I've travelled the country over and have stayed occasionally at Shelters and/or eaten at Soup-kitchens in this city or that. I remember the most memorable I visited.
Soup-kitchens and Shelters I stayed at or ate at that to my mind are model exemplars to meet the needs of the indigent and poor
1. The shelter and soup-kitchen in Santa Barbara near the ocean and the row of hotels at the beach.
You can stay awhile if there's beds available. The mid-day meal is open to the community while breakfast and dinner are for the overnighters. Outstanding food and conviviality among the guests. You can't beat that place--if you can get in! They help you re-locate there, too. The ambience of the area is really untold, save that Michael Jackson had his fairy-tale home amid the area's woods and fields.
2. LA can boast of the dedication of such groups as the Catholic Worker and an outstanding drug addiction program and rehabilitation center that helps just about anybody in hell's kitchen in need (like I was years back). Downtown is inundated with the homeless but they're not out in the Hollywood Hills yet.
3. Honolulu's IHS system of shelters and soup-kitchens, though somewhat barebone are memorable. Occasionally, food from the fashionable part of town come down to the IHS property line. Notable--the people as guests you meet from around the world. What a joyful experience and not to be forgotten--or, at least most of your encounters with whom you meet. Social services helps to locate on the Islands, incidentally.
4. The senior center in downtown Raleigh, NC stands out, too. Its portions for a lunch were ok, but it's the vegetables and fruits you got to take home that is memorable. Nice people, too, despite class differences among the diners.
5. But for me, Miriam's Kitchen, exemplified in the leadership of the administrator Meg, is the epitome of what a soup-kitchen should be. It must exude hope and cheer (as should any shelter establishment dealing with the same clientele); and Meg makes sure her retinue of volunteers and interns from mostly George Washington University across the street are smiling with the message while attuned to the guests' requests. Even the servers are laughing and conversing, smiling with the crowd! The latter seem so innocent as to never experienced any hurt or poverty!
No, this crew could never be assembled without a watchful diligence by a woman (or, a man) imbued with a passion to ameliorate the conditions of urban life that have fostered a loneliness associated with homelessness and indigency.
All hail to the person at Miriam's Kitchen who inspires and encourages her followers to treat those in desperate need as one of the crew she directs--MEG!!!
And, of course the two full meals a day--M-F--are tasty treats, too! But that goes without my saying!
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Monday, December 4, 2017
Why write poetry?
At Miriam's kitchen in DC (an eatery for the homeless and poor), I've dropped in upon occasion (when I have time or have nothing to do at that moment) on an on-going writing group that meets at one or two tables, about 5 people, in the morning after breakfast and continues on in the afternoon an hour before dinnertime. Most poetry these folks write seems really prose structured on paper to look like a poem. I've copied their "free-verse!"
Anyway, I'm developing a fascination for this type of poetry (such as it is). The class reads a poem selected by someone designated the class teacher, and everybody responds to the reading, as stimulation is wont upon them, by extending into their own mental worlds, pen in hand for a recording.
What flows hence is astounding: only by stretch of the imagination related to what they heard, but somehow found relevant by juxtaposition to a poetic rendition of something or other on a printed page.
Here are samples from my scribblings as responses to what I had heard just before I took
pen-in-hand.
1, Why Did It Happen?
There has to be a reason.
Events just don't occur.
You bake a cake the way you did because you followed a recipe.
The light flickers in a candle because the wind blew it.
The car bashed another because the latter was in the way of the former.
So, why do I love you?
For no reason; making up a reason would be silly. It's my hormones' at work in unpredictable fashion!
2. What Makes Me Interesting
I'm an interesting person. Yes, I am. I know you'll agree
--once you learn of my exploits in steering planets to a different course;
--hear of the ludicrous methods I've deployed to significantly increase my net worth;
--prove to women that I'm the real 'Casanova'; not some cheap snake-charmer! biting my victims with my own brand of love potion.
So, why do you find 'interesting?' Darling, remember: Be kind!
P.S. There's a class in creative painting at the same times morning and afternoon, that I could have joined.
3. An addition 3/12/2018. Just in recent sessions, we've come to discern that making poetry has a social effect: namely, it can be designed and offered to a non-discerning public as an uplifting, expressive art form. The readers of poetry, that is to say, can derive a spurt of uplift-shock that makes life more interesting and worthwhile. Nobody wants to read a poem that is depressing and un-inspiring but just about everybody welcomes the chance to absorb the nuances of a poem that makes us feel good about ourselves and our environment.
Anyway, I'm developing a fascination for this type of poetry (such as it is). The class reads a poem selected by someone designated the class teacher, and everybody responds to the reading, as stimulation is wont upon them, by extending into their own mental worlds, pen in hand for a recording.
