Fas-cism: a political system based on a very
powerful leader, state control of social and economic life, and extreme pride
in country and race, with no expression of political disagreement allowed. (Cambridge Dictionary)
A Long Hot Summer This
past summer I read Arundhati Roy's War
Talk, which is a series of essays on some of the political, racial, and
religious tensions in the world today. It also speaks to the global militarism that exists in our
world in the wake of the Bush era's War on Terror. Roy’s essays made me painfully aware of
how bad things can get. In her native India, conflicts have become violent and bloody. She
often refers to the various fascist state governments arising in India.
On
the heels of Roy’s book, I happened to see the film, Night Train to Portugal, starring Jeremy Irons. The backdrop to the
story-line was a resistance movement in the 1970's during a fascist regime in
Portugal. I was reminded of the persistent nature of fascism in our
governmental systems. We all witnessed the disturbing events last month with white nationalists marching in Charlottesville, Virginia. Many of us were appalled that so many of the white majority, especially among white evangelical Christians, could not even bring themselves to speak out against white nationalists and Neo-Nazis in our midst. Then just last week our president, while campaigning for a senatorial candidate in Alabama, took opportunity to tap into underlying racial hatred in the name of patriotism. While making such inciting remarks, our commander-in-chief used vulgar language not usually allowed on broadcast television and certainly not used in public speeches by elected officials, yet we are seeing vulgarity and racism become the new normal in our public discourse. In the past, most of us knew to keep our racist remarks behind closed doors, but now our leaders are emboldening public expressions of bigotry. Now that our racism and bigotry are out in the open, I wonder if we will address those ills for the greater good of society, or if we will embrace them more fully to our own detriment.
Uncertain
Times
I
am coming to realize that fascism may in fact be the default mode of government
that everyone falls back to when times are crazy, unsettled, or uncertain. We
see it in our own country with white supremacy coming to the forefront in our
own political struggles. For many of us these fascist tendencies are becoming
the source of acute distress even while they have coalesced among us virtually
unnoticed.
Rabbi
Rachel Barenblat of Congregation Beth Israel
in North Adams, Massachusetts recently delivered a very honest and moving sermon for
her congregation’s High Holy Days, “After Charlottesville: a sermon for Rosh
Hashanah.” In her reflection she states,
“In recent months, when I've had cause to say,
"this isn't the America I thought I lived in," my non-white friends
have said, "...this is the America we've always known." And they've
pointed out that the fact that I'm surprised by this kind of ugliness shows
that I've never had to walk a mile in their shoes.”
Later in the sermon the rabbi goes on to point
out the difficulties we have in facing our own evil:
“It's easy to want to ignore this brokenness
altogether. And it's easy to get so caught up in the brokenness that it becomes
all we can see. The High Holidays invite us to resist both of those impulses,
and instead to live in the tension of knowing both that things are broken and
that repair is possible."
I took heart in her reminding us that even
though this world is broken, it is our calling to repair it. This is the Jewish
understanding of tikkun olam, “repair
of the world.” To read her entire message of hope and healing, visit her blog, Velveteen Rabbi.
Voices of Resistance
Many have been
speaking out in resistance to the current political climate that seeks to
suppress pluralism and equality. While we must never surrender our voice at the
ballot box, the best “resistance” may not be political, at least not in terms of
party politics. Political action is important, but not all of us are political activists.
Each of us has our own strengths and varying spheres of influence. The best
resistance may lie in the things that make our lives more awake. True
resistance may find its best expression in the arts. Often it is in the realm
of music, drama, and the visual arts that we can keep compassionate humanity
alive,regardless of who is in power at the
moment.
We can also find
those voices of resistance in education at many levels and avenues in the
community. Moreover, as Rabbi Barenblat has reminded us, our faith traditions*
can serve to repair our broken world. There can be many voices of resistance to
draw upon when we find ourselves in that “default mode” of fascist tendencies. We
can find ways to keep hope alive while we continue to strive for the common
good and justice for all.
In my next blog
post, I will share a poem I wrote when I was examining the prospects of our
“default mode” of government. ________________ * For a response from another faith tradition, see "Grace in a Time of Hate."
Earlier this year I discovered 1809 Studios on YouTube. According to their website,
1809 Studios "is a private recording studio house inside a re-purposed, 19th century
Erie Canalside Tavern. Offering relaxing surroundings, sleeping
accommodations, and combining classic & modern equipment with
reasonable prices."
