DRAMATIC DEEP DESERT DEMOCRACY

I TAKE YOU WITH ME TO THE SLABS---We've been here before. But big things are brewing  now and we will witness them.

If you do not know about this amazing 1 square mile of land, google THE SLABS and then come back for the wonderous thing I'm about to show you.

Salvation Mountain--a painted hillside encouraging you to believe, repent and be born again.

A 25 year labor of love by Lenord Knight, now deceased.  Dedicated successors preserve this folk art work listed on the national registry.

To prepare you for the big event, you need to know that this is the only place in the U

S where you can select a spot and build yourself a domicile---with a fair likelihood of being able to hold on to it without paying for the land.

Here's another example of a squatting homesteader's cabin.

This, I believe is the meeting area for the friends of the library. (building located in the right background) A group of people live around it and keep it up.  ( worth a separate post for its history and thousands of volumes available to the public.)

This leafy bower is the meeting place for the current Slab City Community Group---a legal entity.  Everybody is invited to sit in on council meetings and so I went.  (no pictures)

The meeting lasted an hour and concerned itself with tomorrow's election of a new council.

The intelligence, decorum and good will displayed would likely put to shame your city council meeting. 

Afterwards I engaged a few of them. 

Slab city dwellers have organized themselves legally in response to the possibility that their land may be sold and them evicted.  If  Slabbers can hold on to this land, questions concerning how an individual could  take and keep possession of a campsite is being carefully considered, as this poster illustrates.

This poster was made for those unfamiliar with Roberts rule of order.

(on election day the president explained the gist of them with a single sentence:  We use these proceedures to assure that the majority will prevail and the minority heard).

Additional details cover the distinction between resident and visitor--both are allowed to vote for their representative on the council.

Election day came---the people assembled.

At the famous Range. You can see this very place in the movie INTO THE WILD.

The meeting began--nominations for the new council are made.  One by one the nominees addressed the crowd asking for their vote. I believe that's Builder Bob* speaking at the mike.

*Somewhat like the French Foreign Legion people here often acquire a new name.

This was a surprise.  That's Solar Mike speaking---and he asked that no one vote for him because he is opposed to the entire project.  He allowed his nomination just for the opportunity to have his say.

I think that's Robbie speaking.

I don't know who this was--but he made a good speech.

As did this guy

And this one.

The ballots were cast into this literal ballot box.  Two watchers assured the vote was honest.

You would have been impressed, I think, to see democracy work in so unlikely a venue.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  Oh sweet people--you should have been there.  I was moved nearly to tears. Our founding fathers would have been proud.  I say to the tyrants of the world and to all who believe in force--LET THEM COME TO THE SLABS.

And I say to all the rent collectors of the world.  COME TO THE SLABS--and see a different system.

And I say to economic captives everywhere-- drudging their lives away in the capitalistic system-- yearning for freedom---COME TO THE SLABS.

Glorious it is not---BUT IT'S A START. 

Out of the mud and dust of things

Something lovely sometimes springs

A MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS EVERYWHERE

RANDY RANTS----A MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS EVERYWHERE

We, non Muslims in the west are getting increasingly irritated at the whole lot of you.

Out of your 1.2 Billion have come millions of fanatics, intent on doing us harm.

We have been super patient with you---trying hard to separate in our minds—the fanatics from the moderates. Our president is doing his best to calm the building rage.

I want to speak bluntly to you.

EVERY ONE OF YOU BEARS SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORLD WIDE CONFLICTS INVOLVING MUSLIMS.

To begin with, every one of you are responsible for your failure to question your indoctrination.

Children are gullible and will believe what they are told. Therefore all of us owes it to the world to question our indoctrination and find our personal truth.

If you had done so with an open mind, you would likely discover that Islam is just one more unprovable religion alongside Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism; each of which has had their extremist.

For the most part, however, they have “tweaked” their “interpretations” of their Holy book so that they can (usually) live peacefully with their neighbors. In short, they have learned to “cherry pick” their ethics from their holy book. YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED TO DO THAT AND THEREFORE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF CREATING A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.

DO IT NOW—BEFORE THE WORLD GETS TOO ANGRY AT YOU. Read Hunnington's book: THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS and ponder the consequences if that happens.

I estimate that another 100 or so attacks like the twin towers, Paris and San Bernardino will enrage us to the point where a Hitler type leader will rise up and call for your extermination.

Keep in mind that we really do have the power to lay waste your entire culture.

History records times when an enraged society rose up against a fanatical society and exterminated it.

Google the Thugee sect in India and consider their fate.

