"The best gift you can ever give is the gift of self." Kathy Green

"The best gift you can ever give is the gift of self." Kathy Green

***** EFLIUS Day 18 ND. "You inspire others to do more. We can always do more. I so love you, brother!" I replied: What deeply touching and encouraging.........

"You inspire others to do more. We can always do more. I so love you, brother!"  I replied: What deeply touching and encouraging words. So very kind. You move me. I do what I do simply because it is where the joy is, serving from the soul in solidarity our neediest sisters and brothers. But it's also the only place that hope is, for any of us to find peace and joy in each moment of the attempt, and collectively as a species in all creation. If I understand anything it is simply that every healthy successful bit of tissue, in any plant or non-human creature,  any and every organ,  any and every individual member of a species,  does this from the instant of its creation until the instant it expires, Devotion to the neediest among it. Except for cancer, the form of existence that we westerners have embraced long ago and is now in the final stages of killing everything, unless one by one we learn to turn in a different direction. This is the entirety of what Gandhi intended when he said, be the change you wish to see in the world. We have no other responsibilities than this. And in exercising this responsibility, Breath by breath, one by one, we become a hope for the future. Each moment that we do not, we contribute to the now all but certain Doom of the future. James 

When you find people suffering enough, that you love enough, you can do, you do attempt, pretty much anything.

When you find people suffering enough, that you love enough, you can do, you do attempt, pretty much anything.

EFLIUS: We're lost, the future is lost, I can't just sit and watch, not as long as I have breath. I'm exploring US for others that are the same.

EFLIUS: We're lost, the future is lost,  I can't just sit and watch,  not as long as I have breath.  I'm exploring US for others that are the same.

Thank goodness that the sick crippling inebriating delusion that my life is my own is long past. No credit to me my life is the joy of knowing that it belongs to my neediest sisters and brothers. I regret every moment that I denied what my soul always knew.

Thank goodness that the sick crippling inebriating delusion that my life is my own is long past. No credit to me my life is the joy of knowing that it belongs to my neediest sisters and brothers. I regret every moment that I denied what my soul always knew.

As I spoke of the upcoming 3000 mile fishing Expedition the elderly man began crying. His soul got it. His soul was moved. Any hope for a habitable planet requires moving the soul.

As I spoke of the upcoming 3000 mile  fishing Expedition the elderly man began crying. His soul got it. His soul was moved. Any hope for a habitable planet requires moving the soul.

***** Little if anything has the power of the catalyst, miniscule entity massively transforms an infinitely larger whole. It pays the price of total isolation, never becoming part of the larger whole.

Little if anything has the power of the catalyst, miniscule entity massively transforms an infinitely larger whole. It pays the price of total isolation, never becoming part of the larger whole.

***** After all these years I think I figured out how to offer a way that I don't waste people's time. For those who find a deep Envy for the quality of life of a Martin Luther King jr., a Gandhi, Malala, Jesus..., and yearn for such a quality of life for themselves and those who they love, I think I have ideas and example to offer. For those who do not feel such deep Envy for the quality of life of the likes of these I think I have nothing of value to share.

***** After all these years I think I figured out how to offer a way that I don't waste people's time. For those who find a deep Envy for the quality of life of a Martin Luther King jr., a Gandhi, Malala,  Jesus..., and yearn for such a quality of life for themselves and those who they love, I think I have ideas and example to offer. For those who do not feel such deep Envy for the quality of life of the likes of these I think I have nothing of value to share.

***** Eureka! The missing proof that justice is a necessary but entirely insufficient anti violent goal: throughout my life I have wanted Justice to be a sufficient goal. 15 years ago I was.........

