“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”
- Dalai Lama
I've rediscovered Lucille Clifton. I forgot I had her book and I forgot how much I liked her.
photograph
my grandsons spinning in their joy
universe keep them turning turning
black blurs against the window
of the world
for they are beautiful
and there is trouble coming
round and round and round
wishes for sons
i wish them cramps.
i wish them a strange town
and the last tampon.
i wish them no 7-11.
i wish them one week early
and wearing a white skirt.
i wish them one week late.
later i wish them hot flashes
and clots like you
wouldn't believe. let the
flashes come when they
meet someone special.
let the clots come
when they want to.
let them think they have accepted
arrogance in the universe,
then bring them to gynecologists
not unlike themselves.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Old Dominion Robert Hass
The shadows of late afternoon and the odors of honeysuckle are congruent sadness. Everything is easy but wrong. I am walking across thick lawns under maples in borrowed tennis whites. It is like the photographs of Randall Jarrell I stared at on the backs of books in college. He looked so sad and relaxed in the pictures. He was translating Chekhov and wore tennis whites. It puzzled me that in his art, like Chekov's, everyone was lost, that the main chance was never seized because it is only there as a thing to be dreamed of or because someone somewhere had set the old words to the old tune: we live by habit and it doesn't hurt. Now the thwack... thwack of tennis balls being hit teaches me and it is the first sound of an ax in the cherry orchard or the sound of machine guns where the young terrorists are exploding among poor people on the streets of Los Angeles. I begin making resolutions: to take risks, not to stay in the south, to somehow do honor to Randall Jarrell, never to kill myself. Through the oaks I see the courts, the nets, the painted boundaries, and the people in tennis whites who look so graceful from this distance.
Okay, so I watched most of the Democratic convention. I loved Michelle Obama's speech (next Jackie O. much? She is gorgeous!) , I loved Joe Biden's, and I especially love Barack Obama's. It was inspiring and uplifting, but I felt they kept it kind of realistic. So, I've been trying to watch parts of the RNC, but I just can't after a while. It's so incredibly negative and has so many personal attacks that it's just ridiculous. I find myself wanting to yell at the TV! David was watching Rudy Guliani's speech last night while I was in another room, and what I heard was just... horrible. It was really, really... something else. I don't even know how to explain it. And don't even get me started on Palin. I am very glad that a woman is involved (yay women in politics! Woo!), but this woman is not only completely inexperienced, but is also incredibly crazy extreme. I used to have respect for McCain. I really did. And then he became the Republican candidate. Now, I'm not denying that Democrats have their issues, and that Barack Obama has some downfalls, but goddamn are the Republicans making all those issues look like nothing compared to what I've heard out of their mouths recently.
Oh, and not to mention, my favorite John McCain moment (yes, besides the whole not knowing how many houses he owns and having to get back to people about whether or not birth control should be covered by insurance, even though viagra is and that's never debated): "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt". Not only does he call her a cunt, but he uses my favorite word: trollop! Yes! McCain/Palin '08! Sign me up!
By the way, I forgot to let you know that today, June 7, is "The Pill Kills Day". I mean, did you know the pill kills 9 day old children? I sure didn't. Wow. That's a powerful pill. I guess I should let my parents know that they already missed my birthday by about nine months. What jerks.
It wouldn't be so bad for those kind of pro-lifers (and I say "those kind" because I know there are pro-life people out there who do not oppose the b.c. pill) to protest the pill along with abortion, but a lot of them also just don't seem to care what happens to the child after it's born. For example, there is a Planned Parenthood in Sarasota that wanted to give Habitat for Humanity enough land for 3 houses and charge them only $10. Habitat for Humanity was harassed by pro-life folks, so they end up backing out of the deal. What about those kids? I could rant about this, but what's the point? Most of the people that read this blog (that I know about) know me well enough to know what I'll say.
Imagine this: http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif It's hours before your wedding. You're celebrating with your friends. You're leaving the club with your friends. You get shot at 50 times. The people shooting at you? Police officers. And the courts find them not guilty.
This was one of the most interesting Oprah episodes ever. They are incredibly brave to put themselves out there. And they seem so sweet and amazing! I hope everything turns out fantastic for them and their child.
