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Dangerous Compassions

holding hands in a circle

Hello, reader.  How are you today?  I was thinking about hippies.  A defining characteristic of hippies is holding hands in a circle. At the community where Ming and I live, we share house dinner four nights a week.   The nicest tradition here is circling before dinner.  Supposedly this community has no spiritual basis.  But I… Read More »

Categories
Dangerous Compassions

Noam Chomsky

“I was just cheating on you,” I told Ming. He was entering our room after taking a shower.  I showed him my screen, which had this paused video of Noam Chomsky talking about liberation theology.  He’s been my pretend boyfriend for a long time.  Long before Ming. We laughed. “It’s ok,” I said.  “I’ll share… Read More »

Categories
Dangerous Compassions

active and passive safety

Hello.  I was talking to my elder housemate friend about safety.  He’d mentioned safety can contribute to laziness.  I disagreed, as I see safety as a vibrant, living thing if it’s going to be actually safe for anyone.  Sort of like nonviolence.  That sparked a fun conversation.  My friend suggested I write about active and… Read More »

Categories
Dangerous Compassions

direct action

I want to change culture, and direct action is part of my life.  I think about direct action of different kinds–symbolic, performative, solidarity.  Some acts of service can be direct action also. statement Serving food to hungry people is a real way to help, but it can also be a statement.  Food Not Bombs says… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

we’re moving

Hello, we’re moving.  I decided to share with you the letter I wrote to the supporters of Nevada Desert Experience announcing our departure.  It was fun to write, but the paragraph thanking the holy people is edgy! happy May Day Dear peace supporters of Nevada Desert Experience, Hello and happy May Day from the desert,… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

how I learned to do less

Last year I knew I needed to cut back on my responsibilities and activities, but I didn’t know how.  Everything I did felt crucially important.  But I needed to give more energy to myself, work on my health, and lower my stress.  It could be a matter of life and death.  I want to tell… Read More »

Categories
Dangerous Compassions

Reagan

Recently I heard this song by Killer Mike about Ronald Reagan that blew my mind.  History like this–wow.  And the ending makes me exclaim every time.  Such a brilliant culmination of everything he said before that, and such a strong, real response to that weird flag waving, teary-eyed nostalgia I remember, when Reagan died. The… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

tunnels

Oh hey, we stopped by the goddess temple and ran into a friend.  We talked to her and her dogs.  Then we continued northwest on the 95 to Mercury and visited the culvert tunnels. These tunnels for a long time have been a special place for art by activists.  I like to go there and… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

Sister Megan

Sister Megan died a few days ago.  She was an important figure in my life, though we never met in person.  We spoke on the phone, and there were a few emails.  She was 91. She was a very dear nun activist, beloved by so many.  Ming knew her because she helped run Nevada Desert… Read More »

Categories
Dangerous Compassions

sacred rage

Hey, I’ve been thinking about sacred rage.  I had a friend who hated his coworker for her taste in music–insipid, bland.  Well, maybe he hated her for other reasons, but her taste in music sealed the deal. I listen to chill music, but I can listen to angry music too.  When I was a teenager,… Read More »