Interests:food and wine, organics, sustainable agriculture, sustainability, equality, the welfare of all living things, (r)evolution, music, foreign & indie movies, and sad, but true...celebrity gossip
Recently, a very good friend of mine asked me about anarchy
and wondered how I, as an advocate for anarchy, felt about what was happening
in Somalia.Although I haven’t been
following what’s been going on there, I vaguely remembered details from what I
read in Black Hawk Down a few years ago. (Granted, this was not the best source for news, I did learn a thing or two about what was happening in Somalia.) My friend pointed out that Somalia was in a state of anarchy, and
that it was dangerous to be there and wondered if I still agreed that anarchy
can really work.
I appreciated that he asked me this, because it got me
thinking about anarchy again, and it reinforced my belief that many people have
incorrect views, or little-to-no understanding about anarchism.I cannot say I am an expert, because I don’t
study or label myself an anarchist, but my political philosophy does sway
towards anarchism.
Although Somalia is literally in a state of anarchy, in a
dictionary sense of the word, anarchism as a political philosophy does not
exist in Somalia.Anarchism is a state
where the people as individuals and as a whole rule.Each person has a say in what happens within his or her
community.The people are the
“government”.There is no dominant
individual, group or force ruling over or controlling the people.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines anarchy as 1 a:
absence of government b: a state of lawlessness or political
disorder due to the absence of governmental authority.It’s true that a formal government does not
exist in Somalia, but ruling forces do exist, including the pre-existing warlords
and now, the fundamentalist Islamists, who are beginning to gain ground in
Somalia.
In addition, just because a country does not have a
government does not make the country anarchic by default.In order for anarchy to exist and work the people
need to know that they are empowered to participate and make decisions.This is not the case in Somalia.If Somalia were in a true state of anarchy,
I do not think the people would choose to live in constant violence, fear, and
death, as they are living now.
During the World Cup, two Somalis were killed by radical
Islamists, who opened fire on a group of spectators that were watching a soccer match
on television.According to the
Associated Press, “Hard-line Muslim fighters, who wrested control of the Somali
capital from warlords in June, have forbidden people from watching television
or movies in line with their strict interpretation of Islam.”This clearly illustrates that although there
is no formal government, there is a force with an agenda hovering over the
Somalis.
Another misconstrued concept of anarchism was depicted in
the movie “Anarchist Cookbook”.This
movie was a juvenile attempt at illustrating anarchism by focusing on the
violent, revolutionary tactics an anarchist would take in order to create a
state of anarchy.Again, by focusing on
the dictionary’s definition of anarchy, this movie completely missed the mark
and reinforced the idea that anarchy is about chaos and violence.It’s no wonder that anarchy is so
misunderstood.
I do not label myself an anarchist, because I believe labeling
oneself leads to separation and alienation from others.I also might disagree with some
philosophical beliefs, but I don’t know.Like I said, I am not an expert, and I don’t study it, so I can’t say
whether or not I subscribe to it as a whole.More importantly, based on what I do know, I don’t believe anarchy is
possible.
What I do believe is that another world is possible, and this world does have anarchist values. My belief that this other world can exist is what gives me hope and pushes me to work towards becoming a better person and helping making this new world happen.
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose
It's been a while since I've read an Adbusters, so I picked up the March/April issue yesterday. I was a little disappointed, because the magazine appears to be going downhill a little-- lacking the caliber of news and artistic content that it used to a couple of years ago. I guess it´s been that long since I last picked one up. Nonetheless, there were still some morsels in the mag that made it worth the eight bucks I shelled out.
One piece particularly struck me, which was just a short excerpt from Isabelle Eberhardt´s, "Alegria 1900", which read:
"Life on the open road is the essence of freedom. To have the courage to smash the chains with which modern life has weighted us (under the great pretext that it was offering us more liberty), then take up the symbolic stick and bundle, and get out!
To the one who understands the value and delectable flavor of solitary freedom (and true freedom depends on solitude) the act of leaving is the most courageous and most beautiful.
An egotistical happiness, possibly. But for him who relishes the flavor, happiness.
