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Read more in Solstice Fire and the Art of Service, by Eric Francis.
By Judith Gayle | Political Waves
“… the Court invalidates the marriage laws of more than half the States and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen and the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians and the Aztecs. Just who do we think we are?”
— Chief Justice John Roberts
As we contemplate the Art of Service to one another, we define what is important in our lives. When we are in service to something larger than ourselves, our lives expand with opportunity and growth. We have seen what happens when we serve only our own needs and desires, contracting into a kind of littleness that does not serve anyone. When Edgar Cayce told us that here, on planet Terra, we “serve or suffer,” I suspect he meant exactly that.
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This was the week that Chris Christy decided we needed another belligerent presidential candidate besides The Donald, whose annual Miss America/Miss Universe beefcake presentation was canceled by Hispanic channel Univision after he called illegal Mexican immigrants rapists. NBC decided to turn the “You’re Fired” meme around on him, no longer supporting him as host for Celebrity Apprentice, and Macy’s will no longer carry his menswear line. Appropriately, New York Mayor de Blazio is “reviewing his contracts with the city.” Trump being Trump, he will sue (everyone, apparently).
As fallout, the ineffectual responses to Trump’s racist allegations by candidates have moved the Hispanic community farther away from the GOP than ever, as has the Pope’s encyclical, which has galvanized Hispanic youth in support of sound environmental practice and acceptance of climate change. If you have concerns about the young ones, read America Ferrera’s take down of Trump and soothe yourself. Unless the Republican leopard can change its spots, the likelihood of their capturing the national flag anytime soon is slim.
Christy, meanwhile, has pledged not to sugarcoat any issues, not that we expected him to — he’s a Jersey boy, after all. Obama mentioned that if this funneling of candidates into the Pub locker room keeps up, they will soon have enough contenders for their own version of the Hunger Games. A chilling thought, eh?
This was also the week that the media noticed that Bernie Sanders isn’t just a scruffy old socialist curmudgeon but a viable contender for the crown. Everywhere Bernie goes, his staff has to upgrade the facility to hold more warm and enthusiastic bodies. The message is the medium here, and the medium is a grassroots populist movement that has raised over $15 million dollars of support since April, with no big donors. This deems him legit, making his race against Hillary’s well-funded war chest suddenly ‘do-able.’
Pity the Pub who still wants to demonize the word ‘socialist’ when it no longer plays with those who hear Bernie’s populist message: citizens who think fair is fair and government is meant to benefit them, not pound them into silly putty. Starting out virtually unknown, Sanders is now just 8 points behind Hillary in New Hampshire and within 19 points nationally, according to a recent poll. He has consistently drawn the largest crowds on the stump, proven by no less than 10,000 people flocking to hear him speak in Madison, Wisconsin this week. The Elizabeth Warren wing of the Dem party is alive and well and it’s got legs.
A fifth Dem, Southern centrist Jim Webb, has thrown his hat in the ring and brings a bit of gravitas with him. As a senator from Virginia, Webb voted against Shock ‘n Awe, disapproves of the war on drugs, and has populist appeal. But he also voted against women in combat (or even admitting them to our service academies) and against strict carbon emissions standards, and he has continually — and recently — defended the Confederate flag, none of which will play with the Dem base. At minimum, we now have a mix of left-leaners, almost all of them left of Ms. Clinton.
A year and a half from the next presidential election, we’re well begun in terms of defining what we want to come next. Although it seems tedious to follow the election hijinks so far in advance of the event, it feels somehow appropriate to me — at this juncture, to again quote Poppy Bush — to recognize that re-definition is exactly what we’re up to, now that so much of our national persona is bent and broken and drowned in the Republican bathtub. With all the Sturm und Drang of attempting to move us backwards into what was, a very clear assessment of what is would serve us well.
