Friday Rant

[mtmynd]

I'm kinda pissed at these punk-ass terrorists in London. One of them had his freebies cut in May... did that piss him off? They're a group ofmid-20's fucking assholes using Islam as an excuse to bomb the innocents.... not that the U.S. hasn't done that more than once in Iraq and Afghanistan, but still...

I don't understand why some people immigrate to countries and ignore the culture of that country. It seems that if they fled their own country's that they would embrace the values of the country that is taking them in. There's an old proverb that says "When in Rome do as the Romans do," and it is one that I believe is a good one. I can't imagine moving to another country and ignoring all that that country does socially. It would be a stupid thing to do.

These acts that dominate the news lately remind of some years when I was in the moving business I received a phone call from a woman who spoke with a Mid East accent. She was looking for some used boxes to pack up her things. I listened to her and told her that our company had some used boxes and I could get her some at a reduced price (a common practice). I seemed to have loosened her up during our business talk, and had asked her why she was leaving Phar Lepht..? It was this city she was leaving but this country. She told me how offended she was by the behavior of the girls she saw on the streets - their short skirts, their brief attire, their makeup made them cheap looking... on an on she went. I mentioned the weather here, but quickly caught myself - she had mentioned earlier about being from Iran, a climate much hotter than our desert clime.

After she got those things off her chest, she politely apoligized to me for sounding off... and I assured her that it didn't bother me. I felt rather kindly towards her and the 'foreign-ness' she must have felt in this country which is so different from her own. I offered to give here a generous handful of used boxes after learning where she lived in the city... not an expensive area of town... and quite close to my own home. I let her know that it wouldn't be any trouble for me to drop the material off at her apartment since I lived so close.

She hestitated a bit and then said she could not open the door for me to give the boxes to her as her husband was not home. I smiled at that but said I could simply park the stack near her front door... no problem. She again hestitated... well, Okay she said still a bit nervous about me being on the other side of her wall.

I arrived at ther apartment and took the boxes upstairs and knocked on her door. She said hello thru the closed door and I told her who I was and I will leave... her boxes were there. She thanked me. I left. It was a bizarre cultural exchange for this American.

I've often looked back on that one experience since all the terrorist problems of 9/11 and beyond. Cultural differences are not something any of us have much control over... it's in our genes, it's in our blood, it is something engrained in us since our birth.

Can a person that is from a '360' culture from our own ever feel a sense of belonging..? I imagine most can for a short while... the tourist mentality at work. But when the party is over and the foreigner discovers that their cultural upbringing may hamper the opportunities withing the new country, when the foods and drinks, the entertainment, when the chances of finding a mate that one can relate to are rare to non-existent.... these things have to make one aggravated.

In the case of the London terrorists... this aggravation has got to be compounded by knowing they live in a society that aids in the Iraq war, that considers Israel an ally and is mostly non-Muslim with no intention of changing their own cultural upbringing. Imagine living in that scenario... where you don't fit and feel that you don't belong. My female 'friend' I spoke of above knew that feeling and left the country.

Thsi may be a small world that we all live upon... and thru transportation and communication, it is one small world, but as our species multiplies, so does culturalization and this smallness more and more does not allow (mentally) for all of us to co-exist without offending our so-called neighbors.

These are times of very dramatic changes and getting more dramatic daily. The world seems to be spinning out of control and due to this phenomenon we reach out to our governments and religions to subdue the insanity and bring a sense of restored peace to our lives. Our culturalizations are being threatened from the immediacy of television and the internet, but it is that one thing - culturalization that makes us what we are. It defines us not only within our own neighborhoods but defines us a nationalities and as religious believers.

But it is all being questioned. A proud Muslim is questioned about his faith. A proud Christian is questioned about her faith. A proud American is being questioned as to his countries path. North Korean communism is being questioned. The list is long, the questions even longer... cultures are being questioned as to their own authenticity. The same for religions. The wealthy are accused, the poor beg for understanding, the ignorant hide within their shells, the brilliant ones cannot convince others... where is not the answers, but the answer?

People can take only so much mental abuse before they revolt. History has shown that. Every social revolution was from the disgust of the people. We can only live so much and so long within boundaries that eventually we revolt. It may not be a world shaking revolution but this time it may be... our small world is pressuring the seams of containment and the rips and tears are revealing so much more than what we are used to. The people will win despite our losses, because if we didn't believe this one thing, freedom (and I don't mean capitalist rip-off-your-countrymen-and-the-world freedom), we have no other reason to exist.


