Monthly Archives: February 2021

Anime Lessons

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Education, Entertainment, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

February 8, 2021-

My special assignment, of last week and the present one, has given me continued observance of what matters to high schoolers, especially in the area of graphic arts. Several of the students are talented sketch artists and cartoonists. One of the springboards for developing this talent is the popularity of the Japanese graphic medium called anime (AN-ih-may).

Anime is also valuable for the considered life lessons it offers, with myriad examples of both positive and negative life choices, presented in a manner that is attractive to teenagers. There is an atmosphere of group decision-making, with interludes of individual soul searching.

In the four episodes presented during the course of today’s classes, a young boy wrestles with his guilt and desire to make amends, for a series of events that he regards as his own fault, whilst his friends and sister refuse to let him face matters alone. An older man shows that patience and perseverence, in his time of imprisonment, result in his maintaining a robust physique, while his jailers ignore him as a worthless, spent being. An egotistical village leader learns that mocking his suffering village’s benefactors does him no good, in overcoming an invading force of militaristic industrialists. Only cooperation with the group of helpers rids the community of the bombastic invaders, and humbles the elder. Humility is also the theme of a vain sword master’s comeuppance, at the hands of a his seemingly inept pupil.

These character issues were well-conveyed by the lead teacher, and duly noted by the students. Anime is not a replacement for academic rigor, but it certainly does set young people to pondering about what matters.

Gasparilla

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Posted by on in Community, Historical, Social

February 7, 2021-

In keeping with a promise to feature arts and music that are specific to a particular area, let us go to Tampa, site of the Fiftieth Super Bowl and pay homage to Gasparilla Music Festival. Tampa’s professional football team is named the Buccaneers, reflective of the part that pirates played in the region’s colonial-era history. Jose Gaspar, a buccaneer of the early 19th Century, enjoyed a safe haven in the Tampa Bay region, as did many buccaneers before him.

The Gasparilla (pronounced like “gorilla”) Days run, ordinarily, from January-March. This year’s Gasparilla Music Festival is slated for April 17. Hopefully for Tampa, it will be safe enough by then, for at least a limited celebration. The Music Festival began in 2011. Here is a video explaining Gasparilla, followed by a sampling from 2014’s Music Festival.

May the best team win!

Dereliction

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, distraction issues, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Striving

February 6, 2021-

There are many people still in my life, and several causes that seek attention. I gather that this is true of just about everyone. The question then arises: Is there a point at which being oneself and prioritizing one cause, or group of people, over another constitutes dereliction of duty?

Being an empath, I feel other people’s energy very strongly. That doesn’t explain the underlying reasons for that energy. Only the person feeling it can divulge those. I feel it even more so, when the energy is collective. So, to all those who have expressed the view that a person ought commit to one organization, activity or community, I say godspeed. I will help each organization as alignment allows. My own energy focus allows for a modicum of time spent in virtual meetings- knowing that, as with any human endeavour, there are those who would be on Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, 24/7-and again, godspeed to them. My greater energy, though, is spent away from the computer.

For the time being, that is, for the next two weeks, my priority is helping a couple of schools in dealing with COVID-related staff shortages. Some time will be spent on Red Cross classes, and with a small, but spirited, group of college students who are earnestly planning sustainability activities. There is also the 50% chance that jury duty will transpire, towards the end of this month.

Dereliction of duty is clearly defined, when it comes to parenting, supervision of children in a school setting or service in the public realm. It is less clear, when it comes to the matters of those generally self-sustaining adults who are suffering emotionally or spiritually. This gray area is also on my mind and in my heart, and occupies some of my time, on a case by case basis. Thankfully, most such people are appreciative of any time and energy that others give, as it at least validates that their situation is important to someone.

Crawling,or Walking, Out of The Tunnel?

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, impediments, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

February 5, 2021-

I was gratified to see an extended family member write that she was moving on, from a climate of fear and distrust, to affirming her faith in God and country. To be trapped of one’s own accord, in a tunnel of false hopes and unfulfilled promises, is bound to lead to the depth of despair.

I’ve remarked in the past, that there is much to admire in both conservatism and progressivism. Placing value on hard work, a measure of self-reliance and pride in one’s legitimate heritage can see a person through a good many of life’s misfortunes. At the same time, embracing new ways of solving problems, being open to a wide variety of points of view and being inclusive of all groups of people can ensure that a person is never truly alone-even in the direst of times. What matters, regardless of one’s personal ideology, is a deep-seated respect for ALL life. Compassion must ever rule over transaction.

So it has been that I have opted for walking out of various tunnels of darkness and deception. Many have offered quick fixes to problems, false hopes for resolution of matters, in which my personal growth actually mandated seeing them through. It was cold and lonely in those tunnels-and the demons that did keep me company were worse than no company at all.

In the gathering light of day, and in the shimmering starlight, walking upright and looking straight ahead have rekindled strengths that I had nearly forgotten, whilst crawling about the tunnel of delusion. Those who maintain clear vision, and retain a healthy sense of their own truth, will be sources of untold strength-to selves and others.

