let Kindness shine

 

it is costing so much more, 

every day in every way, to continue 

this anti-Earth stance -- makes NO SENSE or cents

It's not journalism that sucks -- it's capitalism

We are not loved because we deserve it.

We are loved because love is what

those who love us feel.

Love/Hate so often is not about the target

is internal to the Lover/Hater

Just be kind

Why not?

Maybe some of the kindness

you bequeathe

will seep back into you

and grow that glowing feeling

so delightful! and free!'

Even without trust, just be kind.

Allow that delicious feeling

to thrive and pervade

our world.

resurrecting an old idea

links posted here may no longer work 

Posted on Saturday 03 of June, 2006 [04:58:18 UTC]

Flash Utopian Fiction Project Update
Laurie Corzett in libramoon's Observatory
Friday 07 of April, 2006
NEWSFLASH: NEW UTOPIAN FLASH FICTION GOOGLE GROUP:

* Group name: utopian flash fiction

Group home page: http://groups.google.com/group/utopian-flash-fiction
Group email address utopian-flash-fiction@googlegroups.com  ??



As you may know, I have been working on creating a project to write a series of flash utopian fiction — flash fiction=ultrashort stories — pieces around an imaginary federation of diverse villages each working out their methods of community life. I am visualizing little dramatic impacts that also impart information about how the people of the community involved solve their social problems — dramatic storytelling with a purpose: speculative fiction with which to fashion visions from which to expand our collective view of how collective life can be more happily structured. I have had some interest expressed by other writers, and a few stories have been sent to me. I have posted the stories that I have been sent to a delphi forums site I set up to manage this project. I would love eventually to publish, if I get enough stories for a book. I envision a whole world of ideas created through these short bursts of fiction, little vignettes or as one person suggested, peeks into open doors. There is no set format to fit. What you write, if you choose to participate, would help to create the structure itself.

I am totally open to collaboration and inspiration. If you have or or feel inspired to create such stories, or know of others who might be interested, please let me know. If you are interested in participating in this project or have other ideas to add, please respond 

If this project actually works out, it will result in a book in need of publication. If you have affiliation with or knowledge of any small press that would be interested in working with such a project, please let me know.

I may start a new group on LinkedIn or MeWe
Description: This group is part of a project to write a series of flash utopian fiction pieces around an imaginary federation of diverse villages each working out their methods of community life. I am visualizing little dramatic impacts that also impart information about how the people of the community involved solve their social problems.

A fictional project allows for social activist imaginings outside of the currently "possible" to promote ideas in an easily digestible and enjoyable form, each person involved adding their bits to the overall project. It would be wonderful eventually to publish these stories into an inspirational book, but I am mostly interested to see what kinds of ideas for possible social structures result. I am hoping eventually to see a whole world of ideas created through these short bursts of fiction, little vignettes or as one person suggested, peeks into open doors. There is no set format to fit. What each participant writes would be helping to create the structure itself.
A possible jumping off point would be to write stories based on the scenario:

We are a group of colonizers sent to a new planet, with a variety of skills and knowledge. The core group has been given the job of a sort of council of elders, to develop the new constitution, by-laws, societal structure within which the colony is to operate.

This is only a suggestion. The whole point is: there are no limits

The original stories are still posted on the delphiforums group:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/opendoorways

I intend to continue to post updates here.


If you would like to help promote the project, here is a blurb you can leave where you go:

Laurie Corzett is seeking collaboration for her Flash Utopian Fiction Project: series of flash fiction pieces around a federation of diverse villages each working out their methods of community life — little dramatic impacts illustrating creative solutions to social problems. Got ideas?

http://people.lulu.com/blogs/view.php?user_id=38353 libramoon’s observatory (blog)


Peace,
Laurie


Here is the second story I have written for this project, to give you an idea of what kind of thing I am thinking of (the first story, Sanctuary, is posted further down on this blog, under the heading "Flash Utopian Fiction Project"):

University

We are told that our project was named University because our purpose is to facilitate a universe of possibilities. University started as one of those possibilities, a project conceived and carried out by for and of a conscious community of artists, engineers, scientists and philosophers. I grew up in that community, and wouldn't have it any other way.

We learn in the histories, and know that in many places still today, education has been separated from general life, often made compulsory and relegated to specific times, places and procedures. Corporations took on the tasks of research and product development for a profit, while politicians were responsible to craft projects of benefit to the community. At University projects are constantly being started, executed, sent out to find those who can now benefit from what has been accomplished. Someone or ones snag onto an idea and start to figure out the steps from here to there. A call is given out to anyone who is interested or has relevant skills to join in. We learn what we need to know each step of the way and bring in others as the project progresses. We have the background structure of University to draw upon, where learning of all kinds is constantly in session.

