Life | Raging Buddha

Nov 02

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12 Years A Slave

By Nora | Life, Movies, Politics | No Comments

Dear Steve McQueen,

Your film 12 Years A Slave has hit me like a ton of bricks. It is still resonating with me now and hours have past since I saw the film. It will not leave me. I have never been so terribly uncomfortable during film as I was watching this one.

The unconfrontable, uncomfortable, horrible truth that you so eloquently tell in this film is so tremendously and beautifully sad. It left me hollow inside. I almost couldn’t bear to watch all of it. But I had to see it to the end. I had to know that it was worth it. That this man made it back to his family and that they were all whole somehow again.

Slavery will forever be the albatross around Americas neck for as long as we all, as a country, choose to ignore its heritage and influence that still lingers in the air that we breathe on this soil. It will never truly be gone till that day.

There is no greater horror or evil that humans can inflict on one another than enslavement. I don’t pretend to compare myself or my story to that of Solomon or the millions that were enslaved and killed and tortured, but my own experience, being used in an indentured servitude, and being treated, minus the whipping but close to it, much the way Solomon was I understood completely how he felt walking toward that carriage. Walking, struggling to walk toward freedom. Not believing it was real, and part of him, trying to hold him there.

No film, no story, has ever captured what that feels like, to truly lose yourself, to believe you are nothing, no one, worthless and have no hope and then show what it is to gain that back like this film did.

Thank you for making this movie and telling this lost story. Everyone needs to see this film, to know this story, to understand it so that we can once and for all unshackle ourselves as a people and as a nation from slavery.

Sep 04

1

My Open Letter to President Obama and Syria

By Nora | Life, Politics | One Comment

Dear Mr. President,
In 2004 when I saw you give the Keynote speech at the DNC I was mesmerized. I thought, Man when is this guy gonna run for President! We NEED him. Then in 2008 I was a HUGE supporter. Wearing my Obama shirt wherever and whenever I could. I cried when you were elected. I was ready for Hope and Change. I wanted those things very much.

After a rough 4 years and deciding that even though you didn’t do some pretty important things that you said you were going to do during the campaign, like ratifying Kyoto and some other environmental things, I thought that over all things were better and in 2012 I was sure as hell NOT voting for Mitt Romney. So once again I got my Fired Up Ready to Go shirt and wore it almost daily until the election was over.

Right now those shirts are gone. I am ashamed to wear them. I don’t have my Obama magnet on my car any more. I actually threw it away. I am ashamed.

And now you want to bomb Syria. I don’t get it. You were the President that was here to end the wars and bring our troops home. No matter WHAT you and the defunct congress say now, there will be more force and more countries involved and ultimately more of our Soldiers involved.

Never mind that we are not the World Police or World baby sitters, and never mind the absolute tragedy that is going on in Syria’s civil war. Why would we subject our soldiers to more war when we are not even properly caring for the ones that are coming home now? We have no functioning relief for these brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for wars which have no benefit for anyone but the Gigantic companies who make war machines. Why should they benefit from so much death? Why should anyone.

Bombing Syria is not a solution. It isn’t going to help anyone. It is only going to make more people angry. It is going to give people that are already angry a catalyst to hate America more and strike back at us. We don’t need that and Syria doesn’t need to be bombed.

To the people of Syria, I just want you to know that a vast MAJORITY of the American people do NOT want to bomb your country. We don’t want more violence. IF there is a way to end this conflict and come to a resolution using diplomacy then we are more than willing to help with that any way that we can. But Mr. President, the American people have spoken. NO WAR WITH SYRIA. Our representatives in Congress have FAILED at their jobs. Failed miserably and have not listened to us. They should all be removed.

Please Mr. President. Look at that speech you gave in 2004. Look at the man you were in 2008 running for President, find that man inside of you and PLEASE do the right thing. You know what it is.

Sincerely,

Nora Crest

Aug 21

0

The EAST

By Nora | Life, Movies, Politics | No Comments

The East starring and written by my new hero, Brit Marling, is a thriller like no other. Alexander Skarsgård is so good in this movie that I was really hoping that this was going to launch him as more than just a really hot vampire. This movie is a biting commentary on corporate dominance and power in America and the world. It is a movie about family and friends and people trying to make a difference. But it is probably one of the scariest films of the year.

I don’t say it is scary because it is a horror movie. I find those movies to be silly mostly. There is always some OVER THE TOP bad guy or guys slaughtering people or possessing someone or something. It is improbable and usually impossible what happens in those movies. This movie is frightening because although the company names are changed, this stuff is real. These are the things that are happening in our country on a daily basis. These are the monsters under all of our beds.

I hope that as many people as possible will see this movie. It is that important.

Apr 16

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Love from sea to shining sea.

By Nora | Life, Politics, Sports | No Comments

Today I got angry and sad about what happened yesterday in Boston. I have never been to Boston but I have love for it, for its history, for the people I know from there and just because it is part of America.

I was so angry. I hadn’t felt quite like this since 9/11. I felt helpless and lost and like I needed to be doing something serious right now. Like get in a uniform and kick some ass type of situation.

