Mindful Politics, A Beginning

I'm reading a book called Mindful Politics, a compilation of writings (essays, speeches, and poems) from many influential spiritualists who promote the concept that politics, "is really about how we live together as human beings." It recognizes the fact that, "all spiritual practices point to one simple but profound truth -- that only love leads to peace, and hatred never does," which is "as true for nations as it is for individuals."[1]

This book redeems politics for me because it reminds us that politics is not (and should never be) about the individual or one particular group; it is always about the whole, all of us. It “is both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one’s own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family,” and therefore we should embrace the love your neighbor truth that is foundational to all of the major world religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. [2]

I l.o.v.e this concept, especially since I am generally frustrated with my perception of politics - a potentially virtuous system that often gets defaced by selfish, self-righteous capitalistic persuasions and egocentric ambitions. Inwardly if I can revolutionize this anger fed reaction into something as simple as “being mindful of the whole,” I can respond outwardly in a way that is productive and sincere, a mustard seed beginning for world modification.

Realistically, “we can’t really change who others are and what they think. We can only work with our own heart and mind. But the transformative power of that is extraordinary.”[3] This transformative power that can potentially lead to peace stems from wisdom which, according to the Dalai Lama, is “the best part of human intelligence,” and which he defines as “the ability to decide between right and wrong.” He also says, “Whether we are able to achieve world peace or not, we have no choice but to work toward that goal.” [4]

I am very excited to hear politics discussed in this way for I often fear that the negativity that spews from my mouth and from the mouths of others is detrimental to the process of healing and renewal. I guess I believe that that is true in all arenas, not just the political one. Right now I feel very enthusiastic about the practice of mindful politics and feel inspired by the words of Dr. King, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Dalai Lama. I hope that I can continue to work at it and influence others to do so as well so that together we can rid ourselves of capitalistically motivated egotism and begin to cultivate some sort of altruistic political revolution, though I’m not sure what that looks like.

There is so much more I want to say and so many ideas that I want to share, and I will as I continue my journey through this book.

In the mean time , there is a lot of work to do..



[1] Melvin McLeod, editor
[2] “A New Global Approach to Global Problems” - the Dalai Lama
[3] Melvin McLeod, editor
[4] “A New Global Approach to Global Problems” - the Dalai Lama

Temp U? Yes, Please

New Shoes by Paolo Nutini


This amazing staff of pirate ninja scalawags:

created this brilliant magazine:

and released it at this party:
For more vibrant pics of the new mag and of Temporary Utopia, Spring 2007 (complete with musicians, food, and a sidewalk chalk competition) click here.

Raindrops from Nova Scotia

I didn't realize it until I stepped outside of the schoolhouse and all of a sudden freezing, silver dollar sized raindrops starting falling out of a bright blue sky on this, a humid, hot Texas day. And then there was that smell of fresh rain - renewal. Release! Part of me wanted to stand there, face lifted to the sky, and allow raindrops to baptize me into a new beginning. But then part of me wanted to sprint to the car because the drops were abnormally cold, like getting hit with melted snowballs from Nova Scotia. I guess I did something in between - an amble mixed with shriek!(?)

While musing over the odd weather, I had my epiphany. It was so clear, and I felt sort of stupid for not seeing it before. This surprisingly simple realization was that my day was good, not because I had done something earth shattering or because I was receiving any sort of pat on the back; it was good for all the normal reasons. My classes went well; I randomly met a wonderfully interesting (and talented) photographer and got to lose myself in his stories for a little while; I ate (and proposed marriage to) the best brownie in the entire world; some former students who are now extremely collegiate came to visit, to "check in" with Ms. H; I received a lovely, LOVELY letter from one of my dearest friends; I spotted the biggest butterfly I have EVER seen in my entire life (hard to miss!); and I observed a little boy wearing coke bottle glasses as he found a "specimen" on the sidewalk and had to research it more closely by getting down on all fours to study it from every angle. These silly, silly, globally "meaningless", things are what make the world good.

Today, despite the horror stories in the news, despite the politics and the uncertainties, despite our fear culture, things are good. I forget that under the weight sometimes..

Hoops and Dreams: Basketball Practice in IRC San Diego

Here is an example of how the IRC helps.

TMI, The Quiz Version

I seriously should be marking papers right now, but because I'm a big whiny procrastinator and because the catch phrase of the day happens to be "I don't wanna!", I'm going to go ahead and allow myself to be interviewed by a total stranger instead. (Hey Michelle, this is your fault..:) Oh! And if this guy turns out to be a stalker... well let's just say (shaking fist in your direction, biting lower lip).)
Safe or no, I don't want to grade and am apparently willing to risk bodily harm to not have to*, so here goes:

1. If you could spend a day with any living celebrity, who would it be and why? It depends. Wait. No it doesn't. Bono is the answer here. We need to talk about changing the world. We need to discuss me working for him in Africa - the Red Campaign, the One Campaign, etc. We need to talk about the fact that he does work effectively within the confines of "evil" capitalism (Mark say nothing) and that he actually gets things done, as opposed to simply talking about doing things. I want to learn about diplomacy and about meeting presidents and peacekeepers and even meeting those who are in opposition to his efforts. Of course I want to talk about music and poetry and the fact that he owes me the "One" dance. I want to talk about his faith, and how it's grown/changed, especially in the face of seeing the things he has seen.
(yes I am a true and loyal Bonophile.)

