Politics as a Keyword

There are times when I scratch my temple with the high hopes of tickling the grey matter beneath - willing my mental core to release something, well, fantastic. Since it is Memorial Day weekend, and apparently, my brain has taken a siesta, I decided to improvise. I went to www.buildtraffic.com and played with their "free tools" - specifically - I played with keywords. Apparently, meta tags are out and keywords are in. I decided to type in "politics" to see what the 10 top searches were. They are: real clear politics (hmmm), religion and politics, office politics, news politics, woman in politics (yup, there must be one and only one!), government politics, american politics, texas politics, california politics, and international politics. As you can see, some of these little gems appear to make sense - even grammatically - then there's others. Now, here's the challenge - can you write something using all of these keywords and phrases? Okay - we'll give it a try: If you thought California politics were corrupt, think again! Texas politics top the corruption list with many conservative politicians - currently in office and recently resigned - clogging Capital Hill with their ten-gallon hats emblazoned with lone stars and the words, Real Clear Politics! American politics in general, as well as G. W. Bush's blunders with international politics has caused quite a stir of frustration from liberal-minded voter-card carrying citizens and foreigners alike! There's nothing like government politics interfering with company policy regarding corporate office politics and pension denial. It has been voiced by conservatives and liberals alike that news politics, whatever that means, is the surest path for a woman in politics, yes, count it folks, one woman in politics to make it to the position of Vice President of the United States by the year 2984, a full 800 years after every other country around the world and on every other planet in the solar system has had at least thirty women presidents - each. Perhaps this lack of female ability in the realm of politics has something to do with the patriarchal fist that rigidly controls the general population within the United States through a combination of religion and politics, and let's not forget, laws which apply to the masses but not to the male members of the governing body - it is said that they have Constitutional rights and are beyond the reach of criminal investigations. If you are not a bona fide member of the masculine majority on Capital Hill, that gold-mine of government politics, or that One woman in politics who will eventually become Vice President of the United States, you will be held accountable for everything you say or do and will be punished to the fullest extent of the law or imprisoned indefinitely at a Black Site or Guatanamo Bay for endless hours of tortuous activities with your very own personal CIA or military interrogator.

Social Complexity, Human Nature, and Religion

There are times when I sit back and look at civilization through time. Occasionally, I become fixated on certain variables. Take, for example, religion. There was a time when religion, as we know it, didn't exist. Instead, "religion" wasn't that at all, it was a way of life - a philosophical way of being. One wasn't separate from nature - you were a part of it - part of the Earth and her cycles. This spiritual way of life wasn't a tool that others used for control; it was a personal path to follow.

As civilizations "advanced" and moved away from a hunter-gather subsistence lifestyle and began to embrace agriculture, and later, industry and corporations, the spiritual philosophical way of being - on a personal level disappeared and was replaced by group worship. With this step, naturally, a leader of these activities would be needed - a priest. It doesn't take one long to realize that over time, the spiritual way of living one's life - a beautiful practice held in harmony with all living things - transforms into a corrupted way of population control. It doesn't take a college professor to see that people have been stoned, burned, drowned, stretched, and flayed for not agreeing with religious authorities. If one isn't able to question religious authority, then religion is used for subjugation of the masses - so that the population lives and does the authorities bidding. How else were large cathedrals, pyramid-shaped tombs, and empires built?

When one is in total control of others, that governing official or officials tend to abuse their power in the form of deceit, corruption, and abuse of the general population. Tithing, paying taxes to the lord or king, being placed in jail - or killed - for simply disagreeing, or being treated less "royally" than those with power - examples of authoritarian abuse dot the historical landscape from Inquisitions to hangings. Come now, why don't members of the American governing body receive social security like their constituents? Why do they receive their regular pay plus cost of living advances once they're out of office? What about the taxes, or lack thereof, that they pay? All the while, American constituents are barely able to make ends meet or even to afford health care. I won't even mention, that a decent education isn't available to poverty-stricken areas. To govern, whether it be under religious or political pretense, is power, and with power comes corruption and the feeling that one is "above" it all, untouchable, and owed something for their services.

