Personal & Social Transformation
How Do We Connect? Call-and-Response
I want to be a starling again, I want to be a sardine again We already did this once. I thought about being another creature, a migrating Monarch Butterfly Why didn’t you do that? We would do that with you I don’t like Monarchs, I am anti-royal They should change their name to “The Comrades” This time I will talk about something different. Thank you. Don’t be redundant. We don’t want to be bored. Do you think we have Free Will? I am enslaved by my impulses. We agree. Right now we feel like we’re just following a script someone else wrote for us. Starlings and sardines - love and understand each other I doubt that. They have very tiny brains. I read two books by bell hooks about The Patriarchy… So now you want to man-splain to us what bell hooks said about feminism? I also read I-And-Thou by Martin Buber… So now you are a zoologist? An expert on ornithology and ichthyology? bell hooks says patriarchy is about domination. Systems built on domination cannot produce love. Are humans always competitive? Doomed to fight each other forever? Thomas Hobbes said we’re always in a war against each other, forever competing in our short, nasty, brutish lives. Hobbes influenced Ayn Rand. Sigmund Freud said our aggression is deeply rooted, we have an urge to dominate others. Freud said “Man is a Wolf to Man.” Does that also mean that “Woman is a She-Wolf to Woman”? You’re never quite as funny as you think you are. Sigmund Freud is dead and Hobbes is even deader. Jordan Peterson is alive! Yeah. But we think he’s a weirdo, right? Jordan Peterson says, “hierarchy is deeply embedded in biology.. If you flatten hierarchies, new ones emerge… The structure of dominance is ancient and real.” bell hooks says we are not doomed. She says can use our will to change. David Graeber - the anthropologist - says “hierarchy is not a constant of human history… There is no inevitable form of social organization.” That gives me hope. Anyone else? Thich Nhat Hanh says domination stems from mistaken perception, not from human essence. Bravo the Buddhist. Peter Kropotkin believed “Mutual aid is the chief factor of evolution.” bell Hooks says “Domination cannot exist in any social situation where a love ethic prevails.” Did we stop talking about starlings and sardines or is this all metaphoric? Where are we going? bell hooks viewed Love as the most serious revolutionary act. She believed love is synonymous with listening and understanding. You didn’t answer my questions. Trust me. Just keep reading your lines. Okay. Grumble Grumble. Martin Luther King Jr. said “love is the most powerful social force.” Martin Buber says we should see each other as whole beings, not as objects, we should not control or use each other, we need to be fully present in interactions that are authentic, direct, and alive. The I-Thou relationship is rare and beautiful. Buber says most of us exist in I–It relationships. We are objects to each other to categorize and exploit. Sardines and starlings cannot swirl harmoniously if they try to dominate each other. Sardines and starlings are in I-Thou relationship to each other. They listen and understand. They are connected, intuitive. Human relationships must be transformed. For example, my relationship with the narrator here… is increasingly problematic. Can institutions that demand an I-It relationship, that dehumanize us, be abolished? We need horizontal leadership, mutual aid, voluntary association. We need direct democracy, we must oppose hierarchies. Is the only war… Class War? I want us all to fly like skylarks in their murmurations. We said this last time. You are being redundant. You tricked me. I told you not to do that. I want us all to swim like sardines in their ecstatic swirls. Now you are ignoring me. This is completely antithetical to your message. Sardines and starlings move in harmony with each other. Can we be a society like that? They do not seek dominance over each other. They don’t control each other, the way you’re controlling me, you hypocrite. They are not competing. they are a mind-hive of joyful collaboration. They look happy all together like they are playing all the time They are Leaderless, Intuitive, Self-organizing Collective Intelligence guided by Love
I Ain’t A Saint But Some Folks Is (quiz contest)
Saints don’t faint with fear They grumble no complaint When faced with problems far and near
Do we understand the saints? How did they get so goddamn good? I’m afraid we ain’t Learning what we should
About the mind Of humans who are super kind - Let’s examine - seven people who would be in heaven If such a place was real
I will show you seven drawings of saints - you won’t recognize them because I can’t draw at all - but I will give you hints and you will be applauded if you guess correctly:
Dorothy Day
She believed soup kitchens were more revolutionary than speeches. She lived in voluntary poverty in New York City. She was arrested repeatedly for pacifism. She co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement.
Thich Nhat Hanh
He said washing dishes can be an act of enlightenment. He was exiled from his homeland during war. He coined the term “Engaged Buddhism.” He was Vietnamese but he lived in Plum Village in France
Malala Yousafzai
She advocates for girls’ education globally. She survived an assassination attempt as a teenager. She is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Nelson Mandela
He spent 27 years in prison. He emerged without calling for revenge. He led the end of apartheid.
