Category: Author

Ways of Learning

Curiosity, Creativity, Compassion, and Cooperation are the 4 C’s of human nature. A fifth C is the darker side of our nature: Control. In past (and non-western or Indigenous) societies, they educated their youth through self-directed learning that required a high level of respect, cooperation, creativity, and mutual exploration. Adults guided the children rather than… Continue reading Ways of Learning

Let’s Unlearn Capitalism Myths

I think this needs said: The framework that society shoved into us is capitalistic and it tries to teach us that the capitalistic view of reality is the ONLY view. This socialization is full of myths that aren’t actually true. There are many worlds within our biosphere of Earth, and we need to understand that… Continue reading Let’s Unlearn Capitalism Myths

There Is No Moderates

Y’all, I think most won’t like what I got to say, but it needs said: There is no such thing as a middle ground. There is no moderate in America. You are either: 1. for genocide OR 2. Not for genocide. Republican party has thrown their lot in with number 1 to the point they… Continue reading There Is No Moderates

My Open Letter to City Designers

I originally wrote this email for the Des Moines City Council. For the past year, I’ve adjusted the verbiage to reflect what I’ve heard in their City Council Meetings with the Public. I also adjust the bullet points and actions I (and others) wish to see them take. Otherwise, most of the letters are verbatim… Continue reading My Open Letter to City Designers

We Are the Fire

We Are the Fire By Aidan Zingler Words pull push, agitate, infuriateI’m the fury of the world not seen.I beg, I cajole, I reason, I askI’m the pain of the dead not seen.Time is running out, time is running Black Lives burn bright and extinguish, Stars howl their sorrow at their lossDisabled flames smolder and… Continue reading We Are the Fire

My First Teacher: Iowa’s Land (Short Essay)

Reminded of my first teacher: Iowa’s Land. My first political foray: fighting to save wetland. Where I went to recover: the forest. The land teaches of justice, of hope, of ways of knowing beyond the confined narrow focus of our modern world. I miss nature: small patches of forest, paths along the lakes, the wetlands,… Continue reading My First Teacher: Iowa’s Land (Short Essay)

First Essay of 2021: Nothing about People is a Binary

Human beings are complex. We can both criticize each other and yet still love each other; the criticism does not mean our love is false, and yet society teaches us thus. This binary thinking is killing us. Our society teaches us that everything is a binary: either we are Black or White, Man or Woman,… Continue reading First Essay of 2021: Nothing about People is a Binary

Tackling Ableism Framing

I’m going to discuss Ableism framing in this article, and to do so, I’ll use an example from a friend (who attends social distancing church services). First, let’s cover some basic definitions. Definitions: Abled-bodied person is a person who is not disabled. As in they have no physical or mental disabilities. Or they are someone… Continue reading Tackling Ableism Framing

Riots are the Language of the Unheard

Important point by Robert Jones, Jr. (Son of Baldwin): Property damage should never matter more than people’s lives. If anyone cares more about the looting and damage to property, then I’m gonna ask y’all to sit down and think hard about every single death by police. Police are waging war on Black folks; folks fighting… Continue reading Riots are the Language of the Unheard

Quarantine Poetry

Living alone by Aidan Zingler Living in a pandemic while living alone splinters my mind, breaks me down pain ignites and drenches my soul an endless kaleidoscope nightmare again and again my body crushed against the shoals of silence. A slice of the sun burns my eyes Buzz of machine howls in my ears Cold… Continue reading Quarantine Poetry