Posted by: Nicolas Katkevich
President Obama has announced his intention to “freeze” the budgets of certain domestic programs (EPA, Health and Human Services, etc.) at their current level for the coming years. Exempt from this “freeze” are “security programs” such as the budgets of the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. It is very unfortunate that President Obama has not included the Defense Budget in this proposed freeze. In Reality the Defense budget needs not only to be capped, it needs to be drastically reduced. Under the guidance of this Administration the Department’s budget for 2010 is projected to reach $682 Billion, a $13 billion rise over fiscal year 2009. American needs to take a new path.
Just as we work for peace for ours inner selves and within our communities, spreading the word that violence does not solve problems, the United States government must also follow suit and move away from military might as a means of protection and security. For as long as the United States has a dominant world wide military presence, war waged by America will persist. With so much money and resources invested in the military; whenever a conflict of some sort arises, military use will be a first choice of action. The option of military force must be greatly diminished. The most direct way to achieve this goal is to curb the military budget and reinvest those resources into rebuilding America’s crippled economy and infrastructure.
I propose cutting the Department of Defense budget in half by 2030 to $340 billion. To accomplish this goal about $17 billion would have to be cut from the Defense budget each year. Decreasing the Defense Budget at this rate for would, compared to if the DoD continued to maintain it’s current funding, save $3.57 Trillion dollars over the twenty-year span. These funds would be allocated to rebuilding our economy, investing in green energy and reconstructing our nation’s infrastructure. Moreover the funds saved over this time period could easily wipe out America’s $1.35 trillion dollar debt. Closing overseas military bases (in Japan, Germany, Italy etc.), reducing our nuclear weapons capacity and ending the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan would be great initial steps to achieving this goal. I believe that America can take this path, and it is only through drastically reducing the military budget that our nation not only thrive, but also become a moral beacon for the world.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Truth force of Paradise: Fueling the Vessel
By Artemis Kampner:
Our very first ancestors opened their eyes at the newest dawn to a world of green. Paradise surrounded our grandmothers and grandfathers as the rich brown mother earth lay moist under their feet. Tree spirits stood tall around our ancestors stretching leisurely toward father sun. The leaves of the trees lay as flat as they could and bathed in the sun rays thus protecting the fragile eyes of the new human folk. The green leaves ate the light eagerly and began to ripen fruits of all colors above the heads of the people. After a few sun and moon cycles the fruit would fall from above down to the people.
Paradise was a blissful place of delicious and delectable fruits, berries, seeds and nuts. The greenery was endless and spread as far as a person could walk in their entire lifetime. The divine provided complete sustenance at the moment of conception for those made in his image and it can in the form of plant food. Words were never spoken to the people but as food fell from the heavens, perfect food which would fuel their vessels, free from cruelty or dead vibrations it was as if the Lord said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.” (Genesis 1:29)
Just like abundant and colorful mother Earth unaltered plant foods are filled to the brim with nutrients. Like the earth itself, unaltered plant foods are composed mostly of water. Uncompromised and uncooked plant foods are also filled with a life force that is only compromised by our teeth, saliva and digestive systems before returning to the earth. Unlike instant foods that we eat today, the only waste from unaltered plant foods became nutrient rich compost that assists all of the other plants to survive.
Nature’s first law is one of sustenance. By eating of paradise we can become harmonious with the divine creation we are a part of. It is important to note that although the book of Genesis depicts a fall from grace, we are never deprived of Paradise. Even between the cracks in the sidewalk of an urban dwelling the word of God grows up green toward the sun. Eden is what sustains our every breath on this planet. Trees, shrubs, weeds, flowers all coexist with our expirations. In return they provide us with the breath and food of life.
Our very first ancestors opened their eyes at the newest dawn to a world of green. Paradise surrounded our grandmothers and grandfathers as the rich brown mother earth lay moist under their feet. Tree spirits stood tall around our ancestors stretching leisurely toward father sun. The leaves of the trees lay as flat as they could and bathed in the sun rays thus protecting the fragile eyes of the new human folk. The green leaves ate the light eagerly and began to ripen fruits of all colors above the heads of the people. After a few sun and moon cycles the fruit would fall from above down to the people.
Paradise was a blissful place of delicious and delectable fruits, berries, seeds and nuts. The greenery was endless and spread as far as a person could walk in their entire lifetime. The divine provided complete sustenance at the moment of conception for those made in his image and it can in the form of plant food. Words were never spoken to the people but as food fell from the heavens, perfect food which would fuel their vessels, free from cruelty or dead vibrations it was as if the Lord said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.” (Genesis 1:29)
Just like abundant and colorful mother Earth unaltered plant foods are filled to the brim with nutrients. Like the earth itself, unaltered plant foods are composed mostly of water. Uncompromised and uncooked plant foods are also filled with a life force that is only compromised by our teeth, saliva and digestive systems before returning to the earth. Unlike instant foods that we eat today, the only waste from unaltered plant foods became nutrient rich compost that assists all of the other plants to survive.
