Metamodernism

I was researching on the definitions of modernism and postmodernism, and I wondered about post-post-modernism and I found the term meta modernism, which I feel describes the epoch of my life and philosophy right now. Check this definition out:  metamodernism is a continuous oscillation, a constant repositioning between positions and mindsets that are evocative of the modern and of the postmodern but are ultimately suggestive of another sensibility that is neither of them: one that negotiates between a yearning for universal truths on the one hand and an (a)political relativism on the other, between hope and doubt, sincerity and irony, knowingness and naivety, construction and deconstruction.

I think it sounds like me, maybe not.

Radical Friendship

Can we renounce our privileges, our privacy, our biases, our prejudices, our fears, our lack of trust, our rights, to elect affinity with our neighbors.? Can we live in communities, in neighborhoods, outside of private and comfortable spaces, and renounce these things to elect affinity with "others"? In these things, can friendship move from a political move to something authentic and real?

Debt Burdened Homeowners Don't Strike

I have never seen this as an actual quote, from an actual policy maker, but I have read numerous authors use some form of this quote to explain why policy makers during the Roosevelt Administration allowed for the mortgage interest deduction. It seems right to me. I mean I went on strike for 7 days this fall, nievely thinking it wouldn't affect my finances so much, but it did. It still does. Was it worth it, yes. Did I think it would hurt so much, no. They were right in the fact that when the financial pain begins to sting, all of my grievances against the state or powers that be, will  be at least be put into question or dropped altogether. My bluff will be called.

I remember my boss saying, last year, that she wasn't going to challenge the status quo in the CPS,  because she wasn't willing to lose her mortgage., nor, as she threatened, would she let us, her workers, challenge her, lest we want to lose our mortgages. The will to fight or not fight real enemies or phantasm enemies is snuffed by the things that hold us down financially the things that we have been duped into taking on as responsibility because we want to live the American Dream, and be good citizens. If I want to challenge that, do I give up my house, my investment buildings, do I give away all my money, do I ruin my family for the sake of principle, for a deep sense that I am not being controlled or manipulated by real and super real people and systems? I don't have an answer. I think going into the strike nievely, thinking that it wouldn't have too big of a cost, was a blessing. Everyone is waiting for the Revolution, but I think we have opportunities to live in the little revelations/ revolutions daily. My revelation/revolution is the communion with those feeling the pain of living on the razors edge, living day to day, maybe unemployed, without any job prospects, the realization of the blessing and privilege I have to have faith, family, friends, and professional networks to bouy me if i went under, the blessing that I can restructure my life fairly easily, the knowledge that even though I am a multiple homeowner, that I can and will go on strike again.

Psalm 19:21

Many are the plans of my heart,
    but will the Lord's purpose prevail?

In all of the things, ideas,and dreams I have been chasing recently, I consistently fail to submit and try to line them up with God's purpose in my life. I'm just drifting along. 

Kafila

"Kafila – a Hindi word derived from Arabic, it means a caravan, a procession or a collectivity in travel. It could be a kafila of a nomadic group, a pack, a procession, a parade or simply the most pervasive yet unacknowledged figure of the modern world – the refugee/s in all its forms – including development refugees: people rendered homeless and placeless by capitalism and the relentless modern drive of mapping, accounting, categorizing and normalizing – in short, defining a place and a norm for every one and everything, which leaves most people without place."

Controlling a Narrative, Part 1

Often times, when I allow my students to research online, if I havent given them direct instruction on computer literacy and online research skils, then they tend to take the first thing that pops up in Google,nwhich is Wikipedia. I now see the power of the Internet for controlling  a message or narrative. If you want to get someone to believe something as true, post it or edit it on Wikipedia under a pseudonym and you have just created fact and reality. You dont even need to corroborate the truth with a annotation. Wikipedia is the lowest hanging fruit for research, where fiction becomes reality.

Creating God in My Image

God cares about the things I care about. Does he?
Jesus is a Republican. Jesus is a Democrat. Jesus is a Socialist. Jesus is an Anarchist. Is he?
Jesus wouldn't hang around gay people or pediphiles. Would he?
God loves hip-hop. Jesus is a metal head. Chamber music is a reflection the seriousness and holiness of God. Jesus just dwells in a place where people surrender themselves, raise their, and bow down at the alter. Does he?
Jesus is for the poor. God uses the rich. Is he, does he?
God wouldn't use that guy. Jesus is so proud of that guy, he is blessed.Would he, is he?
God hates abortion, even in cases of rape. God wouldn't want someone to suffer like that. He wouldn't allow someone to be in that position. Would he?
God is a man, God is a woman, God is a mirror that reflects us. Jesus is the way we picture him traditionally, Jesus is black. Is he?
 Jesus's birth is the story of an illegal immigrant, a single mother, and a homeless couple. Is it?
God cares about suffering, Jesus wants to relieve your suffering and bestow riches and blessings upon you. God doesnt care about me or anybody, there is so much suffering in this world. Does he?
God is cool, he knows our intentions, if we're sincere, and we re doing selfless things, we can choose any path, they all lead to him. Do they?
The idea of God, of follwing Jesus, is so narrow, so judgmental, so not inclusive, i just reject that belief or way of thinking. Is it, should we?

I tend to put God in my own image of what i think, why ive experienced, what i belive, my politics, my likes and dislikes, and I need to step back sometimes and reassess, recalibrate. How about you?