*****  Eureka! The missing proof that justice is a necessary but entirely insufficient anti violent goal:

Throughout my life I have wanted Justice to be a sufficient goal. 15 years ago I was told by someone that didn't like me so much, an African American  female pastor in a prestigious completely White Main Line Philadelphia Church, ''James, you love Justice more than anyone I have ever met.'' ''No,'' I respectfully replied. ''Thank you, and I can't explain just why, I know what you're referring to in me, but that isn't it. I think what you're seeing is that I may love living beings, all of creation, more than anyone that you have ever met.'' I couldn't explain why better than that. I couldn't explain why to myself, but I knew it deep in my spirit.

Several years ago in an extremely deep study of the theological scholar Dominic Crossan on the historical Jesus I almost became persuaded he was correct, when he asserted, as later has also done Harvard African American Scholar Cornel West, that Justice is loving made publicly manifest. Subsequently I realized that that is sometimes true but not necessarily true. Think of those that wield Justice, True Justice out of hatred, out of blind self-righteousness, arrogance, evil. Think of Inspector Javert in Les Mis. 

But that was not sufficient proof that justice is an insufficient goal of the anti-violent warrior.

The proof, not the proof to you, the proof to me, just clicked into place as I pedaled this 200 lb ELFusion vehicle from the Washington Monument to my abode 3 miles away. In the 90-degree heat, dehydrated, mostly uphill and with a debilitating chest cold in its third day.

Several pieces clicked into place.

1. Gandhi said that physical force is a superior choice in the case where one's wife is being raped and the only way that the husband can stop the rape is with physical Force. Gandhi cited this example many times. What clicked into place is that he never said that physical Force was justified in protecting oneself, and he always behaved as though it absolutely was not. This may be an oversight but I think not. Why would that be?

2. Gandhi was not about his own life, ultimately he was not about the life or even the Dignity of the wife being raped, nor of the husband. He was about achieving an infinitely larger good, a prevailing Justice for All of humanity, indeed for all of creation. In being about winning that greater good it is necessary to tap into the ultimate power in the universe which he described as Soul Force, truth Force, the love of a mother for her child. He cited the love of a mother for her child as the ultimate power that he tried to tap into. He never said the love of a mother for justice. He never said the love of a mother for herself. Why? Because neither of them are as powerful a moral Force for the engagement of the mass of passive onlookers as the love of a mother for her child, which involves self-sacrifice.

3. That shows the third proof which you can prove to yourself I suspect. Ask yourself which moves you more, the mother protecting herself, or the mother sacrificing her life for her child? I did not ask if you were unmoved by the mother trying to protect herself. Of course you are, of course you should be as am I. But which moves you more? The Mother Out of Love sacrificing or risking her life for her child! The Ultimate Force in the universe that the anti-violent, loving, nonviolent Warrior devotes their very being to embodying for the joy of it, because they can't do otherwise, tapping into is that Force which can only be activated in the onlookers, you in the question I asked you a moment ago, can only be tapped into in the onlookers when they witness someone offering or giving their life for a cause Beyond and greater than themselves equivalent to a greater good for another or a greater good for others. The Selma Marchers were putting their body In Harm's Way for their children, for their race, for their brothers and sisters.  The Freedom Riders, Alice Paul and her sisters,  the tens of thousands of Egyptians in Tahrir square, Malala, the school children in Soweto. And finally, number

4.  The anti-violent Warrior  the loving Warrior,  cannot tap into the ultimate power within them self  for justice, neither Justice for everyone, or just just for their self.  We don't work that way. We're not built that way. It's a function of our DNA.  Justice is a motivating force. It is not as motivating a force  as the heart connected to the well-being of another(s)  and thereby being engaged to protect the life or the Dignity of the other.  'Man hath no greater love than to lay down his life for his brother.' The ultimate need, the ultimate motivating force, of the healthy human being is meaning,  the potentially great meaning to the life of another. The definitive work on this is Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for meaning.  Whether one  got out of the death camp alive in Nazi Germany he observed was not a function of how healthy and strong the individual was coming in. It was a function of how desperately important  the inhabitant perceived it to be that they survive  so that they could get out to help someone else,  the wife,  or in the case of Frankel,  a much larger Community by publishing his psychological treatise.

