Seriously, how different is this from what we’ve seen so far?
Via Boing Boing:
Relaxing with our true condition
Pema Chödrön writes and talks about stuff like Buddhism, meditation and mindfulness. I saw this quote over at Integral Options Café, and it really gets at the core of so many of my issues these days:
The average human being thinks that happiness lies in stability, in tying up all the loose ends and having things under control. But actually, happiness lies in being able to relax with our true condition, which is basically fleeting, dynamic, fluid, not in any way solid, not in any way permanent. It’s transient by nature.
Questions and answers
I crapped a question mark today. I’ll give you a second to take that in. What I’m saying here is that I took a dump earlier today, and it came out in the shape of a question mark. Unbelievable, I know—both that it happened and that I’m writing about it publicly. But that’s what this blog is all about. It’s about the shape of my poop.
What else do you want to hear about? The latest Obama-McCain drama? The slumping economy? If Sarah Palin pooped a perfect question mark, it would be big news, but because I’m a nobody it just makes me a freak to write about such things, eh?
I see how it is. Well, just for that, I’m not going to tell you what the answer turned out to be.
Bill Maher on Politics and Religion
Just because.
This political season is turning me increasingly bitter as other peoples’ points of view clash with my own on a daily basis. I get a vicarious release through Maher’s rants. My friend Julian tipped me off to the video, and below are his astute comments:
i think it becomes essential that we differentiate “meaning” from projected fantasy – an intelligent and honest search for meaning doesn’t stop at made-up place holders, but rather pushes bravely forward and looks into the meaning of “meaning” as well, as part of the inquiry – it also dares to face the existential abyss, death, meaningless suffering etc.. and in light of that contrast goes deeper into “meaning” – finding perhaps love, generosity, integrity, awareness, truth, beauty, goodness etc as being more deeply meaningful precisely because the made-up place-holder religious fantasies are bankrupt, we all die at the end, millions suffer for no reason and evolution is an imperfect miracle.
is there something spiritual? yes. but it is found in an ever deepening embrace of our humanity, mortality and imperfection, as well as a genuine sense of awe for life itself and the kosmos at large (as revealed by broad scientific method in all four quadrants) – none of this requires the “spiritual” fantasy of afterlife, discarnate beings or a big parental god responsible for the majestic catastrophe around and within us. though many believe these things in ways that seem on the surface to enhance their personalities and actions, i would argue that these beliefs (because of their delusional nature and projection of meaning and sacredness into a non-existent domain) actually cheapen and desacralize human existence – as evidenced by the extreme version of their consequences on the world stage.
we still haven’t grown up.
but lets keep this on track with the real issue, beyond the philosophizing:
george bush believes that god has given him instruction on how to enact foreign policy.
john mccain believes in the transcendent struggle of our time between good and evil against the forces of islamic terrorism. (so do they)
palin thinks the war in iraq is us doing god’s work and that women who are raped or incested should have to pay for their own $1200 “rape kits” to test their claims and should not have the choice of an abortion because she believes life begins at conception and abortion breaks god’s commandment against murder.
all three of these high profile leaders (as well as the Islamic fundamentalist extremist they oppose) find “meaning ” in their metaphysical fantasy faith. but it is a phoney “meaning” and we should not dignify it.
now they have a “right to believe” whatever they would like but a) this has no place in politics and governance and b) our culture needs to wake up and see that these kind of crazy beliefs should actually disqualify someone from having access to the kind of power that the u.s. president has over our lives and history itself….rather than make them (falsely) appear decent, spiritual and patriotic.
Ze Frank on The Sound of Young America
Ze Frank on The Sound of Young America from Jesse Thorn on Vimeo.
Ze Frank talks with host Jesse Thorn about creativity, what works on the internet and why, and being a traffic whore. Plus a whole lot of other stuff, like rubbing his head on the microphone.
Recorded at The Sound of Young America Live!, June 2008 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York, as part of Sketchfest NYC. Videography by Benjamin Ahr Harrison.