Nature’s first law is one of sustenance. By eating of paradise we can become harmonious with the divine creation we are a part of. It is important to note that although the book of Genesis depicts a fall from grace, we are never deprived of Paradise. Even between the cracks in the sidewalk of an urban dwelling the word of God grows up green toward the sun. Eden is what sustains our every breath on this planet. Trees, shrubs, weeds, flowers all coexist with our expirations. In return they provide us with the breath and food of life.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Cheshire Patience
By Abel Collins
The breeze sprints ahead of me
Jumping from one bent blade of meadow grass to the next
It rushes in green waves
That pass hissing and whispering to the edge of the field
If I listen in silence
With Cheshire patience
I can hear the song
But I can never discover the secret of the leaves’ words
The song rises and falls
Waking inhuman memories
Of thirsty roots
Joyous flowers
And triumphant seeds
It is a silken voice
Ancient as wind and grass
Yet young with hope and full of life
Ageless soft and sweet
I let the breath of it fill me
Stillness
Peace
I understand why the willows came here to weep
The tears are in gratitude to eternal beauty
The breeze sprints ahead of me
Jumping from one bent blade of meadow grass to the next
It rushes in green waves
That pass hissing and whispering to the edge of the field
If I listen in silence
With Cheshire patience
I can hear the song
But I can never discover the secret of the leaves’ words
The song rises and falls
Waking inhuman memories
Of thirsty roots
Joyous flowers
And triumphant seeds
It is a silken voice
Ancient as wind and grass
Yet young with hope and full of life
Ageless soft and sweet
I let the breath of it fill me
Stillness
Peace
I understand why the willows came here to weep
The tears are in gratitude to eternal beauty
Friday, January 22, 2010
Quaking
Posted by Artemis Kampner:
I am telling you the truth
Water is the holiest element as all life is maintained by it. It is not life itself but the essence. Such as the body is the not existence itself but body and soul. Water is the soul to our vessel.
I am telling you the truth
Foods which are refined are not made for the living body. They are drugs and should be treated as such. Used only for the purposes of recreation not stability, maintenance or addiction.
I am telling you the truth
All that exists by God is of a cycle. As it is above so it is below and cycles are both as big and as small to the point of invisibility. These cycles should be respected and noticed. Once you are aware you may become in tune and enlightened.
I am telling you the truth
It is not necessary to chase after love. Be only selfish to be the best vessel for God. Prepare yourself as a vessel open and strong enough to house the heavens. Every path crosses for a reason but you are your soul keeper.
I am telling you the truth
No one can own you but your own self. Nothing can discipline and tame you but your own habits. Have no expectations what one should do with your heart. Caress others with care but always come home to your maker. Observe the maker in practice because it is her soft breaths, green hairs and brown skin that reflect the beauty of you. You cannot be fulfilled unless you praise your maker.
I am telling you the truth
There is no greater fulfillment than being a servant of God. Be honest, simple, humble and truthful.
I am telling you the truth
Those who over consume – consume to the point of deafening their own ears with uncertain pleasures. Humble yourself to the Lord and take ONLY what you need. Give EVERYTHING as it hits your palms and fully honor your dharma. You will be able to maintain heaven if you fully serve YOUR dharma – and only then can you host.
I am telling you the truth
Your elders and teachers are wise. Give them your full attention, respect, and gratitude. It is because of communal learning the tribe remains strong.
I am telling you the truth
You are gifted words to speak and the will to create. Use these gifts wisely because although the divine keeps no record each syllable will emit a pattern upon the current of The Way.
I am telling you the truth
Your body can repair by rest, water and sunlight. When the warm sun works you there is sweat. When the air gifts your breath you expire. When your body moves you must rest. There need not be more than these things but occasionally a simple fruit from paradise. The fruits of paradise can feed your hungry emotions sufficiently with the juice of divine truth.
I am telling you the truth
Water is not life but maintains life. Water carries the currents and temperament of the divine. All life is maintained by water. Water can speak of an ill body by phlegm, congestion, excrements, bile and vomit such as a hurricane that must sweep clean the body. However water can also speak gentler by expiration, urination, sweat, and tears. Treat ever sip of water with praise.
I am telling you the truth
Foods that you consume that are cooked and killed are murdered. You cannot be life, support life, or create life without nutrient rich hydration. Make yourself a drop of dew – fresh and fully present to the moments of the divine.
I am telling you the truth
Nothing is as clearly sacred as the act of conception. Nothing is as clearly spiritual as the vibration of love making, the rolling waves of birth and the off spring of vibration vessels. Nothing is as clearly whole as the love of a parent for a child. Nothing is as similar to God as the tribe
I am telling you the truth
Water is the holiest element as all life is maintained by it. It is not life itself but the essence. Such as the body is the not existence itself but body and soul. Water is the soul to our vessel.
I am telling you the truth
Foods which are refined are not made for the living body. They are drugs and should be treated as such. Used only for the purposes of recreation not stability, maintenance or addiction.
I am telling you the truth
All that exists by God is of a cycle. As it is above so it is below and cycles are both as big and as small to the point of invisibility. These cycles should be respected and noticed. Once you are aware you may become in tune and enlightened.
I am telling you the truth
It is not necessary to chase after love. Be only selfish to be the best vessel for God. Prepare yourself as a vessel open and strong enough to house the heavens. Every path crosses for a reason but you are your soul keeper.
I am telling you the truth
No one can own you but your own self. Nothing can discipline and tame you but your own habits. Have no expectations what one should do with your heart. Caress others with care but always come home to your maker. Observe the maker in practice because it is her soft breaths, green hairs and brown skin that reflect the beauty of you. You cannot be fulfilled unless you praise your maker.
I am telling you the truth
There is no greater fulfillment than being a servant of God. Be honest, simple, humble and truthful.
I am telling you the truth
Those who over consume – consume to the point of deafening their own ears with uncertain pleasures. Humble yourself to the Lord and take ONLY what you need. Give EVERYTHING as it hits your palms and fully honor your dharma. You will be able to maintain heaven if you fully serve YOUR dharma – and only then can you host.
I am telling you the truth
Your elders and teachers are wise. Give them your full attention, respect, and gratitude. It is because of communal learning the tribe remains strong.
I am telling you the truth
You are gifted words to speak and the will to create. Use these gifts wisely because although the divine keeps no record each syllable will emit a pattern upon the current of The Way.
