2007-10-24

This is my third or fourth evacuation now. I’m truly not sure which. After the Cedar Fire in 2003, I think we all understood the nature of “wildfire”. A thing untammed. A thing of its own energy and life.

There are some distinctions, however, between this fire and the Cedar Fire; but I’ll get to those in a minute. What I want to address first is the amazing people of San Diego County. Yes, yes, kudos to the politicos who have done a fine job on this fire. There’s been a major revamp of the fire fighting agencies all coming under single command since the Cedar Fire.

There’s a new Office of Emergency Services, new since the Cedar Fire, and they were responsible for the reverse 911 calls, calling homes to tell people to get out. Last night I actually saw a briefing from the Pentagon on the San Diego fires. The politics of taking care of the people. Holy Toledo. The Pentagon?

The most important thing I want to say is that the people of San Diego are remarkable, and resilient, and generous and loving and have responded to these emergencies because they can, and because they will and because they are connected to Source.

If FEMA never showed up if Arnie (Schwartzenegger) never came to visit; if OES was never formed; if the Red Cross was never here, the people of San Diego would assist the ones who required help, and we would regain our feet (as we did in the Cedar Fire), because We Are Who We Are.

This is a subject that I have wanted to write about for a long while, but it seemed out of context. After Katrina and all that hoopla, a lot of us who have survived and subsequently thrived after the Cedar Fires wanted to know what’s taking them so long to bounce back from Katrina? Why is it FEMA’s job? Why is it the government’s job?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/us/24scene.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1256839799-tAHqXSS5Q0q0cJhJbeWbXQ

2007-07-12

Good Day Everyone,

It’s a fine day up here in the Cuyamaca Mountains! At last the heat has yielded to a fair 80 degrees. I can only think this is why the terrorists are so cranky: they’re HOT. Why not put a bill through Congress that we air condition the middle east. Then maybe they’ll feel more like talking.

Not to get side tracked, but today I wanted to talk about Immigration. The trouble with this issue is that it is clouded by fear, of course.

I can tell you from living here very, very close to the Mexican Boarder that I have seen many folks crossing and trying to come to America for a better life. Every time I can only be so utterly grateful that my ancestors were allowed to come through Ellis Island in the early 1900′s and, bless them,  that they had the gumption, courage, and will to reach for more and better for themselves.

I can tell you that these current immigrants have the same gumption, courage and will to reach for more and better for themselves. They risk their lives to do it. Does that speak anything to you of how much they WANT to be here?

What would you risk your life to be, do or have?

This, however, is not an immigration issue, it is an economic issue which should be taken up with the Mexican Government. I personally would like to see the boarder opened up completely. This would allow Americans to flow south and for Mexicans to flow north and find a new equilibrium, creating a new economy. The river flow north would slow as the river south increased.

However, without an economic incentive for the Mexican people to stay there, why would they NOT want to come here. I would. If I lived on that side of the boarder, my entire job would be crossing the boarder until I had achieved it.

Go to Mexico sometime, and don’t do the tourist routes, either. Go and walk around the cities. The last time I went to Tijuana I found myself walking away from the Mercado and onto the back streets. I found myself looking at an opulent Catholic Church gilded with gold and the steps leading up to the church were littered with the most pathetic creatures, including a mother nursing her child whilst her feet rest in the gutter of filth. You would try to get here, too.  I promise you.

As for putting up a fence and doubling or even tripling the border forces – it doesn’t work now and it’s an utter waste of more money. Besides,  fences is not what America is about. “Give me you huddled masses yearning to be free….” I think that’s what’s on the Lady in New York Harbor.

We represent hope. So let’s turn our imaginations to possible solutions that would honor the idea of hope and allow these people to find it.

Let’s start talking to the Mexican government. Let’s find ways to help Mexico‘s people to become rich. They have a magnificent country; they are a kind and most gentle people worthy of much better. They are our friends and our neighbors. Come on, America. Think!

Let’s ask the Presidential hopefuls to come up with something innovative and creative. Or better still…..let’s come up with something that is loving, compassionate, and a win-win for us all. Let’s not forget that we are all immigrants to this land, just lucky enough that the gates weren’t closed when our ancestors were knocking on the door.

Applied Spirituality is all about win-win by utilizing Source to answer a request and receiving the answer.

There is nothing we cannot be, do, have or know….if we ask the right question- and then listen for the answer.

Thanks for Reading! Kath