So, what about the church? Organized religion, like the American governmental machine on Capital Hill, is run by ordinary human beings who have ordinary human drives. Being human, these leaders are not perfect, but must make decisions on a regular basis. Many of these decisions affect them personally, and like any living creature, hurting oneself is not high on the priority list; therefore, most are corruptible. Whether they are demanding money for their coffers, stating that homosexuality is wrong, birth control is a sin, or molesting children, they are demanding the blind acquiescence of the masses. They are "vessels" or representatives of or for their deities. These mortal, humans often have the power to condemn and to forgive. How many Hail Mary's will it be today?

This corruption and condemnation of the personal path to spiritual fulfillment feeds into basic human nature. Like other animals that reside in groups - no matter the size - a leader emerges and others follow. Nothing has ever been truly egalitarian for humans or other primates simply because it isn't in our nature. It is the degree of cooperation that is the key. A cooperation of roles where each person functions as part of the whole and where no job, whether leader or follower, is seen or viewed as being less important than any other job. All segments of society are viewed as vital for the overall survival of the group. Bees and ants live harmoniously with each other each and every day. Without workers, drones, queens, and attendants - there is no colony. Each job is as important as any other; they are equal.

There will always be leaders and there will always be followers. It is the degree of accountability and overall control of the population for continued leadership that changes with increased social complexity. In less "complex" societies, bad leaders - leaders who abuse their power - are removed - at times by brutal force when the masses band together. In other words, the sheep stop following blindly - instead they band together and become wolves.

Anthropology Reminiscence

Often when I'm teaching my students, they attempt to derail me and get me to talk about something other than the subject at hand. These devious souls, I say that with a smile - I afterall, did the same thing at their age - know they stand the highest degree of success by bringing up anything related to anthropology - a subject that I am very passionate about. I have to admit, the 12 years tromping about the Southwestern deserts and pouring through anthropological journals have provided me with a wealth of interesting, and often, thought-provoking material to share with my students; information that adds the "humanness" to any subject. Yesterday, it was ergot - a fungus that has tainted rye on an occasional basis since rye was domesticated; this little fungus is also the main ingredient in LSD. My class - drug awareness, education, and prevention - what did we discuss? How this little fungus has played major roles in the shaping of history (we specifically discussed witch hunts, a "nifty" Christian document called the "Witches Hammer", and the desire of the Christian church to convert those they deemed "heathens").....Yes, we discussed how ergot poisoning can cause the body to convulse, the hallucinations that can occur - often creating nightmare visions, the sensations of things within the skin, diaries from individuals describing people going through ergot poisoning, and that the developing brain of children are much more susceptible to drugs than that of an adults.....Did we hit a human side to ergot as well? Yes. I smile, as usual. Anthropology can, and does, touch upon the human phenomenon of any subject. When my students become very quiet and I see a classroom full of attentive faces aimed straight at me, I know I'm intriguing them. I'm educating them. I've hit a cord.

Anthropology is the most social of the social sciences; it is, literally, the study of people - or as I think of it - the study of the human phenomenon. It is the study of what makes people - human. Every aspect of the human animal - from our genetics and evolution, cultural changes through time, religion, social interaction, the rise and fall of civilizations, and language, to name a few - are studied by individuals in this profession. For an anthropologist, human variation - whether genetic or a cultural construct - is absolutely beautiful. I think of it as the tapestry of humanity and if you sit back, remove your personal cultural constructs for a moment, you would see exactly how beautiful this tapestry is. It is a discipline that continually strives to add the "human" element - those hopes, dreams, thoughts, feelings - to other subjects. History should never be a boring ramble of facts, dates, and numbers. Instead, it should reflect the people who created the history in the first place. History should include laughter, tears, celebrations, hopes and dreams, wars, and disease. Things of yesterday, in other words, isn't as different from today as we think; many history teachers just portray it as a boring segment of sterile facts devoid of the human element, the spark that makes history what it actually is. We also forget that who we are today is based upon who we were yesterday....

Need an Enlargement - Pump It Up!

At times I wonder at the amount and type of spam that clogs my e-mail - things like getting paid to take surveys, prizes I've supposedly won, invoice #1234, and yes, the penis enlargement. I've always found this unwanted mail aggravating as I whisk it away with a press of the delete key. But, penis enlargement? Since when did I acquire one? I would think that by now I would have noticed that I had one...even if it were teeny weenie. Perhaps it's so small it's an inny? Hmmm...perhaps they are advertising dildos or phallic socks...should I go to the local "toy store" and acquire one and "pump" it up to full extension?

