The Synergism of Hatred

[H2O Man]

"Pain is pain, suffering is suffering -- whether being wrongly imprisoned, wrongly placed in a concentration camp, or wrongly abused as a child. But pain is a component of suffering, not suffering itself. There are no degrees of suffering." -- Rubin "Hurricane" Carter

The pain and suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina, and increased and enhanced by the poor response by the Bush administration, has resulted in a discussion on the issues of race and class. In the past few days, I have participated in a number of such discussions and debates, including on the Democratic Underground forum. In one such discussion, I noted that class is determined by race in America. Certainly race is not the exclusive factor in determining social class. But when we find, for example, that blacks have the highest infant mortality rates and the shortest life expectancy, we can safely say that being black is directly connected to social class status in the USA.

Further, statistics show that approximately one out of three young black males is either on probation, parole, or incarcerated in this country. This would indicate that being black is directly connected to class in America. It also reminded me of a conversation I took part in with Rubin Carter on 2-26-2001 at Colgate University in upstate New York.

Rubin was incarcerated for 20 years for a brutal triple murder that occurred in a time of racial unrest in Paterson, New Jersey. After two decades, a federal court overturned Carter's conviction, ruling that it was based upon appeals to racism, rather than actual evidence of guilt. Indeed, investigatons into the crime and Carter's extensive court case showed that he had nothing to do with the murders.

How does one respond to being falsely convicted of a terrible crime, labled as a racist mass-murderer, and sentenced to triple life in prison? Rubin was determined to maintain his sense of dignity, and to live as a free man inside the concrete walls and steel bars of the prison. He would spend close to half of that time in solitary confinement, because he refused to behave like an "inmate."

When you are living in total darkness, he told me, you cannot look out; therefore, you must look in. In that unnatural darkness, he was able to stop thinking of people in terms of black or white. He recognized that any system that discriminates against human beings because of race, class, religion, or other related issues, was based upon hatred. And that hatred contaminates the vessel which contains it. Hatred destroys itself and the host, like a cancer.

Any system which discriminates against human beings in this manner is criminal. But it doesn't only put the hateful person's mind in shackles: it creates a system that imprisons its victims in a cycle of ignorance, poverty, drug abuse, and violence. It creates a social underclass, and the concepts of race, class, sexual orientation, religion, age, and gender create a synergism of hatred.

Discussions of racism are always uncomfortable. Rubin noted that in every audience, when he says "racism," white folks tend to react by saying, "Not me!," while black people simply duck. Now this doesn't imply that all, or even most, white people are racists. Or that only blacks are victims. But it does mean that our system has built-in racism, and that it can be found in the White House, the Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court on the federal level. And it is found in state houses and in school houses.

Rubin said that he recognized that those who say there are races actually are in error. There is no such thing as "race." It is a man-made concept that divides people, but it has no scientific value or spiritual truth. There is only one race: the human race. One race, one people, one family, one spirit, one life, and one love. This has been the message of enlightened human beings from around the globe throughout human history.

We tend to think of skin color as defining "race." Yet this does not hold up under any objective examination of the hman family. Indeed, the human family is composed of extended families, known as clans, which then form tribes. And, in the global sense, there are now six main Tribes of the Human Family.

In general terms, there is the White Tribe, which has gained a degree of control in the competition between trbes a few centuries ago. The White Tribe has some competition within itself, of course. The French may hate the Germans who hate the English who hate the Irish; however, when one is threatened by a non-white tribe, they unite and fight.Still, it seems unlikely that the White Tribe will remain in any exclusive control for long.

There is the Yellow Tribe, that is gaining control in the economic world. The White Tribe's only real advantage today seems to be WMDs, that the Yellow Tribe knows the White Tribe is willing to use.

The Red Tribes have largely been decimated. The Lakota (Sioux) Nation, in the North & South Dakota area, exist in largely "third world" conditions. Being born a Lakota surely has much to do with social status, or "class."

The Brown Tribe is growing, and beginning to control their lands and resources. Was the Bush invasion of Iraq based on race? Class? Religion? Is it possible to agree it is the synergism of hatred that has killed thousands of inocent civilians in Iraq?

Rubin said that for centuries, the Black Tribe was mentally decimated. Yet today, in this country, the most humane leadership on the federal level tends to be that provided by the Congressional Black Caucus.

The sixth tribe is the "mixed" people, who have heritage from a combination of two or more of the other five. They may most closely represent the return to our common ancestors.

The Six Tribes are in competition for the world's resources. And, Rubin noted, while competition brings out the best in products, it brings out the worst in people. No one, the good Hurricane reminded us, asks to be born, or chooses their circumstances in terms of color or class. Rather, we are born trapped in happenstance.

Rubin recited a wonderful poem, and I do not recall it fully. But bear with me: There were six people trapped in that worldy happenstance, in a cold and often cruel reality, where they sat around a dying fire, each with a stick of wood.

The first looked around the circle beyond that fire, and selfishly held his stick back; he felt uncomfortable being white, while the other five were a shade of black.

The second was ready to share, until he saw the others were not from his church; feeling the growing cold made him hold more tightly to his stick of birch.

The third recognized no one, as having helped him when he lived in a ditch; he was angry at the very thought, of sharing with the rich.

The fourth was a wealthy man, who had sold sticks in his store; he found it foolish to think, his stick should warm the shiftless poor.

The fifth watched the embers as the fire faded from sight; he grasped his stick with thoughts of fighting the hated white.

The sixth man sat and decided he would not join the others' games; instead he sat and watched the fire of life, extinguished with the flames.

The lesson of the poem, Rubin said, was that the six people did not die from the cold without, they dies from the cold within.

It is a sad fact that there would have been widespread suffering and death from Hurricane Katrina, no matter what anyone did in the 72 hours before it struck. And that is because we have been divided by foolish things for so many years. We are divided by concepts such as race, class, gender, age, and at times things like hair styles.

