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With Love ...
Sexual Predators, Ethnic Discrimination and the New Age Movement
Tue, April 29, 2008 - 3:20 AM
www.wiserearth.org/forum/vi...302748393
Here's a topic I've been dealing with since having moved up to the San Francisco Bay area almost a year ago now ... it seems to me that the New Age Movement in the White community is primarily focused on so called "sacred" sex practices and being all over you with their desire to puppy pile and contact improv you. It also seems to me that the focus on these practices is actually a deterrant to people of color and in particular Native American and Black people from desiring to interact and integrate with these communities which as grown out of a direct result of the sexual abuses that were propogated upon us during slavery and the Native American genocide. The core wounds still have not been addressed and healed so why would we want to participate in such activities with these New Agers. I am the second black woman to be admitted as a Harbin Hot Spring (www.Harbin.org) resident and I am seeing this very senario being played out in this self proclaimed advanced consciousness community. The White man intended to move into Lake County to create all White communities and in fact passed a law to legally exterminate all Native Americans in the area. Seems to me that they've achieved their goal. But to what end I ask? To start a sex camps and tantric playgrounds for White people who still feel disconnected and can't seem to find a meaningful expression of their second chakra energies. What are we supposed to do feel sorry for them?
You want ethnic equality, let's start by having some basic respect and reverence for all sentient beings. Let's start by learning how to balance your own energy before you get involved with advanced sexual practices. Let's start by ceasing to prey on other people, places and things!
How's that for a discussion?
Peace be with you!
Heather Salmon
Tue, April 29, 2008 - 3:20 AM -
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24 Comments
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 4:22 AM
OMG that sounds CRAZY, like a sect, what a blasfemy... I read/heard from a friend, that the feminine energy are taken by men, cuz they know they need it, but they dont know how to get it INSIDE of themselves, so they "plug in" to others to feed of their energy, i.e. sexual energy vampires... This sounds similar... Im so sorry for all the abused victims in that sick charade. I hope they all find their way before they totally loose themselves in this. Love, Sunnely |
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Unsu...
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 7:40 AM
WOW!!!
Well written! I was actually wondering where you were with this considering your move to Harbin. This is something that I have noticed and have consciously veered away from that scene. I've never been contact-improvised. I do not have a problem with race or being a minority in this community, but occasionally I do see the huge lack of diversity when it comes to color. I have wondered why. I thought it might have something to do with not having relate-able figures in the New Age movement. I mean, when's the last time you saw an archangel being depicted as a black person? I haven't seen one. Just my opinion.
LOVE. |
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Unsu...
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 8:00 AM
Aho! ~ In the Spirit of Ishi ~
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 9:15 AM
How's that for a discussion?
yha rasta bhoom bha lha cjhapha ie jah yha mhon bynghee mhon aho |
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 12:11 PM
Okay, why is it like that?
It is very strange to hear something like that is happening, I see it like an escape from the reality or from the divine, it is not what I am teaching, it is also telling me that we have a long way to go, when we talk about being enlightened.
LOve and light Torben |
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 12:20 PM
VALUES
Yes, I think we have a long way to go and I think we're not going to get there until we identify that which we truly VALUE. If we state that value Peace, sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment then we have something to work towards. We can have real benchmarks to work towards and apply our creative second chakra energies to this end in a good and positive way. Right now I see this overly focusing on these practicies as basically just masterbating which gets you no where in terms of the creative process and manifesting the new way.
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 1:32 PM
I fully agree with you that there are abusive people in the "advanced consciousness" movement. I see that sexual abuses are almost always rooted in power differences, whether it is male over female, rich over poor, or Euro over Other. Given the use of rape in conflicts that are cultural and tribal rather than racial I'd lean towards identifying the problem as being a power inequity rather than racial, but in all other respects I think that you've correctly described a serious problem.
