tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56635932024-03-23T06:18:00.055-04:00ComeuppanceThoughts on popular education, storytelling and activism for a possible better worldChris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.comBlogger466125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-50877483270357055372023-01-09T14:07:00.001-05:002024-03-21T18:05:28.801-04:00A COLLECTION OF DEFINITIONS OF POPULAR EDUCATION Popular education is about power. It is also about love. And both power and love are difficult to define. And so is popular education.The popular educator Myles Horton said education should percolate, not drip-down. Perhaps popular education, in a nutshell, can be framed as a democratic process of questioning/challenging power.Any attempt to define popular education is bound to leave Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-44467965327977202182022-01-01T11:29:00.005-05:002022-01-01T11:31:05.859-05:00Dreamers, Shapers, Singers, Makers(I wrote this introduction for a series of a dozen sonnets I've collected into an art book that is one of the solstice books i've produced over the years. I post these sonnets on FaceBook and Instagram. The title of this post and of the solstice book is from Babylon 5, Season 2: The Coming of Shadows, Babylon 5 (1993-1998), created by J. Michael Straczynski)Grace Paley, who I was lucky to Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-64467225130159244442021-11-24T14:58:00.002-05:002021-11-24T14:58:40.045-05:00A Poem-a-Day(I wrote this introduction for a series of 'zines of short poems selected from my poem-a-day writing practice. I post these poems on FaceBook and Instagram)I love to write. Just write. I do enjoy getting published as well. But that's different from writing. I have many writing practices one of which is writing a poem a day. I have practiced this on and off going back 30 or more years. WhileChris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-20007344320164884952021-05-10T07:42:00.000-04:002021-05-10T07:42:05.925-04:00Justice?One day Otter, in tears, came to King Solomon: "My King, I have come for justice. This morning I asked Weasel to take care of my children while I went to the water to find food. When I returned, Weasel had killed my children." Solomon summoned Weasel and asked if what Otter had said was true." Weasel hung her head and said, "Yes, it is true. But I am not to blame for I was only responding to Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-85401377584021778172021-03-01T10:37:00.008-05:002021-03-01T10:59:31.949-05:00A Sufi, a Catholic, a Hindu, and a Jew walk into a bar….(with thanks to Bob Kanegis for the title to this blog post. Check out his blog here: https://storytellerscampfire.wordpress.com/)Hazrat Inayat Khan tells a story of Moses who invited the Lord God of Israel to break bread with him. Moses’ God answered that he would indeed come. Moses prepared a great feast and, while waiting for his guest, a poor man walked by and begged for food saying, “I Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-12215676193321182272021-02-26T11:21:00.000-05:002021-02-26T11:21:03.522-05:00The MirrorOnce upon a time a young farmer was going to travel to the big city to buy some supplies. His father reminded him of the supplies they needed. His mother told him not to forget to be careful and watch out for thieves and avoid the taverns. His wife asked him to buy her a comb but, knowing her husband had to remember many things, pointed to the crescent moon and told him that looking at the moon Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-42263994443434154852021-02-25T16:20:00.001-05:002021-02-25T16:20:53.465-05:00The Happy Man's ShirtOnce there was a king who fell ill with an ailment that confounded his doctors. Wise men and women, healers of all kinds were consulted and none could help. Finally, one of the king’s advisors suggested sending for the old woman who lived in the forest and who many believed to be a witch. Still, many people sought her out for her teas and herbs when in need. The old woman was brought before the Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-23071021284064859572021-02-20T17:16:00.003-05:002021-02-20T17:16:24.654-05:00The Ugly Bridegroom Once upon a time in a land where marriages were typically arranged and it was not uncommon for the betrothed to meet only on their wedding day, there was a young woman who was