Silent Night, Holy Night

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The computer clock gadget has passed midnight. It is Christmas Eve. Two energies emerge at the winter solstice: simultaneously, many religions celebrate a Holy moment – a moment that can be traced back millennia to a different time but, as it always will be, the religious holidays don the trappings of the present, always keeping just enough sacrament to give a celebrant pause about the value of life.

The second energy is that which comes from sharing. Not just presents in boxes, flashy decorations, and even some sharing by traveling the cold streets to share the overflow of caroling. It also is sharing a love-energy with folks who have nothing to share themselves. It is food boxes, clothes, making arrangements for visitations to family that, but for your sharing, would never happen. It is warm food – not just at the winter solstice, but year round. It is reconnecting with scattered second cousins one hasn’t seen for decades. Gifting is a special sensation, celebrated as needs require.

The mariner takes a break from the challenges around the world, challenges between races, between cultures, between civilized and uncivilized, between politicians, between people and biomes. He provides for you a gift: A few poems that the reader may find entertaining. The poems are taken from a poetry book, Lyrical Iowa, recently published by The Iowa Poetry Association. In fact, it is the seventieth year for publishing the poetic anthology. Contents of Lyrical Iowa are taken from the results of an annual competition. Like any competition, the poetry that makes it to the book is best of breed; there are nine categories each awarding a first, second and third cash prize.

1,898 poets submitted works. 64 winners received cash prizes. The mariner is proud to say that his wife won a first-place cash reward in the “First Time Entrant Category.” Many of her relatives especially will recognize the subject of the poem:

Sailing, Summer of ‘14

The old Styrofoam sailboat has been tied up in the rafters

of the garage for more than fifty years.

We cut it down from its musty ropes and wonder if it will

disintegrate into dust.

But Styrofoam does not disintegrate. It lasts forever.

 

The sail needs a patch with duct tape and a plastic trash bag

to make it good as new. New was in 1963.

We load the boat into the truck to take it to the lake.

We unload it at the dock and wonder if it will sink.

But Styrofoam does not sink. It floats forever.

 

We set sail onto the dark water, catching the breath of the wind,

catching our breath, learning the ropes, coming about, dodging

the boom, heeling, sailing, then smoothly we turn back to the dock.

Later, we find a photograph of the same boat at the same lake

at the same dock. The man in the boat is our grandfather, younger

in 1963 than we are now.

We wonder, as we tie the boat back into the rafters,

who will sail it next time.

For time, like Styrofoam, floats forever.

Marty Miller

 

A cute poem from the Humorous Category:

Missing

No Golden Gate, London or Brooklyn

in the pages, which seemed contrary

until I finally came to realize

it was an “un-abridged” dictionary.

 

Steven Thompson, Osage

 

Remember haiku? Here are a couple of winners:

 

Lonesome last Oak leaf

Floated softly to the ground

And whispered “winter.”

 

Ellen G Danner, Woodburn

 

The ice floes stay still-

Above this frozen river

Only the Moon moves.

 

Lee Enslow, Beaver

 

Mariner wishes everyone a fine holiday. Take the opportunity suggested by Joseph Campbell: find a blissful place and love yourself for being.

Ancient Mariner

 

US – the Home of Cowards

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Donald and his xenophobic, misanthropic republican candidates are ruining our party – that is, the party of citizens who know the right thing to do. The mariner will rejoin this comment after the reader reads the next few paragraphs.

Muslim passengers defended Christian passengers during an extremist attack on a bus in Kenya on Monday.

Members of the al-Shabaab militant organization shot at a bus in Mandera, Kenya, forcing it to stop. Once the militants boarded the bus, they attempted to separate Muslim and Christian passengers, intending to kill the Christians on board, the BBC reported.

“We even gave some non-Muslims our religious attire to wear in the bus so that they would not be identified easily. We stuck together tightly,” Abdi Mohamud Abdi, a Muslim passenger, told Reuters . “The militants threatened to shoot us but we still refused and protected our brothers and sisters. Finally they gave up and left but warned that they would be back.”

The local governor, Ali Roba, confirmed the account in an interview with Daily Nation , a Kenyan publication. “They refused to separate from non-Muslims and told the attacks to kill all passengers or leave,” Roba said. There were 62 passengers on board, according to the paper.

Even though the passengers stuck together so well, two people were killed and three were injured.

