ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

Tyler-
is that a poison oak patch?
I'm sorry but I'm in deep trauma just contemplating it.

Hi tw(itchy) - yes indeed, poison oak from the river bottom. beautiful... dangerous...

Who am I? The philosopher's dilemma. To ask the question is to preclude the answer. I am not who I think I am. The "I" is the answer and the obstacle to any answer. "I am who I am" said God to man, according to a story made up by man. So if man make up the story about God, who is God? Is she man? Relax. The mind never did and never will get it. It's a servant and a very tiny one at that. Ironically, the picture that introduces this thread is that of poison. The questioning mind is beautiful poison. One womam's poison is another's potion of life. I am love, that deep feeling of being in love with nothing, everything and every something in between. The Lover is a total finge element, crackpot fool. Why ask a question that can't be answered? Because it is the not answerability that is the answer. To acquire an answer too soon is dangerous; it shortcircuits experience. Requires a whole new language to be learned first. The language of love. A stream of consciousness going everywhere and nowhere. Still, we need boundaries to keep our spirit here to play the game; that's why we have houses and bodies. I can say who I am in one word, love, but to unpack that word requires words without end, and words are only skin deep. Under that skin of words is a whole living body, way beyond words. The body of the Lover. The inquiry into who I am is the greatest, sweetest, most real and lasting work conceivable. One poor fool, sitting and doing nothing contributes more to our economy that all the marketplace fools put together, on their rat race treadmil. Self inquiry is the key to open the door to the wonderland. Watch out for the tricky mind, though; it wants to be the wonderland rather than the wonderful world. Speaking of the world, "I am the world," according to an ancient song, by today's living in the moment standards; and I need to get ready to join the greenfest happening today in Ojaitown. I intend to inject some political color into the green boutique, Godus willing. Thanks for this opportunity to open my mind up a bit more to the mistress whom it serves.

Dennis, did you really have to? Are you just compelled to share all your "stuff" all the time, in every instance?

You seem to be the poster child for the "fringe" element that the city council and other citizens of Ojai keep talking against. It is always your words they quote and use to demonstrate and define the "crackpots."

Whether you meant to or not, your "musings" seem to be the foder that feeds those who believe there is a wicked Leftist group out to destroy the old guard. They grab your words and use them everytime.

Perhaps you will keep a journal and can release it all at once. I would print it for you just for the sake of the rest of us that don't care to be painted with the Dennis Leary brush.

As Spock once said "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." (or something to that affect.)

You've taken the words right out of my mouth!

Couldn't agree more.

As much as I appreciate people baring their soul, I would have to agree wth the above folks that the time has come to respectfully ask Dennis to keep a journal. It would do us all a world of good!

I'm wondering why so many people are interested in Dennis keeping his thoughts to himself....To me, the beauty of a forum like this is that we all get the opportunity to speak - and that no one has to read anything at all.

I wonder if people feel compelled to read it, because it is there, like my father used to read ALL of the articles in Consumer Reports, even if he was perfectly satisfied with his toaster or never planned to own a pair of cross-trainers.

I learned a lot from my father (who by the way can answer almost every question in the Trivial Pursuit box). One of the things I learned was that I don't need to read it all. I skim it, see if it looks interesting. If not, I move on. Life is too short to read stuff you don't care about and then take time to complain about someone else's habits. :)

Heather, I agree with you, and I personally read much of Dennis' writings, but I also agree that his writings are also frequently cited by Sue Horgan and others (like Kevin Clinton in his 5/11 letter to OVN) in their attempts to paint everyone involved with Ojai progressive politics with the same brush. I like Dennis. His heart is in the right place. He cares deeply about Ojai. I think it is very unfortunate that Sue Horgan and others don't communicate with Dennis and others with opposing views. Having said all this, I agree that, sometimes, his writing can create an additional burden to overcome in the course of trying to realize the goals he supports.

Dear Tyler, First let me give you a hug and then lend me your ear...I used to be a Jesuit monk but got excommunicated when Sheila Cluff came to confession and made me taste the sins of the fat-free flesh. Needless to say I moved into the local fat farm, The Oaks. After my fiftieth facial, both giving and recieving, my sixtieth pedicure, my first and only colon cleansing and 565 vegan meals...I snuck in three Subway sandwiches. I was evicted. The reason I became a priest to begin with was because the former principal of San Antonio School, Joe Divito, paddled my innocent ass into submission. I am therefore in full support of the recall of our honorable, articulate, humble city council member Joe Divito.

Heather, in this particular situation I agree with Todd. I wonder how you would feel if someone was posting things on Ojaihealing.com that brought into question the credibility of the other healers. Also, it's possible that it's been awhile since you've read all these posts...so it's different for you.