Respect for all sentient beings is at the core of the solution, to be sure. So is the need to address each individual as a potential ally instead of a potential enemy. That the Euro tribes that invaded this continent caused great suffering is without question. I feel that the healing that is needed must grow out of compassion for individuals. There must be an understanding of the past, but we must not be imprisoned by it. I'm not advocating complete and immediate trust, which would be foolish given the history. But I do believe that a bodhisatva knows no skin color, no language, no gender, and no religion. |
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 3:02 PM
Thank you for your comment Dr. Placebo. Firstly I like to think that we are all of one race the HUMAN RACE which is comprised of various Ethnicities.
Secondly, Ethnic cleansing and targeting various ethnicities is an issue of power based on one ethnicity's desire to supress another based on the color of their skin. Call it what you will this we have been targeted based on the color of our skin, texture of our hair, etc., etc., etc., ... There is beauty and vitality to be found in diversity and I believe there is corruption to be found in this movement to homogenize everyone. Hollywood programming does a good job of brainwashing everyone to think that they should loose their cultural identity and become a good comsumer and Oneness doesn't mean that we're all supposed to dress alike, act alike, be alike. Oneness is the coming together and working together by expressing our unique gifts and talents in an exalted and divine way. I think that along with enlightenment comes an appreciation of the uniqueness of all sentient beings, all the various aromas of flowers, all the different types of trees, all the different kinds of animals. We have much to learn from each other in a good way. To say that we should become blind to all of the subtle nuances of creation is to not appreciate creation itself. We are embodied into the physical so that we can really learn to respect and appreciate this. When you go back to being a speck of Light I'm sure that you'll understand! |
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 3:28 PM
YOU rock!
as queer latino u hit the nail on the head thank u for this very inportant work! be well happy beltan!
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 6:13 PM
Truth of conviction.
Truth of Conviction.
why does a person truly do what they do? A Spiritual Liberation Movement, tends to start from the most truthful of origins. People truly believing in something and trying to manifest it: Truth Honestly Loyalty Purity Tolerance Openness Morality Valor Inspiration Manifestation Light One The originators are the birthers of the infant energy... And its beginning infancy is something that they can truly cherish, For they were there when it was intimate and freshly newborn. But it grows with time as more people find out about it. It becomes “The In Thing", the underground coolness… ~ A thing so hip, that the hippest of the hippest had a funeral party for it last week because they knew it would soon be hip, thus the scene at some point would be played out, tired and full of posers knowing lingo ~ At which time the pretenders, parasites, predators all start to filter in… Some seeking love and acceptance, coming from a lack of … (all quite frankly if you get into the true truth of origin) Some seeking to leach off the energy Others seeking to manipulate it for their own dark ends. Those slinking and sliming through the shadow fringes, Those who do not have the Truth of Conviction, Of what the movement originally meant. Those who learned the lingo and put on the pretty faces of acceptance To pray on the unknowing, innocent or unwary. Particularly if the Movement in anyway contains sexual openness. “I’m Tantric” “I do Tantric Massage” “I know all the Chakra Manipulation” “I’m Sexually Liberal” “I’m Poly” “I just want to share energy with you” My father was a swinger and a nudist in the 60-70’s He and his friends pretty much started all the nude beaches in Northern California. They were going before anyone else was. They knew a good deal of the farmers, who’s land you used to have to cross, to get to the beaches. So as a child I spent time between my conservative Mother in rainy, dreary Oregon. And Sunny Summers with my Father and Aunt #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, etc At nudist colonies and beaches. I remember how it used to be and how it is now. I remember how my father used to be and how he is now. I remember the original Punk/Goth/Industrial scenes and how they are now I remember the original Rave scene and how it is now I do not know the Burning Man scene, but I do know many who were the originators of it. How Christianity began and how Right Wing Conservatism is now. How Islam began and how Fundamentalist Islamic Extremism is now. How Nature Worship of the Earth began and how it is now. How it was then and how it is now… Something which started in the purity of its original manifestation; To what it was eventually twisted and mutated to, Due to the machinations of others who are of a more petty nature and base instinct. The truth of this reality and Earth Karma Existence. I love sex, I love women, I love sexual liberal women, And I love women who