MEANWHILE –

A British Muslim family heading for Disneyland was barred from boarding a flight to Los Angeles by US authorities at London’s Gatwick airport amid concerns of an American overreaction to the perceived terrorist threat.

US Department of Homeland Security officials provided no explanation for why the country refused to allow the family of 11 to board the plane even though they had been granted travel authorization online ahead of their planned 15 December flight.

Senior [British] politicians have been drawn into the case, warning that a growing number of British Muslims are being barred from the US without being told the reason for their exclusion.

MEANWHILE –

Striking photos of unity have emerged from the chaos in Egypt as Christian protesters stood together to protect Muslims as they prayed.

A group of Christians joined hands and faced out surrounding hundreds of Muslims protesters left vulnerable as they knelt in prayer. ‘Bear in mind that this was a month after Alexandria bombing where many Christians died in vain. Yet we all stood by each other.’

The suicide bombing, shortly after the New Year’s Day, killed 23 Coptic Christians, who make up 10 percent of Egypt’s 80 million person population.

MEANWHILE –

A passenger plane carrying singer Cat Stevens to Washington was diverted to another city 600 miles away yesterday so the musician could be escorted off the flight by FBI agents and sent back to Britain.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the singer, who converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam, was denied access to the US “on national security grounds”.

Flight 919 from London to Washington was diverted to Bangor International Airport in Maine, after US security officials were told Mr Islam was aboard.

He had been allowed to board the flight after United Airlines officials initially failed to spot his name on a watch list, the TSA said. The plane, carrying about 250 passengers, was held at Bangor for more than three hours before being allowed to continue its journey to Washington.

Mr Islam was questioned and told he would have to leave the US. His 21-year-old daughter, who was travelling with him, was allowed to remain in the country.

The deputy general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, Mohammad Abdul Bari, expressed dismay at the US authorities’ actions.

 MEANWHILE –

Pakistani Muslims Form Human Chain To Protect Christians During Mass

Hand in hand as many as 200-300 people formed a human chain outside the St Anthony’s Church adjacent to the District Police Lines at the Empress Road, in a show of solidarity with the victims of the Peshawar church attack two weeks back, which resulted in over a 100 deaths. The twin suicide attack on All Saints church occurred after Sunday mass ended and is believed to be the country’s deadliest attack on Christians.

The mariner is embarrassed by the behavior of US citizens and the government. Sadly, these few anecdotes were in the midst of many, many more – each depicting grownup judgment – not even mentioning bravery – displayed by foreign Christians and Muslims in the face of weapons and terrorists, and on the contrary, the childish, selfish imbeciles within the US. Some are candidates running for President!!!! Allah be praised.

Chicken Little is bothered – not panicking but definitely bothered. There are two issues at stake. The first is prejudging race and culture. It happens easily all over the world but it is a coward’s folly. Is the good ol’ USA a coward? Isn’t it enough that US citizens must have a gun in every pot? Guns and deliberate racism – what a mix!

Mariner could go on but his dander is up. The least we can do is organize a neighborhood watch not for the little children but for the Muslims and their mosques. Is there a way we could contact Imams to let them know we will actively protect their members and mosques? Don’t ask police to do this job; they are too militarized as it is.

The second issue is that a very important election lay ahead. Voters must hear clearly the arguments for two political parties that will take us in opposite directions in the future. The US is on the cusp of serious modifications either way. Having racism derail common sense (AKA grownup judgment) as has so often occurred in the South, will be disastrous. The citizens with moral judgment and a sense of cultural and national identity must step up to the war mongering. Do not let the media handle it; they are incompetent. There. The mariner said it. He agrees with Donald: the media is incompetent. However, killing a reporter has never occurred to the mariner – yet – but he has a list, Glenn.

Ancient Mariner

Pop’s Pop Psychology

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The mariner learned at his father’s knee. Father was attending college at the time and mariner was the one available to hear a recounting of many of the ideas that college provided for him. Father was a fan of pop culture – over simplified descriptions of personality, organization, emotion, and many other pseudo-psychology definitions. In memory of mariner’s father, a couple are defined in this post.

A popular one that many know is that there are three kinds of people in the world: WHY people, HOW people and WHAT people. The WHY person thinks about daily life in terms of ideas. It is difficult to define a situation or make a decision until the person understands why the situation exists. A classic example is Albert Einstein. If a person is extremely WHY, a classic example is the three-toed sloth.

