”I Want to Kill You” A patient on the psychiatric unit where I work threatened my life last week. In a cold, steely voice, this very distubed man looked into my eyes and said, “I want to kill you.” I believed him. I knew, given different circumstances, he could and would fulfill on that threat. Surviving by Being Nice and Good We live in a world that has seen far too much war, that has known too much tyranny, genocide, terrorism. I come from an unhappy family with a history of abuse, which formed the way I thought and behaved for years. It didn’t make me a happy person.  I learned to survive by becoming  good, sweet and loving.

keep reading...

As US planes head off into Operation Swarmer with Iraqi forces to carry an offensive against a pocket of insurgents, I find myself wondering about power. President Bush said today that first strikes or the ability to wage pre-emptive war remains one of our most important weapons in the War on Terror. You hurt us or you even threaten to hurt us and we’ll hurt you so bad you won’t even know what hit you. You know, the old shock and awe idea. If your enemy is dead they can’t threaten you anymore. Sadly, we have found out in the years since 9/11 that this idea doesn’t seem to work in reality.

keep reading...