A recent segment on NPR highlights the "million dollar block"-- quantifiable data on the ineffectiveness of the US Incarceration System.
A few thoughts:
1) Nearly half of all prisoners in the US are locked up for nonviolent crimes. The "war on drugs" is responsible for the exponential growth in our prisons over the last few decades (i.e. possession of marijuana=>slammer time for otherwise harmless individuals). What an inefficient use of our tax dollars!
2) There's a revolving door for most prisoners. Prisons can be seen as "institutions of higher criminal learning". Individuals learn how to function in an alternate economy where gang mentality and "us versus them"-isms prevail. Prison time not only affects the prisoner, but their families as well.
When I worked with a TX House Rep, the issue of US Prison Reformation was one of my main
concerns. I aided in creating legislation (that would be rejected without much debate) such as giving felons and
those on parole the right to vote. Working for a Left-wing Rep. in a Texas Legislature left me feeling frustrated with formal politics, so I threw everything to the wind and went to take a more hands-on approach working at various wilderness therapy programs (informally known as "hoods in the woods") for juvenile delinquents.
I witnessed some of the most beautiful and also most horrific demonstrations of humanity in various programs where I worked... only to realize that this is not just an isolatable demographic of un-represented people that can be manipulated to function in "we the people"'s economy. This is a symptom of a much bigger problem... and as long as we attempt to put a name to it and keep it quarantined, it's only going to get worse.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
27 years lived!
Birthday Post!!
**First and foremost, I want to honor my momma. Once a year, I get all the glory, cake and presents, when she was the one who did all the work. **
____________________________
Yesterday my "plans" of hanging out under the sun and playing music at the Springs had been rained on, and I had no idea what to expect. I met with a varied group of friends (from college, Barton Springs, music-making endeavors, and even some brand new friends from Egypt and France joined the party!)
The following questions were asked
1) How were your last 3 birthdays spent?
2009-- Working at Eckerd in NC (watch the video at the very bottom! so sweet!) then meeting with Michelle in Charleston, SC to see the Avett Brothers
2010- Looking for a job on the North Shore of Hawaii
2011- Sleeping on an overnight bus in Thailand. Being the only American on the bus, and being sung the birthday song in German and Thai. Then meeting with Michelle (again! on the other side of the world!) in Railay.
After eating an awesome Thai dinner, he asked me "no matter how unrealistic, what is the one dessert you could have now if you could?"
After eating nothing but Thai food for weeks, I replied "that's torture! Because there's no way I can have what I really want... but it'd be a hot fudge brownie sundae"
And then walking home from dinner, lo and behold! We come upon a Burger King with a picture of a hot fudge sundae in the window. Magic.
2) What is your wildest realistic fantasy?
Sailing (traveling) around the world to random places. Picking people up who want to join, dropping people off who want to stay. Showing up and not knowing how to speak the language at all, but making music and dancing with all kinds of people at any given location. I want to learn how to adapt to all kinds of music. I want to smile with people I've never smiled with before. Yep. I'm a grown ass woman and I still just want everybody around the world to hold hands and sing together... I guess I've got 3 more years to have a heart, according to Winston Churchill...
3) Do you have anxiety over getting old?
Sure. My anxiety is best described through a They Might Be Giants song
"Now it's over, I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want
Or I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do"
_______________________________________________
So anyway... I had more thoughts to connect here, but birthdays are exhausting and I just want to post this and sleep. So here's a snippet of what happened on my birthday.
**First and foremost, I want to honor my momma. Once a year, I get all the glory, cake and presents, when she was the one who did all the work. **
____________________________
Yesterday my "plans" of hanging out under the sun and playing music at the Springs had been rained on, and I had no idea what to expect. I met with a varied group of friends (from college, Barton Springs, music-making endeavors, and even some brand new friends from Egypt and France joined the party!)
The following questions were asked
1) How were your last 3 birthdays spent?
2009-- Working at Eckerd in NC (watch the video at the very bottom! so sweet!) then meeting with Michelle in Charleston, SC to see the Avett Brothers
2010- Looking for a job on the North Shore of Hawaii
2011- Sleeping on an overnight bus in Thailand. Being the only American on the bus, and being sung the birthday song in German and Thai. Then meeting with Michelle (again! on the other side of the world!) in Railay.
After eating an awesome Thai dinner, he asked me "no matter how unrealistic, what is the one dessert you could have now if you could?"
