Wolfgang Amadeus and Backyard Rocket Science

School is starting to ramp up in intensity and time commitment as are my other activities outside of school.

My aunt's having surgery to get rid of some tumors tomorrow.

Then I was talking with my godmother Leeanne who exclaimed that she really liked my writing.

So either I'm super distracted, super anxious or having a moment of prideful writers block...maybe it's all three reasons that I can't get my head on straight and write anything too sensical.

With that in mind please bear with me.

[comes back the next day]

Yeah I wasn't able to write. I'm listening to some Tchaikovsky and Mozart to ease myself up. My psychological and mental state have only worsened since the weekend, I'm not doing very good at getting work done.

I hope you don't mind the color change for the website. I read somewhere (can't find it now) that darker colors on a monitor actually translate into real energy saved (my roommate Blake quoted to me about the vast amounts of energy saved if all computer monitors were darkened, or had significantly less white backgrounds for screens/windows/text editors).

Tonight, I'd like to do a quick history reminder...then move on to the main content of this post.

St. Bartholomew's Massacre took place in 1597 and resulted in the deaths of somewhere between 3,000 and 50,000 deaths. French Roman Catholics basically went around slaughtering French Huguenots (Protestant Calvinists) on orders of the French King. Unfortunately this massacre took place in the context of the French Wars of Religion that lasted twenty six years from 1562 to 1598. The conflicts were fought between Protestants and Catholics and somewhere between 2 to 4 million individuals died as a result of combat, disease and famine. I honestly don't know the total history behind the conflicts. The social, cultural, economic etc. reasons behind the war. I do know, though, that it was made possible by weaponizing of the gospel and the forceful intermingling between salvation and the monarchy. If we are to ignore the words of Christ regarding the commandment to love our neighbors. At least may we not forget the very real consequences of enforcing the good news with legal and military means.

I'd like to talk a little bit about creativity in four different instances.

The first one is negative, so that we can get it out of the way in the beginning.

In the book 1984, Winston is a man who is ever constantly surveyed and under surveillance. He is watched by Big Brother in order to make sure he's doing or not doing what he's supposed to do/not do. The socialist, George Orwell, wrote the book (yes, you'd be surprised at how disjointed and difference Soviet Communism is from the old school socialism) and based it in London. Unfortunately, it seems that the U.K. has, instead of heeding the warning, plunged full steam ahead in realizing the Big Brother nightmare. In this article, the weaponizing of Mozart is revealed as one of the most recent attempts made by British officials and property owners to dispel and disband unwanted loitering youth. You read that correctly. Apparently, teenage boys do not like listening to classical music, and authorities have found that by merely blasting it in areas where loitering tend to occur, they are able to keep the place clear. They also play it in detentions, to calm the boys. While the short term consequences appear to be very clear and productive, it's not too difficult to imagine the long term results. Funnily enough, another dystopian novel (I would say is definitely a lot more interesting to read, though a little bit more ...creepy) A Clockwork Orange briefly explores how the usage of classical music to punish law breakers, naturally, classical music ceases to be appreciated. It essentially becomes corrupted as a weapon...not for what it is: beauty that speaks to the soul.

I'd recommend reading the article. The point I'm trying to make, is while it's a rather depressing act, you've got to give credit to the ingenuity and creativity behind the utilization of Mozart to enforce public crow control (and social control in schools). It's pretty genius (and sad). If art can be used in such a creative and, adamantly, (negative) utilitarian way...what are some ways it can be used for utilitarian good?

The second instance on creativity begins with job crises and unemployment problem in our country. I came across one labor union's unique approach and proposed solution to this issue in this article. The International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers decided to organize a union of unemployed workers under a plan called UCubed. The idea is that you get together with other unemployed individuals in your neighborhood and then progressively get bigger by joining with your small group with larger groups in your area, county, district, state and so on. You then meet, plan and discuss of ways to lobby and meet with government authorities and essentially make your voice heard (made exponentially stronger when taking into account the entire UCubed collective effort.) While my personal philosophy would tend towards equipping these unemployed individuals with tools to organize, plan and come up with ways to make work for themselves, I know that sometimes there's really no work and no resources to make your own work (think...Detroit which is almost 45% unemployed). But this post is about creativity—and I'm trying to make a case for the strength and ability to accomplish near impossible feats through imagination. UCubed is way better than nothing and it's a creative solution offered by an organization centered around working folks.

