What follows is a stream of consciousness reflection that I wrote (the next day actually) while at work. On this particular day, a Saturday, I had gone into work around 1:00pm to make some extra money. At the time I was a supervisor in a market research call center, but since it was for extra cash I spent the shift on the phones. Doing market research surveys. If you don't know what that means, think telemarketing and you're close enough. This was jotted down between and during calls on the back of an extra timesheet I snagged.
The Way of the Circle (...a reflection)
It is obvious why the circle has such an important presence in the essence of Zen (Buddhism). The circle is undoubtedly the most powerful figure. To travel the circle, is to travel the way. To walk the way of the circle, is to walk firmly in the moment. There is no beginning. There is no end. There are no corners, no deviations. To walk the circle is to be concerned only with the journey itself; this is true walking. With only a fleeting aspiration to attain the emptiness inside.
This is a student in the way of Zen.
This is ignorance, ignorance is delusion,
but without delusion there can be no realization.
Delusion and realization are born to one another.
In this way, complements achieve (circular) non-duality.
This is the way of the student unto teacher.
(...Until he discovers that...)
In the case of the circle, form is emptiness and emptiness is form. This is the true way of things.
All things are no-thing(s).
All no(-)things are things.
All is one.
This is the way of the circle.
Poetry week was tired, so it took a long weekend vacation.
The inspiration for the next few pieces hail, quite evidently, from my pursuits into Eastern philosophy and spiritualism. My primary influences are Taoism and Zen Buddhism specifically, as those are the schools with which I have identified most closely and assimilate into my life and personal philosophy.
Also, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an incredible book that I consider a must read, if you haven't had the fortune to do so already. Although a recognized classic in it's own right, I feel this book is still highly underappreciated.
strange
how time it bends
the once invariable qualities of old friends
warm smile
upon unexpected visit
but when did our conversation turn so prerequisite?
different
but some things still the same
ever notice how we'd never call each other by name?
so different
but something still remains
a pale reflection on a dull window pane
Canoe, two paddles,
taken on water, on the water,
one seat unmeshed, torn,
and a spider's web woven deftly beside it
as if to compensate
thank you little spider
Today marks the beginning of poetry week here at the Domain of Heas. In an effort to make more regular updates, and make good on various promises, I will be posting a new poem or reflective piece each day for seven days.
Since anyone who ever puts pen to paper in the pursuit of poetry (sorry, I'm alliterate), inevitably speaks to nature I've decided to open with one of my first reflections on it.
This untitled (self-titled?) lyric was scribbled in a notebook while on "retreat" at my dad's old place, about 20 minutes out of Parry Sound. A beatifully modest house (built my dad's own carpenter hands) on a tiny lake and surrounded with trees, it was my personal paradise. I wrote this during a moment of sheer clarity while sitting on the docks and observing the beautiful order that lies beneath the random face of nature.
Ripple...
R i p p l e . . .
R i p p l e . . .
so busy
so efficient
so determined
carrying out some important work
unseen
unknown
except perhaps to your silent partner
glinting abstractly
amongst your organized procession
carrying on unyielding
so calm
so serene
as you march on without destination
Journey without beginning
Journey without end
Yesterday morning, only half-woken from my Canada Day slumber by my ever insistent alarm, I hazily pondered the ramifications of my new promotion...
Director of Ice Cream, Bell Canada
All the trappings of excitement were present, but slowly doubts began to creep in. My return to reality forcing me to wonder how, if I had only moments ago been offered the job, what am I doing in bed?... I think I'm in bed... How did I get here?... oh.... wait..... yeah.. I know what's going on here......
As Kaveh mentioned in comments to a previous post, I haven't really posted much in the way of personal stuff. I had been planning to, just hadn't got there yet. So without further adieu...
I hereby invite all of you to share in something that is a very important piece of my life.
What follows is a poem that captured my heart.
After reading it, I immediately sent it to somebody who had done the same.
Three years have since gone by, and the poem stands upon our wall as a solemn promise between two souls.
The Invitation
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
A Thai Buddhist monk shot dead last week had amassed a $7 million fortune in 12 bank accounts from years of extortion and was on a government blacklist of influential "mafia" figures, police said.
Investigators said the monk, Phra Kru Nanthapiwat, murdered execution style by an unidentified assailanton Tuesday, had been earning as much as one million baht ($32,700) a week by embezzling temple funds and running illegal motorcycle taxi gangs.
The tale of a felonious monk,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
Reuters, "Thai monk was millionaire: cops", 06/27/03
I must admit I was a little saddened to read about this.
Last week, seven Tibetan monks performed sacred dances at the University of Toronto. These are monks on tour, driving around North America to bring awareness to the story of Panchen Lama, the lost child of Tibet. They have already visited 35 states.
Panchen Lama is a 14-year-old boy being held prisoner by the Chinese in an unknown location. In 1995, the Dalai Lama recognized the 6-year-old Gedhun Choeki Nyima as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, and three days later the boy and his family disappeared. The previous incarnation had remained in Tibet, challenging Chinese authorities, until he died under mysterious circumstances in 1989. The Panchen Lama is one of the most important spiritual leaders for Tibetan Buddhists, and is second only to the Dalai Lama himself.