You'd think these mindless e-mailers would target, at the very least, men. Or, do they not have the "balls" to face their audience? Perhaps they should invest in some large, globular, firm to the touch, prosthetic testicles. Or, since they lack "balls" in the first place, perhaps they should acquire a pair of ovaries.

The U.S. Senate and the Gay Marriage Ban

I shake my head in disgust as I read the article. The U.S. Senate has voted 10-8 to place the Gay Marriage Ban Constitutional amendment before the Senate for a debate. It disgusts me that this country, the place where I reside, is still petty enough to judge others by traits other than human compassion. Slavery was okayed for decades because it was mentioned in the Bible. Placing Asian Americans - mostly Japanese - in concentration camps during WWII was justified because...well...they were probably plotting something "evil" against us. I won't mention that women weren't allowed to vote until the 1920s, or that blacks were denied a decent education and the pleasure of sitting whereever they wanted to in a bus. As I shake my head from the bigotry that still thrives in our government and amongst the masses, I angrily think back to the horrible treatment this country has administered to Native Americans - from massaquering them, giving them small-pox infected blankets, denying their freedom to practice their religious beliefs, to gather in celebration, or even to speak their native languages. I'm sure it was for their "own good". Now this. When will people learn that the ability to genuinely care about another person has absolutely nothing to do with race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation - it depends upon that person's basic core character.

I would propose to our government officials - that if a constitutional ban on gay marriage is considered, perhaps you should try banning all marriage ceremonies - they are after all, sanctioned by God, and there is a stipulation that states that there will be a separation of Church and State. To deny the beliefs of one is not abiding by the separation of church and state - an important little saying which allows all individuals who reside within this country to be able to freely practice their religious beliefs. For some religions, the marriage between same-sex partners is allowed. To ban this partnership through Constitutional means is allowing our government to once again - be hypocritical.

If I am not allowed to persue happiness, speak freely, gather in public places, or enjoy the freedom of my religious beliefs when the constitution of my country "says" that I am able to, then our Constitution is simply a false document that should be burned. Our governing officials disgrace this document on a daily basis - they lie, cheat, mislead the people, spy domestically, remove peaceful demonstrators, and start wars to bolster their personal egos. I'm sick of it. I'd rather pay my taxes to a government who sees me as a worthwhile human being, not as a blasphemous freak of nature.

Tis Thyme for Herbs

May is here and as the ol' saying goes, May flowers should be bursting forth! Of course, here in Northern Florida, flowering plants - including those providing massive amounts of pollen that drive my sinuses nuts - bloom year round.

When most of us visualize flowers, we fail to envision the beautiful blossoms bestowed by herbs - the pinkish-purple tops of echinacea, the lavender of...lavender, pinks, whites, yellows - WOW! Lightly pass the leaves of herbs between your fingers then sniff...amazing. These wonderful plants enchant the senses and contribute to everyday health. Even if one thinks that using herbs for health benefits is "bogus", the doubter would have to concede that dishes bounding with an influx of herbs is more flavorful. Can you imagine Italian food without oregano or basil? Or, Mexican food without cilantro? Unless you live in an area where spices solely consist of salt and pepper...food without herbs in the family kitchen...is bland.

So, what if you're interested in herbs that are commonly used for cooking and aren't sure how to grow, store, and/or use them? What if you want to learn more about these culinary delights from an organic point of view? For a book, try Herbal Rhythms: Deciphering Herbal Codes by Jane Lytle. This book discusses fourteen herbs. These herbs are some of those most commonly purchased and used by the average gardener/cook in this country. The historical, medicinal and culinary attributes, optimal growth conditions, harvesting, recipes, and projects for children and adults alike are provided for each herb discussed. Included in each chapter are various different hints and suggestions regarding cultivation, storage, and utilization that pertain not only to the herb being discussed, but to all herbs.
The fourteen herbs discussed are: Basil, Coriander/Cilantro, Dill, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Licorice, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, and Thyme.

For other general herb information: Let your eyes wander to the left and follow the Le Noire Chat Herbal link (or click here).

Happy Growing!