Imagination + and working hands = amazing results

Third—speaking of Aerospace workers. If any of you look at what I post on facebook, you will have seen my submission of a link to the Copenhagen Suborbitals' website. These guys are my heroes of my imagination. If you know me very well, you know that I have this huge affinity for space, space ships, science fiction. I wanted to be an aerospace engineer for a long time...I still kind of do (but am verily ill equipped). I will quote a portion of the website's mission statement.

"This is a non-profit suborbital space endeavor, based entirely on sponsors and volunteers.

Our mission is to launch a human being into space. We are working fulltime to develop a series of suborbital space vehicles - designed to pave the way for manned space flight on a micro size spacecraft....The mission has a 100% peaceful purpose and is not in any way involved in carrying explosive, nuclear, biological and chemical payloads.We intend to share all our technical information as much as possible, within the laws of EU-export control." [LINK]

In other words, this group–the Copenhagen Suborbitals, purely through the goodwill of others and their own determination and hardwork, are trying to get into space. This kind of cooperative work for such an endeavor, inflames my mind. If you look at their video and pictures too, you can see that they are getting along pretty well for working out of an abandoned shed in the snow.

The fourth instance of creativity is on World Vision. I read this Op-Ed in the NY Times by Nicolas D. Kristof which was a veritable, usually unheard of, praise for Evangelicals who are working/living out Christ's command to serve. While I don't think Evangelicals deserve the praise or need the attention (I believe someone, somewhere—it probably was God—said something about serving in humility, about not seeking recognition for your obedience)....I think the issues that are being addressed do. Again, I'd strongly encourage you to read the Op-Ed because it raises some important biblical basics regarding service, and it testifies to the growth and "success" of World Vision. Really I do think World Vision is a testament to God and His ability to work through us. I think there's a temptation to dimiss World Vision as just another non-profit organization trying to help people and not really creative (though there's a lot of things that it does that is blatantly creative and different from other organizations, such as sponsoring a child) but I would argue that creativity and out-of-the-box thinking is a fundamental building block to any gathering of individuals who are focused and concerned with helping others first.

I'm super tired now but I'd like to leave you thinking about what I'm thinking. I'd really like to use art to give people jobs, to save lives all while working together to into space. What does creativity look like to me? Where can I be creative with solutions? How can I use my imagination to help others?

The Olympics

Because my girlfriend is an avid skier (very, very good at it too I do believe) I am going to try to be gracious, understanding and sensitive in this post. This humbling isn't so much of a bad thing either, I suppose it couldn't hurt (maybe even be good for me) to be humble and respectful when approaching all subjects.

Humility is a funny thing (especially considering when I google imaged the word "humility" the first thing that showed up was a picture that said: "Humility is a strange thing. The minute you think you've got it, you've lost it.")

Tonight I'm going to be talking about The Olympics.

I honestly had not thought about the Olympics or its implications until recently coming across Stefan Molyneux's video on the subject. It's titled Brawn Porn

I didn't embed the video on here specifically because I didn't want to endorse all of his claims, his language or his anger. But I would encourage you to watch the video with an open mind because it is very informing and you will walk away a little bit more enlightened (be aware that he uses inflammatory language, though it's primarily because it makes him angry). Watching the video will help compliment the view that I have recently started developing, one that is quite different than the one I had before.

