A Personal Blog by Historian, Political Sociologist, that is, the politics of identity. This consists social and political change, music, literature and the arts:The effect on me and the world at large. Current events and history, including the politics, public policy, activism and advocacy for those who can not help themselves,the military, the law, criminal justice, erosion of civil rights, women's rights, health, chronic-pain related illnesses and disabilities, morality, creatures from the sea, the forests, and our offspring, the environment, popular culture, the underground, culture not so popular. Guest posts are welcome; email or leave me a comment with a basic outline. Nothing commercial, but if you have a free or OS product that is in keeping with these values, such as aids for the disabled, contact me. Stay awhile, and tell me what you think. Stay awhile, and tell me about you. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOU!

Needle in a New Groove: Painting by Wassily Kandinsky (1939) Red, Yellow and Blue

Preview

"If you don't like what you're doing, you can always pick up your needle and move to another groove." Timothy Leary

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT: Kandinsky's Reproduction The painting was created in 1939 in France, and is therefore immune to the German copyright, which lasts until 2014 for paintings created in Germany.Consider the heartlessness of the German copyright. While there's a museum dedicated to W.K.'s work in Munich, Kandinsky, who was Russian, painted this AFTER he escaped Germany.

    Thursday, December 30, 2010

    My life in Mexico: San Juan de los Lagos



    I heard this song somewhere: I had forgotten about XTC.  I think no matter what religion you are a part of, we all have these questions:  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why doesn't god care?
    I don't believe any god does.  And I'm not going to tell you that we need the bad so we can enjoy the good. If you are on that page,  read Milton's Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Or the book, why bad things happen to good people.
    Please don't assume I'm an atheist. Far from it.  After much thought all my life, I've got a vision of the universe that is not neatly packaged.


    At the end, I'm a recovering Catholic, and I do go to Church, at times, daily, especially in Mexico and Germany. I am still loyal to the Church, and I still believe in good works.  It disturbs me when people claim that because Jesus is their personal savior, well, you can kill someone, and good works are not required.  Whatever my spiritual beliefs are, I will never believe that good works are not required.  Even atheists, or secular  humanists believe in good works.
    I lived in the second most popular pilgrimage spot, San Juan de los Lagos, which has changed dramatically since I was there last.  The Wikipedia makes it sound like it turned to hell.  Yet, I still have friends and my husband's family there, although many left for Guadalajara, about 3 hours south of San Juan de los Lagos.  


    It may seem contradictory that I still go to Church.  What I did learn in San Juan is you can never deny the power of faith. Every day, I saw pilgrims, and it is an AWESOME sight.  Once you see pilgrims that have walked from Mexico City (5 hours by car,) with their feet bleeding, you never look at faith the same way.  A pilgrim will come, for example, to visit Virgin of San Juan. He made a promise to visit her, if she would only save his sister's life. Those pilgrims have made a solemn oath, and they keep it.  Relatives are often waiting in town, and when the pilgrim arrives at the Basilica,  the pilgrim will crawl on his knees at the entrance. A relative will bring cardboard, so the pilgrim doesn't bleed.  The floor of the Basilica is wooden, old and splintered.


    In this setting, it doesn't matter what I believe.  Because I've witnessed miracles.  Those miracles come from the heart.  I believe every one of us can create miracles, if you just take that oath to whatever  god you choose, but ultimately, yourself.


    If you want to hate me for this, go ahead.  I'm in the United States of America.  I have a brother that is a minister and a missionary, and while I may not agree with some of his beliefs, and he avoids me because of it. I am still very proud of my big brother and his family.  They are working on building an orphanage in Costa Rica.   That counts as good works to me, and I still love him for that.

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    Posted by scribadiva at 4:25 PM

    1 comment:

    Steve Bossenberger said...

    Great Post! I enjoyed reading it. I always love to see all the different views and experiences people have of Mexico. Keep up the great writing!!!

    January 1, 2011 at 4:28 PM

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