Diatribune

(Partially excerpted from a recent blog at AbsolutArts.com)

While there is no history of Alzheimer’s, yet, in my family, the occurrence of this disease has raised dramatically these past few decades. It is the same as Obesity, Diabetes, and Down Syndrome - which now occurs in, at least, one out of every 733 live births... I can’t help but think Mankind’s Industrial Revolution has somehow always been slowly poisoning us every since it's beginning. The teeming amounts of preservatives corporations put in processed foods to make them, “Look Good,” for consumers. Soft drinks, fast food at every corner, burning coal & oil in our atmosphere, add to the damage being done to our oceans and fresh water. Soon enough (once Greenland has melted), no water on the planet will be drinkable without treatment.

Sometimes I think I’ve never grown up, and never will. My mom asked me last night if I think of the future? I could only answer, “No, I am only thinking about today – the future is too uncertain right now.” I am no leader, however, if this world is going to escape the abyss – we must find our heroes again, and people must learn the roles of leadership again. Otherwise, people more tyrannical and fanatical will continue to rule the rain of ruination upon this world – and no individual’s problems will be addressable anymore. The last time mankind was so lost, out of the forests and deserts came Jesus, Mohammad, and all the other legendary figures mankind came to depend upon for imagination instead using his own - to paint his future and that of his family, and his neighbors. Since the days of Moses, humans have felt the need of other’s guidelines to live their lives instead of realizing the gift of life allows us to survive by our own clarity of vision – in the animal world, the clarity is called instinct… Somewhere through history, we gave up on that god-given gift in the belief we could improve upon it with our reason – however, we didn’t consider we’d come to face the creation of the church that told us we are all sufferers of the Seven Great Sins: Luxuria (extravagance, later lust), Gula (gluttony), Avaritia (greed), Acedia (sloth), Ira (wrath, more commonly known as anger), Invidia (envy), and Superbia (pride). Instead, if we had been taught to believe we were the vessels only of the Seven Great Virtues: chastity, abstinence, temperance, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility… How differently we may have turned out. I think it’s interesting about how Christians are taught to believe that Jesus will arise again. This is a common theme amongst many organized religions. However, How can we ever have great leaders rise again if they must come in the form of Jesus, John Smith, or Mohammad – or even – (you fill in the blank). I don’t mean to offend anyone over his or her beliefs, and I hope they won't mean to offend me over my own... You know, I guess many a person has died over less than what I have said here. I believe I can be happy we still have a few of our civil liberties intact here, in America. That doesn’t mean they will stay in tact…

When did such a threat begin in these contemporary times? It started with the Big Smear Machine that the Republicans created to cripple the Clinton Presidency, and then later, John Kerry in the 2000 Election. Since Bush became President, again, in 2004, there began an effort to keep any registered Democrat from attending any Bush speech. Today, your normal American cannot see any Bush speech - unless fully vetted, and then invited personally - with a special pass in hand. Recently, it is said Hillary Clinton has also begun vetting attendees to her speeches to a smaller degree. Then we have the assholes like that self-serving dude yesterday, who broke into the front on the line at a John Kerry speech in Florida - not to state a question - but to scream a diatribe. He then resisted arrest, cried like a spoiled baby, and made sure his girlfriend got it all on tape - for the whole disturbance was orchestrated. Jerks like those don’t help the freedoms and rights of their fellow citizens trying to gather in public places to hear our representatives speak. Meanwhile, another Anti-Syrian Lebanese politician was killed today by a car bomb in Lebanon. Fact there is, that so many Anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians have been killed this last decade that, one more killed will shift the balance of Anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians in the Lebanese Government - a government George Bush supports. It seems worldwide - all who support Bush's Policies are now in jeopardy of their positions and-or their lives. This is what great Anti-leaders like Bush create in our world. When Americans suffer, friends of Americans suffer. Meanwhile, the rich keep getting richer. The American CEO's keep moving to Dubai, as will many ex-American politicians and dirty lobbyists, after January, 2009. With all the religious and political fanaticism being expressed now - where will our greatest leaders come from - and if they come - can we keep them alive? I'll tell you here, this is a reason to worry. The Religious Right, for the most part, will not support the causes of Al Gore - not because he was a Democrat - but because they don't want to interfere with the "End of Days." Only a few of that bent have denounced this folly and have spoken for support to save our planet - gold stars to them. Grassroots movements are as important as ever in the times... Artists, like me, we have our duty as well - to each, their own design... Sincerely,

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Music in poetry, song in verse, visions are greatest from hunger, and thirst...