My previous conception of The Olympics I think were quite average and positive. I thought the Olympics were an excellent source of entertainment that I can share in indulgence with the rest of the world. I felt that the event used competition to promote sports and healthy activity all the while fostering relations between nations. The international aspect of it helped expose me as a kid to the fact that there was a whole world of different nationalities, cultures and people groups out there. I was exposed and learned about all the different types of sports from javeline throwing to synchronized swimming to racewalking. The sheer power, discipline, stamina and strength of all of the athletes never failed inspire me with awe. I also liked it because I could root for my home country (depending on who was doing the best: America or Turkey). I think most of you readers understand these sentiments and feelings and you might be wondering what my change of thought is.

There are several problems:
1) It is a misuse of resources that has direct impact on the most vulnerable

2) They have been used as an excuse to persecute people

3) It promotes nationalism under the guise of international cooperation

4) It is a distraction of gigantic proportion

I don't have a lot of time, so you'll have to excuse me (and maybe think about it/research a little on your own: google "cost of olympics" or "anti-olympics" or even maybe "olympics bad" lol)

Number 1 & 2

I don't know if you know or remember, but when the Olympics were held in China about 1.5 million Chinese in the city of Beijing were forcibly moved from their home. Many of them were living in slums, which were simply bulldozed. In Greece about 3,000 Roma were displaced. About 30,000 low income folks were moved in the Atlanta Olympics and 720,000 of mostly poor folks were moved when it was in Seoul link here.

The costs for constructing the necessary Olympics—are huge. For Vancouver that cost is $6 billion. This is because money is needed to pay to build the stadiums, the transportation and security—usually all things that won't ever be used under such strain again. The argument was originally that the event would generate $10 billion in total revenue, but that has been reduced to $1 billion. Homelessness has risen in Vancouver since the beginning of construction till the current continuation of the games and are finding themselves increasingly harassed by police who are attempting to keep the streets clean. Other past Olympics have left cities with millions upon billions of dollars of debt that citizens of the city end up having to pay for decades (the aforementioned video goes into in more depth). We'll never really know how China dealt with their costs, though I read somewhere that the hundreds of billions of dollars used could have gone towards helping their modern-country sized population of dirt-poor citizenry. The cost

As for persecution, during Beijing's Olympics Christians were persecuted, along with human rights activists, pro-Tibet activists and journalists. Some of those detained in the 2008 Summer are still being detained and under arrest. You might be surprised to learn too that there have been some considerable moves of suppressing free speech in Vancouver as well. Beside the homeless issue in Vancouver, and beside the controversies surrounding unapproved usage of native-Canadian lands for the games—there have been claims that the Canadian government has failed to prevent a huge rise in human trafficking into the area in response to the influx of foreigners and tourists. The documentary at the bottom has more information on this trafficking of women.

Finally, to balance out the costs associated with hosting the Olympic games many corporations and rich individuals are sought after and solicited for business since they are really the only ones who can afford to pay the commercializing fees. In the end then, those who financially benefit from the Olympics are those who are already well off and most definitely not the homeless bum who is forced on to the street because his home had to be build for a stadium which would have a massive Coca-cola add plastered on the side of it.

Number 3

I've talked about this only briefly before. As Christians, we are members of a spiritual Kingdom—one that supersedes any Earthly kingdom, and one which demands that we serve one another as equals. My brothers are Canadians, Mongolians, Syrians and Welsh. My sisters are Peruvians, Iranians, Congolese and Polish. They are my family. Any flags or borders serve only to separate us and isolate us into competing factions and ensure polarizing perspectives. National identities may seem to strengthen us, but in reality they weaken us as a whole and diminish the value of our neighbors. We are told that they are there to protect us, to keep us safe, but the reality is that we don't really know each other.

So in the Olympics, when athletes compete against one another—it is presented as nations, competing against one another. This constructs a misleading image that competition between nations can be friendly without violence or harm. The truth is that real competition in between nations takes the form of arms and financial stockpiling. These results in very real deaths as a result of bullets and hunger. Why do we pledge allegiance to our flag anyways? Is America more important and valuable than Mexico? Are Mexicans worth less than Americans? What about English or South Africans, are they worth less than Americans? If they aren't worth less, then why do we pledge ourselves to a country that cares primarily about Americans (at the expense of others)?

