The Melting Pot

You know that capital(ism) oppresses the worker- the workers in our country bear all the burden of labour, and their position is such that, however much they work, they can never get out of their brutish situation. All the profits earned by their work, with which they might improve their situation, give themselves some leisure and, consequently, education, all surplus earnings are taken by the capitalists. And society has developed so that the more they work, the more gain there will be for the merchants and landowners, and they will always remain working brutes. And this order must be changed.
from Anna Karenina- Leo Tolstoy 1870's

This post is dedicated to my parents and theirs who have worked so hard.

The Melting Pot
Once upon a time, there were many thousands of cultures around the globe, each with their own mythology. Their mythology guided the members of those cultures in daily life. It whispered of food and dress, marriage and seasons. Over many generations each culture formed a plan of livability(thank you Barry) for All of its members. The members of these cultures had guidance in what to eat, how to raise babies and countless other pieces of information that were absorbed as life went on. Life was simple and fulfilling.
Fast Forward to 2011...
The children of the culture of capitalism are cast adrift in an ocean of information. We are told from an early age that we can be anything we want to be, yet there is also a pressure to BE something. There are infinite combinations of belief structures, lifestyles, and tax brackets each with their own personal style and form of transportation. It has been impressed upon us that what we do may become who we are and for this reason we are encouraged to pursue livelihoods that will provide a sizable income. Every day life often revolves around money for people of this culture and it is worshipped by many. Acts of horrific violence have occurred in money's name while our planet and its inhabitants are ever in jeopardy from toxic corporate practices happening around the globe.
Growing up in the best of both worlds, I often heard that Hawaii was a cultural melting pot. Many strong cultures coming together providing a safety net of traditions and family life. The fire under our global melting pot continues blazing hotter and hotter as nationalities mingle, bringing a full spectrum rainbow of children of generations to come into this world, information, products and technologies are updated at a constant rate and people communicate across many thousands of miles in an instant sharing what they know and exposing truths that may have gone unknown. Humanities power has never been so great in recent history, but what is all of this power being used for?

Whenever I un into someone at the grocery store or post office or wherever I may happen to run into someone I know, they ask so when are you starting back up working on your house? I am delighted to answer that we have been working on it all winter. When I say we, I mainly mean my husband, Kelly who has been working on welding the rebar structure togther that will be holding our roof. This winter has been an adventure in trimming back expenses in the wake of the insurance settlement for our previous house, I have gone back to work a couple of nights a week at a local Chinese restaurant and am trying to make one huge pot of soup a week for distribution to anyone who might need some.
While I have been bouncing about doing my things, Kelly has been hard at work outside in sometimes below zero weather. He has so far built 3+ dormers of the 7 that will make up our main roof. As an electrician, welding was something he had been exposed to but never had put in any serious time at. We got temporary power hooked up in October and have one year until that has to be taken down. So that worked out well with Kelly and welding and lighting and now that we are movng onto theproperty in two weeks it will be nice to have for creature comforts while we live in our airstream trailer until the house is ready to move into.