| THIS IS A READ-ONLY ARCHIVE FROM THE SORABJI.COM MESSAGE BOARDS (1995-2016). |
|---|
|
|
It was scary they said we were harbouring Osama Bin Laden wierd |
Did anyone see/hear it? |
It's rather sickening. |
|
|
|
Really. Think about it. America is supposed to be the place where the government is run by the people, yet how often do we actually get that? I vote. I participate, and I still can't put more than an inky-dinky little dent of change. Now put someone in the same scenario, only with fewer options, routes if you will, for change. How likely do you think that it would occur? Not Bloody likely at all. Shit. We're going to do some serious damage to people who have already been hurting so that we can *maybe* get those responsible. This is not well thought out at all. |
I vote, and often my vote loses. I still vote. I refuse to give up on what I believe in. I believe in this. I am a pacifist who says fight to the end. We may not have all of the answers now, but someday.... If we don't believe that, what do we have to believe in? What do our children have? The President has a lot more information than we can even dream of. All we can do is put our faith in the leader that God has given us through this trying time. |
Contemporary Dictionary= Encyclopedic Edition) n. opposition to violence, esp. war, for any purpose, often accompanied by the refusal to bear arms by reason of conscience or religious conviction. To be a Pacifist, one must, by definition, be opposed to violence. Therefore, a pacifist does not support "fighting to the end". I am, by no means opposed to all violence, I have a nasty temper myself. I was not condemning our government, nor will I be giving up my right to vote any time soon. However, killing, or even considering killing innocent people because bad people live near them is not an answer that I support. That's guilt by association. If we truly believe the American values that are put forth in our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, shouldn't we then apply them to the rest of the world? In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty. Okay, the evidence is strong against bin Laden. But it is not a reflection of the actions of all the people that may have the unfortunate coincidence of living near the man. Why do we kill people who kill people, to show that killing people is wrong? |
We are not asking them for money, power, etc. We are asking them to join in, and let us fight the terrorists in their country, info, etc. |
|
|
Those were some pretty serious words.Not just Bin Laden.But all terrorists,and those who support them.Not open to negotation.Hand them over immediately. I heard that the leader of the Taliban went into hiding,earlier today.The poor people of Afginstan may not have tv's,but I bet Bin Laden was glued to his. |
days ago -- we need to do this right. that means certain destruction of many countries' infrastructure, but it needs to also include providing basic human needs to the civilians in these countries. we need to free the people from these brutal regimes. siege warfare hurts the poor and powerless and works contrary to our proclaimed goal. as i've said before, i don't think we will do this. i'll be among the first to applaud this administration if it does. |
I heard a reporter tonight talking about another reporter,who had a hidden camera,and got pictures of them shooting a woman in the head,[for no reason], while she was praying.And another pic of them shooting a 3 year old child,in front of his parents. I guess it goes beyond my comprehension,how people could do such heinous things. We really are so fortunate to live with freedom. We are having some rainstorms here,tonight,and every time the sky lights up,I think maybe its Barksdale blowing up. I have started drinking.Margaritas.Usually,I prefer them on the rocks,but have had to switch to the frozen variety,as its harder to drink them too quickly. |
|
Seems I have been gone for a long time. I may be gone longer but before I leave St. Louis tomorrow, I will promisingly and without thought of the future sign papers for the refinance of my little log house in the woods. As if everything will turn out all right. As if there will be sorabjites visiting me at Christmas in just a few months. As if things are normal. Just in case, I am signing the papers and making advance payments, and at least *one* of you knows that the front door is always open if I choose to not return. Have fun celebrating. I am planning to be there too. Life must be anticipated to continue, or we all may as well mix a batch of margaritas, eat xanex, and sit back to watch. Going on as if nothing has happened may be hopefully important or may be despairingly desperate denial. Let me say my piece before I leave though, and let me thank Sir Mark for this forum, and certain of you for your abiding friendship (and others for your chiding skepticism). I think of this online community as a distinct part of my reality. Thank you for putting up with me. Make no mistake: Something indeed has changed in everyone's reality, and if you don't see it, feel it, believe it, then pinch yourself. This is a religious war, but no one is calling it that. Nonetheless, I am going as planned to the woods to drum and pray for three days, celebrating the second of three harvest festivals. Celebrating the harvest: what has been yours? What will be the harvest of more violence? I will be without city