Number 4

The Olympics are entertaining.

Besides the fact that they're existence continues to harm the poor, the homeless and the enslaved, and besides the fact that it perpetuates a perilous myth that there can be harmony in global competition, the Olympics distract us from the very real problems our of world.

In the video, Stefan gets very worked up about how the Olympics are basically a big show where the rich athletes are able to make a profitable career out of winning medals. BBC reported on how richer nations and richer athletes perform overwhelmingly better than those who are not. Which roughly means that much of the Olympics isn't about who is physically the fittest, but about who has the most money.

It is worth noting that the article notes there are exceptions. I know there are a lot of exceptions too, particularly in the winter sports, where not all of the skiers came from rich backgrounds. I would also add that MANY athletes have used their privilege, power and prestige to help others. However when the news media has the opportunity to fill their time slots and page space with stories about athletes and races, real earth shattering news gets left out. News such as this video, which charts unemployment statistics over the past three years. The news is that its still continuing:

I think I shall end there, however I will also like to add that I have not even mentioned the increase in police force and the negative environmental impacts that the Olympics have had, both in Beijing and in Vancouver—two profound topics that deserve review and mulling over . Here are some other links for further reading if you have the time:

Vancouver Poverty Olympics

Double standard with Afghanistan and the Olympics

An insightful, 15 minute documentary titled: 8 reasons to oppose the 2010 Winter Olympics

Above all we must question whether these games glorify God. Do these games help us love our neighbor or do they actively hurt our neighbor?

Tolstoy Weekend

I'm currently reading The Kingdom of God is Within you by Leo Tolstoy. Tolstoy influenced both Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. (as well as a good deal of other civil rights activists that I am unaware of) with this book. On the back of my book writes "[Ghandi was] inspired by its message of nonresistance to evil, the Mahatma declared it a source of 'independent thinking, profound morality, and truthfulness.' " Tolstoy's own views actually are actually quite simply a gathering of Jesus' words and the reflections of a good deal of unremarkable (or merely lesser known) priests, theologians and quite a few anabaptists/quakers. On page 36 of my book he tells

Tolstoy tells a story of how both church and state's tendency to "overawe" people who take Christ's commands seriously (such as loving one's neighbors, which by default he argues necessitates and demands nonviolent resistance) :

It is just what has taken place of late years at recruiting sessions; at a table before the zertzal – the symbol of the Czar’s authority– in the seat of honor under the life-size portrait of the Czar, sit dignified old officials, wearing decorations, conversing freely and easily, writing notes, summoning men before them, and giving orders. Here, wearing a cross on his breast, near them, is a prosperous-looking old priest in a silken cassock, with long gray hair flowing on to his cope, before a lectern who wears the golden cross and has a Gospel bound in gold.

They summon Ivan Petroff. A young man comes in, wretchedly, shabbily dressed, and in terror, the muscles of his face working, his eyes bright and restless; and in a broken voice, hardly above a whisper, he says, “I – by Christ’s law – as a Christian – I cannot.” “What is he muttering?” asks the president, frowning impatiently and raising his eyes from his book to listen. “Speak louder,” the colonel with shining epaulets shouts to him. “I – I as a Christian ...” And at last it appears that the young man refuses to serve in the army because he is a Christian. “Don’t talk nonsense. Stand to be measured. Doctor, may I trouble you to measure him. He is all right?” “Yes.” “Reverend father, administer the oath to him.”

No one is the least disturbed by what the poor scared young man is muttering. They do not even pay attention to it. “They all mutter something, but we’ve no time to listen to it, we have to enroll so many.” The recruit tries to say something still. “It’s opposed to the law of Christ.” “Go along, go along; we know without your help what is opposed to the law and what’s not; and you soothe his mind, reverend father, soothe him. Next: Vassily Nikitin.” And they lead the trembling youth away. And it does not strike anyone – the guards, or Vassily Nikitin, whom they are bringing in, or any of the spectators of this scene – that these inarticulate words of the young man, at once suppressed by the authorities, contain the truth, and that the loud, solemnly uttered sentences of the calm, self-confident official and the priest are a lie and a deception.

