Thursday, December 30, 2004
Some Criticism, Then Some Optimism (I think)
Some 'conservative' or another has written a book ostenisbly aimed at convincing liberals to look at America more optimistically. ( I thought I was doing as well as those cranky sonsuvbitches!) Tell me, what exactly is a 'liberal'? When I argue, I don't pinpoint 'conservatives'- what kind of point would that pin be? I suss you mothas out much more specifically-- i.e. right-winged xenophobic fundees. In actuality, somebody's book is aimed at reassuring conservatives--aren't you offended to be herded as some monologic cattle?--that the war in Iraq is going splendid, all according to plan: an unavoidable, benevolent sacrifice (pray tell what we sacrifice?!). That the economy isn't bad...for everyone. Some of us are doing quite, quite well. That gays, unionizers, laborers, educators, students & people of color have everything they want and need to succeed. (Believe you me, despite our crazy tax obsession, we'd like the government to bak da fuk up.)
But it does make me think. Though wrongly situated, somebody's premise is right on point: think more optimistically. For to think more optimistically is not so much to smile at the status-quo as it is to will and expect much more from tomorrow. Recounting the day should be an exercise in exuberance. I can't say that enough, nor for myself. I've always gravitated towards being a bit of a floater. A rubber raft in a rocky ocean, steel grey as far as eye can see. I've always found this view to.be.breath.taking. Moving forward though, I would like to apply the power of optimism to my life more forcibly.
I think what a joy it is to be alive, and I wonder if I'll ever leap inward to the root of this flesh and know myslef as once I was. The root is there. Whether any act of mine can find it, that remains tangled in the future. But all things a man can do are mine. Any act of mine may do it.
-The Ghola Speaks
Alia's Commentary
from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
|
But it does make me think. Though wrongly situated, somebody's premise is right on point: think more optimistically. For to think more optimistically is not so much to smile at the status-quo as it is to will and expect much more from tomorrow. Recounting the day should be an exercise in exuberance. I can't say that enough, nor for myself. I've always gravitated towards being a bit of a floater. A rubber raft in a rocky ocean, steel grey as far as eye can see. I've always found this view to.be.breath.taking. Moving forward though, I would like to apply the power of optimism to my life more forcibly.
I think what a joy it is to be alive, and I wonder if I'll ever leap inward to the root of this flesh and know myslef as once I was. The root is there. Whether any act of mine can find it, that remains tangled in the future. But all things a man can do are mine. Any act of mine may do it.
-The Ghola Speaks
Alia's Commentary
from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
My Heros
Goldmund
Ken Wilber and Narcissus
Alobar, Larry Diamond, and Switters
Jeb Bartlett, Duke Leto Atriedes, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Ghandi, Goenka
and, of course, Indiana Jones
These heros are men I will myself to emulate. Each embodies a perfect jewel of character that is worth striving to capture. I need to look up, to know and remember the heights of spirit existing that need reaching.
No matter that most are fictional - the inner jewel is real and shines through imagination.
No matter that all are men - the same crystal center exists in women (I generally tend to imitate men and admire women, though I have women heros too).
Swimming, dancing, streaming towards greatness.
Giants who have a piercing, taut readiness to act and experience all in every moment, to live and die on every day.
|
Ken Wilber and Narcissus
Alobar, Larry Diamond, and Switters
Jeb Bartlett, Duke Leto Atriedes, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Ghandi, Goenka
and, of course, Indiana Jones
These heros are men I will myself to emulate. Each embodies a perfect jewel of character that is worth striving to capture. I need to look up, to know and remember the heights of spirit existing that need reaching.
No matter that most are fictional - the inner jewel is real and shines through imagination.
No matter that all are men - the same crystal center exists in women (I generally tend to imitate men and admire women, though I have women heros too).
Swimming, dancing, streaming towards greatness.
Giants who have a piercing, taut readiness to act and experience all in every moment, to live and die on every day.
Timshel...
So I am approaching the time when I will return to The States for the first time in over three months---the longest I've been away from my home town let alone my home country. London--in all its multifacted ups and downs---has been an invaluable experience...and I'm only thru the first term at Laban! And I mean that---it hasn't all been fun, games, and pints. I've had to deal with true familial separation for the first time--a factor that aggravated my ordeals involving new scenery, new physical demands, new friends...Since Jess came to visit (late October) London has truly begun to feel like "home." And soon after that, I started to wear my Smith College ring again. Up till then, it had been sitting in my jewelry box, glinting gold, untouched. I've always known there were certain things in my life that I didn't want to acquire without their meaning something, something solid and lasting. Among those "things" were a school ring and a tattoo. Although I haven't gotten the tattoo (yet), I was appropriately inspired to get the ring. It's small and gold, pretty inconspicuous, with the initials SC and my graduating year emblazoned on either side. Inside are engraved my initials CMS and the word 'timshel.' It's the hebrew word for 'thou mayest' and came out of Steinbeck's 'East of Eden.' Long story short, 'timshel' means that men and women have the power to make choices in life, that they control their own reactions to the ups and downs of life. It doesn't mean 'you will' or 'you can' or 'you can't so don't even bother'-----it means 'you may.' You hold the keys to the tallest, noblest heights of human capacity, and, conversely, its darkest lows and deepest apathy. It allows for the most hopeful of possibility! Idealism incarnated as reality.....there are few people I know who strive for this idealism in their every day lives. It eludes me, this desire to capitalize upon my creativity, my hope, my confidence; but I admire the people who press on, further than the status quo, in the face of discouragement and condescension. You know who you are. And I love you for your courage and your stamina, your fierceness and your caring. And if you can rage, rage against the dying of the light (thank you, sir) then maybe I can hold, kindle, encourage what i may accomplish, what i may lay down, what i may find and take up.