The HOW person thinks about daily life in terms of solutions. The HOW person is constantly reinterpreting the circumstances of life into new relationships that may, or may not, improve those circumstances. Nevertheless, a solution has been achieved. The HOW person actually makes a decent manager – all other aspects being accepted. A classic example is Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com. If a person is extremely HOW, a classic example is the African Honey Badger.

The WHAT person thinks about daily life in terms of procedure. Father’s favorite example was his wife’s attempt to open luggage, which often requires different steps similar to a key, coded lock, different kinds of sliding latches, zippers, etc. Confronted with a new set of luggage, the wife had to try different combinations one at a time from the beginning until one worked.

Another example, perhaps a well-known anecdote, is the woman cooking a ham. Watching her is her daughter. “Why do you cut off a chunk of the ham before you bake it?” the daughter asked. “Oh, I don’t know; that’s how my mother did it.” Later, they visit Grandma and ask why she cut off a chunk of the ham. “My pot was too small.” If a person is extremely WHAT, a classic example is the Marmoset monkey.

The truth of the matter is all people have a bit of all three behaviors. Typically, one is dominant and a second is used if the dominant one fails. However, it is impossible for WHY and WHAT to coexist.

Another pop psychology definition that father used quite often as one of his own tools (he was a professor of sociology) is the one about how people learn. Again, there are three ways a person may learn: learning with the EYES, learning with the EARS, and learning with the BODY. Learning with the EYES includes reading, watching and thinking in pictures. An eye person will learn more and be able to apply learning more efficiently if that person receives education through the eyes. One every day example is the person who watches facial expressions to understand nuance. A very simple example is to watch another person stick their finger in a fire. Having watched this, the eye person needs no explanation as to why the fire burned; the event is embedded for life and will influence decisions thereafter. Art painters and writers use eye-based intelligence.

An ear person will learn more easily by listening. The reader may take in more listening to a lecture than reading the same words from a book. Anything requiring hearing is more easily learned. For example, musicians, those who interpret nuance by hearing tones in the voice, “Tell ‘em one time and they know how to do it” are typical of those who learn best by hearing.

Finally, learning with the BODY encompasses sensitivity to body motion of any kind including dexterity, sports, dance, and touch sensitivity. A BODY person will learn more by doing; If a body person is told what to do, or is shown what to do, the instructions will not be absorbed meaningfully until the body person actually does the task. Some assembly lines may contain a majority of BODY types with their dexterity and ability to memorize hand and body movement.

The mariner’s father had many more like these two examples. Mariner is confidant the reader has a few of their own.

Ancient Mariner

 

How to Choose the Best Candidate

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The overriding philosophy of deflecting change.

Since the Viet Nam war, the theory of government management has been to stabilize and minimize disruption; candidates elected since then have been influenced by that period of populist unrest, burning bras and draft cards, young people and pacifists seeking refuge and citizenship in Canada, the March to Selma and the civil rights unrest generally; four Kent State students shot by Guardsmen;  the murder of two Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr.; the riots around the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago; the call out of the National Guard in many cities to contain rioting and looting; the loss of the Viet Nam war, and many more.

For the next fifty years, both liberal and conservative elected officials have clung to that philosophy. Other political and cultural needs were subordinate to the rule of stability and minimum disruption. Largely, policies were promulgated that buried dissent, supported economic stability, and, frankly, let serious issues slide rather than take action to change the status quo – climate change, water shortage, privacy and security, and a failed infrastructure went unmanaged. The mariner has referred to officials sensitive to instability and disruption as “old school” politicians. He feels that two generations of elected officials and a half-century later, the term is apropos. Whether a candidate is concerned about status quo versus new objectives and innovation is the first consideration in selecting a candidate. Choose “new school.”

The over dependence on corporate influence.

The economic fiasco in Greece was exacerbated when Greece leadership allowed corporate interests in Greece to frame a recovery policy. The result protected corporations from the worst actions, that is, national bankruptcy and debt obligation while providing no objectives that would actually restore functional capability to the government. Needless to mention, Greece had to start over again and suffered undue wrath from Germany.