At the same time, we see a powerful force in New Orleans. It is human compassion. We see the strength of human kindness. We see the potential for a reconciliation within this human family. Yet while we can reconcile with others, we must first find peace within ourselves.

The myth of racism is a sickness. It is, like classism, a cancerous hate. We must be alert to the dangers it presents. To do so requires that we wake up to our humanity. It demands that we recognize our own personal worth, and then the worth of our brothers and sisters. We can transcend the terror of today with the power of love.

Peace to you,
Water Man

posted by Patrick O'Waterman

[Karenina]

1. Waterman...

:yourock:

[H2O Man]

3. Thank you.

You are one of the sane voices that I admire the most.

[H2O Man]

2. Part Two:

I forgot to add the proper ending. It happens when you reach my age. It's from an unpublished manuscript by a friend who teaches at the NYS University system. Her book is about suffering, with attention paid to survivors of child abuse.

Rubin wrote: "...(T)o forgive yourself and your parents, you need to understand that you too are a machine. I am no different; you are no different. There are no saints. It's the way we were created. We are all savages on this earth. We are as much a machine as your lawnmower. Your reactions are the same as mine or anyone else's. But you have the ability to wake up. That's your salvation. Somehow, some way, you have to get over it.

"Hate can only produce hate. That's why all these wars are going on, all this insanity. There's too much anger in the U.S. People are too afraid. Too numbed out. We need to wipe out all this hatred, fear, distrust, and violence. We need to understand, forgive, and love."

[Solly Mack]

4. I'll never be the peace maker, it's justice I seek

(But) You'll never find justice, until it's peace you seek

I'm reminded of something my mother once said to me...(the above)

I'm still thinking things over

Thanks for posting this here.

[H2O Man]

6. Peace and justice .....

can be synergistic, too.

[Solly Mack]

10. I feel as if I'm searching for a feeling I once knew but have forgotten

I'm so angry right now. My heart is so full.

I want to scream at people "You did this!"

But my heart knows that "we" did this - because "we" didn't stop it before it happened.

And even though I know that, I fear people like Bush are going to use my heart against me to absolve themselves of their very real failures....and I feel the anger rising up in me again. I tell myself I have to hold on to the anger or justice will never ever come.

I can't just keep forgiving and keep forgiving. But how can we go on as a people unless we do?

[H2O Man]

17. You are right

that people of Bush's ilk will try to capitalize upon peoples' good will. Be even more important is the fact that in the strength of compassion, and the power of forgiveness, we remove what "power" those folks abuse. Anger cannot be curbed with anger, nor hatred cured by more hatred.

[SlowDownFast]

77. From a song by rasta Peter Tosh:

"I don't want no peace.

I want equal rights and justice."

[Lindsay]

5. Thank you for posting this.

May we learn these lessons from this disaster.

[H2O Man]

7. Let's hope so

If we, as a people, do not learn from this, then a season of suffering awaits us.

[northamericancitizen]

8. Thank you.

We all need to reach in before being able to reach out.

lise

[jokerman93]

9. Nice Post Patrick

Thoughtful. I particularly liked the way you depicted the human family as divided into tribes -- an instructive viewpoint. Hope to read more.

[H2O Man]

12. Thank you.

I am hoping that DU can make progress on an objective discussion of some of those issues that have the potential of dividing people, including democrats.

[leftchick]

11. Worth the wait to read Water Man

Excellent and hopeful. I would send it to the neighbor but I am afraid he would not relate this to himself.

Peace,
lc

[H2O Man]

13. True.

He likely could not see himself in it. But he might see part of you. (grin) And maybe that would allow him more opportunity at insight. Maybe not.

[G_j]

14. thank you

for embracing a teachable moment and reminding us of our 'better angels'.

If there is any silver lining to a tragedy such as this, it would be that we use the OPPORTUNITY to learn and build bridges to understanding. This takes a conscious effort.
Some terrible truths have been exposed to the light of day. Let us be brave and look at them head on.

thanks H20 Man! :pals:

[H2O Man]

15. Right.

When President Bush says that we will be stronger because of this, he is without understanding. That would be impossible. But we can be stronger despite the hurricane.

[Binka]

21. Stronger despite the hurricane that is the message

When Dim Sons own Mommy says such hateful things like why should I worry my beautiful mind, and that displaced traumatized people are going to benefit from moving to Houston.....well it is clear that they haven't a clue. Spoiled overindulged jackals want nothing more than the proles to rip each other limb from limb. Think Gladiators.

This real human tragedy is blood sport to them... a way to rid and thin the masses. They all use the same reptilian code speak. It is despicable and totally predictable. Their hatred of their fellow man will be their undoing. I believe we are witnessing it now. Great post Patrick. I love how you quote Hurricane Carter BTW coming from a family of all females my uncles loved the fact that I enjoyed boxing. They taught me a lot about the sport and life. My career climbing father was only too willing to let them have the reigns.

On a side note my family of RICH REPUBS is now taking up the battle cry of having one of their own in Iraq. As if. Most haven't spoken to me for years but now want to send Ben letters and goodies. For Ben and for Ben alone I will keep my thoughts about this to myself. They are jackals as well. Interesting that they love to get on stage when a disaster is unfolding. Fools.

[H2O Man]

37. Extended families

create challanges. Years ago, I was a single, working father, raising two young sons. Their mother, for reasons of her own, brought a number of strange and unhappy "cases" to family court. Even though I always did fine in court, it was at times stressful. In a sense, no one "wins" in family court in a majority of cases, and children often lose some of the innocence that should be a secure part of family life.

One day I was explaining to a supervisor why I would need time off, and we got talking about the strangeness of the case. The boys' mother wanted financial support, even though at the time she had a larger income than I, and I had custody of the boys. I said something about not thinking I should have to be burdened with this. My supervisor told me that she thought I should view it as part of a process, in which I absorbed the hostility and hatred, so the boys weren't subjected to it. I found that interesting.

