Trump's election, and the Republican sweep of Congress have left many of us feeling stunned, sick, and powerless...but we have many sources of power available...
Thank you. I am a 72 year old disabled woman trying desperately to not just give up. Not sure how much I have left in me after decades of protesting and healing others as a massage therapist, herbalist and acupuncturist and as a writer. So I decided to start a substact page. And found yours. This was extremely helpful. I restacked it. 💜🙏
The first thing I did was set up a zoom for far flung allies to begin to talk this over and set up a local coffee meeting to talk about how this will affect our vulnerable and what resources my city has to deal with the loss of the safety net.
That meeting is at a local cafe tomorrow. I will do these zooms and local coffee meetups regularly as this unfolds. We MUST talk to each other, and carry each other as need be.
A woman from indivisible Rochester saw the coffee invite and would like me to take a leadership role in that organization.
I told her my first thought is to mitigate pain for our most vulnerable. Then to resist. Then to fight if I must by whatever means necessary. And so it is.
your words and work have guided me for over 40 years and I continue to use your work in both my popular education projects and my university courses (your chapter on power - Fierce Love - in Truth or Dare remains one of the most enduring readings I have shared with students and activists these several decades past). Being a Canadian living in Canada, i have a slight remove from the what you all are going through in the US - but only slight on account of how many beloved friends (and some family) that live there and, of course, because of the global import of this moment and what we can expect to have to confront in the coming years. My shock is perhaps lessened by my distance but also perhaps because I was shocked the first time Trump was elected and then all-the-moreso when, though his lost, almost 75 million people voted for that loathsome pumpkin. If i despair for a moment, then i remember you and your work and the incredible activists that populate your country and I am heartened. I have been fortunate these past few years to be able to critically reflect on my 45 years of popular education work (which included a workshop retreat with you that Rosemary Sullivan organized in the mid-80s). Doing a PhD now, I am pursuing a few projects, one of which is organizing an archive of Canadian popular education and another which is developing popular education processes to respond to the growing authoritarianism around the world (and Canada is no exception). Your work continues to inspire. And my heart (and fierce fighting will) goes out to all of you in these demoralizing political times.
I often think of the line from that great Canadian poet Leonard Cohen about America: "the cradle of the best and the worst!" That's us. I am lucky to spend some time every year teaching in Canada--it's a bit of a sanity break, although I know you also have your problems!
indeed, Leonard's words describe exactly my experience of that mighty experiment in democracy - so many flaws, so many wonders. I certainly hope that Canada can continue to be a place of "sanity breaks" for you and others <3
Maybe give yourself some time. There will come a time when we need to reach out to those folks, but right now it might be more important to protect yourself in ways that don't sever the relationships. Think of them as someone captured by a cult--as they are! The consequences of their choice will become evident, and that might be the time when they'll need support and be more open to hearing your perspective.
I think family may be the hardest... as a professional facilitator, I find it much easier to be reasonably friendly with folks who I don't know well, who have different political views than mine. I can be curious and open-minded... Yet with family, it feels so much harder! I imagine many of us are having similar experiences....
I feel lucky that my family are all progressives--although some of my cousins are PEPs, Progressive on Everything but Palestine. I've at times been able to talk with them, but at other times, had to just let the subject go. It is easier to be neutral and forgiving with people that you don't have a lifetime of dynamics with!
Your writing changed my life when I was a college student. Now my own kids are in college—all three of them are queer and trans. I am so scared for those I love, and I keep thinking of your words in Dreaming the Dark: where there’s fear, there’s power.
Starhawk, you are the most hopeful, positive person I have heard comment on the election. I have a heart for immigrants; all my grandparents were immigrants, and I hope to act to protect and defend and support immigrants so they can stay in the country of their choice.
Mine, too, were immigrants--and it's one of the most disheartening aspects of all of this that the very people who despise immigrants are pretty much all descendents of immigrants. I mean, there may be some Native American MAGA folks, but very few!
Thank you! All of this resonates so strongly, and have been a fan of your writing for years.
I'm so curious to learn more about this part: "In my neighborhood, we’ve formed volunteer groups to manage our forests to reduce wildfire danger, for example."
I joined my local fire dept this year as a volunteer firefighter, and learning from our veteran firefighters, I've been trying to better understand how we can mitigate wildfire aside from the more standard modern protocols such as firebreaks and controlled burns. I would love to learn from you and your group on how you have collectively worked to manage your forests with an eco-centric approach, as I would love to create a similar group in my neck of the woods.
Thank you. I am a 72 year old disabled woman trying desperately to not just give up. Not sure how much I have left in me after decades of protesting and healing others as a massage therapist, herbalist and acupuncturist and as a writer. So I decided to start a substact page. And found yours. This was extremely helpful. I restacked it. 💜🙏
As another bedbound disabled person, we also need our advocates! Our abled allies who won't leave us when things get dire.
Like you, I now do my advocacy work online, from bed so that we don't remain invisible and forgotten.
The first thing I did was set up a zoom for far flung allies to begin to talk this over and set up a local coffee meeting to talk about how this will affect our vulnerable and what resources my city has to deal with the loss of the safety net.
