1. I’m writing this on the eve of Trump’s deliberate murders––via deadly viral spread and infection of US citizens––in order to promote his own propaganda of blame, fear-mongering and self-serving bigotry. It’s the closest I’ve come to feeling an unrepentant rage in maybe all my days. As I was writing, a friend sent this:
“The Friday Night, Also Saturday Afternoon, Possibly Edging Into Sunday Morning Massacre”
Is it hard for you to imagine that it was only 160 years ago that a significant portion of the United States didn’t think other humans were actual humans with rights rather than mere property? It’s getting less and less hard to feel the distance of that kind of delusion.
At this point in the prequel to our second Civil War, I barely have anything to say; all my capacities are employed in keeping my rage contained until I know how to channel it wisely through the building of community and the collection of individual voices into something with the power to effect genuine change. Here’s one way.
But if there’s anything useful I can offer, it’s that none of us will ever stop being human, which includes fierce bouts with anger and despair. Remember, though: those who cultivate character don’t deny their humanity and its intensities; rather, they see their humanness clearly and vow not to cause unnecessary harm. Then they act.
2.
All my loyal and my much-loved companions
They approve of me and share my code
I practice a faith that's been long abandoned
Ain't no altars on this long and lonesome road
~ Bob Dylan
3. “Who Cares?” Please listen to this talk by Peg Syverson, the senior Zen teacher at Appamada, about the connection between care, spiritual vows and power and politics. If you’d like to speak directly to Peg, check out the Appamada website or contact me and I’ll put you in Zoom touch.
Who Cares: How to Reshape a Democratic Politics link to the book Peg reads from.
“Care is always infused with power, which is political.”
A photo I took at my 🚗 Love Monster’s auto body shop:
5. If you don’t know where to start with educating yourself on systemic injustices, start with this book. It’s short but exquisitely powerful, and comes recommended more than any other book from fellow CxD readers. Order here.
If you found today’s newsletter valuable, and you think it could do some good out there in some small corner of the world, please share it. A passive keeping-it-to-yourself is no longer the way if transformational shit is to get done.
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Don’t Despair! So much Joy in Life!