are not. I am liberal, honest and open I am grateful to the Universe for all it has blessed me with I ask for nothing more… I tend to not seek what I do not have And am very appreciative for what I am given. Both the feast and the famine. And if the Universe sees fit to bless me with a beautiful woman (or 2 or 3) in my life at one time. Then I am again grateful to the Universe for blessing me so. And do so honestly and openly, with Truth of Conviction. I do not put energy into finding a woman, so if one appears then I know the Universe is involved. I do not pray upon, stalk, track or chase women for my sexual gratification. I have no need… I’ve had times in my life where I’ve had more women that I could possibly deal with, ~ All who knew each other ~ And I’ve had years with no women in them at all ~ at least of a physical intimate nature ~ I once engaged in sexual adventures twelve times in one day with one woman. I once kissed a woman for twelve hours with no sex involved. I once had five women in my bed I’ve had seven threesomes in my life… I do not say these to brag.. I just state them as honest truth… I was not the orchestrator of any of them… The Universe just put me at the right place at the right time, so to speak. I have had many special women, friend partners in my life at once. And I have an times have only had one… And I’ve also had none. All are blessings that I am eternally grateful for… For I have been blessed intimately more times over than anyone really has a right… So In that endeavor alone I have been greatly blessed in my life. And if it was to never happen again I would still count myself a very blessed man. For many people never have anyone at all… So for me it’s the intent. The Truth of Conviction If you are “Sexually Liberal and Open” Then why truly are you? Is it because you are truly present in that space and energy, Truly honoring your partner(s) and yourself? Or are you their for your own sexual gratification and release. So I completely agree with you Heather about Harbin and many places like them. I know how they used to be – at least from a child’s perspective, And how I feel they are now. How I remember the people as being… And the energies I’ve gotten from people are now… I am truly liberal and enjoy being in spaces like that from time to time. With truly open, honest people – sexually liberal or not. I also know when the energy of a predator or parasite intrudes… I sense them a surely as a warrior senses a threat. And they truly taint the experience. I’ve been to Harbin a few times now, Both times with women of color, And each time some “Spiritually Aware, Tantrically Expressive, Sexual Open” guy thought it would be ok to intrude into private conversations and space I was sharing with the woman I was there with. I have no ownership issues. If the women I had been with had really wanted to go off and be with the guy Then so be it… Is what it is… I do not own a woman anymore so that she would own me. But they didn’t and weren’t interested in the upstart male’s energy at all… And thus why we eventually sojourned back to our room… I have to wonder if the “Spiritually Aware, Tantrically Expressive, Sexual Open” guys, Who had reached the upper echelons of spiritually evolution enough to control their ejaculate – or at least enough to know the terminology and buzz words – had thought of one of the main tenants which is the foundations of all Spiritual Teachings… ~Respect~ Respect for others As you would respect yourself ~ ah, but then they most likely did show a similar level of respect. ~ Respect for the fact that the women were there with me Respect for the fact that we were having private conversation, ~ Which didn’t involve them or their throbbing cocks for the lady I was with ~ If they were so Spiritually Aware and interested in just Sharing Energy… Then why did they try and exclude me from the conversation? Why did they focus all their energy on the woman I was with? ~ Their dark tan/brown breasts floating in the water ~ ~ With other sensual delights just in view below the water ~ The Hypocrisy of parasites and predators People without Truth of Conviction. And how even the once liberal progressive thinkers can change as well… What they were and what they are now… My Father The one time liberal man who dated many women of many nationalities… And indulger of the free love movement – though not politically active… “Hip” in his early adoption of friend of many nationalities…. A man who in the end wore the faces of the scene to fit in, And used it to fulfill his needs. Now a racial reactionary, isolationist, bigoted embittered man… Who along with my stepmother, do not believe they are racists, Because they “still have some friends who happen to be Black and Mexican”. “When are you going to date a white woman?” “You wouldn’t have these issues if you had dated a white woman.” “It would be much easier if you just started dating white women.” “we’re only telling you this because we love and worry about you” They believe Mexicans and Blacks are ruining this country.. (Asians, Indians, Soviets, (list goes on and on and on)) They support the Minutemen… Live in Arizona, with talks of having to defend their land from the Mexicans. How the Blacks vote for Obama because they want a hand out… People who per political plan lay their resentful focus