And once again I felt useless. And that made me even more angry. Then I read online someone’s solution which was ridiculous and I can’t even repost it here and retain my sanity but lets just say it enraged me. Then as I was driving I saw my local fire stations flag at half mast. And all of a sudden I smiled, I cried even a little. Here I am in a small coastal city and here, all the way across the country, at my little fire station they are sending love. Sending love to Boston, to the injured, to the families and to the fallen.

I felt the love. I decided that my rage wasn’t helping anyone. Getting mad isn’t going to help. In the words of Dr King, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

So I am passing on my little bit of love here from Ventura to you all. I hope it helps. Maybe we can all spread it around.

Apr 09

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The President says a lady is pretty and I am mad as hell, but not at who you think.

By Nora | Life, Politics, Women | No Comments

Ladies!!! What????
Have we stopped our progression? Are we just mere fighting Bitties who can’t STAND it when another one of us is deemed pretty by the opposite sex?? Why do we throw up our arms at compliments and act like they are murdering all our progress by calling one of us, gasp, PRETTY??!! How dare he!

I guess no one took the time to notice all of the other things that were said before the nasty P word came out. Is “Pretty” now a bad word? Should we shun it like the C word? I think not. Lets’s embrace our pretty. Lets use it for us. Also Kamala Harris IS the best looking Attorney General in the country. Man or woman. Notice POTUS didn’t say female Attorney General just the post.

Would he have said it if Kamala were a man? Maybe if he looked like Brad Pitt he might have. But who cares. It was an aside, not an entire description of her or her qualifications.

We have to stop knocking each other down when we get a genuine compliment and stop punishing people who give them. This wasn’t one of those “She’s a good Attorney General, for a girl” kinda moments.

Let’s leave our outrage for real issues like equal pay. I am done shaking my fist in the sky about this one.

Apr 03

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Waiting for the perfect wave.

By Nora | Life | No Comments

Today I walked along the beach for over an hour with my eldest son. We talked and found shells and sea urchins.

At the end of our walk we sat for a bit on the beach watching children, not that much older than him, surfing.

It was magical. Watching them waiting for a wave. Trying to judge if it was a good one or not. Missing out in waves, taking small ones, standing too soon and bailing way to early. Watching their friends take advantage of the others lost fortune but none relishing in someone else’s defeat.

They were all at peace with each other and one with the sea.

There is so much to learn from these children at this moment that the words fail me right now. I am still experiencing it and being changed by it.

But this is life in a nutshell. Waiting for our wave, hoping it is the “one” that will carry us to our dreams. But life isn’t about one wave. It is about all of them. It is about learning to catch every opportunity and make the most of it. It is about how we all share in them together and how we can keep them coming for all of us.

Mar 26

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Peace of Mind

By Nora | Life | No Comments

Today I went down to the beach alone. To Surfers point to meditate this morning. I have really been trying to be more diligent about meditating every day but getting stressed about something that is supposed to relax me seems counter productive.

So this morning I did it. I went and sat and just was there for quite some time. Listening to the world. The ocean, the birds, the surfers and passers by. Feeling the warmth of the sun and he cool, salty breeze on my face was pure bliss.

I felt peace. Stillness. A quiet in my mind that hasn’t been there for many decades. I felt love.

Watching this ballet now in front of me, the surfers and paddle boarders along with the birds all working with the sea for life is beautiful. Just magical.

Mar 25

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Let’s all get Gay Married!!!

By Nora | Life, Politics, Women | One Comment

Marriage. Hmmmm. Well as a married woman I have a LOT of thoughts about this. Today is a good day in my marriage. So probably best to talk about it today! Marriage is a deal you make with another person to be with them and only them, through everything and to fill each other lives with love. Every day is another day to make good things happen for each other. Every day is another day to get to tell them, “I love you.” But I think more than that we, me included, should all start our days, us married people, by saying “Thank You” to your partner in life. “Thank You” for being here with me. “Thank You” for giving me love and attention, for helping me when I need it, for listening to me when I ramble, for not laughing when I cry at lame commercials, for not being grossed out that I want hot sauce on EVERYTHING, for letting me pick which team we root for, for having the courage to disagree with me and still love me anyway.

We need to be more grateful for what we have. We straighties need to realize that Gay people are in fact PEOPLE damn it. My neighbors marriage doesn’t affect mine. If they have an argument, I don’t also have to have one. If they get a new car I am not obligated to get one. If they have a kid I don’t have to immediately get pregnant. So what would be different if Gay people got married? Would I then have to make out with women and watch my husband have sex with men? Ummm no. Certainly not. Would my marriage be less valid because they were married? No I am pretty sure I am gonna still have the same last name I have had for 8 years and my kids are gonna keep on just the same. So what is the big deal??

Tomorrow is a HUGE day for the history of this country. The Supreme Court is going to possibly decide on Prop 8. We could be taking one huge step forward as a country, finally declaring EVERY citizen equal under the law no matter who they choose to love, or we will remain in the stone ages.

I hope that LOVE will perserve here. I hope it really will conquer all. LOVE is beautiful and should be celebrated with ceremonies and flowers and cake. I love seeing people in love. I don’t care who they are. Love is what makes the world go round and if we could all love a little more freely then I think we could take one step closer to being better as a species.