And so these seven monks have "endured greasy fast food and long drives on freeways as they criss-cross North America" trying to drum up support for the U.S. and Canada to pressure China into releasing the boy.
In their time in North America, the monks have come to savour road food.
"Personally, I find Burger King very delicious," said Lobsang Dhondup.
I've had a chance to take care of some housekeeping here in the Domain of Heas. The move over to Enetation Pro for the comments section is now complete; including the migration of old comments posted under the previous Document Root service (maybe now I can work on migrating comments for some other bloggers who I've pledged aid to).
Also, I have updated my CSS stylesheet for some aesthetic improvements. Gone is the ugly underlining of links, and back is the blue highlighting when hovering over links. Notice too that the color of my scrollbar (formerly Windows default grey) has also updated to match the color scheme-of-things. And I've added more emphasis to my signature quote.
Finally, I've updated my links section and suggest regular visits to all the sites on my roll. :)
Proud of my little tweaks and not afraid to say it,
A New Zealand handyman is building a cruise missile in his backyard, and posting the entire project on the internet.
Bruce Simpson, a 49 year-old internet developer and jet engine enthusiast, originally published a site in May of 2002 outlining "The Low Cost Cruise Missile: A looming threat?" wherein he highlights the potentially looming threat. The site details how one should be able to build a payload carrying cruise missile, with a range of 100-300 miles, for US$6,000 - US$10,000.
Bruce received a lot of feedback about his site:
Some time ago I wrote an article in which I suggested that it would not be difficult for terrorists to build their own relatively sophisticated cruise missiles using off-the-shelf components and materials.
Not surprisingly, that piece has produced a significant amount of feedback from the tens of thousands of people who have read it so far.
Included in this feedback, I've received quite a number of emails from former and currently serving US military personnel who acknowledge that the threat is one they are very much aware of and for which there is little in the way of an effective defense available.
However, there have also been a number of people who claim I'm overstating the case and that it's not possible to build a real cruise missile without access to sophisticated gear, specialist tools and information not readily available outside the military.
So, in order to prove my case, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and build a cruise missile in my own garage, on a budget of just US$5,000.
To this end, Bruce created a new site entitled "A DIY Cruise missile: Watch me build one for under $5,000". The site is updated regularly and contains lots of information that would be very helpful in undertaking such a project. Of course everyone wants to make a buck, so a "detailed level of documentation" is available to those who qualify and are willing to pay a small subscription fee for full access to the project diary.
"Look Ma!"
However, Mr. Simpson reminds us that:
Obviously the goal of this website is not to provide terrorists or other nefarious types with the plans for a working cruise missile but to prove the point that nations need to be prepared for this type of sophisticated attack from within their own borders.
I would also recommend visiting his FAQ for answers to such obvious questions as:
"Isn't this site just a resource for terrorists?"
"Why would they [terrorists] want to build one of those missiles?"
"How do we prevent terrorists from using this kind of stuff?"
and "How is a 10kg warhead going to do any serious damage?" (The answer is frightening indeed)Of course, his defense to all of this is that the information is widely available, saying "I'm not publicizing anything that's not already on the net". He is also quick to point out that terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda "have got far more resources, far more well-educated, qualified people than myself and if they wanted to do this, they would do it whether I published my site or not".
Mr Simpson says he has had 400,000 hits on his web site and calls from people in Lebanon and Iran wanting to buy his know-how.
"I have had emails from Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, quite a few places where one would suspect that it might not be a good idea to get involved."
Aside from the missiles low-cost and devastating potential, also frightening is the availability of the parts needed.
He has been able to buy online the electronic parts needed to guide the missile once fired, and import them.
Simpson is alarmed at the ease with which he was able to pursue his project.
"All this stuff is off the shelf," he said. "It came in under the radar. It rang no alarm bells."
Among the imported items are a radio control transmitter and flight pack, global positioning gear, antennas, software, video camera and a flight control system.
Simpson ordered them from overseas websites, they were delivered within two weeks, and passed through customs with ease.
He bought parts for the missile's body and wings - such as stainless steel, polystyrene sheets and fibreglass - locally.
NZ customs won't comment about Simpson's project, but say while many items that can be imported are innocuous by themselves, they can be dangerous if altered or used with other items.
Mr Simpson says there is little authorities can do to stop the spread of such information or the construction of similar missiles.
"Unfortunately, you take a kitchen knife, you can use it to butter bread or to stab someone with it. And we don't ban kitchen knives because they might be a weapon, and the same goes for the GPS and all the other systems involved in this cruise missile," he said.
The NZ Defence Department would not comment but one official told the New Zealand Herald Mr Simpson's web site could be violating the international Missile Technology Control Regime, under which New Zealand has agreed to restrict the availability of missile technology.
Simpson says that anyone with half a brain could build his Low-Cost Cruise Missile.
