Beware the Pure Spirit, Let the Flesh Instruct the Mind

No secret that my life is one big ol' ball of stress. For those of you who have ever undertaken a thesis/dissertation project, you do have some idea of what my life is like right now. I'd say I'm over 75% there, it's the remaining 25% that has my "panties all up in a wad." Much of my stress is self imposed and has led to a paralysis of sorts. That's the way of my world. I look forward to completing this project and feeling the sense of accomplishment that will come with it. I'm committed, I am also feeling some wear and tear physically and emotionally. To that end, I am still trying to find some balance in my life, not there yet but working towards it. I enjoy nature. I enjoy all things flora and fauna related. So I wander around outside and I take pictures of things I find interesting. It gives me some sense of peace. "The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more." - Ralph Waldo Emerson  

So I'm grading papers today for my class and I come across this little beauty. Never mind that this particular student is severely anti-everything about this public health diversity class. I have several students like him every year, that is, they all rage against anything that would cause them to consider life from another point of view. Very ethnocentric, very religiocentric in their views and positions. Not in the least willing to consider the lives of those they would label as "Other." No matter, the class is still taught and I hope that they do come away with some consideration of the lives of others. Last week's topic dealt with examining LGBT populations as a groups and how from a health standpoint they face challenges that most folks don't even have to consider.  I had a panel of experts (college aged representatives from ETSU LGBT groups) come and discuss their lived experiences. This particular student felt the need to write about the "dangers of ...

Yanked shamelessly from Androphila: Anon asked : What’s wrong with cultural appropriation? I mean, I know it’s bad, but I need this one kind of spelled out for me. Is it always bad? Are some cases worse than others? I want to be a good anti-racist, but I fear I’m not educated enough. whatfreshhellisthis responded : Cultural appropriation exists because of centuries of: Imperialism:  more specifically, cultural imperialism which is essentially one cultural dominating another. (IE: white folks and everyone we’ve ever invaded ever. Including each other.) Racism:  justifies the appropriation by making various cultural/racial/ethic groups marginalised, oppressed and seen as inferior by the privileged group. Exoticism:  justifies commodification and objectification. Orientalism Colonisation Entitlement : thinking that oppressed people’s culture, society, and spirituality are up for grabs. Oppression Power Capitalism Unawareness of privilege:  based...

I've had a journal forever it seems over at LiveJournal, but alas, it has become a dinosaur of sorts, and there have been so many issues with the site itself.  The proverbial " mene, mene, tekel,  upharsin" is there, I am not sure how long the site will last. It's been a good journey there, and I am thankful for the site and those I have met and learned from on this site. But now "to infinity and beyond." I had an experience about a month ago that has been rolling around in my head ever since.  In my work environment, I recently had someone pull the "if you were to die tonight, do you know where you would stand with Jesus" card, unexpectedly. This person and I were having a non-religious oriented conversation and it came out of nowhere. To be honest, it took me by surprise. This person is very outwardly religious oriented (e.g., praising Jesus, reading the Bible and devotional materials and keeping them on display in their workplace) and as a rul...

I have to admit this song is an obsession for me right now. I've had it as music for awhile, but it has only been in the last week that I have really listened to this. And when I did, BAM! hit me hard. Knocked me over in fact. Ever have songs do that? Wasn't over impressed when I first heard it, so whatever moved me came internally. Jimmie Dale Gilmore certainly knew how to write a powerful ballad. Understated and performed, I can see this in my mind's eye...sorrowful and beautiful simultaneously. Expressions of longing and loss ....I've experienced this in my life. Boon or blessing I tend to feel and experience things on an intense level (this is how I would describe this - although perhaps everyone is like this - I have no way to compare). This is one of those instances where this is what I would say if I had the lyrical talent to do... great interplay of words.  If I can stay here with you Without hope or knowing what to do If I can watch the light fade away Without ...