But even more significant was when she reminded me that my sons were genetically related to their mother; hence, the struggles she was experiencing would likely at times be things my sons could experience as inner conflicts. That may be true, it may not. And, strangely, it may be something like things your son may experience at some point, too. The conflicts that his relatives have.

I think that one thing your son has in his favor is a great mom. It sure sounds like you have absorbed plenty of pain that has been inflicted by the extended family. Martin taught that unearned suffering is redemptive. Individual sacrifice benefits the larger group. So stay strong. The truth will light the way.

[Binka]

60. Patrick these words...unearned suffering is redemptive

Just make a knot in my stomach and an ache in my heart. But I know them to be true. My fundie ex stole my children from me. When I finally had the courage to leave him in 1987 and checked into a hospital for an eating disorder he served me with divorce papers. I never lived with my kids again. He got custody of them through twisted court proceedings and a hell of a lot of money. It was Orange Co CA. He was already heavily involved with Trinity broadcasting and Paul Crouch. I could not abide with these people and it was a big reason I left him.

He used those Christian folks to destroy me. Good crikey they used every Christian snake oil sales person at their disposal to assail my character. Even though I was a much loved and revered member of our little church. But the good looking and sorta sexy mommy that every stupid guy wanted to fuck must now pay for leaving one of their own. I lost the court battle. My family so EMBARRASSED that I left him abandoned me. I moved to NO CA and worked in a small health food store. I got to see my kids one week a year on my small savings. Patrick I cried myself to sleep every night for almost ten years.

Every dime I earned went to saving for those trips. Rich Repubs wanted to see them when I got them out to NO CA but no money to help was coming. The ex had trained the kids to call the step wife MOM and this just crushed me. The Rich Repubs thought I was overreacting when I voiced hurt. Remember none of my sisters have children. I began running as a way to deal with my hurt. I was good at it. It helped me so much. My half sister was a runner too. Problem was when we ran at a charity run just for fun I won. Not allowed.

But when I finally had enough and called my half sister out on her ROYAL BULLSHIT which basically entailed saying look sister Mom is dead and your dirty and manipulative bellowing from the throne is just garbage I got totally expelled.

They tossed my ass in 1987 I barely got back in in 1994 but when I stood up in 2000 they fecking tossed me again. So now Ben is in Iraq. I must type this again Ben is in Iraq. How did this happen well Ben and dad had a fight. Lots of animosity. But he is THERE. But I have Peyton here. So here that I smell her. I love to sniff her. I want to erase all that I have written because it sounds so damn stupid. I haven't gotten it right. But I want to believe what Martin said ....unearned suffering is redemptive.

[H2O Man]

63. Besides the e-mail:

"The modern American family is the smallest and most barren family that has ever existed. Each newly married couple moves to a new house or apartment -- no uncles or grandmothers come to live with them. There are seldom more than two or three children. The children live with their peers and leave home early. Many have the least sense of family.

"I remember sitting down to Christmas dinner eighteen years ago in a communal house in Portland, Oregon, with about twelve others my age, all of whom had no place they wished to go home to. That house was my first discovery of harmony and community with fellow beings. This has been the experience of hundreds of thousands of men and women all over America since the end of World War Two. Hence the talk about the growth of a 'new society.' But more; these gatherings have been people spending time with each other -- talking, delving, making love. Because of the sheer amount of time 'wasted' together (without TV) they know each other better than most Americans know their own family. .....

"The American Indian is the vengeful ghost lurking in the back of the troubled American Indian mind. Which is why we lash out with such ferocity and passion, so muddied a heart, at the black-haired young peasants and soldiers who are the 'Viet Cong.' That ghost wil claim the next generation as its own. When this has happened, citizens of the USA will at last begin to be Americans, truly at home on the continent, in love with their land. The chorus of a Cheyenne Indian Ghost dance song -- 'hi-niswa' vita'ki'ni' -- 'We shall live again.'"

-- Earth House Hold; Gary Snyder; 1968

[coeur_de_lion]

57. Hi Binka

I don't have too many Repubs in my family, and no Rich Repubs, for sure. But the one thing I've learned is to accept help even from those folks I disagree with strongly. Even though you disagree with your relatives on so many important levels, there is one area where you do agree -- that Ben deserves all the support he can get. They might be supporting him for all the wrong reasons, but somewhere in there they do care and that is what you have to pay attention to. I guess.

My nephew is going to Iraq one day soon and my 3 siblings who support Bush and his phony war (UGH!) are just as grief-crazed as the rest of us who do not. I'm hoping they will open their eyes because of this but if they don't I think I can somehow forgive them. I hope I can.

As always Ben and you have my sincere prayers and loving thoughts.

[H2O Man]

64. Floyd Abrams has

told at least one reporter something that indicates that Judith Miller is trying to strike a deal with Mr. Fitzgerald. That kind of brings to mind your favorite saying by Gandhi, about how tyrants may seem strong, but ..... Perhaps you could remind your feeble old friend of the exact quote?

[coeur_de_lion]

66. here it is

"When I despair...I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been murderers and tyrants, and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it ... always." Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

I don't know how, I don't know when, but this murderer in the WH will fall. It is inevitable.

[H2O Man]

69. Thank you.

Gandhi's words are a soothing inspiration.

[coeur_de_lion]

72. We have to believe him.

He always knew that his way would win. We have to know it too. We have to keep the faith or we'll go crazy.

[coeur_de_lion]

81. some (perhaps) good news . . .

there was another thread with this article on DU, but threads are moving so fast! I wanted to link to the DU thread but I did a search for it and could not find it again.
Paper: Tenet won't become fall guy for 9/11 intelligence
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Paper_Tenet_wont_become_fall_guy_for_911_intell_0901.html

<<snip>>
George Tenet will not let himself become the "fall guy" for 9/11 intelligence failures, according to a former intelligence officer and a source friendly to Mr. Tenet, the conservative Washington Times asserted Thursday.