Cecil

[Dave The Dov]

The ups and downs of culture in our world.
_________________
Honda CBR400

[mnaz]

There is "culturalization" to help one to be in touch with one's roots, while still integrated into the whole, and then there is "culturalization" which seeks only to wall onesself off from the whole.

There is "religion" as one's meaningful spiritual path of progression and connection to a universal, eternal dimension of life on earth, and then there is "religion" as mainly a rigid set of tenets with which to purchase heaven and partition off the unworthy.

There is "freedom" as a God-given right, and then there is "freedom" as an institutional corruption....

That seems to get near the heart of it.... when transcendent foundations of existence, perceived from a multitude of different angles on earth and preserved as sacred teachings, become crushed under the weight of fractious, self-serving institutions and structures built atop these sacred teachings.... truth is gradually destroyed, and the unwieldy institutions eventually rendered worthless, or irrelevant.

[stilltrucking]

but it is that one thing - culturalization that makes us what we are. It defines us not only within our own neighborhoods but defines us a nationalities and as religious believers.

I think of it as a womb. We are born from the womb of our mothers into the womb of our Culture. I am pretty weak minded, when I think of all the things that I have believed in over the course of my long life I am chagrined. Enculturation is a bitch. If anything about Zen appeals to me it is the idea that I can over come my cultural brain washing. I hope I live long enough to die young.

I don't understand why some people immigrate to countries and ignore the culture of that country. It seems that if they fled their own country's that they would embrace the values of the country that is taking them in.

As a first generation born in America Russian Jew I can not tell you how grateful I am to be here. Not many countries were very interested in Jewish refugees fleeing the Pogroms taking place in eastern Europe before World War 1. My dad got his citizenship by joining the Merchant Marine during World War 1. My grandmother was so proud when she got her citizenship.

when in Rome do as the Romans do.

Texas is a different matter. This is Mexico. I can understand why the people here hold onto the language of the old country. Back in 1986 when Texas was celebrating its 150th birthday the governor wrote to the President of Mexico asking that the flag captured at the Alamo be returned. Supposedly The Mexican president wrote back saying, “Give us the land back and we will give you back the flag."
What I love is when the Yankees from the United States move down here and start talking about those dam wet backs. Why don’t they speak English?

considers Israel an ally

At the risk of sounding like a self hating Jew I can say this. Some people remember the Alamo, I remember the USS Liberty.
The saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" I think that at one time Sadam Hussein was our ally, the Taliban were our allies.
I wish Israel well, I don't know how many of my relatives in Eastern Europe survived? I hope they are safe and sound in Israel. But I worry about The Masada complex.

Pissed off?

I can’t say I am pissed off. Just very sad. We are all born innocent and trusting babes. There were those non Jews in Germany who could rise above the propagana and who were martyrs to their faith. I think the Israelis called them The Righteous Gentiles. I got a weak mind, not sure if I was a German living in Hitler’s time how many of his lies I could have seen through?

Maggot Brain
{Eddie Hazel, G Clinton}
{spoken}
Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time
For y'all have knocked her up.
I have tasted the maggots in the mind of the universe
I was not offended
For I knew I had to rise above it all
Or drown in my own shit.

Come on Maggot Brain
Go on Maggot Brain

Since I been cutting back on the green tea I have been reading more.

An excellent book, Reading Lolita In Tehran.

[hester_prynne]

If the US had never invaded Iraq, what would it be like now in the US? Can we even fathom that? Would we be discussing what we are discussing now?
When I read your rant Cec, about the bombers in London, I can only see it as a diversion from the real issues at hand that need to be addressed. Not that this isn't important and wrong mind you.

I don't know why, perhaps it's my bitter apathy that has boiled and seethed ever since he invaded iraq, ever since he was re-elected if you want to call it that. It seems to overflow when I feel that the current and resultant events are distracting us from what got us where we are in the first place.
My gut tells me that until we go there and rectify that overlooked mistake, we are thinly treading water that will only continue to drown us.....

H

[Dave The Dov]

We're already in over our heads. Now if someone could please throw us a lifesaver!!!!
_________________
Creole & Cajun Forum

[e_dog]

the question's not wy did these bombers try to do it, but why so few others don't/ the world's full of reasons to be disgusted, motivations to act, legitmate avenues of activitiy closed off; so why aren't there more bombings? not that that wouldn't be a horrible and terrible thing but i wonder why as a scientific matter? resources, or apathy?

