EVOLUTION

There often is a tension, and generally it is useful, between the urge to maintain the known and to embrace the new. In one's personal life this can manifest as habits versus new behaviors. In politics this is classically demonstrated by the conflict between the left and right, liberal and conservative. The end result of these conflicts inevitably moves the individual and body politic forward.

This process is not without it's problems however. Everybody needs to play their part and realize that slanting too much to one side or the other presents dangers. It is also true that times vary in the proportion of change versus conservation that is inherent and/or required.

These are times requiring a new vision of ourselves and our realtionships with others. Catabolic forces are acting rather forcefully on all our internal and external structures. This is fear inducing and reactions occur.

It is odd to witness the president and his cabinet holding views of reality that clearly bear little resemblance to reality. This is most apparent in Iraq. In some sense this is the tip of the iceberg. the entire situation in Iraq is the manifestation of a world view which has gone well beyond its usefulness.

How far in the future lies the point where technology puts in the hands of millions the capacity to destroy the world. I don't think it is that far off. In that world can the pursuit of one's own parochial interests with no concern for the consequences make any sense? It makes very little sense now let alone in that future.

A new way of being in this world and with the earth itself and all its creatures is needed desperately for us to survive. Reactionary forces will not assure safety at this time. Their actions in the world continue to fail dramatically. We must move forward, and quickly.

OH MY GOD, WE'RE NUTS!

Well my last post was back in November around the time of the mid-term elections and here we are. My latest insight into America? It's this: As a whole we seem to be a culture almost completely incapable of any type of meaningful introspection.

Oh don't misunderstand me, we do engage in prolonged breast beating, wailing and finger pointing after it becomes undeniable that we have screwed up (Watergate, Vietnam). But do we actually learn anything from our misssteps? Not really. Or I should qualify that by saying that the people who run things don't seem to learn anything?

It's really not all that difficult (if you're paying attention) to get a disturbing sense of deja vu from the current political and foreign policy (Iraq) climate. Didn't we already go to a foreign country filled with people that look and believe differently than us, attempt to democratize them, and basicallty succeed in getting a bunch of them and us killed? I seem to recall something similar happening a few years back.

Now that I think of it though, perhaps I'm being naive and in fact the real lessons of politics and war are learned. Those of us who are not part of the power elite but are still somewhat rational see the futility of these exercises in aggression. And those in power understand that war is one of the best ways to redistribute wealth to them and to manipulate the populace through fear.

The one thing I'm not sure about is whether this operates on a totlally conscious and cynical level with those in charge, or whether they are in fact somewhat unaware of their actual motivation. The net effect is the same.

So we merrily SURGE on in Iraq (I think good ole' Doc Freud might have something to say about that word usage). People die, other people get rich and the sense of unreality and disconnection grows here in America.

But like any other binge drinker, reality has a way of slamming into you when you're not expecting it. I hope we're wearing our seat belts when it happens.