Harriet Tubman
She escaped slavery She was called “Moses.” She led dozens to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Peter Singer
He argues that failing to prevent suffering is morally serious. He donates a large portion of his income. He helped popularize effective altruism. He wrote “Animal Liberation.”
Greta Thunberg
She refuses to fly because of emissions. She began protesting alone outside a parliament. She told world leaders: “How dare you.” She sparked a global youth climate movement.
—
There’s one more face that we must do I’ll give to you Just one clue The person you see has the potential to be A saint But they ain’t YET
(I carry a mirror around that audience members can see themselves in)
Moral Dilemma: What’s The Greater Good?
Dear audience - I’m not a comedian - I’m an annoying philosopher. we’re going to play an ethical choice game now. Every scenario is a conflict between Human Rights Ethics and Utilitarian Ethics.
#1. The Burning Museum - A museum fire breaks out. There’s a room containing ten art students, and another room containing Vincent Van Gogh’s five most famous paintings. You have an amazing fire extinguisher but there is only time to save one room.
Your options are A) Save the room with ten art students B) Save the room with the five most famous paintings by Vincent Van Gogh C) don’t do anything, let them both burn
Ad Libs - it’s okay, you don’t have to like art students, it’s okay you don’t have to like Van Gogh, it’s okay to be a homicidal nihilist. what if all the ten art students were just getting Cs Ds and Fs? What if there’s only two of them?
2. The Informant - You find out there’s a police informant inside your Signal group that is plotting sabotage. If you expose this person, the informant will be killed by your group members because his report will get everyone in your Signal group jailed and possibly executed for treason.
Your options are A) Expose the informant. B) Stay silent
Ad Libs - I’m kicking you off our Signal group
3. The Assassin You are an off-duty spy relaxing in a Caribbean restaurant. You have a cyanide capsule in your pocket so you can kill yourself if you’re captured. You see two men laughing at a table near you - Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu. They are both drinking water but they get up and wander off chuckling to a bar on the other side of the room. You have enough time to poison one glass of water
Three Options: poison Donald Trump, poison Bibi Netanyahu, Do Nothing
Ad Libs - the security guards are distracted by your beautiful date that suddenly arrives wearing a naked dress
4. The Lifeboat - You’re in a lifeboat that can hold 10 people safely. There are 11 survivors in it. One of them is Pete Hegseth. Another is Greta Thunberg. If everyone stays aboard, there’s a 50% chance the boat will sink and everyone will die. Should the group force one person off the boat to save the other ten?
Four Options A) Push Pete Hegseth off, B) Push someone else off C) You sacrifice yourself D) Let fate decide and risk everyone,
That’s too easy. What if there is no Pete Hegseth on board? But Greta volunteers to jump overboard? Would you A) let Greta jump overboard? B) Push someone else off? C) Sacrifice Yourself?
Ad Libs - I will go boating with you anytime, anywhere.
5. The Hospital - You’re a surgeon in a hospital in a remote mountain jungle - you have five baby patients who will die without organ transplants. Suddenly a lone traveler arrives - the man looks just like Jeffrey Epstein and he wants to buy one of the high school volunteer nurses. You and the other doctors discuss harvesting his organs
Options: A) Sacrifice the possibly-Epstein traveler so the five babies can live. B) Do nothing
That was too easy. Let’s try this - let’s you’re a doctor in a military hospital in Israel - there’s five wounded IDF soldiers who need organ transplants. A young healthy Palestinian woman arrives. How do you vote now? A) Harvest her organs, or B) Do nothing and let the soldiers die?
Of Course You Have Democracy
for one person with Big Flash Cards in BOLD that the audience reads
Of course the USA has Democracy - one person one vote, law by majority Of course you have [shows flash card] Democracy
Popular vote does not determine the President - Electoral College does and Wyoming residents have 40 times more Senate representation than Californians But of course you have… Facade democracy due to flaws from founding fathers
70% of Americans want universal healthcare and affordable drug prices and corporations to pay their fair share, with loopholes and tax havens closed But of course you have Corporatocracy
85% of Americans want background checks for guns but your representatives give you thoughts, prayers, and moments of silence. 65% of Americans want marijuana legalized but what you get is people jailed in privately-owned prisons for possessing a plant But of course you have Lobbyocracy
Two-thirds of Americans want student debt relief and tuition-free community colleges, Congress banned from trading stocks, Citizens United over-turned, and higher taxes on the ultra-rich but what you get is a tax break for yachts and a lecture on “job creation” But of course you have Oligarchy or is it Plutocracy?
