of reason.
Sincerely,
I say to this letter writer. If Brazilians are passionate about their team, it is because of their love for the game. They follow soccer at all levels: international and domestic. How many Indians do you know of who follow the Indian domestic cricket season? How many Indians do you know of who will also appreciate the performance of great souls from other nations? If you have to nourish a flower, you must first develop a love and respect for the entire garden.
Yes, and the New Yorkers are crazy about the Yankees. They even go alone to watch many games. If they do so, it is because their children are at school. Or building snowmen in warm clothing at temperatures far below three degrees Celsius.
Imagine that it is the day of the peace protest. As one who believes firmly in non-violence, a peace protest to me appeared like the lap of a beautiful model must to a publicity hungry dog.
Essential.
But while a hundred thousand people were marching away on First Avenue, I was inhabiting a land devoid of dreams. For I had stayed awake the entire night living a nightmare. I had the misfortune of watching a cricket match between India and Australia. India was massacred. The reasons given for the dismal show were many. My friend placed the blame squarely on the inability to play fast bowling. The commentator said that the Aussies play the game many levels above all other teams. The owner of the restaurant where we were watching the match said that the defeat was because of the lack of education, religious differences, corruption and poverty that kept us in a state of mental slavery to the white man.
I don't know which is the most relevant reason. I know one thing though. It does not matter.
India is a nation where seven hundred people have died recently at temperatures of three degree Celsius for lack of clothing. This clearly indicates that there is a lot more to get angry about. A nation full of passive people who specialize in the art of compartmentalized thinking have little right to place all their hopes, expectations and frustrations in a team of eleven people (or an army of one million) and vicariously take on the entire world through their exploits.
I shall now reproduce an imagined retort in letterform.
Dear Sir,
As regards your "Imagine it is Saturday" posting, I entreat you not to be a damp squib. It is perfectly normal for a nation to be passionate of its sportsmen. Take the example of Brazil and soccer. Or New Yorkers and the Yankees.
If here is water running in your veins and not blood, that is not sufficient cause to bring on the dawn of the age of reason.
Sincerely,
I say to this letter writer. If Brazilians are passionate about their team, it is because of their love for the game. They follow soccer at all levels: international and domestic. How many Indians do you know of who follow the Indian domestic cricket season? How many Indians do you know of who will also appreciate the performance of great souls from other nations? If you have to nourish a flower, you must first develop a love and respect for the entire garden.
Yes, and the New Yorkers are crazy about the Yankees. They even go alone to watch many games. If they do so, it is because their children are at school. Or building snowmen in warm clothing at temperatures far below three degrees Celsius.
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