A clarification: Let's say you and a group of other healers were trying to establish good relationships with the Ojai Hospital and local doctors. You are working hard behind the scenes and you want Ojaihealers to be a place where everyone in the healing arts feels comfortable to express their views, both conventional and alternative. But day after day someone goes on and on about how bad colonics are and how you should just eat raw food and fast on juices. Or the opposite extreme, that doctors are all working for the drug companies, or whatever...and the posts were long and getting longer day after day after day with no end in sight. I hope you understand the spirit in which I am asking you to consider this...

So, "wishing Denis...", "anonymous 1:24", "same", and "from one writer..." are all likely the same person. Probably the same person who was formerly so concerned about crows. Just a guess.

I only really have one question: What about OPEN THREAD do people not understand? Denis can write whatever he wants. Don't like it, don't read it. BTW "wishing Denis..." I find it very interesting that the OVN will publish Denis' letter only as a portion of a letter by someone else trying to criticize people who don't want more fast food chains here in Ojai. I read that letter by Mr. Clinton and what struck me was that his crowd appears to be on the verge of eating its' own. The letter alleged, not once but twice, that Rae Hanstad and Mayor Smith were not sufficiently loyal to the old guard. Really made me laugh actually.

I'll tell you what, I'd sure rather have Denise writing his sometimes poetic, always lengthy prose on our side than to have Mr. Clinton writing, very little and quoting much more.

Also, can someone explain Mr. Bradigan's editorial to me. I can't really tell, but did he actually try to draw a parallel between the people who are trying to protect Ojai and the Nazis? And where did the editorial go after that cryptic allusion to the Germans. It just seemed to disappear. Almost like the whole thing was a convoluted math equation employing imaginary numbers that was then divided by zero.

I concur.

Totally right.

See, it's easy to manufacture support.

....or to further expand on what Suza is trying to communicate...what if this someone doesn't have a decent grasp of clear, concise and logical writing, but insists instead on long-winded, muddled and (by his own admission) stream of consciousness musings. And all the while, adopts the attitude that all of his detractors who have begged him for brevity, logic, statistics to back up his many claims, etc. - all suffer from "sound-bite" mentality. I would ask him to review and compare his posts to the many others that make sense, are relavent and logical, and that readily engage the readers. He seems to have plenty of time to write - perhaps that time could be better spent learning the art of clear and effective communication.

Sean, you've got this one wrong. This frustration has clearly been building for some time. It just so happened that someone reached a breaking point on an Open Thread and that created the long list of posts from the MANY people out there who feel the need for Dennis to give it a rest!

"Let this be a place without good or bad, black or white, blame or consequence. Let others be who they are, and allow that to come into alignment with who you are. Let yourself feel beyond ego and justification and being right."

given this (abbreviated) heading for this thread, our collectively displayed "essence" is worrying me. i'm not sure how connected i am with my true self, and so i appreciate Tyler for starting this deep post. i then appreciate Dennis for taking it seriously and starting it off (and in only 386 words)!

i am not "right", i am not blaming anyone for anything...not scolding, not defending. just worried and grateful, at once.

I can assure you, I am only one person. My offer to Dennis to print his journal stands! I wish him peace and quiet with his thoughts! :)

"wishing Dennis...",

I have no doubt that you are a singular individual, all I'm wondering is if you are not also "anonymous 8:29", or "enough already" or "Monk Ignazious" or any of the others. I agree with Evan that given the heading of this thread, Dennis wrote an appropriate post. He did it in his usual fashion and he did it in less words than he has been known to use elsewhere. It's an open thread and he can write whatever he wants.

Also, I'm not entirely sure the above posts were from the real Suza. They seem strangely out of character. I think we may have a flock of crows, or maybe just one crow causing some static.

Some of us, myself included, are attempting, against all odds, to convey to Dennis that he will be more effective in the world if he learns to communicate clearly. Dennis took on the serious task of running for public office. It is in the spirit of friendship and in support of his green values that some of us are trying to get him to at least consider that his public musings are not helping the cause. If he is happy simply expressing himself as he pleases, this is the place to be! But if he wants to be taken seriously when he speaks behind the podium at City Council meetings he might want to reconsider what thoughts are better kept in a journal and which should see the light of day.

These posts are potentially print material. Let's say Dennis decides to run for office again. All a developer has to do is go on-line, cut and paste all his posts, and it will be all over!

Still not buying that this is the real Suza.