on their fellow man, Rather than focusing on the Capitalistic, Militaristic ruling Corruptions, Which pit us against each other… Hmm.. Didn’t Orwell Speak of this? Sounds a lot like what you’re having to deal with… People who perhaps used to be liberal, but were most likely the fringe of the early scene, And not of those who originated it… And thus they can think themselves Spiritually Open and Liberal.. Because they lay around in nude group fondle hugs, talking of Tantra and Chakra, While at the same time being bigoted in their racial ignorance, segregated isolationism. To me… I’m so over the racial issue… I love women of color and have no problem of expressing it… I love African Women of Color I love Black Women of Color I love Asian Women of Color I love Latin Women of Color I love ALL Women of Color And I of course love White Women of Color… ~ especially with a nice tan ~ But what the fuck is white anyway… Fill in the Latin American Bubble if your Mexican Fill in the White Bubble if your from Spain… ??? White… White is the absence of all color… Sorry I have color and we all bleed red. I’m not White I am not some recently coined term to define my lineage. To distinguish “what I am” on some some bureaucratic form… I’m fucking CELTIC!!! One of the oldest known races on this planet.. Irish Celtic, Gaelic, Gaulic… And regardless of race we all stem from a common ancestor… Like it or not, Believe it or not… So it’s not race… It’s not sexual liberalism It’s not Spiritual belief … It’s the Truth of Conviction.. Why does someone do what they do… This believe we have that, things from this column are good behaviors And things from this column are bad… Someone can still deceitfully or ignorantly be performing good deeds and behaviors, For the wrong reasons. If I somehow say and do all the right things and say all the right words, ~using my most gentlest of mannerism – and Buddha like voice ~ That I am somehow spiritual, evolved and aware… Pure in my energy… A true light spirit… When in fact I’m just an ignorant hypocrite. In truth, when you take it to the core it is very Black and White… You’re either doing something because you truly are something, Honestly being what you are, Or you’re doing it to try an be something you’re not or to gain something you want… Truth of Conviction. Labels, by design, are the things which divide us … Set us apart. If you are of that label, you cannot be of me as I do not have that label… We are the Patriots, They are the Enemy I do not despise or hate any man, woman, child, group or culture based upon any quantifiable label or classification, other than perhaps having an aversion to people who are…. Ignorant Hateful Intolerant Deceitful Malicious Abusively Violent Sexually Predatorial Traits which exist in all races, dogmas, creed and credos… And though I understand my initial reaction to these are ones of Anger, Rage and Frustration… My longer term understanding is one of compassion.. Compassion for all people who are lost… Lost in their Karma… Afraid and scared… Some ignorantly so… Looking for reason for their fear and dread… Lack of love and security… People who need to place that blame on others… Rather than finding the cure and liberation within themselves. The sadness being that many never will in this lifetime.. And the cycle will go on and on and on and on.. As it always has And most likely always will. Till this Universe collapses… And rebirths again in another fiery explosion. And the process will yet renew again.. So I continue to endeavor to live with Truth of Conviction. Following the path laid out before me… Keeping aware, awake and open to the messages the Universe sends me. I graciously welcome those of common vibration who enter my life. And do my best not to get bogged down in the diluted energies of ignorant people. Accepting my insecurities and shortcomings As I accept them in others. Knowing that in this space I will primarily attract only those of like energy, mind and spirit. Hugs… Namaste ~j |
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Tue, April 29, 2008 - 6:15 PM
you may find this interesting - Tim's pretty fierce - youtube.com/watch what's all that? - unchecked baggage! |
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Wed, April 30, 2008 - 12:02 PM
I LOVE YOU!!!
"Let's start by learning how to balance your own energy before you get involved with advanced sexual practices. Let's start by ceasing to prey on other people, places and things! "
You TOTALLY rock. I had no idea how deeply *true* and *awake* you are until now. I have had a hard time finding others who understand this point of view and have not until now found anyone even willing to preach about this point of view (besides myself). Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Blessed be, my sister. xoxoxo ~Heather Rouge |
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Wed, April 30, 2008 - 3:26 PM
edited addtion , first post not corrected please delite
Im sorry sister I have to call you on this one, there is no such thing as a white New Age movement, yes it is predominantly white in most areas of the nation, but in every community I have ever been in racial openness has always been a part of the movement core belief system, blacks, Asians, Latin Americans, have all had equal voice in participation and leadership positions.
