Published in Original Philosophy·Jun 23Why Are Indigenous Marginalized in Contemporary U.S. Society?This war did not spring up on our land, this war was brought upon Us by the children of the Great Father who came to take our land without a price, and who, in our land, do a great many evil things… This war has come from robbery — from…Philosophy13 min read
Published in Original Philosophy·Jun 19Why Write About Indigenous People?Why a non Indigenous person started studying and writing about Indigenous People — Paha Sapa and its spirits and its mysteries, its vast pine forests, and its billion dollars in gold pass forever from the hands of the Indians into the domain of the United States¹. — Dee Brown · Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Now that Indigenous People are starting to…Philosophy6 min read
Apr 21When Judgment is in Bad FaithHow misunderstood scripture threatens Melissa Lucio’s life: Some thoughts on why we live in a punitive rather than a forgiving society. — Do you see law and order? There is nothing but disorder, and instead of law there is the illusion of security. It is an illusion because it is built on a long history of injustices: racism, criminality, and the genocide of millions. Many people say it is insane to resist…Human Rights6 min read
Apr 11Shedding Our Imperialist TiesLet’s Give ‘America’ a New Name — I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. — Mikhail Bakunin They got us. We are all complicit in the hatred and injustice we read about because our actions obey our government’s will. You don’t have to be a hater. No one living…United States6 min read
Apr 7What Matters to Attention Spans?9 Things That Will Sharpen Your Focus — Concentrating intently on anything is very hard work. — David foster Wallace, Infinite Jest Paying attention involves the measurement of two things. 1. The quality of attention paid to something. 2. How long that quality can be sustained. This post is a companion to an earlier one on Simone Weil’s…Healthy Foods12 min read
Mar 18In Praise of DistractionHow inspiration comes from skipping work — Not all those who wander are lost. — J R R Tolkien Attention is difficult. Whether it’s off the topic reading for a post or leaving off work because it’s nice out, I get immersed in activities that have no expected productive value. …Philosophy6 min read
Mar 16Attention → KindnessHow Simone Weil’s radical conception of attention leads us to be kinder. — Everything beautiful has a mark of eternity. — Simone Weil Attention is like the unconscious. When we pay attention, we take in all stimuli around us without forming a judgment — and our desire becomes what we act on from what we have observed. Simone Weil’s concept of attention devalues…Philosophy5 min read
Feb 28Man Down: Timothy ThomasWhat the life of a man murdered twenty-one years ago can teach us about the world we live in today. — This is the problem with the United States: there’s no leadership. A leader would say, ‘Police brutality is an oxymoron. There are no brutal police. The minute you become brutal you’re no longer police.’ So, what, we’re not dealing with police. We’re dealing with a federally authorized gang. — KRS-OneBlack Lives Matter9 min read
Feb 16Rodney King, PersonKing’s Absurd Question Calls for a Higher Standard of Life “We’re all stuck here for a little while. Let’s try to work it out.” —Rodney King “He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?” Pieces of A Man We want our heroes to walk tension lines forever. There’s a good reason movie stars become worshipped icons from common attributes—you don’t see the…Black Lives Matter5 min read
Feb 15The Three Characteristics of All Political PartiesIf the present reality appears slightly less dark, it is only because political parties have not yet swallowed everything. — Simone Weil Attention Unbroken attention is the key to solving problems. It’s troubling that one minute we have it — the next minute we don’t. …Government7 min read
