the guy by the door …

Aftermath of the standoff with Boston Police,  Dewey Square December 9, 2011

A Little Opiate of the People is a Dangerous Thing

This one’s a joy for me in case you’re in doubt. Some of my anarchist friends will agree and some will be revolted. I’ve been sticking one toe in the opiate of the people thing at Community Church of Boston. CCB was initially founded as non-denominational [1920]. But in the mid 70’s they decided to join the Unitarian Universalist Association. I somewhat understand the Unitarian part having been raised in the Episcopal Church – an egregiously Trinitarian outfit.¹ The idea of a universal religion is intriguing but problematic. Is it the cure for the ever increasing factionalism of Christianity or is it a subtle form of religious imperialism?

Like most UU churches, CCB does not hold formal sessions in the summer. The last two summers, we had informal sessions. This summer – not. I decided to wander down the street to the Arlington Street Church. I had been in their basement many times. For one thing the Friday night community dinner² is the best on the circuit.  Also, after the eviction, Occupy Boston held the Tuesday night General Assembly there for several months.  The food tent operated out of their kitchen until … We seem to have left the stove on overnight 🙁 . Cheryl Queen of the Universe tells me we have quite the reputation around the church for that.

As I approached the front door of the church, I saw a car⁴ festooned with all sorts of political and inpsirational stickers. One in particular caught my eye. It was a very familiar design that I had seen distributed by the Spirituality Tent.  But this one was HUGE. It was Occupy Your Heart.

That was also the theme of the sermon given by Religious Educator and Artist in Residence Laura Evonne Steinman.³ 

A little opiate of the people is a dangerous thing – but to what or whom?

¹I had a conversation with my mother, the daughter of the Rev. Dr. William Henry Kinkle Pendleton IV, about Henry VIII’s declaring himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England. I found the movie version of history quite adequate.  Henry did it because the Pope wouldn’t give him a divorce and thereby frustrated his quest for an heir. My mother said, “There’s more to it than that,” but she never specified what that “more” was.

²This is code for “homeless” or “house poor” paying even the most modest available rent.

³I think Laura had the purple highlights in her Mohawk when we were at Dewey, but I’m afraid I didn’t spend much time with her so I’m not sure.

⁴Yes, as lovely as it is, it is still a petroleum consuming, carbon dioxide emitting automobile! I shall endeavor to convey to Laura the joys of climate justice.  “Justice is what love looks like in public.” -Cornell West. “Climate is the most public show on earth.”  -the guy by the door.

Denial, anger, and bargaining¹over the loss of Our Beloved OccuSink to the urge to march. @arieloshin met up with the carpenters and continued on to the #99unity rally in Copley Square.

There is a broad range of social justice issues on the agenda for today, including the mother of all social justice issues – abrupt global climate change/climate justice.

¹No one is in acceptance. We are confident that the court will realize that it was an unreasonable seizure.

Bob Bowes local member of BPT

I first saw Bread and Puppet Theater in the basement of the Washington Square Methodist Church in NYC. The Vietnam War was at it’s height. The performance was nearly silent, but it was the strongest anti-war statement I had encountered.  Sometimes they appear without warning. For ‘Mr. Bhutto’s Letter’¹ they performed at the Mass College of Art.

This week: All week; free art exhibit.

Monday January 25 free artist talk and reception 6-8PM

Evening Adult Shows “Tear Open the Door of Heaven” Jan . 28-31 Thurs.-Sun. 7 PM Advance tix²

Family Friendly “Dirt Cheap Money Circus” Matinees Jan 30-31, Sat. & Sun.  4PM  Advance Tix

All right! None of you made the Artist Reception. I know cuz I took attendance. My bad, not enough warning. You’re all plan your life types. So here are some pictures.

Artists Reception - Bread and Puppet Theater @ Cyclorama

Now that's a puppet! Massive and yet it moves!

¹ about the tragedy of the IMF as told by a disillusioned leader thereof

²This link has been broken and fixed more than once. Not a scintilla of a clue! This, hopefully will get you to the ‘shows’ page. Bread and Puppet shows are marked.

I’d sing a song to make you feel this way:

Sadly, I never learned to sing. I’m afraid it might be too late. But I think I can learn to take pictures. Leaving my apartment this morning, John Denver popped into my head. I remember Catherine telling me that during her years at Harvard she realized she needed help because she liked Barry Manilow and nobody else did. She and I have both come to terms with our common malady, but I hope John Denver isn’t a sign of senile dementia.

Coming across the Charles, the sunshine in my eyes almost made my cry. The sunshine on the water looked so lovely. It made me high.

But if I had a wish that I could wish for you, i would not wish for sunshine all the while. I would wish that you also understand how Gene Kelly could sing in the rain. Or why I asked Philip Mannheim* to stop in the middle of Memorial Drive – seriously annoying 3 drivers – to run back and catch the fog on the river.

Beauty almost always makes me high.

*Dude! We can get a better picture than that!

… you can’t eat it, but it does.

She is promoting Harvard’s production of “A Chorus Line.” – the final four performances.

I don’t know if I will go. I’m committed to the Cheap Art Manifesto, originated by the Bread and Puppet Theater. I first saw them in the basement of the Washington Square Methodist Church [NYC] during Our War. It was not lighthearted entertainment. It was deadly serious.
*I am referring to an undergraduate woman as a ‘girl’. I claim artistic license in this instance.