Ze Frank did a daily video blog called “The Show” for exactly one year, from March 2006 – March 2007. I stumbled upon his site a few months into “The Show,” and I was so impressed that I spent hours watching every back-episode. This was right after spending my biggest tax refund ever on my first “real” computer and beginning my own blog. It came as no surprise to discover that Ze was about my age and grew up just minutes from my hometown in upstate New York. However far from home I’ve roamed, I always seem to connect up with people from the homeland.
Ze’s work still inspires me because it shows what is possible when people challenge themselves to do something with the full force of their creative energies. Check it out.
Joe Biden and the “Disease Model” of Addiction
One could structure an entire graduate-level curriculum around this year’s political season. I am particularly fascinated by the different ways people arrive at various positions, form opinions, and make important decisions as 21st Century world citizens. It seems clear that a very significant percentage of Americans are not going to vote this November based on a thoughtful consideration of issues and policy differences. Frankly, this disgusts me. 90% of African Americans voting for Obama over Clinton in some areas during the primary? Clinton supporters voting for McCain in the general election? You gotta be kidding me. And that’s just the B.S. on the left. Step to the right and your other shoe will get a thick coating. The Sarah Palin nomination? Enough said.
While conservative types seem fine with faith-based policy making (as long as it’s THEIR faith), the more progressive types tend to put their faith in science. Take Joe Biden, for instance. His believes, as a Catholic, that life begins at conception. Yet he recognizes that we live in a pluralistic society, and it would be inappropriate to impose (through legislation) his faith-based view on other reasonable, ethical people with different beliefs. Yet Biden IS willing to legislate that addiction be recognized as a disease (via his “Recognizing Addiction as a Disease Act of 2007). And here he has the backing of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and prominent scientists and healthcare professionals all across the country. It would be easy to arrive at the conclusion that “Science” is indeed moving toward a consensus that everything from inattention in children to depression in adults is fundamentally a matter of brain dysfunction or disease. But can “Science” be relied on here? I wouldn’t take it on faith.
Admittedly, I have a fondness for thinkers who take on the status quo. For now, I would like to highlight two of my favorites who have each recently posted interesting pieces on their respective blogs. First, check out Stanton Peele’s perspective on Joe Biden’s addiction legistation. Peele has a very unconventional yet quite reasonable perspective on addiction, one which has not been taken seriously enough, in my opinion (I have been a mental health professional for fifteen years). Then we have Ben Goldacre, who rails against the “Medicalisation of Everyday Life” and the unscrupulous use of science to support bogus conclusions.
Loose threads
The older I get, the more I understand why we long to be in the company of those who share our beliefs. I choose certain friends. I watch certain TV shows. I visit certain websites. An illusion of consensus is generated, one that can be very comforting in this life fraught with uncertainty. I’m also coming to understand how differences in opinion and perspective can freak us out, make us extremely upset, and even drive us to aggressive and self-destructive actions. Threaten my core beliefs and you may as well be pointing a gun at my head. At least that’s how it can feel sometimes.
I am both fascinated and horrified by the lack of mutual understanding on display everywhere — between countries, religions, political parties, neighbors, spouses — and by the tenuousness of the ties that somehow hold the works together enough so that many of us can still live in relative peace and harmony.
The possibility of change through authentic relationship is what drives me to carry on, and it’s what inspires me to write, dialogue, and create. As I get settled in to my new life in North Carolina, I’m hoping to weave together the loose threads of my many interests and intentions, both here on this blog and in my daily life. There’s something connecting all this stuff about politics, religion, psychology, music, humor, etc., and it has something to do with the possibility of what my friend Julian Walker calls a “21st Century Spirituality.”
This is just a rambling way of clarifying my thoughts in the midst of a hectic couple of weeks. One of these days I will engage this blog thing with some focus and commitment.
