Latest Posts

1. Tsunami

   December 29, 2004 5:43 pm Leave a Comment

   I’ve had a visual image in my mind for months now of a Japanese woodcarving of a Shinto monk standing on the shore in front of a giant tsunami wave. His expression is calm and peaceful. He looks into the wave, and also beyond or through it. It is almost as if the wave does not exist. I imagine myself in the monk’s position, looking at a towering, inescapable wave. When I imagine this, I ponder two things: what does this metaphor represent in my life and whether or not I would stand peacefully and accept my imminent fate or run like futile hell. Viewing some of the images and movies of the waves breaching the shore in Sri Lanka and Thailand strikes my heart with such fear that I can’t help but think I would run. I don’t think of it as a premonition. Just a coincedence that I’ve been having this recurring provocation that has become shockingly real in the last few days.

   I’m also profoundly moved by the utter devistation – millions of already poor, sustinence-living people are now left with nothing but shards of wood and shreds of plastic, surrounded by death. I was filled with outrage unlike I’ve felt, even recently, when I heard that the U.S. was going to give a paultry 15 million to the relief effort. Then that number rose to 20, then 35. I can’t help but think that’s still just a few hour’s worth of war.

   To hear President Bush talk about how generous a nation we are and the spinmeisters regale us with statistics proving it still leaves me feeling empty. It also felt like a glimpse into how distorted a worldview the White House seems to have. How could they possibly have approved anyone giving a number without getting a clear picture of what was going on? It seems out of character for an otherwise bolted down administration to appear so out of synch.

   Personally, I’d rather pay my taxes knowing that there was shelter for a half million people ready to deploy at a moment’s notice than paying a defense contractor top dollar to drive empty trailers around a desert. I’d rather we put our money into mobile hospitals and water treatment plants than paying a defense contractor billions for a missile defense system that literally can’t even get off the ground.

   I know we already do great humanitarian work, and I was relieved to hear that we DO do so much. But it’s a matter of priority. I can’t help but think that the world community would be more inclined to follow our lead if we were consistently responding with the resources (not just throwing a few million dollars here and there) required to comprehensively address civil and natural crises in the same way we seem committed to comprehensively prosecute military action.

   I’d like to see us slice a few billion off the defense budget, create a rapid disaster relief corps who can be on a C-130 within hours and dropped anywhere in the world with food, water, medicine and shelter supplies. We could continue to pay the defense contractors to shift their mission so as not to piss off any lobbyists or threaten the corporate futures of cabinet members or their staff.

   I just think our national interests are better served by serving the planet instead of paying corporations to dominate it.
   

2. Wow…

   December 20, 2004 11:13 pm Leave a Comment

   Got a great review passed to me. I’m really moved by this one. http://www.ecapc.org/newspage_detail.asp?control=1231

   I’m planning a response, which also feels like a kind of declaration, so I’m feeling the need to be a bit composed about it. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of time in the next couple days to write it up – in part ’cause I’m not exactly sure what TO say.

   Played another Department of Peace benefit last night. So wonderful to see so much earnestness around MAKING peace. But I also think it’s going to take a lot more than good intentions and crystal bowl ringing and singing and such to make it happen. Nov 2 really proved that to me – even though I was busting my butt, and feel good about having done all I could do, I think there was a fair amount of complacency.

   Also got interviewed by a French website: http://www.kitetoa.com/Pages/Textes/Textes/Texte10/ian-rhett.shtml

   More (or less), but definitely later…

   i
   

3. Stumped

   December 10, 2004 10:12 am Leave a Comment

   I’ve started to update this thing several times and each time I do, I stop and go about doing something else that seems to have a greater priority. Like trying to pay my rent (which has been tough lately – work’s been slow for the last couple of months and things came to a head this week. At least I have my health, right? *cough*).

   Anyway, I read the transcript of Rumsfeld’s “town hall” with troops in Kuwait, which happened yesterday or so. The “left” press is saying how frustrated they are at his condescending tone and so forth. I think his point was valid (he said you have to go to war with the army you’ve got, not the one you want) more or less. Although I can’t for the life of me figure out how the most advanced country in the world is unable to manufacture enough armored vehicles to keep our troops safe(r).