Namaste

Good morning and Happy Mothers' Day to all. I don't know quite what to make of all the fuss swirling around my postings. I appear to be living up to my name: Dennis the Menace and Leary the Timothy. I spoke to Tyler yesterday at the greenfest; he made no attempt to say I was out of line so I presume I may continue to use this post to express my views and feelings. I do use a stream of consciousness style frequently that can be long and annoying to some. The real fear I believe is the political and psychological (and perhaps) economic spinoffs and associations of my consciousness expressions. I have to report a very significant instance of that. It happened yesterday at the greenfest. This is an open thread so I believe I am within the guidelines of correct posting behavior. I was asked to stop expressing my political views there and possibly was denied my first amendment rights by the greenfest promoters. This is indeed a serious issue, and makes people uncomfortable whether at a green event or on this posting site. Some people want to shut me up for very interesting reasons. Truly I am a menace to some. Why? I am a rather easy going individual, generally shy in public and very seldom confrontational and usually civil and courteous. Anyway, here's the story. I rode my bicyle to the event and parked it about fifteen feet from the main entrance. I leaned/taped two posters against my bike which read "Sign Here to Stop Big Chains," and "Recall Joe DeVito." I sat in a blue fold up chair next to my bike. I had two clipboards nearby with petition papers to sign for limiting chains and for recalling Joe DeVito. I have baskets on my Schwinn for extra clothes (the morning was chilly although beautifully sunny), lunch and small quarter sheets which explain the reasons for recalling Mr. DeVito. All was going fine as people gathered and entered the building on the grounds of Matilija Junior High. I sat in my blue convas chair enjoying the view and the people. The program started and I intended to stay outside. Dale H. approached me and suggested I go inside and listen to the program; the bike and posters would be all right outside, she assured me. I thought that was a good idea so I went inside to hear Hunter Lovins speak. At the noon lunch break I came outside and took up my position at the bike. A lady approached and in an irate manner informed me that Joe DeVito had nothing to do with what was going on here. I'm not sure if she was referring to the chain store poster or the the program as a whole. She said it was immoral and unethical, I think she said. Anyway, I said nothing, and just looked at her with kindness, at least in my mind, while thinking to myself that Joe had everything to do with what was happening here. The activity had moved from the auditorium to the cafeteria area by this time so I wandered over there with a friend who was cautioning me to be less confrontational with the council. I saw Ms. Horgan and Ms. Hanstad talking and was about to wave to them, when they turned away; I'm not sure if they wished to avoid me or not. Had there been an opening, I would have attempted a friendly conversation. I saw Mr. Kersnar and heard that Mr. Olson was present. I did not see Joe DeVito there, and in the afternoon saw Carol Smith. Anyway, I got to the eating area, and ran into Millenium Twain; I was happy to meet him since I was not sure who he was other than reading his comments here. We had a nice conversation. The band was playing. Hunter was sitting with the councilmembers and others at a table under a tree. I went inside, and then things began to get interesting. Three women with "Ojai Valley Green Coalition" T-shirts were near a table I approached. One said they had taken down my sign. I asked why. One said it was political, and conflicted with their desire to be non-political, their 501c status relative to the Ojai Foundation which I gather was giving them support by way of being a place for them to place their money and provide legal protection, or something like that. We talked for awhile; I tried to understand their needs and point of view while I attempted to convey to them mine. I was here to make the point that politics was important to the green movement. They wanted to separate politics from the greenfest and I wanted to link them; that much was clear. I told them I really didn't know what to do at that point. I asked if the school was not a public place where a citizen had a right to be. They were very courteous and pleasant but appeared to be nervous about the situation. They asked if I would like to talk to Mr. Tim Baird, the superintendent of schools, who happened to be there, and was one of the two persons who introduced Hunter. I said I would be happy to talk to him if he wanted to talk to me. Later we did connect outside. I explained what I was doing here with my posters and the reason for doing so. He said I could not do that. I asked why not. He said something I don't recall. I asked what his legal justification was. He said he couln't cite a specific source but was confident there was one and could obtain it. I asked if the school was not owned by the public, and was I not a public citizen on a public sidewalk outside a public school? He said, no, the public did not own the school property; the school district did. I said, oh, that's interesting. He then qualified his statement by admitting the property was a public entity. I hesitated as to what to do. Should I make an issue of it. Actually, I had anticipated something of this nature happening, and had the names of two lawyers in my wallet. I sensed we were at a critical juncture in our conversation. I then asked the question: what if I refuse? He said he didn't think we wanted to go down that road. In my mind, I debated the point. Did I want to have the police come, be charged with trespassing and be taken to jail and fined? What purpose would that serve? I chose not to be confrontational, and said I would pack up my things. In retrospect, I think I made a wise choice, and remember checking with my spiritual source which had indicated the same. Now I can review the issues without the need to make a quick decision, and understand better the needs of all people concerned. They are some of the same needs being expressed on this site now. I need to get to the truth of what is going on. Some people in this town appear to have a strong need for order and control. I seem to have been drawn into the role of change agent, activist and agitator. Hence, the conflict. Were my civil rights violated? Later in the day at a party, I was