Report from Tuscon - Borderlinks

Just found out that the Mexico group we have been working with in Tuscon has an open internet connection - so, I'm filing a quick report from the field. Thankfully, no illness or injuries to report. It's Friday now, and our journey is almost over, but the group from Bridgeport has changed in many ways.

While we were in Mexico (Monday - Thursday), our group received some frontline exposure to the economic and social inequities that exist between the United States and Mexico - issues that are exacerbated by NAFTA and our militarisation of the border in urban areas. Due to our international free trade policy with Mexico, many farmers have been forced from their lands and pushed north to seek work in the U.S. Sadly, our government has opted to lock down the major ports of entry with a wall (similar to Berlin) - which has forced migrants to seek crossing in hazardous desert areas. Rather than curb illegal immigration, this blockade (and our trade policy) has resulted in a dramatic rise of migrant deaths over the past few years....with no end in sight.

Our experience down south has been a real eye-opener, and will hopefully move people to share these realities with the folks back home - and their elected officials. To do anything else would be wasting a valuable experience.

When I get back home on Sunday, I'll add more to this...

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VISUAL - The Incredibles
AUDIO - Martian Time Slip by P.K.Dick (audiobook)
EVENT - Yaqui Easter Ceremony (Tuscon, AZ)
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War goes on...

It may be hard to believe, but we've been at war for two years now. Over 1,500 dead American servicemen and 100,000+ dead Iraqi civilians later, we're still looking at a conflict with no end date.

One wonders how much longer it will last before the deceived and deluted American public wakes up. It took years for Vietnam to boil over. One wonders....

In other news....

The GOP is finally set to crack open ANWAR to the oil industry. It's still subject to final approval, but it's moving forward to the delight of greedheads everywhere. I love how Bush is pushing this as a solution to our national oil dependancy - just when oil prices are at their highest. Why not focus that energy on developing alternate fuel sources that will help END our dependancy altogether?

and finally...

Paul Wolfowitz to run the World Bank? He's used to ruining small empoverished countries....give that man a job!

Crazy week - and on to Mexico

So...much has been happening as of late.

Aside from the Friday debut of my new neice, we received news that our childcare situation for Greer is about to become more stabilized. So...this morning, Alex and Greer headed over to the new full-time caregiver for his first day, which as you might imagine resulted in a certain amount of crying when Mom left. Ah well, Greer will find his place - and begin the often indelicate process of socialization.

On top of this, I'm gearing up to leave with my church group for an educational trip with the group Borderlinks to Mexico - to spend some time learning about the economic and social divide that exisits between our countries. Even though the process +has been a little helter skelter, I'm very excited about the trip and the opportunity to learn more. In addition, my good friend and former roommate Aaron will be joining us, due to a cancellation on the team earlier this month. Having him along will help ease the journey in some ways - specifically, so I don't have to be the only adult male on the journey. I'm the designated photographer, so you'll be seeing a few photos from the trip at some point.

Did I mention that we are driving to Mexico?

No lie - looks like a 26-hour overnight journey from PDX to Tuscon, our destination. Whoo-hoo! Road trip insomnia!

Keira has arrived!

Just wanted to offer a shout out to my cousin Marcia and her husband Travis - and congratulate them on the birth of their baby girl, Keira Duffy! She was born early Friday morning - and weighs 6lbs, 4ozs - 19 inches long...

Tribute aftermath...

There's a reason why I don't drink whiskey anymore.

The evening of the Hunter Thompson Tribute at the CST is a subtle reminder of this reason. A not-so-subtle, raving, swerving loon of a reason.

It was great in the end. Almost a sold out event that teemed with the lurching menace of a drunken mass. I hadn't expected more than 50 people, but when it topped out at over 200, I knew we were on to something. Some of them had glassy stares and the look of a rotten middle class. Some were young and slavish. All were happy to be there. The Doc was the last outlaw to them and it was time to lift a glass to the one who had pushed us all over the edge somehow.

As I helped Seth outline the procedure to cue up the DVD part of the tribute, ice was melting in my Tiki tumber - ready for the fool I was about to become. The line heaved around the corner and down the block. Black-clad teens huffing on a soggy joint before digging through their pockets for admission. Middle aged women bragging about their adventures of taking mushrooms with Hunter. Mass hysteria in the lobby with me and my empty glass scrambling to neighboring businesses for one dollar bills to beef up the box office. 15 minutes after the gig was to have started - and most of the crowd was inside, Seth hustled his narrow frame past the lineup at the makeshift bar in the back, and up to the projection booth - while I shifted down the theater asle, marveling at the horde we had gathered. The drunk, stoned and griefstricken of Portland - ready for a wake.

As I stepped onto the stage, a collective howl rose up....

GH: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Greg, and on behalf of the Clinton Street Theater, I would like to thank you for coming out tonight to our tribute/wake.....for the great, late Hunter S. Thompson.

(crowd screams - wild applause)

GH: The visions, writings and occasional hallucinations of the good Doctor have served to changes the face of modern journalism and popular writing as we know it.

(more applause)

GH: Some of you were introduced to Hunter through his epic tome "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas...(more screams)....a drug fueled, savage tale about the search for the heart of the American Dream. Tonight we have a print of the film adaptation - starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro.

(more applause)

But before that, we have an excerpt....a cryptic excerpt from a 1978 documentary that I think you will find fitting for this evenings proceedings. (applause) I'd like to thank this evening's sponsors....whiskey, beer, vodka....(crowd goes nuts)....and any illegal drugs that you might be on! (wild applause) Now, does anyone have any Hunter remembrances?

Man: HST was doing a book signing at Powells - and there was this guy waiting in line with a weird eye infection.....things were closing up at the store and Hunter was bothered by the noise....and kept mumbling about snipers and Republican thugs. When the guy got up to him, Hunter took one look at him and his eye, grimaced - signed his book and said, "That's it...I'm done, things are getting too weird," and left the table.

GH: Great! Anyone else?

Woman: Anyone believe that Hunter was murdered - rather than killed?

(crowd starts making weird noises)

GH: I think that one will be left to Hunter's legend....NEXT!

Woman: I ate mushrooms with him in Berkley!

GH: Wonderful! Ok...we've got to keep this show going, so before we start, I would like to propose a toast....(pulls a pint of Wild Turkey from pocket and pours half of it in the Tiki glass - crowd goes nuts)...to the Good Doctor (audience raises their glasses) whose words and deeds cast a long shadow over all of us. Here's to you, Doc - the world won't be the same without you.

(everyone drinks...as I spill whiskey on my shirt)

GH: Alright - without any further ado....let's get started. Thanks for coming out! (crowd starts howling again).


The evening totally exceeded expectations though - great crowd. We did Hunter proud. Whee-ha!

Moving on....part duex.

It's been over a week now since Hunter decided to check out. Tributes, columns and misc. news items are down to a trickle - and the pall over last week has cleared somewhat. Death is weird that way. A huge rush of attention that gives you pause - and then life takes over again. Time to move on.

In recent days, we've learned that his suicide was pre-meditated and not a result of some drug binge. His family was nearby - and his wife was even on the phone when he did the deed (a little on the creepy side). Still, the Doc had decided to move to the next level - rather than overstaying his welcome. Like it or not, it was a decision that mirrored a life that was lived on its own terms - and few regrets.

I've helped put together a tribute to Hunter at the Clinton Street Theater this Friday - where we will be showing "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" as well as a 1978 BBC documentary on the Doc. Hoping for a good turnout - and lots of drinks lifted.

Selah.