I am telling you the truth
Your body can repair by rest, water and sunlight. When the warm sun works you there is sweat. When the air gifts your breath you expire. When your body moves you must rest. There need not be more than these things but occasionally a simple fruit from paradise. The fruits of paradise can feed your hungry emotions sufficiently with the juice of divine truth.
I am telling you the truth
Water is not life but maintains life. Water carries the currents and temperament of the divine. All life is maintained by water. Water can speak of an ill body by phlegm, congestion, excrements, bile and vomit such as a hurricane that must sweep clean the body. However water can also speak gentler by expiration, urination, sweat, and tears. Treat ever sip of water with praise.
I am telling you the truth
Foods that you consume that are cooked and killed are murdered. You cannot be life, support life, or create life without nutrient rich hydration. Make yourself a drop of dew – fresh and fully present to the moments of the divine.
I am telling you the truth
Nothing is as clearly sacred as the act of conception. Nothing is as clearly spiritual as the vibration of love making, the rolling waves of birth and the off spring of vibration vessels. Nothing is as clearly whole as the love of a parent for a child. Nothing is as similar to God as the tribe
Courage
Posted by: Nicolas Katkevich
Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people, this is the first principal of Kingian Nonviolence. Nonviolence in this regard is not simply the absence of violence, or stepping out of a system to live a passive lifestyle. Rather, Nonviolence is a dynamic active force and a way of living, thinking, looking at others and pursuing social change with love. It is not simply something which can be turned off with a switch; Nonviolence must be a way of life.
In this world full of violence, aggression and suppression, it takes courage to take a stand and insist upon following the path of Nonviolence. Change, especially a deep change in one’s world outlook is a big step to take. It takes courage. Once on the path even more courage is needed to stand up for what is right, to sacrifice time and energy for a just cause and to put justice ahead of your own physical well-being. For as many great Nonviolent leaders, from Jesus Christ to Martin Luther King discovered, a Nonviolent lifestyle has a way of upsetting the status quo, often leaving the stagnate system to respond with the only weapons it knows: violence, imprisonment and murder. Yet once one vanquishes fear of these tools of suppression from their consciousness, the weapons are made futile. With courage and fearlessness, Nonviolence disarms the supposed power of guns, jail cells, police batons and torture. When a person is not afraid of death, they are free.
Living a life of Nonviolence means to water the seeds of fearlessness. This is done by continually harvesting the courage that is rooted in a confidence of humanity; knowing that if we allow love and compassion to steer our life, there is not a thing to worry about for the Universe is on the side of justice. Moreover instead of punishing those who seem to be assailants, a Nonviolent person practices self-suffering as a way to cleanse themselves and to move the hearts of others so that they are obliged to reflect on their own actions. Happily using the tool of self-suffering for the sake of a just cause takes mighty courage as well.
Who has more courage? A person hiding behind a fortification, strapped with armor aiming their automatic weapon at supposed enemy a hundred yards away, or a Nonviolent person, with love in their heart, fearing no man, happily and fearlessly marching for a just cause into a rain of screaming bullets? Although quite extreme, this example put fourth by Mohandas Gandhi clearly sheds light onto the magnitude of courage a dedicated Nonviolent practitioner can manifest. Truly Nonviolence is a Way of Life for Courageous People.
Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people, this is the first principal of Kingian Nonviolence. Nonviolence in this regard is not simply the absence of violence, or stepping out of a system to live a passive lifestyle. Rather, Nonviolence is a dynamic active force and a way of living, thinking, looking at others and pursuing social change with love. It is not simply something which can be turned off with a switch; Nonviolence must be a way of life.
In this world full of violence, aggression and suppression, it takes courage to take a stand and insist upon following the path of Nonviolence. Change, especially a deep change in one’s world outlook is a big step to take. It takes courage. Once on the path even more courage is needed to stand up for what is right, to sacrifice time and energy for a just cause and to put justice ahead of your own physical well-being. For as many great Nonviolent leaders, from Jesus Christ to Martin Luther King discovered, a Nonviolent lifestyle has a way of upsetting the status quo, often leaving the stagnate system to respond with the only weapons it knows: violence, imprisonment and murder. Yet once one vanquishes fear of these tools of suppression from their consciousness, the weapons are made futile. With courage and fearlessness, Nonviolence disarms the supposed power of guns, jail cells, police batons and torture. When a person is not afraid of death, they are free.
Living a life of Nonviolence means to water the seeds of fearlessness. This is done by continually harvesting the courage that is rooted in a confidence of humanity; knowing that if we allow love and compassion to steer our life, there is not a thing to worry about for the Universe is on the side of justice. Moreover instead of punishing those who seem to be assailants, a Nonviolent person practices self-suffering as a way to cleanse themselves and to move the hearts of others so that they are obliged to reflect on their own actions. Happily using the tool of self-suffering for the sake of a just cause takes mighty courage as well.
Who has more courage? A person hiding behind a fortification, strapped with armor aiming their automatic weapon at supposed enemy a hundred yards away, or a Nonviolent person, with love in their heart, fearing no man, happily and fearlessly marching for a just cause into a rain of screaming bullets? Although quite extreme, this example put fourth by Mohandas Gandhi clearly sheds light onto the magnitude of courage a dedicated Nonviolent practitioner can manifest. Truly Nonviolence is a Way of Life for Courageous People.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Letter Writing
Posted by: Abel Collins
Despite my better judgment, I spend a lot of time thinking about politics and the economy; analyzing, criticizing, and basically trying to figure out what is going on in the world. From time to time, I get cynical and overwhelmed. At times like those, I take heart in the fact that I can take action do something about it. Letter writing is one action that I take particular pleasure in and that is sure to get a response. With email, it’s really easy to start a dialog with your political representation, and if you request the favor of a reply, they are required by law to respond.
