Author's posts
Jan 02 2009
Experimental video w/poll
I continue to be intrigued by the possibilities of the video mashup. I know some people will never like this approach (Cassiodorus?) but I keep thinking there is power in those transparencies and layers. I’m looking for a dream-like quality, a multi-layered dream blending disparate elements both visual and aural. The question is can I do it artfully enough to make it interesting to others. If I’m the only one being amused, I’d rather move on. So the question to you is…
Dec 29 2008
Oy!
What a world!
How does one even begin to comment?
Not to diminish the achievement of President Elect Barack Obama, it does seem in some ways a dirty joke on African American aspirations that we would finally elect an African American just at THE moment in history when the country is about to tank, and tank hard. Welcome to the presidency African America. Here’s the big, reeking pile of dung we’ve turned the country into for you. Good fuckin’ luck with that!
Dec 25 2008
A Christmas Card
Merry Christmas, happy Hanukah, and etcetera to everyone at Docudharma. Peace on earth and good will to all.
Dec 20 2008
It Has to Stop!
I think some the angst I’m feeling comes from my fear that, even with our historic victory, that too little will change in time to make a difference. Generals always want to fight the last war, while politicians want to wage the last campaign. It’s easy to look backward and hard to look forward, and far too few seem to realize the extent to which the stakes have been raised. Our circumstances have really become quite dire. That doesn’t sink in easily for the many who want to pretend that the world is always going to be the way it’s always been.
The politics of yesterday are not going to serve us any longer. We need more than change. We need more than a mid-course correction. We need the crazy to stop.
And I don’t mean just slow down a little, or be a little less crazy. I mean it has to stop. We have to reverse course in this damned country, not just modify it somewhat.
Nov 30 2008
Truth and Reconciliation My Ass! America’s Accountability Moment
I believe in compassion, mercy and forgiveness…but when great and grievous wrong has been done, you don’t skip straight to forgiveness. No, the first stop on the path to redemption is called justice.
When former governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state of Alabama, Don Siegleman gets thrown in federal prison for 9 months for being a progressive democrat and has to go around the country begging for justice once they finally let him out on appeal bond (fruitlessly I might add – they never did vote contempt for Karl Rove) then something is desperately wrong in this country.
Nov 28 2008
Jackson Browne – Before the Deluge
I’ve been moving all day so I’ll keep this brief. This is my happy Thanksgiving wish for you all.
I think it’s interesting how artists can be ahead of their time in ways that maybe even they don’t understand. Some works of art only resonate the more as time passes. Orwell’s 1984 for example.
I felt that way about Paul Simon’s American Tune, and I think Jackson Browne speaks to our time in a similar fashion in Before the Deluge.
Nov 24 2008
Peace in Afghanistan
Too often I hear people speak of Afghanistan as if the war we are waging there is totally legitimate and beyond question. Even Barack Obama has fallen into this trap. Since the invasion of Afghanistan could be justified as hot pursuit of those who attacked us on 9/11, 2001, many continue to consider it justified seven long years later. Nothing could be further from the truth in my opinion.
Nov 19 2008
Reaching Across the Aisle
There has been a lot of talk about bipartisanship. I’m sure the notion has appeal to those tired of the bickering and lack of accomplishment that has characterized our government for lo these many years. Since republicans exist and are going nowhere, they deserve a seat at the table goes one popular argument. Some go so far as to suggest that both parties are equally deserving of the opportunity to govern. Aside from the fact that our party just trounced their party at the polls, there are many reasons to question what might be the just deserts of the Republican Party. It certainly, in my view, does not encompass any right whatsoever to govern. Hell, they don’t even believe in governance. That fact alone should forever disqualify them from any such opportunity.
Nov 12 2008
An American Tune
We stand at an historic juncture. Though we face daunting odds, there is at least now a chance, a slim one perhaps, but a real chance that we might turn things around.
Nov 10 2008
Losing My Home
To be clear, I don’t own my home, I’m renting it – it’s not my house, just my home. I’ve been here since the first of the year and have enjoyed it. Since I live alone, it’s more house than I need, but since I have very little furniture the house has a nice zen emptiness to it and provides ample space for doing tai chi and kung fu. Here’s a pic of my living room. I don’t entertain much.
Nov 09 2008
The Promised Land
I am still stunned by what has happened. While I have many concerns I am not thinking about them now. If only for this one essay, I want to set everything aside to simply celebrate our historic achievement as a people.
I remain overwhelmed. It still hasn’t entirely sunk in. It is really huge, probably the biggest single event in my lifetime – certainly in the political realm. What a remarkable, amazing, stunning victory for us all. What a wonderful moment for America. We have achieved a great milestone.
How starving were we for this great day to be an American?