Economics USA: The Crumbling of an Empire~~Our Time Has Come

We’ve known wealth.  We’ve known power.  We’ve known comfort.  We’ve known ease.  We’ve lived the illusion.  Living the illusion cost us more than we ever took the time to evaluate.  It cost us more than -dollars and cents.  Living in a super-inflated economy took its toll in relationships, in ethics, in priorities, in values and in character.

Many have warned us that our economy was on a collision course.  Two of my dear friends, Dr. Robert Jensen and Dr. Jim Rigby have long been describing this unavoidable occurence, when no legislation Congress can forge will circumvent the inevitable.  In Jensen’s book, Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity, he writes encouragingly of  Maintaining political, intellectual, and ethical hope in the heart of the world’s most powerful nation.  Now that this Empire, this illusion can no longer be sustained, we the people have the enormous gift of being able to come together on solid ground~~claiming our humanity.  We have the opportunities to once again create time for our families and our neighbors…to take turns lending a helping hand.  We can use our two hands, our minds, our hearts, our backs to shoulder the labors ahead of us together.  We can learn anew to live closer to the earth, use less, replace more…our time has come.  To paraphrase the recent words of Dr. Jim Rigby,

…let us open every pore to the present gift. [encouraging us to "taste the soup."]

Now, more than perhaps ever in our lifetimes, we can appreciate all of the genuine abundance that we truly live with.  We can savor the breath that gives us life.  We can cherish the life that surrounds and sustains us.  Without a doubt, we will have less in that we no longer can delude ourselves or the world; yet, undeniably, we will have more.  Each and every day will bring new riches that money and inflation cannot buy at any price.

I look forward to working with each and everyone of my neighbors, regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation in life sustaining,  community building endeavors. 

I will consider it my highest priority to meet each day with joy in the privilege of being alive in this exciting time when the Empire crumbled and the people arose.

Our time has come; the perfect time for relocating~~for moving from the penthouses of our heads into the rich wilderness of our hearts.  This is the perfect time to live abundant lives of compassion, recognizing the worth of every creature, of every individual, of every nation.  Now is the time to “beat our swords in plowshares,” to mine our vast resources of courage, strength and determination in order to live not the illusion, but a life worth tasting.

For more from this author, visit http://itsawonderfulife.wordpress.com and http://ashtoraspeaks.wordpress.com.

For more perspectives like this, write Dr. Jim Rigby at jrigby0000@aol.com, visit Carol Creel at www.lifeworks-marketing.com.  You can also email Ashtora, izee4mee@hotmail.com.

The Confluence and Comments On Sarah Palin and Politics of Fear

My response:

I have no idea how to help our United States recover from the past eight years, but some idea of what our guiding principles [refer to "Barack Obama Are You Listening..."] must be.  I deeply believe that both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama embody these principles.  It is my sincere hope that whomever we choose to take the helm and guide our beloved nation for the next four years, will be up to the task and will have as their crew, every single citizen of these United States. 
Regardless, the days ahead will not be easy for us as Americans, nor for the rest of our globe.  We must form an authentic alliance with this planet and every life form on it, fully committed to our joint survival, prosperity, and posterity.
We must embrace our differences as essential to our survival, setting aside our pettiness and our ego trips that give us cause to see ourselves as puffed up blowfish or throat-swollen toads.  Let us roll up our collective sleeves and begin the labors of repaving, rebuilding, renewing, and restoring not only hope and faith, but relationships with nature, ourselves and each other. 
The words, “…in order to form a more perfect Union…,” from the Preamble to our Constitution come to mind.  “We the people” can begin by forging a more perfect alliance, one in which justice, equity, tranquillity (non-war), and protection for all form its foundation.

Mudflats declares Palin Not Ready for Prime Time

My response to Mudflats recent post:

Our comments, of course, sound like a Dem fest, but in light of my recent experience listening to “J. Public”, I know first hand, the soundness of eajphd Molten Contra Palin’s comment/opinion.
It seems that wherever I travel, I am surrounded by pro McCain~Palin citizens, citing sound byte after sound byte, sounding like Rush Limbaugh echo, echo, echoing machines. Separated by hundreds to thousands of miles, these individuals, unbeknownst to each other, repeat the rhetoric of the Republican machine, almost word for word, i.e., “Obama is a Muslim,” Obama can’t be trusted,” “What has Obama done for this country?” “Do you want a man that came from that black church that blames whites for all their woes?” “Are you voting for him because you think he’s the Messiah?” and “If you think you can handle the taxes, go ahead and vote for Obama.”
Back in the days when I was responsible for press releases, sound bytes were “Press 101″~~for a very good reason…they work. So WHY doesn’t the Democratic camp employ this effective device? Perhaps their hope to fall on the ears of the thinking is still alive?
Palin is a pawn, much like a “dumb terminal.” If McCain wanted anyone more than that, he had only to look to his own Senate; but, he and his campaign knew that only a “dumb terminal” could appeal to that portion of our American population that want to take their signals from such. Anything further would require independent thought. Quite frankly, I find myself resenting that aspect of our humanity that falls prey to such an obvious ploy, and those who would devise and use it.

