[OccupyCU] My Resignation From the Occupy CU Listserv

Fri Nov 16 01:10:48 UTC 2012

Wayne, that comment was totally rude of you & so well illustrates the reason why some people feel uncomfortable with the conversation at times.  Sarah poured her heart & ideas out in a constructive way & you just insulted her personally.  If you can't be more accepting of comrades then you are NOT a comrade!
Debate is fine, but personal insults & degradations are NOT and you need to learn the difference! 
Re cajones: Sarah may not have testicles, but she has plenty of cajones!  You also need to learn that testes are not required for bravery or strength and that there is much more to keeping  a group solid & positive than just those qualities, for instance having HEART is more important than the other 2 things, for if you really care for each other, solidarity & bravery naturally follows.  But bravery without heart can lead to bad things.

Sent from my iPhone
Germaine 

On Nov 15, 2012, at 6:48 PM, "E. Wayne Johnson 朱稳森"<ewj at pigsqq.org> wrote:

> Sarah,
> 
> It really seems that you do not have the cajones for this work.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 11/16/12 3:47, Sarah Lazare wrote:
>> 
>> I'm sad to say that I'd like to be removed from this list, following in the footsteps of several young, female organizers I know. I am concerned that this list is not enacting the policies and practices I want to bring into the world. 
>> 
>> To protect and build horizontal organizing, it is crucial to set guidelines and practices to ensure that our spaces of deliberation are safe for all to participate in. The absence of this will mean that people who don't want to wake up with bigoted, potentially triggering emails in their inboxes will simply be excluded from the conversation by opting out. This erodes democracy, as well as the creativity and brilliance that comes when people collectively work and think together.
>> 
>> Of course we can't and don't want to control what people say, and we will fuck up - I certainly have. However, we have to at least be trying to push back against bigotry - to identify and act on opportunities for political education and collective growth. We are being internally inconsistent if we are not trying. On this listserv, the bigoted voices are allowed to dominate unchecked. In fact, it is a hostile environment for expressing discomfort about oppressive dynamics - those who speak up are put in the same box as those who offended.
>> 
>> It is a relief to me that Jesse and others were not aware of 9-11 Truth's fascist ties. I will assume best intentions on that front. However, we are all responsible for the organizations we endorse and work with: it is our responsibility to look into an organization's politics before joining. So it is completely justified that Scott would react with outrage upon seeing a 9-11 Truth email. I would hope folks agree that outrage is an appropriate response to suggestions of cooperating with fascist front groups. 9-11 Truth has documented fascist ties, and organizations throughout the U.S. have chosen to cut off any association with them on these grounds. We're not the only ones having this conversation. 
>> 
>> The bigger issue is the pattern of bigoted statements and attacks that persist on this listserv. Expressing anger at bigotry is healthy, natural, and an important part of building accountable community: it must not be equated with bigotry itself. Instances of sexism, anti-semitism, racism, etc. do real damage: they are a big deal. Framing this in terms of why-can't-we-all-just-get-along blames those speaking out against bigotry for being "divisive" and fails to take responsibility for the political content of what's going on. As organizers we are challenged to think critically and politically. 
>> 
>> Waking up with a bigoted email in my inbox can ruin my whole day. Seeing that email go unchallenged adds to my sadness. It feels bad not to respond to emails that attack friends, comrades, strangers, or myself in an oppressive manner. It also feels bad to respond on this listserv, because it is not a supportive environment for doing so. My only choice is to leave this listserv.
>> 
>> It sounds like the conversation with Francisco and others was really great and inspiring, and it seems that a rebirth of Occupy is in the works. I'm sending wishes for community-building, growth, and success as we take on the big monsters of capitalism and injustice that we're all up against. Although this online forum is not a productive space for me to be a part of, I hold out hope that when we see each other in person, we are able to find footing rooted in solidarity, respect, and justice.
>> 
>> With Hope,
>> Sarah Lazare
>> 
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>>   
> 
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