Thanks for this, Starhawk. As an unfashionably-early protester against the Vietnam War, I was beset by a sense of futility for years. But there were more rewards awaiting, even more than you have described here:
In 2014, exactly 50 years after I started protesting the war, I finally came to visit Vietnam. I found the people very well-disposed toward Americans. I asked an old man (old enough to remember the war), how can people be so kind, after the terrible things our country did to yours? He said, oh, we all know that the American people were against the war. Ho Chi Minh came on the radio every night and told us about the protests he saw on TV. The American people don't support this war, he reminded us, it's just an unpopular government.
50 years later, that still pays dividends! Hold to your truth, and let the world be witness
My husband was the first person to burn his draft card after they made it a felony and spent two years in prison for it. Last year he went to Vietnam, a life long dream. And he also found the people very friendly, forgiving and welcoming! Thanks for your comment.
Best wishes for resistance organizers and participants in the U.S. from one of your cousins in Canada. We are feeling the creep of fascism up the stairs and are mobilizing to fight it.
Hi Starhawk. A nationwide protest and one peaceful loud voice saying no to tyranny is the answer. Civil disobedience. Gandhi worked wonders with it. Something has to give. This outrageous oppression of the people has to stop. Should never have happened. ICE raids. Terrorizing people simply because of having brown skin and Mexican or such last names. This isn’t the USA we see now but an alien nation. How could this have happened? But how could the Holocaust have happened? People didn’t take Mein Kampf seriously. That’s how. And this regime is following Hitler’s playbook as any student of history can see. I shudder to think what’s ahead but I don’t want to find out and nor do you friends. I join with you from Canada in one loud peaceful yet firm NO!
Bless, Starhawk. Coming together in public peaceful protest may also be working on other planes, what do you reckon? Meeting eyes, hands, voices with diverse others, to know we are not alone, we are many, we are visable. Walking to the same beat like Resmaa Menakem suggests to ground our nervous systems. Protests can fill my spirit. I know I tried something.
And even deeper, a march or rally are rituals. A marking of something significant, a prayer of speeches, chants, steps and banners. We gather round, we say our intentions, wishes, share our pains and be witnessed. We hear you. Perhaps this ritual element could be more intentional and supported by various spiritual practises and leaders to really safely open and close the field, to honour the land and various ancestors, to give thanks and offerings and to deeply listen.
I am turning towards this kind of activism, tired of the letterwriting, blockades, conversations with politicians (besides some local ones). Perhaps what we are facing of the industrial military complex + historical trauma complex, can be seen as an evil spell, a demon. (Margaret Wheatley) But like in internal family systems, this evil cannot be slayed with violence. (Charles Eisenstein) It needs to be invited for tea - there is a seat at our table - to be integrated, though for sure set boundaries and call in the support of good spirits. The Dominion society cannot be dismantled by the master's tool, by one one master's tool.
With a wink in our eyes, and safe protocol, we expand our community to include the well ancestors, the many spirits of the land, the past teachers and guides. Activism as a spell, as lifting the curse of the windigo, the hungry spirits. Like the elm dance of Joanna Macy, Cynthia Jurs earth vessels, the warriors call of druids, Jonathan Weekes and of course Starhawk...
What can we imagine into being? How can your ritual look like on the street? Who are with you?
Thank you for your work, Starhawk! Groundswells of good social justice work are happening.
We know we are in a democratic backslide. Data has shown, if we do nothing there is a 7% chance of regaining our democracy. If we learn, organize, build community and fight for justice we have a more than 51% chance of regaining our democracy. Anger, frustration and fear are scary AND they are also MOTIVATING. Alchemize fear and anger into motivation and momentum. I've been working with SURJ in a Philadelphia group- https://surj.org/about/our-story/. Feels good to have a social justice political home. And SURJ weaves together with other groups like Indivisible, Juntos https://www.vamosjuntos.org/, RECLAIM, WFP .....
You're welcome! Thank YOU for being such an amazing writer, activist and human! I love your books and your brain. I want to add an incredible resource for climate preparedness: https://www.americanresiliency.org/
Thanks for this, Starhawk. As an unfashionably-early protester against the Vietnam War, I was beset by a sense of futility for years. But there were more rewards awaiting, even more than you have described here:
In 2014, exactly 50 years after I started protesting the war, I finally came to visit Vietnam. I found the people very well-disposed toward Americans. I asked an old man (old enough to remember the war), how can people be so kind, after the terrible things our country did to yours? He said, oh, we all know that the American people were against the war. Ho Chi Minh came on the radio every night and told us about the protests he saw on TV. The American people don't support this war, he reminded us, it's just an unpopular government.