Now as to sex, drugs and transan roll, well guilty as charged, perhaps new agers trying to put a spiritual face on these things that have plague every culture is a new twist, indeed the only thing that's different from culture to culture is its music LOL. So whether by denial or being open with these pleasure pursuing items they exist in some form or another in every culture. That people in the new age movement, are blaming past live connections as their excuse for cheating on one another, or instead of saying they're horny, pretend to be tantric adepts, well what else is new! Everybody’s got an excuse for their poor behavior everybody does can justify their addiction. in spite of this there are genuine spiritual people on a sacred path who properly work with their sexuality, just like there are genuine spiritual people in every religion in spite of the atrocities and hypocrisy of the majority of the people in that religion. So I do not feel this post is a valid reflection of the deep wisdom you so eloquently carry, but coming from some hurt place, that need compassionate forgiveness to wash away the energy behind the post. I stand with you in prayer to the grace will come that all that you do will be borne out of the creative love, and awesome hope your soul carries for the world. I love you enough to say these uncomfortable words but, we need your radiant light in this world Yosef |
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Wed, April 30, 2008 - 4:03 PM
i think it is well said, i think it is your experience, and since its an editorial, i think it is really a great topic that needs discussing.Obviously it has hit a note on mnay levels with many.I can say that ive been to harbin, with my kids at that, and the first thing my daughter said to me was.... where are the black people?By coincidence while we were there my son who has autism, was a bit loud in the big pool, and we were asked to leave. I think the idea is is that there cant be this contradiction.You cant preach being so open and balanced and filled with whatevah,and then discriminate against people.And the fact that it has gone on and it is prevalent, it should be assigned some energy by the so called Administration of a place that is supposedly trying to set a standard for acceptance and tolerance and loving one another and self.Instead of kinda pretending it doesnt exist.
my .02 |
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Wed, April 30, 2008 - 5:50 PM
Dear Yosef,
Perhaps you haven't traveled or spent time in this San Francisco Bay area which is the hub for organizations and new age thinkers. This is why I moved to this area so that I could collaborate and participate. I have lived in many places including Toronto, Canada; Madrid, Spain; Baltimore, Maryland; New York, New York; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Los Angeles, California ... and I come from a politically active family that were involved in the Civil Rights movement and then went on to hold a vision and values of what a multicultually diverse community could look and be like ... and I'm proud to say that I was part of this process in which resulted in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I am also proud to say that I'm involved with the Pachamama Alliance and the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium and our membership recognized are present to WITHOUT A DOUBT the issues of Ethinic Discrimination and White Supremacy in this movement. They are profoundly aware of their "Whiteness" and lack of diversity in their organizations and endeavors and they are profoundly aware that many people based on their ethnicity are being targeted, ignored and at great risk of being left behind. In their awareness of being an virtually all White initiative, they invited me in and trained me to be a facilitator of this work and ASKED me what my perspective and analysis of this growing problem is ... SOCIAL JUSTICE ... and this post is part of my response to them. They are looking to get REAL and HEAL! They know that we are all interconnected and that we ALL need Change our Dreams because what we're currently doing is totally UNSUSTAINABLE. It is so unsustainable that we are close to making it uninhabitable for us to live here like this for very much longer. So they want to know the truth as to why we're (people of "color") not wanting to hang out with them and work with them and VOILA ... I'm telling you. I'm part White myself, my grandmother was Celtic and I have blonde hair blue eyed first cousins who I love very much. You want to create peace on this planet then you may have to change some of your ways. We don't know what to change if we can't identify it. It's no judgement really ... simple keniesology will tell you if your behaviors and social patterns are life affirming or toxic! This is what is playing out here where I'm living that that's what I'm identifying! With love! Heather |
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Wed, April 30, 2008 - 9:16 PM
Up for healing
Thank you ~M1chael for the YouTube videos on White Supremacy/Privilege and Institutional Racism in America. For anyone serious about healing issues of social justice and ethnic equality this is some good research material.
