Hi all. I'm reposting this diary, as DFA has moved into Round 3 of their scholarship process. Will you please urge others to Democracy for America and vote for me, so that I might attend Netroots Nation 2012?
Thank you!
I've applied for Netroots Nation scholarship over at
Democracy for America. Many of you here know my story. I'm a mother who lives with a chronic illness, my husband lost his job last year and we're on the verge of losing our home.
Still, I manage to stay politically involved. I've been blogging here since 2008. Was heavily involved in liveblogging the Egyptian uprising and then helped to found the Witnessing Revolution series, which was going strong until many of us hit the ground running in the Occupy movement here.
Last year was my first year at Netroots Nation and it was so inspiring for me.
I was nervous heading out there. Would people talk to me? Would I end up sitting by myself in panel discussions and then eating my meals alone? Would I even be able to keep up? Could I rest enough and still manage to participate in any meaningful way?
I have two sisters in Minneapolis and one of them joined me for Netroots Nation. So, as nervous as I might have been, I had the comfort of her presence. She was there to both hang out with me and look out for me. It was such a gift. And now she's on DailyKos, too!
What I could not have predicted was how many people I would connect with. How much fun I would have. That I would meet international bloggers who would further my commitment to Witnessing Revolution and global solidarity. Nor that I would inadvertently show my radical activist stripes while I was there.
Mark Andersen, Jeremy Ryan, Chacounne and myself were heading to the Karaoke night when we came across a very heated encounter in the street. You all might remember the man who was harassing several women in hijab on the sidewalk. We were in no mood to put up with bullying. So, after checking in with the women, we got involved. We used peaceful means of standing up to him and eventually he was arrested.
I may have a disability and I may have limited energy and limited ability to get out onto the streets, but when I do, I simply can't stand by while someone gets bullied. I think some people around me were surprised to see the level of protective ferocity I can muster. But, there you have it. And some of my online activist friends got to witness me in action. I never would have predicted, nor wanted, those sidewalk shenanigans to go down, but since they did, I'm glad I could be there to help.
And I was honored when, later that weekend, a group of Muslim women wanted to turn this incident into something empowering for themselves and they invited me to participate in their own flashmob action. You can read about that Hijab Hijinx.
I tell these stories, not to tout myself but, to demonstrate what can happen when people come together. I had no idea I would have such profound experiences at Netroots Nation. It has made a huge difference in my sense of belonging here at DailyKos and in my confidence and commitment to my work on the ground.
Not to mention the fun! Oh my goodness, that trivia game was one of the most raucously hilarious times I've ever had! Forget who is named champion, every single person in that room was a winner. The spirit of it was intense and gripping and uproarious. Such a healthy thing to let all that laughter out together!
I'm involved in Occupy Boston now. It's challenging. I'm very sensitive to the way people treat each other. I'm particularly ardent about group energy and how individuals and minority groups can be drowned out, even with the best intentions, if we aren't vigilant and willing to proactively call out every moment. I'm not perfect, of course, and I have my own moments which need to be called out. Still, I take a lot of hits for demanding attention to right relations with one another. (I've been accused of trying to "lynch" someone for wanting to address his bad behaviors. And, no, he isn't a black man.) At the same time, I don't always know how to move us along in the right direction. Add to that my limited physical abilities and I end up feeling pretty battered along the way. Still, I'm committed to doing what I can and to supporting the work. I've come to see that the work of anti-oppression is the core of all the Occupy work. That for our nation to transform itself into a place of true justice and sustainability, we all must address the oppression of our sytems and culture, and our own ways of being oppressive.
I'm no leader in that work. I find it a place where I must take a back seat and learn from those who have been walking this ground before me. And, so, I've joined the Anti-Oppression working group and have become an Ally to the People of Color working group and am getting involved with the Decolonize for Liberation working group. I'm also part of an affinity group which focuses on small radical actions with a feminist message. We support and will work with others doing anti-oppression work, as well, such as the Queer Direct Action group.
All of this is both inspiring and wearing. I am often willfully misunderstood and am subject to very personal attacks. I've been called a "fascist". I've been accused of having multiple personalities. I've been told that I am destroying Occupy Boston. I am particularly vilified for speaking out and for blogging here. I blog my personal experiences and viewpoints and they are not always rosy. We are in a new era when it comes to documenting our lives and our world. For the first time in human history, everyone can share how they are walking through things as they unfold. Historians will, for the first time, have access to detailed information about the intimate challenges and triumphs. (And women's voices will be here!) So, it is important to capture how difficult it is to manifest change. To try to work with strangers. To find solidarity and common cause. To figure out how we actualize the visions we have. These are all part of the lessons as we move forward. In the future, people can have an idea of what kinds of things to expect. They can ponder ahead of time about ways to mitigate some of the challenges. Because, even with all the dark moments and hard feelings, change happens. Whether its the change we envision is up to us. Whether we use those moments to learn and adjust is up to us. Regardless of how we seize those moments, change will come.
I don't propose to have all the answers. I can only speak my current truth. Yet, if my current truth doesn't feel bright and optimistic - particularly if I name incidents, even without naming people - some people consider that a treason of sorts. I've heard people say that it is disloyal to bring disagreements into the public sphere. That kind of talk reminds me of a certain political party which I'm fairly certain most of us don't find appealing. Moreover, I grew up in an abusive household. Silence is the name of the oppressive game. Silence equals affirmation. No matter how much I love someone, no matter how loyal I am to a cause, I will speak out when I see hurtful dynamics. I am not abandoning anyone by doing so. I am certainly not abandoning the movement. How can it be abandoning a movement, which is supposed to be against oppression and for sustainability, to note the ways in which we duplicate oppressive systems or damage our own sustainability by destroying relationships?
Still, it's hard. But, I'm lucky to have support. I have my family. I have friends. I have my affinity group. And I have my DailyKos community. Coming here always boosts my spirits. Will you please send me to Netroots Nation so I can get the super-boost of seeing you all in person? I would be so appreciative.
Much love and thanks to you all,
Una
11:00 AM PT: Please remember to vote for JustJennifer, Priceman, and Horace Boothroyd III, also!
12:42 PM PT: Only 807 more votes to go to put me in the lead! lmao