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6.08.2016

### Not Human Rights, activists, but rather human rights catalysts. I don't care about words so much but I do care about Concepts. Although I have paid a high price in the........

### Not Human Rights, activists, but rather human rights catalysts. I don't care about words so much but I do care about Concepts. Although I have paid a high price in the last decade-and-a-half for fighting against the dilution and perversion of the word and concept 'activists,' like quite a few such words I think it was Ill chosen to begin with. Catalyst strikes me as a much truer capture of what Gandhi and those alongside him were and did , and Martin Luther King and those alongside of him, the tens of thousands of young people in Tahrir square, Malala, Alice Paul and the hundreds that fought alongside her, the Freedom Riders, SNCC.... They made of themselves such an extremely different thing, such a new extraordinarily moral thing , even though relatively miniscule in number versus their country and world population, exactly as a catalyst does they caused a hugely disproportionate change through the large population. They didn't try to manipulate. They didn't try to control. They didn't try to force... other than themselves, over whom they exercised huge self-control, discipline, molding themselves into something so radically pure, radically pure anti-violence, radically courageous loving, that the infinitely larger numbers could not avoid being changed by them. In nature as I understand it there is little if anything so relatively powerful as the catalyst, minute qualities of an element that fundamentally change an infinitely larger whole. Those who I have envied and admired throughout history, those who I try to be worthy of following, because of their unique effectiveness, I understand to be catalysts. They fashioned themselves into catalysts at enormous personal cost. This is what I strive to be and what I wish for others to strive to be. Human rights catalysts. Yes, Catalysts can be totally ineffective. They can become what is needed but if the nature of the mass surrounding them is impervious to reacting, incapable of reacting, protected from reacting... the Catalyst has no effect. But where I see profound progress in human morality throughout history it has been such a catalytic reaction that brought it about. I see no other chance. I see no other hope. I see no other way. Well, I see an infinite variety of ways that require a much lower price on the part of the would-be change agent that hold the promise of doing nothing but killing what little time is left for all decent future. Yes, 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.'

### IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, must read now. Spirit is everything. The True activist is the one possessed by a selfless heroic nearly impossibly moral spirit. Such a spirit does not rest until it has a deep moral factual understanding of the situation, the evil and the need, and the scrupulously moral basis for action, and then it cannot remain still but is propelled into heroic action. The specific..... article, New Waves of climate insurgents.

### IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, must read now. Spirit is everything. The True activist is the one possessed by a selfless heroic nearly impossibly moral spirit. Such a spirit does not rest until it has a deep moral factual understanding of the situation, the evil and the need, and the scrupulously moral basis for action, and then it cannot remain still but is propelled into heroic action. The specific and general thoughtfulness of this article and these activists and their work is very rare and very relevant and very able to be copied by those who wish to become serious advocates for change.

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/03/01/new-wave-climate-insurgents-defines-itself-law-enforcers

6.06.2016

### I would say that in my learning, experience, practice, observation, the true activist devotes their every breath to attempting to pay as much as possible of the price NOW, whatever price, including the ultimate price, for a better world... for others. I can think of.......

### I would say that in my learning, experience, practice, observation, the true activist devotes their every breath to attempting to pay as much as possible of the price NOW, whatever price, including the ultimate price, for a better world... for others. I can think of no exceptions. This is what they showed with their choices without hesitation. This is what they prepared and prepared and prepared and prepared... to do. Gandhi's words on the subject, 'I'm talking about the love of a mother for her child.' Anyone that is seriously interested in this topic that has not watched the PBS documentary, Freedom Riders, has really disabled themselves.

***** Though I've long stated he's our greatest intellectual, Chris Hedges, I've also long been concerned that something wasn't right. He's no revolutionary, I think. He's just one more Champion for violence. Just one more Champion for inverting who is oppressed and who does the oppressing. Who imposes, and who does the imposing. The world he wants is not the world I want.

***** Though I've long stated he's our greatest intellectual, Chris Hedges, I've also long been concerned that something wasn't right. He's no revolutionary, I think. He's just one more Champion for violence. Just one more Champion for inverting who is oppressed and who does the oppressing. Who imposes, and who does the imposing. The world he wants is not the world I want.