Good material for everyone to see. From the DVD: www.MediaEd.org The Pathology of Privilege Racism, White Denial & the Costs of Inequality For years, acclaimed author and speaker Tim Wise has been electrifying audiences on the college lecture circuit with his deeply personal take on whiteness and white privilege. In this spellbinding lecture, the author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son offers a unique, inside-out view of race and racism in America. Expertly overcoming the defensiveness that often surrounds these issues, Wise provides a non-confrontational explanation of white privilege and the damage it does not only to people of color, but to white people as well. This is an invaluable classroom resource: an ideal introduction to the social construction of racial identities, and a critical new tool for exploring the often invoked - but seldom explained - concept of white privilege. Tom Wise: on White Privilege youtube.com/watch www.youtube.com/watch TIm Wise: Institutionalized Racism in America is Real www.youtube.com/watch And thank you everyone for your comments, insights and testimonial. Social Justice is a sensitive issue for us to talk about. But it must be healed if we are to have Peace on the planet. Think about it, do you think that there could ever be peace if some people are hungry and we don't have healthy sustainable systems for everyone? I'm not saying that "sacred sex" is bad, I'm saying that we could perhaps benefit from focusing this energy for healing our collective and planetary crisis in a really powerful way. To engage in practices that are disenfranchising is dangerous and distracting at this time. I realize that everyone just wants to be loved and fulfilled so yes, lets create true fulfillment in a respectful, regenerative and sustaining way. Some say that it may already be too late. We are in a Sixth Mass Extinction Event!!! We're not going to change things with the same consciousness that created it so let's focus our spiritual energy in a good, positive and productive way for the Highest Good of ALL!!! It's time to get some TRACTION. |
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Wed, April 30, 2008 - 9:47 PM
By the way Yosef, I didn't say the "White New Age Movement" meaning the this evolutionary process is only envolving White people ... I am referring to trends I see in the White Community who are involved with the New Age Movement!
If you have examples of self sustaining communities that are multiculturally diverse I'd love to hear about them ... names, websites, contacts! Please!!! An article you might be interested in is ... Vanity Fair: The Unbearable Whiteness Of Green Huffington Post May 17, 2007 by Van Jones Once again this year, the spring season brought a flood of green- themed magazines to super-market checkout stands and airport news racks all across the country. And once again, the faces of non-white and non-affluent Americans were almost entirely missing. Our new environmental movement is rapidly gaining visibility and momentum. That is VERY good news. Life-or-death ecological issues finally are starting to get the attention they so urgently deserve. And we can all celebrate that. But now we would be wise to start paying closer attention to the KIND of coverage that we as environmentalists are getting. Because I see a disturbing pattern of exclusivity that is starting to set in. And that kind of elitism can sow the seeds for a very dangerous, populist backlash, down the line. To see what I mean, just flip through the pages of Vanity Fair's recent green issue (the one with Leo DiCaprio and that cute polar bear cub on the cover). Vanity Not Fair: Where are Americans of Color? Now, count the non-white Americans in the whole magazine. Okay. Now try to find the working-class environmentalists, the ones trying to protect their kids from pollution at the fence-line? Go ahead. Keep looking. See what I mean? I am sure that Vanity Fair and the others mean well. But nobody is doing our new green movement any favors by continually portraying it solely as the playground of a white, affluent "eco-elite." To turn this country around environmentally, we are going to need super-majorities in every demographic group. It would be easy for green proponents to get cocky and be over- confident now. It would be easy to say, "Why bother working for race and class diversity, when the environmental movement is growing faster now than at any time in its history?" Such misguided thinking would be trading short-term gain for long- term pain. This year - right now - is precisely the smart time to start worrying about a future anti-green backlash. If we let our movement be portrayed as solely a "white thing," it will be easier for demagogues to forge an alliance between polluters and the poor -- to derail our success. Do you think I am being paranoid? Well, then please heed a cautionary lesson from California, the supposed leader in all things green. California Provides Cautionary Tale to Eco-Elite Everyone loves to brag on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing our global warming legislation. But nobody talks about the fact that a few months earlier, the majority of California voters here REJECTED a clean energy ballot measure. That's right. Elected officialdom might be willing to take major green steps. But six months ago, when Californians got to speak up in the ballot