That meeting is at a local cafe tomorrow. I will do these zooms and local coffee meetups regularly as this unfolds. We MUST talk to each other, and carry each other as need be.
A woman from indivisible Rochester saw the coffee invite and would like me to take a leadership role in that organization.
I told her my first thought is to mitigate pain for our most vulnerable. Then to resist. Then to fight if I must by whatever means necessary. And so it is.
Also, thank you Starhawk for this. I think I wrote you on the dreadful Wednesday morning asking for guidance as a leader. This is it.
Yeah, well it took me a moment to get over my own shock and horror! So glad to hear what you're doing!
your words and work have guided me for over 40 years and I continue to use your work in both my popular education projects and my university courses (your chapter on power - Fierce Love - in Truth or Dare remains one of the most enduring readings I have shared with students and activists these several decades past). Being a Canadian living in Canada, i have a slight remove from the what you all are going through in the US - but only slight on account of how many beloved friends (and some family) that live there and, of course, because of the global import of this moment and what we can expect to have to confront in the coming years. My shock is perhaps lessened by my distance but also perhaps because I was shocked the first time Trump was elected and then all-the-moreso when, though his lost, almost 75 million people voted for that loathsome pumpkin. If i despair for a moment, then i remember you and your work and the incredible activists that populate your country and I am heartened. I have been fortunate these past few years to be able to critically reflect on my 45 years of popular education work (which included a workshop retreat with you that Rosemary Sullivan organized in the mid-80s). Doing a PhD now, I am pursuing a few projects, one of which is organizing an archive of Canadian popular education and another which is developing popular education processes to respond to the growing authoritarianism around the world (and Canada is no exception). Your work continues to inspire. And my heart (and fierce fighting will) goes out to all of you in these demoralizing political times.
I often think of the line from that great Canadian poet Leonard Cohen about America: "the cradle of the best and the worst!" That's us. I am lucky to spend some time every year teaching in Canada--it's a bit of a sanity break, although I know you also have your problems!
indeed, Leonard's words describe exactly my experience of that mighty experiment in democracy - so many flaws, so many wonders. I certainly hope that Canada can continue to be a place of "sanity breaks" for you and others <3
You gave me renewed hope! Thank you, thank you! But I don’t feel the least bit friendly to family and friends who are Maga. What to do……
Maybe give yourself some time. There will come a time when we need to reach out to those folks, but right now it might be more important to protect yourself in ways that don't sever the relationships. Think of them as someone captured by a cult--as they are! The consequences of their choice will become evident, and that might be the time when they'll need support and be more open to hearing your perspective.
I think family may be the hardest... as a professional facilitator, I find it much easier to be reasonably friendly with folks who I don't know well, who have different political views than mine. I can be curious and open-minded... Yet with family, it feels so much harder! I imagine many of us are having similar experiences....
I feel lucky that my family are all progressives--although some of my cousins are PEPs, Progressive on Everything but Palestine. I've at times been able to talk with them, but at other times, had to just let the subject go. It is easier to be neutral and forgiving with people that you don't have a lifetime of dynamics with!
@karen beger in case you are interested, the Braver Angels organization is specifically offering workshops on this topic... most of them are free. https://braverangels.org/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=3795
Love them, we're all about love.
Your reliable, well rooted wisdom continues to be one of my most helpful resources! Thank you!
I appreciate your pointing out how some conservatives are supporting things we progressives are supporting.
Your wisdom about forms of power from Truth or Dare has guided me for decades. It’s essential now!
You are one of my reliable and much beloved sources of wisdom, and you wouldn’t know that because I haven’t told you. Thank you.
I will be continuing all of these things (with breaks and joy and creativity, which are also included in the list of things—thank you!)
“Do not comply in advance,” seems to be the mantra I need for myself, and to remind my sphere of influence.
Your writing changed my life when I was a college student. Now my own kids are in college—all three of them are queer and trans. I am so scared for those I love, and I keep thinking of your words in Dreaming the Dark: where there’s fear, there’s power.
Starhawk, you are the most hopeful, positive person I have heard comment on the election. I have a heart for immigrants; all my grandparents were immigrants, and I hope to act to protect and defend and support immigrants so they can stay in the country of their choice.
Mine, too, were immigrants--and it's one of the most disheartening aspects of all of this that the very people who despise immigrants are pretty much all descendents of immigrants. I mean, there may be some Native American MAGA folks, but very few!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I will share it further. ☮️➕💜
Thank you! All of this resonates so strongly, and have been a fan of your writing for years.
I'm so curious to learn more about this part: "In my neighborhood, we’ve formed volunteer groups to manage our forests to reduce wildfire danger, for example."
I joined my local fire dept this year as a volunteer firefighter, and learning from our veteran firefighters, I've been trying to better understand how we can mitigate wildfire aside from the more standard modern protocols such as firebreaks and controlled burns. I would love to learn from you and your group on how you have collectively worked to manage your forests with an eco-centric approach, as I would love to create a similar group in my neck of the woods.