advised to call a certain lawyer for rules on where I can gather signatures. It is not an umimportant matter since I have been gathering signatures for the recall and against chains for a few days now. I have sat outside Starr Market and have had some success. But now I realize that it will take only one customer complaint, and the same scenario will ensue at Starr Market and elsewhere. Will I be precluded from excercising my first amendment rights to assembly by the political opposition? Should I fight it? It brings up a basic constitutional and societal issue of freedom vs. suppression of freedom out of need for control. I can see the result here on this post when I exercise my freedom of speech right. It makes some people uncomfortable. No need to examine here the reasons why. Suffice it to say that in any free venue you're going to get an opposite reaction. People have different needs. I want to open up untapped levels of consciousness. I am trying to raise political consciousness, including my own. I am not as interested in "being more effective in the world" as I am in meeting my own needs for truth, love and beauty, etc. "Communicating clearly" is a matter of interpretation. I need to communicate clearly with myself first of all. What others think is secondary, although I take it into account. I ran for public office because no one else wanted to do it at that time, and I believed that Ojai would be served by the kind of change I advocated. I know more now and my positions have become more radical because I believe radical solutions are now called for as the world situation deteriorates (as the greeners were saying). For example, while I thought Hunter presented the "green" message in an effective way, she was rather shallow, particularly in being so cozy with Wallmart and Dow Chemical. Hunter is either ignorant of the true nature of the beast or she has been bought off in some way. They are clearly using her and the greens to meet their money agenda. Now that green is profitable, the corporate fascists are going green. This co-option, co-dependency arrangement is not going to work, in my opinion. My radical approach goes against the grain of more appeasement minded greeners like Hunter. Someone has to play the Dennis the Menace role and I guess it's me. The truth is quite radical in the sense of getting to the root of problems; not everyone can do it; it's a cutting edge thing. In the meantime the horrors continue. Band-aid approaches like Hunter advocates only cover the surface, and sometimes do more harm than good, as the Democrats may be proving with their appeasement of the Republicans over the Iraq War. These are radical issues. I can only go where the truth leads. Some may feel that my "public musings are not helping the cause." The Democrats feel that way about third parties. I think my musings are helping the cause. Hence, the conflict. Should I stop my musings because my friend thinks I should. I don't think so, and I can still offer friendship. I like Joe DeVito; he's an interesting character and adds to this small town character as we all do, but I disagree with his policies. Some would like to see my thoughts contained in a journal. I have written a book on my "real" thoughts called "The Lover Government" and have started a third party called the "Red Brown and Blue Party" but that is not what I'm doing here. To me these posts are in the nature of a conversation. I "think on my seat" so to speak. I use the scatter seed approach. No one has to read my thoughts, or they can pick and choose, or read what they want. Maybe no one reads this. Does that matter? Not to me. I'm writing for myself and that one other person out in innernet land who may or may not want to listen in to what I think. I am not an author so I just can't start another thread; I play off what others post. I need a community like this, and a real flesh community like the greenfest yesterday. Like right now, I've been playing off Suza's comments above because it's easy to scroll up and carry on the innernet conversation. I am "happy expressing himself as he pleases," and "this is the place to be!" Yes, "These posts are potentially print material." We've just seen that where Mr. Clinton took what I said and included it in a letter to the OVN. I take this into consideration now and consider it a good development as far as cross fertilization of communication is concerned. I am for open communication, and now must assume that whatever I write here could be used against me. I know that what I say affects the whole community which is one of the reasons I do it, but not the primary one. I am an agent of change, starting first with myself. I disagree that if a developer cuts and pastes my posts, it "will all be over." I am not afraid of that. That is exactly what I intend. I want to draw the developers and councilers into this conversation. I am not afraid of openness. Anyone is free to disassociate themselves from me. Put distance between yourself and myself if you wish. I often add the disclaimer that I speak for myself, as I did yesterday at the green event. I pointed out the separation between myself and them but the promoters had various fears about being associated with what I was doing. Fine. It's just more grist for the mill, and when push comes to shove, it may turn legal. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For those who object to what I am doing, you are free to say why; that helps to clarify issues, especially if you can get to the source of the issues. Emotionally loaded conversation is OK; I rather enjoy it because it is part of emotional intelligence but what I am really going for is deep understanding in this forum of deep democracy. Here we can talk thought to thought which is more effective than feeling to feeling, although as I said, feelings are instructive when they are integrated upward into intelligence. This type of conversation is a virtual town hall meeting, and a prelude to direct democracy by vote. I've "felt" that Ojai has a unique role to play in the world's affairs because of its small town character. We are all characters playing on the stage Shakespeare talked about. She wrote for an "O" too, the "Globe." Well, "O"-high is the globe of the world in minature and we are demonstrating it here. Well, I guess I've said enough for now. I'm not going to worry about a word count. Who cares anyway? Words don't really count for much; it's the consciousness behind them that interests me. Thanks to all for making Ojai such an interesting stage of life. Happy Mother's Day. Life is a Mother.