***** How the f*** is it that it takes a lifetime to become an effective surgeon, years to become an effective nurse, years or a lifetime to become an effective artist, years to become an effective Soldier or police person, years to become an effective gymnast or skier or a surfer... But two hours, or just a momentary self-declaration, to become an activist? 'Act' the change.......

***** How the f*** is it that it takes a lifetime to become an effective surgeon, years to become an effective nurse, years or a lifetime to become an effective artist, years to become an effective Soldier or police person, years to become an effective gymnast or skier or a surfer... But two hours, or just a momentary self-declaration, to become an activist?

'Act' the change you want to see?
'Pretend' the change you want to see?
'Occasionally use' the change you want to see?
'Mimic' the change you wish to see?
'Put on' the change you wish to see?...

(BECOME, and) BE the change you wish to see in the world... Truth-force... Soul Force... Anti-violence... Loving.

Gandhi devoted a lifetime to trying to be, trying to become, the change he wished to see in the world, the embodiment of Truth Force, the embodiment of (TOUGH) Loving, the embodiment of Soul Force. In the end he said he had just barely scratched the surface. Was he a fool? Did he have no idea of what was involved? Was he lying? One would think so if one looks at nearly all of the so-called activists since King's assassination who think it is something that they learn in two hour training, or a decision that they make, a self-declaration, or that it is as simple as not using physical violence, and then they're all set... they're activists, just like King, just like Gandhi, and the thousands alongside them that would pay any price even death rather than violate that spirit. Magic!!! So, it turns out there is a free lunch! Would it not be so nice if Muhammad Ali had not had to devote his life to becoming the greatest at both boxing and anti-violence? Would it not be nice if the Freedom Riders, if dr. King and those fighting alongside of him, had not had to go through rigorous rigorous rigorous, in King's case, lifelong training, to become that change, to become the embodiment of non-violence, to become the embodiment of loving, anti-violence?

How the f*** is it that it takes a lifetime to become an effective surgeon, years to become an effective nurse, years to become an effective gymnast or skier or a surfer... But two hours, or just a momentary self-declaration, to become an activist?

Ah, the magic of self-delusion. Sadly, Now such self-delusion is planetary suicide. Does anyone love the future enough to wake up in time? If not you, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?

### So, Hedges, you are down with violating the rights of others to peacefully Assemble? Just what kind of world is it that your proposed violence will give us? The answer is, just one different group imposing their will on others. Violence by whatever name is violence. I don't want your world. I'm so disappointed in you. Have you become what you hate? '' shutdown the Democratic National Convention.''

http://m.truthdig.com/report/item/shut_down_the_democratic_national_convention_20160605

............
... I admit to being conflicted on my comment above. But I stand by it. I think it is insane that the young people of this country don't come to Washington DC and so fill every street corner that the city ceases to function until it implements Marshall Plan level policy to stop global warming, for example. But to shut down, shut down, a meeting of fellow citizens, no matter how corrupt, no matter how revolting? How is this not inviting citizens that disagree with my policies to shutdown my peaceful meeting? I am opposed to the Democratic party just as I am opposed to the Nazi party. But if I violate their rights then I am violating my rights, and more importantly, I am violating the rights that I am bound to protect with my life for all species. Hate begets hate. Violence begets violence. There is only one set of rights, that which applies to us all. An attack on what is Right for any creature is an attack on what is Right for every one of us. Violence, violating the rights of others to get what one wants, that's the world we have. I don't want more of it.

Fb reply:  James, I think you are misinterpreting this. He is not calling for violence. These homeless and impoverished people were denied the right to peacefully assemble. That is a Constitutional right denied in the city where the Constitution was written! Nowhere does he promote violence. You interpret "shut down" as a violent expression. I disagree. If someone is murdering someone else, and you try to stop them, are you violating their rights??