To be alone, to be poor in needs, to be ignored, a stranger at home and everywhere, and to walk, great and by oneself, toward the conquest of the world."
Reading this reaffirmed my own wanting to get out. I´ve been where I am too long, and there isn´t much more I can gain here. I know it´s only a matter of time before I leave, and I just need to be patient so Ruben and I can do this together, only I don´t know how much more I take this. If only I could explain to you where I live, where I work and how meaningless it all is to live in the illusion that I am living a good life.
Maybe that´s why I started this. This thinking outloud is helping me sort out the chaos in my mind that has been preventing me from connecting with myself. Chipping at my life as I know it to be here and now is actually helping me break free from the things I've created, accomplished and acquired that are now weighing me down.
My roomie likes to watch a television show on the Food Network called Unwrapped.After seeing this show several times, I have to say, as a human being, I’m thoroughly disgusted.Here is an unadulterated summary of the show straight from the Food Network’s website:
“Each week, Unwrapped uncovers behind-the-scenes details on classic American food, from peanut butter and chocolate syrup to French fries and bubblegum. Join host Marc Summers as he explores the test kitchens and the secrets behind lunch box treats, soda pop, movie candy, and more. Unwrapped--the show for everyone who's ever worn a pair of wax lips.”
As an American and again, as a human being, it disturbs me that soda pop, movie candy, bubble gum, chocolate syrup and wax lips fall into the food category.
The episode I saw last night, Episode CW1F06 - Retro Menu, covered how Swanson Hungry Man Salisbury steaks are “cooked” and frozen and the making of egg salad for the masses.I’m honestly not sure how anyone could watch this television program and think it’s all right to eat most of anything they’ve “unwrapped” on this show— probably because it’s troubling to know that many people don’t think about what it is they are consuming; that they don't think about where their food comes from; and worse yet, that some people don’t have enough time, or even care enough to prepare their own food.
In the Salisbury steak piece, the Swanson rep talks about how all of the meat used is ‘premium’ meat, no fillers.What people don’t know about this ‘premium’ meat is that it’s probably factory farmed meat, which not only is bad for you as a human being-- it’s bad for family farms, bad for the communities that are near or around factory farms, bad for the environment, and bad for the animals. You can go to the Meatrix for an intro course on factory farming, if you don’t already know about it at www.themeatrix.com.
The above is the same and true for the egg salad that’s made for the masses.This company wouldn’t be in business if people didn’t buy the shit, right?Is it not mind-blowing that people are possibly incapable of boiling eggs in water for 10-15 minutes, peeling it, and blending it with mayo, mustard, salt and pepper, and whatever else they might want?
I don’t blame folks for being unaware or unable to cook for themselves, although it does sadden me.Unfortunately, lack of food education or interest in real food is what keeps these agribusinesses and "food" brokers going. Hell, they actually rely on it.It probably pleases them to know that a show like Unwrapped exists, and that despite people seeing how their favorite foods are made, they continue to flock by the masses to buy frozen dinners, Big Macs, and Brain Drops, Spew and Sour Suds.
It’s time to get back to the basics, folks.Start reading labels.Go to your local farmers markets.Cook your own meals.Invest just a little bit of time learning about food, because after all, you are what you eat.
I feel the need to clean, organize, plant, create, think, dream, connect, clear, nurture, let go, forgive, forget, lose, find, move on, follow, lead, focus, heal, be better, get better, accept, stop.
I feel a lot of angst in my life right now.I’m not happy with where I am, what I’m doing, how I’m feeling.I want to be a better person, not just for myself, but so I can be a better friend, family member, colleague, student, human being.
I don’t know if I feel this way, because classes ended almost a month ago, and I haven’t replaced the intellectual stimulation with something else.All I know is I’m thinking too much again, and I can’t help but feel stuck here in Almost Paradise, because Ruben and I are still working our way out of this place.
I know I can work on change within myself, which is why I've been clearing the air and weeding out different things in my life, but I strongly believe the greatest change within myself will come from finally leaving this place, which is fast becoming my proverbial albatross.
