Seasons

So I was thinking about the rapture myth today and not just because of all the recent hoopla or non hoopla.  I’ve long been fascinated by this concept and people who really believe in its literal translation. I like a little give and take, but seriously, if there’s not some room in this story for the metaphorical then all I can say is “wow”.

I don’t mean to bash people who believe this is actually going to happen, literally, exactly like it says in the Bible. I really don’t (conservatives don’t wast your time on this point). I do however marvel at the lack of desire to just simply and naturally expand one’s consciousness a little, forget thinking completely outside the box. There was a study a week or two ago that said conservatives and liberals are just wired different. Sorry I don’t have the link to that story… feel free to Google it.  Is this divide between left and right all in the hardware? I don’t know about that, but I do know it’s definitely in the stuff we can’t measure. The consciousness, the Soul, the essence, the life force, the spirit… the whatever.  Not being able to grasp the symbolism and simply choose to learn from it right now, combined with the delusion that hard working patriots just naturally need larger sexual arenas, It all just screams second chakra to me. Look, we all have our baser natures, but the idea is not to use the fires of hell and the rapture story to keep other people in line while you party like it’s fucking 1999.  It’s mostly at the intersection where pious ass and stone cold hypocrite meet that the Holy head banger logic just doesn’t add up for me and I just don’t care to deal with them anymore. What if way back some plugged in peep got a glimpse of the world after we got done hating each other and the planet to death? What would you have called an offshore drilling rig if you didn’t have the damnedest idea what the hell it was?

There is definitely a shift in consciousness taking place, my conservative fellows, but it has nothing to do with being rewarded for allowing your fear to make you a tacit accomplice of legislative extortionists if not an outright one. If the rapture is about teaching us anything it’s about bringing the dream of cooperation and community to fruition. The model where individual liberty meets social responsibility. We can’t ever completely eject the Paul Ryans from the relative world, without the dark we can’t appreciate the light, but I sure as hell don’t want him and his ilk making that choice for me. Change the polls, my ass.

Hope y’all are off to a great summer, but please remember to keep those who are suffering in your thoughts and wallets when and where you can. Especially don’t forget the pets that have lost their people. I heard a story this afternoon on a 880 The Revolution news break about a white German Shepherd that was hurt and wandering around a parking lot in Joplin Mo. The story says the animal control people caught her when she couldn’t walk anymore and just laid down to die. You know that shit made me cry. Don’t know what happened to her next, but people are helping them right now and you can lend a hand Right now. Hell there’s pulverized swaths of towns all over the place. Must be because God hates the Gays.

In other news I have a new love in my life. His name is Angus. He’s a handsome, but mischievous devil that loves to snuggle. Brother Wolf was keeping him for me until I realized he was looking for me. My love of beefy dogs is a lifelong one, but he is the first Pit mix I’ve experienced. He is an amazing little spirit.  Say hi Angus : )

More exciting news on the horizon for AWOP. Stay tuned for details on our new internet radio show. I will be volunteering and hosting our new show from the fabulous West Asheville studios of Asheville FM. Grass Roots community radio. Perfect. If you are interested in being a part of our new media stream, let me know. I will be looking for guests and sponsors. Thanks so much to Lesley Groetsch of Local Edge Radio on 880 The Revolution, Asheville’s Progressive Talk for your solid advice and words of inspiration about the project and for the great work you do on your show. I shall not chicken out.

And lastly, I’m just damn glad it’s summer.

Peace Y’all.

This “speaking truth to power” thing is really catching on.

Speaking Truth to Power EventSeveral years ago, after being set afire by Michael Moore’s movie Fahrenheit 911 and subsequently launching the blog that was the precursor to A world of Progress, two things became immediately apparent to me:

1. Speaking truth to power is one of those things that often seems incredibly pointless, especially when you do it alone from behind a computer screen.

2. Taking any action to speak truth to power (no matter how insignificant it may feel at the time) helps to align thought with the heart and that in itself makes you feel better.

Today, I find myself  listening more and talking less, but I do want to take a few minutes of your time to share these links to the Speaking Truth to Power series presented by Wave Enterprises that I attended last night in Asheville, NC and hopefully inspire you to check out this organization that is working to bring the voices of war Veterans turned peace activists to a town near you. I was also fortunate to attend the after party and have the opportunity to speak with the event organizers and meet the vets on the panel as well as Mr. McGovern and Mr. Porter. The event itself was inspiring, but getting the opportunity to speak with them one on one was truly a wonderful gift. I invited their social media and marketing specialist, Tamara, to tell us about her adventures in organizing and promoting this great event here for our readers. Hopefully she will have the time to give us a backstage glimpse at their efforts in bringing this vision to life in other cities across the country.

From the press release (modified by me to include additional info and live links):

Emcee, Lesley Groetsch, co-host of Local Edge Radio Mon-Fri at 3pm eastern time on 880 the Revolution.

Keynote speakers Gareth Porter, investigative journalist and historian (huff-po, alter-net, IPN, Truth-out…etc…) who specializes in US national security policy and Ray McGovern, former US Army Intelligence Officer, 27 year CIA veteran and analyst (also a contributor to many of your favorite news outlets).

Veterans for Peace ( I had a “duh” moment when I realized I hadn’t joined this organization as yet.)

In addition, US veterans Conor Curran, Brock McIntosh, Mike Prysner and Josh Steiber (veteran of the Wikileaks “Collateral Murder” company) will share their personal stories and thoughts of the true costs of a permanent state of war.

Special thanks to all the event sponsors and endorsements: (if you are looking for ways to get involved in dismantling the permanent war state, here is a list you can start with!)
NC Peace Action

Veterans For Peace

FOR (Fellowship of Reconciliation)

MarchForward.org

Peace of the Action

Peacetown Asheville

Vietnam Veterans Against the War

WarIsACrime.org