Greetings Fellow Travelers,
It has been a challenging week,as I engaged various aspects of the elements blocking to successful completion of the work to make our lives better. When I think about the universal struggle for social justice, for human rights, a pattern of distress among the campaigners is evident. Work such as conflict resolution, advocacy for victims of oppression, crisis intervention, struggling to break free of the ubiquitous chains that bind us to systems that do not nourish, is profoundly demanding and the rewards often few and far between. It is a tremendous testimony to the character of our valiant comrades, that they continue to struggle, often times as unsung volunteers, without pay or other reward, material. We become experts on fighting oppression, but in the process run the risk of paying for that devotion to the cause with our soul. We fail to be gentle with, to care for and to nourish ourselves.
The focus, of our work, becomes obscured by that "nose in the grinder approach". In my opinion the ultimate product of our struggle is not only to overcome oppression, but to create and experience our vision of liberation and enrichment of our humanity. It is essential that, even in the midst of the struggle, we continue to live our vision of the better world we are bringing into being. It is understandably alluring to become experts at diagnosing, assessing and fighting oppression. I posit that imperialism and the agents of the system have institutionalized, created a culture of pathological orientation, used to oppress and can draw us to a life of working to defeat this enemy. But even as, we work to overcome our challenges, my message is that we remain conscious and dedicated to our strategic objective, and constantly in thought, action and relations to our comrades, notice that we are on the upward trend. We should live, be the model of the world, the victory we are trying to achieve. The focus of our work, what we are fighting for, not just against, has to be evident as nourishment and enrichment of our lives, here and now.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Some Aspects of the Role of the State in Work, Life & Living
Greetings My Friends,
Yesterday, I spent some time looking at the work of the state in serving the essential needs of citizens and guests for safety and security. Obviously the role of the state has many other critical aspects, another of which is the organization and management of the resources of the people and the land. A seemingly noble endeavor, but when looked at in the context of imperial aggression and dominance, colonialism and neo-colonialism, the execution of this duty has sinister and devastating results on the subject peoples and the land. The imposition of taxes by colonial oppressors/invaders was intended to generate a dependable stream of revenue for the state and relatedly, control and define the economic behavior and priorities of the colonial subject.
From the book, "Land, Degradation and Society by Piers M. Blaike, Harold Brookfield" comes the following observations. Taxes ".......provided the state with an income independent of the fluctuations in crop yields and prices". Pg. 104
"One instrument abolished under later colonialism, this being slavery, once more effective methods had (to be) devised for the extraction of labor and produce" Pg 105
In the culture of the contemporary state, the collection of taxes has become a "sacred" duty.Interestingly, the supposedly independent states continue to use elements of this system, with fierce devotion.
Imperial campaigners in Africa, Asia and other conquered lands, made clear their intention as mentioned before, the interests, concerns and needs of the native, or other oppressed communities were not of significance to the rulers. This equation of wage labor, outside of the home or community, with the expression of social responsibility and accountability, had to be forcefully branded into the consciousness and behavior of the people. In the book "Story of the Congo Free State" pg 582, Mr Chamberlin justifies the principle of taxing the "natives". That".....the progress of the native in civilization will not be secured until he has been convinced of the necessity and dignity of labor". Not an absolute as slavery blatantly showed.
For these people , the fruits of their labor,generally did not benefit or otherwise improve their life. The essential goal of the "head tax and the hut tax", was therefore to secure that labor, by demanding taxes, that could only be paid, with monies earned by working for the entity , which had the capital, accumulated from the very taxes and productivity of the people who had heads and lived in huts. The devastation of native culture and lands in pursuit of imperialism and colonialism has often been undervalued,as has been the lethal instruments of commercialization and the financial/economic systems.
The neo-colonial state dedicates vital resources to the collection/retrieval of taxes and the pursuit of goals that are functionally similar to their historic oppressors and strip the working people of their humanity.
Again insight to the arrogant, racist views of the colonial oppressors, is found on pg. 581 of The Congo Free State, "It has been said that if Africa is ever to be redeemed from barbarism, it must be by getting the Negro to understand the meaning of work by the obligation of paying taxes"
The point we are making here is that Africans, have always understood appreciated and celebrated work in their own lives, evident in the massive contributions to humanity, and that these pronouncements were shameful attempts to cover or justify the shameful enterprise of imperial domination or so called manifest destiny. The work that we are seeking to honor, to appreciate, is that which contributes to the nourishment and enrichment of our lives and humanity in general and not just to the rulers of the empire.
Obviously, this is not exhaustive study of the problems with the tax structure and system, but I pause for today and reflect on the implications and relevance of this discussion to contemporary human economy.
Yesterday, I spent some time looking at the work of the state in serving the essential needs of citizens and guests for safety and security. Obviously the role of the state has many other critical aspects, another of which is the organization and management of the resources of the people and the land. A seemingly noble endeavor, but when looked at in the context of imperial aggression and dominance, colonialism and neo-colonialism, the execution of this duty has sinister and devastating results on the subject peoples and the land. The imposition of taxes by colonial oppressors/invaders was intended to generate a dependable stream of revenue for the state and relatedly, control and define the economic behavior and priorities of the colonial subject.
From the book, "Land, Degradation and Society by Piers M. Blaike, Harold Brookfield" comes the following observations. Taxes ".......provided the state with an income independent of the fluctuations in crop yields and prices". Pg. 104
"One instrument abolished under later colonialism, this being slavery, once more effective methods had (to be) devised for the extraction of labor and produce" Pg 105
In the culture of the contemporary state, the collection of taxes has become a "sacred" duty.Interestingly, the supposedly independent states continue to use elements of this system, with fierce devotion.