From the time I was very young, from my first moments of remembered consciousness, I knew any of my questions would find serious response at University. There are the libraries, record chips of any subject imaginable, everything explained from the simplest child's vantage point up through the most learned of scholars in the field, fully illustrated in animation and live action recording, as appropriate. More importantly, there are the people, the scholars, engineers, scientists, artists, each with their passions that they are so very happy to share.

University is the busiest, bubblingist, energized and enthusiastic environment to grow in. No one says: "it can't be done." It's always: "well, what's the next step we have to take to get there?"

exactly us

 

 

 

We are all so helpless,

victims of poisonous forces,

multi-crises, big bads beyond our

puny efforts to create better lives?

We can, each and every, do what we

can (not may) to be and portray

or best efforts, our inner heroes,

our passionate lives.

 

 

 

Any random voice can complain.

It takes someone solid to propose

solutions.

 

 

 

As I understand,

you can do whatever you please

then repent, and you're cool.

But, PLEASE! repent before you

destroy me (any me)

or at least truthfully answer:

Why would my life be less entitled

than you?

When I find the power to cross you,

what will you do?

 

 

 

The people in the asylum were not

dangerous.  They are in danger in

the real world, filled with people

who actively won’t accept them.

People who were taught “these

are not like us”

When they are exactly us.

 

 

8/17-26/23

our stories' hero

 

 

 

the systems we have devised/evolved

for distributing power are clearly

flawed. They have been based on

clearly flawed thinking about what

humans are, what we need, want

and can do, based on dead philosophies.

 

What is the solution you want to

implement? What is it a solution for?

What result do you expect?

 

 

 

When did "Conservative" come to

mean bullies?

 

 

 

People, generally (though, of course, not

always) want to be the hero of

their story.  Often what seems,

from our point of view, malicious

or wrong may be meant to be

beneficent or good, from a viewpoint

based on different precepts.  When

this is the case (and dhow can we know?)

isn't it more efficacious to engage in

calm, patient, even kind conversation

to clarify what we each see, believe,

want to make happen?

 

 

 

It seems so much good is not

allowed to be done for lack of

money.

One might assume these losses

of societal betterment are due to

a need to conserve our limited

resources, that they be available

for what has been deemed best

use.  Yet, LOOK! where are these

resources, this money, going to be

spent -- what is the method, who

are the arbiters, what ends for our

resources are they deciding?

 

 

 

It's not that what you do/believe/want

is wrong -- it's that it gives you

fear/anger/anxiety, not joy.

 

 

 

I have a need to share. Yeah, the

writing and posting what I observe.

And I notice, not fully engaging with

entertainments with this insistence

on thinking about how to share it.

Strangely, this feels like restriction.

 

 

 

What media chooses to highlight

forms the public story.

 

 

 

I am thinking of writing a fiction,

based on the realities of far too

many victims of a sick society.

Basic plot:

a woman is raped, pregnant,

legally prevented from getting

an abortion, even when there are

serious medical complications.

The woman dies horribly, but

"Yay! We saved the baby -- though

it does have severe health issues

requiring extensive expensive care,

and no parents."  Who will  take

this responsibility?

 

 

 

8/12-13/23

kindness, not arrogant hubris.

 

 

 

I have recently read articles about

this inflation that indicate the best

response is not about interest rates 

but about improving the supply of affordable

housing.

 

 

 

 

the issue with inflation is often described

as too much demand without enough supply

 

the logical solution is not to cut demand

by impoverishing the populace, but to increase

supply through alternatives, through competition

 

if the appropriate supply simply does not exist,

the issue is no longer inflation, but lack of supplies

and the solution is not about economics

but social responsibilities

 

 

 

 

maybe it's time to break from the helpless,

passive consumption of pre-chewed information

and get out into our communities, getting to

know what and who is really happening

 

 

 

"good" colleges -- expensive, Ivy League,

impressive don't provide better education. 

They provide relationships with wealthy,

powerful people one would not ordinarily meet. 

However, for the most part it's these wealthy

brats bringing wealthy brat knowledge and

resources together to create more wealth extracting

enterprises.  If what we really want is an educated

nation we would do better to go to the old free

school model of people teaching people.

 

 

 

 

What is wrong with this human

world is almost always

exemplified by:

People who just want to be

themselves, mean no harm

to anyone,

are harassed and murdered,

while those who enjoy to

harass and murder them are

applauded, respected,

emulated.

 

 

 

"The road to Hell is paved

with good intentions"

because what counts is

good action which are based

on true kindness, not arrogant

hubris.

 

 

 

Have that compelling thing

you want to say

and say it with the best care

and skill you have at that time.