2. If you could spend a day with any living music celebrity, who would it be and why? (See the hyperventilated, pre-teen sounding, googly-eye answer for #1)

3. What place have you visited that has effected you the most and why? Chicago in the late 90's. This was probably the first mission trip I ever took where I actually got my hands dirty. I'm not talking about building churches or painting houses or that sort of thing, because I had done all of that before. On this trip I was actually forced to see things (other than extreme poverty) and actually be in uncomfortable situations without passing out a pamphlet or setting up a Sunday school . In Chicago, I wandered through Cabrini Green and got told to get my "white honky ass out of their neighborhood or [they] would shoot", even though I had just painted an apartment there. I went clubbing in the seediest dives in the gay district and sat and talked to people about their lives without offering anything to them but my company. (Meeting people where they're at). I stood in the business district and asked people what they needed prayer for that day (and it turns out that people needed to be asked that question). I visited a Krishna temple and a mosque for the first time and realized that the people there were not "enemies" because they prayed differently than me; they were lovely, and offered me cookies and kool-aid. In Chicago I slept on a cockroach infested floor with the lights on so that more of them would stay away, and was sincerely grateful for the place to crash.

I realized in Chicago that if I wanted to be any sort of humanitarian, I had to get the hell out of Six Flags Over Jesus where people all spoke "Christianese" and always knew the "right way" to pray. Jesus didn't hang out in those types of places. He would've been in the dark places.

There is where I realized that I simply needed to start loving people and building community.


4. Who’s the closest friend you ever had in your life thus far? That's hard. Friendships are all very different and valuable. Obviously Rich knows more of me than anyone else, but I can't discount my earliest/longest friendships (Jen, Lisa, Amy); and then there's Christine, whom I can't remember not knowing, though rationally I think it's only been 4 years.

5. How did you get into Blogging? Lisa, the blog Queen of America (and Jen too). We needed to keep in touch better.

6. Are you an athlete? If so, what sport do you play or have played? I danced for half of my life - ballet, jazz, modern dance. For a while I thought that I wanted to be a dancer, but I somehow got distracted..

7. Favorite movie and why? This is too hard. I really love Waiting for Guffman because it makes me laugh; Christopher Guest is a genius!

8. Favorite song and why? Today? I'm listening to a lot of Ani DiFranco lately, and Garbage, and Poe; anything girl power right now is my favorite song.

9. Most romantic date you’ve ever been on? When Rich and I were poor and couldn't afford to exchange gifts or go out to eat (for the love of God, he was selling his plasma to be able to afford his $25 rent and Ramen), he picked wild flowers for me and arranged them in an old bottle. We spent the evening in front of a wood burning stove and..

10. What is your favorite car that you have owned? Stealth! 1984 gold Buick Century (Aw yeah) with a baseball sized hole in the hood. She screamed every time she turned a corner, which is how she got her name. Damn belts! This was a character building experience..

*I even thought about stabbing my own eyes out with a pencil since that might actually feel better than actually reading some of these jewels

Blue October

Blue October is one of our local bands. Have you heard of 'em?

I think my kids call them emo, but they have a cool, relaxing, mesmeric sound.

International Rescue Committee

Check out the International Rescue Committee, or IRC, ' – a critical global network of first responders, humanitarian relief workers, healthcare providers, educators, community leaders, activists, and volunteers. Working together, we provide access to safety, sanctuary, and sustainable change for millions of people whose lives have been shattered by violence and oppression.'

Their mission:

'The International Rescue Committee serves refugees and communities victimized by oppression or violent conflict worldwide. Founded in 1933, the IRC is committed to freedom, human dignity, and self-reliance. This commitment is expressed in emergency relief, protection of human rights, post-conflict development, resettlement assistance, and advocacy.'

Here's what they do:

'One of the first to respond, one of the last to leave. For more than 70 years, the International Rescue Committee has been a leader in humanitarian relief. We mobilize quickly, bringing sustained support to regions torn apart by violence and deprivation. We provide a fresh start in the U.S. for refugees. And we advocate tirelessly on behalf of the displaced, addressing the root causes of violence and standing up for the world’s most vulnerable populations.'

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According to brilliant Annie, who always does her homework and who brought this group to my attention, 'the IRC is independent of any country's funding. So in a lot of politically hot situations (ie, ache right after the tsunami) they are the only ones let in.'

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There are tons of ways to get involved! I'm going to start by linking them to Viaggio.

Thanks for the link Annie!