Imperial campaigners in Africa, Asia and other conquered lands, made clear their intention as mentioned before, the interests, concerns and needs of the native, or other oppressed communities were not of significance to the rulers. This equation of wage labor, outside of the home or community, with the expression of social responsibility and accountability, had to be forcefully branded into the consciousness and behavior of the people. In the book "Story of the Congo Free State" pg 582, Mr Chamberlin justifies the principle of taxing the "natives". That".....the progress of the native in civilization will not be secured until he has been convinced of the necessity and dignity of labor". Not an absolute as slavery blatantly showed.
For these people , the fruits of their labor,generally did not benefit or otherwise improve their life. The essential goal of the "head tax and the hut tax", was therefore to secure that labor, by demanding taxes, that could only be paid, with monies earned by working for the entity , which had the capital, accumulated from the very taxes and productivity of the people who had heads and lived in huts. The devastation of native culture and lands in pursuit of imperialism and colonialism has often been undervalued,as has been the lethal instruments of commercialization and the financial/economic systems.
The neo-colonial state dedicates vital resources to the collection/retrieval of taxes and the pursuit of goals that are functionally similar to their historic oppressors and strip the working people of their humanity.
Again insight to the arrogant, racist views of the colonial oppressors, is found on pg. 581 of The Congo Free State, "It has been said that if Africa is ever to be redeemed from barbarism, it must be by getting the Negro to understand the meaning of work by the obligation of paying taxes"
The point we are making here is that Africans, have always understood appreciated and celebrated work in their own lives, evident in the massive contributions to humanity, and that these pronouncements were shameful attempts to cover or justify the shameful enterprise of imperial domination or so called manifest destiny. The work that we are seeking to honor, to appreciate, is that which contributes to the nourishment and enrichment of our lives and humanity in general and not just to the rulers of the empire.
Obviously, this is not exhaustive study of the problems with the tax structure and system, but I pause for today and reflect on the implications and relevance of this discussion to contemporary human economy.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Work of the State and Our Life
Greetings Fellow Travelers,
When we think about work, our life and living it, we often perceive the expression of that experience as a measure of the individual citizen, at least in my opinion. "We can make it if we try hard enough", which is a fair, but not an absolute fact. However I would like to examine the work of the state, as it relates to the individual and collective experience of the society/nation that it has been commissioned to serve. I offer my definitions of the state, citizen and the other attendant elements as related to this discussion. The state herein refers to that entity,chosen by the citizenry or selected by another authority, to serve their collective interests and needs. Resist the urge to begin questioning, if the state is democratic or not, we will get to that in another discussion. The citizen refers to all those who happen to fall under the political jurisdiction of the state, and in its functional sense, would have to include those who temporarily or permanently reside therein.
Point is, that in discussing the work of the state, what begins to emerge is the fact that our understanding or definition of that actor impacts in a very direct way our individual and collective experience, essentially as related to our human rights. In effect there is an inherent and vital understanding/expectation that there is a contract between the citizen and the state. When one or the other party fails, neglects or in any way compromises their obligations, the contract has to be voided. Of course, the relevance of this process, would call into question the nature of the state.
I would offer that the most vital responsibility of the state is public safety, to protect the life of the citizens and prevent injury. To me this is the defining element and the fundamental reason for the existence of the state and the precondition for the loyalty of the citizen. Not only does this challenge the validity of the contract, but that condition then commands a reappraisal of the responsibilities of all involved, but primarily the citizens who hired the the individuals or groups to serve their needs and interest.
Throughout history this challenge has been encountered and dealt with and produced a range of results. The American revolution being one such example. When the state, not only fails to fulfill these constitutional obligations, but becomes a hazard to the wellbeing of the citizens then the implications are even more stark. However that situation, would not only implicate the state and the actual citizen and local civil society, but also the international community. Yes as you might have guessed by now, I am thinking about the several countries, where for all intents and purposes that contract seems to have been broken. That the experience and even possibility of life has been jeopardized, not by the failure of the citizen to be productive, but by the inability of the state to do the work of defending and advancing the life interests and needs of the people.
Reflect on this quote from the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security".
When we think about work, our life and living it, we often perceive the expression of that experience as a measure of the individual citizen, at least in my opinion. "We can make it if we try hard enough", which is a fair, but not an absolute fact. However I would like to examine the work of the state, as it relates to the individual and collective experience of the society/nation that it has been commissioned to serve. I offer my definitions of the state, citizen and the other attendant elements as related to this discussion. The state herein refers to that entity,chosen by the citizenry or selected by another authority, to serve their collective interests and needs. Resist the urge to begin questioning, if the state is democratic or not, we will get to that in another discussion. The citizen refers to all those who happen to fall under the political jurisdiction of the state, and in its functional sense, would have to include those who temporarily or permanently reside therein.
Point is, that in discussing the work of the state, what begins to emerge is the fact that our understanding or definition of that actor impacts in a very direct way our individual and collective experience, essentially as related to our human rights. In effect there is an inherent and vital understanding/expectation that there is a contract between the citizen and the state. When one or the other party fails, neglects or in any way compromises their obligations, the contract has to be voided. Of course, the relevance of this process, would call into question the nature of the state.
I would offer that the most vital responsibility of the state is public safety, to protect the life of the citizens and prevent injury. To me this is the defining element and the fundamental reason for the existence of the state and the precondition for the loyalty of the citizen. Not only does this challenge the validity of the contract, but that condition then commands a reappraisal of the responsibilities of all involved, but primarily the citizens who hired the the individuals or groups to serve their needs and interest.
Throughout history this challenge has been encountered and dealt with and produced a range of results. The American revolution being one such example. When the state, not only fails to fulfill these constitutional obligations, but becomes a hazard to the wellbeing of the citizens then the implications are even more stark. However that situation, would not only implicate the state and the actual citizen and local civil society, but also the international community. Yes as you might have guessed by now, I am thinking about the several countries, where for all intents and purposes that contract seems to have been broken. That the experience and even possibility of life has been jeopardized, not by the failure of the citizen to be productive, but by the inability of the state to do the work of defending and advancing the life interests and needs of the people.
Reflect on this quote from the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security".