After much debate on Kaveh`s blog about comments, and much instability from the various comment hosting services, we have seen many changes throughout this little blogging community. Enetation`s instability had led to a great debate in which Document Root emerged as the winner, due to it`s unflinching reliability. Dave turned to Squawkbox, only to watch it go down the very next day. Kaveh switched to Document Root, which I have been using since this blog`s inception. I even went through and customized my Document Root comments page to match the color scheme and style of my main page on Friday. That night, Ol`Reliable Document Root went down... it`s now 3 days later and still no change, even their main site has disappeared.
So I`ve finally done it, I signed on at Enetation and plunked down US$14 for the "Pro" version. For this investment I get a "Seperate Server" which should apparently be like having my own dedicated commenting system, and should fix nearly all instability issues. I`m also treated to e-mail notification whenever new comments are posted, the ability to back up or export the comments for safekeeping, no enetation ad, guaranteed commenting system for the next 12 months, and first cracks at all code improvements. Not only that, but I get the satisfaction of knowing that I have contributed to keeping enetation alive and well with my donation.
I can only hope that Document Root will come back online soon, so that I can retrieve the lost comments and re-post them into the new system. If not, I`m afraid they are lost forever.
Anyways, I`ve done my best to customize the comments script to match the tone and flavour of the blog.
With the premiere of Canadian Idol last night, I thought it was only appropriate to talk about something I've had on my mind for awhile: American Idol and American Ideals.
America's favourite television show (franchise!) is very revealing of the state of America and it's grotesque consumerism. Of course, we Canadians are hardly excluded from the world of capitalist markets, (although we're always quick to point out how at least we're not as bad as those 'Mericans) so it was only a matter of time before we began our own worship of false Idols.
While the show stands on the pretense of discovering the next generation of musical talent, Jim Washburn (MSNBC) puts it best with the following analogy:
Have you been to a Disney park in the last decade or so? When you buy an overpriced soft drink or burger, the containers picture Mickey giving you positive reinforcements, like "Mmmm, this sure is delicious!" You certainly can't be trusted to decide that for yourself. The singing aside, "Idol" is basically nothing but a shamelessly self-congratulatory container, endlessly hyping you on what an unbelievably awesome phenomenon you're lucky enough to be seeing.
The show is a perpetual motion machine of gross commercialism. This bloated juggernaut of advertising has occupied hour-long time slots with over 20 minutes of commercials. That's one minute of commercial for every two minutes of programming. If not a record in the industry, it should be. Of course this does not include the obligatory video segments, posing as "behind-the-scenes" spots of the contestants, which are nothing more than billboard space thinly veiled with a plot. On top of that are the ever-present Coca-Cola and Ford logos, nestled tightly into the corners of the screen. And be sure to place your vote by dialing the AT&T hotline.
In a ironic twist, one of the final episodes of the season aired on the same day as the FCC held hearings in Atlanta discussing charges that increased corporate media conglomeration works contrary to democracy and an informed media. And following that episode? Fox News devoted it's first seven minutes to guess what, American Idol.
Another interesting fact is the contract that all contestants had to sign. If you win -- and EVEN if you DON'T, at the producers' discretion -- you are bound to a recording contract, management contract, and merchandising contract with UK's 19 Group (remember the Spice Girls?).
What a remarkable setup. "Idol's" two-nighter finale drew a huge audience, and couldn't have cost much to create, since it relied heavily on replay footage and the show is made without the stars' salaries, costly scripts, changing sets, location shoots, special effects and other overhead inherent to traditional TV.
Along with its massive ad revenue, the show serves as an ad for your company singers' products, which you utterly control (many in the industry consider it a conflict of interest for the label to also be the artist's manager), while your artists are reputedly locked into a royalty rate lower than the norm, and you own their works, name and likeness "throughout the universe in perpetuity" meaning they can't even sing in the Pleiades in 4003 without your say-so.
THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE IN PERPETUITY. They OWN you. A deal with the devil is a less binding contract than this. Yet all the contestants were plenty willing to sell their souls for empty promises of stardom and success. The American Dream dangled before their eyes, but they can't reach for the carrot until they promise to wear a straight-jacket. Interesting, eh?
Not to mention that it seems that the voting system was modelled directly after the most recent presidential election. It's a sad day when TV and Radio land are ruled by an unelected Idol.
And after Canadian Idol, we can look forward to American Juniors, where younguns 6 to 13 years of age will similarly have the opportunity to sign away not only their futures, but their innocence as well.
The ads, after showing the children doing their best Star Search routines, hook us with "If you thought the kids were intense, wait until you meet the parents". The latter half of the spots are filled with parents throwing tantrums and desecrating every meaning of the word sportsmanship. For some reason this deserves equal attention. The influence of Jerry Springer is far reaching indeed.
How befitting of our national "heroes",
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
MSNBC Entertainment & Arts, "Riding on idle with American Idol", 05/22/03
The other day I was reading an article from CTV Newsnet entitled "BC police target drivers impaired by drugs".