The ultimate motivation that mother nature gave us was not  the desire for self-preservation, or for justice, even for justice  for the larger group.  It is to protect the very lives and dignity  of others.  Yes, she gave us the desire for justice, and the drsire to protect oneself. But if that's all she gave us, we essentially socially dependent species from the very beginning, then we would not have survived through the Millenia.  She gave us the ultimate motivation  of caring more about the group then about our own lives.  This is the only Force sufficient  to enable the anti violent Warrior  to go as far and as deep with as much courage and selflessness as an Alice Paul, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali,  and the others that we Revere have to go. This is a huge step for me.

In part I departed from the Democracy spring action a month ago because I sensed it was only about Justice. I do love justice, immensely, but I knew even then Justice is not enough. It's too little too late. Part of my long hesitation to get involved in support of what Bernie Sanders was doing was because although my soul realized that he was going for a much greater good for and all of creation , many most or near all of his followers were simply pursuing Justice and in large part Justice for themselves. I'm not opposed to that per se. I don't deny their right to do so. But I knew deep in my soul it was too little too late.

Now I have the proof I was looking for. The pursuit of justice as an end goal now is way too little way too late. These are the final nanosecond on the clock and they are ticking down.

### I would say that in my learning, experience, practice, observation, the true activist devotes their every breath to attempting to pay as much as possible of the price NOW, whatever price, including the ultimate price, for a better world... for others. I can think of.......

### I would say that in my learning, experience, practice, observation, the true activist devotes their every breath to attempting to pay as much as possible of the price NOW, whatever price, including the ultimate price, for a better world... for others. I can think of no exceptions. This is what they showed with their choices without hesitation. This is what they prepared and prepared and prepared and prepared... to do. Gandhi's words on the subject, 'I'm talking about the love of a mother for her child.' Anyone that is seriously interested in this topic that has not watched the PBS documentary, Freedom Riders, has really disabled themselves.

***** How the f*** is it that it takes a lifetime to become an effective surgeon, years to become an effective nurse, years or a lifetime to become an effective artist, years to become an effective Soldier or police person, years to become an effective gymnast or skier or a surfer... But two hours, or just a momentary self-declaration, to become an activist? 'Act' the change.......

***** How the f*** is it that it takes a lifetime to become an effective surgeon, years to become an effective nurse, years or a lifetime to become an effective artist, years to become an effective Soldier or police person, years to become an effective gymnast or skier or a surfer... But two hours, or just a momentary self-declaration, to become an activist?

'Act' the change you want to see?
'Pretend' the change you want to see?
'Occasionally use' the change you want to see?
'Mimic' the change you wish to see?
'Put on' the change you wish to see?...

(BECOME, and) BE the change you wish to see in the world... Truth-force... Soul Force... Anti-violence... Loving.

Gandhi devoted a lifetime to trying to be, trying to become, the change he wished to see in the world, the embodiment of Truth Force, the embodiment of (TOUGH) Loving, the embodiment of Soul Force. In the end he said he had just barely scratched the surface. Was he a fool? Did he have no idea of what was involved? Was he lying? One would think so if one looks at nearly all of the so-called activists since King's assassination who think it is something that they learn in two hour training, or a decision that they make, a self-declaration, or that it is as simple as not using physical violence, and then they're all set... they're activists, just like King, just like Gandhi, and the thousands alongside them that would pay any price even death rather than violate that spirit. Magic!!! So, it turns out there is a free lunch! Would it not be so nice if Muhammad Ali had not had to devote his life to becoming the greatest at both boxing and anti-violence? Would it not be nice if the Freedom Riders, if dr. King and those fighting alongside of him, had not had to go through rigorous rigorous rigorous, in King's case, lifelong training, to become that change, to become the embodiment of non-violence, to become the embodiment of loving, anti-violence?