Hillary Clinton’s Convention Speech
I’ve long been fascinated by the process of personal change. Lately, I’ve especially been interested in how people change their minds. What better time than election season to see how the most powerful people in the world attempt to convince, dupe, or otherwise persuade their fellow Americans to think like they do — at least until the votes are counted.
Before the Democrats started duking it out for the nomination, I had my heart set on Barak Obama. On a policy level, I couldn’t see much difference between the top candidates, and I thought Obama’s inspirational rhetoric and diverse background might mobilize everyday citizens to get off the couch and actively participate in making positive change happen. I viewed Hillary Clinton as a polarizing figure that would only widen the chasm between an already divided nation. She also struck me as a shifty, do-whatever-it-takes-to-get-elected politician.
Somewhere along the line, Hillary won me over, not only because I came to realize that ALL the major candidates, including Obama, are shifty politicians, but also because Clinton repeatedly demonstrated a masterful ability to express her views, giving off an air of supreme confidence and competence. I still prefer Obama as the Democratic nominee, because I think he has a better chance to heal major divisions in this country and because lengthening the Bush-Clinton dynastic chain hurts our credibility as a shining example of democracy. As she showed last night, however, Hillary is an impressive speaker who can energize and mobilize voters. Which leaves me scratching my head as to why Obama did not choose her as his running mate. Hmmm…
I agree with Rudy Giuliani’s comments that choosing Hillary was a “no-brainer.” The atmosphere of enthusiasm and raw energy that defined Obama’s bid for the democratic nomination is fading fast, and bringing Hillary aboard would undoubtedly have re-energized his campaign and rallied millions of voters. I suppose one could make the argument that Joe Biden makes more sense from an “electoral map” or “undecided voter” perspective, but that’s assuming Hillary supporters will vote Obama whether or not she’s on the ticket. I just think the energy and enthusiasm factor was too much to sacrifice. So why did Obama pass Clinton over? Perhaps she didn’t want the job. Maybe they really don’t like each other. Who knows?
Meanwhile, the McCain campaign will continue to try to persuade us with the “experience” argument. Weak. After all, who’s got more experience on a presidential level than George W. Bush? Eight long years. He’s BEEN commander-in-chief. He’s met with all the world leaders. And if he could run again, I have no doubt he’d be neck-and-neck with Obama in the polls, just like McCain is. Because people’s voting habits have little to do with a preference for “experience.” People prefer the status quo because they fear change. And that’s how Karl Rove and Company play their game, by playing on Americans’ fears.
I think the energy and optimism of an Obama/Clinton ticket would’ve overcome that fear. It remains to be seen what Joe Biden can do, and whether or not Obama can re-energize Democrats and convince the fearful undecideds to give him a chance.
Conversational Intolerance
I used to be merely indifferent to organized religion, never quite understanding how anyone could buy into it. I was raised without it, and I’m a “damned” good guy, if I do say so myself. I value the transpersonal or spiritual dimension of experience above all else, I treat others with respect and courtesy, and everyone who knows me considers me a “good person.” I’ve never had need of religion, while having a more or less “live and let live” attitude when it comes to what others believe. But the irrationality and downright insane thinking that characterizes religious fundamentalism of all stripes is on the rise, and has so infected politics and public discourse that maybe it’s time for reasonable people to say “Enough is enough.” The last straw for me was watching Barak Obama pander to the crowd at the Saddleback Mega-Church.
When Obama talked about Jesus dying for his sins and all that, I nearly puked. Now, this is a pretty strong reaction I must admit, but there was something about the whole atmosphere of the forum, with the flock applauding on cue, and Obama parsing his words just so, that pushed my buttons and filled me with dread. First off, I have been rooting for Obama throughout this campaign season, but lately (and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing) I’ve been disillusioned, disappointed, and disenchanted with him and his “meet the new boss, same as the old boss” sucking up to an electorate that proves time and again that ignorance and thoughtlessness are now part and parcel of American society.