It covered how officers were watching training videos on how to spot the tell-tale signs of marijuana highs including dilated pupils and loss of balance and how to test for these indicators roadside. Obviously spurred on by upcoming changes to pot laws from recently tabled federal legislation, marijuana impairment was the focus. It said some 20,000 users a year admit to driving while high. The article pointed out that users become paranoid and tend to drive extra slow (another technique cops can utilize).
But the best....
One marijuana advocate spokesman, whose name and group affiliation escapes me, stated that if anything pot users drive more carefully when high (due to paranoia), and thus it's safer. Quote: "It's not an impairment, it's an enhancement".
Classic,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
CTV Newsnet, "BC police target drivers impaired by drugs", 06/04/03
Muslims scared of U.S. saviours Survey yields interesting results
"Dislike of the United States has really deepened and spread throughout the Muslim world" - Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center
A poll conducted April 28 through May 15 in 20 countries and among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, The Pew Global Attitudes Project surveyed attitudes towards world leaders and U.S. foreign policy. Around 16,000 interviews in 31 different languages were conducted. Here are the results (margin of error estimated at plus or minus 3-4%):
The war in Iraq has sent support for the United States to new lows in predominantly Muslim countries and significantly damaged the standing of the United Nations in those nations and elsewhere, according to the survey released Tuesday.
al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden still gets favorable marks in some predominantly Muslim countries, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan instill more confidence than President Bush in non-Muslim countries.
Asked about confidence of world leaders to do the right thing:
- Palestinians ranked Osama bin-Laden 1st
- Jordan, Morocco and Pakistan ranked bin-Laden 2nd
- In the U.S., British Prime Minister Tony Blair ranked 1st (with 83% approval)
- In Britain, US Secretary General Kofi Annan ranked 1st (w/ 72% approval)
- In Israel, Bush ranked 1st (w/ 83% confidence)
- Bush ranked majorities in confidence in the U.S., Britain, Canada and Australia
- In Brazil, Russia, Spain, France, and Germany Bush posted only modest confidence percentages.
U.S. foreign policy got generally unfavorable ratings.
Eight predominantly Muslim countries were asked if they think their nation will be attacked by the United States:
- 7 of the 8 indicated that majorities thought they would be
- In Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan more than 70% thought so
- Even in Kuwait, 53% felt that the U.S. could someday pose a threat
In a previous Pew survey, negative feelings towards the U.S. were confined to the Middle East and Pakistan. Now they have expanded to Africa and Indonesia (the world's most populous Muslim nation).
- In Indonesia 83% had an unfavourable view towards the U.S.
- Only a year ago, that same figure came in at a mere 36%
Even in the United States, Blair comes out ahead of Bush.
In another finding, the survey said public confidence in the United Nations has been hurt by the war in Iraq.
The idea that the United Nations is less relevant is shared by people in the United States and Britain as well as in nations that opposed the war, such as France and Germany.
U.S.-French relations are another war casualty. Only 29 percent of Americans surveyed said they have very or somewhat favorable views of France, while twice as many feel negatively. French opinion on Americans ranged from 58 percent very or somewhat favorable to 42 percent somewhat unfavorable to very unfavorable.
Among other findings: Muslims favor a prominent — in many cases expanded — role for Islam and religious leaders in the political life of their countries. Yet that opinion does not diminish Muslim support for the same civil liberties and political rights enjoyed by democracies.
"In fact, in a number of countries," according to the survey analysis, "Muslims who support a greater role for Islam in politics place the highest regard on freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the importance of free and contested elections."
The poll was released together with a broader survey of 44 nations conducted in 2002 which covers attitudes on globalization, democratization and the role of Islam in governance and society.
Kohut said the anti-globalization forces that have protested in America and overseas don't seem to be making inroads. He said the survey found there is "great acceptance of a connected world with most people saying trade and growing business ties are good for them and their countries."
"Something that I never thought I'd see and something that is of great concern to me is that people now fear American power" - Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State
Riiiiiiiiiiight...,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
Associated Press, "War in Iraq stokes fear of U.S., survey finds", 06/04/2003
SARS from Mars? From behind the Red Wall, or the Red Planet?
The following article appeared in various Canadian news sources back on May 23, 2003 based on research and comments by some UK scientists. This story broke the same day as the Civet Cat theory, but for some reason did not seem to get much play in international media, and was never mentioned again falling in the shadow of the "It`s the Chinese people's fault" theory. Read it over, tell me what you think. Maybe not SARS, but does the general theory of microbial introduction by this method hold any weight?
Astrobiologists say the mysterious SARS virus might have come from outer space, raining down on Earth along with tonnes of space bacteria.
"In the absence of a convincing story in the opposite direction, I'm pretty convinced," said Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, director of the Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology in Wales.
Prof. Wickramasinghe believes that the first life on Earth came from comets that bombarded the planet four billion years ago, and that cosmic dust containing bacteria and viruses is still penetrating the stratosphere and finding its way to the planet's surface today.
