4/28. The Europeans and their descendants were ordained by destiny to rule all of America. They were.... Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

The Europeans and their descendants were ordained by destiny to rule all of America. They were the dominant race and therefore responsible for the Indians—along with their lands, their forests, and their mineral wealth. Only the New Englanders, who had destroyed or driven out all their Indians, spoke against Manifest Destiny.
In 1850, although none of the Modocs, Mohaves, Paiutes, Shastas, Yumas, or a hundred other lesser-known tribes along the Pacific Coast were consulted on the matter, California became the thirty-first state of the Union. In the mountains of Colorado gold was discovered, and new hordes of prospectors swarmed across the Plains. Two vast new territories were organized, Kansas and Nebraska, encompassing virtually all the country of the Plains tribes. In 1858 Minnesota became a state, its boundaries being extended a hundred miles beyond the 95th meridian, the “permanent Indian frontier.”

4/28. To justify these breaches of the “permanent Indian frontier,” the policy makers in Washington invented Manifest Destiny, a term which lifted land hunger to a lofty plane. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

To justify these breaches of the “permanent Indian frontier,” the policy makers in Washington invented Manifest Destiny, a term which lifted land hunger to a lofty plane.

4/28. To the Indians it seemed that these Europeans hated everything in nature—the living forests and their birds and beasts, the grassy glades, the water, the soil, and the air itself. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

To the Indians it seemed that these Europeans hated everything in nature—the living forests and their birds and beasts, the grassy glades, the water, the soil, and the air itself.

I've long thought that damage to water was collateral damage of the fossil fuel and chemical Industries. Now....

I've long thought that damage to water was collateral damage of the fossil fuel and chemical Industries. Now I realize that at the very least the bottled water industry, possibly much more profitable than the oil industry, at the very least does not weep when water supplies are destroyed. And if that's true, which it is, then is it possible that they are not supporting policies that destroy natural water supplies? Extremely unlikely.

I can think of just one profession where the requirement is to lie. Christian faith leader. Nearly every seminarian is taught the scholarly truth, that the Bible is riddled with errors. And virtually every one denies this to the world.

I can think of just one profession where the requirement is to lie. Christian faith leader. Nearly every seminarian is taught the scholarly truth, that the Bible is riddled with errors. And virtually every one denies this to the world.

Our problem is not that we haven't convinced the Republicans to stop destroying the country. Our problem is not convincing the Democrats, we....

Our problem is not that we haven't convinced the Republicans to stop destroying the country. Our problem is not convincing the Democrats, we liberals, to get off our f****** asses and devote Our Lives to giving our children a future, or to f****** die, or spend life, in prison making the attempt. (Full disclosure, so far I only face a year in prison for standing Rock.)

4/28. I met an angel last night. I was cold, wet with sweat, in the snow, having spent another 2200 calories that.....

I met an angel last night. I was cold, wet with sweat, in the snow, having spent another 2200 calories that day pedaling. Her email reply had said, you are welcome here. Turns out she's a lifelong cyclist. Weeks touring the country each year. She knows what she's doing. So extremely kind. So generous with her time and attention. So generous with her house. She prepared me a meal. She had turned up the heat in the house so I would be warm. I told her she is wind under our wings.

Corporate CEOs, my sisters and brothers all, are sociopaths, clinically. Sociopaths. There may be no exceptions to this.

Corporate CEOs, my sisters and brothers all, are sociopaths, clinically. Sociopaths. There may be no exceptions to this.

We are born to be angels to one another, no?

We are born to be angels to one another, no?

During my long battle against stage 4 cancer I finally found the path away from much of the misery but....

During my long battle against stage 4 cancer I finally found the path away from much of the misery but it took me a long time to find it and to learn to walk it well. The path? Redirecting my attention, much of it, most of it, to those people in the world in much worse need than I, and doing what I could to advocate for them and help them even if just online. Much of the misery of any disease is that it understandably but needlessly causes us to direct our attention to our self and away from those who are hurting even more.

Churchill, what a extraordinary monster. I was wrong.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10211066950662594&id=1620551416

4/27. As I travel the country my sense is that there is one group whose lives materially are okay, my generation. Why are they okay? Because we looted....