the pride of her village. She was much beloved and respected for her kindness, intelligence and beauty. So when she learned that her betrothed was not only intelligent but also considered the wisest person of his Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-81095943918755497372021-02-18T11:16:00.006-05:002021-02-21T07:23:54.876-05:00The Palace of Bird BeaksWhen the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon’s kingdom she brought gifts and riddles. She tested Solomon’s wisdom with her riddles and was pleased. Solomon was pleased with the gifts of the queen and told her that she could ask for anything she pleased. “Build me a palace of bird beaks,” asked the Queen. “It will be done,” said the king. And Solomon, who knew the language of all the animals, sent Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-44069796055416029802021-02-17T12:53:00.000-05:002021-02-17T12:53:20.438-05:00What A Moral Stance Looks Like A.J. Muste was a labour activist and pacifist whose advocacy of non-violence as a tactic of change was unusual, to say the least, in the USA of the 1930s and 40s. Noam Chomsky, of whom I was a devoted reader when I was a young adult and who I have continued to read and respect my entire life, in the first of his books I read, American Power and the New Mandarins, quoted a speech by Muste Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-4739304870300324232021-02-15T12:30:00.003-05:002021-02-15T12:30:42.712-05:00Akbar and the Meaning of PrayerOnce, long ago, Akbar, ruler of the Mughal Empire, was out hunting when it came time for midday prayer. Akbar dismounted and, laying out his prayer mat, knelt down. As he prayed, a woman anxiously searching for her missing husband came running and, failing to notice the kneeling Emperor, tripped over him. With neither a backward glance nor apology, she scrambled to her feet and dashed away, Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-5173641182343471642019-02-23T16:19:00.002-05:002019-02-23T16:23:57.984-05:00The New Dog
One day a hunter called his friend to join him on a hunt so that he could see how his new dog performed. The two friends and the new dog ventured out to a lake where they knew lots of ducks were to be found. Before long, the hunter shot a duck which fell from the sky onto the water. The hunter sent his dog to fetch the kill. The dog leapt onto the lake, ran across the water, got the duck and Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-40379357223669517632019-02-18T12:38:00.003-05:002019-02-18T12:38:59.017-05:00Have Heart
One day a student of zen told her teacher that she was having a hard time
meditating. Worse still, having studied for several years, she was feeling like
she’s made no progress at all. “I am discouraged,” she said. “Can you tell me what
I should do to overcome this?” The zen master smiled and said, “encourage
others.”
_________________________________
This is a story I think about on a weekly Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-87894545519063289512019-02-17T20:42:00.001-05:002019-02-17T20:42:29.423-05:00Being Prepared?
Two sages of Chelm went for a walk, one carrying an umbrella. Suddenly, it started to rain and the one without an umbrella said to the other, “quickly, open your umbrella.”
“It won’t do any good,” said the other.
“Of course it will do good. Is an umbrella not made to protect us from rain?"
“True. But my umbrella is old and full of holes."
“Goodness! Then why did you bring it along?"
“I Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-23996328400430308292019-02-16T19:15:00.003-05:002019-02-16T19:15:46.301-05:00What to Ask
Two monks met each morning in the garden to walk silently around the monastery. One morning, one of the monks said that it might be pleasant to smoke a cigarette as they walked. The other monk agreed but said, “let us first ask the abbot.” The next morning when the monk who had mentioned smoking arrived in the garden, he saw his fellow monk already waiting and smoking a cigarette. “But did we Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-45881039695572478132019-02-12T13:37:00.000-05:002019-07-11T18:11:14.125-04:00Consensus and Consensus Decision-Making
I recently shared some thoughts on consensus and consensus decision-making with Toronto350. So i'm posting below some writing about consensus that i did with my colleagues at The Catalyst Centre (our website is offline for the moment - alas).