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Homemakers
Greetings,
I would like to salute those workers who toil around the clock, 365 days a year to make and maintain the homes that are the fundamental building blocks of society. Indeed it is the home that provides the base for all other operations of human endeavor. The most essential of which is the bringing forth and nurturing of the children, the future workers needed to build the society, maintain and advance it. I am sure few of us would question the proposal that the job of raising our families and maintaining our homes is anything less than the most sacred and ultimate responsibility. Yet what is apparent, is an almost universal culture that at least takes for granted, at best patronizes and in effect, through attitude and public policy, seems to disregard and disrespect the role and contributions of this sector of the work force. I am tempted to point my finger at the dominant global cultural of the west and I do believe that it is in large part the source of this dilemma.However, I cannot ignore the fact that, this dynamic obtains almost all organized societies. Kudos to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for paying attention to these sectors of society in a concrete way.
Just a few points to illustrate my proposal, the classic definitions of a successful society in contemporary times are rooted in a very narrow, ironically simplistic concept of economics. True, there is a the very necessary struggle around the production and distribution of resources as a primary human responsibility. Into this paradigm, the worker, or institution that produces most of the goods and offers most of the services would seem to be the most desired but is often not the most valued. Those individuals and structures that control and dominate the system, affirm their value by awarding to themselves the power and the glory, that basically maintains their position and enriches them materially and financially. In this process the laborer and the thinkers who actually conceptualize, design and produce the wealth are relegated to the bottom of the ladder of society. This is not just a question of status, but has devastating material impact on those without power. Consider the plight of the slave plantation, the most productive being the most abused and least rewarded. Consider the plight of workers today, that in this time of massive, unheralded productivity in the world, their living conditions, life experience of their families remain is serious jeopardy. It follows that those who toil in the homes would be kicked to the curb and the vital contributions of the homemaker be seen as almost irrelevant.
But here, in this spot, pause to recognize, respect and honor the work of those , who make the work of society possible, is in order. This is for the parents, who whether they have a lot or a little, manage to figure it out and house, clothe and feed their children and families, so that they can then go forth to contribute to society.What is their salary, what is their worth as measured by the defining parameters of income? In popular almost institutionalized questions eg "How much is Oprah worth? etc, the measure of our significance to society indeed our human worth, is reduced to our ability to generate finance capital. Those homes provide the vital space refuge, replenishment and production, that is the base upon which everything that society is and that is celebrated as achievement and expression of the superior humanity of the power elite. Today and forever heartfelt appreciation to the homemakers.
I would like to salute those workers who toil around the clock, 365 days a year to make and maintain the homes that are the fundamental building blocks of society. Indeed it is the home that provides the base for all other operations of human endeavor. The most essential of which is the bringing forth and nurturing of the children, the future workers needed to build the society, maintain and advance it. I am sure few of us would question the proposal that the job of raising our families and maintaining our homes is anything less than the most sacred and ultimate responsibility. Yet what is apparent, is an almost universal culture that at least takes for granted, at best patronizes and in effect, through attitude and public policy, seems to disregard and disrespect the role and contributions of this sector of the work force. I am tempted to point my finger at the dominant global cultural of the west and I do believe that it is in large part the source of this dilemma.However, I cannot ignore the fact that, this dynamic obtains almost all organized societies. Kudos to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for paying attention to these sectors of society in a concrete way.
Just a few points to illustrate my proposal, the classic definitions of a successful society in contemporary times are rooted in a very narrow, ironically simplistic concept of economics. True, there is a the very necessary struggle around the production and distribution of resources as a primary human responsibility. Into this paradigm, the worker, or institution that produces most of the goods and offers most of the services would seem to be the most desired but is often not the most valued. Those individuals and structures that control and dominate the system, affirm their value by awarding to themselves the power and the glory, that basically maintains their position and enriches them materially and financially. In this process the laborer and the thinkers who actually conceptualize, design and produce the wealth are relegated to the bottom of the ladder of society. This is not just a question of status, but has devastating material impact on those without power. Consider the plight of the slave plantation, the most productive being the most abused and least rewarded. Consider the plight of workers today, that in this time of massive, unheralded productivity in the world, their living conditions, life experience of their families remain is serious jeopardy. It follows that those who toil in the homes would be kicked to the curb and the vital contributions of the homemaker be seen as almost irrelevant.
But here, in this spot, pause to recognize, respect and honor the work of those , who make the work of society possible, is in order. This is for the parents, who whether they have a lot or a little, manage to figure it out and house, clothe and feed their children and families, so that they can then go forth to contribute to society.What is their salary, what is their worth as measured by the defining parameters of income? In popular almost institutionalized questions eg "How much is Oprah worth? etc, the measure of our significance to society indeed our human worth, is reduced to our ability to generate finance capital. Those homes provide the vital space refuge, replenishment and production, that is the base upon which everything that society is and that is celebrated as achievement and expression of the superior humanity of the power elite. Today and forever heartfelt appreciation to the homemakers.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thoughts on the work and life of Fidel Castro
Greetings,
"I will not aspire nor accept-I repeat I will not aspire or accept -the post of President of the Council of State and commander in Chief", says Fidel Castro, announcing his retirement on Monday 18th, Feb 08. Despite the ideological challenges and the relentless campaign by his enemies, Fidel Castro has prevailed and completed his share of the work needed to create a better life for the people of Cuba and indeed several other countries in the world. This life journey of Castro, examined on its own merit, is for me an outstanding example of the work of leadership, service and principled dedication to the meaning of struggle, that being to create a more humane and just world, and to stand in active solidarity with others on the same journey.
