Hey, I'm concerned about the degradation of democracy
But Let Me Blow My Own Horn for Awhile

>What I do with the Rainbow, what I do with my music, are the part of me that I give freely, with no thought of a return. All my life I have kept those things separate from the things I do to make money. [tale of some nice things Snowwafer does, SNIPPED]>

Oh boy, another game! Show and Tell What I Do With Life And For Money.

What I do with Rainbow, is what I do with the rest of my life, try to utilize -- as constructively as possible -- any resources available to me while freely sharing both resources and any fruits of the constructive processes. Except for a brief relapse, in Cairo, Egypt, 1977, since 1977 I haven't done anything to make money, because I believe that money is a great source (i.e., "root") of evil (i.e., "destructive").

When I do Rainbow or Life it's like going to church. I dream up some thing I want to do for everybody at a gathering and I get it together myself. Before ever going to a gathering I had met many individuals calling themselves "Rainbow." In evaluating the words spoken by these so-called Rainbow folks, and observing their actions, I concluded that many of them talked of high ideals (Love, Truth, Sharing, Justice, Freedom, We Are One, etc., etc.), but were also so highly self-absorbed in their taking care of their pursuit of "feeling good," that they would pay their taxes, witness; military slaughter; their brothers and sisters hauled off to prison for opposing military slaughter, or possessing an inappropriate piece of vegetation; homeless people being kicked. beaten, burned or labeled "quality of life crimes;" bloated-bellied black children starving to death on their T.V.'s, and say something selfish, like, to quote Snowwafer, "the times, they are achanging'; in spite of us, not because of us. All I have to do is what makes me feel the best."

Being blessed with a critical mind, I must admit that at first I did not have a very high opinion of folks who identified themselves as "Rainbow." They impressed me as good talkers, but not all that good on follow through. I also heard reports that gatherings were just an excuse to party. But then a few folks who happened to run into me (e.g., Thumper, Plunker, Amazing Dave) impressed me as really trying to walk the talk, better than the rest of society, which helped me keep an open mind about Rainbow.

Some years later, in 1988, Thumper, Plunker, Amazing Dave, and some twenty-or-so other folks I hadn't met before, approached me in Peace (Lafayette) Park.

(NOTE: I did not approach Them. For further details)

They expressed to me their concern about pending government regulations (which, I assume, is what Snowwafer now calls, "REGS"). Specifically, they were concerned that these "REGS" would interfere with their continued ability to "assemble freely" on "We the People Lands." They told me they were with "Legaliaison," a group of individual volunteers who, the Family Council had consensed at the National Gathering in Texas, would act as the eyes and ears of the Family regarding the Forest Service's plans for this regulation. Some invited me to accompany them to observe a meeting they were going to have with the Director of the National Forest Service.

I've always enjoyed communing with nature, but, owing to a demanding schedule, at that point I had not been out of Washington, DC in seven years. Although I had no immediate personal interest in any petty regulations the Forest Service might decide to foist on gatherers in National Forests, I saw the issue as a serious threat to the most fundamental of human liberties.

Apparently it had been agreed that Thumper and a few other folk living in the Emerald City area, would disseminate information about the regulations. Because I had some personal experience with bureaucratic regulations aimed at stifling individual liberty, I was asked whether I would be willing to send some time tracking the progress of the anti-assembly scheme.

Over time, I was impressed by the amount time, resource, energy, and care which Thumper devoted to keeping the world accurately informed of the bureaucrat's plots. I was also surprised, over the years, by the ingratitude, hostility, and plain pettiness with which Thumper's efforts were met. After a few years, I wasn't surprised when Thumper got entirely tired of the whole thing, and never went to another gathering.

After Thumper quit disseminating the information, nobody else wanted to do it, but many people wanted the information. Believing it was helpful for people to have as much information as possible, I picked up where Thumper left off. Neither Thumper nor I ever tried to "organize" anyone to do anything for "us." Far as I know, Thumper never asked anyone to donate any money, and I know I didn't. I went to some gatherings, as Snowwafer says:

> in a self sufficient manner. [snip] I don't go into a Gathering expecting to be taken care of, I don't go anywhere expecting to be taken care of. [snip] I go into a Gathering to give the best I got, to share myself [snip] This frees .me to focus on what I've brought to share.>

I've traveled the world; seen many peoples; believe in equality, don't like the idea of division, and, despite my early preconceptions of the Rainbow Family, after attending Rainbow Gatherings, I am convinced that if humanity MUST be divided into "Tribes," I've not met a tribe to which I feel greater kinship than the Rainbow Family.

Still, I'm amazed by the fantastic, fanatic, often far from fathomable responses with which my information and opinion sharing efforts are met. "And," to paraphrase Snowwafer once again, "if the Rainbow Family is losing it.... that's why. Have people forgotten?" Have we gotten so out of touch with reality, so fearful, that when someone tries to communicate accurate information, or offer well-intended advise, we insinuate that they may be a "gov. tool," or someone with "black paws ... asking you to donate money for his project ... organizing others to do his thing"?

Perhaps, as Snowwafer writes:

>In a way it doesn't matter, it's going to happen anyway.

Maybe Snowwafer is correct, and it is gonna happen anyway ("predestination"), or maybe it ain't ("free-will").

Maybe it's responsibility E.g., "disappearing a gathering."

Or maybe it's selfish indulgence in self-delusions. Like they say, "It doesn't matter, it's going to happen anyway. Surveillance, atomic bombs, the REGS, homeless, starvation, whatever, it was kids that carried the flowers, it was kids that sang the songs," don't worry, be happy, eat, drink, dance, play, be grateful, soon we'll all be dead anyway.

Snowwafer certainly has a right to the opinions that,

>if the Rainbow Family is losing it.... that's why. Have people forgotten? Have we gotten that depressed? Lost something? Fear? Surveilance, atomic bombs, the REGS....I know there are those who never knew and don't know how to let them selves go into that beautiful place.>

Fear these evils? Knowing the worse they can do is kill me, I think I just despise these evils. I'm not near as afraid of getting nuked as I am disgusted with deception and hypocrisy.

So, I just hang out and do my best to accurately and fairly record the common historical reality of government actions (e.g., "the REG") and the response of various skaters, blatherers, idealists, egotists, experts, flaming divisionists and individuals sincerely seeking understanding and unity to the common historical reality. Because, I think, in the event that someday some may find the ultimate evolution of the government's regulatory scheme/public response less than pleasant, those who come later may learn, with the help of the record, not to repeat the same mistakes which, by creating division, aided an unpleasant, government-generated situation in the first place.

I'm perplexed ....?