as mentioned at the end of last week's podcast, this week finds me wading into the larger politicial discussion going on in the u.s. i've mostly held my tongue on this stuff so far, and - gotta admit - i do feel a little self-conscious opening my mouth... partly because i know i'm opening pandora's box, and even more partly (simply) because i know i didn't say everything right. i know i could have expressed my opinions and reasons and feelings more clearly, more effectively, more efficiently, etc. words (or my ideas, anyway) are inherently incomplete. there's no denying it. and mixed in there too is the fact that beyond everything, i really, truly, deeply, want the podcast to be an open place where everyone feels welcome and whole and accepted exactly as they are (with whatever political, philosophical, religious, persuasions we have, opposites, disagreements, etc.). i hope that comes through beyond the specifics of any issue or non-issue, or party, or candidate, or campagin, or belief. always. cuz that's what feels most important to me. it's the point of all of this, more than anything.

that said, i obviously do have my little opinions about stuff. and i'm the first to admit that lots of my opinions are illogical and messy and emotional and off-the-cuff and only half formed (if that). it's true. ;) me here tonight is just an attempt to express a moment as it passes - me trying my best to somehow fuse emotional intuition with figuring things out. albeit clumsily. i'm trying to get it right. honestly. fairly. but i also know that i have a long way to go, and probably always will. as i mention tonight, i really do feel like i need the other side. i need that perspective. i need to see the things i'm missing. and, in that sense, i truly do love hearing from people who disagree with me. and thinking about why. and seeing where i've been wrong, or missed the point, or not said it the way i've meant it. it might seem odd, but for me those are some of the best moments in life! seriously. it's sometimes the only way i ever learn.

so, embedded around all of these feelings (the beautiful paradox of them) is how those moments only ever take place when we start to talk about where we really are right now - how we feel, what we think, y'know? just as is. imperfectly. in process. this, here. so, that's what i hope tonight's podcast is. or, more accurately maybe, that's what i want it to be. it's where i am right now, how things seem to me, and where my only-partial understanding finds me. in that sense, i hope it's ok. especially if you disagree. cuz i know lots of this stuff is volatile, and there's a lot of venom spewing back and forth - esp. along party lines, ideologies, perceived opposites, etc. that makes me cautious. for sure. but it still feels important to say it. i hope you agree, even if you disagree. :)

if you have time, i'd love to share episode 113 with you. i'm curious how you see these things, and welcome your input/rebuke/debate/correction...

some links:

green party in the united states - gp.org
the green party's - ten core values

danny scherr - myspace.com/dannyscherr
danny's cd "richmond special" - cdbaby.com/cd/dannyscherr

patrick kobernus and slyway - slywaymusic.com
patrick's cd "cowboy zen" - cdbaby.com/cd/slyway

ok - off to watch debate! hope all's well wherever you are.

<3
russell