America's Justice System

I've decided that it would probably be good for me to go back and change the titles to where they reflect the content of the posts. I shall have to do this later.

Friends I would ask that you would pray for me and my two essays. I am quite tired and should get rest, but I am also unwilling to go to bed without first posting for you.

Every day, thousands of police officers suffer injuries and risk self-harm so to save lives and injury of innocent folks like you and me.

Police officers are paid very well, in bigger cities police sheriffs may earn up to $700,00 and average officers may earn up to $150,000 annually with roughly the same amount for pension upon retirement until death. Police officers are granted great, great power to keep the public safe. They are allowed to lie, manipulate and use great physical violence to coerce people to follow the law and to keep the peace. Unfortunately this creates the possibility for the abuse of this power.

For example, there was one middle-aged woman who was arrested on suspect of driving under the influence. You can watch the YouTube video here, but be warned that it's kind of shocking and sad. The woman in custody was taken back to the Police offices and there she began to get unruly, demanding a phone call to speak to her lawyer. Meanwhile all of this was caught on videotape. The woman tries to go towards the door, not really complying with the officer and the guy, in turn, starts to really manhandle her. He slams her into the wall, cuffs her and sits her down. At this point she's crying/hysterical and the officer goes and turns off the camera. When it is turned back on, she is lying facedown in a pool of blood on the ground. A picture of her injuries are truly heartbreaking (she also broke several bones I believe).

What transpired next is interesting. At first the officer is fired and the woman successfully sues the force for $400,000 to cover her costs/experience. Then the officer who had been fired, was reinstated. The officer who violently assaulted an unarmed, defenseless woman (and under normal circumstances would get several years in jail) was put back on the job to protect the peace.

Because there are so many police officers out there, and because there is the possibility for the abuse of such power (poor training, reinstating of poor candidates, low expectations and requirements) similar cases can be found a dime a dozen online.

Another story.

On President's day a woman named Hameda Hassan wrote a letter to Barrack Obama, asking her to commute the rest of her prison sentence. To read the letter, click on this link here Hameda's letter tells of a single mother caught between an single motherhood, an abusive ex, poverty and a hard place. In escaping her abusive boyfriend, Hameda began to do errands and wiring money for a relative, in order to support her two daughters. The relative was running a cocaine drug ring, and when it was broken, Hameda found herself convicted to prison for life. The sentence has since been reduced to 27 years, of which she has 10 years left. Now a grandmother (she's probably in her late 30's/early 40's) Hameda asks Obama to commute her sentence in orde that she may right what was wrong and be involved in her children and grandchildren's lives.

What bothers me most perhaps here, is that Hameda never assaulted or murdered anybody. In her letter she acknowledged and recognizes the errancy of her actions, which she takes responsibility for—but to give a life sentence to an errand running single mother seems just a little, a little too harsh. A little outlandishly horrendous if you ask me.

Another story.

In a press meeting this last Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney revealed his preference for the use of torture. Story is here The fact that we had a Vice President who supported...and still supports the use of physical and psychological violence to induce pain and panic in order to coerce someone into supplying information. I won't go into the utilitarian argument against torture, that it is not a technique that reliably provides truthful/reliable information, but I would like to go into the moral argument.

Cheney is a member of the Methodist Church

Three questions for you readers before I go to sleep.

1) Seeing as the current police force is an example of the exact opposite of "turning the other cheek" and "hand them your coat also" what kind of alternatives are there to "keeping the peace" from a Biblical perspective? What does the Bible say about bringing peace to earth and being a light to men? Should Christians continue to endorse and employ the police force as a utilitarian solution to crime, or should we follow in the footsteps of our Lord who espoused a peacekeeping message that sounds suspiciously like the tactics of non-violent human shielding?

2) I'd like to talk about this later too, especially since it ties into what was discussed and promoted at Urbana 2009. But seeing as our justice system is (more often than not) without compassion or grace, how can we be a voice and a support for those who live a life of crime out of desperate desire to survive?

