August 28, 2005

Stolen From Dad's Drawer

I am secretly publishing my father's missives as Pundad. You have to understand that he doesn't own cable or a cell phone. He's on a different plane than the rest of us. I have decided to do this because I can't keep track of his stuff any other way and I don't want to have to go sorting through it after he's gone. So I take on this burden until I think he is ready to.. which probably wont be for another 5 or six years.

This will be the second time I've done this. The first was called 'Down Front'. You see, about three times a year, Pops comes up with a new publication and sends it to us. He's a very creative thinker, and well, you'll see for yourself.

I'll start backdating posts that I have archived in Google Mail. It'll take a while, but I think it will be worth it.

Posted by mbowen at 09:52 AM | Comments (0)

August 27, 2005

Me ‘n’ the Mountains

Reminder: The “Me ‘n’…” writings have to do with personal experiences… something I am not accustomed to writing about, but look forward to sharing.

Most life experiences have a history, a point of beginning. And many of those beginnings are rooted in childhood experiences. In this particular instance I am lucky enough to be able to pinpoint my (nothing short of) passion for mountains. The place is New Haven and the mountainous place within that urban space was no less a giant than West Rock located oddly enough at the western edge of the city. Living in McConaughy Terrace housing project put me (the family!) pretty much at the base of the mountain. It could be seen form the apartment, and without the dilly dallying that young folks invariably do when going anywhere, the closest trail could be reached in 20 minutes. Most of the time I went with others (brother and/or friends) but being too young and foolish to harbour fear, I sometimes went alone.

The path/trail was a totally familiar one so there was no sound reason to think I was exploring new territory. Yet that is exactly what I felt every time. The very thought of “onward and upward” had a magical ring to it. If I wasn’t an explorer, then I sure as heck was a pioneer! And I didn’t quibble over whatever difference there might be between these words. Whatever the label, I certainly wasn’t just another project kid going where he had no business. In an unspoken yet real sense, I had claimed West Rock. It was inarguably my mountain. These many years later there are only two distinct spots at the top of West Rock that I vividly remember. One was the vista – a point from which much of New Haven could be seen. No massive skyscrapers dotted the skyline but Yale Bowl and the waters where the university’s crew team practiced could readily be singled out. From another less dramatic spot, I could see “all the way to” West Rock’s cross town mountainous relative, East Rock. I recall being told that East Rock was taller. So be it. “Tall” was not enough of an attraction to cause me to switch allegiance. East Rock was in East Haven and that was not a familiar place to me. East Haven only meant Lighthouse Point and lots of Italians. And that was that. (We only went to Lighthouse – as we simplified the designation -- in the summer; and there were plenty of Italians in the project and even more less than a mile away in Woodbridge….so like what was the big deal about East Rock? Besides, somebody had already claimed my rock and had no need for another one! To be at the vista, however, was more significant than just having a good view of the city. It was literally to be at the very edge of unimagined danger! The drop was steep, sudden and unforgiving. I would often lean over as far as I would and could and imagine myself to be tempting fate whatever that might have meant at the time. I equally (and foolishly) imagined myself slipping and falling only, at the last desperate moment grabbing a solitary branch heroically sticking out of the side of my unforgiving mountain. Whew, an endless stream of childhood close calls. I often dreamed about this same scenario, even as an adult.

The second spot, a short distance from the vista was historic Judges Cave. I don’t want to do a history number here. I’ll let it go with saying that Messieurs, Whalley and Goffe (aka regicides) successfully hid from the British troops who were tracking them down for their role in the condemning to death English King Charles I in 1649. Long before I knew or cared anything about its history, Judges Cave was the ultimate location for hide and seek and small mountain climbing atop my bigger mountain. That was the full extent of its utility in those early years. Nothing more was sought or required. ~ The mountain love and fascination has remained unabated these many years later. I think it was daughter, Debbie, who recently labelled it a “fever” and who am I to argue with a young, intelligent daughter? (And she’s pretty, too) Interestingly enough, I now find myself not at all concerned with the most fitting word to describe the power of the attraction. An attitude ‘bout the altitude? What I do know is that I am not in the mountains as often as I’d like to be and when I am there, I feel much better than I do in countless other places. So, having trekked to Mount Whitney’s summit 4 times and, but for the badly swollen ankle of my (absolutely no gender-slammin’ intended) female hiking partner, 5 times. There is indeed a straight line between West Rock and the High Sierras.

