Jerry Brown has won California’s gubernatorial race; Eric Schneiderman has been elected to New York’s Attorney General slot. These (and others) may or may not represent your particular views, but as noted here previously, each of these politicians has tried, in his way, to infuse their work with a benevolence forged, in part, via a conscious connection to principles learned through mindfulness and/or Buddhism. Click through for links to some of our previous related coverage, and for an update regarding other politicians who participated in this election, succeeded, and have Buddhist backgrounds.
Update: Arun at Angry Asian Buddhist points out that our coverage has overlooked other politicians who have succeeded and who have a Buddhist connection. From just some of what Arun writes there:
Four years ago, there was some excitement around Representatives Mazie Hirono and Hank Johnson, both of them Democrats who identify as Buddhists. Both held their seats last night. But if you’ve only been following Shambhala Sun and Tricycle, you’ll have missed out on Democrat Colleen Hanabusa, who took back Hawaii’s First congressional district from the Republicans, defeating Charles Djou. Oh, and she’s Buddhist too.
Just take that in for a moment. Next year’s Hawaiian congressional delegation to the House will be a team of Asian American Buddhist women!
A good point, Arun. We regret having overlooked it and do thank you for pointing it out, as it surely deserves to be noticed and appreciated.
For more of Arun’s commentary, good points, and reality checks, visit Angry Asian Buddhist.
I am Governor Jerry Brown
My aura smiles and never frowns
Soon I will be president…
Carter Power will soon go away
I will be Fuhrer one day
I will command all of you
Your kids will meditate in school
Your kids will meditate in school!
California Uber Alles!
Uber Alles California!
Zen fascists will control you
100% natural
You will jog for the master race
And always wear the happy face
Close your eyes, can't happen here
Big Bro' on white horse is near
The hippies won't come back you say
Mellow out or you will pay
Mellow out or you will pay!
California Uber Alles!
Uber Alles California!
Now it is 1984
Knock-knock at your front door
It's the suede/denim secret police
They have come for your uncool niece
Come quietly to the camp
You'd look nice as a drawstring lamp
Don't you worry, it's only a shower
For your clothes here's a pretty flower.
DIE on organic poison gas
Serpent's egg's already hatched
You will croak, you little clown
When you mess with President Brown!
yes, those were/are clever lyrics for the time, but you dont think Brown is still that worthy of a target, do you? he seems to have proven his mettle. (and i doubt he'll ever be "President Brown"!). ; )
Im not sure if he was ever worthy of that target, as I dont follow politics closely enough to know much about these kinds of things. However I do think the song is quite funny, and I also enjoy stirring the pot every now and then.
I dont think Jello is beyond reproach either – given the issue with royalties disputes with the rest of DK and so forth… its often a very contentious world that "principled" people inhabit.
Equating Brown with the Nazis, only a Republican can be that stupid.
O.K. if your an anarchist like Biafra I'll applaud you as soon as you blow up the Pentagon or do something similarly constructive. Still if you want to equate Brown withe the Nazis you're a total moron whether 30 years ago or now. And if the person posting is not Mr. Biafra then they are infinitely worse for being such a fool and a coward.
The real question is, what was Jello getting at with those lyrics? Why the deep humorous hate of Brown's boomer-Buddhist thing?
I always took it as emblematic of general disgust with and distrust of the hippies and post-hippies.
"Mindful Politicians" — I'll be a happy camper if they're just mindful of my wallet. 8^)