   WHAT PISSES ME OFF is the continued insistence that our action in Iraq has anything to do with OUR freedom. To say to the men and women being shipped off to whatever their mission is at this point (sitting on powder kegs? containing our diplomatic mess?) that it has anything to do with protecting the United States is so beyond ludicrous to me. It’s actually offensive.

   We WANT to believe our government is telling us the truth, but I think those days are so far gone. Equally stunning was the story about Pat Tillman’s friendly fire death. Not that he was a casualty of friendly fire – sadly that happens as a result of war. What is so aggregious (yet again) is that the military kept this information from his family, from Sen. McCain and countless others FOR WEEKS. Not only did they keep it under wraps, they exaggerated and distorted the facts to make us think he died under dramatic circumstances befitting a hero’s death. He was shot by panicked members of his own group (split in half by a remote commander despite vigorous reservations by his lieutenant). But that’s BAD NEWS and we can’t have BAD NEWS being delivered to the country. We might start asking questions and raising concerns. And we can’t have that.

   Here’s the breakdown from my perspective: The Bush Administration is stock full of people who are oil and defense executives who are prosecuting a full-scale war based (originally) on the flimsiest of evidence that we (here in the United States) were actually threatened by the (supposed) Weapons of Mass Destruction. Somewhere along the line, the story shifted from WMD to “the world is now a safer place without Saddam”.

   Well, I’m calling Bullshit on that one. ‘Cause the world is in fact, not safer. We are now 150,000 strong in Iraq, blowing through massive amounts of money and munitions, pissing off the entire Muslim world AND MEANWHILE… NORTH KOREA isn’t exactly benign in its intentions.

   Meanwhile, we’re so distracted with Iraq that we’re not paying attention to the billions of dollars being given to corporations (as tax breaks and defense contracts) to artificially inflate the economy’s “growth” – that’s like saying your neighbor’s rich when they max out all their credit buying gadgets and new cars and crap. We’re headed for some serious wake-up callin’… You thought the dot-com bubble was bad?

   And don’t get me started on the Administration’s statements over the legitimacy of the Ukrainian elections (for those of you who’ve removed yourself from the mediastream, Ukrainians have been PEACEFULLY PROTESTING (an act which will get you arrested here in the US) the results of their election. The US has said it has concerns about the election irregularities. No mention of problems in Ohio, Fla, North Carolina, though… Noooooh….)

   Maybe my inability to post has been the logjam of frustration and utter disbelief about what’s been happening. And maybe I just needed to write it out, so I can let it pass. Like a kidney stone or something.
   

4. Redisengagement

   December 2, 2004 9:01 am Leave a Comment

   Well, it’s been an interesting few weeks since my last post. I’d worked pretty much non-stop from July 4 – November 2, and after returning from Florida, I had plenty of Life to catch up on. It’s clear to me I need to take some time off, and to disengage, at least for a short while. At the same time, I feel a tremendous concern to keep the momentum going. And not to mention the sense that there’s still an incredible amount of work to be done. I’m finding that the election results have been have been far from turning me off from politics. Instead, I’ve been finding it hard to turn off. If anything, the election has made my convictions stronger, my vision clearer, and my sense of purpose clarified.

   I’ve been songwriting again, which has been really delightful space to be in. After June of this year, I had virtually no time at all to write. I think that the involvement with the election has certainly shaded my approach to these songs. Where the first batch were pretty much all over the map, these are tending to focus more on political themes, which seems a pretty clear reflection of what’s been going on for me lately.

   My biggest passion/concern right now is Honest Elections. That there are questions about the reliability of the voting process (black box voting, voter intimidation, etc.) here in the US is outrageous to me. Especially in light of the fact that we’re dropping bombs in other parts of the world, insisting on “liberation” and “democracy”, yet our own house is isn’t in order. That so many men and women have died to preserve the right to vote strikes me as just cause for every American to be concerned that there are honest questions being raised about our own elections. It is the essence of democracy, and we simply can’t afford to allow a really messed up system (30% of voters used electronic voting, which has not been proven reliable, and audit trails have been in some cases deemed “TOO EXPENSIVE” which just totally pisses me off considering the billions we’re spending in Iraq.)