How the f*** is it that it takes a lifetime to become an effective surgeon, years to become an effective nurse, years to become an effective gymnast or skier or a surfer... But two hours, or just a momentary self-declaration, to become an activist?

Ah, the magic of self-delusion. Sadly, Now such self-delusion is planetary suicide. Does anyone love the future enough to wake up in time? If not you, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?

### Everything I value in myself came from my dad. Most......

### Everything I value in myself came from my dad. Most amazing person, most Godly, most loving, I've ever encountered personally. Incredible blessing to me. Immense over-privilege mine, and responsibility. Just the other day I was wondering what he would think if he saw me now. Lol. The last he knew me he was in his two-million-dollar house which he had created for us, not for himself, in one of the wealthiest towns in the world. He was born into poverty. Material property. I think he would be very surprised to see me, but I think he would smile, shake his head, and not be displeased. Yeah, I can hear a warm laugh. He's been physically gone from me for about 30 years now. He and my mom were both on their second marriage and had me very late in life. Some apples fall close to the tree, some fall very far away as did my two female siblings.

### Not until tens of thousands of us would gladly die for a better future for all species will there be real hope of the real Revolution... anti-violence.

### Not until tens of thousands of us would gladly die for a better future for all species will there be real hope of the real Revolution... anti-violence.

***** James, how would you suggest we... Fill in the blank... Free Palestine, stop global warming, stop fascism in America...? My reply: If I want a Mercedes, new, from a showroom, it really doesn't matter whether I go in with dollar bills, the checkbook, a............

***** James,  how would you suggest we...  Fill in the blank...  Free Palestine,  stop global warming,  stop fascism in America...?  My reply: If I want a Mercedes, new, from a showroom, it really doesn't matter whether I go in with dollar bills, the checkbook, a credit card, a bank check... Etcetera. What matters is the amount. And, oh by the way, if I instead of the amount I go in with lip service, conversation, begging, demanding, taunting, demonstrating, tantruming, Facebook posting, article writing, meeting, 2 hour demonstration... They might tolerate it for a few moments and then they rightfully are going to get me arrested, and no onlooker will object. Lip service, words... wanting... whining, demanding... does not achieve anything worthwhile, though it does give you the total Destruction of one's credibility, moral potential, respect in the eyes of onlookers , worthiness in the eyes of onlookers. Contrary to the criminally insane dictum of my boomer generation, there is no free lunch! When enough of us heroically, lovingly, courageously, selflessly, seriously... pay enough of our own personal lives to be the price of freeing Palestine it will happen. Lip service doesn't help, in fact, it disperses our energy, gives us the delusion that we're making any difference, and totally destroys our credibility in the eyes of potential joiners. An individual, then individuals, then tens of thousands of individuals devoted their very being to get rid of Mubarak and finally it was enough. The same in the American Civil Rights Movement. The same in getting rid of South African apartheid. It is not how we pay the price. It is that we pay the price. I cannot pay the price of anyone else, but I can, or cannot, pay the entire price of my own life.

I'm quite sure that 9 months from now I will be moving out of this apartment either onto the streets or back into a homeless shelter. This has been a terrific expenditure , the rent I pay every......

I'm quite sure that 9 months from now I will be moving out of this apartment either onto the streets or back into a homeless shelter. This has been a terrific expenditure , the rent I pay every month, to give me a firm footing to launch into my advocacy for the underclass in Washington DC which is taking roughly half of my time now. As I knew, there were nonprofits that would not work with me constructively as a homeless person, that allow me to gain entry now to get a foothold as someone with an address. But when this lease is up, which I cannot break without forfeiting the monies due during the 12 months , I will move out on the basis that I have less right given my lifelong disgusting over privileged, that I have less right to this property than do thousands of people on waiting lists in this city. And on the basis that I want and need the money that goes into the rent every month for more for my sisters, brothers, children around the world and in DC far more than I need it for me.