Oh, for a Nation of THINKERS rather than REPEATERS…of DOERS rather than DELEGATORS.

http://itsawonderfulife.wordpress.com Three Women of the Lake [a modern day fairy tale]

BARACK OBAMA, Are You Listening? testing the power of the blog

Good Morning Mr. Obama,

My intention in writing this public letter to you is to alert you and the Obama~Biden Campaign to the pitfalls of reacting to what others say and do, rather than acting and responding from your center, your core and your intentions.  When we react, we’ve already lost our balance.  I’m speaking of your campaign’s self-destructive behavior of reacting to McCain-Palin Campaign attacks.  Let them lose their balance~~only your unwavering focus and stability will place the Obama~Biden platform in the White House.

Mr. Obama, this nation needs leadership that can maintain its balance, especially in the face of bombardments that would undermine our identity as individuals and a nation of the people, by the people and for the people. 

We need to rediscover WHO we really are, clarify our purpose, carefully formulate our intentions, then begin, fully empowered as a cohesive nation, to re-establish this great nation with its ruddering principles of Truth, Freedom, Justice, Equity, Humility, Integrity, Compassion, Respect, Responsibility, Accountability and Peace solidly guiding us through perilous waters;  through waters full of opportunities to express ourselves through intentional, honorable actions that guard and protect every indiviual’s dignity, equitable freedoms and pursuits, without compromising who we are or our purpose as an integrated nation of visionary peoples, having been taught by experiences throughout centuries rich with failures and successes.

We need to hear more from you about who we are and how your vision and your leadership can guide us through the journey ahead of forgiving ourselves for allowing this country to shipwreck, of working to make us sea worthy once again and to sail prouder than we’ve ever sailed before, with each and every citizen dedicated to serving in their own capacity as this great nation’s crew. 

America can humbly apologize for violating our own principles, our own Constitution, International trust and individual rights.  We can make restitution to the extent possible.  We can rebuild our identity, our self-esteem, our vision and our purpose.  With dynamic, wise and visionary leadership, we can restore our strength and our fortitude.  America can reconstitute an uncompromising freedom that embraces diversity, assures equity and justice for all; provides unparalleled education for all;  and lays the foundation for gainful employment, assuring that every indivdual is equipped and has the means to afford their own meaningful contributions to our national, global and environmental economy.

As human beings, American citizens, and fellow brothers and sisters with all, we must reassess who we’ve been, what we’ve represented, and choose this day who we will be from this point forward.  Barack, we will not get there by reacting to anyone or anything; especially, lies and slander from McCain~Palin campaign.  Instead, we must remain true to our core, faithful to our vision and purpose, steadied by our guiding rudder of higher intention.

Barack Obama, YOU are ultimately responsible for the content of your campaign.  Knowing that you love this American nation as much as anyone alive today, I call upon you this moment, to let your constituents know now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who we are, what we stand for, where we are going and how we will get there, once we’ve replaced the current Administration…leaving McCain~Palin in their self-imposed dust of age-old fear-based rhetoric. 

We must fervently consider the impact of our thoughts, words and actions, pressing humanity ever upward, toward our highest potential.  Today, our future and the futures of our posterity depend upon it.  Only in maintaining our balance will ultimately, the balance of all be restored.

With Respect, Conviction and Commitment,

Ashtora

American, Global & Environmental Citizen

Professor Jensen Speaks Out: Arrogance, Ignorance, and Cowardice: What We Should Learn From 9/11 or War Made Easy

If you’re going to be in Austin, Texas, this coming Thursday, September 11, 2008 (09/11/08), 7:00 pm, you’re in luck.  It’s perfect timing for a Jensen Encounter:

Never slowing down nor deviating from his chosen path of exposing truth, the diligent, authentic, humble role model Robert Jensen, UT journalism professor and author of Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity, will deliver a lecture on “Arrogance, Ignorance, and Cowardice: What we should learn from 9/11.” The talk will be followed by a screening of the film War Made Easy. Jensen was widely criticized for his anti-war writings after 9/11, which led many to call for his dismissal from his teaching job. Jensen’s talk is the opening event of a four day series, “Struggle for Global Justice: Screenings in Solidarity with Dr. Binayak Sen,” details can be found by visiting http://www.thirdcoastactivist.org.