50 years later, that still pays dividends! Hold to your truth, and let the world be witness
My husband was the first person to burn his draft card after they made it a felony and spent two years in prison for it. Last year he went to Vietnam, a life long dream. And he also found the people very friendly, forgiving and welcoming! Thanks for your comment.
I love that you frame these protests as a way in. that's a great way to gather support and for supporters to gain courage.
Best wishes for resistance organizers and participants in the U.S. from one of your cousins in Canada. We are feeling the creep of fascism up the stairs and are mobilizing to fight it.
Thanks 🙏 very comprehensive. One Million Rising is also addressing ways to resist. Non cooperation. Included most of what you ve just written!
Thank you, I needed to hear this today!
Hi Starhawk. A nationwide protest and one peaceful loud voice saying no to tyranny is the answer. Civil disobedience. Gandhi worked wonders with it. Something has to give. This outrageous oppression of the people has to stop. Should never have happened. ICE raids. Terrorizing people simply because of having brown skin and Mexican or such last names. This isn’t the USA we see now but an alien nation. How could this have happened? But how could the Holocaust have happened? People didn’t take Mein Kampf seriously. That’s how. And this regime is following Hitler’s playbook as any student of history can see. I shudder to think what’s ahead but I don’t want to find out and nor do you friends. I join with you from Canada in one loud peaceful yet firm NO!
Bless, Starhawk. Coming together in public peaceful protest may also be working on other planes, what do you reckon? Meeting eyes, hands, voices with diverse others, to know we are not alone, we are many, we are visable. Walking to the same beat like Resmaa Menakem suggests to ground our nervous systems. Protests can fill my spirit. I know I tried something.
And even deeper, a march or rally are rituals. A marking of something significant, a prayer of speeches, chants, steps and banners. We gather round, we say our intentions, wishes, share our pains and be witnessed. We hear you. Perhaps this ritual element could be more intentional and supported by various spiritual practises and leaders to really safely open and close the field, to honour the land and various ancestors, to give thanks and offerings and to deeply listen.
I am turning towards this kind of activism, tired of the letterwriting, blockades, conversations with politicians (besides some local ones). Perhaps what we are facing of the industrial military complex + historical trauma complex, can be seen as an evil spell, a demon. (Margaret Wheatley) But like in internal family systems, this evil cannot be slayed with violence. (Charles Eisenstein) It needs to be invited for tea - there is a seat at our table - to be integrated, though for sure set boundaries and call in the support of good spirits. The Dominion society cannot be dismantled by the master's tool, by one one master's tool.
With a wink in our eyes, and safe protocol, we expand our community to include the well ancestors, the many spirits of the land, the past teachers and guides. Activism as a spell, as lifting the curse of the windigo, the hungry spirits. Like the elm dance of Joanna Macy, Cynthia Jurs earth vessels, the warriors call of druids, Jonathan Weekes and of course Starhawk...
What can we imagine into being? How can your ritual look like on the street? Who are with you?
må så bli
Your words help me shift to a more grounded, sustainable perspective. Patience has not been my strong virtue. But, Earth keeps showing me…
This whole post is helpful!
Thank you for your work, Starhawk! Groundswells of good social justice work are happening.
We know we are in a democratic backslide. Data has shown, if we do nothing there is a 7% chance of regaining our democracy. If we learn, organize, build community and fight for justice we have a more than 51% chance of regaining our democracy. Anger, frustration and fear are scary AND they are also MOTIVATING. Alchemize fear and anger into motivation and momentum. I've been working with SURJ in a Philadelphia group- https://surj.org/about/our-story/. Feels good to have a social justice political home. And SURJ weaves together with other groups like Indivisible, Juntos https://www.vamosjuntos.org/, RECLAIM, WFP .....
Thanks so much for all the links and resources!
You're welcome! Thank YOU for being such an amazing writer, activist and human! I love your books and your brain. I want to add an incredible resource for climate preparedness: https://www.americanresiliency.org/
The past five decades of back-to-back big peaceful protests very obviously did NOT work and now here’s you telling us ‘more of the same, please’.
no mention of the genocide of gaza?