Dennis, for whatever it may be worth to you, i read every word of your post above and loved all 2,443 of them.

it might be an interesting little game (for yourself, if nobody else) to make your posts have a word count of numbers that are meaningful, since everyone likes counting them. for example, you could do a 3,352-word post about the U.S. war dead in Iraq, or a 618-word post about President Bush's remaining time in office. i would almost be like a type of poetry.

How about limiting to one haiku per comment, Dennis, 17 syllables? That way, it's not always all about Dennis. It would be a selfless gesture.

I've read as much as I could of the above and I'll add a few comments, starting with Tyler's original post, the nature of which seemed to invite any and all responses, especially those of the "stream of consciousness" type, including the lengthy ones by Denis.

What I find most interesting about the much reviled poison oak is that most of it exists underground where we can't see it, a subtext as it were. Poison oak has an extensive root system that serves an important purpose. It forms a web that holds soil in place around the oak trees under whose shade it usually grows. Around here, most wild oaks are found in a riparian habitat which means that without the help of poison oak they would fall into the creeks as the soil that anchors them washes away. Of course, this is a symbiotic relationship in which the two species benefit each other.

Denis, I don't know you but I'm aware of you. Perhaps you are like the poison oak, akin to a thorn in the side of the establishment. While I agree that you have the right to post as much as you want on an open thread and the right to take your views to the street, ask yourself what is the objective of your writing and activism. Is it to communicate with as many people as possible in the service of the greatest good for the greatest number of people? If so, perhaps you can learn from the poison oak and leave some of your thoughts, important as they may be, in the subconscious realm and show the world just the aboveground parts that you want the world to see in order to achieve your goals.

I cannot believe what I am reading from some.

Dennis is one of Ojai's living treasures. That he has not been officially recognized as one speaks mostly to the truth of so much of his often long, often spot-on comments.

This is supposed to be a community of free spirits. Of people who follow their own muse, and share with the world where it leads them.

This community is in a fight right now for its character and soul. Some - call them "City Hall," call them the "old guard", for want of a better term - are prepared to let Ojai become just another McTown, albeit slowly. They will lament what Ojai has become, after it happens - but they will do little or nothing to stop it from happening, and even worse, they will attack those who do. "Don't be divisive," they say.

"They" now pretty clearly includes even some of those most strongly associated with preserving the unique Ojai. The Ojai of Dennis Leary. I can't believe what I am reading.

SPK says that Clinton's OVN letter showed City Hall eating their own. It looks like its not just City Hall to me.

I mean, really, Sue Horgan and this Clinton guy quote Dennis Leary, and then imply that everyone concerned about preserving Ojai takes literally as an article of faith every word Dennis ever wrote. And suddenly, people concerned about preserving Ojai start telling Dennis to shut up? Are you kidding? It didn't strike me that these kind of Horgan and Clinton comments merited any serious response - but if they do, direct the response at Horgan and Clinton, not Dennis. Dennis never claimed to be speaking for you - Horgan and Clinton imply he is speaking for you. If you have a problem with what they say, talk to them about it.

This is not even about Dennis' right to speak his mind, which of course is his right, and is exactly what "open thread" is for. What this really is about is Ojai. And if what you want to do is live in an Ojai where people like Dennis must keep their thoughts to a private journal, and not be out in the streets gathering signatures in order to win the fights that matter while the rest of us sit here and post criticisms at each other, that's what we'll get. A bland Ojai of McPeople who march in lockstep, cheer each other or boo each other in a uniform chorus, and in the meantime whine while the Ojai we love disappears.

Each of you asking Dennis to shut up, shorten up, and become more palatable to those who will never ever vote for him or listen to him no matter what happens, think about it: Are you also going to be reminiscing in a few years about how Ojai was, when there were free spirits who said what they thought, and what they thought was different than what was on the Fox News commentary, or came out of the DNC, or was otherwise prepackaged and fed through the usual channels in order to be acceptably homogenous?

If you are concerned that people think Dennis is speaking for you, because you support the chains initiative, or the recall, or don't want the Subway, or would have preferred that developers didn't cut down our chinaberry trees - let me suggest that you get hold of the recall and initiative petitions yourself, and get out there and get signatures and tell people why YOU support these things. Then nobody will be confused. But so long as Dennis is out there, in the streets, knocking on doors and speaking at city council meetings, appreciate that he's doing it, whether you agree with every word or none of the words - or get out there and do it yourself. Don't tell Dennis to shush up.