In the decision to allow same-sex marriage, each of the four conservative judges — Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Roberts — wrote his own dissent. Each followed the philosophical thread we’ve come to expect from the right, which amounts to fear and loathing of change = instability = chaos. Out of all the nonsense sputtered by Scalia (watch this excellent little Fiori ‘toon to get a sense of the lyrical word salad he mixed with these two lost decisions), the tone-deaf meanderings of Thomas, and the harsh pronouncements of Alito that remind me of Cotton Mather pounding his podium, it’s a phrase from John Roberts that grabs my attention: “Just who do we think we are?”
This was a finger pointed at the apparent hubris of attempting to change the social order that has kept the marriage bed sacred for the propagation of the species. Essentially, Roberts considers the ruling unconstitutional, although — to give him his due — his dissent seemed the most secular. And clearly, to Roberts’ thinking, messing with that ‘natural order’ brings up too many questions to juggle in one little ruling, fiddles with the old paradigm notion of a husband in ownership of both wife and child, opens the possibility of polygamy, and worse. Most dreadful of all, now anyone loathe to tolerate same-sex marriage will no doubt be vilified and called bigot!
Amazing how hypocritical this seems, flipping the zeitgeist. Now it’s the Christians who are bigots, much as it’s the racists who defend their flag without a hint of remorse for the cruelty that inspired it. Looking in that mirror isn’t for sissies, my dears — it takes a big sack, as Stephen Colbert would say, and some of us just aren’t up to it. Smell the fear?
Indeed, the gay marriage decision made Scalia so verklempt he called it “The end of democracy,” and scorched his own seat at the table by calling SCOTUS “a select, patrician, highly unrepresentative panel of nine.” I don’t recall him saying that when he ruled on Citizens United, which DID turn the democratic process on it’s head. I can’t help but think of the historical holes in their dissent, obvious enough to twist an ankle should we be unwise enough to step in one.
If we are to hold to the societal absolutes of the period in which the Constitution was brought forth, Justice Clarence Thomas would be standing at the door to the court, helping the white gentlemen with their coats. The Aztecs frequently broke open the chests of their slaves and enemies in order to raise their still-beating hearts to the crowd, a triumphant public offering and sacrifice to their cruel gods. As for marriage between one man and one woman, that is a complete cheat. The early Biblical law that later distilled itself into a one-on-one began with a plurality of wives under the same tent. We forget what is inconvenient to remember.
Still, with all the hot air wasted on this marriage argument, now encoded into law, Roberts’ question of who we are — meant as a chiding reprimand — is the most important question of the season, especially as we contemplate the snarled mess we’ve made of our Republic on this 239th national birthday weekend.
We, the People, have a very imperfect union right now. That doesn’t discount the extraordinary potential of the documents upon which our government was formed. The founders themselves were flawed humans, not holding to their own declarations. Feet of clay is the way of these things, historically. Best not to confuse the message with the messenger. Our childish mythologies about who these people were — mostly hard-nosed businessmen — must take on some reality if we’re to put a flawed past behind us, and this would be a good time to invite them off their (elitist) pedestals.
We have much to be concerned about and much to remedy, going forward, but we’re not lost yet. We still haven’t decided whether we should enter a hologram to take us back to those Good Old Days of colonialism and vigilante justice, or we’re to pitch in, each of us, to rebuild this nation with an egalitarian platform that supports a diverse and creative population. That’s up to us. That’s the assessment we must make.
That’s the question that’s finally posed itself, made clear by an embarrassment of riches in candidates like The Donald, the captain of crony capitalism and ego-speak, or Rick Perry, a delusional type who has assured the African-American population that they’re much better off voting the GOP. And even Hillary — who has more political experience than most of the others and would surely make history as the first woman president — is too busy courting Israel, to whom she promises to be a better friend than Obama, and dodging positions on the trade deal, for instance, to do more than offer lip-service to the progressive ticket.
In a perfect world there would be voices like Green Party’s Dr. Jill Stein and old friend Dennis Kucinich heard loud and clear, bypassing the muck and mire of establishment politics and big money to propose answers to that profound question at hand. Yet in this imperfect world, amazingly, we do have one like them in Sanders. The miracle of the moment is that he’s no longer considered a long shot and his message can’t be missed.
