“Cannabis Gospel”

The article’s on its fifth draft. It’s almost finished, but I still need to weed out some of the words that made it lengthy. I’ve gone from 2000+ to just under 1300. I need to remove 200 words and then we’ve got the final draft. Hopefully, I didn’t take out anything important. I’m thinking of writing a similar one on Associated Content, but who knows.

The title took a change going from the working title “Vision Quest,” to the more humorist title “Cannabis Gospel.” I seriously don’t want the whole thing to make it sound like I’m promoting it. However, in many ways, I think I am. Not because I’m a stoner, because I haven’t touched cannabis since 2004 and I don’t plan to touch again, but because the world needs this. This country needs this. We need to remove all the clutter of bad emotional thoughts and have a new zeitgeist. No more blind faith. No more evangelicals on TV preaching for money.

Moving on: Nueva Onda Poets’ Society has been reinvented. And while founder Amado doesn’t call it that, those of us who were concocting without him thought it was a great idea. Now that he’s back in the scene, we’re happy.

Last night, however, didn’t turn out quite the way I wished it would. The scene was great, but Jyg wasn’t there. I’m afraid without her there supporting me, then I shouldn’t even bother. I know that’s pretty stupid to think but that’s the way I feel. She’s my balance, my rock. While some of you have religion, I have Jyg.

We were supposed to hold a memorial service to Raul Salinas, but  Amado said he’ll hold another one in actual memorial for him. Which is good because the Chicano Poet needs to to remembered. If not for the world to morn, then for us to.

Which brings me to my other topic. I uncovered an essay I wrote for my South Texas Writers course. I’m thinking of revamping it and posting it on Associated Content as well. I know I should try to do something bigger, but these writings should be free to the public and not kept inside a magazine that’ll cost and arm or a leg, or not in stock at your local bookstore. A printed copy may exist, but it’s doubtful.

However, I know how I want to start it off:

“Somos Chicanos. We are the those shoved in the corner and forgotten. We are the ones whose parents swam across the river, whose land was stolen, who has survived on broken promises.”

I’ll be sure to link it here when I’m done.

A letter to the nation’s leaders, present and future

“Here is my advice as we begin the century that will lead to 2081. First, guard the freedom of ideas at all costs. Be alert that dictators have always played on the natural human tendency to blame others and to oversimplify. And don’t regard yourself as a guardian of freedom unless you respect and preserve the rights of people you disagree with to free, public, unhampered expression.”

—-Gerard K. O’Neil, 2081

Dear sirs and madams:

In the last seven years have seen atrocities done in the name of freedom. Wars have been waged, political icons assassinated, civil liberties denied, amnesty hold ups, imprisonment of the innocent, attacks on free speech, attacks on religion, attack on our moral fiber. I don’t think my generation will ever see something as horrific as the gross attacks we experienced on 11 September 2001. I fear that my generation will look back to this time and say, “We failed. We failed ourselves; we failed our children; we failed on the dream.”

Each day, a young man or woman, most just out of high school, enlist in the arm forces with false information. The war we’re fighting isn’t for our freedom. It isn’t even for the national security. Each and every day, I hear that I should support our troops because they allow me to have a voice in this country. I no longer will stand for such chicanery. We have accept the truth. And we want a change in our nation.

On 4 November 2008, we will march and we will vote for the one who is most likely to lead us out of the mess that this last administration has gotten us into. We will see to it that no Republican, or Democrat, or any political figure, will ever deceive a nation during its weakest moment.

Today is Presidents’ Day. Schools across the nation are learning the history of the two most important figures our history has to offer. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are remembered for their part in shaping the country; they both led wars against and enemy who wanted to steal our natural, and to some god-given, rights.

We have lost our way. We have lost the reason why this country was founded. We have witness that the First Amendment means nothing to those in power. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to speak up in a public crowd and disagree with the President of the United States of America.

We’ve witness mothers being ignored for the death of their sons; children sacrificed for oil; politicians use the media like Fox News, CNN, a ton of other outlets as marionette puppets, hurrahing a pointless war effort; a PATRIOT Act was established and signed on 26 October 2001 in order to protect our national security. No congressman bothered to read the ACT before voting it in.

The irony of the PATRIOT ACT is that it managed to eat away at our freedoms. The people in charge–we, as well, for we turned a blind apathetic eye towards the system because of fear and ignorance–have failed to protect us and continue to fail in order to access some personal wealth, personal vengeance.

Ward Churchill wrote:

“On Sept. 12, while seeking to explain the reason underlying the 9-1-1 attack to the American people, he has explained that it’s because “they hate our freedom.” Thereafter, in apparent acknowledgment of the power “they” possess, he and selected congressional leaders team up to abolish what little remains of freedom in the U.S…” (254)

No one else comes to mind on the subject of freedom like Martin Luther King, Jr. On 28 August 1963 he stood at the Lincoln Memorial and made the now famous, possibly then infamous, “I Have a Dream” speech. Violence was never the answer to the pains of suffering. The word was mightier than the sword, the pen the excaliber of Camelot. He stood there and proclaimed, demanded, shouted, professed for his freedom. They had marched to the capital to “cash a check.” The monetary funds was freedom. They would not accept the excuse of “insufficient funds.

