Monday, April 29, 2013

Simple, though spiritually abundant words that came to mind today:


Al Haleem, or more so Hilm, (Arabic) Mercy, Forgiveness, Gentle, Forbearing

Salaam (Arabic) Peace, Embrace, Respect

Namaskar or Namaste (Hindi) I Bow to You, I am Your Humble Servant, Many Blessings Your Way

Yahweh (Hebrew) Lord, Jehovah, God, the Liberator

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as family, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

http://www.halos711.org/healingexpressivewriting.htm
Some concluding thoughts:
Simple Abundance
Comfort and Joy
Leading Compassionate Lives

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Confessions of a college teenager, observer and sobber.

After an emotional heartbreak that wasn't really a heartbreak because you didn't really love him but you were nice enough to invest time in him and now you regret it because, even though you knew he was an egotistical arrogant fool from the start, you let him pour all these lies over you to then later find out that he takes another girl out to the Spring Fling dance, but as much as you don't give a snuggie about silly college events for the dating scene and you don't really like him anyways and you told him you weren't really in a relationship, somehow --- just somehow you are affected over the fact that he hid it from you that he was accompanying a mutual friend to this 'thing' that you usually wouldn't care less about but the fact that to him and others it has sentimental value, it hurts you....it really really hurts you and you can't find words to describe how you're feeling because you wont really admit that you're feeling this way because that would mean that you let him have power in your life and so you try, again and again and darn it you try again to confront these feelings that annoyingly came about for him, along with the emotions, and the tears and the hurt and the anger and the fire and the desire --- the raging desire to get back at him. All the while, you hold your chemistry textbook close and flick your calculus scrap papers to the side and your civil scale ruler starts looking like an object that you just want to clench and break and throw at the John Lennon poster still crooked on your wall and hanging, then while denting the New York City script across J.L.'s shirt, you remember, well darn it --- it's more like, you hope to remember that there's a world beyond this and you start to miss your family, your silly little brother, your excessively excited puff ball of a dog... so then you blame engineering and contemplate on why you've never been interested in materialism, prom night, senior ball --- and that stupid Spring Fling, then you begin to wonder why all those Business majors get to party every weekend and sleep in every weekday and go out with the guy you've kinda been seeing and get to act like they're having such a good time, a fricken joyful, stress free life with lots of hand outs, practice problems designed for a middle school math class and tons of those bubbly shade-in multiple choice tests!!!!!

Ya hear me?

And at any point of time, if you feel that shadow of doubt, remember it's about you, and always should have been. You have done nothing wrong by being true to yourself. You do not and should not have to compromise your beliefs, values and what shapes you into YOU. If someone has done you wrong, there's no room for buts, sorrys or excuses, if you have not been heard. Speak your mind. Don't settle for any less. Be an advocate for you, first!

You notice how awful this situation really is -- not necessarily for you but for him -- how in attempt to fill up a terribly barren life, he makes a scandalous move to ditch the exotic gal to sneak a date with a (wanna-be) go-go chick to an advertised as 'lively', dreadfully professor-chaperoned, two hour long, sombrero-themed Spring Fling dance. (oh & if you think I'm exaggerating, I'll also note how the photos from this event testify to this detrimental experience: flamingo pink heels, fake lashes, gowns dragging on the sticky cafeteria floors... I kid you not.)

&That's when I begin to laugh and face the emotions and book my post-finals bus tickets to NY and get back to my 50 question practice quizzes and hot glue my ruler and replace my calculator batteries and update my Blogger page and with most certainty say to the Spring Fling flier: hey who's got the power now? I'm a flower-powered engineer!!! I've got it together.

So what to do now?
Be innovative - be creative - upcycle relationships & dispose of any horrendous ones - [check!]

Just some concluding thoughts:
Dear silly boy,
You're not entitled to me, or my feelings, or any reasons to justify how you've done me wrong.

