Back on the soapbox

I guess my self-imposed sabbatical was short-lived. While I don’t think I’ll be posting as frequently as I have in the past, a part of me finds it difficult not to write down my thoughts, as well as observations.

When I first decided to be a writer and began to pursue it as a vocation and not a hobby, Stephen King’s On Writing motivated me and urged me on with practical advice. One of his pieces of advice offered, was the admonition that to become a good writer, one has to write regularly—he said at least an hour per day. At the time, I was a corporate cubical occupant for a large insurance mega-giant, working a dead-end, nine-to-five job. At King’s prompting however, I began to write each morning at 4 am in order to get my writing in before I went to my soul-draining corporate gig. Blogging is just that habit in continuation.

This morning, awakening to another day of overcast and light rain, I decided it’s high time to resume another ritual that I held to in the past—my three times per week workout with free weights, to maintain some level of muscle tone, so I don’t totally go turn to blubber. During my 20-30 minute session, I usually watch some television, preferably news, and C-Span. Because of the usual early hour, it is mostly rebroadcasts of previous live events; speeches, congressional hearings and other policy-related fare.

This morning, I was regaled by my president, talking about the need for Congress to pass the energy bill, in order to lessen our dependence on foreign oil; sounds good, right? Well his solution was coal! He waxed eloquent about the abundance of coal and as he is want to do, he glossed right over the environmental concerns. He did this in his usual “folksy” way, saying that he campaigned on “clean coal technology” and that is one of his major tenets of his energy policy. Coal, the producer of greenhouse gasses and acid rain, falling on Mainers as I speak; this is President Bush’s central pillar. As if that wasn’t enough, he also spoke about “nucular” power as another option. Once again, his cavalier phrasing and flippant remarks that “there are some problems with ‘nucular’ power, but we can address them with technology”. Ah yes! Technology to the rescue!

If anyone’s interested in extracting their heads from out of their asses, I dug up another prescient piece by Jim Kunstler that he wrote back in March, a basic synopsis of his book, The Long Emergency. I couldn’t help noticing the glaring paradox between Kunstler’s “doom and gloom” predictions and our president’s Pollyanna-ish glib glossing-over of the real issues pertaining to oil as a future reliable source of energy.

Getting back to my sabbatical. I probably won’t right longer pieces like this one as frequently. Having said that, I enjoy this style of writing, as it most resembles the Op-ed, one of my favorite tools of communication that I employ.

Blogging is an opportunity for me to write and work through issues that trouble me, that I’m passionate about, or often, both. I don’t consider myself an expert, but maybe I’m what Buckminster Fuller called a “professional generalist”. That person, who is interested and tracks multiple theories, sources of information, trends, etc. In an age of specialization, generalists often are able to see the forest and not get fixated on the trees in front of them.

I’ve got a lot on my plate at present, but I’ve been encouraged the past few days by people I’ve spoken with, a few well-placed words and ideas, and coming to terms with the motivation of people who would rather I didn’t succeed.

Yesterday, I had to make a phone call as part of a writing assignment that I was doing for a client. I was privileged to speak to this wonderful, visionary man named Gus Jacacci. A member of Maine’s arts community and a true visionary, Jacacci encouraged me and boosted my spirits as only a member of his generation could. He’s led a fascinating life and is still actively engaged in building a better world to leave for the next generation. I’m looking forward to our future conversations about Thomas Jefferson, social architecture and other topics of mutual interest.

Kalifornia dreamin'

Did I tell you that I like Jim Kunstler? Maybe it's the bowtie, or maybe it's the name of his blog? Maybe, oh maybe, it's his irreverent and often prescient take on Amerika the Bee-uu-tee-full!!

If you don't buy the mindset that someone/thing (God, guns, GW , the guvment, technology or the wonderful ingenuity of the 'merican peepo) is 'gonna save us, then you might enjoy C'fuck Nation.

Here's JK's take on California.

[I know, I'm supposed to be in exile/hiding; I'm crawling back under my rock.]

I must not think bad thoughts

Bush campaigns to extend Patriot Act .

Patriot Act II passed by Senate Intelligence Committee.

More power given to FBI under Patriot Act provisions.

The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear -- fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants beyond everything else is safety.--H. L. Mencken

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt (1918) [What would Teddy say now?]

Let's talk about God, for a moment

While on self-imposed exile from Words Matter, I'll occasionally rely on some other bloggers and people I respect to at least maintain an occasional presence around here. I hope that I remain a boil on the backside of the naysayers and crowd that would prefer that some of us sit down and shut up! We all know the types--the one's who love to sing their praises to God, guns and the Republican Party, while doing their damnest to shut down our right to express admiration for the things that we value.