This is where the magic happens:

So, it's almost the end of the school year. Pretty much my kids are done; when I say done I mean that they have flat out stopped working. They're seniors. The painful irony of trying to effectively teach Lord of the Flies to these chaotic big'uns - while they are trying to ignore the approaching "last summer as a high school kid", their bouncing spring hormones, and the fact that the biggest event in their lives is coming, senior prom - is not lost on me. The poor seniors are blissfully running around, passing out senior pics, sealing graduation announcements, and discussing dresses and tuxes and summer trips to the beach.

Little do they know or little do they care that they STILL HAVE TO PASS MY CLASS to get a diploma.

I genuinely appreciate those who are still working hard (because they love me and hope that I don't really go insane, or because they need to pass this six weeks in order to graduate..whatever). Thank you!!!

Either way, the end of the road is only three feet in front of them. Before this class leaves, I thought I should share a few of their funnies that I will eventually need to publish in my future book called, Holy Hell, I Made It Through 30 Years Of Teaching! (only 21 years to go.. shit. :) )

Some of these may seem inappropriate, but I assure you none of them were meant to be scandalous. Also, I'm curious to know how you, the sane, productive members in society would handle some of these, as my reaction was generally stunned silence or silent laughter..(not at the kids of course... well ok, at some of them)

#1: We're reading Frankenstein.

Me: When we read Macbeth, we talked about a literary device called pathetic fallacy and we are seeing another instance of that device in this particular chapter. Do any of you remember what pathetic fallacy is and can you explain how Mary Shelly is using it in this chapter?
Class: (blink. blink.)
Me: Anyone?
Class: (looking for a savior among their peers... blink. blink.)
Me: Can someone at least define pathetic fallacy?
Boy: (shyly raising his hand) Isn't pathetic fallacy when a man has a very uh... small man part?
Class: (not sure whether to laugh or nod, after all this is Frankenstein)
Me: (trying not to laugh and trying to maintain a dignified classroom) I think we need to check the spelling. You see I'm saying fallacy with an f. You're talking about a word that begins with ph...(oh crap. what have I gotten into..)

#2: We're reading Inferno.

Me: Who remembers what an allegory is?
Sweet girl: Oh! Isn't that when animals talk in stories?
Me: Actually, that's...
Over-confident football boy: (interrupting) NO! When animals talk it's called bestiality!
Me: (silent laughter of doom.. falling off of chair)
Class: (blink. blink. except for the super smart boy who mutters "moron" under his breath) Ms. H, What's so funny?
Me: Because bestiality is when (oh crap. what have I gotten into..)

#3: We're reading Candide.

Student in the back of the room: Ms. H, What's a mulatto?
Me: (thinking about political correctness, wording is important.. thinking)
Cheerleader: It totally sounds like something you can get at Starbucks! I'll have a grande mulatto with whip! (sparkle smile)
Me: (silent laughter of doom.. falling off of chair)

Storm Warning

I was by myself tonight when the storm hit. I didn't realize it was coming until the background murmur of the television went silent as I was fixing some hot tea to ease my wounded body and comfort my wounded spirit. I had my journal under my arm, today's pen color appropriately black. The silence was the first indicator, followed by brutal, 100mph sheer winds that whipped the screens against the windows. The lights began to flicker on and off as I hurriedly lit candles, located the storm radio, and listened for sirens which were going off and which I couldn't hear for the back to back, jaw rattling thunder and lashing rain.


What seemed to be a dire situation turned into an I Love Lucy skit as I ridiculously tried to usher cats to the storm shelter (the closet in our bedroom), carrying hot tea, the weather radio, lit candles, and (of course) my journal and black pen. Even though my mood was depressed, I did have to snicker at the fact that I NEEDED each of these items in my safe room. How silly that I couldn't make two trips or that I probably didn't have to have my journal or that cup of tea right now!


But then, I've always been silly like that.


Anyway, there we sat in the floor of the closet amidst dirty laundry and piles of shoes, me hugging my warm tea mug, the cats looking at me for the reason that we were sitting in the closet amidst laundry and shoes. I immediately regretted that during my mad juggling act and trip to the closet I hadn't found room in my arms for a blanket because I really needed a nest.


I need a nest right now.


As quickly as the storm hit, it passed, and I know that my body will heal and that my spirits will be uplifted eventually. Until then, I'll crawl under my blanket and wait it out.

Friday Night Salon

We are surrounded by language every day, but how often do we encounter real conversation? Although we read newspapers, screens, and books, engage in small talk or argument, the pace of our lives is such that the simple gestures of listening carefully and speaking prudently are amazingly rare. The Friday Night Salon aims at being an antidote to the urban pace that denies the civilizing graces of community. We begin with good food and drink, then take our places in a circle for discussion about a variety of topics. It's a welcome way to end the typical Dallas workweek. Topics for each Salon will be listed on the Institute website bulletin board.

Discussion topics for May 4, 2007:

1. Are violence and religion inescapably linked?

2. What is the purpose of public education in the U.S.?

3. Is altruism possible? Could or should a government practice it?

(Moderated by Dr. Larry Allums)

Feel free to talk about one or two of the topics. I know some of you already responded to #1 last salon. See the comments.