What flows hence is astounding: only by stretch of the imagination related to what they heard, but somehow found relevant by juxtaposition to a poetic rendition of something or other on a printed page.
Here are samples from my scribblings as responses to what I had heard just before I took
pen-in-hand.
1, Why Did It Happen?
There has to be a reason.
Events just don't occur.
You bake a cake the way you did because you followed a recipe.
The light flickers in a candle because the wind blew it.
The car bashed another because the latter was in the way of the former.
So, why do I love you?
For no reason; making up a reason would be silly. It's my hormones' at work in unpredictable fashion!
2. What Makes Me Interesting
I'm an interesting person. Yes, I am. I know you'll agree
--once you learn of my exploits in steering planets to a different course;
--hear of the ludicrous methods I've deployed to significantly increase my net worth;
--prove to women that I'm the real 'Casanova'; not some cheap snake-charmer! biting my victims with my own brand of love potion.
So, why do you find 'interesting?' Darling, remember: Be kind!
P.S. There's a class in creative painting at the same times morning and afternoon, that I could have joined.
3. An addition 3/12/2018. Just in recent sessions, we've come to discern that making poetry has a social effect: namely, it can be designed and offered to a non-discerning public as an uplifting, expressive art form. The readers of poetry, that is to say, can derive a spurt of uplift-shock that makes life more interesting and worthwhile. Nobody wants to read a poem that is depressing and un-inspiring but just about everybody welcomes the chance to absorb the nuances of a poem that makes us feel good about ourselves and our environment.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Barcelona: lessons in becoming independent
In Russia, it was different: we had a bankrupt country to re-vitalize.
It's apparent that the country wishing independent status must rely on external help. I advocate the United Nations team that oversees elections.
The dominating nations and groups within the country will balk vigorously at a region seeking independence, e.g., the need for help from the outside. Even in the founding of the US outside help was influential: FRANCE.
There's no point for independence attempts to be tried, if there's little opportunity for success. Each nation that has membership status to UN should enable a region within its domain to go independent---perhaps to join some federation as the EU. Russia won't allow the Muslims independence in C, nor will Spain allow Barcelona to part company. Someone has to step in for the independent seeker!
It's apparent that the country wishing independent status must rely on external help. I advocate the United Nations team that oversees elections.
The dominating nations and groups within the country will balk vigorously at a region seeking independence, e.g., the need for help from the outside. Even in the founding of the US outside help was influential: FRANCE.
There's no point for independence attempts to be tried, if there's little opportunity for success. Each nation that has membership status to UN should enable a region within its domain to go independent---perhaps to join some federation as the EU. Russia won't allow the Muslims independence in C, nor will Spain allow Barcelona to part company. Someone has to step in for the independent seeker!
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
The Beat Goes on to Europe; Near East: Scotland, Kurdistan and Barcelona
I was involved in the crumbling of the Russian Empire and the establishment of the Russian Confederation in the late '80s. At the time, I could imagine that the movement to regional governments would take-off, because the several regions could free themselves from Russian domination to re-institute cultural individuality across what was once the Empire.
But I did not think it would take so long! I even dreamed of a movement toward regional governmental control sweeping the United States, causing new independence of the several 50 states; and reaching into China, freeing the many provinces to go their own ways, yet continuing cultural bridges throughout that great nation. Well, there has been no rush toward an independence of the several cultural and regional diversities as has happened in the former Soviet Union. Interestingly, the many former parts of that Empire have been approached recently by Putin, desirous of returning to the Empire structure, but he has not been able to find them enthusiastic to go back to the days of their Russian subjugation and domination. As the Chinese spread throughout Africa, we may see the local regions, e.g., in Kenya, break away to form their own version of Chinese culture in an African setting!
I applaud all the recent attempts toward an independence and freedom of regions seeking cultural identity for themselves. For, I have witnessed these past years the successful diversions that have occurred throughout the former Russian Empire, permitting each region to assert their own uniqueness amid the binding force nonetheless that keeps them together in a Federation of independent states.
And, I believe Scotland will make its way into a cultural inheritance of a people united and will ultimately join the EU as its own being. Could not the same thing happen, smoothly, in Spain--freeing the Catalans from Spanish rule since Philip V? And do not the Kurds who have so distinguished themselves in battle to unite an Iraqi government guarantee themselves the right to become independent and free as a Kurdish people?
For, reasons to join some national entity, not bearing the heritage of its subjects is simply outmoded, when independence of a people is socially and linearly bound.
In the same vein, I would applaud the southern states of the United States find their own heritage and historical identity independently of how the people in the New England States conduct their affairs, howbeit a lingering unity of mutual respect.
