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December 2004From The Field
Another weekend, another soccer tournament. This weekend finds me embedded at the Headless Horseman Tournament - Livermore. Here is a place that used to be empty - rolling hills, black oaks, willow, sage, rabbits, vols!, and redtails. Some of it remains, but urban sprawl is encroaching like mold on bread. And no shortage of vineyards. Well the soccer played out, and after a soulful of Japanese food and a sobriety check, I made it back to the compound. My player is sleeping and I'm wondering the halls - writing my shit. How was the surf today? Someone from SC told me the surf had picked up - the buoy say 8 feet at 12 seconds from 310 - que paso? Someone commented on my last entry, suggesting that the US Constitution was forced on the indigenous people of this land. I understand how they feel, but I see it differently. The US Constitution was created by a group of European colonists; setting up a government for themselves - white male landowners. Fortunately, they left it open enough for later inclusion of those who were not owners. I differentiate this from the Manifest Destiny policy that excused the blatant land grab that continues today. On this continent, it started with the colonization of North America by Europeans - land grab from the indigenous people. The constitution was set up among the colonists to govern themselves. Originally, indigenous people, non-owners, and women were not included. This government then set out on its Manifest Destiny policy to control coast to coast. And so it is. Land grab continues today - see Iraq. All that said, the words of the constitution speak of noble objectives - interpretation along the way has skewed what could be greater than it seems today. And land grab, power, control of resources, money? Who can resist? I do ok with an allotment of waves, the ocean, friends, and family - but I'm a simpleton. K street seems to be an inspiration for many - but not if surf is your main priority. Well, if you couldn't tell, there's not much to do in Livermore - from the field - aloha