What is that you say? "It's the thought that counts."
You thought about asking me if I was busy this weekend?
Well, yes, I very much am. I'm occupied with this post and more so, detoxing you from my life.
&Maybe you'll think of me when you gulp these reflections.
Did you not know that I'm a blogger too?

Signed,
the artsy earthen gal that you'll consistently be reminded of in every setting, with every color, with every scent, with every song, with every beat, with every look, with every book, with every person you meet and with every lasting moment of vulnerability.

*Friends & readers: if you thrive on men hating too, please read: http://jezebel.com/5992479/if-i-admit-that-hating-men-is-a-thing-will-you-stop-turning-it-into-a-self+fulfilling-prophecy

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Talking 'bout mainstream environmentalists/NGOs and the voices they've ignored.

Hold up.

You want to talk about being an "inclusive" movement? You want to claim ethnic and racial diversity within your organization? AND you're telling me you identify as an ally to marginalized communities?

Bullshit.

No, you wont get brownie points for noting that you have come a 'long' way since the early 2000s or by requiring employees to sign a 'commitment' to anti-oppression or conducting anti racism trainings that are solely facilitated by hipster folk who describe themselves as 'integrated' as if that wasn't racist in itself.

Your network consists of 89% affluent and proud, white folk. With this comes a lot of privilege, ignorance, dominance and assumed entitlement.

Your segregation is sickening.

Want connection, solidarity and greater power in our movements?
First ask yourselves this --- are you willing to step to the side and let us share OUR stories --- the issues WE face in OUR communities, the campaigns WE formed? Are you ready to acknowledge that we may not be looking for your active ally-ship? Yes, I said it! Your self indulging and unspoken attitude that you display to prove your willingness to save us all from ourselves and Big Fossil Fuel industry is called white savior mentality. We will NOT hesitate to tell you that we do NOT need to be saved.

Want to really help?
Work 'with' us --- not 'for' us.

Understand that in an ally-ship to marginalized groups you must,
1) ask whether we are seeking active ally-ship 2) let US determine how you can be a resource/ support in OUR campaigns

STOP speaking for us --- saying things like "we're seeking justice for low income, minority, people of color communities." Your lack of interaction and engagement with our communities says it all --- you don't understand our struggles, our identities, our perspectives!

We're the ones on the front lines, these are OUR stories, this is OUR reality and we have a message: don't claim ally-ship when all you're doing is conveying your white savior mentality!

We don't need your leadership, what we need is for you to back down, listen up and learn your place in our battle --- it's called being an ally!

Throughout history there have been way too many folk like you trying to 'help' by trying to speak/act 'for' us rather than working with the members of our communities and asking whether your ally-ship is needed and if so, where it is needed. Acting your own way without our consent, rapes us of our culture and identity.

WE are the marginalized communities. WE are in the front line of extraction and burning of fossil fuels. WE are not only fighting environmental racism but we're also fighting colonialism, white supremacy, genocide & all intersections of oppression.

So check your privilege --- don't make this a one-sided movement.

This is an ongoing conversation: our struggles, our stories & our resistance. We will NOT be silent and we will NOT be idle.

We don't expect to see anyone that looks like us in your organization that can testify to having shared experiences or similar background. As long as you continue to push the real faces of oppression aside, you will never know true solidarity, ally-ship or community power. So, it's about time you STOP speaking for us as if you do understand.

....talk about privilege....

Signed,
Rebekah
from Tar Sands Action movement


Read more:
http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/03/25/environmental-groups-lack-ethnic-diversity

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1725017,00.html

http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/building-an-environmental-movement-as-radical-as-reality-itself/

http://www.mit.edu/activities/thistle/v9/9.05/2greenmovm.html

http://www.pachamama.org/news/race-and-class-privilege-in-the-environmental-movement

http://www.theroot.com/views/how-be-ally

http://www.studymode.com/subjects/a-describe-and-discuss-1-example-each-of-white-savior-mentality-and-deficit-thinking-that-the-white-tutors-had-when-working-with-latino-students-how-did-these-concepts-resonate-with-you-expla-page5.html