But I did not think it would take so long! I even dreamed of a movement toward regional governmental control sweeping the United States, causing new independence of the several 50 states; and reaching into China, freeing the many provinces to go their own ways, yet continuing cultural bridges throughout that great nation. Well, there has been no rush toward an independence of the several cultural and regional diversities as has happened in the former Soviet Union. Interestingly, the many former parts of that Empire have been approached recently by Putin, desirous of returning to the Empire structure, but he has not been able to find them enthusiastic to go back to the days of their Russian subjugation and domination. As the Chinese spread throughout Africa, we may see the local regions, e.g., in Kenya, break away to form their own version of Chinese culture in an African setting!
I applaud all the recent attempts toward an independence and freedom of regions seeking cultural identity for themselves. For, I have witnessed these past years the successful diversions that have occurred throughout the former Russian Empire, permitting each region to assert their own uniqueness amid the binding force nonetheless that keeps them together in a Federation of independent states.
And, I believe Scotland will make its way into a cultural inheritance of a people united and will ultimately join the EU as its own being. Could not the same thing happen, smoothly, in Spain--freeing the Catalans from Spanish rule since Philip V? And do not the Kurds who have so distinguished themselves in battle to unite an Iraqi government guarantee themselves the right to become independent and free as a Kurdish people?
For, reasons to join some national entity, not bearing the heritage of its subjects is simply outmoded, when independence of a people is socially and linearly bound.
In the same vein, I would applaud the southern states of the United States find their own heritage and historical identity independently of how the people in the New England States conduct their affairs, howbeit a lingering unity of mutual respect.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
There's 'The Rule of Law' and there's 'Compassion!'
Republicans are wont to emphasize 'The Rule of Law' when discussing topics pertaining to what the law is. On the other hand, Democrats obviate the written law by appealing to how the law should be applied and understood. This is a very great rift between these two parties and pertains to how each party interprets the very Constitution of the country!
Indeed, I contend that both are principles equally to be relevant to matters of litigation. We all would agree that compassion should be applied to instances of motor vehicle accidents: determine whether the driver of a motor vehicle could be expected to anticipate the consequences of his driving when an accident occurred. The question of bringing in compassion when a murder has been committed is far less clear; and the judge may be expected to look for signs of being sorry in the demeanor of the murderer in determining sentence.
Even far less obvious is appeal to compassion when the law clearly states the sentence. For a time, recently, judges were required to pronounce sentence by the letter of the law admitting to no circumstantial extenuating circumstance, but I think that this harsh dictum has been changed back to enabling the judge in a case to decide on the basis of mitigating circumstances where relevant.
Now, in the instances of the many immigrants who entered the US with their parents, the do-called DACA cases, it would seem that the circumstances under which these immigrant children entered the country should be considered in determining the guilt of these children! But there are many Republicans who are swayed simply by what the law says not how a considerate judge would apply it under these particular circumstances. It is precisely that a judge, restricted to the letter of the law, is shown to be uncaring and impervious to how times change that makes the position of the 'letter of the law' Republicans absurd and inhumane.
Indeed, I contend that both are principles equally to be relevant to matters of litigation. We all would agree that compassion should be applied to instances of motor vehicle accidents: determine whether the driver of a motor vehicle could be expected to anticipate the consequences of his driving when an accident occurred. The question of bringing in compassion when a murder has been committed is far less clear; and the judge may be expected to look for signs of being sorry in the demeanor of the murderer in determining sentence.
Even far less obvious is appeal to compassion when the law clearly states the sentence. For a time, recently, judges were required to pronounce sentence by the letter of the law admitting to no circumstantial extenuating circumstance, but I think that this harsh dictum has been changed back to enabling the judge in a case to decide on the basis of mitigating circumstances where relevant.
Now, in the instances of the many immigrants who entered the US with their parents, the do-called DACA cases, it would seem that the circumstances under which these immigrant children entered the country should be considered in determining the guilt of these children! But there are many Republicans who are swayed simply by what the law says not how a considerate judge would apply it under these particular circumstances. It is precisely that a judge, restricted to the letter of the law, is shown to be uncaring and impervious to how times change that makes the position of the 'letter of the law' Republicans absurd and inhumane.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
A Way to Back Out from the North Vietnam Confrontation
The US and most other nations in the United Nations are confronted with a dilemma: either they simply protest to North Vietnam about its armament program in current effect or issue further sanctions against it or WHAT?
Answer: GET CHINA'S GOAT!
China discerns that with the US backout from TPP, itts runaway from the South China Sea dispute over the Philippine claims for control, its obsession with Russia's persistence in Syria, and its disgust with NAFTA, the time is ripe for further conquest of land from Western dominated nations. Particularly, India.
