happy holidays american style

holiday season 2007 is upon us with a vengeance. everywhere we look- sales and decorations and ads on tv urging us to buy! buy! buy! but we aren’t buying it this year. there is a feeling that is pervading the season and it’s sadness. we have found out that we have been betrayed by- ourselves. that’s right. we have lied to each other and mistreated each other and tried to outconsume each other- and now, we are empty. we have discovered that we are not very nice people and we don’t really believe that this is the season of peace and goodwill towards mankind. it isn’t holy and it isn’t silent- there are the screams and cries of all of the millions of people we have wronged around the world. there are the sounds of warfare and of torture- and there is fear. fear that we have lost ourselves and our ideal of america. there is a fear of what we have become- the growing fascist contingent has taken over and we now see that what we thought was us living a middle class lifestyle of being waited on and having our every whim fulfilled- has actually enslaved us.

‘And maybe someday we will meet
And maybe talk and not just speak
Don’t buy the promises ’cause
There are no promises I keep,
and my reflection troubles me
so here I go

I’m not calling for a second chance,
I’m screaming at the top of my voice,
Give me reason, but don’t give me choice,
‘Cause I’ll just make the same mistake again.’

so- what to do? we can start by reclaiming our lives. i was having a conversation with my buddy spadoman today- he is on hiatus- and we were talking about taking some time to figure things out- personally, privately, spiritually. that’s what needs to happen. we need to stop. stop and give ourselves some quiet time to actually think about what is really important to us. is it family? friends? democracy? or consumerism, greed and dependency? only we can determine our fate but we are so used to delegating control to others- so used to having others make decisions for us- so used to being told what to do- that we don’t know whether to shit or go blind. we don’t have to do either. we can start by reconnecting with our families and friends- and reaching out to others. it is easier to do than one might think. human beings are social creatures and a big part of our lack of humanity comes from distancing ourselves behind walls to keep others out. you are less likely to taser your neighbor if you borrow each other’s tools. reconnect with your feelings and allow yourself to feel each one- no matter how painful. my buddy proud progressive said this to me,

“Our sadness, is something we must befriend. Its a song of our spirit , a mournful tune.”

spirituality does not come from religions that have sucked up all other religions in order to consolidate their own power and exploit the faithful. spirituality is what differentiates us from other mammals. it doesn’t come from buying 800 gifts for everyone in the free world either- and it is evident that many are feeling this during this ’season.’ sounds almost like hunting season to me. reconnecting with our roots gives us stability and if you believe in god that’s your deal. finding our humanity will not happen amongst the bargain bins at wal-mart. we don’t have to be who we are today. we can change it- we can avoid making the same mistakes over and over and over… we can break the cycle. the question is- are we ready? are we willing?

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