Location: UT – Austin, Welch Hall, Room 2.246, map at http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/wel.html

Another Rigby Podcast: As Great As We Are America…God Likes Other People Too!

Take The Lowest Place or What Does It Really Mean to “Surrender”?

Dr. James Rigby

The last in Dr. Rigby’s series of coupling the writings of Eastern Taoism together with the texts of Western Christianity, in which he manages to unravel the mysteries of life in under twenty minutes.

It’s important to me that my readers know this man, this pastor, who has been faithful to one path called Truth for his enitre life, dedicated to one congregation called St. Andrew’s for more than twenty-five years, and committed fully to equipping humanity to live out their lives fully, in ways that press us towards our highest compassion, our deepest love, and our most authentic selves.  Unlike any theologian, pastor, minister, evangelist, televangelist I’ve ever known, he’s not selling anything.  He’s not after our pocketbooks.  He’s not after fame and wealth.  He doesn’t dress in expensive suits or drive expensive cars or even own a home–he’s more like the “Columbo” of ministers, living a modest and unassuming life.  He’s on this planet to do the work of justice; Dr. Rigby does so, every day of his life, with utter humility and grace.  He’s real, he’s funny, he’s deep and everytime he speaks, he articulates what most of us can’t even begin to put into words.  I am so grateful for this teacher, his life, his gifts that has surrendered on behalf of the greater good of and for us all.  {More on Dr. Rigby and his podcasts can be found on http://ashtoraspeaks.wordpress.com]

Master of storytelling, using metaphors and images from life in addition the symbols of the ages, Rigby attempts to help each of us to understand the concept of ‘Surrender’ in its deepest, most valuable context.  With the intimacy he shares with those who listen, self-evident, whether you actually “get this” or not, you’ll find this teacher’s insights easy to listen to, thought provoking and entertaining.  You can write him, Dr. Jim Rigby with your questions and comments:  jrigby0000@aol.com  He always takes the time to write back.

The spoon never tastes the soup; because it is not porous [the spoon] misses out on tasting the soup…so can we, if we don’t open every pore to the gift of this day and the next day….Rigby, 2008

[for Carol Creel's blog on Surrender, refer to www.lifeworks-marketing.com]

 

And They Call It, Puppy Love: Border Collie Mom Giving Birth to St. Bernard Pups~~Live Video

Copy and paste into your myspace profile to view and let it speak to you:

<a href=”http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=42114709″>Puppy</a><br/><object width=”425px” height=”360px” ><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”/><param name=”movie” value=”http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=42114709,t=1,mt=video”/><embed src=”http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=42114709,t=1,mt=video” width=”425″ height=”360″ allowFullScreen=”true” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”></embed></object>

Emotional Bankruptcy~~Eclipse of the Heart~~How to Recover

Have you ever declared emotional bankruptcy?

Have you ever known someone whose cynicism caused them to claim total eclipse of the heart?

Without a doubt, we can crash our heart on life’s curves, and repairs can take some time, but to become permanently emotionally unavailable, to proclaim, “I’m broke,” or “I’m broken,” deprives us of opportunities to experience love in new, delightful, fulfilling ways and forms, from the most unexpected sources~~that may be just the “deposit of love” that our broken hearts needed to get back in the black.

With your patience, I’d like to offer this autobiographical situation as an illustration:

A few months ago, while driving my car through an intersection, another driver ignored the traffic signals and drover right into me, causing my neck to whip right and then left, bashing the left side of my head on my car’s door frame.  A concussion resulted, effecting my hard earned mathmatical skills and my lifetime of musicianship.  Soon after the accident, I discovered that I could no longer perform simple math, much less advanced algebra.  An even more devastating moment occured when I sat down at the piano to read a new piece of music and found that music was now a foreign language to me.  When I tried to execute compositions I had been playing for longer than memory served–that my fingers had known on their own, I learned that even the memory of my fingers had been damaged.  Music had been ninety percent of my life since I was a toddler, and my livelihood since age twelve.

