“Do not say that I’ll depart tomorrow
because even today I still arrive.”
A couplet from the poem “Call Me by My True Names” by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
The poem appears in a blog post “Why Call it “Climaticide”? The Power of True Names” by Johnny Rook.
“They avoid calling things by their true names because they know that if we do not know the true names we will not be wise enough to act.“
If you have not read it, you should.
Unfortunately a month ago I missed Johnny’s post “My doctor doesn’t think I’m going to die today“. If you have not read it, you should.
It was only when I read Andrew Siegel’s moving “Homage to a hero: Climaticide Johnny Rook” that I became aware that Johnny was dying; indeed had been dying the entire time I knew of him. If you have not read it, you should.
Thankfully it seems Johnny is still with us, or was as of yesterday at noon when he last posted comments on his blog, but clearly it will not be long.
I confess I was immediately drawn to Johnny based solely on his blog’s name. My stubborn insistence on calling climate Deniers by the ugly, but nonetheless accurate name “Deniers” seemed to match his reasons for describing what we are doing to the planet as the ugly, but nonetheless accurate “climaticide.”
Perusing his site, reading his reasoning, his choice of poetry, the quotes he chose for his blog
“A very popular error: having the courage of one’s convictions; rather it is a matter of having the courage for an attack on one’s convictions.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
“My True Religion Is Kindness” — The Dalai Lama
only deepened the sense of affinity. Even the choice of his screen name was appealing.
Johnny, that you have had an impact is clear, particularly your moving description about what you have been doing, why it matters, and what it means.
- Well, At Least We Now Have A “Word For It”: Climaticide
- Murder, He Wrote
- Running Out of Time
- This may be the best, and most important, and most moving thing you’ve read in, well, in a while
I never took the opportunity to thank you for what you have been doing, for the help you have given me and this blog with your work and it’s excellent articles, for the sense of affinity and community, for helping me not to feel alone.
Too little, too late … but it’s all I have.
Apparently your “real name” is Steve. I never knew that until today. For me your true name is Johnny Rook, one of those
–
“Who age after age, perversely,
With no extraordinary power,
Reconstitute the world.“
You clearly wanted to call that which is ugly and horrific by it’s true name so that we could call all that which is beautiful and redeeming by their true names.
–
I would like to call what you have been doing
by it’s true name,
love
for the Earth, for it’s people, for life.
–
And to call your work
by it’s true name,
witnessing
for all that is beautiful, and wild, and worthy of love.
–
And the gift you have given,
by it’s true name,
hope
through your work, through you example, through your love.
“Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart can be left open,
the door of compassion.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
We give our consent every moment that we do not resist.
Denier “Challenge” aka Deathwatch Update: Day 128 … still no evidence.
IMAGE CREDITS:
[…] Do not say that I’ll depart tomorrow: I confess I was immediately drawn to Johnny based solely on his blog’s name. My stubborn […]
[…] Do not say that I’ll depart tomorrow: I confess I was immediately drawn to Johnny based solely on his blog’s name. My stubborn […]
[…] Do not say that I’ll depart tomorrow: I confess I was immediately drawn to Johnny based solely on his blog’s name. My stubborn […]
This is a bit off topic, but are American climate campaigners aware of a new British movie release this month called ‘The Age of Stupid’ ?
http://www.ageofstupid.net/
It stars Pete Postlethwaite as an archivist in 2055 looking back at news events in 2008 and wondering why we did nothing to stop climate change.
It’s a low budget movie, but has a lot of support from campaigners.
I left a comment thanking Johnny at his site.
Paul,
I just found out about that yesterday (link in comments here or at Joe Romm’s – can’t remember).
The Guardian has put up a ‘making of’ video: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/mar/02/age-of-stupid-making-of
Screenings for UK: http://www.ageofstupid.net/screenings
International: http://www.ageofstupid.net/worldreleases (USA (and Canada?) need to wait until September – why?!)
Brief reviews: http://jim.killock.org.uk/?p=32 + http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2009/01/the-age-of-stupid.html
From what I’ve seen, I have high hopes that this is something I can send out to friends and family who will more likely sit and watch it than spend time reading content on the internet.
I’m saddened to report that Johnny Rook has died.
I’ve donated to 350.org in his memory, as his family wished.