In fact, if you like the idea of a populist reformation ticket, Bernie is putting together a “series of conversations about how we can organize an unprecedented grassroots movement that takes on the greed of Wall Street and the billionaire class.” If you want to host or attend an organizational meeting at the end of this month, you can contact his campaign here.
With the election still far off, promising allegiance to any particular candidate seems premature, but sharpening our skills at grassroots organization sounds pretty productive. As for Bernie, I haven’t heard any other candidate say “They have the money, but we have the people, and if we stand together, there’s nothing we cannot accomplish.” Until any of the remaining four do — and until they convince the people of this nation (as has Bernie) that they’re just one of them, lucky to be born an American and committed to making her that place the founders hoped for — he’s my pick.
The revolution that started this nation so long ago is not dead, just resting, as they say. There’s energy stirring from the bottom up to take on the greed and avarice at the heart of our social and political problems. On a joyful occasion like the Fourth of July, with fireworks and barbeques and family gatherings all around, it would be a fine thing if our nationalism was used not to mark or defend who we were, but to celebrate and define who we will become, because that IS the question, isn’t it?
Marianne Williamson tells us we didn’t come here to play it small. Neale Donald Walsch urges us to become the best version of ourselves we can conjure. Just who DO we think we are, this Independence Day? That decision holds the design of our future.
I got excited reading this once you started writing about Bernie Sanders. I want him to win. He would be the perfect follow-up to Obama. Two people at work yesterday said they didn’t know who Sanders was, and I don’t know why I was surprised they hadn’t even heard of him. They explained how since the dubya years they’d pretty much given up on politics. I urged them strongly to do some research on Sanders. Thanks for the link to the meeting on the 29th, and for another broad-scope sage take on things.
To your question “Just who do we think we are”. Live in a foreign country and you find out real quick, what it means to be an American. I live here in Germany, if there is an emergency situation, I feel it is my responsibility to assist to help, whatever I can do to help I do it. Nobody takes it upon themselves to pitch in to help. They just stand there watching, and when it’s over they just go on about themselves. In America when there is an emergency, we become United and the more diligent to extend outward to help. We have Thanksgiving and think nothing of inviting 40 people in our house to join us in this festive day. They don’t even know their neighbors, nor would they want too.
I’ve been asked many times, why or how do all Americans have so much pride for their country. My reply is it’s been passed on from generation to generation willingly.
It is unthinkable to honor any veteran here, ours have flags at their gravesites each year, they march through our streets in a parade on Memorial Day. We even lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier each year. They are gone and forgotten here.
Every country has it’s own problems, yes, but when you can depend on your neighbor to be your friend, regardless of race or religion, that’s saying something.
Personally, I’m going with the egalitarian platform Jude, and I want to believe that it was THAT very push which brought our forefathers together to sign the Declaration of Independence. Let’s face it, Neptune was sextile Mercury (who was retrograde for Pete’s sake) at the time so details would not have been as fine a point then as they have become over the years. The reality of those days would never have included the notion of homosexual marriage for example, let alone the word gay to describe individuals who would seek such legal recognition.
In fact, I’m inclined to see the whole New Country concept as a divinely inspired undertaking unfolding over time (much like certain happenings are today); the feeling was there (Moon in Aquarius) and the Sun was conjunct Jupiter and Venus in Cancer (ruled by the Moon in Aquarius). How egalitarian can you get? The Moon (the Masses) had pen in hand (Moon conjunct Pallas the planner) so to speak, so why dilly-dally?
