Helping?

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Politics of the Mind

In today’s public political discourse what matters most, and what gets one elected, is not whether you can think critically about the issues and extrapolate creative solutions.  Rather, it’s more about how well one can frame the issue and sell it.  Words are powerful representations of cognitively unpacked assumptions.  For example, the word socialist, liberal, right wing, [...]

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Democracy Matters

Insights from Cornel West, professor of philosophy at Princeton University, on the state of our Democracy’s “progress”:
The problems plaguing our democracy are not only ones of disaffection and disillusionment. The greatest threats come in the form of the rise of three dominating, antidemocratic dogmas. These three dogmas, promoted by the most powerful forces in our [...]

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Thinking

Philosopher and critic Michel Foucault:
Thought does exist, both beyond and underneath systems and edifices of discourse. It is something that is often hidden but always drives everyday behaviors. There is always a little thought occurring even in the most stupid institutions; there is always thought even in silent habits. Criticism consists in uncovering that thought [...]

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Life Itself

 

From Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night:
I became drunk with the beauty and singing rhythm of it, and for a moment I lost myself – actually lost my life.  I was set free!  I dissolved in the sea, became white sails and flying spray, became beauty and rhythm, became moonlight and ship and the [...]

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The Cure for Pain

And here tonight while the stars are blacking out
With every hope and dream I’ve ever had in doubt
I’ve spent ten years trying to sing these doubts away
But the water keeps on falling from my eyes
And heaven knows, heaven knows
I tried to find a cure for the pain
Oh my Lord! To suffer [...]

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