Here’s a letter I wrote to my representatives today. I will post the responses I get to this letter in the comments section as they arrive. If you like it, you can even copy and paste it, and edit it to your liking. Google your legislator and go to the ‘contact ________’ button on their public site, then send it along. Otherwise, I encourage you to take the time to write your own letter and make our democracy a little more vibrant:
Dear _______________,
I was overjoyed today by the news that President Obama is going to take a hard line against the financial industry and follow the advice of Paul Volcker. It is my hope that you will do whatever you can to aid the President in his battle for real financial reform.
Not only must important aspects of Glass-Steagall be re-enacted so that the banks are not mixing commercial lending with speculative investment banking, but the banks must not be allowed to be so large that they pose a systemic risk. Please help craft legislation that diminishes the power and influence of major financial institutions, and I mean this to include holding the Federal Reserve accountable to its mandates. The economic system needs transparency in its financial sector to create a healthy and sustainable system. In other words, audit the fed.
Finally, I am greatly worried by the decision of the Supreme Court to allow unlimited corporate contributions to political campaigns. I would like you to consider proposing a constitutional amendment(s) to enact corporate reform. This country cannot afford to have more power accumulate in the hands of corporate interests. It is time to reconsider whether corporations are the same as individuals and what rights they really deserve.
Thank you for your time and your consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you on these issues.
Yours respectfully,
Abel Collins
Despite my better judgment, I spend a lot of time thinking about politics and the economy; analyzing, criticizing, and basically trying to figure out what is going on in the world. From time to time, I get cynical and overwhelmed. At times like those, I take heart in the fact that I can take action do something about it. Letter writing is one action that I take particular pleasure in and that is sure to get a response. With email, it’s really easy to start a dialog with your political representation, and if you request the favor of a reply, they are required by law to respond.
Here’s a letter I wrote to my representatives today. I will post the responses I get to this letter in the comments section as they arrive. If you like it, you can even copy and paste it, and edit it to your liking. Google your legislator and go to the ‘contact ________’ button on their public site, then send it along. Otherwise, I encourage you to take the time to write your own letter and make our democracy a little more vibrant:
Dear _______________,
I was overjoyed today by the news that President Obama is going to take a hard line against the financial industry and follow the advice of Paul Volcker. It is my hope that you will do whatever you can to aid the President in his battle for real financial reform.
Not only must important aspects of Glass-Steagall be re-enacted so that the banks are not mixing commercial lending with speculative investment banking, but the banks must not be allowed to be so large that they pose a systemic risk. Please help craft legislation that diminishes the power and influence of major financial institutions, and I mean this to include holding the Federal Reserve accountable to its mandates. The economic system needs transparency in its financial sector to create a healthy and sustainable system. In other words, audit the fed.
Finally, I am greatly worried by the decision of the Supreme Court to allow unlimited corporate contributions to political campaigns. I would like you to consider proposing a constitutional amendment(s) to enact corporate reform. This country cannot afford to have more power accumulate in the hands of corporate interests. It is time to reconsider whether corporations are the same as individuals and what rights they really deserve.
Thank you for your time and your consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you on these issues.
Yours respectfully,
Abel Collins
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Financial Activism
Posted by: Abel Collins
Today I took the first step toward moving my money out of Bank of America where I have kept it for several years. I went to a local credit union and started a checking account from which I will be able to do all of my banking. The terms on the new account are much better than the ones that I at BofA (2.5% interest versus .1%), but that is not why I am moving my money.
Two years into this financial crisis, it is obvious that banks are in large part responsible for the calamity. Financial institutions, primarily those now seen as too big to fail, rose to great influence over the past four decades (TBTF list here, http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/03/19th-nervous-breakdown-tbtf-stress-test-banks/). They created financial innovations that allowed them to take on insane amounts of leverage. They encouraged so much debt that they guaranteed a credit bubble and its inevitable collapse. In fact, they engineered numerous bubbles, and at every opportunity said that deregulation would allow them to make a more productive and efficient financial system so it would never happen again. The banks made money on the way up and on the way down, and they used it to gain ever greater political and economic power.
By now, we are familiar with the results. The regulators and the legislators crafting financial policy were captured by the banking industry that they were supposed to be holding accountable. Regrettably, nothing has been done to reform this broken economic model. The reform that is proposed would be laughable if it were not so tragic, and even those weak measures will probably never be enacted.
It has become clear that the only thing the political system and the powerful people it represents care about is money. Therefore, I suggest that it is incumbent upon us to redress our grievances in terms that they understand. It is time for some good old nonviolent activism. It is time to stop giving them our money, and the logical place to start is with the TBTF banks.
If you do your banking with Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, or one of the other monster banks that control approximately 60% of the deposits of US citizens, it is time to move your money. Go to http://moveyourmoney.info/ and find out how to get started.
Time and again, massive nonviolent activism is the only effective way to realize revolutionary change, and it is time to bring it to bear on the economy. We must follow in the footsteps of great leaders like MLK, Gandhi, and Jesus, and refuse to support the system that abuses us. The first step is taking our money from the banks that control the system. If they do not listen then, if they simply turn to the government for another round of tax payer funding, we must resort to civil disobedience. We must sever the ties between money and politics, whatever it takes. Let’s get started.
Today I took the first step toward moving my money out of Bank of America where I have kept it for several years. I went to a local credit union and started a checking account from which I will be able to do all of my banking. The terms on the new account are much better than the ones that I at BofA (2.5% interest versus .1%), but that is not why I am moving my money.