booth, ordinary people said no. It is important that we study this defeat - and pull out the lessons going forward. The idea for Prop 87 was brilliant in its simplicity: California would start taxing the oil and gas that we extract from our soil and shores. And those dollars would go into a huge, "clean- energy" research and technology fund. Many states and nations have similar excise taxes. But California would have been alone in dedicating the revenues to inventing alternatives to carbon-based energy sources. Had it passed, money from oil would have been used to find a replacement for oil. It was a brilliant idea. And at first, the measure was polling off the charts. Silicon Valley and Hollywood put $40 million on the table to ensure the measure passed. Al Gore and Bill Clinton campaigned for it. Victory was certain. The Polluters Will Organize Everyone We Exclude But in the end, Californians voted the measure down. Why? Because big oil convinced ordinary Californians that the price tag for them would be too high for them to bear. The oil and gas industry warned that the tax would be passed along to consumers -pushing gas and home fuel costs through the roof and hurting the poorest Californians. It was a predictable line of attack. It was also a false argument. Our local oil and gas prices are fundamentally set by the huge, global energy market. A teeny local excise tax in one state, in one country, would have had a miniscule or negligible impact on California consumers. And to the contrary, the benefits of a shift to cleaner energy would have HELPED the poorest in the state - significantly improving both their health and their wealth. For one thing, disproportionate numbers of low-income people live near oil refineries and other sources of dirty-energy pollution. As a result, they suffer from higher rates of cancer, asthma and other illnesses. Largely uninsured, they then pay through the nose for inferior medical care. In other words, the dirty energy economy is literally killing poor people. A switch to cleaner energy could save untold lives. Beyond that, a clean-energy economy actually is more labor intensive - meaning, it creates more jobs. After all, somebody has to install and maintain all those solar panels, build all the wind farms, construct the wave farms, weatherize those millions of homes and office buildings. Not Making Eco-Populist Arguments Hurt Us So there was a strong, eco-populist argument to be made for Prop 87. Switching to clean energy would have cost individual Californians little - but given working people improved health and better jobs. But the campaign, led by the eco-elite, did not make these arguments with any force. Instead, Prop 87 commercials yammered on about "energy independence" - which polling firms said was the best message. Maybe so. But in some demographics, people needed that message to be bolstered by some reassurance on the kitchen table issues. And it never was. Seeing the obvious opening, the polluters pounced. Big oil ran full- page ads in practically every African-American newspaper in the state. The ads showed a Black mom looking aghast at fuel prices while she tried to fill up her car. An NAACP official vocally opposed the measure, fearing economic damage to her constituency. And the scare tactics didn't alarm only black Californians. Across the state, the initially sky-high poll numbers for the initiative proved surprisingly fragile. The support for the measure was completely hollow. And in the end, the biggest clean-energy ballot measure in the country went down to defeat - in California! The Eco-Elite Cannot Win By Itself The defeat of Prop 87 should sound a clear warning for all of us in the effort to birth a green, post-carbon economy. The eco-elite cannot win major change alone, not even in the golden state. To change our laws and culture, the green movement must attract and include the majority of ALL people, not just the majority of affluent people. We must make it plain to the country that we envision a clean-energy future in which everyone has a place - and a stake. One way to do that is to speak to the economic and health opportunities that "ecological" solutions will also provide. Another way is to always show the many, many people of color and working- class Americans who are actively engaged in environmental struggles. Fortunately, the country has an abundance of such heroes or she-roes. But if nearly every special "green" issue excludes them, we are essentially handing millions and millions of people over to the polluters. We are essentially saying to big oil: "Please organize all of these people against everything green. Thanks!" The nation has already passed a certain tipping point in eco- consciousness. But we should never underestimate the danger of a major backlash. We can easily head one off, just by making sure that "green" incudes all colors. |
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Thu, May 1, 2008 - 5:06 AM
Not to surprise that the same dynamics played out in the larger society play out in New Age communities. If anything, I would expect it to be worse there since New Age practices seem to borrow somewhat shamelessly from the spiritual beliefs of indigenous peoples. I remember speaking to one Native American woman who was defensive about my interest in her artwork because most *whites* who show such interest don't have very good intentions.
