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

Thu Sep 13 01:24:20 UTC 2012

Thank you Scott!

On a different vein, here's part of my perspective:

Isn't Occupy supposed to be about us as individuals trying to conceptualize
the kind of society we *want* to live in, and then work to try to create
that society?

My answer is yes.

If so, then what are the qualities that we'd like to see practiced in a
better society?

I have many thoughts on this, but certainly one of them is people treating
each other with respect.

Have the discussions on this list been respectful?

My answer is not really.

Do we want people to feel comfortable posting what is important to them?

My answer is yes.

Can repeated, aggressive posting be intimidating to people and prevent them
from feeling comfortable posting what is important to them?

Yes.

Is, therefore, the repeated aggressive posting of your particular positions
with harsh critiques of anybody who might disagree an act of silencing
people?

Yes.

Is, therefore, a response that attacks people for pointing out that a
particular behavior is intimidating and silencing by claiming that this
observation is an attempt at repressing the poster's ability to speak
hypocritical?

I would argue yes: If the poster isn't aware of how suppressing their mode
of communication is, then the fact that they feel disrespected and silenced
should make them more aware of when other people feel disrespected and
silenced, and at the very least they should pay attention to the content of
what the other posters might say.

Is the act of silencing people disrespectful?

Yes.

Rachel was not calling on anybody to shut up. Rachel was annoyed by how
some members of a group claiming to be progressive was engaging in the very
kinds of behaviors and attitudes that reinforce some of the societal
practices that others in the group are trying to address through
participation in the group. So she called out this behavior. And what she
was asking is for the people who are a part of the group to pay attention
to all members of the group and how their behaviors are affecting them. In
my understanding, this kind of activity constitutes respect.

Rachel was annoyed when she wrote the email. It came across. As it should
have. When you or a group you are a part of is being disrespected, I think
it is perfectly fair to be annoyed. Hell, I'd be angry.

I send annoyed emails all too often as some people on this list can attest.
They often bother people. I have never been called a bitch, a shrew, an
ass-hole or any male variant on this. Not once. Why? I suspect because I am
a white male, and my emotion is often treated as "man'splainin". I.e.,
acceptable to white males, and intimidating to some other people.

I have been checked by people. I should probably be checked more often. I
try to check myself but I'm not very good at it. I sometimes don't respond
very well to being checked. But I try. And the people who check me I feel
are my friends. Usually, my best friends. No matter how annoyed they might
be with me. Because I am by no means a perfect human being, and I don't see
myself very well, so they help me stay in line. And put up with me despite
the mistakes I often make.

We can look at this "discussion" in any number of different ways. Here's
mine:

I want to be part of an activist community where participants fundamentally
respect each other, and treat each other with respect.

I would like people to try to be respectful by paying attention to their
own actions as much as possible. I try to do this myself. I don't always
succeed.

I don't always know when I or other people are being disrespectful, so I
assume that others may have this problem as well.

Therefore, I welcome it when people point it out to me when I am being
disrespectful, and I would like other people to welcome this as well so
that we can all learn how to be respectful together. I have a lot to learn
and can use all the help I can get.

I don't have any patience for somebody who asks for respect but has no
interest in giving it, or in trying to understand why another person might
feel disrespected.

Part of being respectful is understanding why a mailing list exists, why
people participate, and being mindful of that in their posts. It is good to
discuss this purpose if there is disagreement about it. It is not
respectful to enforce your own perspective on the list. Agreements should
be arrived at, preferably by the same consensus mechanisms adopted in
meetings of the group.

But most importantly, we should be trying to practice our conceptions of
how society as a whole can be made better by practicing the very things we
would like to have changed in society in the microcosms we are a part of,
and the very groups devoted to making those changes should be the *first*
place they are implemented. I don't believe in giving anybody a pass for
intentional disrespect, but here? No excuses, period. Before we can be
credible to others, we have to be changing ourselves.

So, to everybody on the list:

I want to be respectful of others. Please help me be that way.

Ingbert

On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 7:08 PM, Scott Kimball <scttkmbll at gmail.com> wrote:

> While I normally try to stay out of listserv battles, as a white male I
> feel the responsibility to challenge other white males when they are
> so blatantly perpetuating patriarchy and/or white supremacy. In particular,
> I cannot believe the comments directed at Rachel, one of the hardest
> working organizers in our community. The two responses to Rachel thus far
> are examples of how the patriarchy permeates our society and this listserv.
>
> First Comment:
>
> "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."
>>
>> Rachel, do you think that an individual's views can be reduced and/or
>> dismissed on account of their age, race, and/or gender?
>>
> This is example of how men feel entitled to choose the parameters of
> "acceptable discussion". Whenever a woman or person of color brings up
> issues of race or gender, a reactionary white man responds with something
> like " What does this have to do with race/gender? You're the one bringing
> up race/gender, therefore you are the one who is racist/sexist".
>
> It is not a matter of reducing one to their race, age, gender, class, etc,
> its about acknowledging privilege and how that affects one's orientation
> towards others. The term "mansplaining" is used to describe the tendency of
> men to feel entitled to "tell it like it is" to others. In other words, men
> are somehow the subject matter experts on *everything *and need to tell *
> you* "how the world really is" or "the truth" or whatever. The issue is
> not the content one's statement; *it is the presumption of authority*. This
> tendency is exacerbated by whiteness, class privilege, and education level.
> I've met way too many white dudes from upper middle class backgrounds and
> graduate degrees who want to show everyone how smart and knowledgeable they
> are.
>
> This is not to say, however, that one is bound to act in such a way. It is
> a challenge to those with privilege to reflect upon that privilege, on how
> it permeates their life, and to think about how they, as privileged members
> of society, can be an ally to oppressed communities.
>
> David, I am not trying to argue that you act in such a way. However, your
> comment was a prompt for a response and this group needs some discussion
> about white and male privilege.
>
>  Second comment:
>
> How does silly and childish compare with shrewish and bitchy on the value
> scale?
>
>
> This is such such a typical patriarchal response to a woman speaking up
> that it would be comical if it were not the case that this man actually
> lives in our community. Whenever a woman speaks up and challenges the men,
> she becomes "the bitch". It doesn't matter what she says.Her words are not
> heard. Only the challenge to male authority is heard.  Compare this to when
> a man speaks out. When a man speaks out, he is heard and his thoughts are
> acknowledged to be worthy of discussion. Men can "reason" together in
> groups. Women, however, are too emotional and, perhaps, too intellectually
> inferior to be worthy of discussion. And, again, if a woman brings up the
> claim that men are being patriarchal or misogynistic, she is berated for
> being divisive or deviating from the important discussion (you know, the
> one the men are having).
>
> I find the discussions on this listserv to be very mean spirited, and most
> importantly, disorganizing. This is not the mode of discourse folks should
> use who want to organize for economic and social justice. You cannot work
> towards building a mass movement if you can't stop being an asshole.
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 5:38 PM, Sarah Lazare <sarah.lazare at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Rachel,
>>
>> We've very much appreciated your comments on this thread. Thanks for your
>> strong feminist voice and leadership. We've often found that it's the
>> moments when we're trying the hardest and putting ourselves out there the
>> most that we face the greatest attack. I hope everyone who's had the good
>> luck to work with Rachel can find your own way of showing her your love and
>> appreciation. Here's to building a culture of liberatory, respectful debate
>> and discussion within our movements.
>>
>> In Solidarity,
>> Sarah Lazare and Brook Celeste
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 5:18 PM, Rickman, Aimee N <arickman at illinois.edu>wrote:
>>
>>>  Whoah.
>>>
>>>
>>>     **************Apologies for any random question marks my system has
>>> weirdly added to this email********************
>>>
>>>  *From:* occupycu-bounces at lists.chambana.net [
>>> occupycu-bounces at lists.chambana.net] on behalf of E. Wayne Johnson [
>>> ewj at pigsqq.org]
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 12, 2012 3:58 PM
>>> *To:* Rachel Storm
>>> *Cc:* peace-discuss at anti-war.net; David Green;
>>> occupycu at lists.chambana.net
>>> *Subject:* Re: [OccupyCU] [Peace-discuss] [sf-core] Another Guantánamo
>>> prisoner death highlights Democrats' hypocrisy
>>>
>>>       How does silly and childish compare with shrewish and bitchy on
>>> the value scale?
>>>
>>>
>>> On 9/13/2012 3:08 AM, Rachel Storm wrote:
>>>
>>> David,
>>>
>>>  I sent this email to Occupy, not Peace Discuss and your question
>>> illustrates precisely what I seek to illuminate. Listservs are designed for
>>> the people on them. Not others and the assumption isn't that they will be
>>> forwarded willy nilly to folks off of the list. I expect that from people
>>> typically, but not from people I am trying to build movements with--we can
>>> do better. I'm not going to engage with you, when you seek no understanding
>>> and only want to ignite debate. It's silly and childish.
>>>
>>>  Rachel
>>>
>>> On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 1:46 PM, David Green <davegreen84 at yahoo.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>>   "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."
>>>>
>>>>  Rachel, do you think that an individual's views can be reduced and/or
>>>> dismissed on account of their age, race, and/or gender?
>>>>
>>>>  David Green
>>>>
>>>>    *From:* C. G. Estabrook <carl at newsfromneptune.com>
>>>> *To:* Rachel Storm <rachelstrm at gmail.com>
>>>> *Cc:* peace-discuss at anti-war.net; "occupycu at lists.chambana.net" <
>>>> occupyCU at lists.chambana.net>
>>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 12, 2012 8:24 AM
>>>> *Subject:* Re: [Peace-discuss] [OccupyCU] [sf-core] Another Guantánamo
>>>> prisoner death highlights Democrats' hypocrisy
>>>>
>>>> I thought the local Occupy group supported the efforts of AWARE against
>>>> US war and racism abroad - even to participating in our demonstrations.
>>>>
>>>> That's why I posted to the "OccupyCU" list information about the
>>>> ongoing scandal of Guantanamo, which is scanted in the corporate media (as
>>>> is Manning's persecution, etc.).
>>>>
>>>> --CGE
>>>>
>>>> On Sep 12, 2012, at 12:16 AM, Rachel Storm <rachelstrm at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  _______________________________________________
>>>> Peace-discuss mailing list
>>>> Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
>>>> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace-discuss
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>  ------------------------------
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Peace-discuss mailing listPeace-discuss at lists.chambana.nethttp://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace-discuss
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OccupyCU mailing list
>>> OccupyCU at lists.chambana.net
>>> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/occupycu
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OccupyCU mailing list
>> OccupyCU at lists.chambana.net
>> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/occupycu
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Scott Kimball
> Project Organizer
> American Federation of Teachers
> Higher Education Project
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OccupyCU mailing list
> OccupyCU at lists.chambana.net
> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/occupycu
>
>

-- 
==========================================
Ingbert Schmidt
http://ingbert.org/     ||     skype/twitter/etc.: spacesoon

"Dream in a pragmatic way."
-Aldous Huxley
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/peace-discuss/attachments/20120912/5cfe152e/attachment-0001.html>