Two years into this financial crisis, it is obvious that banks are in large part responsible for the calamity. Financial institutions, primarily those now seen as too big to fail, rose to great influence over the past four decades (TBTF list here, http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/03/19th-nervous-breakdown-tbtf-stress-test-banks/). They created financial innovations that allowed them to take on insane amounts of leverage. They encouraged so much debt that they guaranteed a credit bubble and its inevitable collapse. In fact, they engineered numerous bubbles, and at every opportunity said that deregulation would allow them to make a more productive and efficient financial system so it would never happen again. The banks made money on the way up and on the way down, and they used it to gain ever greater political and economic power.
By now, we are familiar with the results. The regulators and the legislators crafting financial policy were captured by the banking industry that they were supposed to be holding accountable. Regrettably, nothing has been done to reform this broken economic model. The reform that is proposed would be laughable if it were not so tragic, and even those weak measures will probably never be enacted.
It has become clear that the only thing the political system and the powerful people it represents care about is money. Therefore, I suggest that it is incumbent upon us to redress our grievances in terms that they understand. It is time for some good old nonviolent activism. It is time to stop giving them our money, and the logical place to start is with the TBTF banks.
If you do your banking with Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, or one of the other monster banks that control approximately 60% of the deposits of US citizens, it is time to move your money. Go to http://moveyourmoney.info/ and find out how to get started.
Time and again, massive nonviolent activism is the only effective way to realize revolutionary change, and it is time to bring it to bear on the economy. We must follow in the footsteps of great leaders like MLK, Gandhi, and Jesus, and refuse to support the system that abuses us. The first step is taking our money from the banks that control the system. If they do not listen then, if they simply turn to the government for another round of tax payer funding, we must resort to civil disobedience. We must sever the ties between money and politics, whatever it takes. Let’s get started.
Veterans
-A third of all Homeless Men in the Country are Veterans
-18 Veterans Commit Suicide Each Day
-Over 300,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome or Major Depression while 320,000 have suffered brain injuries.
Posted by: Nicolas Katkevich
These statistics deal a decisive blow to the aged perception that the military and our government unquestionably support our veterans and that individuals fighting war are immune to the horror of armed conflict. As a Shelter Manager at a Homeless Shelter in Phoenix, I have met dozens of individuals who served in the military and now find themselves without the adequate support to live comfortably and safely. I have yet to interact with a veteran who glorified battle, as most veterans I have spoken too do not wish to speak too deeply about their experience in war.
Yet just last night I had the opportunity to speak with a veteran who was part of a Helicopter Medic unit during the Vietnam War. During outreach work we had found the gentleman under a bridge where he was escaping from a rare rainy night in Arizona. He related to me the valuable insight that even for the strongest of men, war is an absolutely terrifying, sorrowing experience. He had seen close friends die, seen men in his unit loose their limbs and seemed confused as to why he made it out with his physical body intact. I hope the leaders of our country can take a moment and imagine their best friend, and imagine seeing them killed before your eyes. How do you think you would handle bearing witness to such horror? Even the thought of this experience is very disturbing and painful. It is easy to see why so many veterans have great difficulty coping with their experience of war. Moreover it is easy to understand why war is not a natural part of human existence, yet only a folly manifested by misunderstanding and ignorance.
Veterans are direct victims of war; experiencing death, destruction and confusion in an abundance that we shall never see. We must listen to, understand and love our veterans. Their stories of sorrow, death and suffering need to be heard. The pain they experience must be utilized as an energy for us to clearly understand the tragedy of war and to work towards opening the hearts and minds of our leader so that they too can see the ramifications of war. It is time to help our veterans and do what we can to ensure that war is no longer an option for America.
-18 Veterans Commit Suicide Each Day
-Over 300,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome or Major Depression while 320,000 have suffered brain injuries.
Posted by: Nicolas Katkevich
These statistics deal a decisive blow to the aged perception that the military and our government unquestionably support our veterans and that individuals fighting war are immune to the horror of armed conflict. As a Shelter Manager at a Homeless Shelter in Phoenix, I have met dozens of individuals who served in the military and now find themselves without the adequate support to live comfortably and safely. I have yet to interact with a veteran who glorified battle, as most veterans I have spoken too do not wish to speak too deeply about their experience in war.
Yet just last night I had the opportunity to speak with a veteran who was part of a Helicopter Medic unit during the Vietnam War. During outreach work we had found the gentleman under a bridge where he was escaping from a rare rainy night in Arizona. He related to me the valuable insight that even for the strongest of men, war is an absolutely terrifying, sorrowing experience. He had seen close friends die, seen men in his unit loose their limbs and seemed confused as to why he made it out with his physical body intact. I hope the leaders of our country can take a moment and imagine their best friend, and imagine seeing them killed before your eyes. How do you think you would handle bearing witness to such horror? Even the thought of this experience is very disturbing and painful. It is easy to see why so many veterans have great difficulty coping with their experience of war. Moreover it is easy to understand why war is not a natural part of human existence, yet only a folly manifested by misunderstanding and ignorance.
Veterans are direct victims of war; experiencing death, destruction and confusion in an abundance that we shall never see. We must listen to, understand and love our veterans. Their stories of sorrow, death and suffering need to be heard. The pain they experience must be utilized as an energy for us to clearly understand the tragedy of war and to work towards opening the hearts and minds of our leader so that they too can see the ramifications of war. It is time to help our veterans and do what we can to ensure that war is no longer an option for America.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Democrats v. Republicans
Posted by: Abel Collins
Some of my writings here at the Satyagraha are going to be dedicated to discussing politics, both at the foundational level of political theory and also the more visible level of current political events. In the interest of disclosure, I offer this blog.