Instead of stealing from other cultures shamelessly, without any real understanding of the context from which the items of interest originate in, I think it would be better to go to the source. Not being relic hunters stealing bits of other's cultures (thus losing their meaning). |
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Thu, May 1, 2008 - 12:55 PM
Good point John. It is very disconcerting to see a community which has taken such practices as sweat lodges, drum circles, kirtans and ethnic dancing and has only White people facilititing them and no people of their origins around or involved.
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Thu, May 1, 2008 - 4:11 PM
LOVE HAS NO BORDERS
.. yet is not easy being the outsider if u are poor, ETHNIC,ill, ah queer woman,a colered man,..sorry just being born white, makes u not have the same problems and world veiws as homeless cheese tranny or young butch lesbain from iran.... yet it so easy to TAKE from these cultures and not really know the pain and tradions behind the REAL DEAL.... i live closed to a zuni reservation, where the pagans had almost nothing to do with the natives there, yet they used all this new age southwest made up hoodoo uooHA stuff, THE WHITE PEOPLE NEVER SAW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AS ODD! eye see all people as the wonderfuel... just know and give love
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Unsu...
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Thu, May 1, 2008 - 6:49 PM
Although this is a very serious topic it really hit my funny bone
because we were discussing something on one of your earlier blogs about being a Proud Canadian. In one of my sentences I used the prefix "poly" because being a thesaurus minded person I had already used its synonym "multi". Then your response was similar to the content of this blog and you mentioned something about "polyamory". Well, I'm embarrassed that I didn't even know what that meant and I had to look it up! Well for the record I'm definitely not 'bout dat!! I've been in a monogamous relationship with my glorious partner (Nikoluna in my friends) for nearly 20 years!
This thread has certainly been an education for me in any case. This pot definitely needed to be stirred and brought to the surface a deep infected wound that must be healed. Thank you Heather for this courageous agitating post and everybody else for your equally valid insights. |
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Thu, May 1, 2008 - 10:40 PM
Ex. Social Injustice
Median pre-tax household income $49,158(2001) vs $48,201 (2008)
-decrease for African American households under Bush $2,766 - decrease for Asian American households under Bush $1,381 - decrease for Hispanic households under Bush $1,043 - decrease for white households under Bush $745 |
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Thu, May 1, 2008 - 10:45 PM
for the source of the above statistics see ...
people.tribe.net/heatherls...91775a154f
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Thu, May 1, 2008 - 11:19 PM
Health: Rev. Jeremiah Wright is Right about how U.S. Government Uses Blacks for Medical Experiments, Including AIDS
from ...NaturalNews ...
You've heard all the fuss about Rev. Wright vs. Obama in the mainstream media, right? Well, did you know Rev. Wright is actually quite correct when he talks about the history of blacks being used for medical experimentation by the U.S. government? I know this isn't a happy subject, but the truth is that blacks are still being exploited by the cancer industry, which aims to keep black men and women ignorant of simple, low-cost prevention strategies for breast cancer and prostate cancer. And today, I've posted a feature story that dares to tell the truth about the cancer industry and the exploitation of blacks by Big Pharma and the medical establishment. Obama won't want to read this story, that's for sure... (see below) I've also posted a new podcast called The Racist Cancer Industry, Blacks and Chemical Enslavement. You'll find that here: www.naturalnews.com/Index-Podcasts.html www.naturalnews.com/Index-Podcasts.html Rev. Jeremiah Wright is Right about how U.S. Government Uses Blacks for Medical Experiments, Including AIDS www.naturalnews.com/023131.html www.naturalnews.com/023131.html |