 've been staying with my friend James, in Columbus, since arriving in Ohio. While we were busy being "hippies", James was an engineer on the railroad. I'm sure you heard The Dead singing about him. He's at a place of much discovery in his life. He went to his first Burning Man last year, driving by himself all the way from Ohio. He's going back again this year. Reading the postings about happenings at the Rainbow Gathering, causes me to pause and reflect on the relevance of my personal experiences and ramblings as expressed here. Why does the government have to go through this same harassing action at every gathering. Don't they know by now they are not going to stop the will of the tribes. Wouldn't it be better for everyone; gatherers, forest service, residents, trees, animals, if rather than confront and disrupt us, that the authorities cooperated with those conscientious servants who are trying to build an infrastructure and organize systems to provide for a secure and healthy experience for all involved. Instead they disrupt, harass and weaken the effort that those who care about the people are putting forth.  Even though I am not at the gathering my heart is there. My friend and I watched the video of the first Rainbow Gathering tonight. We had a wonderful discussion around that about Rainbow and Hippie culture and strategies and dreams for creating a culture of respect and honor for all life.
I'm concerned about some of the dark energy that I've seen on the web lately, calling itself Rainbow and accusing others of being drainbow, etc. My concern is twofold. One, is this energy seeping into the Rainbow community and how is it being responded to. Two, are there elements of the government that are subverting from an undercover position. I will pray for all my Rainbow Sisters and Brothers during these next few weeks. I will pray that they be protected by light and grace and that they find their way home safely. I haven't come in contact with much Rainbow or Hippie energy here in Ohio. I did meet a man who lived in Santa Cruz for awhile after following The Dead to the West Coast. We didn't have a chance to talk much, but he is here in Columbus, healthy and seeking. I am experiencing, how much more political the counter culture is and always has been than the West Coast culture in general (pardon me Berkeley). Yellow Springs, Ohio was the birthplace of SDS. The White Panthers and Rainbow People's Party were founded in Ann Arbor, home of the MC5 of "Up Against the Wall Motherfucker" fame. John Sinclair, the founder of The White Panther Party and Rainbow Peoples Party, marijuana advocate, poet, journalist and community radio programmer is one of the featured artists at the festival.  I am reminded of this by the tone of the stated purpose of the Comfest,in it's 34th year, which I attended last night. The following is from the program guide.
The Community Festival is guided by its Principles. The Principles are statements of what the members believe is basically i mportant. They are: We think that people ought to work for the collective good of all people rather than for personal gain. We support cooperation and collective activity rather than competition and individual profit. The basic necessities of life are a right not a privilege. People have collective rights to control the conditions of their lives. People should strive to conduct their lives in harmony with the environment. We recognize that there are primary attitudes which divide and oppress people. These attitudes are usually shown by prejudice against people on the basis of age, class, ability, income, race, sex and sexual preference/orientation. We Seek to eliminate these attitudes. The Statement of Principles is more important than any other writings of the Community Festival. I can get behind that. Sounds pretty Hippie to me. Ohio has an edge and gets right down too it. Party on.  SpringWind Follow along with Alan SpringWind here on the Hippie Museum, where we will be posting photos and info all along the way...We're all on this bus together! Bumping on down the road,,,, n diggin every bit! CLICK HERE for Part 1 Also check out Alan's enligheningly entertaining blog "A SpringWind Blowing..... here... http://www.aspringwind.blogspot.com/ . The Hippie Museum |