The state of politics in our country is generally agreed to be shameful. The caricature of the politician is a pig-like humanoid, grubbing in the dirt at the feet of the wealthy. He is greedy and power hungry, pinstripes and silk linings hiding his corpulence.
Sadly, the cartoon satire is a better portrait of the truth than the rest of what I read in the paper. Nobody really believes that either political party cares about the welfare of the common man, and there should be little surprise. For over three decades, the United States of America has overseen a global economy that has grown immensely. Sums of wealth never imagined have been created through industrial ingenuity and the exportation of free market capitalism. In that same period of time, average Americans have seen their real wages and the quality of their lives decline.
Needless to say, the people have become disenchanted with the representatives they have elected to provide themselves with a government of liberty, equality, and justice. For over three decades, it has not mattered one wit whether it was the Democrats or Republicans in office. The wealth has gone to the top. Both parties have conspired to create the current system that has come to primarily represent corporate interests.
The whole political society is dying from atrophy, because there is no real choice. Sure, I vote, and I usually vote for the Democrat, because Democrats tend to be a little more humane in their policy. I vote for third party candidates whenever I can, and I spend a lot of time empathizing with the fifty percent of people who are so discouraged that they refuse to participate.
The silver lining to the glooming cloud of politics is that when the people finally go back to the drawing board, they will find that they still live in a democratic republic, and they do, in fact, have the power. Sooner or later (sooner at this rate), Americans will reach their breaking point and good representative leaders will step forward or be found; honest leaders who realize that public office is a civil service and a civic duty. Americans will find and elect the citizens who are willing to suborn their personal interests and be instruments for the betterment of the society.
I, for one, cannot wait for the coming age of civic rebirth. Already, it is gestating. People are rebuilding the idea of community, preparing for a society of cooperation to replace this current culture of antagonism. I, for one, am going to be a catalyst in the growth of this movement, a radical so to speak. Already, I am, and here we are talking about it.
Let’s start something: A friendship, a community, a political party, a better way? It’s all possible.
Some of my writings here at the Satyagraha are going to be dedicated to discussing politics, both at the foundational level of political theory and also the more visible level of current political events. In the interest of disclosure, I offer this blog.
The state of politics in our country is generally agreed to be shameful. The caricature of the politician is a pig-like humanoid, grubbing in the dirt at the feet of the wealthy. He is greedy and power hungry, pinstripes and silk linings hiding his corpulence.
Sadly, the cartoon satire is a better portrait of the truth than the rest of what I read in the paper. Nobody really believes that either political party cares about the welfare of the common man, and there should be little surprise. For over three decades, the United States of America has overseen a global economy that has grown immensely. Sums of wealth never imagined have been created through industrial ingenuity and the exportation of free market capitalism. In that same period of time, average Americans have seen their real wages and the quality of their lives decline.
Needless to say, the people have become disenchanted with the representatives they have elected to provide themselves with a government of liberty, equality, and justice. For over three decades, it has not mattered one wit whether it was the Democrats or Republicans in office. The wealth has gone to the top. Both parties have conspired to create the current system that has come to primarily represent corporate interests.
The whole political society is dying from atrophy, because there is no real choice. Sure, I vote, and I usually vote for the Democrat, because Democrats tend to be a little more humane in their policy. I vote for third party candidates whenever I can, and I spend a lot of time empathizing with the fifty percent of people who are so discouraged that they refuse to participate.
The silver lining to the glooming cloud of politics is that when the people finally go back to the drawing board, they will find that they still live in a democratic republic, and they do, in fact, have the power. Sooner or later (sooner at this rate), Americans will reach their breaking point and good representative leaders will step forward or be found; honest leaders who realize that public office is a civil service and a civic duty. Americans will find and elect the citizens who are willing to suborn their personal interests and be instruments for the betterment of the society.
I, for one, cannot wait for the coming age of civic rebirth. Already, it is gestating. People are rebuilding the idea of community, preparing for a society of cooperation to replace this current culture of antagonism. I, for one, am going to be a catalyst in the growth of this movement, a radical so to speak. Already, I am, and here we are talking about it.
Let’s start something: A friendship, a community, a political party, a better way? It’s all possible.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Posted by: Nicolas Katkevich
Martin Luther King Day is one holiday of the greatest official American holidays. It is a day to honor a revolutionary, a man who dedicated his life to transforming communities and challenging the practices of the United States government. Although Mr. King is remembered most for his astounding leadership within the Civil Rights movement, he dedicated the later years of his life organizing to combat systemic poverty and to speaking out against the Vietnam War. If you have a moment today I would recommend spending some time listening to Dr. King's speech "Why I am Opposed to the War in Vietnam". The wisdom and insight of the speech still deeply resonates with the current state of America and the country's continued reliance on war and militarism:
Martin Luther King Day is one holiday of the greatest official American holidays. It is a day to honor a revolutionary, a man who dedicated his life to transforming communities and challenging the practices of the United States government. Although Mr. King is remembered most for his astounding leadership within the Civil Rights movement, he dedicated the later years of his life organizing to combat systemic poverty and to speaking out against the Vietnam War. If you have a moment today I would recommend spending some time listening to Dr. King's speech "Why I am Opposed to the War in Vietnam". The wisdom and insight of the speech still deeply resonates with the current state of America and the country's continued reliance on war and militarism:
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Meditation on the Economy
Posted by: Abel Collins
A crystalline calm is upon the ocean. The washed azure sky, without even the blemish of a cloud, speaks in the most fragile whispers about the proximity of beauty and death. The emerald water swallows with greedy equanimity both the heavy and light. The sun stretches down amber rays diffusing through teeming life, down to fathomless twilight. Somewhere, black and unknowable is the bottom. Deeper and more quiet than the blackest dream, the ship is sinking. Strange sounds resonate from the hull, air trying to push its way out, the wood groaning in protest. Large pockets rise to the surface and burp erratically as the wreck shifts in the rolling currents of its descent.