James: Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Please be sure you have read what I just added to my comment immediately above this one. Not that it will persuade you differently. I don't write to persuade. I write to share what I am persuaded of. Yes, I am absolutely responding to the wording shut it down. The DNC is a citizen group. It is different than a governmental group in my view, Morally. It is different than a corporate group, morally. And the nature of the assembly, no matter how much I may detest it with every fiber of my being,, I do not have the right to shut it down nor does anyone else. To demonstrate against it? Absolutely. I would say there is a duty to demonstrate against it. Language matters. The headline is shut it down. Yes, I absolutely respond to that as should anyone.

Friend: Please see my comment below and also consider that lobbyists have a huge hand in putting the DNC together. It will be run by bankers and lobbyists. This is much more a corporate assembly than a citizens assembly. The whole "people side" of it is a sham, theater for the controlled masses. To stand in support of such a gathering is to support war lords and those who impoverish our inner cities. Just my opinion...

James: Which part of my wording, duty to protest, is unclear? Again, I hope you seriously consider what I've said. I have considered what you have shared. I think you are not seeing the distinction between violence and nonviolence. I think Hedges article provides an important opportunity to see that whatever one does one should accept in return. So, if you are fine with the state or fellow citizens shutting down your meetings then you should feel fine with Hedges language to shut down the DNC. Otherwise, not so much. And then there's the matter of incitement. Are you okay with the violence against the Trump demonstrators in California? I suspect not. Are you okay with language that would incite such violence? I suspect not. This is not a time for amateurish, thoughtless, self-indulgent, acting out, Behavior. No, I am not accusing you or Hedges of that. I am cautioning against it. I've shared what I have to share. Be well

James:  I think we have a shared what we have to share on this. Be well

Friend 2:  James, thank you for posting this article. I will be on the South side of city hall, as close to Honksla and Chris as possible. I AM NOT going to Philly to solely support brother Bernie Sanders, although I will participate in many activities "permitted" in FDR park. I do not want to get arrested the first day, but if I have to I will. I will go to Philly with peace in my heart, revolution in my soul and a very practical approach to what the FBI, Homeland Security and their patsies the Philadelphia police force have in mind for those of us that will be Heard and not Herded. I grew up in South Philly and coming home in more ways than one. I hope to see you there as I know your convictions are even deeper than mine.

James: I appreciate your thoughtful and constructive words. On those days I will be fighting, every breath, for an anti-violent, loving world, of that we can both be certain. Whether I will be in Philly or not depends on whether on those days I view the that is my best means of serving creation. Yes, Sanders is a wonderful human being, a godsend. My donation of virtually all of my meager savings this month to his campaign was not to him, but to the revolution he is trying to lead. He would be the first to agree, is the first to agree, that he is not the revolution. He is the spirit of the Revolution I believe, and those who embody that Spirit are also of the revolution. It is that spirit that my life is devoted to embody with my every breath in whatever Direction, in whatever form, I think can best serve creation.

6.04.2016

***** Our, sick, pathological, ecocidal, mania religion of winning, being a winner, was instrumental throughout my life in keeping me from being a decent, responsible, humane human being. I didn't.........

***** Our, sick, pathological, ecocidal, mania religion of winning, being a winner, was instrumental throughout my life in keeping me from being a decent, responsible, humane human being. I didn't realize it. I don't know that it's a plot. But it is such an Insidious way of framing the task of Being Human in terms of consumption, domination, exploitation, Conquest. Insidious. I hope you wake up before I did. Central to the Life Choices of all those throughout history that I Revere was somehow rejecting this insane notion. It has taken me a lifetime to learn that the joyful path, the Humane, sane path is to work in almost the opposite direction. No, the purpose isn't to fail, but the purpose is to do what's right and in a culture, a world, as near absolute death as is 2016 Earth, to select the path of trying to do what is right, trying to do what is needed by our neediest sisters and brothers, is to select the near certainly losing path. I shall select this near certainly losing path for the rest of my days for the otherwise unattainable joy and peace of Heart and Hope of it.