“When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (650)

What freedoms have we seen? What amnesty has been created for my brothers on the other side of the border? A new zeitgeist has been sweeping through the valleys of our nations, creating hatred, where there should be love. And our politicians act on this to gain their momentum.

Freedom is our right by birth. Nothing the unlawful harming of others, of a society, of a human, child, woman, man, brother, sister, mother, father, uncle, aunt, grandparents, etc. shall ever take away such freedom.

As Thomas Paine said, “ignorance, neglect, or contempt of human rights” begets “public misfortunes and corruptions of Government.” (119). We, as a nation, vow to no longer to ignore the government, its policies and its wars. We, as a nation, vow to no longer neglect the rights of others and of ourselves.

We have “sacred rights” that we must adhere to. And not just as a country, but as a universal whole.

“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression.” –Thomas Paine

We must call a “farewell to arms.” We must lay down the sword. If you want to be considered Christians, then you must follow Christ’s Sermon on the Mount:

“You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you not to resist him who is evil; rather whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also….You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”

“War, always an evil, is sometimes the lesser of two evils.” We shall remember this. War is only necessary when it threatens our way of life. Vow to never again lead us to war where no threat, no enemy of our freedom lives. We shall keep close vigilance on the capital for this.

“Politicians react to terrorism by limiting liberties, the West’s most cherished possession, in hopes of facilitating the capture of the minuscule percentage of people who are zealots intent on perpetrating atrocities.” No politician shall be granted permission to eliminated, liquidate, annihilated the freedoms of his nation, or any nation.

As Thomas Paine states:

“The Law ought to prohibit only actions hurtful to society. What is not prohibited by the law should not be hindered; nor should any one be compelled to that which the law does not require.

“”No man ought to be molested on account of his opinions, not even on account of his religious opinions, provided his avowal of them does not disturb the public order established by the law.” (120-121)

We must protect our brothers. We must give a passageway for those hardworking who want to be here. In order to do so, immigration laws must be reformed. Militia groups like the Minute Men, who impose racism and violence, fear tactics to the brown colored women, men and children, guarding the border with fire arms shall no longer be needed. Racists and white supremacists have no part in our new free world.

I ask of you to bring down the ways that the government has been playing its cards. We must no longer allow mass genocide of children in foreign nations to go on, while we point fingers at abortionists. We shall no longer kill innocent civilians. We shall no longer bomb a country in the midst of night to flex our muscle.

A war must only be implemented on those responsible for attacks on US soil. No one else, unless back with proper and real evidence, shall shoulder the blame.

We ask you to remove the troops from Iraq so that no mother shall ever have to go through another child’s death.

We call for change. We call for peace. We call for truth.

Which of you is willing to answer?

Shemshemet Ministry & 90 Day Jane

I’ve been doing a lot of research on the Shemshemet Ministry, a South Texas branch of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, which was started by Roger Christie. The Shemshemet Ministry was established by Rev. Adam E. Zuniga of Edinburg, TX. It’s a rather interesting piece that I chose, even though The Monitor already beat me to the punch. The difference between mine will be that’ll actually be informational rather than taking Adam out and shooting–not literally, of course.

The piece I’m referring to has spread like wild fire through out Cannabis forums across the internet. I’d link the article, but then that would be giving the writer, whom I have no respect for, more publicity than she needs. You can find it online if you’re really desperate in knowing what she wrote. But the way she wrote it made me feel that she was condescending towards his beliefs and how she seemed to paint him as a delusional person who wants to smoke cannabis (I vowed to do my best never to use the terms marijuana, weed, pot, etc. when referring to his sacrament).

My article, that I’m writing for South Texas Nation will be on him, his ministry, but mainly the legality of the choice. I have more information than I wanted, so I’m thinking of making a short documentary piece on the subject, hopefully with the aid of Rev. Zuniga and those like him. It’ll be short and based in the Valley. I’m hoping to also get a few representatives of along for the ride. I’m think Aaron Pena because he’s from Edinburg and that makes perfect sense to me.

On to another topic. I’ve been contemplating what I wanted this blog to be about. I already have a-what’s-going-on-in-my-life styled blog, two actually, so I didn’t need another one. After reading an article in a writing journal, I decided it’d be best if I had a writer’s blog as well.

So as I contemplated the fate of this blog, I came across 90 Day Jane. I’m not opposed to suicide, though I’d never have the weakness to do it myself. Let’s face the facts, however. I suffer from depression and anxiety, so suicide has been an idea in the back of my head. I don’t think I could do it, and I don’t want to ever believe that I’m weak enough to ever take my life. But the thing is, it’s still there. I know I run the risk of my personal life being exploited on the internet where potential and current employers may read, but it’s a serious condition and I feel I should address it in at least one of these blogs.

