*CAUTION* strong/offensive language.
Looking past the language though, this piece speaks a great deal on social issues.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Earth 'Entering New Age of Geological Time' | CommonDreams.org
The new epoch, called the Anthropocene - meaning new man - would be the first period of geological time shaped by the action of a single species.
Earth 'Entering New Age of Geological Time' | CommonDreams.org
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Earth 'Entering New Age of Geological Time' | CommonDreams.org
Posted using ShareThis
Dominion of Global Capitalism
JPMorgan Chase steeled itself early for the collapse of the subprime market and emerged from the rubble of the global financial meltdown with both its balance sheet and reputation intact. But the storied firm stands alone among its Wall Street rivals in another area, too. JPMorgan backstops one of the most destructive mining practices in the world: mountaintop removal coal mining.
"Chase is the single largest remaining player in this game," says Scott Edwards, advocacy director for the Waterkeeper Alliance, an environmental advocacy group comprised of lawyers, scientists, and activists, among others. "They just absolutely refuse to take responsibility for their role in this absolutely devastating industry."
Mountaintop removal (MTR) mining, focused in Appalachian states like West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, involves deforesting huge swaths of land and blasting the summits off of mountains to expose the black veins of coal underneath. The waste and rubble from the demolition is then dumped into nearby rivers and streams, burying local water sources in toxic byproducts, choking off tributaries that feed into larger rivers, and wiping out plants and wildlife, according to numerous scientific studies.
Read the full article
"Chase is the single largest remaining player in this game," says Scott Edwards, advocacy director for the Waterkeeper Alliance, an environmental advocacy group comprised of lawyers, scientists, and activists, among others. "They just absolutely refuse to take responsibility for their role in this absolutely devastating industry."
Mountaintop removal (MTR) mining, focused in Appalachian states like West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, involves deforesting huge swaths of land and blasting the summits off of mountains to expose the black veins of coal underneath. The waste and rubble from the demolition is then dumped into nearby rivers and streams, burying local water sources in toxic byproducts, choking off tributaries that feed into larger rivers, and wiping out plants and wildlife, according to numerous scientific studies.
Read the full article
Monday, March 29, 2010
Paris is Burning, Film as Theological Text
Yes this movie could be understood as a documentary that includes a narrative of celebration and empowerment within a queer black community in New York City. It also is a painful and revealing documentary of the convergence of ‘isms’ in U.S. society. These are heterosexism, racism, classism, genderism and ageism. In the background the song “Got to be Real” blasts an existential rhetorical question. What is real? “Your love is my love, my love is your love, our love is here to stay, yeah!” Willie Ninja opens his imaginary make-up compact to apply ‘paint’ to his face. Then he turns the compact towards an audience member indicating some other person is needing some paint. ‘Cuz miss thing you ain’t looking good *snap.* The existential question then turns to me, the viewer. Would I survive if I was painted by the same oppression and limits imposed on people of color? Would I wear the color well, or would I be angry as f***? Would I overcome the dominant message to self-destruct? Everyone in this community is crushed by what is real, what is fact. Summarizing the wisdom of Dorian, everyone knows a black person can’t be an executive. The drag balls become a stage to experience a reality not afforded to everyday lives of those in the film. A young man walks in the category, “Business executive” inside his briefcase a travel magazine reveals the the limits of his world. The contents of the briefcase represent all the opportunities denied to him based first on the color of his skin, then his social class adds another layer of limits, the third and fourth layer of oppression is his assumed gayness and perhaps his trans-gender identity. Now the existential statement, I want to be somebody becomes a theological question, Am I somebody? It depends who is looking into the mirror. I accept Willie’s invitation to look at myself through his worldview. I gaze into the mirror and am jarred by what I observe. I see the reflection of my face and I am covered in “paint” and it is not only caked on it is embedded. It’s not white, it’s an insidious, evil, suffocating color. The real name of this color is white-systemic-privilege. The true nature of this color is white hegemony. It’s a heavy color that crushes the lives of others. I ask myself the next existential question. In which of my life dreams or goals have I had to accept a “drag-expression” as the closest possibility for that particular reality? None. My answer is painful and it really hurts. The answer is none because I live in a system of guaranteed privileges. I reach for the mirror compact hoping I can change the reflection, what is more important I wish I could personally hand it back to Willie and express my sorrow and regret. I wish my real was also his. Now this film becomes about transformation and natural law. Our lives are all linked and everyone is part of our human community. Through the courage of artist’s of color like Willie, as long as I continue to confront the real reflection of my privilege I can have hope for change in the lives of all the Willies of the world. After God created the world as described in Genesis the trajectory for the world to become good can be viewed as a personal commitment to cultivating and nurturing good. It becomes a human virtue and a commitment to breaking down barriers so new liberating possibilities can grow forward, where everyone is somebody.1
Bibliography
Borgman, Erik. "Unfixing Nature." In Homosexualities, edited by Regina Ammicht Quinn Marcella Althaus-Reid, Erik Borgman and Norbert Reck. London: SCM Press, 2008.