lights and running water, packing in the Ozarks, and without sorabji. Without news, without you all. But I will keep you all in my prayer for peace. No laptop, no cell phone. As usual, just as before when I trek into the wilds of southern Missouri. As if to say, this is normal. This trip appears different and is increasinly not normal. It calls for planning no return. In such absence stands the threat of violence. I understand violence begets violence. We have an unprecedented opportunity to respond, to change the world at this point, and we -each of us individually and collectively -- will be known by the honesty and integrity of our response.Choose wisely. Clarify your values and believe in them. Do not sow dissension. It occurs to me that the woods will be safe a short time, and if or when I come out, may there be something left I can recognize. There are several of us oldsters who have prayed against worked against but planned for such an eventuality as the totality of this engagement promises. I received a call tonight, curiously telling me to drive across the creek in my little Mazda and to bring all my gear -- as if it may be a long time before I return. I have spoken with and am leaving my children behind for the time being, anticipating a normal return Sunday, but there is no small amount of denial in my voice. They know how and when to find me, and where to come to be safe. Even if I am no longer there, they will find safe harbor. May you all. Such is my nightmare, and I am beginning to live it. If peace prevails, I come back, *someone* will hear from me Sunday night. And I will no doubt post something here. Faith tells I will. Just as if nothing has happened. If something does, then, my love goes out to all of you; you have given me thoughtful fun and intellectual play for a time. I know and care for many of you. Whereever you choose to be in this time, helping whatever effort, stay calm and find serenity in the arms of your beloved. Beannacht, Daniel ssss |
|
|
You sound like you are preparing to sacrifice yourself,by jumping in a volcano. Please be advised,that if this is your intent,it would be in your best interest to wear fire retardent clothing. |
Enjoy your harvest festival. We will all survive. The Lord loves a fool. |
They shoot the woman, not the perp. I don't know anything about God getting me through anything but I don't trust our president to do the right thing. I suspect we will enter new type of vietnam...unleashing military hell when we choose. Saying its going to be a "long hard road", as they have....sounds to me like carte blanche military action. Meaning we'll take whatever military action we see fit, when we see fit and how we see fit. Just or not. He said he was willing to use all military resources at hand. Does that include nukes? Doubtful, but point is, he basically called for a New World order...similar to that of his father. Lets see, 3 years 3 months to go. |
|
"honor killings" take place all over the middle east. women who've been raped, commited adultery or had pregnancy out of wedlock. women who disobey their husbands, women who divorce. the killings maybe done/ordered by husband or family. men have been publicly known to burn their wives to death and nothing is done. what's different in afghanistan, is that women are put under even more restrictions. (*)thou shalt wear a burqua, hiding everything including eyes, hands feet while in public. if a foot shows, it will be cut off. (*)thou shalt not work or educate thyself outside of the home. (*)thou shalt not go outside without an accompaning male relative. (*)thou shalt paint thy windows so thou shalt not be seen. breaking any of these rules can mean severe injury or even death as decreed by the taliban. |
I think I prefer the "South Park" vision. |
|
Basically they make it up as they go along. |
connect the dots. i make up my religion as i go along, but i think that's a little different. i don't have thousands, millions of people following me around thinking i'm some sort of prophet. |
And Pez,I'm not sure,but I think you would be considered a prophetess.[or,if you are collecting money from your followers,a prophiteer] |
The man will see the light of the US shining down on his ass before he knows its coming. |
|
|
stories from world war two - how he beat the shit out of some pfc's who had been treating him badly; how he had gone hunting with some german baron after the war was over; how he had gotten a triple-barrel shotgun in belgium. (i took thet shotgun home an' went duck huntin' with it. we went out to a pond and flushed out the ducks. i pointed the gun up an' fahrd - boom! ducks fell like leaves. only problem was that the damn kickback knocked me back ten feet!) there was another story about the time he was doing some moonshining in mississippi with another guy named santee. they had set up a still in a hollow somewhere and made a batch of corn whiskey which they put into two ten-gallon jugs. one was completely full, the other half full. santee said "i'll take the heavy one, you take the other." my uncle figured he was getting off easy, and put the jug on his back - propped behind his head while he was bent down. the only problem was that the whiskey sloshed around in the drum so much, it was hard to carry. while they were walking through the woods, the sloshing got to the point that it threw him off balance and he fell forward and the whiskey jug landed on his head and knocked him out. he said he woke up and santee was kneeling over him. santee said, "i sure am glad you ain't dead." i can't remember what this thread is about, but i'm sure this has nothing to do with whatever subject it is. but what the fuck. |