I know whereof I speak: My own culture—Baptist in the South—once believed that God accepted Slavery:  Our Bible said it: "Slaves, be obediant to your masters." This noxious idea so irritated our northern countrymen that they waged a fierce war against us and 600,000 people were killed in the process. If need be, they (perhaps) would have killed us all to eradicate that idea from our mind.

A shattering conquest brought us, finally, to our senses, and eventually to the conviction that slavery was wrong DESPITE WHAT OUR HOLY BOOK SAID.

Now—Dear Muslim would-be-friends: You have ideas in your mind and in your holy book that are just as noxious and intolerable. Open your Koran and read the following chapters and verses: 2,6—2,15—2,24—2,85—2,89,90,98—2,105—2,14—2,122—2,126—2,142—2,154—2,162—2,168—2,172—2,175 “God has revealed the book....those that disagree about it are in extreme schism” (2,176)

“slay them wherever you find them"....(2,190,193)

I could list a hundred more—Perhaps this is enough to get the idea of the Koran's extreme intolerance.

Out of this book has emerged tyrannical sexist, intolerant, repressive, ignorant societies---and a few million fanatics who take the book seriously.

At a minimum I ask you to begin “cherry picking” your holy book and learn to tolerate other religions.

At a maximum, I ask you to re appraise the whole idea of a holy book and make common cause with us agnostics and atheist who live with the mystery of existence---generating whatever meaning and joy we can—NEVER CLAIMING TO HAVE ULTIMATE TRUTH.

It may be that the fate of the world is in the hands of moderate Muslims.

Take responsibility for the fanatics among you—expose them, correct them or kill them. If you will not do the job then we may have to do it for you—with blunt instruments and many unintended casualties. It is too much to ask of us to (painstakingly) ferret out the bad apples among you.

I say again: We are getting very very irritated with you.

A SKY FILLED WITH WONDER

IF YOU THINK YOUR CUP IS FULL OF GOOD THINGS---If you think life couldn't be better. I invite to join me in early october at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival

and see a whole sky filled with wonder.

This generous casino and this wonderful town will make your cup overflow.

AND IT'S ALL FREE---Yes you heard me right it's all free---for all these folks who've joined me in the casino RV parking lot.  And that's not all--the casino gives away free soft drinks, coffee and hot chocolate--all you want--24 hrs a day. Also $5 Buffets on occasion.  And they will give you $25 of their money to get you started gambling. (clever Laurie showed us how to guarantee yourself $10 take home cash:  Simply bet $10 on black and $15 on red at the same time--one of them is almost sure to win--then pocket your cash)

Back outside we are treated to this astonishing sight---a flying cow and stagecoach.

Sometimes a balloon will visit you right outside your door.  You may want to know that ballonist who bring their balloons here are given free propane to power them, free hotel rooms and free meals.  I'm guessing that the town somehow makes its money back from the tourist.

Remember Kat and Carol from Salida this summer?

And up from Sedona these two old friends Laurie and Lisa--Singer and Drama coach.

Invited them to stay the night with me--Laurie on the left couch--

Lisa on the right.

Kat at the end

Next morning I make breakfast for all of us.

Friends make living worthwhile.

Next day featured special shapes: Pigs flew, Boots lifted into the air--and much much more.

When those guest left---bingo--a new one arrives.

Her readers and fans will instantly recognize the wondrous wagon of  Kimbopolo.

Check out her blog here.

None other than the editor of my soon-to-be published book.

We have a week together to iron out the details.

We selected a hundred of my best poems and we will produce a Kindle/Amazon download book.

Here's a teaser:

How to Beat the Casinos

Says every casino from Yuma to Reno,

Free parking to all who ramble.

Come on inside, pull out your slide,

Lay down some dollars and gamble.

For the freebie you’re getting, the casino is betting

You cannot resist their bait.

That you're a weak-willed critter sucked in by their glitter,

Whose pocketbook they will deflate.

But if you choose, it’s a bet they will lose,

Certainly for this wandering chap.

Slick as you please, I eat all their cheese,

And scamper away from the trap.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  Consider this view of Judgment day:  Every person will be made to see life as it really was----will be overwhelmed with wonder---and will be inwardly compelled to admit that it was worth it to have been born.

RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD--IN RHYME---Part 5 --HINDUISM

This is the poem I'm most proud of.  To digest a vast religion like Hinduism and dare to summarize the gist of it into a short poem was my most ambitious project. To test my accuracy, I sent it to a Hindu teacher and asked if I'd gotten it right. He wrote back and congratulated me and said yes.
I (modestly) believe that the 5th verse of this poem is the most condensed theology ever written as it states in 11 words the essence of nearly all religious belief: That eternity is acting in time.

Hinduism

Only one thing has ever existed:

Hindu’s call it Brahma.

The universe is Brahma “dreaming.”

Hindus call this “cosmic drama.”

All the stars and all the planets,

Real and solid as they seem,

At their core are purest spirit;

Grand illusion, Brahma’s dream.

Thus the universe is Brahma’s

Grand and cosmic stage

Where He’s playing all the parts,

Directing, writing every page.

The play began at zero

With the bang of cosmic shatter.

In a billion fleeing galaxies

Spirit “descended” into matter.

Omnipotence--self-limited,

Oneness--multiplied,

Omniscience--went to dimness,

Omnipresence--localized.

In breathtaking cosmic self-deception;

He put divinity “on the shelf”;

To go adventuring in time

Simply to amuse Himself.

Somewhat like the king who,

Bored with endless royal pomp,

Slips into a pauper’s clothes

To enjoy an earthy romp.

There were things He yearned to do,

Commonplace with you and me,

Simple finite earthy things,

Impossible in eternity:

Like risk, make love, learn and grow,

Strive and fail, hurt and cry,

Do great evil, be redeemed,

Live a life, be born and die.

So Brahma put Himself “to sleep”

In an act of Godly scheming,

And dreams a dream so cleverly,

That He does not know He’s dreaming.

Our galaxy is Brahma whirling;

He hides inside a trillion lives,

Enjoying bold performances,

Creativity and surprise.

He is the cobra and the mongoose;

He is the innocent child at play.

He’s everything both good and evil;

He’s both predator and prey.

Both tragedy and triumph are

Equal fun in Brahma’s eyes.

It’s all a game of let’s pretend;

No one ever really dies.

When our bodies die, we are reborn,

Shortly back into the game.

And our new body is what we’ve earned

With deeds of good or shame.

Our duty’s to play the role we’re “in,”

With all the courage that we’ve got,

With depth of feeling and fervent passion

Like the actor George C. Scott.

You and I are Brahma conscious,

Dim and flickering though it be,

And when I look you in the eye,

It’s Brahma looking back at me.

Once you know that God is you,

You are free to enjoy the game.

Or you can opt yourself right out;

Return to Brahma whence you came.

The thousand gods that Hindus worship

Are merely aspects of the one,

As a thousand rainbows are

Reflections of a single sun.

Since life is drama, Hindus can answer

The toughest theological knot:

Why is there evil in the world?

Why, just to thicken the plot!

Curiously, Hindus believe that history

Rolls faster and faster downhill.

What began as splendid perfection

Decays to the darkest of ill.

The universe will end in chaos.

Our world will vanish like steam.

As matter dissolves into spirit

When Brahma wakes up from his dream.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  Einstein's idea that matter creates space and that time is relative to speed is considered the most subtle thought that humanity has produced.  I agree---and I propose that the second most subtle thought was this GUESS at what existence might be all about.  The Baghavad Gita has dazzled thinkers all over the world.  I have attempted to boil it down to these 21 verses.

Sadly, most Indians know almost nothing about the religion they profess---any more than Christians know theirs.  They are caught up in superstition and magic like all the others. No better--no worse.

That we do not know the purpose--if any--of existence is a bitter pill for all of us to swallow.  Only the brave can do it.  ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE SWALLOWED THE PILL CAN LEGITIMATELY SPECULATE.  All others are brainwashed and cowardly believers--who will wreck our world (overpopulation, crazy, frozen ethics, pretensions to certainty, taliban-like fanaticism) if reason does not prevail.

After you have swallowed the bitter pill--you can legitimately speculate. It is a fun and perhaps psychologically useful thing to do. The Baghavad Gita is the most elegant speculation to date.  Far better than Christianity.  So If you feel the need for a WHY to your life---try this theory on.  It is a happy why-in the big picture.  And it has a plausible answer the question of why is there evil in the world, (verse 19)

RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD---IN RHYME--part 4 BUDDHISM

Buddhism

Buddha said he didn’t know

How or why the world was made,

And he knew nothing about any God.

But as he sat in the Bo Tree’s shade,

He experienced enlightenment and in a flash
saw the pain of the world all about.
"Everyone has an arrow in his heart,
and I see how to take it out."

The 1^st Noble Truth

Pain is inherent in life,

Unavoidable, necessarily so

Because of adjustments we must make

To the world’s unceasing flow.

Pain is the challenge of our existence,

Sufficient reason and rhyme,

To stimulate our grand adventure

Of eternity acting in time.

The 2^nd Noble Truth

Suffering, however, is needless.

It comes when we struggle and resist

The flow of our own experience

As life makes turns and twists.

Wishing things were different,

Endless cravings and desires

Cause our upsets and frustrations,

Discontents and inner fires.

The 3^rd Noble Truth

But we can learn to know ourselves;

We can diminish our cravings,

Which in exact proportion will

Dampen down our  ragings.

It is possible to be happy,

To cultivate a mind

That’s open, passionate and awake,

Responsive, involved and kind.

The 4^th Noble Truth:
The Eight-Fold Path

And here is how that task is done:
Right views, intent and meditation,

Right effort, speech and mindfulness,

Right action and occupation.

The Illusion of Self

The deepest truth we need to know,

Buddha’s profoundest conclusion,

Is that none of us are “real;”

Our very self is an illusion.

Like Bruce Willis in the movie Sixth Sense,

The truth we need the most

Is to discover for ourselves

That we are only a kind of “ghost.”

When our inner eyes are opened,

When our ego comes undraped,

We see ourselves like fleeting whirlwinds

A swirling breeze has shaped.

We are not a solid self,

And we will vanish back to wind.

Our ego is only a clever illusion

We foolishly promote and defend.

Reincarnation 

 Over and over egos are born

Over and over they die.

Only a Karmic core of tendencies

Pass on to the brand new guy.

Karma

Each new personality and life,

Making advances or retreats,

Determines the status of the next-to-be-born:

The gutter or easy street.

Nirvana

If somehow you become enlightened,
 You break the cycle of Rebirth,

Are absorbed into Nirvana

And never return to Earth.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: Origional  Buddhism was not nonsense---and it was not religion.  It was PSYCHOTHERAPY.
And good Psychotherapy---and still is.  But the doctrines of reincarnation, karma and nirvana were added later by enthusiastic diciples---along with a host of other superstitions like prayer wheels, prayer flags, demons etc.   Subsequent followers could not resist the temptation to wrap this fine philosophy in crazy superstitions like all the other major religions.  Tibetan Buddhism evolved into a theocracy with the monk class exploiting the working class.  I don't know how I feel about Japanese Zen Buddhism--they focus on the enlightenment aspect--and leave off the superstition.

Perhaps some of my readers have a better take on the evolution of Buddhism to its current state.

Next up:  HINDUISM-- (my finest poem I promise you)

ADDENDUM: I urge my readers to scroll down to the  comment posted by Michael for a profound take on this series.
It delights me that I have readers of such acumen.

RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD---IN RHYME---Part 3 Islam

The last time I wrote about this I received a death threat,  My response is to not publish my location till I've left.  Anyway, I've lived longer than the average bear already--Ill take my chances and tell you what I think.  I begin with my best condensate of their views.

Islam

There is only one God, call him Allah.

He creates as an act of mercy,

Sustains and guides and will someday judge

Every Jack, Jill, Suzy and Percy.

Humans are made to worship Allah,

To rule over nature and construct

A social order of justice and truth,

merciful and not corrupt.

Evil in the world begins with Satan,

An enemy angel who tempts us all

To be proud, selfish and petty,

Eat pork and drink alcohol.

God wants us to rise above this evil,

Build character in our lives,

Obey his laws, benefit humanity,

Have no more than 4 wives.

He asks five things: Profess the faith,

Pray five times daily, give alms,

Once in a lifetime visit Mecca,

Fast during Ramadan.

This message was given verbatim to Mohammed,

Written in the Koran book.

He’s the final prophet God will send,

No need to further look.

History will end on judgement day

When Allah will choose where we dwell–

The righteous will live forever in heaven,

The wicked are sent to hell.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:   In the snake pit that religion is---Islam is the Cobra--and it seeks to eat all the other snakes-- a dreadful religion with a dreadful history.  It has morphed itself into the number one problem in the world.

It's doctrins are no more or less unbelievable and unverifiable that those discussed so far and it brainwashes its children like christians do-- but it has added a prison wall of a doctrine that makes escape from it so dangerous that few try.  That is the doctrine that whoever renounces the faith must be killed.  It has thus immunized itself against critical self examination and reform.

The Indoctrination and fear inherent in Islam has a billion people in its grip behaving like mindless automatons guided by stupid and savage leaders.

We delude ourselves to think we can live in peace with them. They are beyond reasoning. Hunnington (The Clash of Civilizations)makes the case clear.  (also recommended:  Sam Harris--THE END OF FAITH)

The only cure for this fanaticism is a shattering defeat. That's what it took to disabuse the Japanese of their divine emperor/destiny delusion.  

Would you like to see rational minds discussing these issues? click here and here and here