In 1969 I was a 15 year old heavily invested in the Hippie-counterculture-revolution. Much to the embarrassment of my conservative Republican parents. I mean I was smart, visible, and vocal. At the time, in my small Up-state N.Y. town, that made me a member of a rather small, somewhat ostracized group. Even among the kids I went to school with. But that all changed after Woodstock.
Let's see. 1969. Moon landing, Woodstock, Viet Nam, civil rights marches, aftermath of RFK shooting, Nixon, SDS, Weathermen, uderground comics and newspapers, rallies, Beatles, Moody Blues, Stepppenwolf, Cream, Pink Floyd, Ginsberg, Leary, bell bottom jeans, Tie-dye, fighting for the 18 year old's right to vote, moratorium, co-ed dorms, pot, hash, acid, speed, etc., etc.. Yup, things were burnin' for sure!
Playing in a band at the time put us in constant danger. Being a vocal leader was even more dangerous. The school board would not let us play at the school unless they had final aproval of our play list. So we became officers of a local youth group and covinced them to start a Friday and Saturday night coffeehouse for kids, mostly so we had a place to jam.
After Woodstock, most of the then powers-that-be saw that there was no stopping the changes that were coming. But mistakes were made by all sides.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
GOVT . VS. SPORTS
The news of a nearly 15 million dollars a year for a sports figure is scary. I guess we can't complain if we get what we ask for. I mean, we all know a good pitcher, batter, or fielder is worth way more than a good president, senator, or congressman...RIGHT?
Health care reform
The state of the debate on what is the best way to advance Health care in the U.S. is falling into a deep pool of manufactured tar. Each step unable to shake off the blackness of age-old biases that have plagued us...well, forever it seems. Private vs. govt., access vs. cost, ability to pay vs. need. Spin spewed by all sides uses the same old debate tactics that a high school debate team would use.
This should not be a debate but rather a discussion. The use of inflammatory rhetoric mixed with a little bit of truth is the surest way to make sure there is an argument instead of an answer. No doubt some see this as the way, but some don't.
No one really wants to die yet all too many see themselves as the arbitrator of life and death. They scream "NOT ME, NOT ME!" when it is their time, and also scream "LET THEM DIE AS LONG AS IT IS NOT ME!" and "WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE?"
Since we all in reality, both economically and politically, depend on each other in a completely inseparable way, what is best for all makes sense. The trouble seems to be what it always is...GREED!
Wanting more than one's share is a trait of very young children. But it seems many of us return to the mindset that existed before we were taught the need for sharing. Or we see sharing in the context of "First I get WHAT I WANT, if there is any left I'll give some to you."
Human Nature...scary! Good thing we have common sense and the Rule of Law!! Oh wait.......
This should not be a debate but rather a discussion. The use of inflammatory rhetoric mixed with a little bit of truth is the surest way to make sure there is an argument instead of an answer. No doubt some see this as the way, but some don't.
No one really wants to die yet all too many see themselves as the arbitrator of life and death. They scream "NOT ME, NOT ME!" when it is their time, and also scream "LET THEM DIE AS LONG AS IT IS NOT ME!" and "WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE?"
Since we all in reality, both economically and politically, depend on each other in a completely inseparable way, what is best for all makes sense. The trouble seems to be what it always is...GREED!
Wanting more than one's share is a trait of very young children. But it seems many of us return to the mindset that existed before we were taught the need for sharing. Or we see sharing in the context of "First I get WHAT I WANT, if there is any left I'll give some to you."
Human Nature...scary! Good thing we have common sense and the Rule of Law!! Oh wait.......
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Wild Child
Well, I've come back against my intentions. After jetting around the blogs for a while now, I have come to the realization that my kind of wild is not appreciated in the on-line landscape much. I mean my poetry is tolerated but not embraced. If I go to an intelligent academic site my lack of degrees leaves me out of the loop. And the sicko sites have no idea how far 3000 light years from home really is. Besides, my brand of sickatude is far too reaching for the normal kind of incrustitude to fathom. I mean come on, nasty language and sex talk is so junior-high.
To me being wild meant no stones unturned. From quantum mechanics to drinking games. From spiritual manifestations to Frisbee. From the beach to the mountain tops. From a broken down Econoline to a DeLorean. Ragweed to Clinical LSD 25. No stone unturned indeed.
So here I am. 2009 and the world still in the chaotic throws of self delusion. The global economy is showing the signs of rot brought to us by our own greedy behaviors. Oppression seems to be the only mantra the weak in wisdom can imagine to get the upper berth on the train. Worse yet, no one really knows where the train is going, or cares it seems. All most want is the top bunk for the ride and to ride with as little self effort as they can. This attitude would be almost tolerable if it were not for the fact that for some to ride in the top bunk, others must be banished from the train entirely.
This dog is tired. I need a soft, dry place in the woods to sleep, forget for a while, eat some fresh fruit, and try again tomorrow. I am still wild but no longer a child!
To me being wild meant no stones unturned. From quantum mechanics to drinking games. From spiritual manifestations to Frisbee. From the beach to the mountain tops. From a broken down Econoline to a DeLorean. Ragweed to Clinical LSD 25. No stone unturned indeed.
So here I am. 2009 and the world still in the chaotic throws of self delusion. The global economy is showing the signs of rot brought to us by our own greedy behaviors. Oppression seems to be the only mantra the weak in wisdom can imagine to get the upper berth on the train. Worse yet, no one really knows where the train is going, or cares it seems. All most want is the top bunk for the ride and to ride with as little self effort as they can. This attitude would be almost tolerable if it were not for the fact that for some to ride in the top bunk, others must be banished from the train entirely.
This dog is tired. I need a soft, dry place in the woods to sleep, forget for a while, eat some fresh fruit, and try again tomorrow. I am still wild but no longer a child!
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