After eating nothing but Thai food for weeks, I replied "that's torture! Because there's no way I can have what I really want... but it'd be a hot fudge brownie sundae"
And then walking home from dinner, lo and behold! We come upon a Burger King with a picture of a hot fudge sundae in the window. Magic.
2) What is your wildest realistic fantasy?
Sailing (traveling) around the world to random places. Picking people up who want to join, dropping people off who want to stay. Showing up and not knowing how to speak the language at all, but making music and dancing with all kinds of people at any given location. I want to learn how to adapt to all kinds of music. I want to smile with people I've never smiled with before. Yep. I'm a grown ass woman and I still just want everybody around the world to hold hands and sing together... I guess I've got 3 more years to have a heart, according to Winston Churchill...
3) Do you have anxiety over getting old?
Sure. My anxiety is best described through a They Might Be Giants song
"Now it's over, I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want
Or I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do"
_______________________________________________
So anyway... I had more thoughts to connect here, but birthdays are exhausting and I just want to post this and sleep. So here's a snippet of what happened on my birthday.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Inter-dependence Day thoughts
We mutually pledge our lives, our fortune, and our sacred honor
This is the often forgotten last sentence of America's Declaration of Independence.
Yet most of us are most familiar with the 2nd line that declares our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As Kurt Andersen notes in a recent NY Times article, The Downside of Liberty, these things are a recipe for individualism. Selfishness, individualism, and competition drive capitalism, but these things will also bring America as a political body of citizens to the ground.
It's frightening to witness the public backlash against universal healthcare in America. And where did the 1% come from? These are anxiety-ridden people enslaved to their possessions. We are all inter-connected. Taking care of each other is taking care of ourselves.
Interbeing- Thich Nhat Hanh
“To be” is to inter-be. You cannot just be by yourself alone. You have to inter-be with every other thing.
Thinking about America as a part of a global whole, America never could just be a "City on a Hill". America is a nation inter-connected with every other nation. "We the people" are free, and don't you forget that! It's a constant struggle and we must remind ourselves every day. We don't need to exercise our power or exploit others to assure ourselves of our freedom.
Freedom is ours to hold-- it's just a struggle in your mind to keep your soul
Freedom- The Beautiful Girls
This is the often forgotten last sentence of America's Declaration of Independence.
Yet most of us are most familiar with the 2nd line that declares our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As Kurt Andersen notes in a recent NY Times article, The Downside of Liberty, these things are a recipe for individualism. Selfishness, individualism, and competition drive capitalism, but these things will also bring America as a political body of citizens to the ground.
It's frightening to witness the public backlash against universal healthcare in America. And where did the 1% come from? These are anxiety-ridden people enslaved to their possessions. We are all inter-connected. Taking care of each other is taking care of ourselves.
Interbeing- Thich Nhat Hanh
“To be” is to inter-be. You cannot just be by yourself alone. You have to inter-be with every other thing.
Thinking about America as a part of a global whole, America never could just be a "City on a Hill". America is a nation inter-connected with every other nation. "We the people" are free, and don't you forget that! It's a constant struggle and we must remind ourselves every day. We don't need to exercise our power or exploit others to assure ourselves of our freedom.
Freedom is ours to hold-- it's just a struggle in your mind to keep your soul
Freedom- The Beautiful Girls
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Lunar Gardening in Cancer
Happy Summer Solstice!
As we transition from Gemini into Cancer, this is a great time to learn about the rhythms of the moon. Whether you believe in astrology or not, as gardeners we should be experimental, playful, and observant in trying new things.
As a water sign, Cancer is one of the most fruitful signs in the zodiac. It is ruled by the moon, so just as the moon affects the water in our bodies and in the tides of the ocean, it affects the growth of our plants. Did you know that direct sow seeds absorb more water during full moons than at any other time?
In this video, I offer a few pointers on how to gauge the moon periods using the "DOC" method, and what to plant during different periods throughout the lunar cycle.
Finally, as Cancer is a "water" sign, let's focus this month on honoring water conservation. If you are still watering from the top soil, please consider installing more efficient irrigation systems this month. Food is Free can help you get started: http://foodisfreeproject.org/
http://www.facebook.com/foodisfree
For those local to Austin, TX, please contact foodisfree@gmail.com to host a free wicking bed workshop in your neighborhood!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
After witnessing a chihuahua race, a bean burrito (not waterballoon) toss, and a pinata contest, I decide to cool off on an inflatable waterslide. Only in Austin, TX.
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