No doubt many will continue to criticize Fidel Castro's policies as being undemocratic and in violation of human rights of the citizens of Cuba. However evidence of the lack of credibility of this propaganda is the career of Fidel Castro itself and the quality of the life for the Cuban people. The UN Human Development Index, puts Cuba ahead of almost every other Caribbean state and ahead of the USA in several areas of life. But it is to the work of Castro's solidarity with the people of the Africa, the Caribbean and the remainder of the Americas, that I would like to direct your attention. The assistance offered by Cuba has been profound in the areas of medical assistance, free education and training of large numbers of students from around the world, including the United States. In fact the efforts of Castro, Chavez and others to extend concrete support for their neighbors, comes out of a long tradition of concern and investment in the well being of sister states and the plight of the people in this hemisphere. More popular examples include the support offered by the Haitian Revolutionary state, for Simon Bolivar and his campaign to free the people of South America from imperialism, the role of freedom fighters from Jamaica and other territories in the revolutionary struggle in St. Domingue.
However the most profound contribution of Castro and the Cuban people to this historical epoch, is to me the fact that they managed to wrest from their oppressors, the right to be a free and independent state and to sustain that independence. Aside from Haiti and the compromised attempt in Grenada, under the New Jewel Movement, no Caribbean or Latin American state has been able to make a clean break with their imperial oppressors and to escape the neocolonial clutches of the American Empire and much less to sustain their sovereignty. We watch with guarded optimism, the noble efforts of the Bolivarian Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador etc. , that seem to promise a new day for justice, dignity and independence for the historically people of the region.
The example of Cuba, that it is possible to have a model of society that is not defined and controlled by the dominant Western culture, has been a serious challenge to the global rulers. Much the same, as liberated, maroon societies offered a "dangerous example", to the pervasive slave plantations of the African holocaust on which western capitalism was built. That devotion to the quest for freedom that haunted and still does, the global oppressors, but offered for us a breath of fresh air, in the promise that we could be free to work, to live, be free, to have peace and love and raise our children, shape our societies as we saw fit. This has inspired the spirit and meaning of the Caribbean itself . That community of hope and promise, where people captured, abused and brutalized in a maelstrom of blood and iron, shook off their chains, rose up against the criminal enterprise that was the European invasion of Africa, the Western Hemisphere and elsewhere. Caribbean people looked their oppressors in the eye and affirmed their inherent worth by humanizing the very dungeons/territories, which were constructed to dehumanize our people for generations. This is the meaning of Fidel Castro's life and this was the legacy that informed his work for Cuba and the Caribbean .
Castro is correct when he states that "History will absolve me", for us that absolution is a living example of the failure of the forces of evil to crush the ever rising humanity of the Cuban, Caribbean and all oppressed people. Fidel Castro's life and work has been and will remain for me, a lived and living model of the essence of the irreducible creativity of the Caribbean itself.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentines Day and the Life of the Workers
Belated Valentine's Day greetings and some thoughts
To you and all your loved ones. My comrades have shared, that the experience of the giving and recieving tokens and expressions of love should be an everyday occurance, and I agree. Yet the joy and sweetness of this celebration of love, is tainted by the fact that it is the omnipotent marketplace and not the heart is what defines the day. That marketplace has one essential objective, that of the maximization of profit even at the expense of human rights. Today I would like to briefly examine the implications of this wonderful, universal expression of love and caring, on the workers who toil to grow and process the flowers and cocoa, for the chocolate and those who dig the diamonds out of the earth.
The International Labor Rights Forum has as its banner that "Labor is not a commodity". What a wonderful promise. But for those of us whose ancestors experienced the lash of slavery, being commodified, globalized, being chattel has been the defining elements in our recent history. Looking at the conditions faced by the Africans who grow flowers for the European markets , about one third of which is grown in the now embattled nation of Kenya, I am struck by the similarities to the days of slavery. The farms are owned mostly by Europeans, local officials are typically on the take and the workers are dependent, not only for salary but also for housing, health care, child care and so forth. I would suggest that in many ways, those workers are as dependent as those enslaved ancestors were. The Kenyans workers are now worried about the prospect of losing the business of these privateers to Ethiopia, that government is now offering a 10 year tax holiday as part of the incentive package.
Of course the current unrest in Kenya does not bode well for Kenyan flower industry either, which is the second largest foreign exchange earner after the tourist industry.
Across the Atlantic, in the US and the Americas the dynamics of the hijacking of the hearts, commercialization of the sentiment of the people and turning it into a profit generating enterprise is also obsencely celebrated. Most of the US carnations and roses are imported from Colombia and Ecuador with similar abuses of the workers, including the fact that the workers face relentless exposure to the toxic chemicals used during the processing of flowers. The International Labor Forum, Global Exchange and other formations, have done valiant work in fighting for the rights of these workers.
It is sad, indeed somewhat of a damper, to address these issues in the midst of the sincere and genuine expressions of love and appreciastion for each other, but I find it difficult to ignore the plight of those who pay with their sweat blood and tears for others to party and build mega financial empires, yes Nestle, Cadbury, FTD , diamond giant Leviev, DeBeers Diamonds etc. I have not gotten to the situation with the chocolate and diamond industries that also feature prominently, but I think you get the message. Suffice it to say, that Sierra Leone produces the lions share of the cocoa used to drive the huge chocolate industry, and the workers, children who make it possible would probably not be able to afford a KitKat for their loved ones. These children should in school anyway, are we inadvertently funding this blatant violations of human rights.
As for the diamond trade, the ongoing conflicts in West Africa and particularly Congo are driven by the incessant craving for Africa's resources, upon which the global economy rises and uses the resultant profits continued domination. For the rulers of that empire Valentines Day means something very different, but I hope that the Valentines Day we, you , me celebrate, will bring love and caring to those struggling workers and their families who desperately need those greetings.
To you and all your loved ones. My comrades have shared, that the experience of the giving and recieving tokens and expressions of love should be an everyday occurance, and I agree. Yet the joy and sweetness of this celebration of love, is tainted by the fact that it is the omnipotent marketplace and not the heart is what defines the day. That marketplace has one essential objective, that of the maximization of profit even at the expense of human rights. Today I would like to briefly examine the implications of this wonderful, universal expression of love and caring, on the workers who toil to grow and process the flowers and cocoa, for the chocolate and those who dig the diamonds out of the earth.
