I went to a zine launch last night at a bar named Toc Toc. It's zine as in magazine. Jay's friends put together a magazine every few months and it is full of political poetry and writings. Kristy, Jays girlfriend, had written a piece called Why Your Cleavage Hurts God’s feelings (or: Stop Telling Us What To Wear). The article is about clothing and women, it’s about consumerism and religion, about the mixed messages society sends us by telling us that we need to look a certain way to be considered sexy or acceptable and then in the same breath we are told not to dress certain ways because it is degrading or unattractive. We have companies advertising asking us to purchase their goods and then we have religious and other groups in society telling us not to buy those same things. I’m going to quote the conclusion of her piece because I really believe in what she says here. “Your body is not a secret, and immodesty is not a sin. Likewise, your body is not a disposable commodity for consumption and gratification. If you want to dress sexy, or you want to dress frumpy, just think about who you’re dressing for. Wear what you fucking please, and demand that you’re valued in light of it.”
I'm going to see about getting that reading of hers posted on this site.
So, last night was an exploration of the artistic and political realms. It was a meeting of the minds. It was enlightening. I am enlightened. Poets and writers got up on stage and shared their work and ideas with eachother all night. There were some short films and a live band too. It really got me to thinking actually. It first got me thinking and then it got me writing. The speaker who pushed me over the edge and actually was the reason I picked up my pen and journal last night was a guy who went to jail in 2001 because he was protesting in Quebec. He recently was in jail for a week because of the same reason. His name is Cam and he is passionate and wonderful! He is standing up for things like peace, environmental issues, putting an end to senseless waste and usage of our natural resources and lack of community. Anyways, next Saturday he is having a fundraiser for himself to help pay his legal fees. Cam says there is one small thing that is stopping this revolution that so badly needs to happen from happening and that is that we aren’t meeting together and talking.
I’m now going to quote my journal. This is what I was writing as the poets took their stand and read their work.
“He says, I don’t know how revolutions get started, but a revolution needs to happen and it needs to happen now.
Sat- Fundraiser to raise $ for him to pay his legal fees.
Rob from audience calls out- “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
Mother nature has breast cancer, what are you going to do about it?! – The two on stage yell out at the end of their lyrical, instrumental song.
I’m so glad I didn’t stay home, watch a movie and go to bed tonight. Very happy.
Amazing- Chains and random people film. Classical music. Clockwork Orangy kind of feel to it. Really fucked up in a very unique and cool way.
Corporate downsizing in every department.
Should I be worried? Suddenly I am very scared for the future and what it holds for myself, never mind my grandchildren.
Film ends.
Lights on (dim). Music gets turned on. I sit on a couch with my feet resting on the stage.
Amazing poets here tonight. The world that I know thinks that those in my current surroundings are outcasts, but it is those who cast us aside that need to open their eyes!
Our cause, our ideas, are a truth. More precisely it is the truth.
Truth- what is truth?
Truth is that war kills people, war wrecks souls and it ruins and is ruining mankind.
The truth is that not so many Sundays ago I went walking outside for 3 hours under the starry sky. The temp was plus 11 degrees celcius in the middle of February. The truth is our ice caps are melting and our lungs are filling with poison.
Our forests are disappearing, so we can build roads leading to oil drilling rigs that have a football field sized clearing around these rigs.
The oil from the rig that just took my trees away is used to fuel the heavy duty equipment used to clear those trees and drill that oil.
I’m starting to see how complex this problem is going to be to solve. It is so much easier to turn a blind eye then go up against the world.
Buy a car, for cheap. How cheap? Real cheap. It burns oil though, but other than that she runs great!
Fuel my tank, and yours and yours…
Sell my car? But I like my car. I depend on my car.
Bus? Trains? Maybe in Montreal, but you can’t live that way in Edmonton, the closest Walmart is so far.
Forget about Walmart!
Go to TomBoy for groceries and Hank’s Hardware store for tools and supplies, go to Dollar Drugs for your medication,
Ah ha! Remember Johnny when I told you about having an “ah ha” moment? Well I just had one of those moments, however the context is different.
