I've noticed a slight uptick in blog readership over the past couple months. Which is great! I don't write this blog to make money or anything, just as a creative outlet in a sometimes frustrating and soul-deadening world. I recognize the worldview presented here is a complicated mix of politics, culture, spirituality and personal identity. It is, after all, a complicated world: call it an attempt to rise to the challenge.Anyway I realize having written this blog at various rates for several years now — wow almost five — a lot of the writing that I'm most proud of is buried in that Blog Archives bar at left. So for the record, here are links to some of my personal favorite Cahokian posts.
Echoes of a Past Life: Gay Libre/Patria Libre
An extended account of gay life under the Sandinistas in Nicaragua back in 1986.
The Massacre Monument
An essay on making and keeping enemies from the Fort Dearborn Massacre to 9/11.
Everybody Draw Muhammad?
On Islamophobia and cartoonists.
More on Left-Wing Homophobia: My Story of Survival
In a different time and place, a young gay men discovers the Left isn't all it was made out to be.
The Terror and Beauty of Difficult Music and the Miracle of Creation
Listening to Miles Davis and other challenges.
Of Tea Parties and Things Left Unsaid
On the open secret of teabagger racism.
Echoes of a Past Life: A Ball of Mirrors
The healing power of disco.
Echoes of a Past Life: Healing Darkness
A story of spiritual transformation.
Dies Irae
My 9/11 story.
Me and the Chairman
My surprising friendship with Chairman Mao.
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It all adds up to a crazy few hundred posts. Press any of the labels at right for what I hope is a stimulating collection of images and ideas. Thanks for stopping by!
It's a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon!
ReplyDeleteRe: Patria Libre Very interesting story of the times. I have to admit that in the back of my head while I was reading I kept hearing this song, from when I was a kid:
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/ghODSmlPY6E
Then I had to look up the timeline for Managua Nicaragua - this happy time in the song must have been brief. It seems this place has lived for centuries either plagued by natural disasters (earthquakes) or man-made disasters (US involvement).
Odd that little song would stick in my head so well for so many years.
So you laid out my weekend reading, I will be busy.
Oh what a cool video Annie. Sort of chilling...since most of what you see was destroyed in the earthquake; and also it seems to be a bunch of rich people and Americans, which is what the revolution overthrew.
ReplyDeleteI had heard of that song, but I had the lyrics a little wrong. Thanks for finding it.
Ish- so much to respond to:
ReplyDeleteMiles Davis, yes, incredible. I took my daughter to see him perform in Los Angeles one time; she remembers my telling her “this man is one of a kind”. He could do things with a horn that others could never dream of. Such a talent.
9/11 – a terrible memory, but what a memory. It was an event that touched so many people near and far. It was insightful to hear you tell your ‘being there’ recount. We do need to move on in a positive way. And as bad as it was, it’s not the worst thing that has happened or is happening.
Homophobia – Now 55 years later I am aware of many of my high school friends that are gay or lesbian. It wasn’t even thought about in school, we had ‘sissy’ boys that didn’t go in for rough and tumble sports – they weren’t thought of as gay though. They were my friends, my neat friends that were artistic or could sing or even cheerlead. And we had ‘tom-boys’, that was me, dragging my doll to the corner vacant lot to take up a game of baseball or football with the boys. I had other ‘tom-boy’ friends, they were fun. We liked to climb trees, ride bikes and get dirty.
As years went by many of these friends never married but instead developed a friendship with someone of the same sex or stayed single and alone. I’m in email contact with these old high school chums but have never sat down to discuss with them what is was like in those days or even when they became aware of being gay. I suppose that is sad in and of itself.
I have a brother who I ‘presume’ is gay, but until he comes out and tells me point-blank that he is, I suppose I shouldn’t presume. We do have a laugh now and then about his love of ‘sequined’ garments, so I suppose I should take it that in a way he has told me.
I guess I will leave it at that. I enjoyed your “My Favorite Things” – it was nice to get a bit caught up on ‘you’ whatever your nom de plume may be. Some days it is hard just staying current with everyone – and catching up when you are an Annie Come Lately is near impossible.
My Un-favorite Thing - Racist Jokes
ReplyDeleteReplied to an email today a "joke" about Obama and Muslims. It just pissed me off, so I fired back that I didn't find any funny about racist jokes. I got this back:
"I do not believe in racism but I do believe I have the right to make jokes as long as I make jokes equally about all races."
What kind of stupid logic is that?!!
Annie thanks for all the feedback. And I've really enjoyed being let in on your own world by your blog as well. A definite two-way street that.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your brother appreciates your judgment-free attitude. I have some relatives who I wasn't sure how they'd react to me being who I am at first, and that unconditional love bit really makes a difference.
As for your humoristically challenged friend, how many times have I heard that line? It's textbook denial. Calling out racism is so important.