History Through The Eyes Of Gil Scott Heron

Many moons ago, I came across a poem entitled "Winter In America"which burrowed deeply within upon its first reading and has resided there ever since. As I grew in depth and maturity, I came to understand & appreciate Gil's work in a broader sense. As an avid fan of Hip Hop, I have seen how this man's influence is still rippling across the cultural landscape. Artists such as Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Common and Shihan owe a tremendous debt to Gil Scott Heron, considered by many cultural critics as the forefather of rap music.

Selected Poems

OneLove~MixMasterE

John McCain:"It Would Be Fine To Keep Troops in Iraq for a Hundred Years"

Seven years
into the idiot's reign,
grass on the graves
of wasted lives.


~Poets Against War

Musings

A historical moment of unprecedented proportions--Thanks Bush!

The Beauty of The Bhagavad Gita

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

For years I have always had an interest in reading the Bhagavad Gita. I became aware of this great work while passing through Puerto Rico years ago (given away for free by a young lady walking in the middle of a busy street). The content of this book is amazing.


The Bhagavad Gita is a Sanskrit poem that is part of the Indian epic known as the Mahabharata . It describes, in a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna, the Hindu path to spiritual wisdom and the unity with God that can be achieved through karma (action), bhakti (devotion), and jnana (knowledge). The Bhagavad-Gita was probably written sometime between 200 B.C. and A.D. 200.


A few choice quotes to whet your appetite:


“The wise sees knowledge and action as one; they see truly”


“The power of God is with you at all times; through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions; and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument.”


"When a man dwells on the objects of sense, he creates an attraction for them; attraction develops into desire, and desire breeds anger."


"There are two ways of passing from this world - one in light and one in darkness. When one passes in light, he does not come back; but when one passes in darkness, he returns."


Deep...



The Bhagavad Gita: The Divine Song Of God


The Bhagavad Gita in Audio


OneLove

~MixMasterE

What is Love?

Yesterday, I told a friend, "Hey! Don't forget to get the wife a bouquet of flowers "
His response: "I'll wait until the 15th to catch a good sale!" Hilarious as that sounded initially, I thought about it and questions about the nature of love--what it is, how it changes, the types of love, the beginning and end of love, the endurance of love, the quality of love, the lack of love--swirled within.

Indeed, Valentines Day is a commercial bonanza built on great expectations. It can symbolize one's love, but the truth is really in the days before & after. Buying flowers and whispering sweet nothings are best appreciated when least expected. Love is an action, its' roots running deep, far removed from the derived, often confusing feelings that can blind.

Pablo Neruda sums up this beautiful conundrum we call "love":

Because of you, in gardens of blossoming flowers I ache from the
perfumes of spring.
I have forgotten your face, I no longer remember your hands;
how did your lips feel on mine?
Because of you, I love the white statues drowsing in the parks,
the white statues that have neither voice nor sight.
I have forgotten your voice, your happy voice; I have forgotten
your eyes.
Like a flower to its perfume, I am bound to my vague memory of
you. I live with pain that is like a wound; if you touch me, you will
do me irreparable harm.
Your caresses enfold me, like climbing vines on melancholy walls.
I have forgotten your love, yet I seem to glimpse you in every
window.
Because of you, the heady perfumes of summer pain me; because
of you, I again seek out the signs that precipitate desires: shooting
stars, falling objects.

~~MixMasterE~~

From Bud Light to iPODs: The Manipulation of The American Mind

"We must shift America from a needs- to a desires-culture. People must be trained to desire, to want new things, even before the old have been entirely consumed. We must shape a new mentality in America. Man's desires must overshadow his needs."
- Paul Maser-Wall Street banker (1920)


How easy it is to cater to Man's emotions/instincts and make us believe in/do things that, rationally speaking, make no sense. Sub-prime mortgages, Black Friday department store rushes ( buying shit that we just don't need), celebrity/money worship, the fetishizing of the flesh, etc are all carefully crafted objects concocted by corporations/PR firms to engineer the consent of masses. And how well it works!! Check this out:




Be Real!

~MixMasterE

..a moment of silence...

Pass Me Over - Anthony Hamilton

Another day
Chance to make another chance
A fragile place
Running on empty
A smile so faint
Barely even breaks the space
World’s on shoulders now

Don’t be afraid
He who knows will make a way
His word alone is what has kept me
Born the Son, King of eternal peace
Lay your burdens down


If you catch me dreaming
Please don’t wake me till I'm done
Just leave me sleeping
Until the morning comes
Just pass me over
Make believe that I'm not there
Just leave me be
Until the Savior comes

Another night
Makes a way to the morn
Sleep in peace, joy come early
A covered child, steps away victorious
Salvation holds joy for all of us..

One Love

::MixMasterE::