3) What does it say about us as Christians when the second most powerful man on Earth we elect, claims to be a member of the Church while proclaiming the exact opposite of the words of Jesus?

I may here, say a few words of grace and compassion for Cheney who I believe actually cares about the lives of Americans. Unfortunately I don't think he cares about the lives of everyone which is what Christ taught. I do see a paralel between Cheney and Simon Peter though...both mistake their enemy as something they can and should physically challenge. This perspective, in context with Christ's words and teachings, is completely erroneous.

Matthew 26:50-52

Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

May we go into the world as living, breathing examples of peace.
Amen.

Patriotism, Pacifism and A real example of modern government slavery

A good video from Utah Phillips on Hennacy and Pacifism.

I have some questions for you Christian readers.

As a member of your country, what makes citizens of your country more valuable than citizens of other countries?
Do we have the capacity to judge the value of one child of God, over another? Is the Cambodian worth more than the Russian, is the Chinese citizen worth less than the American citizen?
What about Christians of different nationalities. Is one Christian's life less valuable than another's? Is the Palestinian Christian worth less than the American Christian?

If you answered no, then to some people you may be described as unpatriotic.
The equality of humans in America is very limited—it is limited to the political rights of American citizens. Economic equality is framed as immoral and fascist (ironic, seeing as Fascism is the extreme end of an authoritarian Capitalists State: Corporatism). Global equality is seen as traitorous/treasonous. This last description should very well describe most Christians, for we should be sufficient with the laws and guidance of our one spiritual King and Kingdom.

I'll leave this post there.

Also, here is a rather long article/book in html text (you can read just the first page though) on how the U.S. government
enslaved the Aleuts of the Pribolof islands for about 70+ or so years after slavery was abolished. I had never heard of this before, although Jessica told me that she had been taught it in her Alaska studies class in high school. It makes me wonder what kind of atrocities and crimes are being perpetrated right now—that we won't find out for another 50 to 100 years from now.

Grace and Peace.
Grace and Peace.
Amin.

p.s. I hope you like the collage of pictures on the side, if you have any recommendations or additions that might fit with the theme. please don't hesitate to suggest!

Historical American Folk Anarchists

It's been going by so fast.

I've been kind of swamped. I finished reading Follow me to Freedom by Perkins and Claiborne (Highly recommend this book! Gives very good insight into being a leader, a servant, a follower. Perkins and Claiborne offer a ton of advice...so much so that at some point I'm going to make an explorer notebook with a set of personal commandments for meself to follow *makes mental note to come back to this*), and I've moved on to The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy which is about the historicity and validity of pacifism, and the full brunt of meaning that comes with being a serious pacifist. If you'd like to download it actually, I found out, you can download it legally (since it was written...awhile ago now). It's not that big of a file for being 161 pages. Download Here

For those of you who either don't feel like commenting, or don't have the time or just don't have anything to say, I added three extra buttons that you can press to give me some kind of feedback. They are: "moving" for if you feel moved, "interesting" for if you feel like it's something that made you think or just stimulated your synapses and "naive" for in the event that you already knew about what I was writing, or you disagree.

Some developments for you to know and pray about.

This semester as part of my final paper for my Dissent class, I'll be volunteering 20+ hours with Oregon Peace Works. Last week I talked with its president, Peter Bergell, and we had a very pleasant conversation (among other topics) about Ammon Hennacy.

I'll also be volunteering with Neighbor 2 Neighbor, a neighborhood mediation organization based in Salem.

But back to Ammon Hennacy.

I've known oh so vaguely, for about a year, the existence and history of folksy-workers socialists/anarchist in America. You don't really hear about them, because they aren't really taught about or heard of in schools.

Sidenote
My one big issue with public education is that one essentially entrusts the state to frame and pass on history. Politics is involved in what gets remembered, where significance is applied and how patriotism is communicated. Because of the vastness of history, necessarily things are cut. This makes it easy for certain things to be forgotten, glossed over, or entirely misrepresented.