[mtmynd]

excellent queston, e_dog. i look at the faces of some of these bombers and i see a void within their eyes... a lifelessness, confusion and no love. they look ugly, unwanted and hopeless. it's almost impossible to make a blanket statement like that for all bombers, of course... there are no pictures of them, at least towards the ends of their short lives, but their faces reflect their feelings. they needn't be ugly, but ugly happens to lost souls, confused and without reason... they see nothing for themselves in their futures and this causes them to become ugly, and their acts become ugly.. without rhyme or reason but filled with revenge.

it is a good thing that so many have something to live for. it is good that so many see some beauty to life and want to participate in living. ugliness and ignorance are at the core to destructive behavior and all cannot be saved from the pattern.

[stilltrucking]

jesus h christ
You are all so strong-minded
So smart
There is a congressman in Colorado who wants to Nuke Mecca, what do you see in his eyes?

Hester it started as a crusade. But most of all it was seen as a money making proposition. And it is still making lots of dough. Corporate profits are at an all time high. What does it matter that a bunch of rednecks from small towns in West Virginia are getting killed. And who the hell cares about dead Arabs. I must be one sick fuck because I don't know how I would be if I was subjected to the same brain washing that goes on in those religious schools that are subsidized by the same governments we call our allies.
What would I be now? I got a weak mind. Our dear allies are supporting the schools that nourish the death instinct in men. Woops am I getting to Freudian.
Cecil I am an ignorant child, I know nothing about Zen, but I am way beyond anger.




Ramble ramble ramble ramble ramble ramble
Tarbaby
G W Bush is the bunny
Usama is the Tarbaby



Google
Web Results 1 - 10 of about 3,650,000 for suicide bombers . (0.27 seconds)

Why are there not more?

Don't be so impatient man. They are working on it. How many nukes are sitting around waiting to go off in our face one fine day. The WMD's we did not find are the ones we gave our old buddy Sadam. I can hardly see the scar from my small pox vaccination anymore. Been over fifty years. Just what did we give Sadam back when the enemy of our enemy was a friend. I am pretty sure there were biological weapons. Were did he get the poison gas. Oh America, god forgive us.
Listen to the blues sister, "what is the soul of a man?"
It is the same old story, the trains run on time, a full lunch pail, two chickens in every pot, and employment is high. It is all about money here in the USSR boys. Security moms vote with their wombs and the rest vote with their pocket books and wallets. And if you are so smart why ain't you rich.

And then there is the christians, with their god in the well-tailored suit and clean underwear, a spit shine on his cowboy boots, money in the bank standing on the deck of the titanic singing nearer my god to thee.


"They say i was a rebel until I reached the age of five
It was then that I got caught up in the struggle to survive
It came to me one rainy August morning like a flash
We might all wake up tomorrow in a pile of smoke and ash"
Atascadero California heard a woman songwriter sing her song
There was another line in there about
Music is the key
Do not despair
Pick up your guitar
And if you are broke
Go down and get a rebate

I can't remember exactly how Jimbo said it but
Despair can lead one out of despair

Me I live in despair but I expect to die in hope, but I am old.

You surprise me Cecil, I don't know why I expect you to be perfect
Just because you have been like a maestro to me in matters Zen. But

Kind of pissed off

just don't cover it.

I have a violent temper, that is why I cling to the Quakers these past thirty years, but I hardly go to Meetings for worship anymore. I am sure they have probably dropped me from their membership by now.

Hester my hope is the 2006 elections I think those yahoos are going to try and pull out in a hurry and time it so they come out smelling like a rose. But before that I am hoping that one reporter will stumble on one mundane dirty little corrupt string that she will pull on to unravel the whole stinking bunch of thieves.

[mtmynd]

truck -

You surprise me Cecil, I don't know why I expect you to be perfect
Just because you have been like a maestro to me in matters Zen. But
Quote:
"Kind of pissed off"
just don't cover it.

Yeah, 'kind of pissed off' is how i felt at the time. From the 3rd place i see all the shit going down and i usually just shake my head a bit, but i was watching the tube and seeing the reactions of the Londoners... so many innocent people in regards to the Iraq/Muslim/U.S./Britain fiasco, and i know that they, like us, have very little say-so about what is happening. Take that and add to it some punks (and that is what these characters are), adding to an already intolerable situation, and the amount of human energy spent in hunting these people down... all in all it 'kind of pissed me off'.

Given definition's essence, martyr's and heroes are one and the same depending upon whose side you choose, and life pretty much forces us to choose sides. In the case of war choosing a side is for our own survival, physically and mentally. But the majority of people do not want to go that far - war. We have enough battles in our personal lives.

BTW - Perfect!! What the fuck are you talkin'?? Ask Soo and she will assure you the closest to 'perfect' i am is a perfect bullshitter. If we ever were together, you'd be de-veiled. Writing on S8 is something I do... but there is more to me than writing.