While I couldn’t expect to make my living as a musician for a while, I turned to other skills for income and began lovingly retraining my brain.  At first, crosswords were like Greek to me but I conistently applied myself to working them in order to cause my mental synapses to fire; everyday, I turned my attention to redeveloping my musical abilities, whether it was singing, playing the piano, or playing the marimba; everyday, I apply new patience to working out mathmatical problems, and find creative ways of enticing both hemispheres of my brain to remember, to use unused cells, and develop new neuro-pathways. [for more on how the brain works, read Jill Bolte Taylor's book, Stroke of Insight. www.mystrokeofinsight.com]

My result thusfar, of not declaring musical bankruptcy or wallowing in despair over losing a lifetime of personal and financial investment?  In the process of renewing my musical abilities, hiking and climbing have provided strength and coordination; in learning to ride and care for horses–I’ve developed relationships with these creatures who always daunted me before; writing and blogging provide hours of entertainment, pleasure and income; nature has revitalized my senses and my joy; AND I’ve developed the ability to accompany my singing on the marimba!  A small trio wanting to be a quartet heard my voice and invited me to join their ranks.  Needing some way to learn the music, I picked up my mallets and began picking out the tune and in a few days, I was singing and playing a simple melody.  While no one would pay to hear me, this progress is priceless to me and I’ve found a group of musicians that I actually add to!

How much I’ll ever regain?  Unknown.  How much I’ve gained?  Immeasurable.  How much is yet to come?  Infinite possibilities. 

If I had declared myself musically broke or broken, I would have deprived myself of untold opportunities to experience love, music, life, people, nature, animals and even myself in new, delightful, fulfilling ways and forms, in the most unexpected ways~~that were just the “deposit” that my broken heart and life needed to get back in the black.  Instead of getting smaller, my life is greatly enlarged.

No deposits, no withdrawals can be made on an account that’s been closed.~~A.

A spoon never tastes the soup…and we can miss out on tasting life if we don’t become porous…[Dr. Jim Rigby in http://itsawonderfulife.wordpress.com As Great As We Are...God Loves Other People Too!]

When we’re broken, to declare “bankruptcy” closes our account.  While no withdrawals can be made, neither can deposits be applied or interest earned.  Being broken calls us to enormous courage that begins simply, with the willingness to have courage…to take the very next breath, the very next thought and the very next step. {for more on willingness, read Carol Creel’s stories at www.lifeworks-marketing.com] 

If you’re a soul feeling broken beyond repair, I hope that in this, you find the encouragement to be willing to keep some little part of your empty, broken heart open to being repaired and refilled.  Especially when you feel that you have nothing to give, find something that you can give, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, knowing that in your willingness, in your giving, you’ll find the courage and you’ll find the gift.~~Ashtora, 2008

[for more on hope and healing read Anna Miller's book, Mania.  Madness. Miracles. www.thedepressionproject.com]

[for more on love and wisdom, listen to Dr. Jim Rigby's podcasts from www.staopen.com]

[for more on where I reconnected with nature and horses, visit www.lakeroberts.com]

Little Love Notes, “Make Me A Cake.”

Some of the most tender moments of the heart can produce the most meaningful love notes.  One recently shared with me, from a wife and mother of six to her husband, follows:

I THINK IT’S TIME YOU LEARN TO USE THE COMPUTER AND WRITE ME LITTLE NOTES AGAIN.
I MISS YOU. THIS FAMILY IS MY ENTIRE WORLD AND I WOULD NOT BE WHOLE WITH OUT EVERY MEMBER ACCOUNTED FOR. I LOVE YOU AND ALL OUR CHILDREN AND I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOUR PAST RUBBS ME WRONG, I KNOW EVERY BIT OF YOUR PAST CREATED YOUR PRESENT! TRY TO EAT THE INGREDIENTS TO THE CAKE WITH OUT MIXING THEM. YOU HAD TO HAVE A FEW RAW EGGS AND SOME BAKING POWDER. TRY EATING THOSE ALONE… YUCK! BUT IF YOU MIX IT ALL UP AND COOK IT A BIT THEN YOU HAVE A YUMMY CAKE. SO MAYBE I DON’T LIKE ALL THE PARTS IT TOOK TO MAKE YOU, BUT MIXED UP AND COOKED YOU SURE ARE YUMMY!!!!! OH YA AND ADD FROSTING TO THAT… SINFUL!

XOXOXO

I Would Just Like To Know, Why Are We Fighting American VS. American? or Who Let The Dogs Out?

When did we forget that we are not waging war against each other, American Citizen against American Citizen, or even human AGAINST human?  What happened to fighting on behalf of all Humanity…on behalf of our entire planet and beyond?~~Ash