As I travel the country my sense is that there is one group whose lives materially are okay, my generation. Why are they okay? Because we looted things. And we're living off of our looting. Correction, we are existing off of our looting. I wish we would choose living, fighting for our kids and grandkids and their future, I wish we were living instead.

4/26. 50 or 60 miles today. 2500 calories. My legs, knees, are hurting. Same amount tomorrow. And the next day. The cold weather here.....

50 or 60 miles today. 2500 calories. My legs, knees, are hurting. Same amount tomorrow. And the next day. The cold weather here is making things a bit dangerous. Earlier today I was a bit frightened, I was fatigued and wet and it was raining and I didn't manage my body temperature well and got very very cold.  Pics https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10211061705651472&id=1620551416

If there were ever one, or several , or a group of people that actively worked to poison others against me, that would be sad, distressing, but okay. A painful blessing even. How so? There.......

If there were ever one, or several , or a group of people that actively worked to poison others against me, that would be sad, distressing, but okay. A painful blessing even. How so? There are very few people at any point in history , and a smaller percentage as each year goes on, that have retained sufficient Humanity to potentially move our species in a positive direction. 100% of these One in a Million are hypersensitive to spot those who would do such poisoning , they would listen, but they would reach their own conclusion. There have been such poisoners against my work and I see some indication that there are now. If, as I hope, no credit to me, I embody a Force for good, it could hardly be otherwise. This seems to be a subject that was much on Kurt vonnegut's mind. It seems it could be the central reason that he wrote Slaughterhouse-Five, to illustrate this phenomenon, using Billy Pilgrim as the means of showing the individual that insanely devoted their life to destroying Billy, Billy being person that was at least good, if not a Force for good. Curiously, one of the articles I listed to as I was traveling today was one looking at the agonizing seemingly endless struggle between Good and Evil in the country of Columbia. It was quite a worthwhile article although I found some issues regarding credibility. But I was particularly informed and enlightened as the author spoke of a particular community that is under special attack by the dark Forces in Colombia because they have simply decided to be good, to be a force of life. That is their crime. That is their sin. That is why 20 of their leaders have been killed so far this year. Simply for being consummately good. In the view of this article they are an ultimate threat because they are simply purely good. Whether or not I am good, those who are in history such as Jesus, Gandhi, King, tend to be assassinated one way or the other.   As my teacher said before me,  I came not to bring peace but to divide with a sword.  Cancer cannot be cured  unless and until  it is divided from,  identified as different than, healthy tissue. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/18/war-and-peace-and-war

I travel in the hopes of spreading that which infects me. A love for all of creation, an unwillingness to see it destroyed.

I travel in the hopes of spreading that which infects me. A love for all of creation, an unwillingness to see it destroyed.

Minneapolis st. Paul, what shockingly contrasting Spirits I find here. People......

Minneapolis st. Paul, what shockingly contrasting Spirits I find here. People that are extraordinarily and proudly hateful, unkind, vicious. People that are aggressively kind, ferociously good and pleasant. The most blatant racism that personally I've seen. And other folks of profound inclusiveness.

"My sister was at Standing Rock too, for months, said the young waiter who kindly expressed admiration for my facial tattoos. She is......

"My sister was at Standing Rock too, for months, said the young waiter who kindly expressed admiration for my facial tattoos. She is currently in New York touring with Cheryl Angel, he went on. I explained briefly my mission around the country and he expressed thanks. He's a photographer and hopes I can wait here in town until his shift is over so he can do a portrait. I told him on my I'm on my way to spend the night at the house of a water protector who runs food now to the various camps. Joe Plouff

Regarding Trump followers: which of us does not spend most of their time trying to get ahead for me and mine? Virtually all of us, right? Which of.....

Regarding Trump followers: which of us does not spend most of their time trying to get ahead for me and mine? Virtually all of us, right? Which of us deep down is really proud with how we're serving Humanity, our fellow person, by doing so? Almost none of us, right? Well the white voters for Trump rightly View that their stock goes up, their power goes up, their Prestige goes up, if not their income, with Trump. Let's be careful about the pot calling the kettle black.

Literally the nicest people I know have screwed me royally over money. 15 years ago I went $20,000 in credit card debt, I have.....

