Hello friends and neighbors.
Im sick of hating on my hometown.
I spent the last two days tucked away in a little paradise--Who knew that radical, active, creative communities can exist anywhere, even in the heart of Mennonite country, a town where there still are horse-drawn buggy hitches in front of the stores?
It was very inspiring to me, and it made me think: So many of my friends have fled for the coasts, looking for a new start in a location more tolerant of dirty subversive kids, but in the meantime, theyre ignoring their own communities. Which, more than anywhere else, are in dire need of diversity.
Why go to D.C. or Seattle? There are lots of activist kids there already, natives and recent transplants organizing and doing their thing. Instead of turning our backs on our hometowns, maybe we should roll up our sleeves and stick around, stubbornly and visibly. Supportive, effective communities can spring up ANYWHERE. I saw that this weekend.
We can make things better for our little sisters and brothers.
Especially here in the Midwest, the heart of Bible country, racism and sexism and all the great isms of our day often run rampant and unchecked, but a few organized, defiant voices can have a great impact.
I guess Im not ready to give up on this place just yet.
Just a few days ago, for example, we were at a family gathering thing, and as always, I was relegated to the kid's table. This is okay by me. I'm sort of a dork amongst my elders, but I am like the KING of the kids. So, we're just goofing off and my eight-year-old nephew starts asking questions of everyone at the table like: "What's your favorite food?" and "What are you really afraid of?" and stuff, and eventually it's "What would you do with a million dollars?" and "What would you do with a million houses?" (Weird question, weird kid). So another nephew, six years old, says, "I would give half the houses to the rich and half the houses to the poor, and then I'd blow up the rich people's houses so they won't take the poor people's money anymore." I could have wept with pride. Not that I'm condoning violence, of course, but this kid is young and impressionable. I imagine I should stick around at least long enough to help this kid grow into the thoughtful, fierce anarchist he is destined to become.
Im sick of hating on my hometown.
I spent the last two days tucked away in a little paradise--Who knew that radical, active, creative communities can exist anywhere, even in the heart of Mennonite country, a town where there still are horse-drawn buggy hitches in front of the stores?
It was very inspiring to me, and it made me think: So many of my friends have fled for the coasts, looking for a new start in a location more tolerant of dirty subversive kids, but in the meantime, theyre ignoring their own communities. Which, more than anywhere else, are in dire need of diversity.
Why go to D.C. or Seattle? There are lots of activist kids there already, natives and recent transplants organizing and doing their thing. Instead of turning our backs on our hometowns, maybe we should roll up our sleeves and stick around, stubbornly and visibly. Supportive, effective communities can spring up ANYWHERE. I saw that this weekend.
We can make things better for our little sisters and brothers.
Especially here in the Midwest, the heart of Bible country, racism and sexism and all the great isms of our day often run rampant and unchecked, but a few organized, defiant voices can have a great impact.
I guess Im not ready to give up on this place just yet.
Just a few days ago, for example, we were at a family gathering thing, and as always, I was relegated to the kid's table. This is okay by me. I'm sort of a dork amongst my elders, but I am like the KING of the kids. So, we're just goofing off and my eight-year-old nephew starts asking questions of everyone at the table like: "What's your favorite food?" and "What are you really afraid of?" and stuff, and eventually it's "What would you do with a million dollars?" and "What would you do with a million houses?" (Weird question, weird kid). So another nephew, six years old, says, "I would give half the houses to the rich and half the houses to the poor, and then I'd blow up the rich people's houses so they won't take the poor people's money anymore." I could have wept with pride. Not that I'm condoning violence, of course, but this kid is young and impressionable. I imagine I should stick around at least long enough to help this kid grow into the thoughtful, fierce anarchist he is destined to become.
chiquita:
you have an excellent and refreshing attitude, lady. bring 'em down. raise 'em up. you rock.