Because just think about it - what if he did? Its not like he's drowning anyone out. Until he is, I'd suggest we all appreciate what we've got.

I agree!

For the record, any Ojai valley resident can nominate any one they like as an Ojai Living Treasure. If the person who wrote the above really means it, let them come out of the woodwork and nominate him this year!

Pardon my faux pas, mes amis. For one thing, I spelled Dennis' name wrong. For another, I'm not sure if it's appropriate to address people directly in these threadsor use the third person. This is new territory for me and I'm not even sure of the correct terms for what goes on here in cyberspace, let alone the proper way of conducting my [virtual] self.

Tyler's open thread intro reminds me of the Council Training I did at the Ojai Foundation with Jack Zimmerman. In Council, a talking piece is passed around the circle clockwise, in the manner that Native Americans might pass a staff around a tipi. When you hold the piece you can speak as long as you like and no one can interrupt you nor do they respond to you.

There are four intentions that govern the Council process: speak from the heart, listen from the heart, be of lean expression. The last, meaning not rehearsing what one is going to say while others are taking their turn, is not necessary on this cyberschedule. The first two are what Tyler was asking us to do this afternoon. The third -- being of lean expression -- means to be brief, succinct, not repeat what's already been said, be economical with everyone's time.

I wouldn't carry the comparison too far because this virtual world is quite different from a group of people sitting in a circle together in real time. For example, it's possible to be anonymous here. In Council, because we can't shed our identity, the participants take a vow of confidentiality and promise not to discuss what they've heard outside the group. This creates an environment where people feel free to speak their truth.

Here, we expose our written words for "Anonymous" to copy, cut and paste.

It's the price we pay to mail in our say.

I accidentally cut the fourth intention of council in the comments posted above, The fourth and last, to which I refer in the sentence that follows, is to be spontaneous. Sorry for any confusion.

