San Bernardino.. a wildlife and criminal refuge

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:04:47 -0400

Recently, Arizona rancher Rob Krentz was killed by a criminal who entered and exited the United States on federal land through the San Bernardino Wildlife Refuge. This is one of the areas the Border Patrol has been unable to effectively monitor. In 2007, Rob and his wife wrote a letter to Members of Congress expressing concern over the criminal activity that was taking place in Wilderness areas along the border, writing that "we are in fear for our lives and safety and health of ourselves and that of our families and friends."

The DHS and Border Patrol are unable to monitor and protect these lands because our government owns them and because the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior administer them. Doesn't it seem absurd that the agency tasked to protect our land cannot do so because we, the people, own the land?

Pulp Fiction and shopping carts

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:01:47 -0500

I've never written for Salon before.. I’ve read a lot and commented (in praise and criticism.. I still love you Dave Sirota.. and no worries.. I have no idea what you look like.. nor care.. it’s your brain/heart that I love). But the thought of writing and posting to the world seemed so.. vain. It was another form of shyness.

But in my 40’s I’ve realized that the more I read and enjoy others musings, the more internalized I stayed. This is an imbalance that needed to be dealt with.

I tend to be succinct.. (I think). I try to be efficient. So although I don’t intend to write nearly the volumes I’ve read from others, I think a foray into putting down my thoughts in one place has become essential. It is the beginning of a new decade after all.

I recently read a piece in Yahoo about the Muslims and Christians burning each other’s houses.. sad and terrible.., but on the interesting side.. the Buzz.. because it’s rudely amusing. Yahoo Buzz is a far right group generally. Oh and it’s down south racist. That’s okay with me because I’m a NY Progressive.. neither Republican nor Democratic. Sorry to those who think the word is a description of a Liberal.. it’s not. (Yeah, because I say so). It is essentially those individuals who are Moderate of either party.. and throw in a couple of fake Libertarians to shake things up. You know.. those people that are deep down Republicans with attitude? I’m fascinated with Buzz the way I’m fascinated with all these places you can comment.. people saying things confidentially in these places that they’d never admit in the office.. such good nice people saying such mean things. And I read them.

And the thing about Buzz.. and Salon is that it brings up all these feelings and thoughts which instead of being overwhelming seem to cause a clarification of my delusion of a truth I never had.

So they were commenting back and forth.. those religiousity people buzzing down those who were sarcastically noting how it’s religion that causes the wars.. and buzzing up those that slammed the Muslims as the real war-mongers.

And all I thought was.. humans are just not that evolved not to fight regardless of the religion.. but wait.. there’s more! All of a sudden it occurred to me that all religions through a systematic manipulation promise freedom, yet provide oppression.. and I’m Roman Catholic! And then finally the kicker.. what I thought was my best new concept.. There are those that are curious and those who fear Chaos.. and they are Liberals and Conservatives.

I’ve been toying with the idea of Chaos for some time.. trying to wrap around how many levels it affects our lives. I believe it is the foundation of our misunderstanding of others. To understand how they embrace.. or fear Chaos is to understand the individual.

Do you remember Curious George? He was created in 1941. I’m not one to have time to do a research paper on it.. but there is a Zen to Curious George that depicts humanity’s internal struggle and fear of chaos. Hey, I’d probably criticize it in the release comments anyway. And fear is not a bad thing, it’s just a yin and yang thing.. which could be more religiousity.. I’m not sure yet.

A little later as I listened to music and appreciated art, I conceptualized that artistic expression was the best way to manage chaos. Did someone say that before?.. am I just growing up to understand a known truth? Hey, let me know!

And so finally how does this relate to Pulp Fiction and shopping carts?

Well not much really, because they are unrelated to each other.. but they are things that need a lot of work in our psyche.. I discovered Pulp Fiction was a catalyst for the religious right’s attack on abortion and the condition of shopping carts are a symptom on our deep down societal complacency.

And I was so compelled to write about them that it was the impetus to begin a Salon blog. But then had to rewind my thoughts to yesterday’s and now I’ve not gotten to them!

So I’ll save those discussions for later. Cheers.

Victoria Lord's Open Salon Blog

San Bernardino.. a wildlife and criminal refuge

Pulp Fiction and shopping carts