Literally the nicest people I know have screwed me royally over money. 15 years ago I went $20,000 in credit card debt, I have very good credit, to provide a short term loan so that a political refugee here illegally could enroll his worthy son to college. It was a loan that was guaranteed to be repaid within weeks. I've not seen a penny of it nor heard a word. It took me 2 years labor to pay that off. Another person to whom I devoted the better part of my life limb and Treasurer owes me many thousands of dollars and appears to have no thought of paying that. An individual who was the worthiest, most giving soul, that I saw at, worked along side of, supported, at standing rock, appears to have lied, conned me, out of 500 bucks, and much more.  "What I fear is money. Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver." Teresa of Calcutta

Upon learning that I am facing a year in prison for refusing to be bullied away from Standing Rock a friend expressed interest in what legal support I might have. My reply: I have......

Upon learning that I am facing a year in prison for refusing to be bullied away from Standing Rock a friend expressed interest in what legal support I might have. My reply: I have a court appointed lawyer so so far she has been totally useless. I don't expect that to change. I'm very disappointed that Grandma Regina who was our leader has shown zero support for, or interest in, those of us who were arrested and charged. She was arrested and not charged. Knowing this now I would have made the same decision then but it does not speak well of her leadership. I do not perceive that I have any qualified legal support, so be it.

If Jesus were to eliminate all but his people in the land of the United States, pretty much all that would be left would be the natives of North and South America.

If Jesus were to eliminate all but his people in the land of the United States, pretty much all that would be left would be the natives of North and South America.

"You will be charged with trespassing, a federal misdemeanor, and you will face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine," I was told in the days leading up to my arrest on February 23rd.......

"You will be charged with trespassing, a federal misdemeanor, and you will face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine," I was told in the days leading up to my arrest on February 23rd at Standing Rock. Had I been told that I was facing the death penalty I don't suspect that would have changed my decision to stay and stand with Grandma Regina, Ogallala Sioux Tribe, on February 23rd, standing for Native American rights, standing for human rights. I don't do cowardice. I don't run from bullying.

What a day. Hours on the internet and phone trying to find the solution to these odd sized bicycle trailer wheels I needed to replace. Several......

What a day. Hours on the internet and phone trying to find the solution to these odd sized bicycle trailer wheels I needed to replace. Several hours traveling to the bike shop that thought they could help. Serious rain much of the afternoon making traveling a bit hazardous and hypothermic as it so severely reduces visibility. Extraordinary kindness and great expertise at this large family-owned bicycle shop. The owner had done homework online and drove me in his car to another facility where we found tires and wheels that would work. My bill including parts and labor was under $7. He got upset when I objected so I simply accepted the kindness. He and his staff I believe were stirred by the mission, the vehicle, our conversation. I was wet from pedaling in the temperature outside reducing so a bit hypothermic. Presently I am resting in the home of a fellow water protector who reached out to me several days ago and aggressively and kindly offered a place for me to spend the night or maybe two. Not sure about the next couple of days. Most likely I'll begin traveling toward Wisconsin tomorrow and visit another water protector in Western Wisconsin Friday night. Not sure after that. Tired but very appreciative that things seem to be working out.

His photo is of me smiling, it's been a long time since I've done that. As I was taking a photograph of the turtles an hour ago (delayed posting) I noticed a car stopping down......

His photo is of me smiling, it's been a long time since I've done that. As I was taking a photograph of the turtles an hour ago (delayed posting) I noticed a car stopping down the country road across from me. after a while a tall handsome middle-aged fellow begin walking on his side of the street toward the vehicle, hesitant. I said hello and he said hello. We had the most wonderful, painful, sad, Joyous 10 minute conversation, tho I'm afraid I did most of the talking. Frequently he was obviously choking back emotion. I don't think it was what I said as much as he was feeling less alone. About depression, was I ever depressed, did I ever feel sad. He wanted to know my experience because I believe those feelings are Central to him. As I've written and spoken before, I shared with him that only someone that is insane would not be occasionally depressed and sad given the destruction of everything of value going on before eyes. No disrespect to anyone else it is the most important face to face interchange I can recall having in many many days or maybe weeks. We discussed the turtles that I was photographing and with great joy he mentioned Turtle tunnel 2 miles ahead which indeed I went over. He was so glad that in the not-too-distant past efforts had been made to provide a safe Crossing for those Turtles from one wetland to the other. When I mention Standing Rock he also choked Back eMotion, saying that it was very emotional for him. He did not elaborate further and I did not invade his privacy to ask. I didn't mention to him the year in prison for being there I face. Such a privilege, such a joy, to connect heart to heart, soul to soul, with another person. So rare.