In the United States, corporations have written most of the objectives contained in US trade agreements. No one contradicts the fact that the 1993 NAFTA agreement was an immediate benefit to relocated manufacturers and a disaster for American employees. To wit from www.citizen.org :

  • More than 845,000 specific U.S. workers have been certified for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) as having lost their jobs due to imports from Canada and Mexico or the relocation of factories to those countries.
  • NAFTA has contributed to downward pressure on U.S. wages and growth in U.S. income inequality
  • Soon after NAFTA’s passage, the small pre-NAFTA U.S. trade surplus with Mexico turned into a massive new trade deficit and the pre-NAFTA U.S. trade deficit with Canada expanded greatly. The inflation-adjusted U.S. trade surplus with Mexico of $2.5 billion and the $29.6 billion deficit with Canada in the year before NAFTA have morphed into a combined NAFTA trade deficit of $177 billion. The rosy job-creation promises made at the time of the NAFTA votes were predicated on NAFTA improving the U.S. balance of trade. The reality has been the opposite.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership in Congress today makes NAFTA child’s play both in economic terms and in the guaranteed rights of citizens in nine nations. TPP was written by corporate interests. A new school candidate will reduce corporate dependence and restore national independence; national independence is a mandate if the US will fix fossil fuel abuse, adjusts corporate tax independence to provide financial investment in infrastructure, and to assure dependable growth in salary and benefits for American workers. In short, vote for the candidate who is against TPP and advocates worker’s rights as an objective rather than one who advocates “making the economy great again.”

TIP

If the candidate is incumbent and running again, how strongly has the candidate backed new improvements in life-centered policies. As an example, Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan is classic: He blocks the cost of fixing lead-burdened amounts in the drinking water for Flint, Michigan. It is disastrous and scores of children have lead levels that are dangerous to life, let alone brain damage. The Governor plays the waiting game by initiating unnecessary studies in spite of the proven travesty of contaminated water in the city of Flint. Snyder is not interested in looking to present and future issues to shape priorities for governing Michigan. Local citizens say he doesn’t want to spend the money and suffer the disruption. Rick is old school, that is, the government manages stability rather than setting present and future need as a government agenda.

This is a similar attitude to Scott Walker in Wisconsin who prefers to break unions rather than have a budget shortfall. It is the same with Terry Branstad in Iowa, where closing mental health institutions in a brash way is an indicator of his lack of interest in solving the people’s issues. The tip is: what issues are high on the candidate’s list – budget and business or citizens and problem resolution. Today’s candidates must describe a government that follows the needs of the common citizen – both personally and environmentally.

Mariner has called Hillary Clinton an old school candidate. One attribute that supports mariner’s opinion is the willingness of both Bill and Hillary to negotiate compromises which are expensive to both sides and may or may not actually advocate progress. A good example is when Bill Clinton signed into law the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999, which repealed the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933. One of the effects of the repeal is it allowed commercial and investment banks to consolidate. Economists have criticized the action. At the same time, Clinton had been an advocate for welfare reform, tolerance for gay issues, defended civil rights and had a direct influence in reversing Reagan’s philosophy of provincial government.

The Clintons are liberal. And the Clintons don’t like to lose – a throwback to Bill’s days as Governor of Arkansas. Being liberally committed and wanting to win do not always coincide; hence, expensive deals to achieve liberal objectives and placate conservative interests at the same time. The mariner believes Hillary is cut from the same cloth as Bill. It is our good fortune that Bernie Sanders provides popular support for liberal ideologies, thereby making Hillary sensitive to major liberal policies.

Ancient Mariner

The Big Race

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For readers who don’t frequent bookie sites, the mariner provides today’s odds that a candidate will be elected President.

 

Hillary Clinton 8/11 72%
Marco Rubio 5/1 20%
Donald Trump 8/1 12½%
Ted Cruz 12/1 8%
Jeb Bush 22/1 4½%
Bernie Sanders 28/1 3½%
Chris Christie 33/1 3%
Ben Carson 200/1 ½%
John Kasich 200/1 ½%
Rand Paul 200/1 ½%
Martin O’Malley 250/1 2/5%
Mike Huckabee 250/1 2/5%
Carley Fiorina 250/1 2/5%

With the primaries about a month away, mariner doesn’t recommend placing a bet – except perhaps for Hillary since the odds for a democratic win are 150% versus the republicans at 120%.

As we enter the primary season, give some thought to the undercard, that is, the reader’s senators, representatives, state legislators, governors and mayors. Many states are so tightly bound by grotesquely gerrymandered voting districts that the winners can be predicted without voting. This is not a healthy sign for a democracy. Only nine states are swing states – worth 130 Electoral College votes. They are:

Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and New Hampshire.