The International Labor Rights Forum has as its banner that "Labor is not a commodity". What a wonderful promise. But for those of us whose ancestors experienced the lash of slavery, being commodified, globalized, being chattel has been the defining elements in our recent history. Looking at the conditions faced by the Africans who grow flowers for the European markets , about one third of which is grown in the now embattled nation of Kenya, I am struck by the similarities to the days of slavery. The farms are owned mostly by Europeans, local officials are typically on the take and the workers are dependent, not only for salary but also for housing, health care, child care and so forth. I would suggest that in many ways, those workers are as dependent as those enslaved ancestors were. The Kenyans workers are now worried about the prospect of losing the business of these privateers to Ethiopia, that government is now offering a 10 year tax holiday as part of the incentive package.
Of course the current unrest in Kenya does not bode well for Kenyan flower industry either, which is the second largest foreign exchange earner after the tourist industry.
Across the Atlantic, in the US and the Americas the dynamics of the hijacking of the hearts, commercialization of the sentiment of the people and turning it into a profit generating enterprise is also obsencely celebrated. Most of the US carnations and roses are imported from Colombia and Ecuador with similar abuses of the workers, including the fact that the workers face relentless exposure to the toxic chemicals used during the processing of flowers. The International Labor Forum, Global Exchange and other formations, have done valiant work in fighting for the rights of these workers.
It is sad, indeed somewhat of a damper, to address these issues in the midst of the sincere and genuine expressions of love and appreciastion for each other, but I find it difficult to ignore the plight of those who pay with their sweat blood and tears for others to party and build mega financial empires, yes Nestle, Cadbury, FTD , diamond giant Leviev, DeBeers Diamonds etc. I have not gotten to the situation with the chocolate and diamond industries that also feature prominently, but I think you get the message. Suffice it to say, that Sierra Leone produces the lions share of the cocoa used to drive the huge chocolate industry, and the workers, children who make it possible would probably not be able to afford a KitKat for their loved ones. These children should in school anyway, are we inadvertently funding this blatant violations of human rights.
As for the diamond trade, the ongoing conflicts in West Africa and particularly Congo are driven by the incessant craving for Africa's resources, upon which the global economy rises and uses the resultant profits continued domination. For the rulers of that empire Valentines Day means something very different, but I hope that the Valentines Day we, you , me celebrate, will bring love and caring to those struggling workers and their families who desperately need those greetings.
Sorry about the late posting, hope you had an enlightening and enriching Valentine's Day
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Current Economic Crisis and Our Work
Greetings fellow travellers,
Over the past week, I have had many thoughts about the dynamic factors currently affecting work life and living.Previously reasonable assurances about the rewards of hard work and dedication, have been thrown into a tailspin by tremendous upheavals in the global economic system. The belief that an individual could attain economic security and a decent quality of life which came in the form of access to education, rewarding employment, guaranteed comprehensive health care and affordable housing is no longer assured. There has been much brilliant analysis about the cause of what may well be a global recession and one candidate for blame, was that class of homeowners, who participated in the so called sub prime market and supposedly fueled the foreclosure crisis. To me it is troubling that observers were so quick to label those in this predicament as greedy and irresponsible, willing to gamble away their financial well being on inflated housing market prices. Interestingly enough there has not been much questions raised about the role of those elected to look out for and protect the interests of the common people. It does not seem unreasonable to expect that they should have been at least a little more vigilant and noticed that the ice floating on top of the water was actually the tip of the iceberg and sounded the alarm to take the economic survival of the nation out of the hands of money drunk vultures. I believe that people were doing what they would do, in any market place where the maximixazation of profit is valued as an expression of individual worth and acheivement and rewarded at the highest levels of society. In this context the challenge of work, life and living is very complex and daunting, as the cost of education soars, basic needs for food and fuel carry obsence prices, pension and other retirement plans disappear and health care, like housing becomes a privilige or luck and no longer a human right.
I believe that the current economic situation threatens the human rights of the working people of the world and places our ability, to work for a better life and to enrich our living experience, in serious jeopardy. These developments instruct me that we must deveop alternative, more valid models for work life and living and a few identifiable characteristics seem to be evident. In our current market driven lifestyles, we will continue to pray for, or search for some entity or individual leader that will deliver or save us, another St. George to slay the dragon. Yet there seems to be much evidence that if the forces, that we look to for economic salvation, the rulers of the domestic and global market place wanted to save us, they probably don't even know how and even if they did know, I wonder if they have the moral will and actual resources to help us. In any case their unrelenting worship of profit, their committment to perpetual accumulation of wealth, would make their willingness to commit class suicide and redistribute the more than adequate resources for the common good hardly likely. They will help us, but not if that jeopardises their position of power. To me this situation calls for clarity about our identity within the global economic system, as the element that impacts most deliberately on our life experience. For example, fuel costs, the endless war of terror, the horror of ongoing slaughter of the people of Congo (DRC) that is fueled by economic rape of the human and mineral wealth of Africa. I have little doubt that we need to radically reorganize our economic activity, around our collective reality of being on a sinking ship, with those in chartge actually trying to push us overboard. One goal of our work, should be to identify and prioritize our collective and individual needs, audit our rersources and proceed to develop our solutions while we still have some "breathing space" to gain the initiative before we are faced with a "no choice" situation, like abandon ship. The organizing of our resouces into collectives/cooperatives, would demand the kind of paradigm shift, that can only come from serious work to liberate ourselves from the oppressive legacy and ongoing process that we have experienced. One of our primary tasks would be to restore the integrity of our culture, by developing trust, accountable and responsible relations between and amongst each other. Looking at the pace in which things are continuing to escalate, not in a desirable way either, it seems that we will have little choice but to turn to ourselves and honor the wonderful opportunities for us to overcome these survival challenges and create a more more nourishing lifestyle.