The whole question of faith, belief, or lack thereof, is particularly troubling to me. The fact of the matter is, if Obama or any other politician shares MY worldview, he or she would have to lie through their teeth about it in order to be elected to public office. And that’s exactly what I think Obama did by portraying himself as a devout believer, when this does not fit at all with the rest of his vibe. I could be wrong, of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that an America that requires its leaders to take part in organized religion is an America that I am losing faith in. I mean, if you think that a literal reading of the Bible and the theory of evolution represent equally valid perspectives of the development of life on earth, then you are not someone who should be running a large, powerful country in an increasingly complex global society. Such a display of distorted thinking should disqualify a person from being elected to public office, but in the United States — in the year 2008!!! — it’s a prerequisite that you at least pretend such beliefs are worthy of respect, and it’s certainly a prerequisite that you claim to be a believer in God Almighty.
I watched some TV preacher this morning talk about how THE most important thing anyone can do for their children is to teach them to believe in the Bible as the absolutely true Word of God. And here I am feeling just as certain that this is one of THE WORST things anyone could do to their child, that it’s a form of spiritual abuse to indoctrinate someone in this way. And these differences in belief have major consequences, from who is president to whether or not we wage war. So why do so many of us bite our tongues? Well, speaking for myself, it’s because so many of my friends and family members believe things I find very troubling, and I fear that speaking my mind will forever damage these valuable relationships. And so I blog anonymously and hope certain people don’t find me out.
I find myself more and more appreciating the ballsy efforts of the likes of Sam Harris and Bill Maher, and their use of “conversational intolerance,” which is simply a refusal to grant “off limits” status to matters of faith when assessing the validity of relative points of view. And yeah, there’s a certain sense of urgency involved that might ruffle some feathers. Some are more skilled than others, as Sam Harris has had numerous respectful debates with believers, including Saddleback’s Rick Warren, while Richard Dawkins comes across as a total dick most of the time.
True dialogue, true open-ended conversation is so rare, so precious. Do we really expect anyone — ourselves included — will have a change of heart as the so-called “Culture War” rages on? How is it that women ever got the right to vote? How can we bring change in a world that resists it at every turn? Should we fight harder or just lay down our arms? I don’t know. The whole thing is just religulous:
Seventh time’s a charm
Who knows why certain things capture our imaginations. A few weeks ago my friend Bill posted a Joan Halifax essay on his blog called “The Lucky Dark.” The phrase comes from a translation of a St. John of the Cross poem, and basically it refers to all the dark, scary shit that we hate—like suffering, death, loss, and fear—but that also can be deeply transformative when embraced. Just as the phrase “Waiting for the miracle” captured my attention and guided my creative process for years, “The Lucky Dark” seized hold of me right away, and I knew it would be the title of my next album.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what I do musically, what it means to me, and how I see the process unfolding now that I’m back in Carrboro, NC. There’s quite a music scene here, and I had a great time being a part of it a few years ago when I played bass for My Dear Ella. My buddy Eric—the heart and soul of MDE—is still playing music here, fronting a new band called Death of the Sun, and presently putting the finishing touches on a new record that is going to be absolutely fantastic.
I’m not sure how I fit in to the music scene right now, or even that I fit in at all. When I settle in to my little studio on a Saturday evening, I’m just looking to open up and see what happens. The process is so wonderful, so enlivening, that the end result is almost beside the point. I share it here on my blog for a lot of reasons. Of course, I get a thrill when a little praise is thrown my way. But really my music is part of a bigger picture I’ve been sloppily painting for years now. For lack of a better word, it’s a spiritual practice, a way to connect with others and the depths of myself.
Last night I intended to record a song I’ve been kicking around for a few years. But when I went searching for drum beats, I tickled the virtual ivories a little on the way, and got lost there for the whole evening. Here’s what happened:
Seventh time’s a charm.mp3
I will pack my things
I will hit the road
I will not look back
Then I always look back
I will wait all night
for the words to come
Set them free like tears
Let them go like tears
Take me to the edge
This time I’ll jump right in
I won’t change my mind
for the seventh time