I recently met a guy who is protesting the presence of Andrew Jackson’s image on the $20 bill by writing ‘MURDERER’ across his forehead. He points out that Jackson became president on the popularity of his genocidal policies towards the Native Americans. Jackson commanded the US military forces in the battle against the Creek Indians which resulted in the loss of 22 million acres of their land. One of his first acts as president was to force the passage of the ‘Indian Removal Act’. Based on this act, he oversaw the illegal takings of Native American lands and subsequent, brutal relocation policies. He forced the relocation of Cherokee against a ruling by the US Supreme Court. Of course this relocation is ‘The Trail of Tears’ and is among the mostly widely known of the numerous atrocities the US government inflicted on the Native Americans. (more…)

Center for Nonviolent Communication: www.cnvc.org

As I read around the blog world, I see so many people talking about what is wrong. I started this blog to get some things off my mind too. But I would also like to talk about positive things and I believe nonviolent communication (NVC) is one of those things!

I read this book first a few years back. It is an easy read (even has bullets for main points). However, the practice is quite a challenge. NVC is about authentically communicating needs and listening empathically to other’s needs. It is about communicating in a way that takes responsibility for one’s needs to avoid triggering defensiveness in others. To me it is still an alien language, but when I have been able to use the concepts, it really seems to work. Especially with people I have the most difficulty communicating with. I have re-read the book and just ordered the CDs (I hear it helps to have others to practice with or take a class). (more…)

EVERY PERSON’S BILL OF RIGHTS

1. The Right to Be Treated with Respect
2. The Right to Have and Express Your Own Feelings
3. The Right to Say “No” and Not Feel Guilty
4. The Right to Change Your Mind
5. The Right to Feel and Express Anger
6. The Right to Feel and Express a Healthy Competitiveness and Achievement Drive
7. The Right to Be Treated as a Capable Human Being and Not to Be Patronized
8. The Right to Have Your Needs Be as Important as the Needs of Other People
9. The Right to Make Mistakes
10. The Right to Do Things That Other People May Not Approve of
11. The Right to Do Less than You Are Humanly Capable of Doing
12. The Right to Ask Why
13. The Right to Ask for Help and Assistance
14. The Right to Have and Express Your Own Opinions

source: The Gestalt Center of Gainesville, Inc.

downloadable version (msword)

I started a blog because I wanted an outlet for my thoughts. However, sharing my thoughts with the world can be difficult for me. Growing up, I was taught that the effect I had on other people was more important than personal self expression. Thoughts that could possibly offend others were to be suppressed. As a child, I felt that neither my family nor my friends provided a safe place to express these feeling (though I did receive much love from my family in other forms). I do think about how others will view my thoughts, now that I have begun to share the fact that I am writing this blog with friends and family. I am aware of the possibility that people I personally know may be bothered by what I write and I know I still need to write.

Perhaps the most liberating books I have read on this subject were the works of Sinclair Lewis. I found ‘Babbitt’ & ‘Main Street” to be an amazing depiction of the societal forces that suppress thinking outside of the box (I have yet to read his prophetic ‘It Can’t Happen Here’). The fact that these books were written in the 1920s allowed me to see that my thoughts were not crazy, but were more part of a natural reaction to a society that is out of balance. In my opinion, his books are more relevant now than ever.

The recently overheard candid comment of Jesse Jackson shows the power of political systems to reign in self expression. (more…)

University Corners in the Heart of Gainesville
(from www.alligator.org/articles/2007/12/04/news/local/corners.txt)

I am trying to understand what is going on with the local government in this town I live in. It is a college town & if you look at the public opinion you’d think we are among the most progressive cities in the state (I know, that’s not saying much, this is Florida). At the county level this is reflected in their policies towards the environment, health care, education etc. (even though the county includes many more conservative voters). But the city seems to be focused on promoting business (and irradicating the homeless population), with the idea that this will help the city grow. Now, promoting business might be good if we were talking about local businesses. However, the main thing I see them doing is giving huge tax breaks to big developers and hotel interests from out of town so they will build the latest in urban megathings (you know condos and hotels with shops on the lower floors). (more…)

(from www.cubaagriculture.com/agriculture-today.htm)

Despite the news links provided on the left, I must admit I check CNN and other mainstream sources regularly. I find it interesting and often frustrating to see how the news that most people read is presented. However, I do think it is important to look at all points of view, and I often find interesting things on mainstream sites.

Did you all happen to see this video on CNN about urban farming in Cuba (CNN Video)? I was not aware of how extensive this practice was in Cuba. Apparently these farms now account for half the vegetables grown in Cuba.

I don’t want to get into the pros & cons of the Cuban system (though I do have opinions). What really impressed me about this story, was the ability of the people to adapt to the loss of resources after the dismantling of the USSR. This included a strong emphasis on local, sustainable organic farming due to the loss of chemical & gasoline imports.

Often, I feel that what keeps us (in the US) trapped in our system of consumerism is the fear that without this system we would all starve to death & going around killing each other with our massive gun supply. (more…)

As I live and work in downtown Gainesville, Florida, gas prices don’t hit me too hard. My Toyota Matrix gets pretty good mileage (usually 30-36 mpg), However, I have this crazy habit of driving about 15 miles out of town to ride my mountain bike at San Felasco State Park. Of course, when I stick to pavement I can ride to the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail (16 mile paved rails-to-trail) from home. But, I like mountain biking (and getting bitten by ticks, this time of year, every time I stop to look at a plant or mushroom). So I drive.

Now, I am trying to improve my gas mileage by accelerating slower and not going faster than 60 mph (I recently heard that every 5 mph you go over 60 adds 30 cents a gallon to your gas costs, though I believe that may be for bigger cars than mine). Driving slow is difficult as I have always been somewhat of a lead foot! I even put a note on my speedometer to remind me (it says “Easy, Leadfoot!”). Driving up US 441 today the speed limit goes up to 65 mph. Coming off a red light, I start slow, but I’m in the left lane (haven’t broke the habit of moving to the empty lane). So, this guy next to me speeds up to 60 mph and parks it by me. Now I got an SUV crawling up my butt & I want to let him by (after all that used to be me). I gently speed up to pull past this guy, and of course, he speeds up right beside me. Next, I try slowing down & the @#$%er slows down too! (maybe he is mad at my bumper stickers?) Next thing I know I am honking and gesturing worse than if I was driving leadfoot style! Finally, I slow down enough to get behind him (of course by now we both have cars on our butts & I have to cut between him & his tailgater). But, I do manage to chillout, laugh & put the cruise control back to 60 mph. Obviously I still have some adjusting to do!

The bike ride was nice, found my first Chanterelles & Oyster Mushrooms of the season! Four ticks on me, but only one got a bite of me (that I found so far!).

Ok, I finally decided to enter the blogging world. I have no idea what I am doing, but I did somehow manage to upload wordpress & picked a theme.

I decided I needed an outlet for my thoughts, feelings & general ramblings about life. Who knows, if I die this may be all that is left of those thoughts as everything else is in my computer under password protection. Who knows if anyone would bother to try to access those files?

I am in school and working, so this may be a slow start. Also, I have no idea if anyone will find this unless I specifically tell them.

Anyway, Hello to whoever happens to read this!