   I’m inspired, too, by the Ukranians, who are seriously going to bat for their democracy. It feels wierd and wonderful that democracy is alive there. I am frequently stunned at some of the statements made by the administration, given what’s been going on in our own electoral process.

   Anyway, I’m zonked, and gonna hit it…

5. Un-Invited

   November 2, 2004 4:05 am Leave a Comment

   An hour before I was scheduled to perform “(Didn’t Know I Was) Unamerican” at the University of Miami, I was officially Un-invited. I’d been asked a few days ago to perform “Unamerican” at the showing of Michael Moore’s “Farenheit 911” and an appearance with Lila Lipscolmb, the American mother featured in the film. After several hours of racing down the Florida’s Turnpike to get to the University in time, we got a call about an hour away saying that the University had uninvited us. The reason? “(Didn’t Know I Was) Unamerican” was “too controversial”. Believe it or not – but that’s what I was told.

   I’m having kind of a hard time believing it myself, but that was the word. Apparently, the university sponsor of the event had received a tremendous amount of pressure from the Young Republicans and the University administration about showing “Farenheit”. Their argument is/was that the Moore film was “partisan”, a violation of the policies of the University. The event producers with the film showing said they tried every angle, but could not prevail upon the decision maker to allow me to play. Even singing the song without the flash video was pushing things.

   Anyway, the sponsor felt that my song would be too much, that it would be the tipping point offsetting what I perceive as the delicate balance of powers between the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of speech and the preservation of the status quo in the guise of a standard of “non-partisanship.” While I understand the standard – it seems ironic that Farenheit 9/11 was acceptable but a song about (among other things) preserving the First Amendment was not.

   It was already hot enough in the kitchen, and the host couldn’t weather it getting any hotter.

   I can empathize with the sponsor’s position – it’s a tough job market and being fired from a university job because of political controversy in today’s economic (and cultural) climate is untennable. I don’t have any hard feelings against her. I DO have hard feelings about an environment in our country when the “marketplace of ideas” our universities are supposed to foster falls victim to slimy politics that stifles valuable conversation – especially when the conversation pertains to issues of such vital importance to our future.

   It saddens me that it is becoming increasingly difficult to hold our elected officials accountable in public anymore – to ask the hard questions, to expect answers and to engage in open dialogue when the topic of conversation turns toward anything less than lockstep praise of current “official” policy.

   It is ironic that a song about the right to protest that policy and the declaration of a vision for a positive future are deemed unnacceptable in public discourse.

   Please vote, and pass the song’s URL to any University of Miami students you might know: http://www.sharedvoice.org/unamerican/

6. Full Schedule

   October 31, 2004 12:38 pm Leave a Comment

   Well, by the time the wheels hit the ground, I’d been confirmed at two Michael Moore events, and *almost* confirmed at a couple others. Here’s the rundown:

   Sunday Morning – Ebenezer United Methodist, Miami
   
   Michael Moore is speaking at this event, I’m playin. Service starts at 11:15. Feels GREAT to be playing in a church.

   Sunday Evening – St. Paul’s African Methodist, Miami
   
   “Let Justice Roll”, featuring Rev. Forbes from NYC, Senator Bob Graham, and others

   Monday @ Noon – A Michael Moore Rally in Orlando

   Monday Evening – University of Miami

   Tuesday – Open, with the possibility of playing a victory party in the evening

   Wed- Noon DPT MIAMI

   That’s the sched… Gotta run!

7. Gowin Down to Flahdah…

   October 30, 2004 8:40 am Leave a Comment

   I’m leaving in a few hours to head to Miami. I’m playing at an event called “Let Justice Roll” in Miami on Sunday night. I’ve got a little OVER a few hours worth of stuff to do before I can leave, so I’ll keep it short.

   PLEASE>>> DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN IN THE NEXT 3 DAYS !!!

