Thursday 16 August 2012

What If?

10 comments:

  1. I asked and I was told to do all I can to put a definite stop to Diseasivilization...but I don't know anymore how to do this.

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  2. Right now, I don't know either, Misko.
    But being vividly aware is where I am, and when the opportunity arises, I will be ready.

    Love,
    Terri in Joburg

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  3. And lonmin? they stood up, but brought violence with them too.
    Where's the line?
    What's the difference?

    peace and love T

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  4. I wrote Derrick Jensen a while ago, asking about a statement in his Dreams book where he says something along the lines of white people not being able to be indigenous. To me, learning about what it means to be indigenous by reconnecting with my own indigenous heritage (as a person of European ancestry) has helped tremendously in how I embody the work that Derrick speaks about. In fact, getting in touch with my indigenous ways was suggested to me by the Land and is deepening my relationship with it. For me, reclaiming my peoples Old Ways is helping me *be* the relationship that the planet and the worlds need to survive, specifically by relearning the all inclusive way of speaking that Life uses to communicate in. The Old Ways are in us in as much as our ancestors are in us, and that is the link to the Land that is teaching me how to do the personal work that I do.

    All the best to you Terri (and Misko!)

    -Paolo

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  5. David,
    Yeah, but you *could* say that the miners' motivation wasn't protection of the land, but increased salaries for themselves (which I totally get)..and the police were frightened.

    Paolo,
    Questions of indigeneity(??)can be tricky.Most of my ancestors are European indigenous, too, but there is enough connection with this land from all of them(in some cases, sentiment-driven)that their council is usually appropriate.And when it isn't, I have no hesitation at swearing at them. :) Oh, and I started "Dreams" myself a couple of days ago - I really, really love it so far.

    Love to both of you,
    T in J

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  6. Paolo, I feel very much the same way as what you wrote here:

    "To me, learning about what it means to be indigenous by reconnecting with my own indigenous heritage (as a person of European ancestry) has helped tremendously in how I embody the work that Derrick speaks about. In fact, getting in touch with my indigenous ways was suggested to me by the Land and is deepening my relationship with it. For me, reclaiming my peoples Old Ways is helping me *be* the relationship that the planet and the worlds need to survive, specifically by relearning the all inclusive way of speaking that Life uses to communicate in. The Old Ways are in us in as much as our ancestors are in us, and that is the link to the Land that is teaching me how to do the personal work that I do."

    A couple of years ago I realized it doesn't matter whether one comes from a family lineage that's been civilized for two generations or two hundred generations, as that is only like some very uncomfortable clothes that we've been forced to wear...and underneath that artificial clothes we are basically the same as our traditional indigenous ancestors were...except perhaps for the fact that most of us no longer have that time tested culture to back us up that our non-domesticated ancestors were born into.

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  7. "..uncomfortable clothes..."
    Yeah, pretty much exactly like that!
    Love,
    T in J

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  8. Land or family?

    Here's the thing, if these 3000 guys just resigned, how could they feed themselves, and their kin?

    I'm sorry, the comments in this thread are strangely at odds :/ We're speaking of people and land, and these primitive, illiterate blacks are closer to the land than we've been in 2000 years, but they don't have the land, or can't use it.

    Why is the rape of rock and men easier to achieve than say, small scale farming?

    peace and love

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  9. I hear you David.
    Is it something to do with the greater availablity of work on the mines as well as the relatively higher pay?
    Mining is one of those stereotypical resource-gobbling things industrial civ engages in, after all.
    Love,
    T in J

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  10. Yes, and there is a freedom to accept a position there. R4000 is more than many get, if you want it.
    But they don't have options really, it's be a rockface driller or beg at a street corner (kind of thing).
    If they all resign, the mine will hire people more desperate than them. If they destroy the mine, then they'll all starve.

    Breakdown.


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