meditations, visions, talking with misterious figures and ghosts is another matter altogether. heh. i interfered with electricity last night. i think. the lightbulb went out in my bedside lamp, so i changed it. had it off, screwed in the lightbulb. turned it on. comes on, flickers, goes out. turned it off. turned it on. after a moment, ka-pow! comes on, goes out an instant later. turned it off. turned it on, no light. left it on, and it came on five minutes later, when i was in the middle of a focused diary entry. weird. |
|
but it hasn't just been the lamp. the cash registers at work didn't like me running credit cards through them for about a week. nobody else who used them had a problem. who knows. scientifically explained, bad wiring or energy flux. other people would explain it as my presence interrupting the electrical field. it would be wonderful to be telekinetic. |
|
I always wear one,but can never be on time. |
|
|
Now I've got my cell phone, and it is never off, it gets the time from the towers so if its ever off time wise, i know something is very wrong. |
The volcano was actually Lama Lapsoung, from Tibet leading a buddhist fire putja and though impressive, was not as emotionally wrenching as the two days of drumming and journeying with friends, and softly talking of each others' preparations. I think I left with a sense of "oh hell, I'm gonna die anyways" blues, even having been lifted from the last two weeks of despair. So I am negotiating a new roof today, and keeping on. I didn't get home til 530 this morning, so that explains the lack of contact. The food was good, and I cooked over open fire and on a wood stove for thirty some folks. Most of whome share the hope that we can respond rather than react, mend rather than menace. Hey Scully, the world didn't end (...yet.) |
|
That I may not return was a distinct possibility. Personally for me, the whole scenario since 9-11 has been a manifestation of nightmares I've had since a small child growing up in the cold war / fallout shelter mentality of the post war years. Literally a nightmare; figuratively and certainly a fear. I'm not over reacting; I take it all pretty seriously. And no I don't have any PTSD from VietNam either. But I do counsel those that do. And I've not been directly effected in my family by the WTC disaster. I want to say there's no direct grief from personal losses at the WTC, but I am aware of the thousands of souls who abruptly left this world without their consent. I am concerned for Sir Mark and Swine and Amanda, and my four friends who were there. I wasn't, obviously. But as a shamanist, and as a therapist who helps people cross over (die), I am acutely aware of the oppressive sense of death. Deep affective chaos can reign over even the uninvolved and less sensitive of people, but profoundly affect someone like me who works with the dead and dying to release their soul and spirit. It is called psychopomp work, and does for the soul what hospice does for the body. It is an old calling, and one that I don't necessarily want, but it is my gift. I realize I have not spoken about it here, ever, for Nate I'm sure would think me a more creepy bastard than he does now. Anyway, over the years my good friends who run the organic and wildcrafting farm (at which the harvest drumming was held) have discussed (esp in light of y2k stuff) many different contingencies, including forming a cooperative living arrangement on their land. Synchronous events leading to my weekend trip there developed into some good old paranoia and desperation, and there were real thoughts in my mind that - if not this weekend - certainly the possibility of my nightmare coming true was closer than ever before. I did feel as if I might not come back. "and so it begins" seems in fact to be a thread celebrating the near end times, with margaritas and all. Not coming back is and was a possibility. I do urge my clients as well as my friends that making a disaster contingency is not a bad idea. The world in the US is becoming the unsafe world that the rest of the world lives with every day. I take it all seriously. But I did come back, and the world did not unravel yet. I hate, absolutely despise, living within that fear again. But nonetheless it is a real living fear I can't shake. And I wanted to thank you all for putting up with me. It was less a suicide note than a good bye. At three am Friday morning, that's where I was. The events totally out of my control cause me grief. I hope the people in power do realize there's a chance for tackling this situation differently from previous civilizations and we in particular have so poorly done. I dunno. I'm really a pretty simple nice guy, but the soul work I do is misunderstood and sometimes dismissed. I am surprised I am posting this on such a public forum, and I think I'm not holding back because in light of these recent tragedies, what people think of me is no longer important. And I am a wee-bit melodramatic sometimes. Thanks for asking though. At least someone reads me. Try http://danshead.diaryland.com/older.html for a little more explanation, under the "autobiograhy" entry I think... If there still is a St Louis and I am still in it, the Christmas gig is still on. And you all are invited. I'm sorry I can't make NO next month. |