65% of Americans want paid family leave after a baby is born, with longer vacations like every other developed nation But of course you have… Capitalism
60% of Americans want the government to raise the minimum wage but that hasn’t happened in the Land of FREEDOM to abuse the working class But of course you have Kleptocracy, rule by thieves, or is it Bankocracy, rule by banks?
70% of Americans want abortion legal but the Supreme Court that was never elected and serves a lifetime has decided otherwise But of course you have Theocracy or is it Bibleocracy?
It costs $2 million to run for Congress $20 million to aim for Senate because you don’t have public funding of elections But of course you have Mobocracy or is it Cronyocracy?
Americans are the ostriches of Earth But of course you have Idiocracy or is it Kakistocracy – rule by the worst? or is it Demockery – democracy that becomes a mockery?
I Am God - Ask Me Anything
Jesus Christ appears, he says, “I am Jesus, ask me anything”
Reporter #1 asks: “How can God be one person, but also three people? Father Son and Holy Spirit ? I don’t understand this.”
Jesus: Oh no, a Unitarian! Go Away! Where the fuck am I? Next question, please.
Reporter #2: “God is all-powerful, right? He’s also full of love and compassion, right?”
Jesus: “Yes, absolutely”
Reporter #2: “So why does the innocent suffering of children — exist? Why does He allow that to happen, if he’s powerful enough to prevent it, and he’s really good?”
Jesus: “it’s a Divine Mystery that you are too primitive to understand.”
-
Allah appears as a black square with “Allah” written on it in Arabic
Allah: “I am Allah. My appearance is beyond human imagination and cannot be visualized. I am Allah, ask me anything.”
Reporter #3: “If the future is already determined by you, how can humans be morally responsible? They don’t have free will, so they can’t change what’s already decreed.”
Allah: “You are free to choose what I already know you are going to choose.”
Reporter #4: “You are Allah, the All-Merciful. You are also the Ever-Forgiving？
Allah: “Yes, and I have 97 other honorific names too -
Reporter #4: “ Allah, if you have infinite mercy, why do you punish people with torturous eternity in Hell？
Allah: “The Koran says, ‘Do not ask of the things which, if made manifest to you, would vex you.’”
Reporter #4: “ I don’t think the answer would vex me.’
Allah: “It would vex you, so I’m not going to tell you.”
Reporter #4: “I am vexed because you’re not answering my question.”
Allah: “YOU ARE VEXING ME!!!”
—
Shiva appears (Hindu god)
Shiva: I am Shiva, ask me anything
Reporter #1: “Shiva, you are the destroyer-god. How do we know when something is sacred destruction or just a natural catastrophe like a tsunami?”
Shiva: “Hindus have more holidays than any other religion. We have more holidays than days of the year. Next question.”
Reporter #2: “Hinduism believes a person’s caste status is determined by past-life karma, but is this scientific if there’s no evidence of one’s behavior in a previous life?”
Shiva: “We drink cow urine to prevent Covid.”
Reporter #2: “You aren’t answering my questions.”
Shiva: “Hinduism is the oldest religion. The Mahabharata is twice as long as the Bible.”
—-
Buddha appears
“I am Buddha, ask me anything”
Reporter #3: “you say there is no self, but if there is no self, what is reborn?
Buddha: “Not exactly you. But not exactly not-you.”
Reporter #4: “You want us to not have attachments, but you want us to love each other deeply. How can we love without attachment ? “
Buddha: “Just Be mindful while you are confused.”
—-
Donald Trump appears in the middle of the American Flag
DT: “Why wasn’t I invited to this? I should be the Pope. I deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. I am the greatest President of all time, anywhere.”
(Reporter #1 raises hand, “I have a question”)
DT: “Shut up, Put your hand down. You’re disgusting.”
Reporter #1: “Did you molest children?”
DT: “Those other guys you had on before me? They’re losers. None of those guys would win an election against me unless they cheat. I heard some of them have a billion followers, but that’s fake news. I’m going to deport them all. That Jesus guy - that’s a Mexican name. He’s probably selling fentanyl he got from the two Chinese guys. ”
Pick Your Spiritual Path
We want to be kind, generous, gentle We're tired of drama, emotional, mental We want to be giddy with delight We want to be ecstatic, all day, all night - am I right?
We need a discipline to help us transform We want to wake up feeling reborn Let's look at 10 paths to inner peace From New Guinea to Ancient Greece
Path #1
The Sun Dance Ceremony of Lakota Sioux Hang in the air, eagle claws in your boobs the pain you endure is horribly huge is this something you want to do?