The piece was written by John B. Roberts, who worked in the Reagan White House and often writes on terrorism and intelligence affairs. Tenet, the former CIA direction, was blamed for the sixteen words in President Bush's 2003 State of the Union address in which he boldly asserted that Iraq was seeking uranium for a weapons of mass destruction program. He resigned shortly thereafter.

In a more recent report, Inspector General John Helgerson criticized the former CIA director and a score of other agency personnel for their failure to develop a strategy against al Qaeda, and for intelligence failures leading up to the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The report, delivered to Congress this week, recommends punitive sanctions for Mr. Tenet, former Deputy Director of Operations James L. Pavitt and former counter-terrorist center head J. Cofer Black," Roberts writes. "Mr. Tenet's response to the report is a 20-page, tightly knitted rebuttal of responsibility prepared with the aid of a lawyer, according to the friendly source."

"Mr. Tenet's decision to defend himself against the charges in the report poses a potential crisis for the White House," Roberts adds. "According to a former clandestine services officer, the former CIA director turned down a publisher's $4.5 million book offer because he didn't want to embarrass the White House by rehashing the failure to prevent September 11 and the flawed intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Tenet, according to a knowledgeable source, had a "wink and a nod" understanding with the White House that he wouldn't be scapegoated for intelligence failings. The deal, one source says, was sealed with the award of the Presidential Freedom Medal."
<<snip>>

[GeorgeBushytail]

16. Please spread the word - 9/11 March to Bushville, DC

9/11 March to Bushville, DC

On 9/11 survivors of Katrina will commit an act of Nonviolent Civil Disobedience by setting up an illegal camp on the Washington, DC Mall. Bushville, DC will stay there as long as it takes to get answers and change.

Visit www.bushville.org and spread the word.

We will camp on Bush's doorstep and make him face us every day until he is driven from power.

Join the March to Bushville, DC. If you can't make it on 9/11 visit us on 9/24.

[Just Me]

18. I am a member of one race, the human race.

Yesterday, Randi said she decided the best solution to this issue is to cross-race/religion breed *LOL* that way the faux distinctions/divisions will no longer exist.

I believe there are those who wield hate-filled distinctions and exploit human vulnerability/fear for the purpose of empowering themselves. If only we could disassemble the vulnerable and fearful such that they are resistent to being exploited in such an evil way.

[me b zola]

65. "The best solution"

How ironic. When I was in 7th grade, I guess that was 1977, that was my solution to bigotry and hatred. I thought that if someone were a member of your family then you would have to look past their skin color to see who they really are. And, like Randi, I thought that if we all just melted into a nice shade of brown that there would be no more distinctions if skin color to separate us.

I really didn't plan it that way consciencely, but I really have done that with my own family. My son that I had in high school is Mexican-American. His wife is Philippina and they have my three beautiful grandchildren. My son's father went on later to marry a woman who is half Japanese-American, half Chinese American and so my son has half brothers & sisters of even more "races". My now hubbie is white, but two of his sisters have AA children.

We are the sixth tribe :)

[Gregorian]

19. There but for the grace of God go I.

A beautiful piece. It fills me with much needed optimism. There is nothing wrong with thinking, as long as we are searching for the truth. Let us work to overcome the fear.

[Me.]

20. Here's Another Way Of Looking At This

From Julian Edney's writings on Greed:

“NUTS:

For readers thinking these themes overwrought, I'll describe a small game in which you can watch greed in the person sitting next to you. Three people sit around a kitchen bowl. You, the fourth person, with a timer, start off placing ten small items in the bowl - quarters, dollar bills, or nuts. Tell the three players the goal is for each of them to get as many items as they can. Tell them one other thing before they start: every ten seconds (you have your watch ready) you will look in the bowl, and double the number of items remaining there, by replenishing from an outside source ( a separate pile of quarters on the side).

In the original Nuts Game, I used hardware nuts, and the players were college students. You would think the players would figure out that if they all waited, and didn't take anything out of the bowl for a while, then the contents of the bowl would soon get very big, automatically doubling every ten seconds. Eventually they could each divide up a pot that had grown large. But in fact, sixty percent of these groups never make it to the first 10-second replenishment cycle. They each grabbed all they could as soon as they could, leaving nothing in the bowl to be doubled, and each player wound up with none or a few items. This can be an energetic game. I've seen the bowl knocked to the floor and I've seen broken fingernails in the greedy melee. In the original game, players are not allowed to talk. Even when they are allowed to talk, not all groups collaboratively work out a patient, conserve-as-you-go playing style, necessary for eventual big scores. They don't trust each other.”

http://www.g-r-e-e-d.com/GREED.htm

[Just Me]

23. Hmmm,...I would think that has mostly to do with,...

,...a competitive "win at all costs" mentality in our society.

[Me.]

24. Not Really

It goes to the issue of trust and cooperativeness. If the people in the game would trust each other and work for the common good, rather than grabbing, all would be better off. What we're seeing in our society is the disenfranchised and the poor suffering so that the top 2% can have even more money. Even today the pugs plan on going through with another tax cut. And lets also keep in mind that a majority of the poor are working poor. So how about an increase in the minimum wage rather than a tax cut for the wealthy? Maybe if these people could afford good health care and to eat properly there would be less of a strain on the health care system they can't afford and have to use through the emergency room door. Better educations would certainly help. And housing, decent housing rather than the conditions a lot live under would provide mental as well as physical benefits.

Greed has sapped the humanity in this country, our government's response to the current plight proves that. And where was Cheney during this misery, buying a 2.8 million dollar home.

Edney's articles on greed are eye opening, how Adam Smith got it wrong, why "trickle down" doesn't work and how the deck has been stacked against those of humbler backgrounds.