6.01.2016

The only Power, the only Power, the only Power... we have to make the world truly better is moral power, the power of our example, what Gandhi called Soul Force. Everything else is an illusion, and kills what little time we may have left. Hugs

The only Power, the only Power, the only Power... we have to make the world truly better is moral power, the power of our example, what Gandhi called Soul Force. Everything else is an illusion, and kills what little time we may have left. Hugs

5.30.2016

### No credit to me, I didn't understand what I was doing, but since the beginning my nervous system has fought being made something else than my human nature by our culture. And for.....

### No credit to me, I didn't understand what I was doing, but since the beginning my nervous system has fought being made something else than my human nature by our culture. And for the last 15 years I have worked endlessly to try and rip out whatever wiring had made it inside me from our sick culture. Despite all that, when I saw the following photo the other day it just hit me square between the eyes. Like a revelation.

Us power depends on war, is threatened by peace.

Us power depends on war, is threatened by peace.

***** Revolution Is Possible when very large masses of people literally can't live with the status quo any longer, even if they don't recognize that fact within themselves. I don't see that in the world's Center of Empire, America, today. Things are going to have to get a lot worse.

Revolution Is Possible when very large masses of people literally can't live with the status quo any longer, even if they don't recognize that fact within themselves. I don't see that in the world's Center of Empire, America, today. Things are going to have to get a lot worse.

5.29.2016

Every successful nonviolent revolution of which I am aware has chosen to understand that not the men and women in uniform but the system behind them was their enemy and therefore there point of attack. I see none of the wisdom of those prior efforts, only the childish impulse to hate and blame the nearest possible object. The result will be catastrophic.

Every successful nonviolent revolution of which I am aware has chosen to understand that not the men and women in uniform but the system behind them was their enemy and therefore there point of attack. I see none of the wisdom of those prior efforts, only the childish impulse to hate and blame the nearest possible object. The result will be catastrophic.

Nobody is serious about stopping global warming, or stopping corporate fascism, that is not approaching near zero in personal consumption and ownership.

Nobody is serious about stopping global warming, or stopping corporate fascism, that is not approaching near zero in personal consumption and ownership.

Silencing America as It Prepares for War by John Pilger

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/05/27/silencing-america-as-it-prepares-for-war/

5.28.2016

We can't truly love ourselves until we love the neediest more than ourselves.

We can't truly love ourselves until we love the neediest more than ourselves.

### Everything I value in myself came from my dad. Most......

### Everything I value in myself came from my dad. Most amazing person, most Godly, most loving, I've ever encountered personally. Incredible blessing to me. Immense over-privilege mine, and responsibility. Just the other day I was wondering what he would think if he saw me now. Lol. The last he knew me he was in his two-million-dollar house which he had created for us, not for himself, in one of the wealthiest towns in the world. He was born into poverty. Material property. I think he would be very surprised to see me, but I think he would smile, shake his head, and not be displeased. Yeah, I can hear a warm laugh. He's been physically gone from me for about 30 years now. He and my mom were both on their second marriage and had me very late in life. Some apples fall close to the tree, some fall very far away as did my two female siblings.

### Not until tens of thousands of us would gladly die for a better future for all species will there be real hope of the real Revolution... anti-violence.

### Not until tens of thousands of us would gladly die for a better future for all species will there be real hope of the real Revolution... anti-violence.

***** This is who I am inside, all the time, every day, every hour, about Palestine about environmental destruction, about so much Injustice. This is who I am. This is where I live.


5.27.2016

As soon as the zionists prove that they have stopped molesting their nieces and nephews, I will prove that I am not anti-Semitic.

As soon as the zionists prove that they have stopped molesting their nieces and nephews, I will prove that I am not anti-Semitic.

***** James, how would you suggest we... Fill in the blank... Free Palestine, stop global warming, stop fascism in America...? My reply: If I want a Mercedes, new, from a showroom, it really doesn't matter whether I go in with dollar bills, the checkbook, a............