How fitting it is that our country’s natal Uranus is so close to the horizon (Ac-Dc line), and that it would be right next to “the other” (7th house) cusp? Breakthroughs (Uranus), then and on into the future, were going to be associated with those who weren’t “self” (ascendant) and would always go against the Grain (natal Uranus square natal Ceres). 🙂
Someone (??) decided to sign this document when the transiting Saturn (14 Libra) would sextile the ascendant of this chart (12 Sagittarius), insuring a modus operandi that would favor the ruling elite, but with the ruler of the ascendant, Jupiter, in the 7th house and opposite the 1st house (Self), there would be future challenges. Yes, something a Mercury direct might have caught.
Enter Bernie Sanders far-left stage, with transiting Eris tickling his natal Mars (23+ Aries retrograde), his natal Nessus conjunct the Chiron Discovery Degree (3+ Taurus), and his north node conjunct the U.S. Neptune in Virgo (which gave us Super Man and Capt. Marvel) we see our unexpected Hero. It probably was an inspiration on his part, he being a rather practical Virgo, but aren’t we grateful that he made the decision to run?
It was just meant to be. Bernie’s natal Uranus at 0+ Gemini, happens to be in a minor aspect called a novile (40 degrees apart) with the U.S natal Chiron at 20+ Aries, where transiting Uranus also just happens to be. You may recall that the novile is similar to an easy-peasy trine but found on a more subtle and higher vibration. Let’s face it, when transiting Jupiter at 20+ Leo struck a harmonic (trine) chord with transiting Uranus (and U.S. Chiron) it also rang Bernie’s chime. That was exact on Monday, June 22nd, but I can’t say it enough, fellow Bernie supporter, that transiting Uranus will be back at this same degree, in a novile aspect with Bernie’s Uranus and the U.S. Chiron (opposite U.S Juno) on the day the new President of the U.S. is crowned. Er, sworn in, yeah, sworn in.
Transiting Uranus will station retrograde at this degree on Sunday, July 26th, the day after trans. Venus stations retrograde square Bernie’s Uranus. Fear not, he won’t fizzle out, but he may fall back and regroup. In October before the election in 2016, there is a Full Moon at 23+ Aries (conjunct retrograde Uranus) that will conjunct his natal Mars, and transiting Mercury will be conjunct his natal Sun at 15+ Virgo. This makes me think he will have been the Democratic party’s chosen rep in the presidential race. (Transiting Uranus will be conjunct Bernie’s Mars from late May through most of June 2016 too. I don’t know when the convention is.)
After the election, in December 2016, once again transiting Uranus will station (this time direct), at 20+ Aries, making a conjunction to the U.S. Chiron and making a novile to Bernie’s Uranus. This potent repeat station might also be conjunct Bernie’s Moon, but it will certainly be just 3 degrees from his Mars.
The U.S. ascendant Sagittarius, like it’s ruler Jupiter, explains the country’s imperative to always be aligned with some ideal that is bigger than the self. I see it in individuals such as in the comments from Marilyn and Michael, and of course in your articles Jude. If enough of us get tuned into the possibility of a Bernie Sanders as our President it could be every bit as exciting as when Barack Obama was elected. Thanks for making it clear where we stand right now and how we can get involved in the revolution.
be
Yes, Judith and Barbara, let’s all “Feel the Bern”.
Well, I’m told the Democratic Convention is in June, 2016, so Uranus (and Eris) will be conjunct Bernie Sanders’ Mars almost all month. and Jupiter (DIRECT!) will conjunct his natal Sun from Monday the 13th through Wednesday the 22nd.
However, there will be a mutable cross going on between the New Moon (14+ Gemini + Mars & Venus sometimes), Jupiter 14-16 Virgo, Saturn retrograde (+ the Great Attractor & the U.S. ascendant) 13-11 Sagittarius and Neptune 11-12 Pisces. Promises to be an old-fashioned hell-raising Democrat Convention, the likes of which we’ve not seen in decades. I need to call my bookie right now!
be
. . . . and the North Node will conjunct Jupiter and Bernie’s Sun at the Summer Solstice on June 20, 2016!