Closer to home there is Angeles National Forest and the scenic San Gabriel Mountains. I leave it to those who devote their lives or professions to recording the wonders of mountain ranges in general and the San Gabes in particular to provide appealing and informative details. My more immediate personal leaning is to “frequent them frequently and enjoy them immensely. As I sit (initially in L.A. County’s sprawling Kenneth Hahn Park) putting these thoughts together I think about the San Bernardino Mountains – perhaps a 2 hour drive from home. But when I think about that same mountain range, I invariably think about Big Bear and Arrowhead and hotels and shops (even malls) and cabins and hundreds even thousands of people. Caveat: The mountains most assuredly belong to everyone as well they should. There is an awesome quality about the San Bernardino Mountains, the eastern cousin of the San Gabes. But I see an interesting parallel. Like East Rock they are “too far” from where I live. And that diminishes their appeal. Yes, I recognize a contradiction here. The contradiction has to do with distance. An unrushed trip to the High Sierras takes about 4 hours. Yet the town of Lone Pine at Whitney’s “base” has a distinct small western town feel about it; and that makes a difference. The “town” below the road to Big Bear/Arrowhead is Redlands, a still growing city.

Big Bear and Arrowhead are intended to draw the masses from the cities – Riverside, San Bernardino, and, most definitely Los Angeles. So, everybody heads there. But when everyone is in the mountains, I need not be there. For me, it’s that simple

Interestingly, I am “trapped” in a desire to share those life experiences that have been good to me. So, in this instance, I am always trying to talk family and friends and people I don’t know that well to head for the mountains. As a social worker in the 60s I corralled the social workers in the unit I supervised to join me for San Gabes treks. We easily convinced a numbers of recipient mothers to let us bring their children along. And some 30 years later I formed a small cadre of Antioch colleagues (when we were still at Marina del Rey) to likewise “head for the hills.” Unapologetic about my enthusiasm, I convinced another set of Antioch folks to do the same just last Sunday morning. (I went to the early service at St. John’s.) We ended up with 15 women, men and children in varying states of bodily readiness. For reasons others would be more adept at explaining, I always have an easier time convincing women to come along than is the case with men, I am totally open to having as many dudes as might be interested; but they aren’t. Like a number of other things, that really used to bother me. I looked long and hard for some reasonable explanation. I don’t do that any more…at all. I “indiscriminately” put out the “Y’all come” word and without a touch of anticipatory anxiety, I wait and see what will happen. If folks bite, I am pleased because I am very sure they will enjoy the experience. If, for whatever reason, they choose not to come along, I shrug and…load up my backpack anyway. Life is grand and short in that order. I have been at those wonderful altitudes with the curious, the cautious and the committed and…alone.

Part of the enduring wonder and majesty of mountains is, like the blues, they don’t care who’s “got” ‘em.

Posted by mbowen at 06:02 PM | Comments (0)

August 25, 2005

Generations Locked Down

Dear Friend, this Saturday, August 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we are inviting
all of you to come to the Southern California Library for a powerful
event, "Generations Locked Down: The Impact of Prison on a Community." At
the heart of the event is for all of us who have experienced the impacts
of incarceration, whether directly or through a family member or loved
one, to come and share our stories in a safe environment and to bring
items documenting this experience. Those who haven't experienced
incarceration are invited to come and "listen for a change." There will be
Afro-Cuban drumming, an art exhibit, and refreshments.

We are asking for letters, cards, pictures, state-issued gear, and other
items. The items can be scanned/copied and returned to you or else donated
to become part of the Library's permanent collection. The collection is
important because it will enable us to tell the real story, the human
story behind the incarceration statistics.

More details on the event are below or you can go to our website:
www.socallib.org . You can also hear a piece by Talk of the City host
Kitty Felde on this event and the broader issue by going to our website or
clicking on this link:

http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/kpcc/news/shows/totc/2005/08/20050825_totc?start=00:20:15&end=00:49:26

Let us all work together to end the injustice of the criminal justice
system.

Michele


Michele Welsing
Communications Director
Southern California Library
mwelsing@socallib.org
323-759-6063 (ph)
www.socallib.org

Working for a world where all people have the abilities, resources, and
freedom to make their own histories

____________________________________________
GENERATIONS LOCKED DOWN:
THE IMPACTS OF PRISON ON A COMMUNITY
____________________________________________


Formerly Incarcerated People and Family Members Share Their Stories

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2005
10 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

@The Southern California Library
6120 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles

(323) 759-6063
www.socallib.org


_________________________________________________________________________


Join us on Saturday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Library as
formerly incarcerated people and their family members share their stories
and related materials in a safe environment. There will be:

Community Story Circles * Collection Day * ISLA Percussion Group featuring
Afro-Cuban Drumming * Art Exhibit

We will be collecting prison-related items that can be scanned/copied and
returned or donated to the Library's permanent collection. PLEASE BRING
YOUR: Pictures, Letters, State-Issued Gear, Prison IDs, Prison Catalogs,
and More.