A fascinating feature is that all recording groups "have full access to a bunk room, full bathroom, kitchenette,
lounge, and outdoor recreation (canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hammocking,
camp fires, etc). Here you can easily remove yourself from daily life
to focus on making the best recording of your career." It sounds like a great place for musicians to tap into their creativity and skill.
I have a friend who has been recommending Hieronymous Bogs, and I discovered he has an 1809 Studios session on YouTube. According to his website, "Bogs’s extensive catalog and tireless touring has popularized his unique
songcraft and performance style throughout New York and its surrounding
areas. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Bogs now resides in Truth or
Consequences, NM, a fine muse for his spare poetic aesthetic."
So sit back and enjoy some music from Hieronymous Bogs. For information on his tour dates, check out his website.
Last weekend, Birmingham's George's Melkite Greek-Catholic Church held its annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. It was a wonderful event, as always, with lots of delicious food, music and dancing. It was a chance to sample kibbee, falafel, spinach pies, and all sorts of foods including many delectable pastries. It was also a time to learn something about another culture, including informative tours of the church. The event reminded me that it has been a while since I made falafel at home. This is one of my prized recipes that I first shared here back in 2013.
One of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham is The Pita Stop which features Middle Eastern food. It has been in town for many years and was originally started by a Lebanese family. It was there that I first became acquainted with falafel, which immediately became my favorite thing on their menu. If you are ever in town, The Pita Stop is well worth the visit.
Years ago I was talking with a colleague about how much I liked the Middle Eastern dish. His wife was Egyptian, and he mentioned that she had a recipe and often made her own falafel. I asked if she would mind sharing the recipe, which thankfully she did. I immediately tried it at home and it is now one of my daughter’s favorites. While she was home visiting this summer, she requested that I make it again.
Here is the recipe that I have kept in the form of a handwritten note and used for years:
Ensaf's Falafel
Ingredients:
4 cups dried chick peas
2 large onions
1 whole garlic
2 bunches parsley
Hot peppers (I use 4 jalapenos in my half recipe version - 5 if you like it really spicy!)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground pepper
Preparation:
Soak the chick peas overnight, drain.
Combine chick peas, onion, garlic, parsley and hot pepper. Grind twice in an electric meat grinder.
Add salt, pepper, cumin, and baking powder. Mix thoroughly.
When ready to fry the falafel, add baking soda.
Shape into patties 1 ½ inches in diameter and ½ inch thick.
Fry in deep hot oil until light brown and crisp. (I use peanut oil in a large frying pan)
Serve hot with tomato slices in Arabic (pita) bread in the form of a sandwich with tahini sauce and sliced onion. Garnish with parsley.
The falafel batter may be frozen. Thaw and add baking soda just before frying.
* * * *
I should note that when I make this, I just make a half recipe, which is as much as I want to deal with at a time. I use a food processor to do the grinding. First, I'll grind the chick peas (I do it in small batches in the food processor) then with the second grinding, I'll add the parsley, onion, and peppers I end up with a large mixing bowl full of batter with just a half recipe. I usually have it with brown rice, sometimes with pita bread. Also, I must confess that I have never used tahini sauce when serving these at home, but I found a recipe online that looks good. You can find it here.
Thomas Merton wrote an early autobiography titled, The Seven Story Mountain. The title refers to Mount Purgatory in Dante's Divine Comedy. I don't know if Railroad Earth's song, "Seven Story Mountain," was inspired by Dante or Thomas Merton, but it is nevertheless a rich presentation, both lyrically and musically. I like to imagine it a Dante-inspired bluegrass number.
Railroad Earth, a "new grass"/Americana/roots music group was a happy
discovery for me. They took their name from the title of a short story
by Jack Kerouac, "October in the Railroad Earth."
Seven Story Mountain
Oh lord, to see a light, but fail in strength to follow,
Sometimes it's hard to let it go.
Oh lord, to fail in heart, and each day grow more hollow,
Sometimes I just don't wanna know.
But the road that led me here, it's begun to disappear.
Sometimes I wonder where I am.
Oh lord, to hear a voice, but let it fade and wallow,
Sometimes it's hard to let it to.
Oh lord, to find the words, but keep them in and swallow,
One day the top is gonna blow.
