Globalization and Positive Change

This is a bon voyage post because I'm leaving tomorrow and will not be blogging for a few weeks.

Amid the media pros and cons regarding the Occupy Movement, a personal response says - thank God - people are finally getting it. Our society is at risk not from the demonstrators who clearly love their country, but from the corporate interests who are overtaking and controlling the major societal decisions being made by government.

Globalization is a two pronged fork and it is only logical that one connects to the other. As corporate governments decide to broaden the market place for the benefit of the few, the people are growing ever poorer and disenfranchised. The many that have been bought off with cheaper international goods, can no longer pay for those goods because their jobs have also gone global. For some people, it has become very clear that the ubiquitous MacWalmarts have cost them and their local economies dearly. Corporate greed is swallowing up our way of life, killing the middle class dismantling unions and indenturing the working class.

I worried for a long time that people were passively being co-opted into acceptance of the status quo. I wondered why the people couldn't see what was happening to them. But, Globalization has also occurred in the communications sector so that we can all see what is happening in Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Greece, Italy and Ireland. People are rising up and saying NO. Nothing begets a movement better than witnessing massive injustice and resistance.

I see no distinction between the Arab Spring, African Diaspora, Greek riots and Occupy Wall Street, except location and style. We cannot keep propagandizing the joys of democracy without people wanting some. The Global 99 percent are angry with their leaders, businesses, banks and governments for selling their interests to the Global one percent, without any light on the horizon. If the powers that be don't shift their priorities soon we could be witnessing an ugly Global revolution.

The corporate media also have a choice to make - either keep obfuscating the truth in support of the status quo, or respect the depth of this movement and provide some analytical guidance for positive change. Instead of articles about dirty tent camps and traffic jams, lets see more articles questioning bank profits, environmental rape, downsizing's effect on local economies and corporate tax shelters. The Occupy Movement may be "leaderless" and lack a cohesive structure, but it's common issues are very clear to the corporate power structure. They will fight back hard and dirty.

They will go after the communications industry and try to close down the Global access to truth and free speech. But the people are also getting wise and we are seeing the first stages of a global revolution - not for communism, socialism or capitalism - but for an equitable share of the pie. That, ultimately, is the meaning of democracy.

It is time for world leaders: corporate, political, and religious to act responsibly and provide some positive change.

Guidelines for dealing with Geriatric Mothers.

It's been quite a while since my last post. I have been very busy with my art and stuff - hanging a modest show of painting at Chasing the Cheese; preparing two submissions to be judged for a group show at the AGP; working on my website; designing my Cat calendar for Christmas giving and wrapping up details for my trip to Holland this Thursday. It's all falling into place nicely so I'm taking a few moments to update Paws Awhile.

Maya was here for a couple of days to have a visit before I head to Europe. I'm glad she came even if she did need to work. We got along well even though I was overly sensitive to the "aging" remarks. I joke about it myself as a kind of defense against my own fears, but if it is raised too often by others, I begin to suspect that my frailties are clearer to others than I care for. Because we don't see each other often and she fears my loneliness, a kind of ironic banter between us masks our true feelings. When I really try to express a feeling that may makes her uncomfortable, she kind of bullies me into silence.

So we adopt the banter to half express ourselves. What she doesn't realize, is that I am moving on with my life and developing a loving detachment about hers. I must survive emotionally and with dignity without becoming dependent on her. We were always there for each other, we had no one else but each other as she grew up. Her life is now half of another partnership, and she can talk with Glenn about serious concerns. I don't have a partner to share with, so sometimes I open up to her. When it touches feelings that make her uncomfortable, she closes me down. It's a no win situation for me.

So let me be really clear Maya:
1. I am over the moon happy about your commitment with Glenn to settle down. The house is a brilliant decision that makes total sense. Yes I'm sad that London is so far away, but it is what it is.

2. I'm delighted that you are looking seriously at starting a family, and that Glenn recognizes that single parenting is not your preferred option. I also realize that being the more distant grandma will mean I will have a smaller role in your lives.
But I can be the eccentric Oma that comes once in a while for good times.

3. You are not responsible for my life and its ups and downs, so you need never feel guilty. If I qvetch from time to time, let me. I'm getting old and often feel achey. I put up with your adolescent moods and complaints and still loved you. You can put up with my geriatric moods and complaints in return, and still love me. You need to hear me without assuming guilt. My moods aren't about you

4. Unlike you as a teenager, I will not grow out of it. It can only get worse - it's a condition of old age. There is not going to be a happy ending. The most we can hope for is a sane and peaceful ending. Accept it, tuck it away but prepare your life accordingly. Make some effort to include me where you can and treat me with respect always. As I have always done with you.

5. Remind Glenn that though I'm not his mother, I will love him as my son. And, he will earn my undying gratitude when he recognizes that I can't help getting a little deaf, and speaks so that I can hear him. He has a good mind, and thoughts that I would dearly like to hear.

6. Remember always that I love you and want you to be happy. I would like to be happy too. You may not always need to hear from me, but I may need to hear from you, so humour me. Call or post me just to say hi.

...and b.t.w. Mothers do have special powers - like it or not. You'll see.