217 electoral votes are necessary to win the Presidential election. If the reader wants to track changes, a good site is: http://www.electoral-vote.com/ or http://www.bing.com/search?q=which+states+tossup+for+presidential+election&qs=n&form=QBLH&pq=which+states+tossup+for+presidential+election&sc=0-19&sp=-1&sk=&cvid=CC555DFBC2CF4D5F88AFB548D98F4E22

This is a very important election. The mariner strongly, strongly urges the reader to attend your caucus or primary. Then, especially strongly, vote in November.

Ancient Mariner

Food and Water plus a bit more about Joseph Campbell

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A report from Food and Water Watch about the Omnibus Appropriations bill just passed by Congress:

Our policy staff just finished combing through the 2,000-page omnibus appropriations bill that Congress must pass this week to keep the government running, and here’s how some of the key issues that impact our food and water fared.

Let’s start with some good news:

1. We stopped the Monsanto rider that would prohibit states from labeling genetically engineered foods (a.k.a. the DARK act). After thousands of phone calls and letters from people like you, legislators didn’t include it in the appropriations bill.

2. An amendment to label genetically engineered salmon was included. We’ll still be working to stop the introduction of GMO salmon in our food system, but this is an important step.

3. The attempt to overturn our national parks’ ability to ban bottled water did not make it into the final bill. Thank you to all of our supporters who took action on this issue!

4. We kept important food safety measures in the final bill including banning the purchase of chicken processed in China in school lunches and limiting the beef imports that may have been exposed to foot and mouth disease.

Now the bad news:

1. The 40-year ban on exporting crude oil is being removed. This fossil fuel industry giveaway happened despite massive opposition from everyone involved in fighting climate change and working for a renewable energy future.

2. Mandatory Country of Origin labeling for beef and pork is being repealed despite massive consumer and farmer outcry about the importance of these labels for our everyday decision making. Unfortunately because these deals were made behind closed doors and Congress didn’t follow the normal appropriations process, our members of Congress will only get a single up or down vote on the entire 2,000-page bill that includes these and many other amendments that affect a whole range of issues. It’s likely that this bill will pass this week to avoid a government shutdown, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop working to protect your food and water. – F&WW

The mariner would like to add that the bill includes full funding of health care for first responders to 9/11 – a bill championed by Jon Stewart.

While on the topic of sustaining quality food and water sources, in a recent post, the mariner recommended viewing the series Breakthrough on the National Geographic channel. The most recent episode covered some of the new methods for extracting fresh water from many sources. It is an excellent review of an issue that is worldwide and growing worse as fresh water becomes scarcer. In a scant 100 years, human population will grow from 7 billion to 12 billion. Water ranks with climate change as a critical issue that transcends national differences. If you missed the show, it can be seen online at: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/breakthrough-series/episodes/water-apocalypse/

REFERENCE SECTION

There is an interest in further inquiry about Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth. The mariner strongly recommends acquiring a DVD copy of the Bill Moyers interview and to purchase Campbell’s lecture series either in DVD or book form.

Transformation (metamorphosis) of consciousness, requiring consciousness to let go of the body, is of particular interest. In the interviews, Campbell says that everything in our known world has duality – an opposite value. For example, birth and death, consciousness and unconsciousness, physical and metaphysical, good and evil, before and after, etc. Transformation requires the separation of consciousness from the physical self. Transformation lifts consciousness into a unilateral existence where duality does not exist.

Mariner asked readers to identify the role of a few animals in mythology:

In Europe, the dragon – In many western myths, serpents and dragons are conflated into fearsome figures of evil that must be slain by heroes.

In Asia, the dragon – Dragons represent good things, good fortune and power. Only the Emperor could wear the golden five-toed dragon.

Lakota tribe (North America), the bison – Bison represented the source of the way of life for the plains Indians.

In China, the boar – The boar represents wealth and good fortune.

Celts in Britain, the boar – Boars were a symbol of courage in battle.

Ancient Mariner

Mother Earth

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The mariner came across this news item:

“Prince Charles has spoken exclusively to Sky News about his ongoing concerns about climate change, saying he believes there are links to the current refugee crisis and terrorism.

In his only interview ahead of COP21, the UN’s climate summit which opens next Monday, the Prince of Wales suggested that environmental issues may have been one of the root causes of the problems in Syria.

He said: “We’re seeing a classic case of not dealing with the problem, because, I mean, it sounds awful to say, but some of us were saying 20 years ago that if we didn’t tackle these issues, you would see ever greater conflict over scarce resources and ever greater difficulties over drought, and the accumulating effect of climate change, which means that people have to move.