[Misunderestimator]

22. An incredible read, Water Man!

:yourock:

[im10ashus]

25. Your words always transform me.

One of my favorite quotes ever:

But suppose God is black? What if we go to Heaven and we, all our lives, have treated the Negro as an inferior, and God is there, and we look up and He is not white? What then is our response?

Robert F. Kennedy

[Me.]

26. Interesting Quote

I guess the "joke" would be on the whites. Also can't help wishing I could be there to see Robertson and Falwell's faces. It would also be delicious if God is a woman.

[im10ashus]

27. I've always used that quote when I would hear racist comments.

There's just no excuse for bigotry and racism in my world. Being a gay man, I would always wonder, what if God was a big drag queen? That would REALLY make Falwell, Robertson, Phelps and the rest REALLY nervous.

[H2O Man]

35. That's great!

I've always thought that the Falwells and Robertsons will be shocked to find that God really doesn't spend eternity worrying about anyone's sex life. But, if God has a sense of humor, the drag queen bit would be great. (Your will, not our's, God .... but, if you'd please consider that one!)

[Nothing Without Hope]

28. At the heart of it all. Thank you, Patrick. Recommended with all my heart.

Related: the profound trauma suffered by Bush's victims. This is vitally important. Many of these people say they have lost their faith even in their God, which has always sustained them in their previous harships and sufferings. What is left?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4683757

[H2O Man]

30. Yesterday I went

to an "end of summer" picnic at the community services (mental health clinic/CDT/ADAS)where I used to work. Today, I mentioned to my wife that one of her good friend & co-worker didn't look well. She said our friend is very upset, because her daughter's boyfriend, who is in Iraq, was standing next to a guy who was killed in an explosion a couple days ago. Obviously, this is worse for that dead soldier's family. But the impact is greater than he severely limited moral intellect of the president could possibly grasp.

We are in a strange time. I can certainly understand how these times test peoples' faith, either in God or in their understanding of what is positive in life. And that can never be discounted, nor should that ever be taken for granted. Yet I can say, without any possibility of being wrong, that in the human family, there are those who are weak so that others can be strong. We are all combinations of weak and strong, in fact, and that is by necessity. For if we were all strong in the same things, and weak in the same areas, humanity would have degenerated to extinction long, long ago.

For this reason, as I said to a good friend today, one person's strength is not cause for worship or undue admiration, nor is another person's weaknesses reason to hate them. I have a feeling that concept will not go over well with many on DU. Yet it is the truth, and I will do my best to speak the truth, no matter if it is popular or not.

This path may sound difficult or unlikely. But, the most common feelings that individuals experience in today's American "culture" are helplessness and hopelessness as far as the ability to impact the direction our country is going in. Which path is more difficult, or less likely to succeed?

[leftchick]

29. an essential read

for the times we are living in.

[H2O Man]

32. I think that it

is a continuation of an essential conversation that a half-dozen of us have been having for the past week. Probably the "blame" should go to a loud-mouthed neighbor!

[leftchick]

36. I am planning on it

Tomorrow morning after a cup of coffee I will send the dreaded e-mail and I will indeed include this piece. pointless perhaps but still worth a try.

;)

31. Malidome Some

I have read books by Malidome Some, a member of the Dagara Tribe of Africa who now teaches in the US. He brings the model of the Dagara and how they honor their ancestors and he teaches about creating community.
http://www.malidoma.org/index.html

[H2O Man]

33. Thank you

for sharing that. It is amazing how, in each of the tribes of the human family, we find a tremendous amount of wisdom in the traditional societies. One of my favorite books is Thomas Merton's "Gandhi on Non-Violence." He discusses in the wonderful introduction how the Mahatma has attempted to bridge the gulf between the wisdom of the East, and the knowledge of the West. I may be fooling myself, but I am convinced that there is a core group of people on DU who, perhaps without identifying it as a goal, present thoughts that lead in that direction.

58. Thomas Merton

That is interesting that you mention Thomas Merton. My father was in a monastery in Kentucky right after WWII and Merton was his novice master. He really encouraged my father and my father said they would crack up at things at the monastery, whereas everyone else would be so serious and grim. My father seemed to be right in the middle of a lot of the social changes in his life. He was friends with Dorothy Day and later worked for Leadership Council for metropolitan open communities in Chicago, started by Martin Luther King along with Mayor Daley.

[H2O Man]

59. Small world! n/t

[sweetheart]

34. well put

Maybe if we repeat ourselves, heartfelt for 100,000 lifetimes, they'll
listen.... or maybe it takes 100,000 lifetimes of experience to
realize the futility of living life in fear and hatred.

[Pobeka]

38. Bleeding heart liberals.

There was a time, when we had the label of bleeding heart liberals. They tried to shame us with the fact that we cared about anyone and everyone, and our policy was to put true caring into actions of the government.

The more they labeled us with that title, the more we gained seats in government.

The GOP of course, finally realized they needed to change the labeling mechanism, and learned how to frame issues with new labels -- abortion, wasteful government programs, welfare queens etc.
--

The simple fact is, I believe, that most people do want a country, a world where we can care for each other in meaningful ways, and trust the government (which is just each other), to act in caring ways, not out of hate or ignorance. Of course there is a small vocal majority that gains power by sowing the seeds of hate and violence. But they are not our "target audience", it is this other, more silent majority that is waiting for a voice to offer them a way out of this madness.

[H2O Man]

39. Well said.

Very well said, indeed.

[Pobeka]

41. Yours was well said too. Forgot to say that. Thanks. n/t

[0007]

40. Thank you Sir. I read Rubin Carter's book a few years ago only because

I remembered watching him fight more than a few times. Indeed it was a soul searching story that I'll never forget. Thanks for jogging this old worn out memory. There was a movie out, but I forgot the name of it, perhaps you can help.