I've been reading this book and loving it. I hope that if you haven't read it, you do. One thing that it's definitely made me realize two things: I am so grateful I have the parents I do and to have gone to diverse K-12 schools.
Just so you know, I am totally a part of this "Gay Agenda" or "Gay Mafia" or whatever she calls it. Just thought it was fair to let you know.
And just when you thought the train to Crazyville had left, I also bring you this: (posted on Postsecret this weekend) Seriously, people? I really shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it. I refuse to waste my time being upset, especially when they are completely ridiculous. Yes, my jaw drops. But then I laugh, because I remember that the people that believe this crap are a small amount of people, seemingly getting smaller every day, month, and year.
Uh oh. There goes my gay/feminazi/ultra-crazy-liberal/whatever-other-insult-is-being-used-now agenda. Damn. Sorry, guys. I just can't help the want--no, the NEED-- to convert you. Mom, dad-- you should've locked me up years ago.
It's pretty clear who I'm voting for. Every day there's something that makes me dislike Clinton's tactics more and more and something that makes my voting for Obama more justified. I use Stumble Upon and today it took me to something posted on Daily Kos. Someone did their research on Clinton and Obama and was kind enough to pass on some of the info. It's long, but if you're unsure of who you want between the two, it might help you decide.
Now it's time for a small rant: Also, I watched the first SNL last night and it was very funny. Except for Tina Fey's rant about how Clinton's the right choice. Sure, she's right about some of the Clinton criticism (the whole "Bitches get stuff done" thing). I like Tina Fey because she identifies herself as a feminist in a time where female celebrities are afraid to do so, but she also plays a character on 30 Rock that, at times, falls into the sitcom stereotype of 30-something single females. I agree that it's a fantastic time for feminism and women because we have a serious female candidate for President that, at one point in time, almost could've nabbed the job. But really, Tina, STFD and STFU. I don't care that you want to vote for Clinton just because she's female, her husband is a former President, etc. etc. When she said, "And yet women have come so far as feminists that they don't feel obligated to vote for a candidate just because she's a woman. Women today feel perfectly free to make whatever choice Oprah tells them to." (with a picture of Obama and Oprah) That was ridiculous. Oprah has sucked up to the Clintons just as much as she has to Obama. That's like people blaming her for GWB winning because he came on her show. And don't get me started on the feminist blogosphere and their bashing of any sentence out of a male politician's mouth about Clinton. Seriously, ladies. Just cause Obama said "periodically" doesn't not necessarily mean he was going "LOL, WOMEN ARE SO CRAZY CAUSE THEY HAVE PERIODS!". Clinton is holding her own and they're treating her like another political candidate. They're not treating her like a child or a joke, not holding back because of her fragile state as a woman, so, really, settle down. Plus, have you heard some of the stuff Bill Clinton's been saying? Damn. Can we stop analyzing and criticizing each and every thing and just be happy for a few minutes that we are living in a historic time period where our two Democratic candidates don't look similar to every other President and candidate?
Did you know that your body is like a lollipop and if you have sex you're just a "poorly wrapped, saliva-fouled sucker." Please, click the link for some more LOLz like how HIV/AIDS is contracted through skin contact (that one's for you, mom) and condoms cause cancer. Good luck, everybody, you're all gonna die. It was nice knowing you.
In other news, I'm freaking cold. Today was crazy windy and the coldest temps we've had so far. Also, I'm counting down the hours until Friday at 2:05. As the week goes on, sugar levels and anxious jumping up and down in the seats increases, meaning this week is going to be the best EVER. I already had some fun students that pushed my buttons today. One was jacked up on all sorts of sugar and caffeine and one tugged on my shirt like a 5 year old for a good 5 minutes before I told her to leave me alone. But, next time you see me, give me a high five because I finished grading the first wave of research papers before break. WTG, me!
I've seen this in a few blogs I read and felt that since today is the biggest retail day of the year, maybe I can convince a few of you, my lovelies, to use your money for some good that doesn't involve giving your money to giant corporations. I'll have more sites where you can use your money to buy your loved ones positive gifts that help good causes. Remember: this is the season for hope, charity, good will, peace and giving.