Do not think though that I am not in favor of abolishing public education. I just don't think it should be an exclusively governmental job. We should all be involved in the education and raising of future generations. Privatization of education leads to hierarchies, first between children, and then between men and women. What price can you put on thoughts, ideas, dreams and history—who can say what child does or does not deserve to learn about its heritage and own to make their own future? That siad, it is precisely because I am against censorship and restriction of information, that I am leery of the government's monopoly on what is and is not taught.

How often does one here about anti-war sentiment? Probably the only place you'll hear about it is the Viet Nam War. One rarely reads or hears about the squashing of anti-war sentiments for first two World Wars.

In the move O Brother Where art Thou? there's a song called "The Big Rock Candy Mountain". That song was written by Harry McClintock, a lifelong Wobbly--which means, a member of the International Workers of the World (IWW). He also sang songs such as "Hallelujah I'm a bum" here's a youtube of the songand others.

Ammon Hennacy, was one tough cookie. He became a Catholic and anarchist though Dorothy Day, who became his godmother (even though he was older than her). He founded and worked in his Joe Hill Hospitality House, which was open to all for food and shelter. It was particularly used by homeless and drunkards. Hennacy himself was a vegetarian who refrained from smoking, drinking and drugs. He would regularly fast. In fact, on the eve of the bombing of Hiroshima he would fast for several days all while picketing the IRS. He would picket a lot actually, and later on he would go to speakings and he wrote several books. Here is one link that extrapolates on Hennacy's life and philosophy.


If you notice, Hennacy is holding up a sign with the words "Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin" which if you know your OT—you'll know is from the book of Daniel where King Belshazzar of Babylon desecrates several artifacts from the Temple. It was a sign of doom, and you can read the entire story in Daniel chapter 5.


Above is a video of Utah Phillips, a great storyteller, musician and anarchist who just passed away in '08. That's one thing that saddens me. Is that many Christian anarchist have been wholly rejected and spat out of the church (though I will say that these characters are usually strong willed and not ones to readily conform). I've been wondering if I should strive to rehabilitate the word, or if I should learn and take what I can while donning the graceful title of "Christian".


Another picture of Hennacy in some protest.

In a future post I'd also like to explore/share with you the context which the IWW, socialism and anarchism arose out of--and why these philosophies are still relavent due to relatively parallel conditions.

I shall end there. I have more to write. I'm writing an Op-Ed piece for my first paper for my Dissent class. I shall share it after I've turned it in. Good friday!

Intentional Communities (That Old Newness)

Acts 2:42-47

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32-35

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

You've probably heard the phrase, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need". It was a phrase popularized by Karl Marx, but the roots are right above in Acts 3:25. Both scripture summaries are a description of what the first Church looked like, brothers and sisters pooling their resources, living, praying, praising, eating and caring for each other.

I've been interested in intentional communities for a year or three now, ever since reading Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. It was first time I had been shown that not only were such communities possible, but that they existed now and were working and spreading.

Samantha (my girlfriend for all of you who don't know!) was having a conversation with her roommate Jessica and the subject of intentional communities came up somehow. Jessica mentioned that her professor from the prior semester had studied and observed intentional communities as a part of her doctorate. So I got in touch with her and had a chat with her. Part by convenience, and part by some subtle subconscious intelligence on my part, I brought Sam along. I'll tell you why my subconscious was so smart afterwards.

Professor Jade Aguilar was very, very nice and helpful. Off the bat she mentioned several sites for me to explore:
The Fellowship for Intentional Communities
The Federation of Egalitarian Communities and
Northwest Intentional Community Association

Even though the third site is technically part of the first, I wanted to note it separately. I was intrigued to notice that under their directory there are 74 communities in Oregon alone. This was perhaps what was most infectious for me, that there were so many communities out there. Sure, I'd probably not fit the mold for many of them--but Professor Aguilar pointed out that IC.org very neatly organizes the directory to your specifications: and there are quite a few "Christian" communities. I use quotes because, just clicking on a few of them to ones with at least a hundred, you can find communities from serious lutherans from to amish to folks "who are spiritually open to everything except Satanist" (that amused me). Needless to say there's a lot of diversity.