Over the past week, I have had many thoughts about the dynamic factors currently affecting work life and living.Previously reasonable assurances about the rewards of hard work and dedication, have been thrown into a tailspin by tremendous upheavals in the global economic system. The belief that an individual could attain economic security and a decent quality of life which came in the form of access to education, rewarding employment, guaranteed comprehensive health care and affordable housing is no longer assured. There has been much brilliant analysis about the cause of what may well be a global recession and one candidate for blame, was that class of homeowners, who participated in the so called sub prime market and supposedly fueled the foreclosure crisis. To me it is troubling that observers were so quick to label those in this predicament as greedy and irresponsible, willing to gamble away their financial well being on inflated housing market prices. Interestingly enough there has not been much questions raised about the role of those elected to look out for and protect the interests of the common people. It does not seem unreasonable to expect that they should have been at least a little more vigilant and noticed that the ice floating on top of the water was actually the tip of the iceberg and sounded the alarm to take the economic survival of the nation out of the hands of money drunk vultures. I believe that people were doing what they would do, in any market place where the maximixazation of profit is valued as an expression of individual worth and acheivement and rewarded at the highest levels of society. In this context the challenge of work, life and living is very complex and daunting, as the cost of education soars, basic needs for food and fuel carry obsence prices, pension and other retirement plans disappear and health care, like housing becomes a privilige or luck and no longer a human right.
I believe that the current economic situation threatens the human rights of the working people of the world and places our ability, to work for a better life and to enrich our living experience, in serious jeopardy. These developments instruct me that we must deveop alternative, more valid models for work life and living and a few identifiable characteristics seem to be evident. In our current market driven lifestyles, we will continue to pray for, or search for some entity or individual leader that will deliver or save us, another St. George to slay the dragon. Yet there seems to be much evidence that if the forces, that we look to for economic salvation, the rulers of the domestic and global market place wanted to save us, they probably don't even know how and even if they did know, I wonder if they have the moral will and actual resources to help us. In any case their unrelenting worship of profit, their committment to perpetual accumulation of wealth, would make their willingness to commit class suicide and redistribute the more than adequate resources for the common good hardly likely. They will help us, but not if that jeopardises their position of power. To me this situation calls for clarity about our identity within the global economic system, as the element that impacts most deliberately on our life experience. For example, fuel costs, the endless war of terror, the horror of ongoing slaughter of the people of Congo (DRC) that is fueled by economic rape of the human and mineral wealth of Africa. I have little doubt that we need to radically reorganize our economic activity, around our collective reality of being on a sinking ship, with those in chartge actually trying to push us overboard. One goal of our work, should be to identify and prioritize our collective and individual needs, audit our rersources and proceed to develop our solutions while we still have some "breathing space" to gain the initiative before we are faced with a "no choice" situation, like abandon ship. The organizing of our resouces into collectives/cooperatives, would demand the kind of paradigm shift, that can only come from serious work to liberate ourselves from the oppressive legacy and ongoing process that we have experienced. One of our primary tasks would be to restore the integrity of our culture, by developing trust, accountable and responsible relations between and amongst each other. Looking at the pace in which things are continuing to escalate, not in a desirable way either, it seems that we will have little choice but to turn to ourselves and honor the wonderful opportunities for us to overcome these survival challenges and create a more more nourishing lifestyle.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Super Tuesday
Greetings, hope that you are having a super Tuesday.
I guess that this event embodies the hopes and aspirations and maybe fears of many. In some ways I feel that our participation in the political process, like the other areas of endeavor in our lives, is ultimately informed by our quest to meet personal and collective needs.
That these activities emerge in response to what we perceive our vital needs to be and how they can be met. In that paradigm, the question about the power equation and cultural integrity are extremely important. We have spoken about work, education and other personal responsibilities to ourselves and families and seen the contradictions that exist within the available structures. Whether it be the educational, economic or political process the results we expect seem illusive and we struggle to understand what went wrong.
The question today touches, gently, on the why these particular models dominate and more critically what is the underlying belief system.
I suggest that these societal practices and beliefs are driven by an underlying anxiety about the availability and distribution of resources. The sense that we have to compete over limited resources is an ancient but ever present dynamic, that I believe trumps and may even be the seedlings of certain ideology and value systems.
In other words that we construct our identity, good or bad, healthy or not, dominating or submissive around cultural beliefs that address our essential needs for survival and reproduction in effect the continuation of the species.
The reason why we may remain in an abusive relationship, tolerate unfair treatment, repeat that we have to choose between "the lesser of two evils or is it the evil of two lessors and that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know etc. etc., is because of this dynamic of fear. Because of the belief in the all powerful, omnipresent system is the only thing we can really depend on, so fear rules.
Taking the risk of being too simplistic, I offer the example of the globalist juxtaposed with a realist philosophy, that the latter postures that there is limited resources in the world and if I do not control it you will , to my detriment. The globalist proposes that if we share the limited resources in the world, it will go a longer way for a greater good.
But in the competitive world, even working for the greater good is driven by that idea of deficiency, that success and achievement indeed survival, means that I must be number one, I must prevail and dominate. Could it be that this same belief system is at the root of the competitive nature of western society, a thing rather than a human oriented society as Dr. Martin Luther King observes and warns about the resulting evils of militarism, racism and materialism. Because of our perception and fear that there is only so many "things" and we need to guard against other humans and even other life forms , robbing us of our "dominion over all things". But who decides?
"I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin...we must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."
I will pause to ponder and let you ponder the implications of this stream of thought.
What if we were not afraid? ( Woke up and found out that we did not need the oppressors bribes.) Would the beast retire, or chase after us?
What if we do have the inherent capacity to live our lives as informed by our own sovereign humanity and worth?
The significance of Super Tuesday, well it is very important, but will we vote in fear or in awareness of our own inherent value.