So straight people, do not fear, nothing is going to change for you. You are still straight and your marriage is real. The only thing that will be different is now EVERYONES love will be as valid as yours. All LOVE will be EQUAL. Isn’t that beautiful?

Mar 25

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Moving on up!!!

By Nora | Life | One Comment

Well it has finally happened. After moving to Los Angeles 18 years ago I have had one single thought, when the HELL can I get out of here. I don’t know what exactly it is about LA that I don’t like. But there is an energy there that is overwhelming to me. I feel squashed by it. I know that some of you out there thrive on that. The hum that is the City of Angels. I respect that. But I never, despite being born in Beverly Hills, felt like I belonged there. I always felt like an outsider. A tourist in my own life.

We have officially moved to Ventura. Still in Southern California, but definitely NOT Los Angeles. There is a peace here that I have not felt in many years. It is quiet at night. It is still during the day. No one is in a hurry to get anywhere or do anything, yet I get more done here in a day then I ever did before. I am relaxed pretty much all the time. Walking on the beach with my family brings me a fulfillment that I didn’t know was possible. I guess it is true that the greatest things in life are free!

Now that my life has gone in this new direction I find myself interested in things that I never thought were in my reach. Sailing for example. I have always loved the ocean and the few times I have been out on it I have loved every second of it. I can’t wait to learn how to sail and to someday have adventures out on my own boat.

My new found peace of mind has led me to believe that I was right 11 years ago, after a long struggle to change my life, I decided that I would never again do something that I didn’t love. I spent the last 11 years trying to get out of LA and to a place I could really call home. I have found that now. I encourage all of you to do that. It is remarkable how everything else falls into place once you are at peace yourself.

Dec 17

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My Letter to the President.

By Nora | Life, Politics | One Comment

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

CC: Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbra Boxer
Representative Judy Chu

17 December 2012

A Solution to Guns in America

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for your noble words on Sunday. They were poignant and powerful and I believe you spoke for our nation. Our nation grieves for those children and brave women who lost their lives in that tragedy. I was given a spark of hope during your speech that something, finally, was going to change.

I learned today that Senator Diane Feinstein is proposing a new assault weapons ban. I am 100% for this and I couldn’t be prouder to have her one of my Senators from the great state of California.

This ordeal has gotten me thinking a lot about how this whole gun/ 2nd Amendment issue should be handled. Before I go into my proposed solution in detail I want to say that we forget sometimes that the 2nd Amendment was written in a different time in a much different America. We must acknowledge and take responsibility for our violent past and our violent nature. America is a country born of violence. We took this land by force. Killed or isolated the native population to make way for our objectives. We enslaved an entire race of people with violence and force. When this amendment was written there weren’t 50 states. You could go out to the “Wild” west and stake a claim in land that you “discovered” and to keep it you had to kill animals as well as people. There weren’t local, state and federal police like there is now. It was up to you to safeguard your rights.

Now we are an evolved society. We are innovators and dreamers and we have created the capability to go to the moon and back. We have made machines that are no bigger than a lighter yet they can hold over 1000 songs for us to listen to whenever and wherever we please. Yet for some reason, that can only be attributed to our violent birth, we cling to killing machines. We must move forward. We must not stay in the past. We are in a brave new world, it is time we finally took our first steps in it.

This assault ban being proposed by Senator Feinstein is a good first step. And that step must be achieved. The next step is gun ownership reform. Without using up further space here to draw all of the comparisons between current gun ownership and other licences let me just put forth my proposal:

Step One:
Guns and ammunition can only be bought and sold in licensed and permitted single function, aka gun shop only shops. No trade shows, pawn shops, Goodwills, Wal Marts or any other location, including online, can buy or sell these items.

Step Two:
a. Before any person can own a gun they must be 21 years of age.
b. They must enroll in a gun training academy.
(Since everyone is worried about the economy still this is a job creator moment for you Sir. Part of this proposal involves the creation of Gun Training Academies Nationwide that will be staffed with Veterans and other law enforcement personnel to put any prospective gun buyer through a course with theory as well as practical portions with guns. They would learn about guns, how to care for them properly and be required to assemble and disassemble them. Then they would learn how to fire a gun properly and do hours on a range. Minimum of 20.)
c. They would then have to pass both a written and firing test in order to get a gun licence. This would be issued by the states similar to a drivers licence with picture and address.
d. At this point a person could purchase a gun.

Step Three of this reform is to create a database of all of this information. A central Gun Owner Database which would hold their licence and test data as well as the serial numbers for all the guns they purchased. Similar to the database that holds DMV data. So when a gun is sold again by the owner they would have to file for a change of ownership just like a person selling a car does.

I would love to see a database of bullet striations so that law enforcement would know immediately who owned the gun that had been used in any crime but that may be too large a project for right now.

I believe the steps that I am proposing here are reasonable and would bring about a more educated and responsible gun owner.

Thank you again for all you have done Mr. President, and all you will do. I look forward to working with you to solve this for America.

With respect and love,
Nora Crest