Ugly Capitalism

Capitalism pits everyone against everyone else, in the quest for wellbeing, happiness, safety and a variety of other and similar private interests; ultimately inducing a blindness to the larger community and its needs, the needs of the poor (who are then labeled as "losers"), all the while diminishing critical elements of human nature: viz., altruism, sacrifice, and mercy. 

There is, of course, no "economic system" pure and blameless; where there is money, property, and capital, of any kind, there will be a race to grab as much as one can. In the very nature of any such race, some will, for a million different reasons, mostly the luck of the draw, end up with more, and it's the more that allows them to further game the system and tilt the board to again further their private interests, until we end up with the ugly 1% who dominate the game completely.

Yet, some systems mitigate the worst instincts of our reptilian brain, and I'd offer that democratic socialism is one such system, combining the strength of a healthy competition, the race to get somewhere, and the discipline of paying attention to the larger community and its needs, the common good, which may well require one to put a damper on private interests for the sake of the long-term wellbeing of the environment and society. 

My America

My America.
America, kind and generous.
Wise and wonderful.

From sea to shining sea.
Yes, more than our share of shit.
More than our share of sin.

But My America.
Something profoundly good in our DNA.
A nation of kindly people.

My America.
Dustbowl and Depression.
Immigrants and migrants.

People on the move.
Some said: Not here.
But others said, Welcome.

My America.
Boat people and refugees.
Charities and Churches.

Today, I celebrate My America.
A good nation.
A welcoming place.

No matter what, I will not forget.
My America.
Land of the free, home of the brave.

Sharon Stone Sued

Sharon Stone is being sued by 1000 Chinese and a New York attorny for an offhand (?) remark that China's recent earthquake was bad karma for China's stance on Tibet.

Her comments remind me of Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson who blamed Katrina on liberals. They also blamed 9/11 on gays and abortionists.

Fundamentalists are quick to take selected Old Testament passages and pull from them an application to suffering, always locating it in punishment for sin.

Of course, the sin is always "someone else's sin."

Whether it be a Buddhist or a Christian thing, it's just plain foolish to speculate on the mind of God in someone else's suffering.

There is, in most of us, I suppose, a superstitious notion that if our neighbor falls on hard times, they probably deserved it, but if hard times come our way, we're "innocent victims" of fate or someone else's cruelty.

When I teach on delicate and difficult issues, I remind the student, "speak softly on the things we're not sure about, but speak boldly on things we we know. And what we know is this: God is good all the time, and all the time God is good."

I know and trust mercy, grace, kindness and love.

And if there's suffering, what good does it do speculate on it's ontological origins - like, how many angels can dance on the head of a pain - a question that once occupied the minds of the best and the brightest?

If there's suffering, offer help and consolation.
If there's hurt and pain, provide healing and support.
Where there are tears, bring solace and the money and energy to rebuild.

Let God, or the gods, determine the more subtle pieces of the cosmic puzzle.
Our job is simply to be merciful to one another.