Reckoning with War
Dear Friends of Saint Louis Mindfulness Sangha, The first of the five wonderful mindfulness trainings emphasizes cultivating reverence for life. The original version of the 12th precept of the Order of Interbeing reads: “Do not…
Category: Vietnam
Western Reverence for Life
General William Westmoreland once said “The Oriental doesn’t place The same high value on life As does a Westerner In the Orient life is cheap It doesn’t matter” The general said this in 1972 27…
Facing the Facts
1. In fact, there is no way that I know of apprehending the world from within American culture (with a whole history of exterminism and incorporation behind it) without also apprehending the imperial contest itself. …
Boeing’s Dr. King, Our Dr. King
You remember your Dr. King We remember ours You believe that in these times Dr. King would like diversity and inclusion You cite his “content of their character” “rather than the color of their skin”…
How the Powerful Talk Amongst Themselves
President Richard Nixon: “We’ve got to be thinking in terms of an all-out bombing attack [of North Vietnam]…Now, by all-out bombing attack, I am thinking about things that go far beyond…I’m thinking of the dikes,…
Would You Say Something About Old Age by Nicanor Parra
WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT OLD AGE His students once asked Of Dr. Bertrand Russell & the venerable elder replied: Old age… A time like any other For fighting for a cause that’s just –Chliean…
U.S. Ruthlessness
The leaders of the United States of Amnesia prattle on about our love for democracy, human rights, the rule of law, etc. But Abbie Hoffman knew the truth… “No one who read the fine print of…
Us, Ruthless? Never
I suspect that the Washington Post never used the word “ruthless” to describe Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger’s bombing of North Vietnam. Only the Giaps, Castros, and Arafats of the world are “ruthless.”
Who Is That Person Who Can Stay Calm?
A book I have enjoyed is Happiness by Thich Nhat Hanh. I’ve liked it so much I give it to friends for their happiness! In the book, Thầy shares various gathas, verses one recites to…
“It’s Not All about Us?”
Why is so much omitted from our most familiar Vietnam war stories? The very size, length, and complexity of the war’s history is a partial explanation, but the harder truth is that we have simply…