“And, in fact, there’s very good evidence indeed that one of the major reasons for this horror in Syria, funnily enough, was a drought that lasted for about five or six years, which meant that huge numbers of people in the end had to leave the land.”

During the fourth millennium BC, about six thousand years ago, the Middle East was the first area to practice widespread agriculture. Slowly, over many centuries, weather patterns changed leaving mountains and harsh, crusty soil. The term “Fertile Crescent” is no longer applicable. Several debilitating floods and droughts occurred over the centuries as well as numerous wars. Governments and economies became minimal.

Then, in the nineteenth and twentieth Centuries, oil became profitable and has since provided 95% of the economy in the Middle East; the region was overrun by Western entrepreneurs who established weak local governments supported by oil profits. After the First and Second World Wars, the Middle East finally established permanent boundaries between countries except during the six year war between Iraq and Iran – a war for regional supremacy rather than for territory.

All this time, the weather worsened, leaving little in the way of economic disparity – it was oil and not much else. One wonders whether Prince Charles has a point. In the US, California suffered a drought for five years. Prices of fresh produce rose significantly. More produce was flown in from South America. North America is fortunate that another warming phenomenon came along in the form of El Nino – at the cost of floods and damaging storms. Already, 2015 is the warmest year on record. It hasn’t been thousands of years but is weather shifting? El Nino is a specific event but how can we tell that weather a hundred years from now may not be conducive to record corn and wheat crops?

Further, as with more of the Earth than we realize, fresh water is disappearing. Scientists are working hard at new ways to produce fresh, clean water. There are a few commodities that are provided by the Earth and as such should not be owned by proprietary corporations: a clean atmosphere free of carcinogens and chemicals that disrupt the chemical balance of our atmosphere. Another is water itself; corporations should never own water rights, whether natural or reproduced. Finally, while this is indirect, diversity of life is another commodity. Wildlife and plants service our planet and in the process, service us as well. Elizabeth Kolbert in her book, The Sixth Extinction, proves that humans are ravaging the Earth’s living family far more destructively than any terrorist attack by ISIL.

Very slowly, earthquake by earthquake, volcano by volcano, and our human contribution, excessive Carbon, the weather is bound to change. It’s an experience similar to living a lifetime: one is young and suddenly, almost by surprise, we wake up one morning to know we are approaching the end. It is hard to focus on large planetary issues far beyond nationalism – but the time has arrived.

Ancient Mariner

It’s Time

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The most serious issue with Donald is not his bullish personality – a lot of that is for effect. It isn’t that he lies a lot – Brian Williams did, too, fortunately not when he was broadcasting the news. It isn’t Donald’s ego – although his ego is a candidate for the largest ego in the Guinness Book of Records. The most serious issue with Donald is his promotion of our base instincts: fear, prejudice, moral abuse, violence, and blatant favoritism – just to name a few.

At last, some voters have begun to recognize Donald’s dark side: a person with no scruples, no ethic, and no morality. He says it himself, “I don’t like to lose; I only win.” And we only will lose. One perceives that the Constitution, the Congress, the Supreme Court and the fifty States will temper his rash decisions. Even if that were so, our nation would throw away four years that are badly needed right now. If ever this country needed leadership, it’s needed now. The election in 2016 is far more important than a typical presidential election. The entire planet stands on the threshold of an unknown future. How we live together will be better or just as easily will be worse than we live together today. The world is shorthanded of forward looking statesmen.

Metaphorically, to walk amid the fallen US government is tantamount to walking through burning Atlanta during the Civil War. Federal and state governments are dysfunctional, crooked, and misanthropic. Do not discount this opinion because the reader suspects mariner may be speaking as Amos. Many wise authors and analysts from several lifestyles fear a misstep in handling the rapidly approaching issues of our future. One can imagine our current society looking like a bunch of loose dogs running about with no cohesive belief in who we are or what we stand for – future or past – and when we organize, we behave just like a pack of wild dogs.

There are some exciting frontiers waiting for us to implement them. The definition of work will begin morphing into something more pleasant if we just focused on that task. Freedom from 19th century ideas about travel, power grids, and food distribution is out there waiting for us to step forward. If we had the fortitude to make health and medicine functional at a fair price, millions of people may live better and have a dollar or two to spare instead of crashing into bankruptcy and despair. Restructuring the role of corporate profit and taxes on everyone will make untold wealth available for reshaping our future to be a pleasant experience.