   Whatever it is that occurs to you to do in the service of your country- DO IT. Rise up and be heard, America!

   More later…

8. Selling out

   October 26, 2004 8:11 am Leave a Comment

   I just posted the link to purchase my music here. It’s a strange feeling, ’cause I’ve been working so hard since January to give it away. Non-stop since July. Fact is, I love my music and want to share it. It’s a new thing to be able to do that, and it feels a little bit uncomfortable charging for it. At the same time, I’m dreaming/generating a life supported by and supporting the creation of music. I feel good having been able to put out an album in October. It just occurred to me that I beat my own deadline of December 1 for having one done. It’s not quite the 12 song masterwork I’d envisioned, but it sure as hell works for me. now i could only find the time to do some more songwriting…

9. So exciting

   October 19, 2004 8:20 pm Leave a Comment

   There is such an amazing groundswell of people aligned with the same purpose. It feels SO great to be so fully given to this effort. I’ll wake November 3 knowing I’m doing everything I can. I’m not sleeping enough, I’m not eating well, I’m literally running from place to place. Time is precious and I’m feeling like i’m using it to the very best of my ability. The “rest” is up to God. Like the outcome of all this effort? No idea. Don’t really care in the sense that I have no control over what happens as a result. I just know I’m supposed to be putting all my heart and soul into this. My game, as it has been for the last year, is to listen and act with velocity.

10. Last Words…

    October 18, 2004 11:04 am Leave a Comment

    We just had a little minor electrical fire, which in and of itself is not a big deal, per se. I was awake at 2 in the morning when I kept hearing this popping noise which from across the apartment sounded like a small animal knocking something over outside. A few minutes later, the popping continued, and occasionally the lights would dim. After a couple pop/dims I got the clue and started investigating. Went into the bathroom, hearing a buzzing sound as if coming from inside conduit. I see and smell smoke coming out ouf the outlet. Run downstairs, trace the conduit out of the bathroom, down the outside wall and back into the building, right next to a door. Conduit is hot. I kick in the door (my roommate, whose room is directly above all this slept peacefully) and disconnect the wire. In attempting to do so, a giant arc of sparks pops and some lights go out. Smoke has stopped. Buzzing has stopped. I call the FD, ’cause i’m not an electrician. They come out, sirens blazing into a silent neighborhood. They check it out, give me the thumbs up.

    I start to feel uncomfortable – mostly a mix of adrenaline rush and being pissed off. The landlord had another property that burned down because of faulty wiring. I realized tonight we don’t have smoke detectors in our place, so I’m a little uneasy about going back to sleep. Felt like I needed to say something to the world before going to sleep. That bit of thought spawned a more meta thread of thinking: If you had one thing to say to the world before you died, what would it be? I should mention that I”m not at all worried about dying or anything like that. I WILL say that I’m still a little jittery from the adrenaline rush, and I AM concerned that we don’t have fire alarms (we will when my tennant’s attorney roommate does his part in dealing with this). But the breaker’s off (although there’s a cab driver who lives upstairs who I’ve seen drunk more than once) with a big sign on it saying FIRE HAZARD and the FD said it’s all cool.

    I had a moment of feeling very close to God tonight. I just felt so grateful that I was awake and heard the noise. I connected with how excited I am about my life, and how I feel like I’m making a difference in the world.

    Without the smoke detectors and given the landlord’s track record, I dunno… Coulda not been good. So I’m whelming up with all this gratitude, and I feel how close to God I feel. How appreciative I am and how mysterious and non-physical the experience of God was at that moment. And I really wished that I could relate to God like I can another human. To see, to touch, to smell and hold and joke around with. And as I was thinking that, I “thought”… “You do all the time!” And I flashed to all my friends and the feeling of connection I have with them and the hope and inspiration I feel around most people.

    Anyway, now I’m too tired to worry about smoke detectors, much less think of what MY last words would be. I’m just gonna go with feeling satisfied that I’m living my life playing full-out and with integrity and that I’ve done everything I can do to make the world a better place. If it all ended tonight, I’d be content. I guess you can’t beat going to sleep feeling that way.