POINT TWO FINGERS, NOT ONE
I'm excited that the plans are coming together. I will be fundrasing $1 per 1 mile. Take a look at the new postcards and please, leave your definition of peace on the website.
www.peacescooter.com
What is the common denominator between those things you ask? I just tucked Audre, the P.E.A.C.E SCOOT, away after a spontaneous winter night ride through Charlottesville. I'm shivering a bit, frozen ovaries I think, typing away while dressed clumsily in about 14 layers.
I don't have the gloves on, which didn't work worth a damn anyhow in this weather, so any typos are my own sloppinesssss. The ride was nice, annoyed at first to pull Audre out-battery drained from winter weather, resisting the start. Nothing big happened my first two miles. Where was I headed? A CLAW meeting.
Charlottesville Ladies Arm Wrestling. That's right. No guns in the streets, schools, or Iraq-but at the pullin' table it's a whole other story!
Originally uploaded by Well Wisher
About 6 weeks ago, sitting in my new hairdressers chair (who happens to share the same exact Leo birthday as mine), I hear tale of ladies arm wrestling. Not just for high camp and fierce sport, but to raise money for women initiated causes. Invited to give it a go, I attended the first shop meeting at the local diner, Blue Moon.
That went well and I picked a superhero name, "Peace-A-Mia." Two days before the big event went down, yours truly fell victim to the respiratory plague terrorizing Cville. The show went on, and as I can tell from the pictures, a grand event ensued. So, you've got it by now, right?
Recap: 8 wrastlin' ladies in costume, one referee, a hot nurse, two celebrity judges, a emcee deluxe and a loser's lounge to boot. $600 raised for the Fluvana Women's Voice Project. The audience cashes in real money for CLAW cash so that they can shamelessly bribe the judges and bet on the wrastlers, or pullers. Now this is just one of the few reasons I'm proud to live in Cville. CLAW is currently reminding me that for livin in a red state, we are some kinky blue progressives.
Tonight we gathered to discuss rules and regulations for those of us who were plagued last month, pick a new charity case, drink wine, and test out the wrastlin' table. P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER grabbed a piece of action up on the table, with Tragedy Ann and Sintaur. Tragedy Ann got lucky that her soft hands distracted me, while Sintaur left hoof marks all over me. Earlier in the night we discussed the recipient of March fundraising. Community Bikes was chosen for March and Roller Derby was chosen for May. Seeing a wheel theme emerging and recognizing my own need for funding, I mentioned P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER. I must say that felt really awkward for me, but it seemed well received, if not anticipated. Hey, even $200 bones gets me about 8,000 miles down the road for this cause. I did worry that they might be thinking, "hell no," but were too polite to say anything.
Meeting adjourned and I suited back up, tucking a sexy CLAW shirt into my pocket. Starting up the scoot I was already nostalgic for the cozy atmosphere and warm fire. Once I started riding though, there seemed no good reason to turn left onto Goodman street; so I proceeded forward. Being that I already had on the 14 layers, might as well. Riding through town, taking oh so tight curves and breaking speed laws, some thoughts smacked me in the head. And it had nothing to do with slowing down.....
I'm riding for Peace, yea, because if Peace doesn't matter today, how is tomorrow worth anything? I'm also riding in honor of really conscious, dedicated souls that came before me, and those who are now working fervently-those who recognize the worlds needed change and who guard our rights. I'm riding for Peace because I think most all souls possess the ability to make the world a better place, and the best place to start is your own life. And while most Americans aren't going to attend an anti-war protest, a freaky Carnival like Shentai, or even watch a progressive documentary-they still possess the much needed voices to demand change. Heck, last night I asked the Moms if she though there were any problems in America. Her loud chortle caught me off guard. Shoot, if my Moms knows there is something wrong with our country-you better starting Acting up!
I said, "Mom, tell me two things that are wrong."
"Well, people aren't treated fairly or equally, " she says. Hmm. I expected crime to be her first answer. Or something insurance related for that matter.
"And there is just too much lying." Whoah. That shocked me. Her thoughtful answers really surprised me and I was glad to have asked.
Basically, my Moms is reiterating the sentiments of most anti-war protestors-that Bush lied and has proceeded to manipulate our Constitution to the elite's advantage and the average's demise. Our citizen's rights have been unfairly whittled away. Now, my Moms is NEVER going to a protest and unfortunately, she probably voted for Bush. BUT we found a COMMON GROUND. Navigating the common ground and embracing diversity in opinion is the FIRST step to unify the people. Unifying the People is the ONLY thing that will change our political lot right now. It is PROVEN over and over in our history that social/political change ONLY comes from the people's movements-which in turn pressures our government into action. Non-violence, non-compliance, compassion, kindness, Peace-sure all that. Putting aside frustrations with the big fish to LISTEN to the other small fish.
This is not just about Peace; I'm also acknowledging there are systematic formulas in place, socially and politically, that distract most people from identifying exactly how important their own inner revolution is. Something happens out there on the road-when I play with people, when I mow their lawn, when I listen to them, when I say define Peace for me, or when they simply recognize that I'm doing nothing but trying to make the world a more just, fun, Peaceful place. The stories I heard last year were so precious-they are inspirational, they are unique. Those stories convince me that the world is NOT the one projected onto your TV screens. So what's my cause? Peace, inner and outer Peace baby. Generating T.A.C.T among the people: Thinking, Action, Co-Creating, Teaching. This isn't just about getting us out of Iraq-it's about us preventing more war in the future. And I realized it's worth asking for donations to complete the ride.
March 11th baby, Blue Moon Diner. Bring money, bring Band-aids, these ladies are cut. Come out to support good, sexy causes and to support the Community Bikes project. Which isn't as sexy as CLAW, but it's a damn good organization that teaches people how to work on their own bicycles. Which keeps bicycles on the streets, instead of gas guzzling cages.