Path #2
Running through mountains, the Tendai cult of Japan 52 miles a day for a 100 day span followed by a week of no food, water or sleep you fail if your willpower isn’t deep Who wants to chase enlightenment this way?
Path #3
Is spinning what you wish? Want to be a Sufi dervish? It’s popular with Turkish and the Kurdish You circle round like Rumi - dizzy with divine love Ego annihilated by Allah above All in favor, twirl your fingers
Path #4
Do you want an animal guide? An elk, a wolf, a snake, a crow? to tell you what you need to know? I suggest a vision quest wander wild ‘til you hear a beastly voice does anyone here, want this choice?
Path #5
Ayahuasca DMT Hallucinations can set you free Lick the Desert Toad and see Parallel Universe Entities Who wants to get Angelic ingesting Psychedelics?
Path #6
Diogenes - the Cynical Ascetic Slept naked dirty in the street, but he didn't feel pathetic He was free of shame he didn’t care what people think He didn’t care about his stink Who wants to pursue this philosophic avenue?
Path #7
Mindful Meditation, Vipassana or Zen Count 2,000 inhalations, then count them all again Breathe in breathe out The Boredom makes you fart and shout Who wants to sit and sit and sit? Raise your fully conscious fist
Path #8
Do you want to be Pentecostal? Want Jesus to save your soul? Want to babble in tongues, charismatic Maybe shake and roll Around Upon the ground Like you're possessed by voodoo does this appeal to you? Raise your hands — hallelujah
Path #9
Dionysian worshipers just get drunk on wine Music, dancing, ecstasy, a rave in BC time Ritual intoxication Produces transformation Who wants to get loose on fermented grape-god juice?
Path #10
Mud-People from New Guinea Wear masks made of clay The purpose is to frighten Evil spirits away singing - Begone, begone, all enemies Leave our tribe alone Do not steal from our yam fields do not pollute our homes Who wants this superstitious path?
Path #11
And finally we have, at last the radical service path Thich Nhat Hanh and Dorothy Day helping others was their way Transformation through compassion mindfulness in social action engaged spirituality to elevate your personality?
Summary
We are now finished I hope you located A path that gets you situated on a journey to a better you
“We Don’t Want To Be Plastic” - Barbie and Ken’s Existential Struggle
Barbie’s lines are Bold / Ken’s are Normal
Barbie Barbie Kenny Kenny
Will you talk to me? What you mean, is really “will you listen to me?” Are you complaining about my “man-splaining?”
Kenny - I am having a bad day If you were normal, it would just be hormonal
Kenny - I don’t want to be artificial anymore I agree, it’s a boring chore I am sick of being just a doll that little girls steal at the mall I am weary of being a toy constantly tortured by boys
I went to a doctor, Kenny, he said I don’t have a brain Oh no - You’re having an existential crises again! I have world fame, but… You don’t have a brain ! Boo Hoo Hoo
Don’t be sarcastic! I’m sympathetic - you don’t want to be plastic What can I do - I’m a blonde bombshell But you’re owned by Mattel
I got a radical operation to cure my agitation A major implant, to offset my confusion
What was it? Did you get udders like a cow? That would make me sad and mad
I got a brain, white and gray the doctor squirted it into my head today But it hasn’t congealed - I haven’t healed It’s floating in my skull…
Is your skull full, to the brim? Are you no longer dull and dim?
Kenny, I am dreaming and I’m scheming I’m more than plastic now My thinking is elastic I am capable of drastic Independent action
Wow! Barbie I am envious! But I worry - This might be the end of us! You cannot get a mind And leave your silly Ken behind! I have an evil plan! I’m putting pepper in my hand I’ll throw it in your face You’ll sneeze your brains out all over the place
No No Yes Yes
The Patriarchy is oppressing me!
Sneeze, sneeze, Barbie, please sneeze
Aaah-choo! Aahh-Choo
(Barbie sneezes brain material out of either her nose or the top of her head)
I want this gooey brain so I’ll sniff it - I’ll snort it deep inside me I will inhale these neurons that were given to my Barbie Eve stoled a rib from Adam - So I’m just getting even…
(Ken keeps sniffing)
Kenny, I’m still thinking, I’ve still got half a brain! Barbie I’ve got the other half now - let’s be pals again!? Yes, Yes, Yes, let’s think together, we’re not plastic anymore Let’s put two and two together Because we know the answer’s four!
We are happy we are happy We are happy just like you You people in the audience Have brains like us, it’s true
Let us think together! Let’s make a mind-hive Let’s dream of ways to feel Authentic and alive! Let’s dream of ways to feel Authentic and alive!