Look Past The Boulders

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, impediments, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Personal Values, Poetry, Social, Spiritual, Striving

February 4, 2021-

Look past the boulders,

to the meadow which beckons,

with its crocus shoots.

Look beyond the barrier,

at the welcoming friends,

who’d love to see you

on the other side .

See the far horizon,

which accents your strength,

and turns your trials

into triumphs.

Be discerning,

but not dissuaded,

by the temporary

murmurs,

or shouts.

Unprogrammed

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, impediments, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

February 3, 2021-

Stories are surfacing, of people wanting to “deprogram” others. The whole premise seems to be to bring the other people to their senses; in other words, to get them to drop what are seen as fanciful attitudes and opinions, which the “deprogrammer” wants to replace with attitudes and opinions that a) are not threatening to him/her and b) are more in tune with the mainstream.

There are several varieties of deprogramming. Perhaps the best known is “conversion therapy”, the aim of which is to convince a Gay or Lesbian person to change their orientation, to heterosexuality. There is considerable risk, in such an effort- as the primary mode seems to be psychological and fairly short tem in focus. The flip side of this is, of course, the relatively rare attempts by Gay or Lesbian people to introduce heterosexuals to a homosexual orientation. Neither is going to work, to any great degree, as there are aspects of sexual orientation that go far beyond physical attraction, or even psychological programming.

There is Stockholm Syndrome, in which the victim of a crime comes to identify with the perpetrator(s) and adopts their attitudes, behaviours and mindsets- often engaging in similar behaviour to an even greater degree than the original criminals. This phenomenon far predates the incident for which it was named-as witness the Roman slaves who, once freed, became masters of other slaves. Human nature does as it will.

Getting back to the present-the whole programming, deprogramming, reprogramming thing is, as far as I can see, more about the person trying to effect the change than about the person whom he/she is trying to change. It is, arguably, doomed to failure. The only path to disabusing a person of thoughts and behaviours which are clearly harmful is surrounding them with unconditional love, a course of action which takes considerable time, energy and patience-and which avoids guilt, shame and the projection that one is in any way superior to the other person.

The only real change is that which is effected from within.

Phil Heard Sweet Music

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Posted by on in Community, Education, Historical, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

February 2, 2021- In my mind, as Punxsutawney Phil, the random ground hog who comes out of his (her) hole, each February 2, to be greeted by a troupe of older men dressed in tuxedos and top hats, made this year’s prognostication, the shadow was seen. I also thought of Black History, which transcends the month that has been “granted” for its study.

The story of African-Americans is, of course, far greater and more consequential, than a twenty-eight day period can possibly encapsule. No one ethnic or continental element of our population can be contained by a period of time.

I also wish to devote several posts, henceforth, and at least three days a week, to cultural aspects of a given community. As Punxsutawney is relatively close to Pittsburgh, which has a vibrant Black community, I share the story of the Iron City’s Afro- American Music Institute.

Getting Past Anecdotes

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

February 1, 2021-

In explaining both conspiracy theory and compliance theory, there is a tendency to rely upon anecdotes, strung together, to form a pattern. Some of the anecdotes are true; others have tendrils of truth that are mixed with the worst of people’s fears. For example, it is true that a wealthy entrepreneur, who has controlling interest in a railroad, contributed to Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, and very likely made his thoughts about the XL Pipeline ( a competitor to the railroad) very clear to his beneficiary. It is also true that, BEFORE the contribution was made, both Mr. Biden and Kamala Harris made their opposition to the Pipeline known, and that this was largely based on what was going on at Standing Rock Reservation, in North and South Dakota-as well as on the opposition of several farmers and ranchers in Nebraska’s Sand Hills region. The truth, in most controversial matters, is complicated.

The truth in other matters is less so. For example, there is no question that it is ALWAYS wrong to expect sexual favours from an underage child. The corrupt and emotionally immature, among us, offer excuses for such behaviour, though, and cry out for “understanding” towards abusers. In my humble opinion, it is a hollow cry-to the extent that it negates or minimizes the harm done to the child victim. Yes, there is a common thread of truth to the notion that molested children can become child molesters. This happens when the cult of secrecy has kept them from getting proper help and treatment-as soon after the assault as possible. As a fractured bone, that is not properly set, will heal in a contorted manner, so does a fractured psyche find its own wayward path- often mimicking the very behaviour which led to its trauma.

There is the twisted feature of being stuck in denial, at the news of something seemingly too horrific to process. Thus, there are still those who sincerely believe that no child has been killed by gunfire at a school, since Jonesboro and Columbine- over two decades ago. Their denial, which ought to have been processed, and from which they should have moved on, remains because it is being nurtured and validated, by persons whose interests lie at the very fringes of the public weal.

As someone said, earlier today, in another context. follow the money. Good research never relies totally, or much at all, on anecdotes.