Conversations with a rat

“So we live forever?” Asked the rat.

“Well, yes, but more than that.” I replied.  “We are all part of everything.  When you also then consider ‘all time’ we are part of that too.  So take all of time and everything in the Universe and hold it in your mind… Your life, my life, and all things are in that bundle.  All things that have ever been or ever will be; that is like a kind of omnipotence.  So by that definition we are part of God.  If God is all this… well then, why can’t he or she do anything, be anything in that bundle—any time in that bundle?”

“I don’t think my rat brain can handle all that.” He squeaked.

I laughed. “Maybe not.  How about a French fry?”

“Oh that sounds nice!”

I pulled out a chip and blew on it to cool it down.  The rat danced and scampered in anticipation.  When it was just cool enough to prevent burning the small pet I held it out to him.  His little rat nose darted for it and tugged.  I held it playfully and he put all four legs in to it.  I let go and he immediately, proudly marched the trophy in to his hut.  I watched him furiously nibble on his prize.  He paused and looked up.

“Will it hurt at the end?”

My smile dimmed.  “Yes, probably some.  Life is like that.”

“I don’t like things that hurt.”

I settled back in my chair.  “I don’t like them either.  But they teach us how important other things are.  Things like how wonderful today is with you here.”

“Am I wonderful?” He asked with one paw still holding the fry.

“Yes!” I laughed.  “You are wonderful.”

“You do realize that I’m a rat? I think you might be crazy.”

I shrugged.  “Probably.  But I don’t think anyone will mind.  You have interesting things to say.”

“Mmmhmmm… And you have the most delightful sleeves to nap in.”

“Well, then.  I guess we get along.”

Am I a terrorist?

In response to the suggestion that because I support Occupy Wall Street movements and some of those members are communists, anarchists, antisemites, and various other violence inspired nutballs... am I one of those too by association?  Am I advocating violence which has or would kill Americans?

I'm saying that degree of awful bloodshed is going to happen whether we choose to accept it or not. I'm not advocating. I do not think it is necessary. But it is *inevitable* if the small fraction of wealth holders do not recognize their obligation to police themselves in such a way as to allow the vast majority to have basic human rights which really boil down to reasonable freedom from pain, safety of your person and your family, food, shelter, and education.

I, personally, do not advocate anarchy, bloodshed, antisemitism, or any of the rest of that. I do recognize that some portion of OWS movement is made up of some of these nutballs, but that still does not change the fact that international financial agencies with no elected authority control my life, your life, and the lives of billions of people so that a handful can play dice and enjoy ridiculous indulgence. Not just gross indulgence, but ridiculous indulgence. And not "Americans can no longer afford 3 cars" hardship, but 700,000 people in a single tech factory in China are kept in a compound to slavishly produce iPads 16 hours a day kind of hardship. Wall Street has reach far outside of America--by design!

So spare me your tears for dead Americans. We've killed millions with our exploitation and ravenous demand more and more Wal-Mart crap. We've driven whole nations in to poverty. We sparked wars for profit and oil. We've bombed the fuck out of people who live in stone huts. We've backed banana republics, put dictators in to power, and face stomped on the human rights of dozens of nations. We are the god damned terrorists. And it all comes back to the unbridled greed most aptly represented by Wall Street. I wish to god it wasn't true. 

That degree of greed and exploitation will come to end... willingly or unwillingly... without bloodshed if we are smart and with unholy bloodshed if we are blind. Not because I wish it or think it is the only way. But because I know parents will not watch their children starve and die of treatable illness while blocks away other children are fed to obesity and the stores are stacked full of medicine. That parent isn't going to care if what they are doing is right or wrong. When there are thousands of grieving hate-filled parents and we've given them no other option because we find every excuse in the book to ignore them, then blind rage takes over. It is a historical lesson taught for thousands of years. This situation is dire. If *only* a few Americans die we will be lucky.

That is why I support OWS... to avoid the violence that will come.  If the message gets through and the greed is tempered with wisdom and compassion--just a little--then we have a chance to adjust and avoid any violence at all.  Make no mistake OWS *should* be 100% non-violent.  We don't require it and it actually won't solve the problems, only set us up for another round of bloodshed later.  But if we learn this time to take rational stock and step back from the edge, then there is hope that we are learning.  Hope that we can be compassionate even in the face of lesser economics.  That is what I hope for.