1 Erik Borgman, "Unfixing Nature," in Homosexualities, ed. Regina Ammicht Quinn Marcella Althaus-Reid, Erik Borgman and Norbert Reck(London: SCM Press, 2008), 73-83.
Bibliography
Borgman, Erik. "Unfixing Nature." In Homosexualities, edited by Regina Ammicht Quinn Marcella Althaus-Reid, Erik Borgman and Norbert Reck. London: SCM Press, 2008.
1 Erik Borgman, "Unfixing Nature," in Homosexualities, ed. Regina Ammicht Quinn Marcella Althaus-Reid, Erik Borgman and Norbert Reck(London: SCM Press, 2008), 73-83.
Bloody Sunday - Social Justice Remix
This is how I am feeling today. I experience the mood of the music as empowering.
NOT in our NAMES - Another World is possible, We will make it real!
This post is in part response to the films I viewed this week for my class. Film as Theological Text; Race, Class, Gender, and Sexualities.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Have you hugged your artists today?
Give an artist a hug. Most of the time, though most people may not realize it, creating art requires courage.
Consequences of No-we-won't-work Senators
Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, had his hearing shut down abruptly at 11:00 Wednesday morning, in the middle of a discussion on the effort to end veteran homelessness in the next five years. It is estimated that more than 100,000 veterans are homeless in the United States on any given night.
"The Senate should be a place for debate, but I cannot imagine how shutting down a hearing on helping homeless veterans has any part of the debate on the health insurance reform," said Akaka. "I am deeply disappointed that my colleagues chose to hinder our common work to help end veteran homelessness."
GOP Senators won't work
"The Senate should be a place for debate, but I cannot imagine how shutting down a hearing on helping homeless veterans has any part of the debate on the health insurance reform," said Akaka. "I am deeply disappointed that my colleagues chose to hinder our common work to help end veteran homelessness."
GOP Senators won't work
I am because we are
Ubuntuism shaped philosophy : The first maxim asserts that 'To be human is to affirm one's humanity by recognizing the humanity of others and, on that basis, establish respectful human relations with them.'
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Is Potentiality an Ontologically real.
Is The Adjacent Possible 'Real?' The Open Universe III - 13.7: Cosmos And Culture Blog : NPR
Stuart Kauffman argue below that on classical physics, this Adjacent Possible is epistemologically real. I further argue that on the basis of some interpretations of quantum mechanics, the Adjacent Possible is ontologically real.
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Stuart Kauffman argue below that on classical physics, this Adjacent Possible is epistemologically real. I further argue that on the basis of some interpretations of quantum mechanics, the Adjacent Possible is ontologically real.
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John W. Whitehead: The Right Not To Be Offended: The Supreme Court And Religion
This article reports on a trend to trump freedom of speech based on freedom from being offended.
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Posted using ShareThis
Douglas Abbott has shared: Chris Rodda: Congressman Wants Citizens of ALL Religions To Reflect On The Ten Commandments
| Good morning Carmon. Here's a interesting bill proposal. | |
| Chris Rodda: Congressman Wants Citizens of ALL Religions To Reflect On The Ten Commandments Source: huffingtonpost.com | |
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Douglas Abbott has shared: Home - Conservation International
| Starbucks donates 5 cents to Conservation International every time I use my "green" card. | |
| Home - Conservation International Source: conservation.org | |
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Health care reform in light of a culture of perfection and the concept of interbeing.