The professor and two of his colleagues are the authors of a letter about the theory, which appears in tomorrow's issue of The Lancet, a prestigious British medical journal.
"The annals of medical history detail many examples of plagues and pestilences that can be attributed to space incident microbes in this way," they write. "New epidemic diseases have a record of abrupt entrances from time to time, and equally abrupt retreats."
Severe acute respiratory syndrome has infected at least 8,000 people and killed nearly 700 worldwide, and is believed to have originated in China's southern Guangdong province in November, 2002. It was spread globally through air travel.
SARS is believed to be caused by a coronavirus, the family of viruses that cause many human colds and respiratory diseases in animals. Many scientists believe animals might have passed the virus to humans, but how it made the leap is still unknown.
Prof. Wickramasinghe said evidence supports his theory: The SARS virus appeared without warning, and in China. The theory holds that since the stratosphere is thinnest over the Himalayas, comet dust could more easily filter down to the surface there.
Earth is constantly moving through comet dust, the professor pointed out, and rain could help microbes descend.
"It's not some alternative, airy-fairy rubbish," said Dr. Milton Wainwright, a co-author of the letter in The Lancet and a molecular biologist at Sheffield University in England.
"We know microbes can survive all kinds of conditions, including those found in space. It's not scientifically, by any means, ridiculous."
But experts who have been investigating the spread of SARS said the outer space hypothesis is outlandish.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, chuckled and said the theory provided a welcome "moment of levity."
"We have no scientific evidence that SARS or any other infectious disease has dropped off a meteor at this point in time, but we have an open mind," she said. "We don't know the source of the coronavirus, but we have many hypotheses that are far more plausible than meteorites."
Dr. Frank Plummer, scientific director of the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, said the theory is "highly unlikely."
Dr. Donald Low, chief microbiologist at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, said: "Why not say that it came from the middle of the Earth?"
Or maybe Middle Earth?,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
EXN.ca, "On the Planet May 23, 2003", 05/23/2003
National Post, "Did SARS fly by Mars?", 05/23/2003
After mixed reactions of the Rent-A-Negro website, and interpretations by some that it is racist, I have decided to post the following. This is quoted from a Washington Post article, dated May 28, 2003.
The Web site is a satirical piece of performance art by damali ayo, 31, a Portland, Ore.-based artist and personal growth consultant.
Ayo says she got the idea for the piece after years of being in all-white settings, fielding questions from people wanting to touch her hair, and playing the role of cultural ambassador.
"I feel like people are saying, 'You need to serve my ignorance by teaching me,' " she explained in a telephone interview. "I've said to certain people, 'I don't feel like talking about that now," but there is really an urgency and an insistence. It’s an urgency and an insistence with which we speak to servants or people who are working for us."
She adds: "I understand the white environment because I was forced to learn it. White people are not forced in any capacity to learn about other cultures. I'm not mad about it, but I would like more equity."
Since rent-a-negro went online late last month, ayo -- who eschews capitalization in both her and the site's names -- says she has been e-mailed hundreds of rental applications, from both whites and blacks. Some play along with the satire. "Some people will say, 'I need a Negro to come talk to me and teach me to sing like Aretha Franklin,' " ayo says. But some are obscene or angry; "They say I'm a disgrace to my race or they can't believe a black person would actually be selling themselves and I'm re-invoking slavery," ayo says. About a third are clueless and actually looking to rent her services for a golf outing, a graduation party, a corporate lawyer function. She hasn't answered those yet; she's thinking about turning those requests into the second part of her performance piece.
She is reluctant to divulge more information about her "clients" because the site promises confidentiality. "After a long time of working with white people," she says, "I understand they need to feel so safe just to learn something. My whole life I've had to learn about white culture and I've been markedly unsafe while I'm doing that."
Much of ayo's art focuses on issues of gender and race, and is on view in Portland's Mark Woolley Gallery. She won't say much about her background other than that she grew up in Washington and attended Sidwell Friends School and Brown University in Providence, R.I. She says she legally dropped her last name, and doesn't want to say what it was. "I would prefer to concentrate on my life as an artist," she says.
She will say that in a former incarnation she was a "diversity facilitator" who taught workshops on subjects like communicating with respect.
She still does a few. "I'll pick out a white woman with blond hair and say, 'You look like Lisa Kudrow and Madonna'and three other white women who don't look anything like each other, or her."
She says she's trying to draw attention to the ways people of color are treated differently, but not everybody likes her art. Invitations to lynching parties have come from both blacks and whites angry about the site. "People are very literal," she says. "I understand that."
Richard Zmijewski, 26, of Erie, Pa., thinks the site is a hoot and posted a link to it on his Weblog. Zmijewski says the piece holds a mirror up to all the pretentiousness in race relations. He understands that people are worried about being politically correct about race but should instead "just say yes, I'm ignorant because I didn't grow up with black people around. I have these questions and I don’t know how to ask them."
That discomfort with the issue of race, the fear of being wrong, the hesitation to engage, is exactly what ayo says she's trying to satirize. For people who don't know what to think about "rent-a-negro," she hopes their reactions offer points to be explored.