Worked yesterday at the Dem booth in the town square, giving away buttons that say “When women vote, Democrat’s win,” and “Don’t Do Koch!” The buttons are fun to make but you have to be careful in a Righty stronghold like the Pea Patch not to get too creative with them! Still, perhaps because it’s not an election year, it was a bit more civil than usual among the tribes.
On the other hand, election-election-election is the game right now. And, boy, that Bernie’s grabbed the spotlight in a good way; ditto The Donald, but not so much good for him OR for his party affiliation. Cruz was on Meet the Press and defended Trump for his candor, and — LORDY! — he’s a snake oil salesman of the First Water. It just plain hurts to watch him, and I have a feeling a lot of folks can’t look away! Dubya was a cartoon of a person but you always knew he WAS that guy — with Cruz you just can’t believe ANYBODY’s that guy! Scary!
Sanders makes me smile. Everything he says makes me smile. His proposal that Krugman, Stiglitz or Reich would make dandy cabinet members, if and when the time came, thrilled me! So did his pledge to keep Wall Street players out of power. People don’t seem to realize — I fault education for this — that MONEY is what sent the founders out into the night to dump tea, the King taking more than his share … and Wall Street taking more than theirs in this century is just an ECHO of the roots of rebellion, felt keenly here among the great unwashed.
In an interesting article pointing to establishment press attempting to marginalize Bernie, a Yale professor writes:
“The Democrats have been saved from embarrassment by their lack of interest in public discussion. With the exception of Bernie Sanders: his announcement of his candidacy and early speeches in Wisconsin and Iowa have shown no slackening in the force of his criticism of Wall Street and the multinationals. Almost alone, he gives a voice to the widespread disaffection today with American politics generally, and the well-earned suspicion of vested interests that for three decades have set limits on reform.”
Open the link for a quick, interesting read, including a bit about Bernie’s early sexual writing. Oh NO, Mr. Bill! Not SEXUAL opinion!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bromwich/the-times-doctrine-on-ber_b_7728470.html
It’s been suggested that Sanders is this seasons Howard Dean because his message is not only resonating with the elders, he’s got the youth. At least at this point, I’m unsure if he can assume enough ‘polish’ to appeal personally to the (fairly jaded) nation at large, but there’s absolutely NO doubt that he’s got more than enough juice to carry the progressive vote … and growing!
Glad you think so too Mike, be and Deborah — and thanks for filling in the astro blanks, be. VERY encouraging! As well, you know I’m a true believer in this nation as envisioned in “Return of the Bird Tribes.” I believe we have a particular destiny — consequently, responsibility, to get it right. And I would think the Convention would surely be a donnybrook, if Bernie continues to gather voters. No question that Hillary will have the money and the establishment cred — and We, the People, will have one more opportunity to … get it right?(!!)
And thanks for your thoughts, Marilyn. Very interesting. While we have plenty to protest as we seek some national balance and pit ourselves against (what is surely a world-wide) plutocracy, we are still the Brat Pack nation that did not suffer the hobbles of tradition: we made our own. And even at it’s worst, we are still unique in our respect for democratic principal and individual rights. Perhaps it’s that dedication to the concept of equality among strangers that makes us willing to open ourselves to others. Seems to be encoded in our national DNA.
Segue, if you will: how do the neighbors view the Greek crisis? Do they acknowledge the Greek’s forgiving them their debts after the war, or is that conveniently forgotten?
Hope you’re all still enjoying a safe/sane holiday weekend and that you got a little thrill out of this star-spangled occasion. May God/dess bless this nation with abundant blessings of wisdom and compassion, and a growing awareness of our responsibility to ourselves and the rest of the world!
*highfives all the commenters*
This sort of reminds me about Jeremy Corbyn – the only leadership contender for the UK’s Labour Party worth any attention – having been backed by Unite, our largest trade union. Jeremy is fervently left-wing, against the horrifying welfare cuts we’re experiencing – and anti-war to boot.
Maybe everyone really is starting to get fed up of capitalism?