It had gone quickly at the beginning. The weakness so long in atrophy relented to its fated failure in a crack of thunder. Instantaneously, the sea rushed gurgling and hungry into the lower compartments, sucking the ship down. At first, the air had freed itself in a multitude of voices, whistles, sighs, and whooshes. It was a song of physics and chaos.
Now, an eternity of moments and ten minutes later, only the stern remains above water, pointing accusingly skyward. The ship is sinking slowly and remorselessly, a death that shudders nearer with each successive belch. The sinking is slower now but no less certain. In a panic that is so blind it is also silent, the crew and passengers are mostly frozen in denial. They cling to the idea it has stopped, that they can bob above the waves until the rescuers arrive. In reality, no aid is coming.
There aren’t lifeboats enough, and the self-important are claiming first right. These are the men in fine clothing and uniform; the captains of industry, the shipwrights, and the crewmen. Behold their fear, the dawning realization in their eyes that they aren’t in control. Their reasoning is that they will be better able to get and send help to those left behind. Sure, they were the ones that had brought them to this pass, so, too, they must be the ones who can find the way back. They offer this reasoning to the others in blue gel- cap cyanide placebos. They are saying ‘god bless you,’ and there are even tears in some of their eyes as they push off. They reason and excuse themselves from guilt. Cowardice, for naught.
The clarity of the ocean air, the sharpness of the light arcing through it, and the magical colors that they elicit; these perfections are not to be denied their finality. The falling inertia of the ship will draw the lifeboats down just as surely as the planet’s gravity draws the ship to its doom. It shall be a shared oblivion. The perfection; the fragile secret spoken by the breeze of beauty and death; no one is to speak of them.
A crystalline calm is upon the ocean. The washed azure sky, without even the blemish of a cloud, speaks in the most fragile whispers about the proximity of beauty and death. The emerald water swallows with greedy equanimity both the heavy and light. The sun stretches down amber rays diffusing through teeming life, down to fathomless twilight. Somewhere, black and unknowable is the bottom. Deeper and more quiet than the blackest dream, the ship is sinking. Strange sounds resonate from the hull, air trying to push its way out, the wood groaning in protest. Large pockets rise to the surface and burp erratically as the wreck shifts in the rolling currents of its descent.
It had gone quickly at the beginning. The weakness so long in atrophy relented to its fated failure in a crack of thunder. Instantaneously, the sea rushed gurgling and hungry into the lower compartments, sucking the ship down. At first, the air had freed itself in a multitude of voices, whistles, sighs, and whooshes. It was a song of physics and chaos.
Now, an eternity of moments and ten minutes later, only the stern remains above water, pointing accusingly skyward. The ship is sinking slowly and remorselessly, a death that shudders nearer with each successive belch. The sinking is slower now but no less certain. In a panic that is so blind it is also silent, the crew and passengers are mostly frozen in denial. They cling to the idea it has stopped, that they can bob above the waves until the rescuers arrive. In reality, no aid is coming.
There aren’t lifeboats enough, and the self-important are claiming first right. These are the men in fine clothing and uniform; the captains of industry, the shipwrights, and the crewmen. Behold their fear, the dawning realization in their eyes that they aren’t in control. Their reasoning is that they will be better able to get and send help to those left behind. Sure, they were the ones that had brought them to this pass, so, too, they must be the ones who can find the way back. They offer this reasoning to the others in blue gel- cap cyanide placebos. They are saying ‘god bless you,’ and there are even tears in some of their eyes as they push off. They reason and excuse themselves from guilt. Cowardice, for naught.
The clarity of the ocean air, the sharpness of the light arcing through it, and the magical colors that they elicit; these perfections are not to be denied their finality. The falling inertia of the ship will draw the lifeboats down just as surely as the planet’s gravity draws the ship to its doom. It shall be a shared oblivion. The perfection; the fragile secret spoken by the breeze of beauty and death; no one is to speak of them.
Truth Force of Paradise: From One Conceives the Union of Two
Posted by: Artemis Kampner
In harmony with the almighty Om
Became the interconnected orbits of the moon and sun.
The warm sun incubates and opens the seeds
making roots for fertile mother earth to receive.
Sister moon moves a salty, strong and vast sea
And she pulls the saline through all vessels like you and me.
I am a sister goddess who holds the cyclic nature of the moon.
You are brother lord who resonates the rhythmic sun’s tune.
Together moon and sun, there is a union of conception.
Together man and mate coexistence is of no debate.
Like Yin to Yang, Om can become two
Conception and union is eternally true
However conception is more than mere physical existence.
It is idea, a beginning, a thought, and frequency of coexistence.
In harmony with the almighty Om
Became the interconnected orbits of the moon and sun.
The warm sun incubates and opens the seeds
making roots for fertile mother earth to receive.
Sister moon moves a salty, strong and vast sea
And she pulls the saline through all vessels like you and me.
I am a sister goddess who holds the cyclic nature of the moon.
You are brother lord who resonates the rhythmic sun’s tune.
Together moon and sun, there is a union of conception.
Together man and mate coexistence is of no debate.
Like Yin to Yang, Om can become two
Conception and union is eternally true
However conception is more than mere physical existence.