It's a discomfort she struggles with as well. "I have a hard time saying the name of the site some days," she says. "But that means it’s exactly where I should be working as an artist."
I think people should not be so quick to cry racism. For one, it only serves to silence wonderful criticisms of racism such as Rent-A-Negro.Com. A little humour, a little controversy, serves to spark discussion. Attempts to silence it only do a disservice to those who are trying to bring awareness to the subject. I suggest those who feel that Rent-A-Negro is a racist site should check out the author's website and really have a look at what she is all about. There are some really thought-provoking and creative presentations of race issues, particularly those of the black community in North America. And of course, let's not be too quick to cry racism until we really understand the position, lest when racism is truly found it should fall upon deaf ears.
Also visit www.blackpeopleloveus.com for a more light-hearted look at racial stereotypes and the social divide. (Thanks to both Reza and Kaveh for showing me this site. They both have great blogs so do yourself a favor and check them out.)
Been called a racist while trying to fight against racism, many times,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
The Washington Post, "Hon, guess who's coming to dinner?", 05/28/03
Why not buy? As we all know, the purchase of African Americans was outlawed many years ago. As times have changed the need for black people in your life has changed but not diminished. The presence of black people in your life can advance business and social reputation. These days those who claim black friends and colleagues are on the cutting edge of social and political trends. As our country strives to incorporate the faces of African Americans, you have to keep up. rent-a-negro offers you the chance to capitalize on your connection with a black person. At any gathering our service can bring a freshness and tension that will keep things lively. This adds currency to your image and events. We all go out for ethnic food every once in a while, why not bring some new flavor to your home or office...for all your friends and colleagues to enjoy!
These days one requires a permit, and a three day waiting period, just to acquire a pair of boxcutters in the United States. And thankfully, nail clippers and plastic knives have been recognized for the deadly weapons they are, and frequent flyers can feel safe knowing that their transport is free of such dangers.
But yesterday...
A would be hijacker armed with wooden stakes stabbed two flight attendants as he tried to break into the cockpit of an Australian Qantas jetliner, apparently in an attempt to crash the plane. Cabin crew and passengers managed to overpower him as he attempted to storm the cockpit while shouting threats and brandishing two 15-centimetre stakes (about 6 inches). He stabbed the flight attendants as they tried to push him back. The male attendant, in his 30s, had a gash in the back of his head and other cut. A female flight attendant, in her 20s, had facial cuts and two passengers were also slightly injured as they and the crew restrained the man and bound his hands with plastic straps. Officials say the attack was not terrorism related, and the Australian Transport Minister called it a "lesson about unforeseen tools being used" since the weapons made it through security checks. "We'll leave no stone unturned; plainly we don't want to see a repeat of this." View the entire story here
Photographs taken at the crime scene show the stakes to be of the variety used to kill vampires...
Experts from the U.S. were on scene to examine the evidence and provide support to the Australian investigators...
Hours later, a composite was released...
In response to tighter airport restrictions, hijackers have begun development on a new top-secret weapon, designed to fool airport security...
What's next?,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
CTV.ca, "Australian flight attendants stabbed in scuffle", 05/29/03
"A-ha! I knew it!" was the chorus sung in the minds of many this weekend as the news broke, "It WAS those dirty Chinese after all." Many recounted to themselves urban legends of their Oriental neighbours roasting cute and cuddly household pets rotisserie, while simultaneously feeling a little better because they finally had someone to blame. Or perhaps I should re-phrase that, since many already blamed the Chinese people to begin with, but Toronto's multi-culturally sensitive public was quick to outrage, and most kept their thoughts to themselves. Some out of shame, and some simply saving face. But I fear that Friday's news has rekindled the old stereotypes and the old feelings. After reading headlines like the one above, how quickly some have jumped to the old conclusions. Not only do they have someone to blame, but now they feel justified. Are they?
In the end, I'll leave you to be the judge, but it's clear that media reports, and particularly media headlines have contributed greatly to redistributing the sparks of ignorance. The unfortunate thing is that many will simply read the headlines, and their judgement will be made there and then. This is irresponsible of the media. But what else is news?
When the story broke in Friday's papers, many headlines merely stated that "SARS came from eaten cat". For those who bothered to delve into the details, they learned that some Hong Kong researchers had announced that the disease originated from Civet cats, and ALWAYS remembering to point out that they are a delicacy eaten by some Chinese.
This is enough to stir the memories of every "Chinese cat-eating" story a person has ever heard, most of which in reality are baseless and unfounded.
"Careful, make sure you don't accidentally order the dog!"
and
"You know how the Jones' cat went missing last week? Don't tell anyone, but I have it on very good authority that it wandered onto the Chang's property... and then wandered onto their BBQ!!!"
Only some of the articles managed to reveal (but still gloss over), is the fact that 'civet cats' are not actually part of the cat family, but rather a cat-sized relative of the mongoose. Most articles published over the weekend however, did contain this information.