[H2O Man]

42. The Hurricane

starring Denzel Washington. I have a essay on my blog about the opening scene from the movie that you might find interesting.

The first fight I ever saw was one of Rubin's, on the old Friday Night Fights. He was a heck of a fighter. Not with the elite class of all-time greats, but he did well with Emile Griffith, Dick Tiger, and other top champions.

As a grumpy young amateur boxer, I used to correspond with Rubin while he was incarcerated. I have all the letters and tapes he sent. In college, I did some volunteer work with Myron Beldock on his defense efforts. I still am in touch with him; we share an interest in flower gardening.

[0007]

48. Very Interesting. I'll have to get the book back from a friend

I loaned it to that never read his story. I did see the Griffth & Dick Tiger fights.
An excellent documentary on Emile Griffth was on the Sundance channel a month or two ago. I also saw the fight between Benny "kid" Paret and Griffth.

I'm touched by your friendship and loyalty with "Hurricane". Tell Rubin for me that "The Salt of the Earth came home to Roost with Katrina"

[H2O Man]

49. That I will.

There are now five books that Rubin either wrote, or helped to write.

If my older son gets home, I might have him "post" some photos of Rubin that you might enjoy. A few are rare ones from his first fight in South Africa, against Joe "Axe-Killer" Ngidi. A funny coincidence: the student who guided Rubin around S.A. was Stephen Biko, who would be killed for his activism years later. Denzel played Biko in "Cry Freedom," and of course he played both Malcolm and Rubin.

He had sent me the photos to explain how to properly shorten a jab before unleashing a combination to put one's opponent into the ropes. I also have some good photos of him and my children and I in recent years. (I'm not talented with the old computer, or else I'd take a shot at posting them.)

I sat next to Emile at the 2nd Ali-Frazier fight at MSG, and have had the chance to talk to him at the Hall of Fame. It was funny: Rubin could beat Emile easily; Emile beat Tiger twice cleanly; and Dick beat Rubin convincingly.

[zippy890]

dupe

[zippy890]

43. Timely & eloquent

"Rubin said that he recognized that those who say there are races actually are in error. There is no such thing as "race." It is a man-made concept that divides people, but it has no scientific value or spiritual truth."

So true, people are not born racist, they are taught prejudices - and then as you say, the racism becomes systemic, 'built-in' to the bases of our society.

Through awareness & education we recognize these things, & if your lucky enough - like you- to know a Reuben Carter, you grow from that experience.

For me it came when I read "The Autobiography of Malcom X" by Alex Haley - I thought of Malcom X reading your description of Reuben Carter in jail. This book had a profound effect on my life, an amazing man who came to realize that there is but one race, the human race.

[H2O Man]

44. By no small coincidence

Malcolm and Rubin knew each other. Carter also marched with King.

I remember Carl Sagan saying that the Autobiography of Malcolm X was the most important American book. I believe it. When I was in high school, a teacher assigned me to read & report on that book. I've read it at least once a year ever since. I have two copies of it in the room I'm in now, and was reading part of it earlier today. I've also got a half-dozen old albums of Malcolm's speeches. Powerful man.

[im10ashus]

70. He was indeed a powerful man.

Being a cinemaphile I didn't really learn much about him until seeing "Malcolm X" with Denzel Washington. I'll see anything Denzel does and that's what brought Malcolm into my life. Great film.

Another film that deals with the way racism is embedded in our society was a fictional piece. It is, in my very humble opinion, the best film of the year. It's called "Crash" and was written and directed by Paul Haggis, one of my favorites. He's the one who wrote the screenplay for "Million Dollar Baby" if you've seen that one. "Crash" is out on DVD now and quite a powerful film. The performances were, straight across the board, exemplary. Even Sandra Bullock wasn't bad for a change. I highly recommend.

[H2O Man]

73. An interesting book is

"Malcolm X: The FBI Files." It has an introduction by Spike Lee:

".... I was fascinated reading this book. At the same time, though, I found it frightening. We all live in a wicked country where the government can and will do anything to keep people in check. I might add that I see the FBI, CIA and the police departments around this country as one and the same. They are all in cahoots and along with the Nation of Islam they all played a part in the assassination of Malcolm X. Who else? King? Both Kennedys? Evers? Hampton? The list goes on and on. ....

"This book chroicles the growth and evolution of Malcolm from his early 'white man is the devil' days to his later, more developed world outlook right before he was killed. One can see that the Bureau and agencies like it cannot work successfully without informants. .... That's the sad part. Malcolm was sold out. A house nigger turned him into Massa just like one did Nat Turner and countless others. It's also ironic that Brother Gene, one of Malcolm's bodyguards who gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation seconds after he'd been shot and was dying, also proved to be a police informant .....

"I'm still surprised they even let these papers out. Turn that around and wonder what was destroyed: What documents will we never know about?

"It's 1991 and the Federal Bureau of Investigation we know from television and Mississippi Burning are far, far from reality. Fortunately, there are books like this that combat these Walt Disney/John Wayne bogus images. ..."

(Note: Gene Roberts was not an "informant." He was a high-level undercover agent in a special NYC police force with ties to other federal agencies.)

[im10ashus]

78. I'll add to my list of book reads.

It strikes me as odd when I am confronted with a person who doesn't believe our government could do some of the things they've done, or at the least, allegedly done.

One need only reference our foreign policy to draw an example. If our own government, in particular the CIA and FBI, would help stage a coup to put their own choice of leader in power (think Saddam Hussein and the Bath Party in 1968), what would they do at home to silence someone who has the intelligence and wherewithal to fight back.

Our government has been complicit in some of the most heinous acts known to mankind.

[Lecky]

45. I don't believe racism to be a myth (I live in the South)

It really does exist unfortunately and everyone...I mean all races are susceptible to it in some shape or another. It's ignorance and hatred, pure and simple. It's a way to keep us divided and not accept each other's differences.