India and China are arch-enemies. Currently, India is stealing American companies away from producing their products in China, since the latter not only produces the American goods but plagiarizes their design and methodologies. India promises never to do that!
But if in some way the US and its cohorts were to favor India in trade over and above China, they could cause consternation in Beijing, possibly even bolstering Hong Kong's claim to independence from China's domination. That is to say, the way to get China's cooperation at the expense of the Chinese-North Vietnamese coziness is to thwart the best-laid plans of the Chinese conquest of Asia!
Answer: GET CHINA'S GOAT!
China discerns that with the US backout from TPP, itts runaway from the South China Sea dispute over the Philippine claims for control, its obsession with Russia's persistence in Syria, and its disgust with NAFTA, the time is ripe for further conquest of land from Western dominated nations. Particularly, India.
India and China are arch-enemies. Currently, India is stealing American companies away from producing their products in China, since the latter not only produces the American goods but plagiarizes their design and methodologies. India promises never to do that!
But if in some way the US and its cohorts were to favor India in trade over and above China, they could cause consternation in Beijing, possibly even bolstering Hong Kong's claim to independence from China's domination. That is to say, the way to get China's cooperation at the expense of the Chinese-North Vietnamese coziness is to thwart the best-laid plans of the Chinese conquest of Asia!
Major Social Revolution: Personal Responsiblity
Here in the US we are just coming to grips with the major social revolution of our time: a re-assessment of personal/social responsibility. It hit Europe sometime ago, but in the US the wealthy's denial of this change affecting our understanding of personal responsibility made it seem the world is just the same as it was, e.g., say, in the 10th Century AD!
The revolution is in assigning a degree of personal responsibility for what happens in a cultural setting or milieu. You just can't say, "It's not my business!" The Rush Limbaugh claim: "You decide what to do with your money. If you value your health, then take out a 1 Million Dollar Insurance Policy. If you don't think your health is that important, then don't complain when you get sick and no one cares!" Take responsibility for what you decide to do and what you do! All else is not your business!
The issue is, what is it reasonable for an intelligent adult to have known prior to his acting in good faith to achieve some objective of his. Suppose he pursues his aims and at the same time comes down with a disease such as cancer. He did not expect the disease: it simply happens to him. What is he responsible for? Did he cause the cancer? Certainly not in any obvious sense. True, he ought to have taken out insurance, so he not become a public charge--the latter would not be an option to an individual acting in a cautious manner, but laying all costs upon the prudent individual is asking too much of anyone who assumes the role of adulthood in his society.
And so, we of his greater community must bear shared responsibility for the unintended consequences of him and others, who, through thoughtlessness or simply sheer happenstance in the course of living an ordinary life have encountered circumstances they are unable to cope without social help from the community at large to the extent we are able.
The issue is thereupon shifted to a question of social values: is someone's life more meaningful to the community at large than my buying an expensive car I want? Setting forth our placement of value--a human's life in our community compared with my buying perhaps the most expensive car I can afford is one way of stating the ethical implications of shared responsibility: we have personal responsibility to others to the degree we would want them to provide help to us in some similar situation wherein we are not at fault for whatever catastrophic event occurs.
The revolution is in assigning a degree of personal responsibility for what happens in a cultural setting or milieu. You just can't say, "It's not my business!" The Rush Limbaugh claim: "You decide what to do with your money. If you value your health, then take out a 1 Million Dollar Insurance Policy. If you don't think your health is that important, then don't complain when you get sick and no one cares!" Take responsibility for what you decide to do and what you do! All else is not your business!
The issue is, what is it reasonable for an intelligent adult to have known prior to his acting in good faith to achieve some objective of his. Suppose he pursues his aims and at the same time comes down with a disease such as cancer. He did not expect the disease: it simply happens to him. What is he responsible for? Did he cause the cancer? Certainly not in any obvious sense. True, he ought to have taken out insurance, so he not become a public charge--the latter would not be an option to an individual acting in a cautious manner, but laying all costs upon the prudent individual is asking too much of anyone who assumes the role of adulthood in his society.
And so, we of his greater community must bear shared responsibility for the unintended consequences of him and others, who, through thoughtlessness or simply sheer happenstance in the course of living an ordinary life have encountered circumstances they are unable to cope without social help from the community at large to the extent we are able.
The issue is thereupon shifted to a question of social values: is someone's life more meaningful to the community at large than my buying an expensive car I want? Setting forth our placement of value--a human's life in our community compared with my buying perhaps the most expensive car I can afford is one way of stating the ethical implications of shared responsibility: we have personal responsibility to others to the degree we would want them to provide help to us in some similar situation wherein we are not at fault for whatever catastrophic event occurs.
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