AS EARLY AS 1931 Gandhi articulated his view that change, to be beneficial, needed to be achieved by nonviolent struggle: “I would wait, if need be, for ages rather than seek the freedom of my country through bloody means.” Gandhi added some optimistic words, declaring, “I feel in the innermost recesses of my heart that the world is sick unto death of blood-spilling. The world is seeking a way out, and I flatter myself with the belief that perhaps it will be the privilege of the ancient land of India to show the way out to the hungering world.”

Of course, from the perspective of 2004 this would seem to be a prime instance of false prophesy. Although Gandhi’s literal coordinates of time and place were mistaken, we may yet be approaching a Gandhian Moment where there occurs a worldwide revulsion against war and violence. Perhaps “the world is seeking a way out,” but the translation of this sentiment into political reality, given the emotional and material forces arrayed against it, was gravely underestimated by Gandhi. Nevertheless, his prophetic insight was valid then, and, if anything, is far more so today.

To continue: Gandhi still relevant

Look what I just discovered.  I heard about it on TV actually.

schizoid

Which Personality Disorder Do You Have?
brought to you by Quizilla

(OK, now I’m scaring myself)

Who Knew?

• Domestic Violence

Deep Thought: 

Whenever someone asks me to define love, I usually think for a minute, then spin around and pin the guy’s arm behind his back.  Now who’s asking the questions?

Today I am grateful for:  Calendars

After the storm

I read a piece by

The Populist this morning, and I feel appreciative of Xangans who at least occasionally express political opinions, no matter what point of view they take. I’ve noticed that the war in Iraq seems to be fading in the news, and life is going on as if the daily conflict there has become just another segment of a soap opera, ho hum. I hope that we can all at least care about the outcome of the upcoming national election enough to know the issues and the candidates. Roger over and out.

Deep Thought:  If I was the head of a country that lost a war, and I had to sign a peace treaty, just as I was signing I’d glance over the treaty and then suddenly act surprised. “Wait a minute! I thought WE won!”

Today I am grateful for:  Mornings

Thinking about photography

Now that the holidays are over, I’m hoping to get back to learning more about photography and darkroom stuff.  Here’s a Pulitzer Prize collection for your browsing. Enjoy.

Deep Thought: I’m not afraid of insects taking over the world, and you know why? It would take about a billion ants just to aim a gun at me, let alone fire it. And you know what I’m doing while they’re aiming at me? I just sort of slip off to the side, and then suddenly run up and kick the gun out of their hands.

Today I am grateful for: Fine point gel pens

Stiff Upper Lip

These words of simple advice from exlog got me into my car before dark this morning and sliding down my little sidestreet onto the main roads to work.  No problems all the way in.  Now I’m ready to tear into the day.

Deep Thought:  When you first start wearing a turban, probably the most common mistake is wrapping it too tight.  You have to allow the head to breathe.

Today I am grateful for:  My job

A Life of Substance

Finished reading the biography of Martha Gellhorn this morning and burst into tears because over the weeks of reading this fairly long account of her life I felt I had come to know this extraordinary woman. She was many things I am not (at least not any more) – feisty, addicted to travel, a smoker and drinker, an accomplished writer, a journalist who reported on wars from the Spanish Civil War all the way up through Vietnam and beyond and risked her life repeatedly. She had many famous friends and lovers. But I could relate to one thread of her life especially – that in spite of her gifts she was never able to sustain a truly fulfilling intimate relationship and never seemed to quite know why. She died in 1998 at the age of 90. These are the last 2 paragraphs of the book:

Then Martha took the pill she had got hold of, “I think it takes some kind of desperate courage to commit suicide, for after all, it is the totally unknown risk,” she had once written to Betsy, “that blank uncertainty, only one’s own wilful belief in nothingness is protection. I think, Betsy, that dying is a very hard business, however achieved.” Was Martha, who had found living so hard, afraid? Were there those last few minutes of “desperate suffocation” before unconsciousness? There was no sign of fear on her face when she was found by Victoria Glendinning on Sunday morning

In her will, Martha had asked that there be a gathering for her friends at which to remember her. It took place at Cadogan Square a week later, and the forty or so people who came laughed and drank, as she had wished, and talked about the many times they had sat in these rooms, laughing and drinking with her. Some were meeting for the first time, Martha’s determination to keep her friends separate having persisted to the end. A few days later, Alfred, Sandy Gellhorn, and Sandy Matthews took a boat down the Thames and threw Martha’s ashes, as she had stipulated, into the fast-flowing water on an outgoing tide for the “last travels.” With them, among the ashes, went some long-stemmed roses.

Deep Thought: If you want to be the popular one at a party, here’s a good thing to do: Go up to some people who are talking and laughing and say, “well, technically that’s illegal.” It might fit in with what somebody just said. And even if it doesn’t, so what, I hate this stupid party.
Today I am grateful for: Never having been married to Ernest Hemingway

Deep Thought: If you were a gladiator in olden days, I bet the inefficiency of how the gladiator fights were organized and scheduled would just drive you up a wall.
Today I am grateful for: Humor
P.S. Yesterday was the Day from Hell, so I’m not going to even write about it, just laugh it off.