That was a good post though, I agree with much of it. It's still and will always be a very difficult topic to discuss openly and honestly...I think we are moving forward though...slowly but surely.

[H2O Man]

47. Racism is real.

The concept of "race" is not. If I was not clear on that, then I own the error.

One example might help me clarify: In his front page article in the 9-27-74 New York Times, Selwyn Raab reported that the lead investigator in the murder case called Rubin Carter and John Artis "niggers, Muslims, animals, and murderers" when interviewing witnesses to the crime. That is racism, and it was real.

Rubin and John were not, however, "niggers, Muslims, animals or murderers." Often described in 1966 as "Negroes," they were not Negroes, either. There is no such thing as an individual or race of Negroes. They were Americans, or African-Americans. Because Rubin was black, and John was brown, they were the targets of the racist hatred that viewed black and brown men as "nigger, Muslims, animals and murderers."

The first federal judge that heard the case (11-7-85) overturned the convictions after finding the prosecutors committed "grave constitutional errorts," and determining the convictions were based on "racism rather than reason, and concealment rather than disclosure." (On 1-21-87, the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the first federal court's decision; on 1-11-88, the US Supreme Court -- indeed, the Reagan Supreme Court -- upheld that decision.)

Racism is real, but it is based on the myth of "race."

[Lecky]

52. I see what you are saying and agree completely :)

[orpupilofnature57]

46. Inspirational, Thank you

[G_j]

50. kick

:bounce::bounce:
:bounce::bounce:

[ultraist]

51. Thank you H2OMan!

:hug:

[Bluerthanblue]

53. OH!! H2O man- ...

you have no idea how much i needed to read this beautiful peice of writing- and words of such truth and wisdom.

thank you...
thank you very much...

Peace to us all-
blu

[H2O Man]

55. Well thank you.

I appreciate you kind words. There were a number of threads on DU that had me thinking that this might be beneficial to discuss. I am impressed by the thoughtful responses.

[Just Me]

54. Maybe, just maybe,...the human mess has all to do with,...

,...a fundamental experience of being human: suffering. Instead of working through that discomfort, that suffering,...the human weakness is to project that experience unto others in the form of anger and blame and hatred as a means of escape.

It's the recklessness of that "projection" that represents the cancer of our existence. Instead of pinning responsibility for our situation upon those who actually control it,...we aimlessly attack those who have no power over us, whatsoever. How the hell can anyone BLAME the powerless for the man-made creation here on earth? Why attach any of the human oppression to God when it is the human powers that be which perpetuate such conditions?

Such thoughts invade me, tonight, as my beloved Brother is being shipped to Iraq. He and I are comfortable with our unique commitments to particular services and duties because,...we love eachother, so much. I wish we were not forced to live in such precarious circumstances,...neither of us asked for them,...we are just forced to live in this shit.

The only ones truly doing the "blame game" are those who are responsible for FUCKING humanity. Those profiteering bastards MUST BE DEFEATED,...for the sake of human dignity and life and potential and hope.

I am tired of all false pretenses proposed by those who don't give a damn in order to exploit all those who DO GIVE A DAMN!!!

:cry: I am a rant.

[coeur_de_lion]

56. the awful tragedy on the Gulf Coast

has to teach us something. There are those who will not learn from it, Bush included. There are those who will learn the wrong things, like hating your fellow man because he failed to help you in crisis. There are those who will learn that tragedy does give us an opportunity to help our fellow man and learn to live in peace with him.

I hope I learn the right things. I do think to myself over and over that this hurricane could have taken another turn and hit Florida and I would be one of the suffering. I feel lucky and I also feel responsible for the people who are suffering.

A lot of folks are screaming for Bush to be impeached. I don't think that will happen, but I do think that this tragedy taught a lot of Republicans that Bush is out for himself only. We have always known it but I think others do too, now.

I have to have faith that something good will come of this or I'll lose my mind! Thanks H for the wonderful post, and thanks for expressing so eloquently what a lot of us have been feeling.

[H2O Man]

61. coeur de lion

My friend, coeur de lion. The red-haired Irish girl.

I don't think there is any chance of Bush being impeached due to his failed response to the hurricane. But I do think that he has lost credibility with a large group of Americans who probably voted for him in the last election.

[coeur_de_lion]

67. my manicurist

is blaming the whole thing of the Mayor of New Orleans. Those who blindly love the * bastard still do. But those who have a mind to think on their own are asking the right questions, and coming up with the right answers. If the election were held today, do you think * might do well? I don't. He'd have to steal it yet again.

I read the story about Michael Brown, head of FEMA, being "excused" from his duties in the Gulf region. He said that the press is against him but not the president. Just goes to show -- Bush was very happy with the "work" Brownie did. Things went exactly as Bush wanted them to.

[H2O Man]

68. My normal brother

(well, kind of normal) e-mailed me yesterday. He said, "How dare you say Bush has done nothing for the victims of the hurricane? He is calling for a national day of prayer!" He then went on to describe his contempt for an administration that attempts to capitalize on the suffering and loss of American citizens.

He said he is convinced that the herd mentality in America would lead to people following the president's lies, because they are wrapped in prayers and flags. I don't think so. I think that a large cross-section of Americans are waking up to the fact that we have the most corrupt group of heartless, soul-less thugs in Washington DC.

[coeur_de_lion]

71. My God, I hope so.

I found out recently that my oldest sister is a Bush-loving person. I already knew that my brother and second oldest sister were Republicans. I always tell them that I'm praying for them, only half in jest. I really am praying for them.

I have been emailing back and forth with my sisters and brother all week. My youngest sister asked what we were talking about when we said one of our own was going to Iraq. Oldest sister (sister #1) wrote this back to her "Brian is going into the Marine Corp to find a direction for his life."

Like the Marine Corp is good for him, and this is a good thing. Now sister #1's husband was a career Air Force guy, retired a few years ago, and did two tours in the Persian Gulf. She of all of us should know better and she doesn't. It kills me that my own siblings can be so nuts!