Health care reform in light of a culture of perfection and the concept of interbeing.
Amongst my facebook community I have been sensing a great deal of tension regarding the recent passage of Health Care Reform. It has left me wondering what has happened to social discourse in our culture. Is our 2 party political system the source of dualistic thinking, or is it something more deeply embedded in our development as a nation? I don’t have the answers but the question seems worth exploring.
What I have been hearing is a great number of people are upset that this legislation is not perfect. I’ve been pondering perfection quite a lot lately. So I thought a theological perspective on perfection might help guide my inquiry.
Recently I wrote in my thesis, “I do not expect my work to come out perfect, perfect is a construct of my mind. If I waited until I could make perfect art I would still be waiting. I would wait until life passed. I make art in the fullness of the spirit that whatever I make is going to take shape the way it was intended, that is if I listen and attend to it appropriately.”
While pondering my understanding of the limits of our human nature in regard to perfection I ran across the following editorial in the New York Times.
To the Editor:
As a medical student from 1937 to 1941, I campaigned vigorously for what became the Murray-Wagner-Dingell bill, introduced in Congress in 1943 during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The bill called for the establishment of a national health program.
In spite of strong public support, the bill failed to pass. I was disappointed again when other presidents, including, Truman, Nixon, and Clinton, attempted to have a national health program passed but met with failure.
I have had the good fortune to live beyond my 93rd birthday so that I can witness, finally, the passage of a national health program. I congratulate President Obama and all his colleagues for succeeding in bringing about this historic achievement.
Alfred M. Freedman
NY, March 22, 2010
Psychiatrist and past president of the Psychiatric Association.
New York Times, Tuesday March 23, 2010, P A26.
I know there are many features of the health care legislation that are imperfect. I admit I am a bit distrustful of most political discourse. I also am cynical of either party’s assertions of being guided purely by altruistic motivations. Being a student of change for more years than I care to count I have learned change comes with moments of ease, followed with moments of struggle and difficulty. I have also learned the future always arrives regardless of the ease or difficulty of my struggle. In times of change routine helps, it also helps to be open to new experience and new ideas. I admit I don’t believe the lobby industry in their claims. I think both political parties are wrong for trusting lobby groups. I also know the lobby groups have had the most air time and the loudest messages against this legislation. They have shaped what we know and don't know.
Thich Nhat Hanh uses the term “interbeing” in his book, for a Future to be Possible. It simply means that we are all interconnected in life. We depend on one another. Our well-being, joy, sadness, and even our planet rely on ALL of us. We simply “interare.”
Theologically, perfection is beyond our humanness. Our souls possess a nature placed there by the divine. We need community, dialogue, conversation and yes even struggle in order to arrive at more ideal solutions we face as a nation. However, perfection is an illusion it is a construction of the mind and ego.
If, as a nation, we waited for an ideal solution for a national health care program we would wait countless generations and lifetimes. I don’t expect the changes to be easy. I don’t expect to understand how everything will change. It may require sacrifice. I do know as a member of the human race I am willing to try something new in hope that it will lead to a better future.
We need all of us together in order to bring a more ideal future into existence. Our human history indicates we will likely not get it quite right the first, second, or fifth attempt. It is the process of trying to achieve something better that shapes the outcomes of our attempts for solutions to difficult challenges. All of us as a nation must take a first step together so we can enter into the process of creating a better future.
Amongst my facebook community I have been sensing a great deal of tension regarding the recent passage of Health Care Reform. It has left me wondering what has happened to social discourse in our culture. Is our 2 party political system the source of dualistic thinking, or is it something more deeply embedded in our development as a nation? I don’t have the answers but the question seems worth exploring.
What I have been hearing is a great number of people are upset that this legislation is not perfect. I’ve been pondering perfection quite a lot lately. So I thought a theological perspective on perfection might help guide my inquiry.
Recently I wrote in my thesis, “I do not expect my work to come out perfect, perfect is a construct of my mind. If I waited until I could make perfect art I would still be waiting. I would wait until life passed. I make art in the fullness of the spirit that whatever I make is going to take shape the way it was intended, that is if I listen and attend to it appropriately.”
While pondering my understanding of the limits of our human nature in regard to perfection I ran across the following editorial in the New York Times.