Self satisfaction is considered a virtue in this Society, no? I'm sitting....

Self satisfaction is considered a virtue in this Society, no? I'm sitting in a country cafe in a rapidly gentrifying area. Shortly I had to turn on White Noise because I couldn't stand the self-satisfied conversations around me. Everything for our children and grandchildren is rapidly disintegrating, economy, democracy, global environment. And with a Vengeance the folks here talk about everything but what's important. I spoke with a nice fellow earlier when I arrived and he considers himself a Christian. We had a nice respectful conversation. And he was very genuine. And I was certain that I saw wheels turning in his mind reflexively determining how to fit everything I said in a box that was comfortable to him and let him stay unmoved and self-satisfied. This is not unique. But I just haven't thought about it. It is a reflex that our sick culture builds into us, no? How absolutely deadly.

To try and keep my own walk real, one of the devices that I use is to imagine the parents of Syrian children, or Palestinian children in Gaza, watching me and what I do. And if I, take.....

To try and keep my own walk real, one of the devices that I use is to imagine the parents of Syrian children, or Palestinian children in Gaza, watching me and what I do. And if I, take care of myself, I try to imagine whether they would agree that I am taking care of myself or being criminally self-indulgent as is the American way and as I have done most of my years. To try and keep it real I have them armed with AK-47 rifles which they would be only too happy to use if I deceive myself and misuse my life to further indulge myself rather than serve the neediest on Earth. This helps me walk a path I experience as joyful, one of meaning. I wish more people would find a similar path. But that is ultimately up to them. I with my last breath I will walk the path for the joy of it and there by point the way.

"James, you would go to the mouth of Hell singing Hallelujah, right," a kind friend asked? "I have found no price......

"James, you would go to the mouth of Hell singing Hallelujah, right," a kind friend asked? "I have found no price that I wouldn't gladly pay to alter the horrific future faced by Humanity and all creation. On near-death hunger strikes more than I can count I've been at death's door and wanted to go through but there was no one there to collect the price. For staying and documenting Grandma Regina I face $3,000 in fine and a year in prison as do the 48 of us that remained. I know if no price I wouldn't gladly pay."

To those of you helping ease my credit card debt, bless your hearts. All the repair work done, necessary given the callous heavy-handedness of our sisters and brothers in uniform at Standing Rock, and their agents, all of that has been financed on credit card debt as......

To those of you helping ease my credit card debt, bless your hearts. All the repair work done, necessary given the callous heavy-handedness of our sisters and brothers in uniform at Standing Rock, and their agents, all of that has been financed on credit card debt as has been any lodging at bottom rate motels or state parks, food, as the mission around the country to stir hearts has resumed. The donations from those of you recent and in the past is deeply appreciated, wind under the wings of this work..

Are you a missionary, she asked? I was walking out.......

Are you a missionary, she asked? I was walking out to get something from the vehicle having checked into this non corporate coffee shop so that the vehicle, starve the corporate state, could be in this town on the Main Street for three hours or so. This after purchasing a replacement 16 inch tire for the trailer from a local bike shop Although I could have saved a couple of bucks at Walmart just a mile away. I don't freeload and what money I have I'd rather go to a tip than toward purchasing a product so I have a slightly expired, half off, $1.56 muffin in front of me and I'm nursing coffee from the earlier stop. Are you a missionary, she asked? She had seen my shirt. I didn't know how to answer the question, so I thought for a minute and replied, yes, I suppose that I am.

'James, you are the person from standing rock that I will continue to support in your work. I don't....

'James, you are the person from standing rock that I will continue to support in your work. I don't have much but when I can I'll help you.' This from the dearest soul, that I worked alongside at Standing Rock. A white person, like me, who work themselves sick for the good of the camp and to my eyes, received little more than reverse discrimination in return. The goodness of this person was mistaken for either weakness or vulnerability. I'm deeply touched by the donation just made. And more touched by the faith in me and my work. I replied:  "Bless your heart. Your contributions is a lot and your faith in my work means a great deal. I have almost no active support. This could be evidence that I am wasting my life but I don't think it is. I'm doing the best I know how with every breath. Your kind words mean a lot to me."