Spreading the word

[Montanna]

For this past year, I have been taking a graduate course called Teaching American History. We had 3 professors, each with their own specialty (Civil War, Civil Rights, and History of Terrorism) and points of view. By points of view, I mean conservative, creative........oh I can't really label them. Suffice it to say that they had different perspectives. Having lived through the Civil Rights years (1950 on),and lived in the white Mississippi community from 2 years old to 12 years old, and the Women's Movement, Vietnam.......

Well you get the idea. All year I kept being drawn back to the idea that the actual changes in our society always come from the spread of an idea.

And I have seen it spread like this -

Amy Goodman's interview of the police officer, who was normally assigned to Martin Luther King, Jr when he visited, talked about the day he (the police officer) was in the police station and the garbage collectors for the city were protesting outside. They carried signs saying I AM A MAN. This is in the history books. What is not in the history books is this man's description of the conversation that occured inside the police station. As you would guess, most of the police were white, except for the officer giving Amy the interview and I believe he said two others. The man said it better than I can but here is what happened. Several officers were making rude comments and racist remarks (that's putting it mildly). Some other officers began expounding on the working conditions, pay and their treatment. Something like " How would you feel if you had to sling other people's garbage (the description of simy, stinky garbage oozing all over you) for hardly any pay and take peoples abuse all the time?" Everybody there changed their view of what was happening and of each other because of what was said.

Here's the point. Sorry it's taking so long. When people march or equality ride, conversations occur everywhere....... on the street corner, in grocery stores, at church, in school, at home, etc. During the movements that I have mentioned those conversations were fueled by what was learned from TV, from friends and family, from the churches, print media, etc. If you look at all of those ways we communicated you can see
our exposure was limited. If you go to a demonstration you get larger amounts of information than if you watch TV (especially if the news won't cover it or worse yet distorts what is happening). The voices that are heard by the most people are those at the microphone or on TV. Throughout history the method of communication has greatly influenced who gets to have the say about what is "right".

Ahhh! I'm almost done. Today, with this website and Soulforce, we can really make some progress toward lifting our oppression. The science is in, not an illness, not a sin. Is that how it goes? Everybody needs to hear that statement. How to spread it. For me, I'm going to have a booth at our Pride event with Soulforce literature, the website very prominent, people who support the Soulforce ideals to talk to, and possibly people to actively approach people who attend. At any rate, I don't think my community will be the same afterwards. Of course, most prominent in the success of this endeavor is God's will. I'm feeling a call and it scares me. But I have faith. It's time to ACT. Can I get an Amen!

So let's get some creative ideas going about how to do this. Mine is just one. We need some positive talk after all this intense discussion.

Blessings,
Montanna

[kara speltz]

Originally Posted by Montanna

For this past year, I have been taking a graduate course called Teaching American History. We had 3 professors, each with their own specialty (Civil War, Civil Rights, and History of Terrorism) and points of view. By points of view, I mean conservative, creative........oh I can't really label them. Suffice it to say that they had different perspectives. Having lived through the Civil Rights years (1950 on),and lived in the white Mississippi community from 2 years old to 12 years old, and the Women's Movement, Vietnam.......

Well you get the idea. All year I kept being drawn back to the idea that the actual changes in our society always come from the spread of an idea.

And I have seen it spread like this -

Amy Goodman's interview of the police officer, who was normally assigned to Martin Luther King, Jr when he visited, talked about the day he (the police officer) was in the police station and the garbage collectors for the city were protesting outside. They carried signs saying I AM A MAN. This is in the history books. What is not in the history books is this man's description of the conversation that occured inside the police station. As you would guess, most of the police were white, except for the officer giving Amy the interview and I believe he said two others. The man said it better than I can but here is what happened. Several officers were making rude comments and racist remarks (that's putting it mildly). Some other officers began expounding on the working conditions, pay and their treatment. Something like " How would you feel if you had to sling other people's garbage (the description of simy, stinky garbage oozing all over you) for hardly any pay and take peoples abuse all the time?" Everybody there changed their view of what was happening and of each other because of what was said.

Here's the point. Sorry it's taking so long. When people march or equality ride, conversations occur everywhere....... on the street corner, in grocery stores, at church, in school, at home, etc. During the movements that I have mentioned those conversations were fueled by what was learned from TV, from friends and family, from the churches, print media, etc. If you look at all of those ways we communicated you can see
our exposure was limited. If you go to a demonstration you get larger amounts of information than if you watch TV (especially if the news won't cover it or worse yet distorts what is happening). The voices that are heard by the most people are those at the microphone or on TV. Throughout history the method of communication has greatly influenced who gets to have the say about what is "right".

Ahhh! I'm almost done. Today, with this website and Soulforce, we can really make some progress toward lifting our oppression. The science is in, not an illness, not a sin. Is that how it goes? Everybody needs to hear that statement. How to spread it. For me, I'm going to have a booth at our Pride event with Soulforce literature, the website very prominent, people who support the Soulforce ideals to talk to, and possibly people to actively approach people who attend. At any rate, I don't think my community will be the same afterwards. Of course, most prominent in the success of this endeavor is God's will. I'm feeling a call and it scares me. But I have faith. It's time to ACT. Can I get an Amen!

So let's get some creative ideas going about how to do this. Mine is just one. We need some positive talk after all this intense discussion.

Blessings,
Montanna

nice going Montanna. Creative tension opportunities abound everywhere.

and here's a prayer to give us courage:

God, bless me with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial
relationships, so that You will live deep in my heart. God, bless me with
anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people and the earth so
that I will work for justice, equity and peace. God bless me with tears to
shed for those who suffer so that I will reach out my hand to comfort them
and change their pain into joy. God bless me with the foolishness to think
that I can make a difference in the world, so that I will do the things which
others say cannot be done.

[Montanna]

What a wonderful prayer! It speaks to the centeredness one needs from God and reminds one of our purpose. Can't fix the whole world. We change it one person at a time. I've been keeping up with the forums, as much as time allows. People seem weary and tired from being dogged. It's part of the reason people don't want to speak up in the first place. It takes strength and endurance. We need to return to God often so Eagles Wings will be given to us and we won't falter. What a blessing the teachings of Jesus are for us. Love is powerful and gentle. Thanks. Montanna