 

 

 

Fun is but diversion, enchanting

toy.  Seek Joy!

 

 

 

Treated like an imbecilic alien

because your operating system

is different from the "norm" --

though our "norm" is more

an insane crying of loneliness

while treating those around us

with disdain, while clinging to

our hates with meanness

built of rage.

 

 

 

 

8/1-11/23

scifi nightmare

 

 

We knew it was coming, did nothing

And now it’s here

We’re caught in this science fiction nightmare

 

 

 

It’s not the power that corrupts

But the weaknesses it covers over

 

 

 

It’s not all economics

Even what is about economics is

Not really about these theories and arguments

We categorize as economics.  It’s about

People’s lives, and how we perceive them.

 

 

 

We are so proud of hiding,

of denying our true reality

to be safe within our

communities.

Our communities, that deny

our true realities -- where can

we truly be?

 

 

 

You imagine these people

"fascists", or any dehumanizing

"ist", when they are just people

trying to figure out this being

human, like you.

 

 

 

Fight mentality won't lead us

to Peaceful prosperity.

 

 

 

I don't believe in anything

while I believe in everything

Let the Truth fall where it may.

 

 

 

I have no say,

no authority.

I  fall in place,

I soar to space.

Crazy whore for that trace

of credibility, of something

I can trust.

 

 

 

The Death Penalty

War

Fatal Police Encounters

not Destiny

Escalated beyond supposed

parameters

so fast, as if this stopgap

ultimatum were our best and

only defensive remedy.

Who makes this disgusting

paradigm reality?

To what end?

 

 

 

 

it almost seems like tptb are happy

to make use of these dreadful conditions

to lower the population of the possibly

dangerous masses while they live well

in their climate controlled palaces

 

 

 

why fight?  Fighting just glorifies violence

and discord.  Why not find out what

these grievances really are, why these

people think they want authoritative rule

against their proclaimed love of freedom,

why they embrace violence against people

who otherwise would mean them no harm? 

Why not rebel against dichotomy and find

common ground in our common vulnerable

humanity and work (not fight) for better

relationships, communication, cooperation

for common goals? 

 

I see so many stories of hate and violent

temperament being turned by loving notice. 

People want to be seen, want attention and

approbation and as with the children we all

still are, if we don't get good attention we'll

opt for the bad.  Fascism is just another ism,

another deadening of humanity which is

better approached  with good  work than

more fighting and destruction.

 

 

7/20-28/23

the true human condition

 

 

You treat people badly because you can,

because it gives you a thrill, because it

never occurred to you that you could

as easily treat people well, and end up

with a much better feeling about yourself.

 

 

 

Why are these moments memorable?

Because you are being seen

by another living being.

 

 

 

Help me to understand,

Humanity -- why you seem

compelled to horror,

loud blasts that destroy

in an instant

lives, long built projects, what

has been bled for, cried for,

denied untold suffering to attain.

I see youu claim to love with

passionate generosity, to

lionize kind sagacity, to yearn

for the beatific freedoms of

peace and charitable sanity.

You clearly want me to believe

in your greater good.

Yet you blatantly express malice,

greed, unrestricted indecencies --

Why?  Why are you killing me,

every "me" as if you are not

in control?

 

 

 

Not the distance of kindness

but of kind of intimacy.

Bringing in.  Breathing in

musky memory, close

cloistered reverie,

when we were us,

a coalition  of love, of life.

 

 

 

Why go back in time

when every choice was

what made sense in the moment?

Even knowing what I do today

I have to better way to choose,

no clearer vision to scry

from this river of life.

 

 

 

Perhaps we believe how

other people treat us is

about us, how we present

to the world, our shortcomings

coming home to roost,

traits we can't control,

expectations we can't meet.

Perhaps we don't understand

the true human condition,

encased in separate realities,

not reacting rationally as one

might suppose from subjective

objectivity.

 

 

 

When I was training to aid

people trying to escape domestic

abuse, we were told men abuse

women because of their

internalized and socially

reinforced belief that violence is

an acceptable, even expected,

means of self-expression.

 

 

 

Understand that I will never

NEVER, give you any money.

This is a firm commitment I

have made.  I could support you

in other ways, such as spreading

your messages.  That is if you give

me actual information rather than

this bait and switch of suggesting

there is actual information that you

email, when in fact it is only fundraising.

This kind of tactic only results in me

thinking you are not worth my

attention.

 

 

 

It's not a democracy because

we vote.  It is a democracy if we

do the work to rule ourselves.

 

 

 

I don't belong in the world

but neither, apparently, do

most of us

Somehow we're made to believe

those angry bigots get to be

normality.

 

 

 

7/2-18/23