But the road that left me here, it's begun to disappear.
Sometimes I wonder who I am.
Oh lord, to stumble blind, for years without knowing,
Sunrise has burned my eyes again.
Oh lord, to crumble quiet, watching from the silence
Sunrise has burned my eyes again.
It's a seven-story mountain. It's a long, long life we live.
Got to find a light and fill my heart again.
It's a seven-story mountain. It's a long, long life ahead.
Got to find a voice and fill my throat again
Image: "Autumn On The Seine At Argenteuil" (1873) at the High Museum of Art Public Domain (courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Artist: Claude Monet (1840-1926) Medium: Oil on canvas -
Now that we are getting a hint of autumn in the air, here is a great fall recipe that is simple and easy to make. I found last year at Winn Dixie Supermarket. In fact it is from their Flavors recipe magazine that is free to WD customers.
The first time I tried it, the family declared it to be worthy of making again, so it went into my recipe file. Just last week, when my wife brought home a butternut squash from the farmers' market, I served it up again.
This vegetarian recipe can easily be adapted to vegan, which is the way I prepare it. Instead of heavy cream, I substitute coconut creamer. For the Parmesan cheese, I use Follow Your Heart brand "Dairy Free Parmesan Style Shredded Cheese Alternative." Here is the recipe as it appeared in the Winn Dixie Flavors magazine:
Butternut Squash Skillet Lasagna
Preparation
time: 15 min.
Cooking
time: 40 min.
Serves
Four
VEGETARIAN
INGREDIENTS:
1
small butternut squash (about 1 lb.), peeled, seeded, and cut into ½"
pieces
2
Tbsp. olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
2
Tbsp. chopped fresh sage
2
garlic cloves, finely chopped
Salt
and pepper
3
cups vegetable broth
1
cup heavy cream
10
curly-edged lasagna noodles, broken crosswise into 2"-long pieces
½
cup grated Parmesan cheese
½
cup walnuts, toasted and chopped coarse
SAUTÉ
squash in oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high until golden brown,
8 to 10 minutes. Stir in shallot, 1 Tbsp. sage, garlic, and ¾ tsp. salt and
cook for 30 more seconds.
STIR
broth and cream into skillet, bring to a simmer, and cook until slightly
thickened, about 5 minutes. Scatter pasta over squash, but do not stir. Cover,
reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender,
about 25 minutes.
SPRINKLE
with cheese, walnuts, and remaining 1 Tbsp. sage and serve.
Each year since 2002, we have spent time remembering the tragedy at New York City’s Twin Towers that occurred September 11, 2001. On the first anniversary, I wrote a poem to commemorate that event that left its mark upon our national psyche. Garrison Keillor, in yesterday's The Writer's Almanac shared a beautiful and thoughtful poem by Charlotte Parsons titled, "9/11."
Now, 16 years later, I wonder if we are indeed honoring those lives lost that day. I wonder if we are honoring our American ideals, In a tweet yesterday, President Barack Obama said that “No act of terror will ever change who we are.” When I look around at the state of our nation today, I can't help wondering if that is really true. Have we changed since that day when the towers fell?
We continue to launch campaigns of hate, and we fear the foreigner so much that we as a nation are threatening war on many fronts while our president seeks to dismantle hope for some of the brightest who happen to be Hispanic children of undocumented immigrants. Has terror caused us to forget who we are?
I must hasten to add that not everyone in our country is operating from fear and hatred. How we treat our immigrant neighbors, how we respond to the Islamic community, and what values we present to the world are currently being debated in the public square. While prejudice seems to be on the ascendency at the moment, we have not lost our hope for justice to prevail and for the common good to be our standard.
One of the best 9/11 commemorations that I have read is by Gary Furr, pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church and blogger at The Flat Pickin’ Pilgrim’s Progress. You can read his essay here. I highly recommend it for its broad and compassionate look at what the anniversary of 9/11 means to us.
As we think on our history, our legacy, and our travails, may we always, somehow, look to the better angels of our nature, and not grow weary in our well doing.
____________________
Photo: Two women stop to read the names of the victims lost at Ground Zero (FEMA photo by Lauren Hobart, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Walter Becker died last week at the age of 67. The jazz rock group that he and fellow musician Donald Fagan formed, Steely Dan, provided us with an easy groove soundtrack for our lives during the 1970s. When I went off to college, “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number” was all over the airwaves. You didn’t even have to buy a record to hear their music – it was usually in the background somewhere on someone’s radio or turntable.