In 2004, Jackie Brown Otter founded Pretty Bird Woman House, a women's shelter at the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota. The shelter is named after Brown Otter's sister, who was kidnapped, raped and beaten to death in 2001.
According to Amnesty Intn'l report,
High levels of sexual violence on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation take place in a context of high rates of poverty and crime... The unemployment rate on the Reservation is 71 per cent. Crime rates on the Reservation often exceed those of its surrounding areas. According to FBI figures, in 2005 South Dakota had the fourth highest rate of "forcible rapes" of women of any US state.
As a special bonus to the Lakota Sioux Reservation, there are sufficient desensitization to crime and confusion over Tribal/Non-Tribal jurisdiction at Standing Rock to create rape tourism. Says Andrea Smith, an Assistant Professor of Native Studies at the University of Michigan,
[N]on-Native perpetrators often seek out a reservation place because they know they can inflict violence without much happening to them.
Against these odds, Pretty Bird Woman House is staffed by three people-- a nurse, a volunteer, and a part-time employee-- and from January to October of this year, they managed to:
* answer 397 crisis calls
* give emergency shelter to 188 women and 132 children
* help 23 women obtain restraining orders, 10 get divorces, and 16 get medical assistance
* provide court advocacy support for 28 women
* conduct community education programs for 360 women
A few weeks ago, PBWH's phone lines were cut, the office was ransacked, and the building was burnt down.
Everyone was away from the house at the time, but all possessions were lost, and - because PBWH's grant from the South Dakota Coalition Against Domestic Violence is predicated on its ability to shelter women - its funding is also lost. Now everybody's trying to pick up the pieces.
Click here for the full story.
How you can help:
1.
Donate what you can for a new house.
Pretty Bird Woman House already has two potential replacement houses in mind. Both offer significantly more space than the previous building... full basements, storage room and would house more than double the families and women than their previous building. Both buildings have yards which means possible playgrounds for children.
One house has a major advantage in location - a police station across the street.
Because of difficulties obtaining loans (banks are allergic to both Native Americans and poverty) the best solution lies in purchasing the house outright. The Tribal Council could hold the mortgage but coming up with the mortgage payments every month creates an ongoing problem. Since both houses are on the market, they could be gone anytime. Depressed property values on Standing Rock mean that $60,000 gets the house. An additional $10,000 is required to make them secure, with proper fencing, video cameras, reinforced doors and other measures.
Since 10/25, the drive for donations for PBWH has garnered 17% of the $70,000 goal; the drive ends January 2008-- so consider donating in someone's name as a Christmas present. Donations can be made here.
2.
Donate material goods-- clothing, toiletries, non-perishables, etc.
USPS to: Pretty Bird Woman House P.O. Box 596 McLaughlin, SD 57642
or FedEx, UPS, DHL ship to: Pretty Bird Woman House 302 Sale Barn Rd. McLaughlin SD 57642
I don't have much to say or do right now. Yesterday, I dropped off Megan in D.C. to fly back to Michigan, tomorrow I pick up David in Norfolk, flying back into Michigan. It's strange to be here all alone and not have work or any real obligations...
I found this video on feministing, and felt I should share it. There are many great women slam poets out there (if you look at my myspace page, I have a few videos up), but this one almost moved me to tears. It's amazing. "What We Deserve" by Sonya "The Drama" Boom Renee What We Deserve
Also, I was reading some of the feminist blogs I check on and one (feministe) was talking about this group Anonymous and attacks to take down feminist blogs. It's kinda crazy. No, not kinda. Really crazy. This has been a topic that has been gaining more and more attention because commenters are making violent threats towards bloggers. It's crazy and incredibly creepy. The sad thing is, there seems to be a lot of grey legal area in dealing with internet harassment. I almost feel like a lot of people are afraid to contact police or any authority that could help because they don't know if they can (or will) do anything about it. I don't know if I'm alone in making this connection, but doesn't that feel like when a woman is raped, assaulted, etc., and they're afraid of reporting it because they think they won't be taken seriously or they'll be blamed for it? I think it's very, very similar line of thinking. If they report it, will anyone take them seriously? Will they be blamed for it? etc. etc. It's incredibly sad that the internet empowers people to feel like they can make comments/threats about anyone involved in putting themselves and their thoughts on the internet. This crosses all lines, it seems-- whether you're non-white, gay, female, etc, but, sadly, it seems to be a lot more personal and threatening when it comes to women, especially feminists. It seems a lot more personal and vicious. They joke about raping, mutilating and killing these women. All for what? Because they expressed their opinion?! That is... wow. Even though it's only on the internet, I still think these women are incredibly brave for putting up with these comments and harrassment and not stopping what they're doing. I mean, think about if you had someone (or more than one person) constantly telling you some pretty messed up stuff about what a horrible person you are or how they want to torture or kill you. What would you do?