Gnight!
June 05, 2007, I would have been more likely to welcome a comparison to Cindy Sheehan. However, by August my opinion changed. After feeble, if any, responses from her and major Peace organizations/affiliates like Not in Our Name, ANSWER, Veterans Against the Iraq War, CODE PINK, and United for Peace and Justice, I sadly realized that those who rage against the machine often mimic it.
I have been uncomfortable with the media's comparisons of me to Cindy Sheehan. The main reason is that at the root of the comparison is a classic, blatant media tactic that ultimately suppresses insights of the Peace movement. The media, acting as puppets to their corporate bosses instead of instruments of democracy, often paint Cindy Sheehan as a contentious woman. The general public, a rather large amount of people who need to be recruited into the Peace movement, know her as an angry woman. Of course, she has a global following, and these supporters both understand and appreciate her passion, insights and eloquence. At a mainstream level, this comparison to her implies that I, too, am angry or preaching the same message. However, the focus of my Peace tour was to ask one brief, yet important question and listen to the answer- without judgement, anger or preaching. As a result of this comparison, persons hearing of P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER are likely to feel as though they automatically understand my message. And likewise, to those "counter culture," supporters of Sheehan, I simply become dismissed as someone attempting to follow in her footsteps.
How frustrating, when I saw her as a hero, but our work and impetus were completely different. I still don't even know sometimes what to call P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER, because it had so many complex messages intertwined into it. Without appropriate, thoughtful media coverage, these messages can be easily lost. It was a direct action to demonstrate that we need to put Peace on the map, that our nation needs to move forward as leaders to implement viable solutions; policy created through principles of non-violence and compassion, not conquest, death and imperialism. P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER was a direct action that acknowledged our general public are the opposite of asleep-they are awake without the necessary framework to recognize their own important role as catalysts in creating peace in everyday life. This is why, based on John Lennon's quote, "If a billion people were thinking about Peace there would be Peace in our world," I recognized a need for their empowerment-which could happen if they summoned up their personal definition of Peace. This movement is an attempt to create inner revolutions, whereas I see Cindy in her political forum as someone handling an external revolution. Which makes us quite dependent on another-for how can people rise up and be the proponents of a lasting external revolution without knowing what they are working towards? Our human liberation is beautifully, but precariously intertwined.
This immediate gut response to CNN's (and other media sources) comparison to her was also heightened by Sheehan's and other's failure to respond to the numerous emails I sent asking for help in some fashion. She was pleasant and encouraging, but responded similarly to others like Not in Our Name-"that sounds awesome, have fun, love you." Clearly, these people don't understand that 11,000 miles is a LONG way even in a car, much less on 12 inch wheels. When I set out on the road, I was driven by our urgent need for Peace, driven by my heroes, driven by a belief that Peace makers would hear and reach out. I didn't need a congenial thumbs up, I needed support. How about accepting my request to endorse or publicize the Peace ride, so that the national/global Peace family could participate and have the ability to offer resources-much needed food, fuel, housing and media coverage? This would have made P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER much more visible to the public. It is my belief that the intent of our Peace forces across the world is to stand up, be counted and help expand the message. The list servers and databases of major anti-war groups swells because the people are ready for change-and group leaders have a social responsibility. If our own counter culture media can't jump to cover stories like mine and others, we won't have any readily available sources other than the corporate media mafia. We need our leaders in the Peace movement to view our paradigm change with the principles of abundance-there are enough resources to go around. We can take care of one another-the Civil Rights Movement swelled because of its community and steadfast commitment to manage and volunteer resources to the cause. The more we splinter as a movement, segregate, judge and cling fast to sparse light the media occasionally grants us, the faster we will sputter out.
Sixty days deep into my trip preparations, I heard news that Cindy was walking from Crawford, TX to NYC, on a Journey for Humanity. The day I left on the peace ride, someone excitedly told me that there was a cross country March for Peace happening, and one week later I heard from a few people biking for Peace. My initial excitement that we would somehow all surge forward, unified in purpose, waned throughout the trip, as no meaningful responses were made to my inquiries for solidarity amongst all the groups. Imagine the ruckus we could have all made were there a concerted effort to promote the nation wide mobilizations occurring in unison. A ball was dropped by many activists this summer. It was obviously meant to be a summer of action. Just think about how strong in number and volition we could have been. When I think about the sheer number of miles clocked between all the different activists-I get chills. It's almost like these anti-war groups support the conservative agenda by their failure to promote all the direct action that happened.
I ask Cindy Sheehan and the other organizers, "Where HAVE all the Giants gone?" Cindy, you were my heroine-I thought if anyone would show me what a Giant was it would be you.Ironically, right after my trip, Sheehan posted a bulletin calling for the solidarity of Peace organizations, commenting on the fragmented, protective nature of these organizations. A few weeks later she posted a bulletin in honor of John Lennon, in which she proclaimed the importance of defining Peace. I invite her, and you, to leave your definition over on www.peacescooter.com, seeing as I agree with her, and have been using the website to host 1 billion definitions of Peace. It will be up the rest of my life, but hopefully, there will be a unified movement long before some beautiful soul leaves that one billionth definition.
Thank you for reading. The song playing right now as I conclude this is off the 2007 compilation I just put together in time for the New Year.
"I ain't gonna study War no More, I'm gonna join hands, the whole world round...ain't gonna study War no More."
I am thinking that applies just as aptly to our fractured counter culture Peace movement as it does our war mongering empire.
Peace,
Alix
p.s. If you want a copy of that 2007 compilation-its coming soon, I'm fighting with tech gadgets to make this happen-or you can cover the shipping and I will send it to you!