However, and I quote from the 90 Day Jane blog, Jane states the following:

This blog is not a cry for help or even to get attention. It’s simply a public record of my last 90 days in existence. I’m not depressed and nothing extremely horrible has lead me to this decision. But, does it really have to? I mean, as an atheist I feel life has no greater purpose. My generation has had no great depression, no great war and our biggest obstacle is beating Halo 3.

I feel great shame about this whole thing. The media whore she’ll most likely is/will be in the future compels me to believe that there is in fact a hidden agenda. I’m not the one who feels this. There are many blogs out there that are saying the same thing. For instance, Friendly Atheist has also commented on the count down blog.

What I find great shame is the fact she noted that she is an atheist and life has no greater purpose. First of all, let’s get the facts straight. I’m an agnostic because if I can’t commit myself to believing in something that I cannot see, touch, hear, etc., then I cannot, by the same logic, deny the existence of a higher being. I cannot touch, see or smell certain gases, but I do have empirical data that they exist. I cannot touch, see or smell the evolution of man, and I still adhere to that theory because of the same reason.

However, to feel because you are an atheist that there is no greater reason to exist, to go on, to live, because of your non belief in a higher being, is just ludicrous. Even Buddhists believe in a similar thought:

“…every one must bear the burden of his own sins, that every man must be the fabricator of his own salvation, that not even a God can do for man what self-help in the form of self-conquest and self-emancipation can accomplish.” (Goddard, A Buddhist Bible, 3-4)

I know Jane isn’t worried about sin, but is focused that if she doesn’t believe in the possibility of a heaven and hell (a reward and a punishment), then life must not have a purpose. Wrong! Life is purpose. You don’t need a higher being to give you purpose. Existentialists have seemingly come out of the woodwork for Jane. Life’s greater purpose is only chosen by the person who is living. If you feel you have no purpose it’s because you have chosen not to have purpose.

Albert Camus wrote:

“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest–whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind has nine or twelve categories–comes afterwards.

“I have never seen anyone die for the ontological argument… On the other hand, I see many people die because they judge that life is not worth living. I see others paradoxically getting killed for the ideas or illusions that give them a reason for living (what is called a reason for living is always an excellent reason for dying).”

What reason does Jane have for dying? For the sole reason that life has no reason. If I could communicate with Jane, I’d ask this one question: If life has no meaning, then why are we here? There must be a reason, otherwise we wouldn’t exist. Each of us has a reason born within. Whether it was given to us by some higher being, or if it was given to us the moment we saw that our destiny was always in our grasp. So there are reasons that we can have for living, we just need to know what it is.

How do we find out? There are many ways. What moves you the most? Does going to work on a day to day basis, clock out, go home and be with yourself or family make you happy? Then there is your reason for living. Your job. Your home. Your family. These are reasons for living. What about your dog? What about your car? The fact that you make someone that loves you smile? Do none of these things give you the will to go on? What about the small voice you make when you write? There has to be something that gives you a reason to go on in this world. And if you feel that you don’t, then there are ways of obtaining a reason. Church, religion, faith, civil service, community service, charity, donations, nonprofit organizations, things that you can actually get out there and make a difference.

And now I come full circle back to Rev. Adam E. Zuniga who told me that we all have a destiny to fulfill. He asked me in an interview, “What is your purpose? Is it to write an article and help people get their message out?”

Up until then, I had always treated article writing, this freelance job that I have because I like having a lot of free time and living poor (not true by the way). I never once, however, thought that my writing was anything more than a duty I had to fulfill in order to get money. Money makes the world go round, doesn’t it?

But what I have learned in the short period that I’ve known Adam is that there is a lot out there for me to do. I just have to take my picking. I can write for a living, that has never not been an option. However, I feel that something has sparked in me that I must push further to finding my place in this world.

I don’t have control over the events that happen in my life, but Adam did say I do have control over myself. And that’s all that matters in this world. If I am able to one day say, “What in the world was I thinking when I thought I could be an actual writer?” I could easily take my degree in English and put it to other uses. We are not stuck in the loop of having to believe in God and not having to believe in God–we actually have the choice in believing other ideas from other countries. Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.

I wonder if Jane has ever thought of that? It should be fairly simple for someone who isn’t crying out for attention or help to notice that life has meaning only when you give it meaning. We should take it by the grasps and just live.

So I’ve come to the conclusion that Jane isn’t an atheist at all, but merely a joke. I have the irking feeling that she is just the pawn, an invention of Judeo-Christians to promote the belief system. She is not a true atheist, nor does she deserve to use the term to describe herself. It has been to my belief that those who are willing to go as far as to label themselves, unless asked by the general public, that they are so and so, are using the term loosely. I for one have never considered myself a Chicano writer, but a person who happens to fall under the label Chicano by a community and just happens to write. And the only label I have ever called myself is agnostic solely because people refuse to believe there is gray area between those who are devout and those who don’t believe.

So is it a ploy? I suppose we’ll never know unless she has the ability to come back after she’s dead.

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Now playing: Manic Street Preachers-Suicide is Painless (theme from MASH)
via FoxyTunes