Anyway, here's an interesting video on harassment of youtube vloggers.
Also, feministe had a lot on AutoAdmit (a forum that seems to be dominated by dudebros, who are supposed to be lawyers of some kind), which is a different kind of harassment than what I was talking about earlier (as in not directed towards bloggers and their blogs, but women they know in gereal--colleagues of theirs. fantastic!), but it's still about sexalized, violent comments towards women. Here's one post that I like that talks about AutoAdmit, internet harassment and why it makes femnism still necessary, but there are many others about AutoAdmit. They mention Kathy Sierra in the post I directly link to. It seems to be one of the most publicized cases, because she ended up cancelling a public appearance due to the threats. Here's the wikipedia page for her, an interview with her, and another article about the attack on her
Again, what would you do if this was happening to you? Or to someone you cared about? Would you quit? Would you report it? Would you keep blogging and ignore it? I'm very interested, let me know.
We went to a Harry Potter party at B&N Meg got a tattoo. It has Harry's face in it. We both got sorted into Ravenclaw. Helllllzzzz yeaaaah! When David showed up, we convinced him to be sorted, too. He was Hufflepuff, poor boy. Haha. There were sooo many people. The 7th book was good, except the epilogue was... um, strange. Too perfect? I don't know. Let's pretend it never happened.
Then we went to Busch Gardens. This is the Griffon's first drop. 205 ft up. 90 degree drop straight down. Freaking. Crazy. They dangle the people at the top, leaning over the edge for almost 10 seconds (I think, I didn't count it. It has to be between 5 and 10 seconds that they're stuck in this position, though). Uhh.. yeah. Megan went on her first rollercoaster. It was incredibly fast, but very fun. We got soaked on a ride calld Roman Rapids. I jinxed us by saying "I really don't want to get caught under the waterfalls". We hit all three of them! haha. I had fun watching people come around the corner for the first drop on the Griffon and be waving their hands, all excited and then they clutch on for dear life once it releases. Next time, I'm going to ride the Alpengeist. I couldn't quite convince Meg to get on that ride. It's a really nice park, though, I was really impressed.
I went to College Park/D.C. area with Kristie yesterday, to pack up Maurice's stuff and see David. We walked around Georgetown between rain drops. I dropped into an Urban Outfitters for the first time since we moved down here and found these cute little things: We'd been looking for a coat rack or something similar for a while, these were perfect. David surprised me with this: He picked it out allllll by himself. Well done, boy! (it's a fake/imitation, btw. haha. I love it.)
I will post pictures and the happenings of the rest of my Kzoo trip later on. Today/yesterday we celebrated the first year anniversary. Nothing too spectacular because I was extremely tired (and still am) from the trip, especially the train ride home. Nothing good ever happens while traveling (or attempting to travel) to D.C. The place is cursed. Anyway. Yesterday I got a Sidekick ID (loooove it!), so I can now text message and email (alipants@tmail.com) back and forth. We also checked out the adorable beach in Yorktown. Yorktown itself seems pretty freaking cute and less crowded than WBG (also, I think they have a tattoo shop there that we should look into). We also decided that I will be getting rid of the eMac and getting a laptop in the fall. I think what convinced David was that we can get him a free iPod nano. What convinced me is that my Safari crashed half the time and, other times, takes 5 minuts to load something.
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