[OccupyCU] [sf-core] Another Guantánamo prisoner death highlights Democrats' hypocrisy

Wed Sep 12 05:16:45 UTC 2012

I must share this...

I've been both terribly bored and fairly annoyed at how this Occupy
listserv is being used. I am someone that cannot regularly attend Occupy
meetings and for me, it's important to be able to stay connected, but what
is Occupy here--in this communication space? What is worth occupying? There
is nothing revolutionary about conversations here. I can listen to white
men man'splain in desperate pissing contests virtually anywhere--that's
what patriarchy continues to afford me. I'm tired of having to ask men in
the movement to *check their privilege.* It shouldn't have to be asked-- I
hear men in the movement say they want revolution, but I don't see
willingness to do the work. We are failing to model what we seek. We need
more imagination than this. We can do better.

   - We can value dialogue over debate. Modeling that we're a community of
   people seeking understanding, rather than trying to get their word in
   edgewise. Those with privilege in the movement (men, white folks, etc.) can
   step back, make space, talk less/listen more. This isn't hard to do and
   makes a world of difference. (Just count the number of women, people of
   color, etc. actively engaged on these C-U activist lists or being listened
   to at meetings and you'll see how deep this problem is.)
   - We can "check each other" in an act of care. Knowing that we're not
   perfect, but we're trying and we have a responsibility to help one another
   grow where possible. We can tell those who are dominating conversation to
   step back, to ask for clarification, and to listen.
   - We can reject "occupation" as our language in solidarity with native
   peoples all over North America. We can privilege people of color and
   women's voices--knowing these voices ought to drive the movement that seeks
   decolonization and an end to marginalization.
   - We can spend more time imagining what we want, alternatives, and *raging
   where it matters!*

In the past month alone, I've witnessed a silencing conversation around the
rape allegations facing Assange that signals to me--as a woman--that the
same men that say they care about women in the movement are no where to be
found when it comes time to stand up against violence against women. I've
been to meetings where women's voices were rarely heard--and I know my
sisters had plenty to say!

I am reminded of Adrienne Rich who cautioned a white-led feminist movement,
"Without addressing the whiteness of white feminism, our movement will turn
in on itself and collapse."

There are other voices we need in this space. This local organizing will
not last unless we turn our attention to these matters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_s3X0uW9Ec&feature=player_embedded

love and rage,

RS

On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 10:30 PM, Stan Waggoner <swag901 at ymail.com> wrote:

> Brook,
>
> I am sorry for all your frustration.  One thing I can suggest is that as
> Carl tries to continually flood your email account, all we need to do is
> mark his posts "delete".  It takes little or no time to do this, and the
> good work of occupy can continue without it being turned into  whatever it
> is Carl is trying to turn it into.  Ignore him, that is the best option.
>
> Please reconsider unsubscribing.
>
> Stan
>
>    *From:* Brook Celeste Lillard <emailbrook at gmail.com>
> *To:* C. G. Estabrook <cge at shout.net>
> *Cc:* "occupycu at lists.chambana.net" <occupyCU at lists.chambana.net>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 11, 2012 9:40 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [OccupyCU] [sf-core] Another Guantánamo prisoner death
> highlights Democrats' hypocrisy
>
> I kind of hate to do this because I want to stay connected but I just
> can't take the ever-growing email commentary flood anymore. It is kind of
> like having neighbors who seem like they might be interesting but who yell
> all day and night and I just don't want to live near them anymore.
>
> I hope we can be in touch in more fruitful ways in the future, occupyCU.
> I'm off to unsubscribe!
> Brook
>
> On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 8:13 PM, C. G. Estabrook <cge at shout.net> wrote:
>
> This story is incredibly sad and infuriating in equal parts:
> http://is.gd/5PofFz  more here: http://is.gd/2vTQ7W [Glenn Greenwald]
>
> On Sep 11, 2012, at 7:40 PM, "C. G. Estabrook" <cge at shout.net> wrote:
>
> > ‎"...the system of indefinite detention from the start has been central
> to Obama's plan for these detainees. Put another way, even if Congress
> had given Obama everything he wanted, the system that means that death is
> the only way out for many detainees would have been fully preserved.
> >
> > "The excuse-making for Obama – 'oh, he tried to close the camp but
> Congress would not let him' – is simply a deceitful tactic Democrats have
> concocted to justify their total silence about a grave injustice they once
> pretended to find so appalling and their raucous swooning for a president
> who supports it.
> >
> > "There is, however, one one significant difference in this regard
> between Bush's and Obama's policies. Whereas Bush preferred to detain
> people without due process or judicial review, Obama simply kills them..."
> >
> >
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/11/guantanamo-prisoner-death-democrats
>
>
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>
>
>
>
> --
> brook celeste
> emailbrook at gmail.com
> 845-594-9065
>
>
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>
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