Posted by Christopher on Monday, April 30, 2001 at 3:09PM :
Hi all of you beautiful people,
This weekend I've had one of the most intense spiritual crisis/awakenings of my life. I'm from the Bay Area and traveled to L.A. to experience the Circus. When I arrived at the venue it felt good to see familiar faces and feel the S.F. vibe in L.A. I was proud to be from the Bay Area sharing a part of our culture.
When the police shut us down I felt saddened and angry. So much time, engergy, money and love wasted. I heard people share the feelings during the closing circle. What I really heard in people's shares was that by the police shutting us down, we are validated in our message of community and free expression, something that L.A. lacks and so desperately needs.
Later that night I went to a house party with my girlfriend Jessica, and hung out in their "chill room." (most of us were on e) The conversations I heard around me were of people talking about their upcoming record deal, what famous person they know, and how they're about to break it big. I was really tripping out on how shallow the conversation was--image, fame, money--how lost these people are. But throughout the conversations people were expressing in subtle ways that they also felt empty, unfulfilled and not whole; that they're hungry for what we in the Bay Area have. We have community, we have places to freely express ourselves.
Everything in L.A. is about isolation, separateness and competition. You've got to get on the freeway to get anywhere, people are isolated in their cars. The air is poisoned. Most actors, musicians and artists in L.A. think that you need a certian image, have an agent and backstab to be successful.
The Circus challenges all that...that's why we got shut down. The powers that be want to keep people separated, isolated, brainwashed and lost.
L.A. is the world's reality machine, pumping out movies, music, image--keeping people drugged on the hope of money, power, fame; thinking that these things will make one whole.
I know that L.A. is ready for healing, community and a sense of direction. I witnessed this. People are hungry. We in the Bay Area can create cathartic healing. L.A. is ready to bust open. We can break down the reality machine. We can touch those in the entertainment industry.
The media can be used against those in power keeping people down. The Circus was shut down because those keeping the status quo are afraid of us. Because we bring unity.
It's no accident what transpired in L.A., it's true when they say that everything happens for a reason. It's got me clear that we are all responsible for how the world is now and how we want it to be.
Please, please, don't give up on L.A.
Please feel free to email me. I'm still processing many thoughts, emotions and feelings. I would love to have support, input and other viewpoints.
Love & Bliss,
Christopher Pease
-- Christopher
-- signature OfW1l.
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