COLLECTIVE BREATH – Week of Sunday, October 11th, 2020

Episode 14

Number of people attending Facebook (personal portion):

Number of people attending Zoom Meet (group portion):

Introduction:

“Show me a man or a woman alone and I’ll show you a saint. Give me two and they’ll fall in love. Give me three and they’ll invent the charming thing we call ‘society’. Give me four and they’ll build a pyramid. Give me five and they’ll make one an outcast. Give me six and they’ll reinvent prejudice. Give me seven and in seven years they’ll reinvent warfare. Man may have been made in the image of God, but human society was made in the image of His opposite number, and is always trying to get back home.”

— Stephen King , The Stand

As society grows in numbers its members finds themselves in increasing opposition and conflict with each other. This is either due to a perception of limited resources, benefits, rewards, or power resulting in the individuals or groups possessing such entities increasing their willingness to defend such assets with extreme prejudice.

In the face of over consumption of such resources and assets (as though such assets are limitless) the opposition will come from an outside agency such as a different school, a different military, country, or population group entirely.

That’s what we’re absorbing this week, the concept of ‘taking sides’

A transcript of this segment and each subsequent session will be posted (for anyone interested) at http://www.sidewayseight.co which is my main outlet for personal poetry and photography: Sideways Eight Projects.

Hello fantastic people! My name is Jesse James Ziegler. I am the current Poet in Residence for the Bruka Theatre of the Sierra in Reno, Nevada. I am an active poet, special event MC, principle photographer, special event series host, and now weekly wellness writing workshop host in collaboration with Spoken Views Collective of which I am also a Board Member.

This Weeks Writing Prompt:

This week’s Prompt : Write on the concept of ‘Taking Sides’

I want for this podcast style personal portion to contain information about famous writers and their quotes as well as, futuristically speaking, local guests to this program who help everyone involved gain a diversity of perspective and positively impact our individual process.

Quote(s) of the Week:(7)

“Nobody ever started a fight because they thought they were wrong. Think about it. We’re all so sure of ourselves that we can’t even have an honest conversation. Instead, we babble bass-ackwards agendas and cling to ill-conceived notions. Our heads are so far up our own …. that we assume we are the hero of the story. Even when we are up to our necks in it, we never bother asking what the awful smell is. The thing is… everyone can’t be right. That’s not a thing. But nobody wants to back down. So instead, you get a line in the sand and people taking sides.”

— Brian Buccellato, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three: The Complete Collection

“Strong communities are born out of individuals being their best selves.”

— Leanne Simpson

“Respect the dead but take the side of the living.”

— Marty Rubin

“A Gentleperson understands that it’s better not to take sides. If a Gentleperson decides on taking sides, then they shall take both sides, for they have a 50% chance of winning and a 50% chance of not losing.”

— Anas Hamshari, Businessman With An Affliction

“A bridge has no allegiance to either side.”

— Les Coleman

“There are no independent people. Even when you are standing aside, you are taking a side.”

— Ljupka Cvetanova, The New Land

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

— Elie Wiesel

I’m hoping this sharing and vulnerability I’m demonstrating will encourage others who love creative writing as well to open up, by sharing from their innermost, related to the topic provided. I’m hoping we all gain perspective, compassion, hope, and discipline through such organized sharing.

Piece or Pieces of the Week: (4)

This N’ That

Tightrope

Lines in the Sand

Rithm of the Night

Next Week’s Writing Prompt:

Which will also be posted across Collective Breath and Bruka Theatre’s social media platforms: Write on the concept of ‘How our thoughts determine our lives’

Closing Sentiments and an Invitation

For more information on the topic of taking sides I would recommend, for in depth reading, along your individual path of further and additional study, any of the following three texts…

Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Educational Issues, by Glenn Koonce

Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing, by Jamie Holmes

The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life, By Kevin Simler, Robin Hanson

That We May

These days no longer agree with us

They are finding a course of their own

Desperate for the renewal

of their livelihood

casting away previous worries

they are set on a path

to prevent our demise

in order that we may

fill that hole

with promise.

That’s it for my personal portion. If this is where you get off this train of thought, because you checked in to listen, thank you for tuning in and absorbing. I appreciate your time and consideration. If you are here for the Weekly Wellness Writing Workshop group portion via Zoom Meeting, please transition to that application now using the link provided in the details/description section of the ‘Collective Breath’ Bruka Theatre Facebook Event Page. The link is also in the bio section of the Collective Breath Instagram page @biggestlittlecollectivebreath

Keep writing. Keep your heart open and your mind aware. Keep coming back for more. Keep going. Keep giving. Keep doing. Keep daring to believe in a better way of living. Keep loving and creating. Keep each other safe and sound. Keep it real, and keep the faith. I love you. Goodbye for now.

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