// NOWHERE // Nothing De-mans Everything

Art Installation by Aim Axon

You wake up each day, slip on your robe and slippers, and brew a cup of hot tea. It's such a nice day out. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the grass is green, and the creek next to your house is flowing steadily. Like every day, you grab the white container underneath your sink and the tablespoon next to it. What a beautiful day you think, as you walk to the stream. Twisting off the safety cap, the container reads "bleach". As told, "One tablespoon in the water each day keeps the monsters at bay", ever since you were a child, these words ingrained. The white liquid splashes in, dispersing gently. You see the neighbor and wave as they do the same. Though, something is noticed, and has been noticed for sometime. A small fish wiggles and then floats to the surface, belly up. There are many fish now, and seeings of dying leaves.

...You have a moment, a crystal clear moment...

Why do I do this? We say we must, if we don't then things will be bad. But I'm seeing these adverse effects, and they are getting worse. This questioning voice continues and then...is silenced. Everyone moves along with their day, the cycle repeats.

These types of thoughts came to me, repeating over and over again during my process - except - the voice was no longer silenced. It took center stage, it spoke LOUDER and with intense urgency. In this installation you see what our fear has allowed...

Something is hiding in plain sight, what are you?

Combat drones always sat strangely with me. A machine many thousands of miles away, the operator separated, and with possibility of separating even further. Making life and death decision without seeing a face or feeling the atmosphere. How accurate can this be, and whose agenda is being followed?

I began reading Living Under Drones: Death, Injury, and Trauma to Civilians From US Drone Practices in Pakistan. Reading this and countless other articles confirm the unsettling feeling that I have about the creation and use of combat drones. The truly insane situations that occur...then buried away...out of sight, out of mind.

U.S.A. drones have targeted funerals (see also pg 92), rescuers (see also pg 74), weddings, farmers, and even a school. With all the reports of civilian deaths, our governments numbers are still considered inaccurately low. The CIA's usage of drones operates in secrecy, one reason for such inaccuracies and plain denials.

Our usage of drones has created significant negative psychological impacts on an entire culture, not just terrorists. We've created an environment of constant tension, anxiety, fear, and sorrow (pg 73). I encourage anyone who is funding these wars (all who pay taxes) to truly take time and personally research the actions our government is taking. Realize we are all passively engaging in activities that so deeply affect others.

Photo from the documentary Wounds of Waziristan © Madiha Tahir and Parergon Films 2013

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Photos taken at the installation site can be seen here.

Subtle motions in our everyday lives, paying our dutiful taxes each pay check, then checking out with blind trust. With the masses combined a deadly energy has been formed...

Yes - War is complicated, our system is complicated. But this is simple: When we feed destruction it spreads, like throwing fuel on fire. At a certain point it will consume all. I ask everyone...What do we want for this world's future: Destruction, nothing?

If not, it's time we all

STOP FEEDING IT

Think about this:

How do we spend our money, essentially, our energy? What is priority? What is not? Here are some numbers from The American Budget 2019:

Department of Defense: 686 billion dollars (pg 33)

Department of Health and Human Services: 68.4 billion dollars (pg 49)

Department of Education: 59.9 billion dollars (pg 39)

Environmental Protection Agency: 5.4 billion dollars (pg 103)

*Update: It appears the above budget document link has been removed.

...SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE...

The pink elephant in the room must be addressed NOW, not later. A shifting of priorities must occur, ones that focus on supporting life and healing wounds.

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Whether there's a difference in perspective or not, how about we start a conversation? Take a moment to think about the questions below. Share them with at least one other person (or better yet a group).

» Do you feel connected with your community? Your family, friends?

(If yes, what do you do to make and nurture these connections? What drives this? If no, why do you feel separated?)

» Do you agree with our governments priorities?

(Explain why. What has influenced this response? Is it the news, personal experience etc.)

» What does the word Wetiko mean?

(Take a moment and look it up, it's a strange thing)

» What are you really good at and how could this be applied to healing/repairing?

» What are your biggest distractions that keep you from doing what your really good at?

(Why are these distractions so attractive? Why do they take priority?)

» What is Civil Disobedience?

We must feel our strengths, fuel them with our hearts, hold each other near, and never silence that inner voice. It's trying to tell us something very obvious and it's something very important...