Homeless - 98

Happy Tuesday,

Odds and ends...

I've read that Ben Affleck and other celebrities are devoting some of their time to draw attention to the problem of poverty by existing on 1.50 a day. Admirable in the sense of focusing on an aspect of the human condition that wastes the human potential but fruitless in adequately addressing the problem. I imagine that their effort is similar to applying a band-aid to the wound of a decapitated human. The problem of poverty is a multi-sided issue where many solutions are needed to implement a successful eradication of that social condition.

It is an extremely low probability, given the current institutional elements, that poverty and homelessness will be erased from our society or any others' in the foreseeable future. And consider this: when humanity has the technology to populate other planets, will the political, economic and religious factions existing today be propagated to those places? You bet your ass they will. Think of the impoverished areas on our planet. Now think of entire planets existing within those degraded conditions due to previously mentioned factions of society. That condition needs to be repaired before we step off into new horizons.

Take a look at the timeline of poverty. Well, basically, that condition has been with us since day one. To choose an example among many, Christ said, from what I remember, that there will always be be poor and poverty among us. In my younger days, I had thought that Christ had said that from the perspective of prophecy. After all, he, as well as others like him, were quite formidable in addressing the non-linear aspects of the human spirit. Now, with the perspective of age and, much reading and experience, I'm seeing his statement in a different light. My current thought is that Christ made that statement from his viewpoint of knowing how the power of darkness of the human ego exerts over individuals' behaviour regardless of the spectrum of the the human population - rich man, poor man, doctor, lawyer or Indian chief - everybody has to fight it. Or in these days - politicians, corporate management, religious leaders, certain library management pricks and any other sector that comes to mind.

I must digress briefly at this moment to explain my perception of the human ego. I have been asked questions that can be grouped into the category of 'What the fuck does that mean?'.

To a large extent, the human ego, regardless of the social context, is shaped and molded by the forces of the environment that an individual inhabits. Freedom of choice - yeah, keep believing that illusion and avert thine eyes.

For me, there is an aspect of the human ego that enabled humanity to survive and grow throughout the ages to spread across the planet. The power of good is quite formidable: compassion, empathy, caring, helping, appreciation of life and others, selflessness, humility, etc.

The dark side of the ego is just as formidable: envy, greed, intolerance, callousness, disregard of the welfare of fellow humans now and future generations, domination through economic, political and religious structures, etc. The list is quite long and varied.

It seems to me that some people recognize that the true conflict exists within themselves and strive to eradicate the darker side of ego that chains us all. Unfortunately, given the current state of global affairs, there ain't enough of us around and in positions of authority.

Moving on...

A few nights ago, I did something I've never done before. No, not that, the other thing. I was younger and in love with two women who were adept at photography and very flexible...never mind. I awoke at 3:51 AM. At least, that is what BT's clock displayed. Both of my feet were  in an inordinate amount of distress. Yeah, the first time that happened. Usually, its one foot or the other. I tried the meditation thing that had been somewhat successful in the past but not this time. No, I'm not a Jedi yet; haven't learned to let go.

So I ate a small amount of nuts and raisins, downed several gulps of water, took a large shot of whisky, took 500mg of aspirin, downed some more water, ingested another small amount of nuts and took another shot of whiskey followed by several gulps of water. Let me tell you that the bite of whiskey early in the morning is quite jolting. At 4:21 AM the discomfort in my feet was gone. And yes, I was buzzed with no one around to BS with except Black Thunder. Rest assured, I didn't tell her anything that she didn't already know.

Yeah, seems that the medical condition is not improving

I'm used to employing joy juice as a party favor, not as a medicinal expedient In the old days, whiskey and its ilk were used in surgery as a numbing agent. That rotgut had to be especially ruinous, without ice and coke. Maybe that is why a lot of authors didn't reach old age. However, thanks to modern brewing technology, authors are living longer and producing more.  Or maybe its because you can detect the sweet, musky aroma of creativity that came from the bong sitting beside their whiskey.

There is a book that would do you good to read. Negatory, Heathcliff, not one of mine. This one was written by Steve Alten, titled The Shell Game. It is fiction but the book has a bibliography that serves as a solid foundation to the story line. It's about big oil, the 9/11 event, the Bush administration, political corruption and...well, a lot more. Well worth your time.

Next time...