Perhaps headlines mentioning "Civet", and not just "cat" would have been the more appropriate selection. Perhaps a little research before publishing would have been the right thing to do, and in the true spirit of journalism. Yet, the Canadian news media seemed all too happy to print irresponsible headlines, and articles that lacked any real detail, leaving the readers to fill in the gaps with stereotypes instead of facts.
Since then, things have improved, and most reports published since Saturday refer to Civet cats and the fact that they are not part of the cat family and/or that they are cousins of the mongoose. Most even correctly identify the species as Masked Palm Civets. Even so, clarity is sometimes lacking and is not always clear that these are not actually cats.
Masked Palm Civet
In fact, the species implicated in SARS are not even "Civet cats". After conducting some further research I have learned that Palm Civets and Civet cats are very different species. The Palm Civet, or Paguma larvata, is found throughout Asia (primarily in the Himalayans) and the sub-continent. Civet cats on the other hand either belong to Bassariscus astutus, native to North America, or to Felis libyca which are found in Africa and Asia. Only the Felis libyca is a member of the cat family. While some civets are indeed cat-like in their behaviour, the Masked Palm civets live in trees and survive on fruit. Pictures also reveal that they are clearly more akin to a mongoose, or even a raccoon, than the domestic cat.
Paguma larvata
The scary thing is that essentially none of this information can be found in news media reporting on the SARS discovery. To their credit at least, reports over the weekend have finally begun to mention the fact that the virus was also found in a Chinese ferret badger, and a raccoon dog.
Also not clear is whether the virus originated from the animals, or whether they were exposed to it in the community (like the Chinese humans) as they sat unprotected in the live marketplace. This fact is also not getting much play.
All in all, the media is guilty by omission of allowing stereotypes to flourish and encouraging the anti-Chinese sentiment that has palpably risen since the SARS outbreaks. Hopefully, more accurate and fully informed information will be disseminated in the near future. Hopefully, those that purport to deliver the news will actually do just that for once, rather than play on the fears of the public for ratings.
Yeah, right.
But wait, didn't you just say "raccoon dog"?
Why yes, it's a small canine sold for human consumption.
But that's not the point,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
Canadian Press, "Hong Kong researchers say SARS virus came from civet cat eaten by Chinese", 05/23/03
Canadian Press, "WHO links SARS to eaten cat", 05/23/003
World Chelonian Trust, "Palm Civets (Paguma larvata) and SARS"
San Francisco Chronicle, "Experts find animal-SARS link", 05/24/03
San Francisco Chronicle, "Animal link to SARS found", 05/24/03
San Francisco Chronicle, "Researchers test mammals from Chinese markets", 05/24/03
Associated Press, "Info on Civet cat, Found to Have SARS", 05/23/03
It was a Sunni day in Baghdad... but that was before the American Apaches rose above the horizon, an unsuspecting private accidentally taping over Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, sending Iraqis running from the raw hip-hop stylings of Outkast.
Now that the Bombs Over Baghdad have settled, though, the Shiite has hit the fan, as clerics representing the country's religious majority rush to fill the power vacuum left since Saddam stopped Baath'ing.
Now, if you're like most (North) Americans, you probably couldn't tell an imam from your own mother. Maybe you think Al-Jazeera is a terrorist organization based in New Orleans, or that the Koran is a call centre manager. Mecca is the shit when it comes to your 'gear', and mosques are for Halloween. But even for the modestly well informed it is easy to lose track. With American media inundating us with the names of the ten-most wanted terrorists, the top ten Al-organizations, and 52 collectibele images of your favourite regime bad boys found on "Playa Cards"; it's easy to see how one can get confused. Well, mullah no longer over this dilemma, as I present to you "A Guide to Iraq's Clerics".
While the Bush Administration is busy patting itself on the back for "freeing" the Iraqi people, and pumping rhetoric about their "serious commitment to nation-building" almost as fast as they're pumping the oil, Iraq's religious leaders are busy stepping in to take control of the population. After living under Saddam's iron fist for so long, the Iraqi people have grown used to a certain sense of stability. No matter how unstable the madman was, at least they knew what to expect. Better the devil you know.... as they say. But following the invasion, citizens throughout the country were plunged into a state of chaos, with widespread looting, a lack of essential services, and no centralized authority to remedy the situation. While the butcher was not exactly loved, and was indeed feared by many, what the Iraqi people fear most is anarchy. Recognizing this, muslim clerics are flexing their influence and fighting for political power. Reporting from Iraq, Peter Maas of the New Republic writes, "the imams are in control. The gunmen are theirs, the hospitals are theirs, the banks are theirs, the streets are theirs." So, without further ado, let's introduce the key players cast for Persian Gulf's Eleven. The Man: First up is Muqtada al-Sadr, the martyr's son and the man with the most intense stare south of Turkey. Currently holding power over "Revolution City" (the Baghdad neighbourhood formerly known as "Saddam City"), Muqtada has parlayed the assassination of his father Mohammed al-Sadr (a prominent Shiite cleric and opposition leader who was killed in 1999) into a serious following and a serious power play. Not yet a full-fledged religious scholar, al-Sadr is still a student at the influential Kawza Seminary, but using his political skills and riding on the family name he has managed to lubricate himself into a position of power there. He controls one of the centre's most powerful factions, and has numerous followers in Najaf, Nasiriya, Karbala, and the massive East-Side slum of "Revolution City" (also known as "Sadr City", and named after his father).
