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
Category: Writing
My Open Letter to City Designers
Originally posted on Reshaping Reality:
I originally wrote this email for the Des Moines City Council. For the past month, 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 wish to see them take. Otherwise, most of the…
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
Deconstructing worldviews
“The notion of a “one-world-world” (OWW) is predicated on the West’s ability to arrogate to itself the right to be “the world” and to relegate all other worlds to its rules, to a state of subordination, or to nonexistence. It is thus an imperialist, colonial notion.” (chapter 1 of Pluriverse Politics by Arturo Escobar) So… Continue reading Deconstructing worldviews
Nucleation Review
Nucleation by Kimberly Unger Overall Thoughts: For a science fiction tale, this book not only impressed me with its use of physics, specifically entanglement of particles, but blew me away with its scope of imagination. The characters leapt off the page with such personality, and the book kept twisting and turning with surprises every step… Continue reading Nucleation Review
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
COVID MEMORIAL SPEECH 2021
Covid Memorial Speech by Aidan Zingler I am a nonbinary neurodivergent disabled person. I am homebound and live alone with my cat. Many disabled folks I know are either in similar situations, live in a home, or forced to live with people that harm them. Many of us struggle in poverty due to restrictions on… Continue reading COVID MEMORIAL SPEECH 2021
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
Indigeous Peoples’ Day: We Need to Show Up Year Round
Indigenous People’s Day. The wind blows fiercely as the leaves tumble down the sidewalk. At the capitol, Indigeous people speak their truths, broadcast it in a livestream. Around them and us, Western Society throttles on slowly, its gears mucked up with Mother Nature, the pandemic slowly everything down. Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff (Unangan Tunuu) and Libby… Continue reading Indigeous Peoples’ Day: We Need to Show Up Year Round
Accessible Spaces
For definitions on the terms used here and an example that breaks down ableism, see my Tackling Ableism post. NOTE: i think i am probably preaching to the choir here, but i’ve thought a lot about disability justice lately and how movements practice that. (Note: i’m in pain today so capitalization isn’t happening). This was… Continue reading Accessible Spaces