Feminist Values: Making Our Non-Violent Homes

The beautiful faces of people exploring feminist values.

One of the more interesting discussions I've been in lately occurred last Sunday, January 27, 2013 in Augusta at the Pine State Arboretum. It occurs to me now that this was about a month into the beginning of the new great cycle of the Mayan calendar. (For those who say who cares about an ancient calendar I say, check your facts: plenty of Mayan people are still alive today. Also, the ancients who made the calendar had a genius grasp of astronomy.)

A Feminist Values discussion was organized as part of the 19th Changing Maine Gathering which occurs about once a year bringing together progressive dreamers from around the state. This year CODEPINK State of Maine and Portland local groups co-sponsored with ROSC (Resources for Organizing Social Change) and proposed the topic. No, not feminism: feminist values. One participant summed these up as: Respect for the Earth, and for everyone. Amen to that

Someone had suggested we introduce ourselves as descendants of our moms and their moms. About a third of the 40+ people who attended were male; for many, especially the younger people that also made up about one-third of the group, this type of identifying may have been a first.

I chose to be in the breakout session discussing Reclaiming Domesticity: Abundance or Scarcity? We took turns sharing how we live right now, and why we have made the decisions we've made around how to live. It was a diverse group: young parents who live on a land trust and are constantly on the defensive, being criticized for choosing to spend a lot of time with their children (ages 3 months and 4 years) and as little time as possible earning money; a thinker with a degree but no job who sleeps on friends' couches; a single mother of five; a grandmother who lives with her husband in the house he and his friends built on land they cleared; and a bachelor labor organizer who is tired of living alone and tired of society's message that he must "get a woman" in order to live comfortably and correctly.

Much of the discussion during the day centered on commodification: of natural resources, of women's bodies. There was a general consensus that feminist values reject this, and that the era of commodification is coming to an end.

I described how I live on land that was stolen from the indigenous people and turned into a commodity to be bought and sold, along the Kennebec River, within the Penobscot Nation homeland. Some of those people are still neighbors of mine. The large group acknowledged the importance and hope of Idle No More and the earth-defending resolve of initiatives led by First Nations people in Canada and other indigenous communities.

After a lengthy potluck lunch where conversations and new friendships flourished, we re-convened as a large group to hear reports from the breakout groups and continue our discussions. The entire day for me was characterized by deep, respectful listening. One of our group was a woman activist who is over 90, and a special hush fell on the room when she spoke.

In one of the breakout sessions there was some trouble with interrupting, and the vibe felt a little hostile. This caused a 10 year-old girl to leave the discussion and return to the childcare group. After her mom explained why, the participants made a new plan for taking turns speaking, and the facilitator of the group described it as a successful "self-correction."

We all go astray from our ideals many, many times in life. Just look at the formerly (allegedly) idealistic Hillary Clinton, outgoing Secretary of State. Can we find the courage to examine the road we're on, and make a "self-correction" if necessary? We had better be able to if we hope to continue human life on this planet.

THE UGLY FACES OF PATRIARCHY: A screen grab from a video of last week's State Department dinner for Mr.  and Mrs. Hamid Karzai. Hillary Clinton has placed herself firmly in the service of the patriarchal empire that is ruining the Earth and killing children and women and men wantonly every single day,  making "defense" contractors so wealthy they are sometimes referred to as the 0.01%. Afghanistan and its people in particular continue to suffer under this regime.

One breakout session was about violence and the One Billion Rising movement which is spreading globally like wildfire. Here's a great video I watched yesterday of people in the EU Parliament rising up to dance against violence on women. Eve Ensler, a leader of the movement, speaks at the end to explain why one billion women and the men who love them dancing could just be a revolution. Maine events on V-Day will be held in Portland & Belfast. Non-violence is a feminist value.

#ChiefTheresa Spence, Idle No More, Cannot Be Co-opted

Today I am sharing Chief Theresa Spence's press release on the day following a meeting with Canadian government officials. Note well, co-optation is ever the mark of power mongers under systems designed to perpetuate inequality.

From opposite ends of the planet, the wisdom of indigenous grandmothers who represent the people's needs over the profit motives of the corporations whom our governments currently represent.

This Indigenous Grandmother Is 11 Years Old #IdleNoMore

Edit: On January 14 I discovered that this video, which I had watched and shared several times, had been designated on YouTube as private. I don't know why, but I will continue looking for the content online and will re-share if I find it.

#MainePolitics: Alliance For The Common Good Is In The House

photo credit: Dawn Eve York, Occupy Maine

photo credit: Dawn Eve York, Occupy Maine

I always get a little thrill from being in action at the Maine State House because I feel deeply connected to my state and also to my family since my grandfather served in the legislature for years. I never knew him because he died of war-related injuries before I was born. My nephew and his family have gone with me in the past to  call on U.S. senators at their offices in Augusta delivering postcards protesting their continued votes for war -- and Jake told me he thinks about our common ancestor too each time he sees the golden dome of our state capitol. We are a history minded family.
I think some history was made yesterday when the newly formed Alliance for the Common Good met the incoming 126th Legislature. Led by indigenous people from Maine's four nations who sang in  Wabanaki a song that I believe translates to My people, oh my people, this Earth is for you.

We came together as environmentalists (Earth First!, No East West Corridor, No Thanks Searsport Tank, No Pipeline, 350.org), peace workers (Veterans for Peace, CODEPINK Maine, Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, American Friends Service Committee) and social justice advocates (Occupy, especially Augusta, was out in force plus Resources for Organizing Social Change, Maine People's Alliance, and the inimitable Artists Rapid Response Team (ARRT) of the Union of Maine Visual Artists).

There were no other labor unions there. Yes, several were invited but they are too deep in the Democrats' pockets to be interested in a people's alliance for the common good. Too bad for them, and I'm sorry I pay dues to the Maine Education Association. Democrats helped pass No Child Left Behind, and I have not forgotten that they decline to stand with us any time we are lobbying for war dollars to be brought home and spent on schools.

The governor's curtailment has already hit school districts hard, and the incoming legislature -- much more progressive than the last -- will now engage in a series of battles to override our governor's veto in order to save basic services and the natural resources in our state. I'm glad I took my personal day off from school to be there to let incoming legislators know what we expect of them. Mark saw our new rep, Dr. Ann Dorney, walk by while he was waiting to go through the metal detector. He called out, "Ann, don't sell out to the corporations. We have your back!" and she smiled and said she wouldn't. I have faith in her; she is a good woman and a mom and family doctor who cares deeply about a healthy environment. She lives right along the beautiful Kennebec River, just like my family does.

ARRT had produced several stunning banners for the occasion and something my husband and I are doing right in our life has resulted in being entrusted with a cache of art to be used at future protests, demonstrations and occupations. We are blessed to know all these good hearts, and I was honored to be in action with Wabanaki people. As Sharon Mitchell of the Penobscot Nation pointed out, protecting Native land rights and stewardship is an issue for everyone who hopes to see life on Earth continue.

Ridgely Fuller of CODEPINK after delivering Alliance for the Common Good information packets to the Appropriations Committee January 8, 2013 Augusta, Maine.