I just reread all of the above, including my own, and am grateful for this private/public forum which is quite unique, even among the blogging sites I know about. Something is happening here which is strange; sort of what a womam I met last night at Rainbow Bridge, a visitor to Ojai from New York, who remarked to me "What is going on here? What is it about this town?" She was the artist type and seemed genuinely perplexed; wanted to know where the poppies were; I had been there three years ago but unfortunately couldn't remember exactly where; but I'll never forget the sight of all those poppies in that narrow canyon. Anyway, my point is that Ojai is strange and a stranger can pick up on it if sensitive. This thread is strange too. Tyler asked for one's real self to speak and it looks like Ojai is speaking through us, and the truth is stranger than fiction. Sometimes the boundaries between Ojai and myself start to blur; and I can feel the twilight dimension opening a little, sort of like the ghosts that Richard Senate talks about. That other dimension hovers around Ojai. The analogy of the poison oak grabbed me; yes, I have that poison or stuff in my system which seems to have a compulsion of its own to come out; I'm using this public forum as therapy, I guess, although it didn't start that way; politics has been good for my health; that and a lot of things, like living in Ojai itself, and this interaction with "free spirits, people who follow their own muse and share with the world where it leads them." The boundaries between Dennis and the other characters in this town blur, like I said, and it seems there is no Dennis any more; he's just a character in this Ojai play. Yes, it seems like a good idea to stay above ground but that underground keeps asserting itself. People have "begged him for brevity, logic, statistics to back up his claims." Sounds like the above ground. But it's that underground stream of consciousness, the womam mind that refuses to be bound by the linear logic; she goes on and on like a possessed womam, with a great need to be heard; and apparently is not yet heard. The poison oak underground supports the oaks above ground and wants to be acknowledged. I just can't repress her once I've given her some freedom. I've tried the haiku method but brevity can be as tedious as longevity; the womam mind uses both to confound the rational mind and open the heart. As I read my latest post, something else began to happen as I read on and on; another voice started to speak and comment on the words I was reading, like how they were boring, irrelevant, passe, self-indulgent and mental masturbation. I can see why others get irritated if I get irritated with my own writing. At other times the writing seems to get it right and I enjoy what I have written. I appreciate the positive and negative feedback. The part about the word count is interesting. I might count the words if I could learn how but my womam mind isn't much interested in this male counting. I am fascinated by the intuitive feature of numbers and bored by the accountant type of mentality. The first book I wrote had exactly 360 pages and was filled with number symbology. I was born in '39; my son in '93; my social security number starts with 393; as a child I lived mostly at 309 N. 3rd St.; the only house I owned was at 393 Dakota Drive, etc. My second book is filled with number arrangements. I play with numbers and words all the time. However, leave that it itself. From the above comments, I gleaned some deep concerns. Fear. Is there some "wicked leftist group out to destroy the old guard"? My above ground oaks say "no," but that underground poison oak tells the truth. There are some dark secrets that should be contained within a private journal; what I put out here has been screened; I have no intention of telling all; 67 years of mental training means my logical mind is firmly in control. I hear the need not to be "painted with Dennis' heavy brush." You have the right not to be contaminated by my poison oak roots. I speak for myself; and if anyone uses me to taint someone else, I will call them on it. That tactic will backfire on who uses it. Sue Horgan has used my stuff and attempted to discredit a whole group but it has mostly backfired and any intelligent person can see what she is up to; and it has strengthened the minority position, look what is happening lately. People are not that dumb. If I am a "burden to be overcome," it will be a strengthening process for that burdened person to throw me off, and assert her own truth and be that free spirit referenced above. If someone is trying to establish a good relation with doctors, as an example, and I am a burden that brings "into question the credibility of others," it is a call to reject me and assert one's own independence. If I go on and on about how bad one situation is and how good an alternative is, find my Achilles heal, and expose what I am doing. For example, I think patriarchy is enemy number one and a womam's consciousness is the antidote. If someone disagrees with that proposition, they will be strengthened in themselves by exposing my falsity. It is underestimating the intelligence of people to assume that they believe what I say just because I say it. If I say the "doctors are working for the drug companies," and someone thinks that interferes with good relations with doctors, what am I supposed to do? We discuss further, make various distinctions, and build common ground if possible; perhaps we will find out that the drug companies are working for the doctors after all. "Don't be divisive" is a divisive statement if there is indeed a division present because it prevents investigation into the division. Division can be part of creative friction in a community if the circle of love can hold. The Council process and talking stick referenced in a comment is an interesting one. I'm not sure how it applies to this new medium here. What if one person hogs the stick, like I appear to be doing? Is it an imbalance? Is the solution for me to shut up? In a council situation that would be appropriate because there is limited time and space. But cyberspace is theoretically unlimited and self-limiting simultaneously. In other words, I can go on and on, and no one else has to listen; I don't have to intrude on anyone else's time; it's sort of a free market of ideas. If someone went on and on about the price of beans in Mexico I could simply pass, assuming that I was civil enough not to be a "troll" and impose myself on the discussion of beans in Mexico by saying that beans were unhealthy or some such nonsense. I appear to be a thorn in the side of people; and looking at myself from their point of view I might see a huge egotist with a mighty need for attention abusing the OP to get his infantile needs met; or I might see a treasure or someone trying to save Ojai as a treasure. The council and talking stick suddenly becomes a multifaceted mirror reflecting truth from all angles. I think we should be especially sensitive to those who take that stick into their hands for the first time, and enter this virtual arena, because I can remember how vulnerable and tentative I felt. How wonderful it is to hear a new voice providing a fresh perspective. All of us are needed to save Ojai. I think Mr. Kersnar identified the touchstone correctly when he referred to Ojai as a "real" town. It is ironic that I can be most real in this supposedly non real virtual space; which makes my political activism in real time all the more important as a balance; although I guess the council wishes I would take my balancing act elsewhere. I use this space to develop my own "character" as part of Ojai's small town character. I think when more of Ojaians develop their characters and share them here (or wherever) I will fade into the background. Right now I'm doing this because I'm not doing that. Others are doing that because they are not doing this. This posting business is new. I learn much from posters, much more than from the experts. The field is so vast that it has to be funneled by all of us who have contact with other fields and can bring them to bear here. We share what we can share and it is very enriching. Ojai is small enough to be very big. If I play my small part, whatever that may be, it will contribute to a very big result. And in this time, we need to think big because our very existence is threatened. It is a big idea to say Ojai has a destiny to save the world but I think it is true because Ojai has that kind of potential. Size has nothing to do with it. I'm going to bring this to a close. This thread opened with the question: who am I? and it will probably close with the same question. As I ponder that question, an answer sort of emerges. I am Ojai. A strange way to think but even with poetic license, there is truth there, especially in that dark undersoil where the poison oak roots grow, the place I feel repulsed by and want to deny. Sweet dreams on this Mother's Day. The patriarch in me practically chokes on his own poison, but the truth is that Womam is the salvation of Ojai and beyond, Womam having little to do with gender and everything with consciousness. I had dinner tonight with the mother of my son, and my son. Even in divorce, everything pales before the mighty reality of human love; Ojai has that in abundance; it only needs to be harvested and shared.

This banter has been interesting. Both sides have very good arguments. I've already told Dennis my view on his writing. In the end, he will do as he does. I will do as I do: I'll read some of his writing, some I won't, as the one above. He and I are free to operate in this manner. No offense to him, indeed, I respect Dennis. I take no offense to his long way to make a point. I simply choose the ones I want to read or discard.

If people such as Clinton want to use him(Dennis) as the poster child of Ojai's fringe element, so be it. For me, Clinton's comment speaks to his ignorance of what is going on in Ojai, and who are involved in the debate of todays issues.