I guess that this event embodies the hopes and aspirations and maybe fears of many. In some ways I feel that our participation in the political process, like the other areas of endeavor in our lives, is ultimately informed by our quest to meet personal and collective needs.
That these activities emerge in response to what we perceive our vital needs to be and how they can be met. In that paradigm, the question about the power equation and cultural integrity are extremely important. We have spoken about work, education and other personal responsibilities to ourselves and families and seen the contradictions that exist within the available structures. Whether it be the educational, economic or political process the results we expect seem illusive and we struggle to understand what went wrong.
The question today touches, gently, on the why these particular models dominate and more critically what is the underlying belief system.
I suggest that these societal practices and beliefs are driven by an underlying anxiety about the availability and distribution of resources. The sense that we have to compete over limited resources is an ancient but ever present dynamic, that I believe trumps and may even be the seedlings of certain ideology and value systems.
In other words that we construct our identity, good or bad, healthy or not, dominating or submissive around cultural beliefs that address our essential needs for survival and reproduction in effect the continuation of the species.
The reason why we may remain in an abusive relationship, tolerate unfair treatment, repeat that we have to choose between "the lesser of two evils or is it the evil of two lessors and that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know etc. etc., is because of this dynamic of fear. Because of the belief in the all powerful, omnipresent system is the only thing we can really depend on, so fear rules.
Taking the risk of being too simplistic, I offer the example of the globalist juxtaposed with a realist philosophy, that the latter postures that there is limited resources in the world and if I do not control it you will , to my detriment. The globalist proposes that if we share the limited resources in the world, it will go a longer way for a greater good.
But in the competitive world, even working for the greater good is driven by that idea of deficiency, that success and achievement indeed survival, means that I must be number one, I must prevail and dominate. Could it be that this same belief system is at the root of the competitive nature of western society, a thing rather than a human oriented society as Dr. Martin Luther King observes and warns about the resulting evils of militarism, racism and materialism. Because of our perception and fear that there is only so many "things" and we need to guard against other humans and even other life forms , robbing us of our "dominion over all things". But who decides?
"I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin...we must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."
I will pause to ponder and let you ponder the implications of this stream of thought.
What if we were not afraid? ( Woke up and found out that we did not need the oppressors bribes.) Would the beast retire, or chase after us?
What if we do have the inherent capacity to live our lives as informed by our own sovereign humanity and worth?
The significance of Super Tuesday, well it is very important, but will we vote in fear or in awareness of our own inherent value.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Greetings
The work, the duty of raising our children and providing them with the education and training needed to function as adults in this society is a prime responsibility that defines many aspects of our lives. I would like to examine the assumptions, values and underlying belief system that informs the choices we make in pursuit of this vital mission. I offer that many, if not all of those decisions about the educational and overall development of our children are made not on the strength of our own awareness or initiative but by an external authority that is an expression of the dominant culture.
The problem here is not just that we have to follow the rules but how does that process serve our needs. That is the needs of our children to be nourished, access their inherent creative potential and use it to meet their basic survival/living needs and importantly provide the skills and knowledge needed to enrich the life experience of themselves and their community.
I offer that this goal is compromised from the start, because the essential requirements for the system to totally accept and affirm the humanity of all students and that successful completion is validated by relevance to the living culture of the student herself are not guaranteed. Of course, I am not denying the brilliant achievement of our children and many of us in our endeavors as students and parents. I suggest that success came in spite of and not because of the system but at the end of the day will our efforts, our work primarily serve us or someone else.
My proposal is that we are responding to a power situation where in essence, we perceive our survival and overall opportunities as conditional on the approval of the dominant culture it therefore makes sense to follow the rules regardless of the devaluation of our humanity. For those of us who quest for freedom and want to live our lives in full expression of our humanity the choices are stark and will come at significant cost, but will undoubtedly be refreshingly restorative. Either we force the dominant culture to accept, and affirm by active practice our humanity as the essential criteria for our participation, or we make our own way forward by drawing on our own validity to know and honor what is best for us and our children.
Maroon communities, home school, who knows, the answers lie in our hearts and in critical examination of the questions that emerge when we operate from the absolute acknowledgment of our own irreducible human worth. The value of the educational or other developmental process is to nourish and facilitate the liberation and expression of the our unique and infinite creative capacity. The fruits of our work of our education, our enlightenment, of our labor should serve the goal of making life meaningfully productive by living in affirmation of ourselves
The work, the duty of raising our children and providing them with the education and training needed to function as adults in this society is a prime responsibility that defines many aspects of our lives. I would like to examine the assumptions, values and underlying belief system that informs the choices we make in pursuit of this vital mission. I offer that many, if not all of those decisions about the educational and overall development of our children are made not on the strength of our own awareness or initiative but by an external authority that is an expression of the dominant culture.
The problem here is not just that we have to follow the rules but how does that process serve our needs. That is the needs of our children to be nourished, access their inherent creative potential and use it to meet their basic survival/living needs and importantly provide the skills and knowledge needed to enrich the life experience of themselves and their community.
I offer that this goal is compromised from the start, because the essential requirements for the system to totally accept and affirm the humanity of all students and that successful completion is validated by relevance to the living culture of the student herself are not guaranteed. Of course, I am not denying the brilliant achievement of our children and many of us in our endeavors as students and parents. I suggest that success came in spite of and not because of the system but at the end of the day will our efforts, our work primarily serve us or someone else.
My proposal is that we are responding to a power situation where in essence, we perceive our survival and overall opportunities as conditional on the approval of the dominant culture it therefore makes sense to follow the rules regardless of the devaluation of our humanity. For those of us who quest for freedom and want to live our lives in full expression of our humanity the choices are stark and will come at significant cost, but will undoubtedly be refreshingly restorative. Either we force the dominant culture to accept, and affirm by active practice our humanity as the essential criteria for our participation, or we make our own way forward by drawing on our own validity to know and honor what is best for us and our children.