As we were talking I asked (I forget exactly how) about whether she met any anarchist, and she brightened up and noted that she had lived with both an anarchist community called Acorn, in the Virgina countryside and I think she observed (?) or knew of Emma Goldman's finishing school, in Seattle as well as another that I missed. Of Christian communities she had heard of Jesus People.

We talked to her for, forty minutes roughly. She described how there's different dynamics with different groups such as communities that are focused on being totally self-sustainable, like the Acorn who all work in the community job that involves packaging seeds. Another community, I think it was a vegan one, operated and worked in a tofu factory. She described how some communities are in the throes of trying to figure out where they fit in, in the greater context of society--like one feminists community.

I was really interested in how conflict is resolved. She mentioned that many of the communities used either/both group debriefings/counseling sessions and/or mediation. I liked that a lot. She also described how many of the communities try from the beginning to make sure your'e a "right fit" for the community. It makes sense that there should be an initiation process, especially since almost all communities revolve or are founded upon some sort of ideology, tenant or beliefs. For example, one community had everything in common. Any individual who joined would have to share everything they brought to the community. All clothes went into a common laundry pile for any and everyone to use.

That was about as far as we go. I knew I would have questions but couldn't think of them. This is where Sam comes in! She can be quicker than me when it comes to thinking up questions—here are some of hers:
1) Healthcare
Do people have individual healthcare plans, what about in communities where resources are shared?

2) Retirement
Some communities have been around since the '40s. Are there individuals who stay that long, and if so, is there some type of retirement care for them? Are they taken cared of, or are they forced to leave? This brought up the question of, do people ever join for life—or is it just a phase?

3) Contracts
This was pretty straightforward. Whenever you have such communities, one is bound to come into contact with serious followed. Sam wondered if there are ever situations where contracts are needed, to ensure that expectations or responsibilities are followed.

4) Transportation
Are there communal cars or vehicles? What about driving insurance and all that jazz?

5) Children
How does this work? This led into: How do families work? What do the dynamics look like?

All really good questions that I'm sharing with you all so that I might remember and look into in the future—AND—maybe intrigue you guys into some research and discussion of your own.

The slogan of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities (linked above a bit) is:
A new way of living is not only possible, it is happening now!

I quote it because it made me smile. It reminded me of the good news.

As Brian McClaren writes in his book Everything Must Change (I have yet to read, but just skimming it I feel like I'm already greatly familiar with the gist and spirit of it)...there's a lot that needs to be changed. -Obligatory "lol" here-

It's why it gives me such great inspiration and courage when I read about places like:
Dorothy's Place, in Salinas California. Having been around for 25 years. and communities that are connected through the The Simple Way that has, in conjunction with a bunch of other peeps created the Community of Communities, a map of markers.

One that note, I think I've about said my piece. In the book everything must change, McClaren discusses the need to address four crises: 1) environmental, the crisis of the planet 2) resources, the crisis of poverty 3) safety, the crisis of peace 4) spirituality, the crisis of purpose/story. I think building and becoming a part of intentional communities (with my bias towards ones that place an irreplaceable value on Jesus and God's good news--which is what I think communities are) is crucial to solving these problems.
Personally, I have some more ideas on what more can be done--in areas such as technology development and research. I'm becoming ever more aware, I feel of my own personal purpose. It's somewhere in this huge blog, slowly forming from words and ideas and heart.

In the future I'd like to talk about a couple of things: homosexuality and the church, assumptions on authority, one anarchist's 10 steps to destabilizing corruption. That's for starters.

Also please pray for my Aunt Jana, who was diagnosed with breast cancer today (Thursday, February 4th 2010). It's my families umpteenth cancer. Prayers for everyone would be blessed.

One of the reason I like Ghandi is because the guy had some really good quotes, like:
"We must become the change we want to see."

I think I'll end there.
Love,