***** I would infinitely rather be hated for what I say today, than for what I did not say today, 10 years from now.

*****  I would infinitely rather be hated for what I say today, than for what I did not say today, 10 years from now.

***** To a young Jedi: Young people can achieve what older folks cannot. If four older women had been killed in a black church bombing in the sixties it might not really have been noticed. But it was four young black girls and......

To a young Jedi: Young people can achieve what older folks cannot. If four older women had been killed in a black church bombing in the sixties it might not really have been noticed. But it was four young black girls and even this near dead hearted Nation couldn't bear the pain without some response. If Malala had been 50 years old ..... If the tens of thousands in Tahrir square  had been my age instead of your age.... Soweto..... If only you young ones could realize the power, especially you over privileged white American children, that you have to the extent that with dignity, discipline, restraint, self respect, reverence for life... you pay, or offer to pay, with your lives, which does not necessarily involve dying, but that you truly offer to pay with your lives for the future that you want for creation. This seems so unjust, but it is what life does. This seems so unjust, but it is exactly what every uniolet Warrior  that we Revere has done.  There is no other way.  It can take many forms, but there is no other way and never will be.  Everything has a price.  Violence seeks to exact that price from the other.  Non violence  is determined to pay, and or offer, that price themselves. Only cancer and violence does not. Violence in the pursuit of justice is still violence, cancer.

I put up this site which is almost The Complete Book of essays compiled by Ed Guinan on nonviolence, almost 10 years ago, as I saw it then and now to be the greatest collection on nonviolent action that I have ever seen. And this essay at this link is the greatest essay on nonviolence that I've ever seen. I hope that you consider it deeply, and share it as you think best... http://peaceandnonviolence.blogspot.com/2007/03/love-in-action-thich-nhat-hanh.html?m=1

I put up this site which is almost The Complete Book of essays compiled by Ed Guinan on nonviolence, almost 10 years ago, as I saw it then and now to be the greatest collection on nonviolent action that I have ever seen. And this essay at this link is the greatest essay on nonviolence that I've ever seen. I hope that you consider it deeply, and share it as you think best...  http://peaceandnonviolence.blogspot.com/2007/03/love-in-action-thich-nhat-hanh.html?m=1

***** All 64 of my years have taught me that Heaven is in embracing our inescapable greed and recognizing that our only choice is between pleasure and joy, and this is what we have been missing all these centuries and that this is what Jesus was on to and tried to point us toward. If I am incorrect in this then everything I've stood on that has seemed like Heaven itself for me all.......

***** All 64 of my years have taught me that Heaven is in embracing our inescapable greed and recognizing that our only choice is between pleasure and joy, and this is what we have been missing all these centuries and that this is what Jesus was on to and tried to point us toward. If I am incorrect in this then everything I've stood on that has seemed like Heaven itself for me all these last 15 years is mistaken. I don't see how that can be. I'm okay with it if I've been mistaken, but I just don't see how that can be. It explains everything that all the great souls in history including and especially that of Jesus have been living and dying to show us. If what I am saying is in fact correct, then I am not to be admired, but to be profoundly envied, zero credit to me.  You know, I think the bottom line is this,  if Jesus life is the most enviable life there ever was then what I'm saying is correct, and this is how I felt about his life from the very beginning, I envied the way I thought his life must feel, to love the world so much....  If his life was just the most admirable, then I am absolutely incorrect. James. ( Pleasure is what our nervous system rewards us with when it thinks we are satisfying me and mine. Joy is what our nervous system rewards us with when it thinks we are attempting some huge good for the neediest. ) ( This is a paraphrase of a wonderful conversation I was privileged to have with a great young social worker, of a Jesuit background, here in the city recently. )

Jewish anti-occupation activists arrested blocking ADL offices during Passover protest

http://mondoweiss.net/2016/04/jewish-anti-occupation-activists-arrested-blocking-adl-offices-during-passover-protest/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=571bcdb204d3017b5741652f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook