there are stirrings of protests already being planned. the only difinitive thing i've heard so far is that there is going to be a vigil held from 11:50-12:05 at the blue structure this next wednesday.
see, though, it's not enough for me. it's not big enough. i want to see 4000 students refuse to go to class until something is done. i want to see sit-ins, strikes, massive upheaval.
at university of minnesota, the students had a huge strike about something (i don't remember what it was exactly) just last year. they refused to go to class on campus for a week (some held class at coffeeshops and bookstores off campus), and refused to purchase anything from the university (food, clothing, etc.). and they got justice. this is what needs to happen.
the problem with gvsu students is that they don't, as a rule generally care. i dont even think there are 4,000 students at grand valley who would be pissed enough about this to do anything about it.
but here's how it gets done, you get the leaders of all orgs that would be involved to meet and plan it out. if you get all the specifics organized, then people who "care" but only if they dont have to do anything will be at the protests, sit-ins, whatever. really, what i think would be awesome is to get some profs, like milt ford, dr.ott, and kathleen underwood to support this, and then as part of the protest do a big teach in/round table discussion about race, gender, sexuality, everything.
haha...thanks. i'm such a nerd for this foundational sociology stuff. and i've become such a marx fan that people (as in, professor people) are starting to make fun of me for it. if you want some good summer reading, you should try marcuse's one-dimensional man. it's difficult, but fabulous.
thanks for reminding me that marx wasn't totally opposed to religion. i guess i felt, though, that his view was considerably more negative and less hopeful than durkheim's view. i'm completely in love with durkhiem's concept of the "religion of humanity," and am holding out for christianity to come around to that to create a better society. i don't know. i'm trying really hard to hold onto hope right now.
i'm glad you're starting therapy...i hope it's good for you. please feel free to email me anytime: underconstruction78@yahoo.com
i hope all is well with you, too. hopefully we'll talk soon.
This was written by a friend of mine a couple days ago. It's not only poignant but hilarious.
I don't even really know how to respond to your post, except that it moved me.
Strangely, there were a lot of churches a few years back who were touting the ol' JC as a revolutionary. They believed strongly in love, for a change, and action. It was a good start, but I lost contact when I lost religion and I have a feeling they were suffocated out by the dominant CRCs and Baptists. But, the interest is still out there, I'm sure.
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason and intellect has intened us to forego their use." - Gallileo
It is a contanst struggle to keep faith and understanding in people that constantly challenge your hope for what the world can be. Hate stems from two locations, ignorance and fear. The people this semester who wrote that on E's door, in the living center, all of the stuff downtown, etc did not do so out of ignorance, they did it out of fear. Intrinsically they are at unrest and are crying out for attention.
I can only hope they reach a state where they are at peace. There will come a time when the crowd will rise up and let them know, undoubtly, their actions are immoral. I only hope then we can embrace them and give them the peace of advocacy.
I appreciate you, Jay, and the things you think and do. Since October, I've gradually started to feel different about this campus and the people here. I don't know if it's increasing negative energy or just my heightened awareness because I'm dating a cop and because I'm starting to open my eyes a little more, but I don't like what's happening here and in the world at large.
I admit that I'm even a little concerned about participating in the Day of Silence again this year. Last year, that day was the first time that I had ever purposely and publicly allowed others to entertain the notion that I'm queer. But this year I'm even more apprehensive because it seems there is more hate and, even worse, not enough people who stand up against it.
I can't help but hope that this uprising of intolerance is happening because the previaling winds are changing. Recently I read Trans Liberation by Leslie Feinberg, and s/he was talking about how there's always a backlash for every... forwardlash. Maybe the jerks are making themselves known
( ... )
thanks, jakki. i hope you and leslie feinberg are right. when is day of silence this year? i'd like to participate again, since i took two years off to hide; i think i'm ready to be a part of everything again.
I was actually just wondering that myself. Last year it was some time in mid-April. I do hope it's better-advertised this year. I found out about it the day before it happened and only because of a tiny flyer outside FFC.
It looks like the "official" website says it's April 26...
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be the revolution.
let's plan a protest. we need a place and a time and then to tell lots of people about it.
on a related but side note, i think doing day of silence with duct tape over our mouths would make a very poignent statement.
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see, though, it's not enough for me. it's not big enough. i want to see 4000 students refuse to go to class until something is done. i want to see sit-ins, strikes, massive upheaval.
at university of minnesota, the students had a huge strike about something (i don't remember what it was exactly) just last year. they refused to go to class on campus for a week (some held class at coffeeshops and bookstores off campus), and refused to purchase anything from the university (food, clothing, etc.). and they got justice. this is what needs to happen.
i like your idea about the duct tape.
Reply
but here's how it gets done, you get the leaders of all orgs that would be involved to meet and plan it out. if you get all the specifics organized, then people who "care" but only if they dont have to do anything will be at the protests, sit-ins, whatever. really, what i think would be awesome is to get some profs, like milt ford, dr.ott, and kathleen underwood to support this, and then as part of the protest do a big teach in/round table discussion about race, gender, sexuality, everything.
Reply
Reply
thanks for reminding me that marx wasn't totally opposed to religion. i guess i felt, though, that his view was considerably more negative and less hopeful than durkheim's view. i'm completely in love with durkhiem's concept of the "religion of humanity," and am holding out for christianity to come around to that to create a better society. i don't know. i'm trying really hard to hold onto hope right now.
i'm glad you're starting therapy...i hope it's good for you. please feel free to email me anytime: underconstruction78@yahoo.com
i hope all is well with you, too. hopefully we'll talk soon.
Reply
I don't even really know how to respond to your post, except that it moved me.
Strangely, there were a lot of churches a few years back who were touting the ol' JC as a revolutionary. They believed strongly in love, for a change, and action. It was a good start, but I lost contact when I lost religion and I have a feeling they were suffocated out by the dominant CRCs and Baptists. But, the interest is still out there, I'm sure.
Reply
if i could find one of those churches, i might actually join it. maybe there will be one in minnesota.
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Reply
It is a contanst struggle to keep faith and understanding in people that constantly challenge your hope for what the world can be. Hate stems from two locations, ignorance and fear. The people this semester who wrote that on E's door, in the living center, all of the stuff downtown, etc did not do so out of ignorance, they did it out of fear. Intrinsically they are at unrest and are crying out for attention.
I can only hope they reach a state where they are at peace. There will come a time when the crowd will rise up and let them know, undoubtly, their actions are immoral. I only hope then we can embrace them and give them the peace of advocacy.
Reply
Reply
I admit that I'm even a little concerned about participating in the Day of Silence again this year. Last year, that day was the first time that I had ever purposely and publicly allowed others to entertain the notion that I'm queer. But this year I'm even more apprehensive because it seems there is more hate and, even worse, not enough people who stand up against it.
I can't help but hope that this uprising of intolerance is happening because the previaling winds are changing. Recently I read Trans Liberation by Leslie Feinberg, and s/he was talking about how there's always a backlash for every... forwardlash. Maybe the jerks are making themselves known ( ... )
Reply
Reply
It looks like the "official" website says it's April 26...
Reply
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