The mariner is old enough to remember a better culture that existed before 1980. He misses that time. It wasn’t perfect, no culture is, but the nation defined itself by its common citizens. Comparatively, those were the good times.

The 2016 election is an historic moment in our history. Consider the ballot, from top to bottom, with one thought in mind: Will this public official lead us into a new era. If you have doubts, do not vote for that person.

Ancient Mariner

 

Joseph Campbell

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Mariner became aware of Joseph Campbell in 1988 when the anthropologist was interviewed by Bill Moyers on PBS television. During that series of six interviews, Campbell provided interpretations of religious and social behavior in a way that was new to the mariner – frankly, new to most viewers. Many of Campbell’s interpretations, derived from decades of researching primitive cultures, provide a logical overlay for many human behaviors that seem to be universal. Mariner will share a few insights here but no matter how much is written, one must see the video of the Bill Moyers interviews; it is a significant event even today, 26 years later.

The mariner feels a visit with Campbell will have a calming effect on readers today. The cacophony of conflict, fear, financial instability, endless war, and weakened control of everything leaves us emotionally fatigued and we see no relief in sight. Joseph Campbell speaks pleasantly, unhurriedly but takes his audience to the core of their being. Whether we feel out of control or not, Joseph Campbell says things will turn out fine if we pay attention to our myths. All over the world, humans have similar needs and responses to religion, inspiration, enlightenment, phases of growth from birth to death, and many instinctive patterns that we perform automatically. Campbell has delved deeply into our common need for myths. He is famous for his advice to “find a blissful place.”

Joseph Campbell’s description of spiritual release: One piece of conversation mariner enjoys is a description of the spiritual metamorphosis that must occur in Christianity. Campbell said that everyone focuses on the pain and suffering of Jesus on the cross. That’s not it, he says. As Jesus approaches the cross, he is released from the bondage of his body; the cross is life. The body remains in a world of sorrow and pain but the spirit has transformed and releases the shackles that bind the spirit to the body. (So simply put but so hard to achieve.) See the video that talks about metamorphosis: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=joseph+campbell&view=detail&&qpvt=joseph+campbell&mid=40F1EF7847A31D484ED340F1EF7847A31D484ED3&rvsmid=40F1EF7847A31D484ED340F1EF7847A31D484ED3#view=detail&mid=40F1EF7847A31D484ED340F1EF7847A31D484ED3

Another approach to the experience of metamorphosis is described in the myth of the young Indian boy captured by an enemy tribe. He will be sacrificed at the tribal altar. As the boy approaches the altar, he is singing and happy. This confuses the chiefs because everyone is cheering the boy. See Campbell’s explanation at: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Bill+Moyers+Joseph+Campbell&view=detail&&&mid=CD67110856225F7A474ACD67110856225F7A474A&rvsmid=CD67110856225F7A474ACD67110856225F7A474A#view=detail&mid=CD67110856225F7A474ACD67110856225F7A474A

Joseph Campbell’s approach to the experience of life: “Myth is a kind of scoreboard. The libido looks at the scoreboard and knows what the situation is.” He goes on to say a forty year old man is not afraid of a scolding by his mother; if he is, he hasn’t looked at the scoreboard – he hasn’t moved on. The same is true with an eighty year old man. He shouldn’t be looking back to see how he can improve his golf score; He’s already done that. At eighty, he has lived his life and should be at peace with himself, knowing he has accomplished the arc of life but still always looking forward with satisfaction.

Campbell was a consultant to the “Star Wars” trilogy. George Lucas wanted to use the power of myth in all of us as an enrichment of the series. One example is explained in a short clip from the movie. See:

http://www.savevid.com/video/joseph-campbell-and-the-power-of-myth-with-bill-moyers-star-wars-pbs.html

Joseph Campbell was prolific. There are many books by him that cover his insights more succinctly; there are dozens of free clips a search engine will find. His Bill Moyer interview and DVD lecture series is available inexpensively through the German search engine Stuccu: http://stuccu.com/s/Joseph+Campbell+Dvd-MbSLsTI-Buy-Exclusive-Deals-70-OFF-Save-Big-Lowest-Price-On-Joseph-Campbell-Dvd-Best-In-Stock-Fast-Free-Shipping?keyword=%2Bjoseph%20%2Bcampbell%20%2Bdvd&matchtype=b&querystring=dvd%20joseph%20campbell&netid=2&aaid=5553c17ab1b1c62d9040ccc0&oid=29335685738&caid=5553c17ab1b1c62d9040ccbe&device=c&msclkid={mscklid}