From a fellow blogger and a writer I regularly read over at Living on Less, asfo_del.

God? Cannot Find Server

Look, there is no god. It's nothing but a fairy tale. Not that fairy tales don't have their place. Sometimes our illusions are all that stands between feeling like choking to death and getting through another moment of the day. Hell, most of the time. But it's just a story: a story that was invented by humans. Given all the mysteries of the universe which almost certainly are beyond the grasp of us stupid little humans, why should a story that we ourselves made up turn out to be an accurate explanation of all the unknowables that we can't begin to understand?

And if you tell me, well, how can you be sure that there is no god, how could you possibly know one way or the other, then I will say to you: you brought up the story, why don't you have to prove to me that it's true rather than me having to prove to you that it isn't? Your story is irrelevant to me. I could give a fuck-all if it's true or not, and without giving it another thought, I will just say flat out that it's not. If I told you that I sprouted wings today and flew over the Bayonne Bridge, wouldn't you say, well, I really don't believe you, what can you give me in the way of evidence, or even, failing evidence, some plausible explanation that would make your claim seem reasonable? And I would have nothing. I would have to say to you, you have to have faith, man, and you know what, if you don't have faith then shut up, you're an asshole. That's what religious doctrine tells us, essentially.

Some religious people are profoundly kind and compassionate human beings. They chose to accept something implausible, but meaningful to them, on faith. More power to them. But the harm that religious dogma has done over the centuries far outweighs the good, in my opinion, so why insist on looking for shreds of goodness in a shameless and harmful lie?

Staring emptiness in the face is not necessarily healthy for one's mental well being -- what does it leave one with to hang onto? -- but neither is filling one's head with untruths. Especially when those particular untruths are so relentlessly reinforced, everywhere you look, in fact, that they become unshakeable beliefs, stuck inside the skull like a wad of chewing gum. Apologies to those who might be offended.
[On the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen any apology, nor even an acknowledgement that non-believers might take offense, from the pro-god camp for any of their controversial statements.]

Respite from Words Matter

I’ve decided to take a mini-sabbatical from Words Matter. No, I’m not shutting it down, as I’m sure some would prefer. However, after this AM’s series of troubling emails, impugning my mental health, my motives and my general character, I’d prefer to devote my divided energies to the tasks at hand—my book, my paid writing and my involvement with the Twilight League.

Over the past year, I’ve been able to meet many new folks as a result of my writing and yes, my blogging. While I would concur that blogs are an acquired taste, my choice to reveal parts of myself is my right and prerogative. To some who obviously find what I write disturbing, offensive, or even the musings of a “12-year-old boy”, this is my blog and I write about what I want. Blogging is the technological equivalent of the pamphleteering that took place after Gutenberg’s invention. It lends a voice to those who often are shut out of the “public square” due to class, socio-economic standing, or corporate control of the organs of communication. At the risk of appearing “pre-pubescent” and “consummately immature”, if you don’t like what I write, or the way I treat certain public figures, then turn the channel! I personally am sick and tired of the way some of those I criticize treat the people that I care about! [Note: With email considered admissable as evidence, it would seem to me that mental health professionals should refrain from commenting via this means of communication while engaging in pycho-babble based upon someone's opinions shared in a blog; I would think this might be a violation of some code of ethics. At the least, it certainly shows a lack of professionalism expected of the profession.]

I feel extremely vulnerable and wounded at this time. Despite this, I stand by what I’ve written in the past. I don’t back away from my characterizations of our president, his party, xianity and the corporate agenda that is destroying the middle class way of life that many in America have enjoyed. I’m thankful that the period that I was privileged to grow up in, allowed my mother to stay home, while my father’s income was enough to keep a roof over our heads and our bellies full. That’s not the reality for most any longer.

Let me end on a positive note. Last night I had a very positive meeting with someone who I think will be a key player in the launch of When Towns Had Teams. Our discussion encouraged me in a way I haven’t been encouraged for quite some time. Then this morning, a phone call brought additional optimism, like balm to my battered consitution. Good things are in the works and I refuse to allow others’ impure motives to sidetrack my endeavor, When Towns Had Teams, my paean to the men, their stories, and the teams that will be the bedrock of my book.

You can piss on me, call me what you want, but don’t you dare to tarnish the memories and the character of these great men who have been gracious enough to share their wonderful stories with me.

The Maine represented by When Towns Had Teams was a special place and I’m looking forward to sharing this better time and place with those who appreciate when local baseball “ruled the roost” of rural Maine and other similar places in America.