I stand corrected. The Democratic Convention is in late July, 2016. Astrology still correct for June.
be
Wow! Bernie’s cred is exploding, the meme that ‘he can’t’ has already shifted to ‘maybe he can!’ And although the talking heads won’t cop to it, I’ll bet that’s was part of the goad that’s shifted Hillary’s decision to finally begin speech-afyin’ — that, and the snub to media, criticism of her keeping them at arms length, which she can’t afford if she’s going to get her message out. She’s newly ‘available’ this week.
Bernie fans (and progressives:) here’s a Don’t Miss interview from The Nation, and it will answer the question as to whether he’s ‘sharp enough’ to take on either the task or the media. Can’t help it! I’m smiling!
http://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-speaks/
Thanks for the link Jude. . . glad I came back and found it. Glad you computer is working too. New?
Hello Jude, awesome and thought-provoking, as always. Glad I stopped in today and saw the link to the great Bernie Sanders interview. I always loved when I could hear his interviews on Thom Hartman, when I could get progressive radio in New Mexico. Now, I think you and I may live in the same town in different states, me in NC outnumbered by Republicans and almost 70 churches in our county alone. My spiritual leanings are more inclusive than exclusive…
We came for the creeks and trees and gardening, to be closer to grandkids, but I can’t get the mailman to bring me a package without hearing about what “HE” has done to our country; so far I have successfully steered the conversation away, but when the time comes to put up the political signs, our secret will be out. I love what Sarah Vowel said in her interview with Jon Stewart last week… that bickering is in our nation’s DNA. But, we can still sit side by side and disagree.
With prayers for peace and fortitude,
Kathi
Glad you found the Sanders link, Kathi and be — a really good read. NOW they’re comparing him to Ron Paul — AS IF. Media just can’t get it through their filter that Sanders isn’t a radical outlier, schlepping conspiracy theory. But I think they may, before this is over!
Looks like we DO have a lot in common, Kathi. Nature and garden and critters and clean(ish) air is the best in my opinion — although sometimes you can get TOO far from the city lights, services and opportunities. But tonight there were four does in the yard, eating the newly fallen Japanese plums. Such a sight goes a long way in soothing the soul.
We have a similar problem with ‘Him’ around here, as well — Obama is blamed for everything for the last 25 years. It’s amazing how dense this need to hold on to white superiority, and hold fast to the dark fairy-tale they’ve adopted as truth. The fear that they’re losing control is probably exacerbated by guilt, and fantasies of having to pay for old sins (and new ones.) This non-sense can’t be battled with logic, since the level of misinformation is off the scale.
People say the damndest things to me, even though they know I don’t share their opinion — and since after all these years, they know me as pleasant and kind, I think they DO hold the worst of it back, but it’s still shocking to hear others tell me stuff THEY overhear. Like when a gnarled old farmer points out some (rare and brave, in this county) visitor of color and tell his grandkids, with a cackle, “There goes antique farm equipment!”
Since I’m determined not to let these things slide, when I hear this stuff I just shake my head and say — loudly — “What would Jesus do?” Seems an appropriate question for people who consider themselves of the Book — and I REALLY want them to ponder the question! Thanks for checking in, kiddo — come back again!
No, be — no $$ for new computers. But I’m Queen of the Workaround. The patches will have to hold until next time, and then I’ll start over again.
An echo for me: “Who do you think you are?” said to me by my abuser when I wouldn’t stop telling anyone with authority about the abuse and the house of power was begining to crumble. I knew who I was and it didn’t include the label victim.
Brava, Nancy! And exactly the point. When we know who we are, have a sense of ourselves that isn’t dependent on anyone else’s opinion, there isn’t anything we can’t stand up to. When we know that we’re not a victim, but making choices (that can be corrected, sans blame game) we are empowered. When we know who we are, we don’t have to play out drama games, talking at others to hear our own voice — we can stop being part of the problem and become the solution. THANK you for adding your (considerable) voice today!