i didn't read the gobbedygook. sorry. wanted to point out that festivals and rituals don't normally require a formal religion to participate. wicca is a FORM of paganism, of which there are thousands of varieties. it is the most highly recognized form, however, the only official religion of them all (at least here in the US). i'm not practicing right now, but i am fairly close to being a kitchen witch. not really one for rituals. |
of my bitchy, anti-religion comments, i can see a difference between religion and spirituality. it seems like, for me, when i put a name to it, it's the name that overpowers everything else. i've always hated defining myself. i am a ________? never could find a good way around that trap. if there was a force inside of me that couldn't help but radiate, it wouldn't be an issue but it seems i'm more like a vacuum, or a sponge. things comes in but i can't seem to make them into anything useful. i'm like a like a brown dwarf. it cripples me. go daniel. |
|
if you can't define it, pronounce it, or put a name to it, you're probably closer to the real thing than those who do. |
|
and when i say "pronounce" i mean it like "proclaim". i should have just said proclaim then. |
I've read parts of St. John of the Cross' "Ascent of Mount Carmel" and "The Dark Night of the Soul." He talks about the process that people go through when they become more and more spiritually advanced. The scary (and awe-inspiring and mysterious) thing is that this process isn't replicated in any other realm besides the spiritual one. Spiritual development takes a path unlike any other kind of personal or interest-related development, and the crazy thing is that I can see myself along the same path, experiencing the same things in the same order. This is amazing, to me. To me, this is proof. How is it that so many people can experience the same mysterious things in the same order? This, to me, must mean that there's something behind our spiritual longings. Some force is directing us. Of course there are variations in the experience. Some people run along the path and some people crawl, for example. (Me, I'm a crawler.) But I think St. John, and St. Theresa of Avila, could talk specifics about spirituality because they had gone so far down that path. They were well-equipped to give directions. And I understand that this could be a big turn-off for many people. I don't mean to say anything except that this is what resonates with me. I relate to this, and this way of thinking. You may not. |
I've lately been entertaining thoughts of joining a religious order that works to help people die in grace. That vocation is very attractive to me. |
Can spiritual development be documented? I've always been posing the question "but but but HOW do you KNOW?" I have so many "could a been..." experiences. I think I have a hard time with faith in general, perhaps it scares me to completely relinquish. But like a baby swimming for the first time, from mom's arms to dad's arms, you have to just let go, swim, and reap the reward of dad's hands. Im not trusting of the fruits of faith. |
|
thats what i mean. |
i really just need to shut up. |
Another factor in no longer hesitating (though truthfully I know I do) in telling folks what I do is an old belief held by most Native American medicine men and women is that if you do this sort of work you don't go around "proclaiming" or even announcing it. In fact, you end up denying it more often than not. Seekers seek medicine folk out; medicine folk don't hang up a sign or hand out business cards. I love Antonio Morales' understanding and living out of this philosophy in Alberto Villoldo's The Four Winds, a great "novel" which is truly biographical. The second factor in no longer hesitating is simply my involvement in Tom Cowan's two year program in Celtic Shamanism, or as the Catholics prefer to call it, Celtic Spirituality. I think his website is RiverDrum. I have belonged to the Circle of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies for years. After a long internal struggle, I accepted the designation of clergy in the Circle of The Sacred Earth, which is a church of animistic ecumenical beliefs certainly compatible with most mystical belief systems. And based in Massachusetts, led by Roy Bauer, an exiled Catholic bishop. The path that chose me I have walked nearly all my life, ignoring and denying it at times. Having grown up in close proximity to Seneca Indian beliefs at the Cattaraugus and Kinzua and Allegany Reservations, my path embraces some of what the Seneca call the religion of Handsome Lake, a mystical crossing of Jesuit and Fransciscan missionary Christianity with Native American Senecan and Iroquois beliefs. But in the last years and especially since working with Tom these past two, I have been admonished to no longer be afraid to say what I know, tell who I am, say who I love, and do what I feel necessary. I am Lutheran not Catholic, and I am neither a medicine person nor Native American, just for the record. And I struggle terribly some days with what I do and believe. Patrick, I think faith is something entirely different from spirituality. Faith is something you believe, spirituality is something you live. Spirituality is godmade, religion is manmade. enuf. I should be more like Dave and shut up. |