The phenomenon of the colonial encounter is characterized first by the encounter with a perceived difference. It is through difference that the colonizing society comes to formulate its own Self through the constitution of the Other. The process of defining the Other and Self is the project of delineation - that is, the building of the boundary, ( Read more... )

new post up at Climate Matters: http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/climate/2010/02/11/urbanization-deforestation-reforestation/

(narrative) linearity is pretty deeply entrenched in the western mindset. we like to organize realities into linear scales, be it economic (underdeveloped --> developed), political (radical --> communist --> socialist --> progressive --> liberal --> moderate --> conservative --> libertarian --> fascist), sexual (straight --> bisexual --> gay), or ( Read more... )

"Today, anarchism comes packaged... and is little more than a merchandisable boutique ideology that panders to petty-bourgeois tastes for naughtiness and eccentricity." Murray Bookchin, "The Role of Social Ecology in a Period of Reaction", 1995.

New blog post on a symposium I went to a few weeks ago: http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/climate/2009/10/21/assessing-global-metrics-for-agriculture/Read more... )

The other day anarchist protestors at the New School interrupted a speech by Tom Ridge in protest to U.S. imperialism. The New School listserv apparently lit up, with at least 15 different people decrying the actions of the protestors. My old roommate/bromantic lover had this to say in response:

( There is nothing civilized about the US military apparatus, so don't
even try to argue that it belongs in a civil dialogue, like we're in
some Greek debate about the best way to run the state... )

so on monday, i was biking home from columbia university in manhattan to my apartment in brooklyn. about half a mile from home i was crossing a major avenue, when someone in a mercedes wanted to pass the car in front of him by jumping out into the parking lane -- putting the other car between him and me, and obstructing his view of me crossing the ( Read more... )

this is why i suspect most long-distance relationships are ultimately untenable: the lack of the physical presence of a person allows one to develop a concept, an intellectualization, and ultimately an objectification of that person that has less to do with their true nature and character, but is instead wrapped up in the individual's own thought ( Read more... )

Geese appear high over us,
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds
them to their way, clear
in the ancient faith: what we need
is here. And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven, but to be
quiet in heart, and in eye,
clear. What we need is here.

-wendell berry, what we need is here

ryan carter 17:54 ( Read more... )