LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Friday, January 1, 2016

2016 Has Arrived

May 2016 be kind to us all. 

Let us be honest with one another and most of all, to ourselves.

A just 2016 is unlikely -- and when ourselves are weighed on the scales of justice, we too will surely come up short.

However, we all shall be able to perform acts of kindness, and generosity.

To quote from earlier this week, a dear friend: "To a 2016 in whch They stop killing us. Black lives matter."



Let us dance. 

    Let us toast all those we love, those who are with us and those who are far away and those who have gone away.


Tobacco farm, Pinar Del Rio, Cuba
There should be / may be connection from hotels, but generally wifi in Cuba is iffy, takes a long time to upload anything, is pricey -- and it's not unknown for users to acquire viruses and other damage to their laptops, etc. (happened to el V this fall, for that matter, meaning new laptop). Roaming charges for cell phones are extremely high, particularly for calls, though texting is less expensive.

Unexpectedly a new camera arrived at Christmas, so I'll be trying it out, particularly as its video function is reputed to be excellent. Other than this camera, several pens and (paper) notebooks I'm taking no devices. Our regularly scheduled programming should resume sometime around January 12, 2016.



By then I'll surely have danced the equivalent of hundreds of miles!

Sunset at Varadaro; will be there week after next



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