If it can happen in my own family it can happen to anyone. My Dad was a career Air Force man too. We all grew up on military bases, we watched Dad go off to Vietnam for a year, and we all know what military life is all about. But 3 of the 6 of us don't think that the Iraq war is wrong. Blows my mind.

[H2O Man]

74. Perhaps.

Or perhaps it was your siblings' minds that were blown.

[coeur_de_lion]

75. sometimes I think

that Republicans HAVE to have faith in Bush or they will lose their own minds. I mean no matter how awful he is they support the idiot. They cannot think that the President of the United States is evil or their world will crumble.

Look at all the ugly, underhanded, evil things he has done and some still support him. I guess if they didn't they would have to admit that the most evil president ever is in charge of the country. That may be too much for some people to take in.

[H2O Man]

76. That's right. n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

62. There is a Seventh Tribe that offers it's sticks willingly.

Their numbers can be found amongst the six other Tribes. They can be easily recognized for they are the ones fending off the bludgeoning blows of those who would hold their sticks close to hand.

[stepnw1f]

79. We, as a nation, Are Only As Strong As Our Weakest Among Us

These are the words that made me extremely proud to be American. And, yes... I still feel this is the prevailing sentiment across this great nation of ours. Have hope folks.

[symbolman]

80. I've always wanted to create or start a religion

based on the Sacredness of DNA.

Some of the concepts would include, "YOu know, if you are screwing over your brother you are ACTUALLY Screwing over YOURSELF as you are made of the same material, DNA, that they are."

It would solve the problem of Race and intertwine religion and science enough to maintain interest in both and allow for purity of both the soul and the mind, and if someone want to investigate either part of the whole in earnest then no one loses. A nice little Geshtalt ripple.

I came to the conclusion, after a particularly incredibly spiritual experience in Alaska (where I watched caribou converge and group into such a large mass, while cruising 3000 feet in the sky in a Hughes 500D at 180 mph over the flat tundra, that for 15 minutes I saw nothing but FUR, clambering, climbing over each other, slithering between, from all parts of the horizon - the earth was ALIVE.) that we must in order to save the earth and our DNA related pals, make the ecological movement RELIGIOUS.

I know this will be hard as the end timers want to suck the earth dry and eat everything before Jesus drops out of the sky, and the earth and all the lil snail darters aren't really anything more than a backdrop and/or bank to continually withdraw from ..

But a combination of a religion that celebrates DNA, Nature, Ecology and with mankind as steward of all this I think may be well recieved at some point. Who doesn't get a big ass kick when they try to wrap their arms around a giant sequoia, or make faces at monkeys, or want a nice green lawn?

It's all a matter of packaging, PR, etc.

And one other thing to be considered. We actually DO control the universe, but the problem is we are surrounded by static - Bush is static for example. work, tv, racism, etc.

Einstein postulated that the very act of measuring an experiment changes the experiment. This means that WE are capable of making changes, even minutely in the very laws and fabric of the Universe.

What would happen if we all agreed to certain changes on a large scale (sort of like prayer, eh?) with masses of people all concentrating on the same common good? Group Conscienceness. I think we even know in our hearts that this is possible and that's why we pray in groups, send people "warm vibes" if agnostic, etc.

Maybe Bush is right, we DO need a day of Prayer. SO let's ALL CONCENTRATE on HIM being REMOVED from Office along with his pals, and for them to be replaced with saintlike, effective persons who understand the sanctitiy of life, and have the grace to apologise to others we've wronged as a nation.

Then we can all pray to return the troops (especially Binka's boy, through which her actions have earned her much redemption :) - if that's what earns you redeption I should be able to fucking walk on water by now with what I've had to go through with my stolen boys, seriously :) -- and for Healing of hearts and minds.

And thanks to H2Oman for his erudite and consistantly enlightening posts and observations, NOW I have to read Malcomn X's autobiography and stick it up on the shelf between Campbell and Siddhartha..

I believe that DNA is actually as MESSAGE. WE are THE MESSAGE, and the message is LOVE, HOPE, PEACE, True HONOR and a responsibility to hold, play with and protect one another. ALL of us.

I love you guys, but you make my head hurt with the depth of your being and thoughts :)

[MuseRider]

82. Speaking of depth of thought....

Interesting ideas. One thing though, I am not certain I want "saintlike" leaders, or even like the idea. That always seems to get us into trouble. How about saintlike advisors? Leaders who are effective with saintlike advisors. I get your point though and I will be with you in Group Conscienceness. I never really, truly believed in that until now. I have seen it work to some degree, it is time to bump it up a notch or two.

[H2O Man]

83. "I have an ancient

Indian crucifix around my neck
My chest is hard and brown
Lying on a stained wretched sheet
with a bleeding virgin
We could plan a murder
Or start a religion."
-- James Douglas Morrison

"A Californian named Walter Y. Evans-Wentz, who sensed that the mountains on his family's vast grazing lands really did have spirits in them, went to Oxford to study the Celtic belief in fairies and then to Sikkim to study Varrayana under a lama. His best known book is The Tibetan Book of the Dead."
-- Gary Snyder; Earth House Hold

"The need of the moment is not one of religion, but mutual respect and tolerance of the devotees of different religions."
-- Gandhi

"It will be a revival, in higher form, of the liberty. equality, and fraternity of the ancient gentes."
-- Lewis Henry Morgan

DNA is the fabric that the message inhabits. Our understanding of this can be explained in modern symbols that have meaning in today's society, rather than in the old lifeless symbols that have little or no meaning to most people today. Worse, much of the teachings today are lies: we have been lied to since we were children. We live in a culture that mixes twenty shares of lies with three of truth. It's time for a message that wakes people up to their worth.

"Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in ancient days, in generations of old."
-- Isaiah; 51-9