Category: Community

While in a discussion in yesterday’s essay We’re Not In Kansas Anymore  NLinStPaul asked me to expand my comments on the fact I believed that democracy cannot function the current cultural atmosphere and that we should hope that the oligarchs that run the joint can be wise.

To me this is an easy statement to make because democracy, as we have come to understand the term, is not a natural or common state of human culture. History and social science has shown us that most people inevitably follow authority and will follow authority. It also shows that power corrupts and that, in many ways, both the powerful and the weak cooperate in a kind of sado-masochistic scene (check out the Stanford Prison Experiment). People want and need norms and authority and will tend to gas Jews or torture prisoners if asked by the powerful to do so (see the Milgram Experiment). People will tend to conform to cultural views of reality even when it clashes with their own direct perception (see the Asch conformity experiments–you don’t even have to read about that to see how it has happened in this country particularly during the lead-up to the Iraq War).  

Muse in the Morning

State of the Onion XXX (Finis)

Art Link Brain Scan The Words The words have control command I attend Through my mind they must flow I am their vessel They require writing demand creation Pushing boldly forward whenever I pause The words I give you that they may be read and spead their infection into the future –Robyn Elaine Serven –February 16, 2006

Muse in the Morning

State of the Onion XXIX

The graphic linked to below was created when I was experimenting with creating the “feel” of digital texture.  This one is wax.

Sometimes the poems express thoughts that plead for discussion.  Rarely does that discussion actually take place.  This is one of those.  In a performance it comes right before the closing words, which are immediately followed by a Q & A opportunity for spontaneous communication.

Art Link Scratching at the Surface Wishes and Horses I wish someone anyone could tell me would tell me why people behave as they do with disdain toward in disregard of so sadistically to people like me What have we done to engender such disrespect to evoke such contempt to earn your hatred Whatsoever it was we are willing to work together with you to repair the rift to seal the breach to integrate our existences –Robyn Elaine Serven –February 1, 2006

Muse in the Morning

If there is a “We” and we want the world to be a better place, then one would think we would want to join in common cause, which requires finding common ground.  That last thing is not so easy.

State of the Onion XXVIII

The techniques I have used to create the eggs (the graphics) evolved over time, leading to the 3D look-and-feel exemplified by today’s art.  The poem is what it is.  It was written one day after my 58^th birthday.

Ah, but I was so much older then.  I’m younger than that now.  I wish.

This series is almost over.  There are only two more poems after this one, for now, but one doesn’t know how many more acts there are to this story.  Time takes its toll.

Art Link Cracks in the Shell On Aging The urge to expend all energy to protect the container is strong but what good does it do to protect the body if the spirit dies Time demands its payment Youth cannot be defended by surrendering to the needs of the flesh The vessel slowly deteriorates worn down joints creak with every motion muscles are too stiff bones become brittle but the contents the mind/soul can be bright and vital growing fresher with each new thought with each opinion challenged with each dip in the fountain of knowledge I will be forever young if I continue to bathe in the River of New –Robyn Elaine Serven –April 4, 2006

Muse in the Morning

If there is a “We” and we want the world to be a better place, then one would think we would want to join in common cause, which requires finding common ground.  That last thing is not so easy.

State of the Onion XXVII

Art Link Suspended in Blue Common Ground Common ground cannot be found when some people demand that everyone have the same beliefs as themselves Common ground is found when it is acknowledged that individuals with different beliefs can work together towards the same goals Common ground is found when we concentrate on what we do not why we do it or what we believed while we were doing it Common ground is populated when individuals with different beliefs can respect the value of divergent points of view Most important of all common ground occurs when people are willing to be changed by the effort they make to seek it –Robyn Elaine Serven –February 10, 2006

Muse in the Morning

State of the Onion XXVI

Art Link Fool’s Gold Living on Lies Such small minds in fear they cower preferring deceit over truths which they cannot fully comprehend My God how their souls must be shrivelled stained by false bravado unmistakably obvious as they pollute our mutual reality –Robyn Elaine Serven –March 28, 2006