It is idea, a beginning, a thought, and frequency of coexistence.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Nonviolence
Posted by: Nicolas Katkevich
On this blog I plan to write extensively on the philosophy, history, practices and applications of Nonviolence. In the coming weeks I will discuss the six principals of Kingian Nonviolence:
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people
2. The beloved community is the framework for the future
3. Attack forces of evil not persons doing evil
4. Accept suffering without retalliation for the sake of the cause to achieve the goal
5. Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence
6. The universe is on the side of justice
Yet before going anything further I will take time to describe what Nonviolence is to me, and why I feel so passionately about it and am now dedicated to following its path.
When I first heard civil rights pioneer and world wide advocate Dr. Bernard Lafayette speak about Nonviolence, I immediately began to retreat from the idea I held at the time that violence was an appropriate tool be used to create a better society. This transformation continues to this day as I do my best to nurture the seeds of Nonviolence and make the philosophy an actual life practice. There are several things that draw me to the Nonviolent way of life, and the use of Nonviolence for social change.
Firstly, the philosophy of Nonviolence aligns with the teachings of all the great spiritual sages who have graced this planet. Jesus’ message of ‘Love Thy Enemy’, the Buddhist philosophy of Harmlessness come to mind, as well as the duty to serve and assist others that is found throughout religions and spiritual practices. Nonviolence invokes these principals in a practical application; dynamically using love and understanding to change one’s life and lead social change.
The most powerful aspect of Nonviolence as a tool for social change is the fact that it works. You can never be defeated when Nonviolence as a strategy and way of life has been adopted. As Gandhi made clear “they may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me, then they will have my dead body. Not my obedience." Add along to this the fact that a Nonviolent practitioner strives to love his assailant, and is resolute in their stance; the violence inflicted on a nonviolent person only magnifies the faults of violence and sheds greater light on the righteousness of Nonviolence. The assailant’s tools of suppression are useless and only further the cause of the Nonviolent crusader. What a great strategy! When one happily invites self-suffering, has no fear of prison or physical harm and loves others under any circumstance, they cannot be defeated. This is the power of Nonviolence.
Finally when violence is unfortunatly used to achieve an end, violence will gain credence as an acceptable way to create positive change which only fuels the cycle of violence. Just take a look at the United States of America, a country who gained its liberty through a violent revolution. This set a precedent that violence is a suitable way to gain freedom, subsequently the United States and it’s citizens have never shied away from using force and invasion to “free” other nations. This cycle must be broken. Means and ends need to be consistent, for if we really want peace in this world it begins with us and how we choose to struggle for a better world. Just as violence begets violence, love begets love and peace begets peace. The practice and harvesting of Nonviolence is essential for creating any lasting, dynamic change to our world.
There are many more aspects of Nonviolence that I will explore on The Satyagragha. Including the fundamental idea of have no enemies, that any person can be transformed into an essential ally, and the fact that Nonviolence and self-suffering replaces the philosophy of punishment. I look forward to continuing to share this space with you.
On this blog I plan to write extensively on the philosophy, history, practices and applications of Nonviolence. In the coming weeks I will discuss the six principals of Kingian Nonviolence:
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people
2. The beloved community is the framework for the future
3. Attack forces of evil not persons doing evil
4. Accept suffering without retalliation for the sake of the cause to achieve the goal
5. Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence
6. The universe is on the side of justice
Yet before going anything further I will take time to describe what Nonviolence is to me, and why I feel so passionately about it and am now dedicated to following its path.
When I first heard civil rights pioneer and world wide advocate Dr. Bernard Lafayette speak about Nonviolence, I immediately began to retreat from the idea I held at the time that violence was an appropriate tool be used to create a better society. This transformation continues to this day as I do my best to nurture the seeds of Nonviolence and make the philosophy an actual life practice. There are several things that draw me to the Nonviolent way of life, and the use of Nonviolence for social change.
Firstly, the philosophy of Nonviolence aligns with the teachings of all the great spiritual sages who have graced this planet. Jesus’ message of ‘Love Thy Enemy’, the Buddhist philosophy of Harmlessness come to mind, as well as the duty to serve and assist others that is found throughout religions and spiritual practices. Nonviolence invokes these principals in a practical application; dynamically using love and understanding to change one’s life and lead social change.
The most powerful aspect of Nonviolence as a tool for social change is the fact that it works. You can never be defeated when Nonviolence as a strategy and way of life has been adopted. As Gandhi made clear “they may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me, then they will have my dead body. Not my obedience." Add along to this the fact that a Nonviolent practitioner strives to love his assailant, and is resolute in their stance; the violence inflicted on a nonviolent person only magnifies the faults of violence and sheds greater light on the righteousness of Nonviolence. The assailant’s tools of suppression are useless and only further the cause of the Nonviolent crusader. What a great strategy! When one happily invites self-suffering, has no fear of prison or physical harm and loves others under any circumstance, they cannot be defeated. This is the power of Nonviolence.
Finally when violence is unfortunatly used to achieve an end, violence will gain credence as an acceptable way to create positive change which only fuels the cycle of violence. Just take a look at the United States of America, a country who gained its liberty through a violent revolution. This set a precedent that violence is a suitable way to gain freedom, subsequently the United States and it’s citizens have never shied away from using force and invasion to “free” other nations. This cycle must be broken. Means and ends need to be consistent, for if we really want peace in this world it begins with us and how we choose to struggle for a better world. Just as violence begets violence, love begets love and peace begets peace. The practice and harvesting of Nonviolence is essential for creating any lasting, dynamic change to our world.
There are many more aspects of Nonviolence that I will explore on The Satyagragha. Including the fundamental idea of have no enemies, that any person can be transformed into an essential ally, and the fact that Nonviolence and self-suffering replaces the philosophy of punishment. I look forward to continuing to share this space with you.
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