 Hubris … a cultural tick? A byproduct of empire? The USA’s version is both in my opinion. Hubris is dangerous, as we learned with our slide into permanent war since invading and occupying Afghanistan and Iraq. Hubris kills. But has there ever been an empire that acted any different? Comes with the territory (no pun intended). “Everything is Broken” yesterday delved into hubris and then switched to a life saved by going against the cultural grain. Brad Willis, a.k.a. Bhava Ram was an international war correspondent for NBC News. He pushed thru a broken back for 7 long years; he was addicted to just about anything that could stop the pain. He was also diagnosed with Stage IV cancer (courtesy of the First Gulf War depleted uranium bombs). He told us his story and his climb out of the pit of despair and self-pity. He turned to Yoga and ancient healing arts like Aruveda. Now he teaches others how to heal themselves. He described his “Type A” personality and career arc; he resolved to work harder than anyone else. He soared high; he fell hard, broken. Check out his most recent book “Warrior Pose … a War Correspondent’s Memoir … How Yoga (Literally) Saved My Life", at his website. 
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Yesterday was “radio day” with focus on the Ukraine situation and a look at the Fukishima nuclear disaster, 3 years and counting. “Everything is Broken” has this funny way of settling into common denominators. This week: the role of the media and history ignored. USA corporate media won’t spend the time putting the Ukraine into context. Why bother. After all, the populace is already stifled and pretty much under control – they think. I’m not so sure about that. Even diehard defenders of all things corporate, of all things USA, smell something amiss. Since 9/11 we have increasingly felt this cloud of suppression and been encouraged to stay willfully ignorant. So, no, we won’t hear a network bubble-head-bleach-blonde or a barking head “pundit” inform us of history in a region that is terribly complex. We won’t hear that the Rus’ people date back to the 9th century and that their capitol then was Kiev! We won’t hear that the western Ukraine was part of Poland in 1940; that Crimea wasn’t added on to the Ukraine until well after WW2. And we most definitely won’t hear of the far right, fascist roots of a “peoples rebellion” that the USA and EU lined up in immediate support of. History ignored; truth supressed. Mainstream media now has the narrative firmly in hand. “The Cold War Is Back” they bleat. Alternatively, listeners were encouraged yesterday to read about the re-emergence of the NeoCons in Robert Parry’s article in Consortium News: “Neocons Have Weathered The Storm.” These homegrown empire builders and war mongers are back on track to take out Syria and Iran. Like cockroaches, neocons keep coming at us in waves. History ignored. Lucky for us we have some fine alternative media out there, accessible to most all of us. When was the last time you heard Wikipedia referenced by anyone in the mainstream media? There is more breadth and depth there on the Ukraine than in all the soap-selling propagandist’s blather put together! Fukishima is 3 years a “China Syndrome” – 3 years of not just meltdown in 3 reactors, but MELTTHROUGHS. Our guest was RadCast founder Mimi German. She is a wealth of knowledge on all things nuke. Support RadCast; buy a Geiger counter if you can spare the cash; monitor your community. We are not just talking the fallout from Fukishima; we are talking the 100 nuke plants in USA that are past their lifetime design specs. We are talking about releases from these plants and the fallout nearby. Mimi told us of readings off the chart in Amarillo, TX that was traced to a release in Carlsbad, NM. History ignored even after Chernobyl and 3-Mile Island. History covered up. Lies to the Japanese people; lies to the world. Sorry, for the gloom and doom here today, but wilfull ignorance is no longer an option. Onward through the fog!!  Last night met my happy-camper son (new job; new girlfriend) to sample the wares of Bier International - 113th St. at Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Avenue). Some excellent selections from europe and far flung places like Sri Lanka. Not much of a vibe one way or the other, but will write that off to old man winter and a relatively early start time. They have sidewalk tables for the warm months, so will go back again once we thaw out here. Some pretty obvious signs of gentrification going on in this part of Harlem. This area is just above the northwest corner of Central Park; not too far from the big ass cathedral. Not sure how to take the gentrification part. Harlem has such a deep and vibrant culture; hate to see damage to that. Residential construction ranged from air-rights extensions over row houses to modest height towers. Nice way to end a long day of train rides and sitting on my butt for a 6-hour Photoshop seminar. |
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