***** James,  how would you suggest we...  Fill in the blank...  Free Palestine,  stop global warming,  stop fascism in America...?  My reply: If I want a Mercedes, new, from a showroom, it really doesn't matter whether I go in with dollar bills, the checkbook, a credit card, a bank check... Etcetera. What matters is the amount. And, oh by the way, if I instead of the amount I go in with lip service, conversation, begging, demanding, taunting, demonstrating, tantruming, Facebook posting, article writing, meeting, 2 hour demonstration... They might tolerate it for a few moments and then they rightfully are going to get me arrested, and no onlooker will object. Lip service, words... wanting... whining, demanding... does not achieve anything worthwhile, though it does give you the total Destruction of one's credibility, moral potential, respect in the eyes of onlookers , worthiness in the eyes of onlookers. Contrary to the criminally insane dictum of my boomer generation, there is no free lunch! When enough of us heroically, lovingly, courageously, selflessly, seriously... pay enough of our own personal lives to be the price of freeing Palestine it will happen. Lip service doesn't help, in fact, it disperses our energy, gives us the delusion that we're making any difference, and totally destroys our credibility in the eyes of potential joiners. An individual, then individuals, then tens of thousands of individuals devoted their very being to get rid of Mubarak and finally it was enough. The same in the American Civil Rights Movement. The same in getting rid of South African apartheid. It is not how we pay the price. It is that we pay the price. I cannot pay the price of anyone else, but I can, or cannot, pay the entire price of my own life.

5.26.2016

### THIS... is what activism looks like. I am and will continue to be extremely harsh, scathing, in calling out, occasionally, what passes for activism that in fact is activism in name only. Hypocrisy does not... ' 23 young Jews arrested in America for protesting Israel's occupation of Palestine''

http://972mag.com/23-young-jews-arrested-in-anti-occupation-protests-across-u-s/118807/

### THIS... is what activism looks like. I am and will continue to be extremely harsh, scathing, in calling out, occasionally, what passes for activism that in fact is activism in name only. Hypocrisy does not require that the hypocrite see their own hypocrisy. In fact,  hypocrisy, the child of denial, is always acting the part, not BEING the part, without self acknowledging that fact. If it was with acknowledging that fact it would be lying, deceit, deception, not hypocrisy. Why scathing, why extremely harsh? Because unless this gets fixed the future is existential hell for all future generations starting with disadvantaged current Generations. How the f*** should I be? What the f*** does loving do in the face of impending horror Beyond any ever seen for the human species, for all species? To do less would be unloving which I refuse to be. To my eyes, the actions described in the following article begin to be the epitome of what activism worthy the name is: Disciplined, respectable, scrupulous respectability, truly Brave, deeply selfless , making manifest the deepest longings of the heart, truly heroic, deeply courageous in truth, well thought-out but not show not theatrics not a media ploy,  absolutely centered  on others who are in extreme need,  0 self-centered, injecting self exactly in the way of the impending harm, completely within one's rights, never violating the rights of others physically morally or otherwise including the right  of every creature in every circumstance to be treated as a human being regardless of how horrible ones Behavior may be, personally paying the price versus the violence of attempting to get another to pay the price, profoundly well informed, reverential, unfailingly serious, unmistakeably dignified. Non-hostile. Anti-violence. Anti-violent. Am I talking about acquiescence?  Am I talking about tolerating violent acts toward others?  By the police for example ?  Anti-violence is never these things.  Cowardice is the one unforgivable sin according to Gandhi ,  not the use of even deadly physical Force as we love to delude ourselves.  Gandhi demanded physical Force  to protect the weak  if the person who could intervene was incapable of anti-violence.  Are the people in this article wimps? I think the key to understanding the difference between a violent action and anti violent action is to imagine oneself in the presence of ones tremendously be loved just gone insane uncle about to bludgeon his infant child. Might you use violence to stop this? Might you be incredibly harsh to stop this? Of course! Do you hate your uncle or project hatred toward your uncle in intervening? Of course not! See the police as your uncle in a fit of insanity. See the 1% as your uncle in a fit of insanity, because they are. And nonviolence training worth the name is exactly about learning how to do this, not the violence crap that passes for non-violence training today. Watch the documentary, Freedom Riders, actual footage beautifully portrays what non violence training looks like in truth. If the organizations, if not now, Jewish voice for peace, breaking the silence, open Hillel, Christian Peacemaker teams... are not on your daily news scan please put them there. Our sisters and brothers who are the true Jews, the descendants of the ancient Israeli prophetic ethical system, are the one true repository of activism-in-deed that I continually see in 2014, 2015, 2016. Wagers of loving. The anti-violence. The only anti-violence.