In reviewing my thoughts about consensus, i remembered this piece by David Graeber: Some Remarks on Consensus. So many excellent points. I agree with Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-61930045448326016252017-04-16T12:22:00.001-04:002017-04-16T12:28:55.802-04:00Friendship
A battle raged. One soldier staggered back to camp from the battlefront and asked the sergeant if his friend was back yet. The sergeant said, “no,” and the soldier asked permission to go get his friend. The sergeant denied permission saying, “he’s already dead and I don’t want to lose you as well.” The soldier went anyway and returned, mortally wounded but carrying the body of his dead friend. Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-21817510653843859202017-01-22T16:59:00.004-05:002017-01-22T16:59:55.721-05:00The Cure
It was at the end of the 19th Century in Vienna, Austria where a man had begun to make a name for himself as a doctor of the mind. People came to see him from around Europe and the world. One day, a strange looking man entered the doctor’s office and stood silently before the receptionist’s desk. The receptionist looked up and saw before her perhaps the saddest looking person she’d ever seen.&Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-12454383504104123852017-01-21T08:35:00.001-05:002017-01-21T14:39:35.715-05:00Desire
There was once a man who set out to travel the world seeking his deepest desire: happiness, fulfillment, contentment, enlightenment. He didn't know what he desired most. But he would learn and would find it. From city to city, province to province, nation to nation he travelled but was unsuccessful. His deepest desire eluded him. One day he rested beneath a tree in a forest. Little did he know Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-36486278379532156002017-01-20T16:17:00.002-05:002017-01-20T16:21:03.876-05:00Beautiful Illusion
Mulla Nasrudin was walking along the village street with a friend when some rambunctious children surrounded him and teased him for the patches on his clothes and the worn shoes he sported.
"Stop bothering me," Nasrudin said, "and I will tell you something very interesting."
"Okay," said one of the boys. "but no philosophy!"
"Of course," said Nasrudin. "I can see that you are already skilledChris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-18457571201641265652017-01-20T07:15:00.002-05:002017-01-20T07:16:35.472-05:00Exercising One's Powers
Four friends once set out to learn wisdom. They each travelled far and for many years before they met once again. They met in a forest and, having learned many wonderful things, had much to share. They talked and told stories and then one friend stood up and looked around at the forest floor and found a bone. He placed the bone on the ground and said, "I can remake the skeleton of this animal."Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-81965491655645280802017-01-07T22:55:00.003-05:002017-01-07T22:55:56.191-05:00The GiftOnce upon a time a poor man wished for riches. When he woke the next day he found a small leather sack on his doorstep. When he picked it up he heard a voice whisper, "inside this sack you will find a coin. Take the coin and another will appear. Take as many as you wish. But you may spend none of them until you throw the sack in the river where it will turn into a fish."
The man opened the sack Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-60986712252382433712016-07-31T08:34:00.003-04:002016-07-31T08:34:45.126-04:00Tansen's Teacher
Once the ruler Akbar called Tansen before him to sing. Akbar listened and was, as usual, amazed at the talent of this singer. He praised Tansen. But Tansen said to Akbar, “My singing is little compared to that of my teacher.” “Then I must meet your teacher,” said Akbar. But Tansen explained that his teacher agreed to meet few people. There was no guarantee that he would meet Akbar. Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-54730174958950839822016-07-28T10:47:00.002-04:002016-07-28T10:51:07.283-04:00The Turtle's Request
Once upon a time, a turtle walking along a path was stopped by a leopard that jumped in front of him. The turtle, realizing his doom, said, “Sir Leopard, would you allow me a moment to prepare myself before you kill and eat me?” The leopard thought this an odd request, but saw no reason not to agree for, he thought, he was hardly in danger of losing his meal. “Prepare yourself,” said the Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663593.post-20559970566962051162016-07-25T11:34:00.001-04:002016-07-25T11:39:05.283-04:00The Search
One day Nasruddin was on his hands and knees when a friend came by who asked, “Nasruddin, what are you looking for?” Nasruddin smiled at his friend and said, “My keys.” The friend joined Nasruddin and searched for a while but after finding nothing, turned to Nasruddin and asked, “Where did you lose your keys?” “In my house,” answered Nasruddin. “Then why are you out here on the street if you Chris cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985731064394035796noreply@blogger.com0