The Zen thing... remember uppermost that the word Zen at its essence means meditation, pure and simple. How we live within our environment after meditating has become 'Zen', but that is not necessarily a true-ism... it is the actual meditation that (can) bring(s) us to Zen moments. Zen (meditation) is akin to drinking a bowl of rice - you chew each grain until it liquifies, when it no longer is rice but simple nutrients made more easily digestible to the body to continue living.

[stilltrucking]

I keep hearing the words of a old blues song,

I'm going to ask the question
Please answer if you can
Is there anybody's children can tell me
What is the soul of a man?

I suppose my point is that a man's will can be broken. A man can be de-humanized. I want to see all of those punks as you call them locked up and throw away the key. But most of all I want to see those madrassas that create those monsters shut down. I don't feel any anger towards them. It is more like a cold numb feeling in my heart, closer to grief than anger.

A punk is a teen age elephant to circus people

There are people posting on litkicks and studio eight who I would call punks, but that is not such a bad thing to be. I would like to see those punks and punkettes ruling the world.

Speaking Soo, another one I miss. Remember K&D the dyslexic teen age girl (or so she said) I posted something to her, something that I think SooZen took exception to. That during my extreme dickhead period, Soo got on the flame board put one upcalled "I ain't just farting in the wind" Maybe it had nothing to do with me, but I took it personal, not sure what I said, I don't think I was hitting on her, just maybe bad advice I was giving.

Anyway, I hope she is still kicking, have not seen her around, when I was thinking of father's like Dan January and Jack Coburn I was also thinking of your father in law. I saved that piece you wrote about him but can't find it.

I tell you cecil I am not right, anyman who has grabbed his mother by the throat has issues that are way off on the tippy tip tip of the bell curve. I still get angry at inanimate objects, but not with people. Well except for the Jesus freaks in my family. If I was to get angry at those suicide bombers I would have to be just as angry with George W Bush and the thieves that are raping my homeland. And I still remember the punks that blew up The King David HOtel, watched a show on pbs about the jewish terrorism squad of the Israeli police. They caught a bunch (american I think) of jews who had parked a van and trailer full of explosives and nails in front of a Palestinian school for girls. They had timed it to go off just as the children were arriving for school. There is a lot to be angry about in this world. When I was a kid I was always the first to pick up a weapon, a stick, a brick, anything to hurt someone quick. Never did fight like a white man. Just me, you are normal I am not.

I was black and blue from that litkicks flame board, but I used to call it my Zen board. Helped me a lot. I have not read this weeks stream yet. That bit in quantum physics about how the observer changes the phenomena observed just by the act of observing.

self pity ramble deleted here

[stilltrucking]

"Comme si cette grande colere m'avait purge du mal,
vide d'espoir,devant cette nuit chargee de signes et d'etoiles,
je m'ouvrais pour la premiere fois a la tendre indifference du
monde."

Anger?

but it don't do no good
to get angry
so help me
I know
for a heart stained in anger
grows weak and grows bitter
you become your own prisoner
as you watch yourself
sit there
wrapped up in a trap
of your very own
chain of sorrow

John Prine Bruised Orange

[e_dog]

Mount Mynd,

not all bombers and killers are ugly. some are thought to be quite attractive -- to some even sexy. George Bush Jr. is an attractive man, at least to some of the millions that voted for him. Same for ol' Bill Clinton. And somewhere in the recesses of repression i have a memory of some sordid photos of Kissinger posing in this scivvies. (from some documentary or other.)

Now, of course, there's nothing pretty about suicide bombings -- but from a moral point of view it is the 'bombing' side, not the 'suicide' part of that sort of event, which is most problematic or repugnant. suicide bombings are more frightening because of the drama and fanaticism it embodies, but from an economic point of view, one can say, at least the bomber doesn't live to fight another day . . . . Thus, the only thing to be thankful for, regarding religious zealotry, is that they are too irrational to win; but then again, no one ever truly wins in a time of war.

[stilltrucking]

The The British Muslim clerics that condemned the bombings in London said it was okay for suicide bombers to attack Israel because they were fighting against an occupier of their homeland… Not much of an arguement I think.

at least the bomber doesn't live to fight another day . . .

Oh yes a cheerful thought.
Only a couple of thousand, or hundred thousand or god knows how many more potential suicide bombers to go. I can hardly wait until they all blow them selves up.

pardon the breaking in here but you inspire me e-doggy

[e_dog]

which apparently provided Tony Flair the opportunity to publicly anounce his daring moral stance that suicide bombing is wrong. altho, what he would have said, if a real humanist, is that bombing civilians is wrong, whether done by a suicide bomber or an air force cadet.