If Clinton is reading the post, I would think others are too. To read Dennis's posts, one would probably read the others as well. I don't think a reasonable person would say we are of like mind on every issue. For example, we have two initiatives out now. I fully support the Chain Store effort. I've given some verbal support to the Recall effort, yet I have some difficulty fully embracing it. Am I part of the fringe element. Hardly. My politics are far more conservative than most here on the post, yet I am not an ideologue, indeed, less so than some of those who post here. As Bradigan's latest article alludes to, that Ideologues don't take in "new information", thus allowing for the modifying their positions. The dynamic that is life is defined as constant change. What intelligent people do is navigate those observed changes, or work to offset those anticipated changes or again, to affect change.

It is our job to expose those who would impede our work.

I am glad to hear someone is not reading me; gives me a feeling of freedom. I don't even have to read or buy into my own stuff. Words are not what is really happening anyway; they're just the cover, sometimes pretty, sometime boring and sometimes totally off the wall. It's all a word game, ever since Godus spoke the world into existence with her words.

I just reread this thread. It's remarkable how soon things get old in this up to the minute sound bite world. The thread started just five days ago, and now it feels like five years ago. Indeed, time is accelerating at an exponential rate. We are entering the brave new world of time warpings. I read an interesting story today (an hour or two ago) in the OVN about the reemergence of Shakespeare at the Libbey Bowl, a guest editorial entitled "The Bard is Back." "The Ojai Shakespeare Festival originated in the 1890's as the Ojai Shakespeare Club, founded by Sara Ann Baker. Membership was limited to 'Ladies Only' since, to many Victorian minds, Shakespeare's 'racy language' was not proper for mixed company." Here's my point. Ojai has a firm "womam" underground, starting with her name, "moon." Womem and Shakespeare. Womem are the intelligent sex and Shakespeare is said to be the most intelligent ever. There is debate about who Shakespeare is. S/he was definitely NOT the man from Stratford on Avon, although he probably was a participant in the foolery. The one or ones behind Shakespeare may have been a womam. Some say Queen Elizabeth was involved with the group. It is ironic that in Shakespeare's day, men played the women parts. Now, in Ojai womem "play" him. There is a Shakespeare salon every other Monday at 7 PM at the library, "speare" headed mainly by womem which I attended until I got too busy with political meetings which conflicted with the Monday night Shakespeare group. I bring this up on this thread which has to do with revealing our "real self." We are in a struggle now to know the real self of Ojai and to preserve it for various reasons, not the least of which is economical. The Shakespeare womem of Ojai have a role to play. The womem in Shakespeare are the most delightful characters and usually with the most intelligence if you include emotional intelligence. Of course the whole time period was patriarchy personified so you have to read between the lines to see the beauty of womamhood. Who am I? Interestingly, I see that my name has been spelled Denis and Denise in this tread. I am Dennis, Denis and Denise. Believe it or not, I considered using the pseudonym of Denise for my book because of the strong "womam" undercurrent of my muse/daimon; she is the subtext/poison oak under the upper greenery; and indeed she is poison to patriarchy. Denise is sort of my Jungian anima, a powerful brown skinned womam of Ojai. That poison oak undergrowth is a "fringe element" most people do not want to touch, making fun of it from a distance, or handling it with thick gloves. I see a distinction which might be useful: "progressive/radical." Henceforth, I will portray myself as "radical" to put distance between me and the progressives in Ojai who do not want to be painted with the Dennis Leary brush. I will be radical in the sense that poison oak is radical/rootlike, serving to hold the oaks in place. Someone has to play that root role, like in Shakespeare. I'll play Falstaff, the clowns, Hamlet, even Iago; whatever it takes to get to the root of our problems. I'll attempt to turn the charge of "fringe element" and "poster child for the fringe element" into radical liberal-conservative. This "Open Thread" shows a beautiful picture of poison oak; what it doesn't show is the dark, rich underground. If we only show Ojai above ground, we will be forever shallow. There's a whole other earth underground which supports the visible world. We'll never get to the root of who we are if we neglect that fertile soil, whether in ourselves or in Ojai Town. Money will make us into a McTown of McPeople, a breeding ground for old crows; I'll take that back as unfair to crows. I don't think this is anywhere near 3352 words, as Evan suggested I do sometime. By the way, thanks to you, Evan, and all you others for your support. By others, I include Mr. Clinton, Sue, Joe and the Hammer (sorry, but I don't want to take a chance on spelling your name wrong). If Shakespeare were alive today in Ojai (and she is), she would find fertile ground (most of it underground except for the thin surface layer) for a whole new series of plays, comedy, tragedy, comedy-tragedy, etc. Wake up, Ojai! Know yourself!