To the Editor:
As a medical student from 1937 to 1941, I campaigned vigorously for what became the Murray-Wagner-Dingell bill, introduced in Congress in 1943 during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The bill called for the establishment of a national health program.
In spite of strong public support, the bill failed to pass. I was disappointed again when other presidents, including, Truman, Nixon, and Clinton, attempted to have a national health program passed but met with failure.
I have had the good fortune to live beyond my 93rd birthday so that I can witness, finally, the passage of a national health program. I congratulate President Obama and all his colleagues for succeeding in bringing about this historic achievement.
Alfred M. Freedman
NY, March 22, 2010
Psychiatrist and past president of the Psychiatric Association.
New York Times, Tuesday March 23, 2010, P A26.
I know there are many features of the health care legislation that are imperfect. I admit I am a bit distrustful of most political discourse. I also am cynical of either party’s assertions of being guided purely by altruistic motivations. Being a student of change for more years than I care to count I have learned change comes with moments of ease, followed with moments of struggle and difficulty. I have also learned the future always arrives regardless of the ease or difficulty of my struggle. In times of change routine helps, it also helps to be open to new experience and new ideas. I admit I don’t believe the lobby industry in their claims. I think both political parties are wrong for trusting lobby groups. I also know the lobby groups have had the most air time and the loudest messages against this legislation. They have shaped what we know and don't know.
Thich Nhat Hanh uses the term “interbeing” in his book, for a Future to be Possible. It simply means that we are all interconnected in life. We depend on one another. Our well-being, joy, sadness, and even our planet rely on ALL of us. We simply “interare.”
Theologically, perfection is beyond our humanness. Our souls possess a nature placed there by the divine. We need community, dialogue, conversation and yes even struggle in order to arrive at more ideal solutions we face as a nation. However, perfection is an illusion it is a construction of the mind and ego.
If, as a nation, we waited for an ideal solution for a national health care program we would wait countless generations and lifetimes. I don’t expect the changes to be easy. I don’t expect to understand how everything will change. It may require sacrifice. I do know as a member of the human race I am willing to try something new in hope that it will lead to a better future.
We need all of us together in order to bring a more ideal future into existence. Our human history indicates we will likely not get it quite right the first, second, or fifth attempt. It is the process of trying to achieve something better that shapes the outcomes of our attempts for solutions to difficult challenges. All of us as a nation must take a first step together so we can enter into the process of creating a better future.
Douglas Abbott has shared: The Stephen and Kathi Austin Mahle Endowed Fund for Progressive Christian Thought
| I'm going to this lecture! | |
| The Stephen and Kathi Austin Mahle Endowed Fund for Progressive Christian Thought Source: hamline.edu | |
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Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Opening Reception comments
Send comments about my exhibit by:
email at > dabbott@unitedseminary.edu
twitter > abbott_UTS
email at > dabbott@unitedseminary.edu
twitter > abbott_UTS
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain, Film as Theological Text
Cinematographically the footage in this film is stunning. Watching it I can smell the scent of the trees and wild lavender. Smell is such an extraordinary sense, and it is deeply connected to memories. I noticed how deeply Ennis missed Jack by the way he held Jack’s shirt, the way he held the shirt and embraced it also references back to the intimacy the two shared. I underestimated how moving this film is to experience, it’s powerful and speaks to so many levels of limits placed on the emotional lives of men. It was at great risk that Ennis left Jack’s parent’s home with the shirts from Jack’s closet. It may have been the first realization Ennis experienced of Jack’s unending love. The two are so tightly constrained by the expectations of social attitudes that their relationship can barely breathe life, ultimately the forces that constrain them takes the life of Jack. Fortunately for Ennis, Jack’s Mom quietly acknowledges the significance of Ennis’s feelings and assists him in retrieving the two shirts from Jack’s closet going undetected by Jack’s father. This gesture could also be seen to act metaphorically representing Ennis's "coming-out" to himself about his feelings and his sexuality. My favorite part of the film is that after Jack’s death, Ennis has switched the two shirts so as to convey now he is the one that will never be able to “quit” this love, a love for Jack. This is the only expression of Ennis’ love for Jack, and for the little words Ennis speaks throughout the movie the gesture reveals the deepness of his love and loss.
Monday, March 1, 2010
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