Here are two selections: one from a live appearance in 1995 on TheLate Show withDavid Letterman. They play their 1977 hit, “Josie.” You can tell Letterman was excited to have them on his program. When he greeted them afterwards, he said, “Look kids! It’s me and Steely Dan!”
The second is their 1974 hit, “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number.”
Image: "The Sea from Capri," (1875). at the High Museum of Art
Artist: William Stanley Haseltine (1835-19000
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Public Domain, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
[Another post from my archives. This one was originally posted on February 1, 2010. It is about the unique things we can learn, or be reminded of, when we listen to our children. My daughter is now 27 years old, and I am still learning things from her, but I'll always treasure the glimpses she helped me to see from a child's point-of-view so many years ago.]
“Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18:17 (RSV)
Mircea Eliadewas a religious historian who wrote many books about mythology. He made it quite clear that ancient people were not simple-minded. They were every bit as sophisticated in their thinking as we modern people are. The difference is that their mode of thinking was mythopoeic – mythopoetic, if you will – while our modern mindset is scientific and analytical. Reading Mircea Eliade convinced me that myth is not falsehood. Myth is truth, spoken from a poetic mind set.
Robert Coles is another author I would recommend. A child psychiatrist and Harvard professor, he wrote a book called The Spirituality of Children in which he showed us that children have a much greater grasp of the truths of life than we adults often give them credit for. I think that children have that poetic sense that our ancient ancestors had and that all of us once had before it was socialized out of us.
When my daughter Elaine was six years old, I overheard a remarkable conversation between her and her playmate. They were involved in an art project painting rocks at our dining/arts-and-crafts table. Elaine (while painting a rock) said, "There's the right color! I knew God would show me."
Her friend said, "God is in my heart."
Elaine replied, "There's Mother God and Father God. Mother God is the Earth and Father God is up there watching over us." She made a big sweep of her arm as she said this. "Father God can't watch everyone at the same time, but Mother God can."
Her friend responded, "There's two – there’s God and Jesus."
To which my daughter replied, "Well, I know Mother God very well – I'm like her."
Her friend, not exactly following Elaine's statement said, "I like her to."
"Do you sway with the grass?" Elaine asked her. "Mother God sways with the grass," swaying her arms and her body back and forth as she spoke.
At six years of age, my daughter had a remarkable gift. She had latched onto a feminine identification with the divine. "I know Mother God very well – I'm like her... Mother God sways with the grass."
Elaine had talked to me before about her ideas. I once told a theologian friend of mine about a conversation I had with her about Mother God and Father God when she was four years old. She said, "It's hard for me to say something about Father God, but it's easier to talk about Mother God." I asked her why that was. She said, "Well, Father God – I don't really know him, but I know Mother God. I was in Mother God's belly before it was time to be in my mother's belly to be born. You see, I have two mothers: Mommy and Mother God."
I had marveled at her honesty and insight. My thought was that she captured the notion of the imminence of God vs. the transcendence of God. My theologian friend's comment was that Elaine's idea was "classic Meister Ekhart." Not bad company for a young observer of life. My daughter is a sophomore in college now. My hope for her is that she will always remember the God who is like her, and that she never forgets how to sway with the grass.
* * *
[As a postscript, you can see from the essay above that Elaine had an early start in art. She is now working out of an art studio and teaching art to college students after having earned her graduate degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. She currently has a studio at Ground Floor Contemporary art gallery. To view some of her artwork, visit her website athttp://efkinnaird.wix.com/elainefarleykinnaird.]
And - She has exhibits in two art shows opening this week:
If the title, "Harlem River" sounds familiar, it is because my last post had the same title. It was an original haiku inspired by Ernest Lawson's 1915 painting, "Washington Bridge, Harlem Rover." I'm dwelling on the Harlem River a bit linger because I discovered an indie rock artist, Kevin Morby who has a song called "Harlem River. Morby is a new artist to me, and I like his sound. This is from his 2013 debut album by the same name.
Image: "Washington Bridge, Harlem River," (1915) at the High Museum of Art
Artist:Ernest Lawson (1873-1939)
Medium: Oil on canvas
(Public Domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