This event is FREE. Refreshments will be offered. Families welcome;
childcare available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.socallib.org * (323) 759-6063

Posted by mbowen at 06:07 PM | Comments (0)

August 24, 2005

Lynch Reasons

Table 2-5. The Reasons Given for Black Lynchings
· Acting suspiciously
· Gambling
· Quarreling
· Adultery
· Grave robbing
· Race hatred; Race troubles
· Aiding murderer
· Improper with white woman
· Rape
· Arguing with white man
· Incest
· Rape-murders
· Arson Inciting to riot
· Resisting mob
· Assassination
· Inciting trouble
· Robbery
· Attempted murder
· Indolence
· Running a bordello
· Banditry
· Inflammatory language
· Sedition
· Being disreputable
· Informing
· Slander
· Being obnoxious
· Injuring livestock
· Spreading disease
· Boasting about riot
· Insulting white man
· Stealing
· Burglary
· Insulting white woman
· Suing white man
· Child abuse
· Insurrection
· Swindling
· Conjuring
· Kidnapping
· Terrorism
· Courting white woman
· Killing livestock
· Testifying against white man
· Criminal assault
· Living with white woman
· Throwing stones
· Cutting levee
· Looting
· Train wrecking
· Defending rapist
· Making threats
· Trying to colonize blacks
· Demanding respect
· Miscegenation
· Trying to vote
· Disorderly conduct
· Mistaken identity
· Unpopularity
· Eloping with white woman
· Molestation
· Unruly remarks
· Entered white woman's room
· Murder
· Using obscene language
· Enticement
· Non-sexual assault
· Vagrancy
· Extortion
· Peeping Tom
· Violated quarantine
· Fraud
· Pillage
· Voodooism
· Plotting to kill
· Voting for wrong party
· Frightening white woman
· Poisoning well

Posted by mbowen at 06:08 PM | Comments (0)

August 20, 2005

Coming To Grips

The “new” writing (which I anticipate will be intensive, extensive, incisive and voluminous) will have 3 major categories and one “also ran”: ·

Considering all the writings I’ve done up to this point, it’s hard for me to be so consciously reductive, but right now that is the way it stands. Unless or until I decide on another title, the overall, all inclusive phrase for the writing is Coming to Grips. Not very sexy, but sufficient.. It’ll all be revealing…and fun.

Caveat: I have promised myself to be as regular as possible. But I have set no deadlines or hardcore pattern. To say I will sit at the computer and write “every morning from 6am til 7am” sounds great because right now it’s a sunny 5pm! Further, to say I’ll have something to share every Tuesday, for example, likewise avoids another hard-learned reality. So…..I won’t commit to that either. What I do know is that I have more ideas, impressions, and reflections in my mind than I do on paper; and I really want to close that gap considerably.

Let me start with something of an explanation of the title: What seems like a thousand years ago (though it certainly wasn’t) I heard something to this philosophical effect: during the first 5 years of our lives we develop a point of view. For the rest of our lives we defend it! Like most aphorisms, it is short, sweet (cute?) and is not devoid of some modicum of truth. I just have a problem with the number. It seems to me that the “process” of even having a point of view is an evolutionary one. And like all things evolutionary, there is no “end” except in the generally understood sense, i.e., we die. Zappo. All over and done.

So, for me anyway, Coming to Grips is an examination of who or what I am at this point of my life and the intersecting point with other people. That’s it.

The exploration intrigues me because I have changed in more ways than I could or would have speculated. That truth in summed up with this: “Things” that at one earlier point (in time) were important or even critical no longer are. They have either moved (been moved by me!) to a lower standing on the list or have been eliminated from the list altogether. Conversely, stuff that wasn’t on that same list or were at a lowly point have found themselves well within the range of “worthy of serious consideration and/or action.” It’s like the reversal we witness when the hourglass is inverted. [Aside: I wasn’t thinking biblically when I started this reflection but I am immediately reminded of the “first shall be last and the last…first” passage…….although I wasn’t confining my first/last thoughts to people.

Here’s a brief explanation of the categories I am setting out to fill:

· Me ‘n’ – that’s short for “Me and…” whomever or whatever I write about. It’s that up close and personal approach. There is no “distance” between the subject (a person, place or thing) and me. I’m looking forward to these writings because, for whatever reasons, they are the kinds I’ve traditionally steered clear of.

