Gabor Maté and the Situation in the Middle East
Gabor Maté, physician and author
Like many of us, I am trying to make sense of the events in the Middle East since the atrocity that took place in Israel on October 7th and for that reason I have hesitated to write about it…The issues are so charged on so many levels. So hard to sort out this very difficult and complex situation, which is replete with complicated history and emotions running so high.
My college roommate Claudia referred me to this conversation between Gabor Maté and his daughter Hannah that took place on October 28th, 2023. His thoughts make a lot of sense to me. Maté is a Hungarian/Canadian Jewish physician and author, a leader and expert in his field of adddiction, childhood development and trauma, and a Holocaust survivor himself whose grandparents were put to death in Auschwitz. He has dedicated a lot of his energy for much of his life attempting to improve Israeli Palestinian relations.
As Maté states, "It is almost impossible to speak about it without emotion—it doesn't matter which side you are on. It just brings up so much history, so much pain and frankly so much trauma that it is difficult for us to engage with the rational parts of our minds when our emotions are so overwhelming in the light of such devastating events."
"Nothing will justify anything that happened on October 7th because that is not justifiable. But at the same time, if our intention is to move forward, to create some basis for peace, we have to be able to understand the experience of the other…" No easy feat when emotions run so high…and the pain is so deep…
"When we are emotional and only emotional our perspective narrows. It becomes defensive and we get consumed by self defense and attack. Understandable but that doesn't lead to peace…what leads to peace is a willingness to understand the experience of the other and for us to to be guided by the parts of our brain that are adult… and that happens in the mid frontal cortex where empathy insight compassion and self awareness are modulated."
For Maté the essential question comes down to this: Are we going to move forward or are we simply going to repeat the traumatization and tragedy of the decades? I think this talk is worth listening to and considering…
Me and Bobby McGee
Always loved this song--many of us did, judging by the amount of musicians that covered it--everyone from Willie Nelson, The Grateful Dead and Gordon Lightfoot to name a few. What i didn't realize is that although Janis Joplin was the one who made it famous, it was Kris Kristofferson who wrote it along with music producer Fred Foster...
Below you will find several of my favorite versions of the song, beginning with my number one, Janis Joplin's classic and probably her most famous song, which sadly came out posthumously just a few days after Joplin's death. Kris Kristofferson, who was at one point Joplin's lover, did not even know himself that it was to be included on her album Pearl until it was released.
Janis Joplin's version, Me and Bobby McGee
I discovered this wonderful version by these four greats: Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Gordon Lightfoot, and Ronnie Hawkins.
Here's a nice duet with Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson
The Highwaymen version by country greats Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson
And the simple gem of a version by Gordon Lightfoot
This is the first version Kristofferson originally gave to Roger Miller to perform. .
The song was actually based on a true story of a crush Foster had on a secretary named Bobbie McGee. Here is the history.
The Highwaymen Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson.
Humann and Animal Connections
I found this video above on social media and halfway through it, it occurred to me that not only do we underestimate animals but maybe our fear reaction not only alienates us from the animal kingdom but also spurs a fear reaction on the part of animals. The man in this video is just sitting there quietly observing, remaining calm, and the bear he has known for so long approaches gently with no malice. I am not telling you to go out there and try it yourself--this man obviously had a long term relationship with this particular mother bear but it just made me wonder....When I think of my personal reaction to bats, bears, and other wild animals I might encounter, I know I give off vibes of fear....and we all know that animals defintely can smell that.
I went in search of other unusual stories of close bonds between humans and other animals that we as humans would usually avoid and discovered this amazing video below
Painting of the Week
Old Crow Medicine Show mixed media on canvas 55” x 55” $8500
Quote of the Week:
"It is okay to be heartbroken for more than one group of people at the same time.
--Anonymous"
Charity of the Week:
Doctor's Without Borders
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.