5.25.2016

***** Creator fills my heart with joy every moment that I bear the pain of creation and work to lessen that pain. James

Creator fills my heart with joy every moment that I bear the pain of creation and work to lessen that pain. James

This is my third major stop for the day, posted in front of CNN by Union Station for the walk by potential of the free Palestine signage. Working on my computer on the internet. During the morning hours......

This is my third major stop for the day, posted in front of CNN by Union Station for the walk by potential of the free Palestine signage. Working on my computer on the internet. During the morning hours the vehicle was posted in front of the moral Abomination called NPR, netanyahu's propagandists and rapists. Moral scum. Killing Palestinian children  in return for their cushy prestigious jobs. Just after lunch was a 2 hour meeting at the large DC government office building on New York Avenue focusing on shelter performance particularly during hypothermia season this past year. It is part of something called ICH , interagency coalition to end homelessness. For the last 2 months I have been attending many of their meetings and with few exceptions and extremely impressed at the seriousness of the effort to prophetically reduce homelessness in Washington DC by 2020 with substantial Milestones of progress in the interim. I am throwing myself in the deep end to try and learn as much as possible as quickly as possible while at the same time trying to avoid slow slowing others down. Said hello to the director of the effort today and told her I am coachable, that I need to be told if my questions are slowing things down and abruptly interrupted me and said, quite the opposite, I'm very glad that you're a part of this and I have much to learn from you. I think she was being honest. Oh, I also stopped at the Sanders headquarters and told them in response to their email of yesterday that I seem to have permission from the management of my apartment complex 2 house a delegate should they need the space, received Clarity from them as to how I can donate nearly all of my current savings to Sanders and not to folks further down his ticket no discredit them but he is the one that has taken the moral High Ground now, and also got some small needed hardware for El Fusion vehicle. James

5.23.2016

***** To my friends who would be violent, including discriminatory , toward the police, the Republicans, or anyone: I think I understand your frustration, I think I understand some factual justification , I even acknowledge that theoretically it could produce short-term results. Very very......

To my friends who would be violent, including discriminatory , toward the police, the Republicans, or anyone: I think I understand your frustration, I think I understand some factual justification , I even acknowledge that theoretically it could produce short-term results. Very very short-term, and very certain long-term... it will unleash the forces of hell that are the world Awash in weaponry. I just don't want that world. Hate, violence, begets hate , violence. I just don't want more hate , more violence, of people. Hatred of Injustice? Absolutely! Hatred of Cruelty? No one has more of that than I. But hatred, violence, of, or hatred, violence, toward, any individual or group? I just don't want that world. Hate begets hate. I don't want it in me. I don't want to create more of it around me. Do what you will, I'll not join you. I'll continue in my pitiful little efforts to be loving, anti-violent, and therefore to Mark the path of loving, anti-violence, which is tough in this 2016 world or it is not loving, it is harsh in this world of 2016 or it is not loving, I will continue to try and be and to Mark that path of anti-violence... as futile, as ridiculous , as idiotic, has laughable... as that may be..., well, as that is. James

The political, cultural and judicial system in a capitalist state is centered around the protection of property rights. And, as Adam Smith pointed out, when civil government “is instituted for the security of property, [it] is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.” The capitalist system is gamed from the start.'' Chris Hedges. See article.....

http://m.truthdig.com/report/item/reform_or_revolution_20160522

***** The selfishness, the cruelty, of someone bringing a child into this 2016 World hell is just beyond me. When Gandhi couldn't fix things, when Jesus could not, when Martin Luther King could not, when The Godly one in a million that has always existed could not, why would I not see that the human species is a failed species? Shame on me.

***** The selfishness, the cruelty, of someone bringing a child into this 2016 World hell is just beyond me. When Gandhi couldn't fix things, when Jesus could not, when Martin Luther King could not, when The Godly one in a million that has always existed could not, why would I not see that the human species is a failed species? Shame on me.