· Idle musings – That’s a heading given to me and for what I thought were good writings many years ago by someone who was professionally well positioned to decide what was and what wasn’t good writing and who made it hurtfully clear that what I had sent him wasn’t. what I had submitted was summarily dismissed as “Idle Musings” Fie!!

· Projects – The project list is a long one. Much too long. And the projects themselves are too long neglected. This category will most likely consist of an update and a statement about what I see as the next step toward completion. I anticipate brevity here because it makes no sense to spend more (or an equal amount of) time writing about a project than actually working on it.

· Emails – quick and not necessarily dirty tidbits about just about anything. More in the way of a listed reference or sharing info on something coming up that –yes, I know it’s presumptuous – that may not be widely known.

Will it “work”? Well, if by that term do I mean will others be pleased or pissed or put off? Only “they” can say. I know this may well sound peculiar but I am doing this for me while recognizing that I actually like the idea of sharing with others. It is not, however, an exercise in approval- or wrath-seeking. It is, more to the point, one way among who know how many ways of Coming to Grips with that person on the planet I happen to know best…Bob Bowen.

…to be continued…….

Posted by mbowen at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)

The Josephine Peak Trek

boredom and/or nostalgia can indeed be a motivator. this past thursday 'bout noon, i had a notion. not just to head (again!) for the angeles forest, but to "do" josephine peak. so.....with the usual suspect snack (ice ta, water, cookies, cheese crackers and peanut butter cracker, bug repellent, hiking stick and bug repellent, off and up i went. although it has been YEARS (i am positive more than 10) i could basically anticipate the trail. i made it to the josephine-strawberry peak intersection -- i know that's not a mountain term -- in 58 minutes. and from there to the peak was another 40 mins. i was whupped but elated! sat, snacked, read, let the mind wander and RESTED! i set the camera on some rocks and "flicked away" it was kinda overcast but quite warm and pleasant.

you'll be getting the flicks later this morning. you'll note both a white and red "hankie" wrapped around ye olde head. i usually wear the white one but i found myself driven to high altitude madness by the little bitty bugs who are bugged by repellent. they continue to hear for/into my ears. thus, my new do. get it. it looks ridiculous, but worked like a charm.

trek to islip with the antioch folks is tomorrow. i'll go to early service at st john's. (painting there later this morning)

luv,

pops

Posted by mbowen at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)

August 16, 2005

Truth Hurts

Farrakhan: Fox Was Right on Blacks, Jobs
August 15, 2005 10:10 PM EDT
MILWAUKEE - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan said Mexican President
Vicente Fox was right to say that Mexican immigrants take jobs "that not
even blacks want."

Although Fox was sharply criticized for his remarks by some black leaders,
Farrakhan said Sunday that blacks do not want to go to farms and pick
fruit because they already "picked enough cotton."

"Why are you so foolishly sensitive when somebody is telling you the
truth?" he asked the crowd at Mercy Memorial Baptist Church. He said
blacks and Latinos should form an alliance to correct differences and
animosity between the two communities.

Civil rights leaders including Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton have
called on Fox to apologize for the remark. Fox has said he was commenting
on the contributions that Mexicans make to the United States, and did not
mean any offense.

Farrakhan, who spearheaded the 1995 Million Man March that drew hundreds
of thousands of people to Washington, D.C., was in Milwaukee to promote
the Millions More Movement, which has scheduled a rally Oct. 15 on the
National Mall.

The march is billed as a more inclusive successor to the Million Man
March. This time, organizers have encouraged women and gays to attend.

Posted by mbowen at 06:18 PM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2005

Baby Bowen

Rod and Monique had their first shower yesterday. Monique is registered on
the web. If you'd like to send her a gift, this is the way to go. She is
registered at www.babysrus.com and/or www.buybuybaby.com. Click on "baby
registry" near the top of the page and type in Bowen, Monique where they
ask
for first and last name. Also enter Brooklyn, NY for the city and state.
Follow the prompts. It should all make sense when you get there.

Posted by mbowen at 06:19 PM | Comments (0)

August 09, 2005

Unamerican

A car company can move its factories to Mexico and claim it's a free market.

A toy company can out source to a Chinese subcontractor and claim it's a
free market.

A major bank can incorporate in Bermuda to avoid taxes and claim it's a
free market.

We can buy HP Printers made in Mexico .

We can buy shirts made in Bangladesh.

We can purchase almost anything we want from 20 different countries BUT,
heaven help the elderly who dare to buy their prescription drugs from a
Canadian pharmacy. That's called un-American! And you think the
pharmaceutical companies don't have a powerful lobby? Think again!

Posted by mbowen at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)