Maroon communities, home school, who knows, the answers lie in our hearts and in critical examination of the questions that emerge when we operate from the absolute acknowledgment of our own irreducible human worth. The value of the educational or other developmental process is to nourish and facilitate the liberation and expression of the our unique and infinite creative capacity. The fruits of our work of our education, our enlightenment, of our labor should serve the goal of making life meaningfully productive by living in affirmation of ourselves
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Love the student/Live with the children
Greetings Friends,
I was actively engaged in addressing school performance issues related to some wonderful students in the community. That process has renewed my appreciation of the vital role of the work of the immediate family, parents and siblings, and the extended family in enriching the educational life of the student. Unfortunately these situations arose from stressful events which have sprung from what I would have to label as unjust treatment of students and families. This is at least a breach of the contract inherent in their relationship with the educational system, which I understand to be as providing a safe and nurturing environment for every student. The obligations, the responsibilities for the family and community in times of injustice would seem to be even more profound. The wonderful participation and support given at graduation and other celebrations of success is equally or even more vital when the students and families are struggling, yet this is often not the case.
More specifically related to our discussion on Work, Life and Living, is how these situations challenge the goal of enriching the life experience of all involved . In many ways and with increasing intensity, the educational process seems to demand more and more participation, including monetary, from parents and the support network. The work of advocating for our children as families and communities is crucial, particularly in this era of troubling attempts to criminalize the youth, by the implementation of policies that fuel the "School to Prison Pipeline", and the abuse of, or biased application of disciplinary codes, including dress and issues related to sexual/perceived sexual activity.
But these situations also create a form of stress that force us to examine our priorities, and strain or strengthen family bonds. One prominent feature of this experience is to test how effectively families are able to assess and clarify the threat or challenge, and define their collective objective. In this process the ability of the parents to lead by keeping the needs of the child/student for nourishment and safety as the number one priority could be severely tested particularly as that means that all other factors may have to yield. It could bring out the best, most resilient aspects of the relationship but often uncover other stressors that may aggravate the performance of the child. I don't think it would be indiscreet to offer that , notwithstanding the fact of the external obstacles mentioned before, successful functioning in school may often be a reflection of a nurturing and functional home environment. In this vein I am forced to note the overwhelming obligation to remain sensitive to the humanity of our children, their essential need for our support, and to recognize that our correct expectation that they rise to their full potential as students is conditional despite the anomalies. I offer that the conditional factor is the need to affirm the legitimacy of their experience in our work towards their development. In this there is need to be coach, rather than judge , to offer our encouragement for them to attain not only the high standards that we set, but for us to have faith in our children's infinite potential to create, from their own inherent reservoir, that world beyond the boundaries of our standards or imagination. The completion of the set requirements of the educational system, cannot in itself, be an end for us, rather it is but a gateway towards a world unheralded, but boldly present in the wisdom of the child. The student will travel further than her teacher.The work is to love and nourish the student always, in times of success, but particularly at those moments when they stumble. As long as there is life, as long as that struggling student can carry on even feebly, then our work, to continue to be supportively and unconditionally present, remains our essential responsibility. Help the children achieve, but appreciate them regardless because they are irreducibly worthy of the very best life has to offer.
I was actively engaged in addressing school performance issues related to some wonderful students in the community. That process has renewed my appreciation of the vital role of the work of the immediate family, parents and siblings, and the extended family in enriching the educational life of the student. Unfortunately these situations arose from stressful events which have sprung from what I would have to label as unjust treatment of students and families. This is at least a breach of the contract inherent in their relationship with the educational system, which I understand to be as providing a safe and nurturing environment for every student. The obligations, the responsibilities for the family and community in times of injustice would seem to be even more profound. The wonderful participation and support given at graduation and other celebrations of success is equally or even more vital when the students and families are struggling, yet this is often not the case.
More specifically related to our discussion on Work, Life and Living, is how these situations challenge the goal of enriching the life experience of all involved . In many ways and with increasing intensity, the educational process seems to demand more and more participation, including monetary, from parents and the support network. The work of advocating for our children as families and communities is crucial, particularly in this era of troubling attempts to criminalize the youth, by the implementation of policies that fuel the "School to Prison Pipeline", and the abuse of, or biased application of disciplinary codes, including dress and issues related to sexual/perceived sexual activity.
But these situations also create a form of stress that force us to examine our priorities, and strain or strengthen family bonds. One prominent feature of this experience is to test how effectively families are able to assess and clarify the threat or challenge, and define their collective objective. In this process the ability of the parents to lead by keeping the needs of the child/student for nourishment and safety as the number one priority could be severely tested particularly as that means that all other factors may have to yield. It could bring out the best, most resilient aspects of the relationship but often uncover other stressors that may aggravate the performance of the child. I don't think it would be indiscreet to offer that , notwithstanding the fact of the external obstacles mentioned before, successful functioning in school may often be a reflection of a nurturing and functional home environment. In this vein I am forced to note the overwhelming obligation to remain sensitive to the humanity of our children, their essential need for our support, and to recognize that our correct expectation that they rise to their full potential as students is conditional despite the anomalies. I offer that the conditional factor is the need to affirm the legitimacy of their experience in our work towards their development. In this there is need to be coach, rather than judge , to offer our encouragement for them to attain not only the high standards that we set, but for us to have faith in our children's infinite potential to create, from their own inherent reservoir, that world beyond the boundaries of our standards or imagination. The completion of the set requirements of the educational system, cannot in itself, be an end for us, rather it is but a gateway towards a world unheralded, but boldly present in the wisdom of the child. The student will travel further than her teacher.The work is to love and nourish the student always, in times of success, but particularly at those moments when they stumble. As long as there is life, as long as that struggling student can carry on even feebly, then our work, to continue to be supportively and unconditionally present, remains our essential responsibility. Help the children achieve, but appreciate them regardless because they are irreducibly worthy of the very best life has to offer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)