Official Joseph Campbell website: http://www.jcf.org/new/index.php

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/191743028404?item=191743028404&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true   The Power of Myth for $27.00

http://www.compare99.com/compare.html?q=joseph-campbell&ort=Joseph-Campbell-Sale&adid=iaCkp56s0qSXo8mPppKfo8PHz51YosyfraClmNHKkHSToNHEyJ2eWdSfypKnpofFy5KkcMs%3D&baa=J&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=J_3&utm_term=%2BJoseph%20%2BCampbell   Book versions of lectures for $12 to $20.

Complete DVD set of series on Amazon.com for $42.00

Individual DVD lectures on Amazon.com for $4 to $14.

REFERENCE SECTION

Joseph Campbell said, “Mythological images are the images by which the consciousness is put in touch with the unconscious.” To this point, he documented the use of animals in different myths. Below are a few animals used as mythic symbols. Using your own intuition, what representation do these animals provide? Example: the raven has a universal reputation for cunning; in Greece and China, the raven was a messenger between gods and humans.

In Europe, the dragon –

In Asia, the dragon –

Lakota tribe (North America), the bison –

In China, the boar –

Celts in Britain, the boar –

The United States uses many animals to represent a multitude of symbolic virtues. Name at least six animals, each from a different type of endeavor or belief; what does each represent? Mariner will help by naming two; what virtues do they represent? (this puzzle has an arbitrary air to it. Intuition may be more important than fact)

Elephant and donkey (or jackass) for political parties.

To record your answers, click “Leave a reply” at the bottom of this post. The mariner, too, will reply with answers to the first puzzle.

Ancient Mariner

Role Play on the Campaign Trail

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The mariner watches the Presidential campaign from dockside. He is not an active soldier day to day in the campaign skirmishes – although he is active in some important advocacy groups. All the candidates play one role or another as they seek any advantage to move ahead. Now, as months have passed, the mariner is reminded of role play that is similar to labor union negotiations.

In 1975, the mariner was fortunate to have the Maryland Secretary of Public Safety as a mentor. Mariner had the opportunity to attend a number of top notch training courses in management, systems development and labor negotiations. The labor negotiations class was sponsored by the American Arbitration Association in Washington D.C. The class of ten was divided into two teams, one representing management and one representing a labor union. Each team had separate instructors who taught the methods and strategies of labor negotiation. After a few days, it was time to negotiate.

Each team had been coached about the various roles that each team member played at the table. The chief negotiator was the only one who could commit to contract terms. His role was to be calm, self assured, but very direct in his comments. Another member was responsible for being the guy the other side could talk to and befriend – usually away from the table; another member played the role of a fact checker who kept the other side honest; then there was “Mad Dog.” Mad Dog had to show simplistic aggression, demanding concessions that were beyond what the team actually would accept. As a footnote, after six days, mariner’s team won the concession battle and had a good contract.

It was an interesting and intense experience. Everything we did, even in the evenings, was filmed to be used in a debrief session after the negotiation.

Mariner is reminded of that training as he watches the candidates. Guess who the Republican Mad Dog is…. His outlandish opinions and poor manners make the rest of the Republicans sound reasonable and urbane; Donald does a good job! On the Democrat side, Bernie is Mad Dog. He forces the dialogue to include progressive ideas that are so removed from the Republican dialogue they seem to be in a different language. However, Bernie’s unexpected influence in the democratic race has pulled Hillary to a more liberal platform. Bernie’s outlandish demands for a rebellion make Hillary’s comments more acceptable.

As to other team roles, one should watch the Republicans to see who emerges as chief negotiator. Will it be Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio? Some say Chris Christie has a chance although Chris is a better mad dog by nature. Jeb will be the fact checker; Lindsey Graham could be the nice guy everyone can talk to – if he makes the team.

There are only two team members on the Democratic side. Post Election, Martin O’Malley could play a role in the Administration. As mentioned, Bernie is the Mad Dog. Hillary has a lock on chief negotiator. It’s as if she is the CEO of management and no one has the authority to unseat her.

The only issue is that the candidates aren’t negotiating a labor contract; it’s dog eat dog.

People watching is fun.

Ancient Mariner