"Don't call me Junior"
The Agenda: Al-Sadr is a hardliner who not only opposes the U.S. presence in Iraq, but wants the country to become an "Islamic nation".
The Method: Although he has urged his followers not to "shed blood" while protesting the U.S. occupation, his speeches are anything but conciliatory, and has stated that "anyone supported by the US is cursed by us". Rather, this 'peaceful' attitude seems to be more of a strategic consideration than a moral one. The reason Al-Sadr is the guy to watch, in my opinion, is precisely due to his subversive game plan. Rather than fighting the American presence head-on, al-Sadr is keeping things low-key while him and his followers are quickly and quietly aggregating power throughout the land, hoping to gain enough control that they cannot be ignored. Expect to see Muqtada tip his hand later in the game, rather than sooner. The Man: 63 year-old Mohammad Bakr al-Hakim is the religious leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. During Hussein's rule al-Hakim was based in Iran (until last month he hadn't been in the country since 1980), and as a result his popular support is no match for Al-Sadr. However, he does command a well-armed militia, the Badr Brigades, which is financed through subsidies from Iran. Not only that, but the SCIRI has a seat in the Iraqi National Congress, where Washington likes to practice most of its puppetry talents.
"I just got over a bad bout of Nasiriya"
The Agenda: Originally courted by the Americans because he opposed Saddam, al-Hakim now wants the U.S. out, and says he will not accept a "forced government". He said he wants to unify Iraq under a "banner of Islam", but has also pointed out that he does not want to "copy Iran's revolution". Regardless, al-Hakim faces opposition as rivals have expressed doubts about his independence from Iran and his ability to connect with Iraqis.
The Method: Al-Hakim hopes to parlay his party's seat in the INC into a prominent position in the next installation of the Iraqi government. However, in order to gain popular support, al-Hakim must distance himself from Iran and shed his poser image. The Man: Official religious leader of the Iraqi Shiite population, 72 year-old Ali al-Sistani is the most respected scholar in the holy city of Najaf. Like al-Sadr, al-Sistani controls a powerful faction of the Kawza Seminary, but his political power base is minimal in comparison to the aforementioned players. This is because Ali believes that religion and politics do not mix.
Al-Sistani Superstar
The Agenda: Since he likes to keep himself out of the political sphere, al-Sistani is not looking to help the Americans build a new Iraq with separation of church and state. Even so, his followers and commentators alike take his silence as implicit rejection of an Islamic theocracy.
The Method: Although he is not pursuing a political agenda, his views on politics and religion have great influence on the many imams who are considered loyal to him. It is also interesting to note that he is currently not on speaking terms with al-Sadr Jr., and was consistently at odds with his father, due to al-Sistani's passive approach. The Man: Rounding out the group is pretty boy Kadhem al-Husseini al-Haeri, an elder Iraqi-born mullah who has resided in Qum, Iran since 1973. He is a respected cleric and challenger for al-Sistani's role as scholarly heavy-hitter of the Shiite leadership. Al-Sadr claims to look to him for guidance, and refuses to co-operate with al-Hakim unless he too accepts al-Haeri's religious authority.
"I'm too sexy for my Qum"
The Agenda: Al-Haeri advocates a restrictive, Iranian-style religious government in Iraq. Last month he issued a widely read fatwa instructing Iraq's clerics to "raise people's awareness of the Great Satan's plans and the means to abort them".
The Method: As the Godfather of Iraq, al-Haeri's religious authority lends credence to al-Sadr's efforts to rally Shiites behind him, and he may be content to pull the political strings from the shadows while giving al-Sadr all the religious credibility he needs. However his departure from Iraq in the '70s may lead some to doubt his loyalties. And that about wraps it up. For those of you unfamiliar with Islamic terms and titles, you can look up anything you didn't understand by following those links.
Personally though, I'm down with the Buddha. He's a lot funkier.
Your Chic Sheikh,
- The Madd Monk
Source Material:
New Republic, "What Iraqis Want", 05/05/03
Slate, "Gist - A Guide to Iraq's Shiite Clerics", 05/15/03
Slate, "Explainer - Middle Eastern Titles: A Glossary", 10/04/01
Slate, "Explainer - Islam: A Glossary", 09/24/01
Poetry Week - Day 4 - Reflect-Zen
Poetry Week - Day 4 - Zen and the Art of Poetry
Poetry Week - Day 3 - Old Friends
My New Promotion
Have they all gone Madd? 
Do-It Yourself Cruise Missile 
American Id(ea)l 
Muslims scared of U.S. saviours
SARS from Mars?
The Boy Who Cried Racism! 
Stakes and Stones... 
Blown to Shiite! 