This time my moment of clarity is, “ah ha! The poets were and are right! Mother nature does have breast cancer. What am I going to do about it?”
Well I will start here- I’ll start with my diary, my blog site, my circle of friends. Raise awareness!
I’ve been aware for a long time. I recycle. I compost (when I’m at the lake and here in Montreal). Mom, you go to start a compost, it’s really easy.
I quit smoking.
Isn’t that enough?
Answer- no, I don’t think that is enough.
Consumer? Consume me.
Save a tree.
I see a guy wearing a t-shirt with a picture of an ocean liner that has had an oil spill and all around it is oil and dead sea life floating belly up in this mess.
Who could have done such a thing? Who spilt the oil? Don’t cry over spilt oil? Cry? We should be wailing!!
Who is responsible? If not you then who? An accident you say?
Rob Virgil once told his daughter Stacy (my dear and wonderful friend), that all accidents are preventable.
Now you think about that. All accidents are preventable.
I’ll buy that for a dollar… oh… it’s two dollars now? Ah ha, inflation! Of course! How silly of me.
For the record, Jay is a larger part of this whole scene than I ever understood or imagined. Seeing how involved and instrumental Jay is with these causes and these people makes me very proud to be introduced into this circle as his sister. I get immediate respect from these people through association, which essentially is through a blood line. They hear I am Jason’s relative and their eyes literally light up! They’re always pleased to meet me when I introduce myself but as soon as Jay enters the picture their demeanor changes. Personally I find it very amusing to watch the expressions on their faces change.
Who is Jay to them? They need him. Jay is producer, director, workshop teacher, primary helper and go to guy, actor, writer, editor, DJ, creator, camera-man, sound guy, photographer, protester, friend, informer, inspirer, brilliant!!”
End of entry.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Just finished reading your blog.
>It is a very sad state that we find ourselves in (humanity).
We take and we take with no thought of the consequences for our future generations. Most of us live in the here and now and only care about our tiny little cirlce of existence forgetting that we are part of the whole and as such can make changes that count, good or bad.
>We have to take responsiblity for ourselves and our world, some
>people do it by composting and turning off the lights,turning down the heat, saving the flush for the "Big Job", by not being ridiculous consumers and throw outers, and willy nilly users of our great planets resources.
>But then there are people like you met that are trying desperately to open everyone else's eyes to our plight. The ones who know that it is imperative that we all start making drastic changes right now because as it is we are so far behind the eight ball that it will
>take a miracle to turn our planet around. But thank God miracles
>happen. The Earth is a miracle and all the people who are
>sticking up and speaking out for it are miracles. Way to be part of the miracle!!!!
>Each one of us can make a difference of that there is no doubt.
>Love you
>Connie
Hey there Ames. Have you ever listened to a band called "A Perfect Circle?" You should.
www.aperfectcircle.com My fave song is "Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm Of the War Drums" Wicked tune. Lyrics below. Don't fret precious I'm here, step away from the window
Go back to sleep
Safe from pain and truth and choice and other poison devils,
See, they don't give a f**k about you, like I do.
Count the bodies like sheep
Count the bodies like sheep
Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Count the bodies like sheep
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
Go back to sleep
Go to sleep [x14]
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums [x2]
I?ll be the one to protect you from your enemies and all your
demons
I'll be the one to protect you from a will to survive and a
voice of reason
I'll be the one to protect you from your enemies and your
choices son
They're one in the same, I must isolate you?
Isolate and save you from yourself ?
More later
That was me, Dan from the old work you just left btw...
Tomboy rocks, Hank's hardware rules. I remember When Eagle opened up on St Albert Trail back in 1992 or so, I asked Hank if he was scared. All he said was no, I know my customers by name and the know me. I am not worried at all. hank is still there and Eagle Hardware is Gonzo...D.M. ext 2377
Hey D.M.! Nice song dude. I'm going to try and find it so I can listen to it. I like the last line-
"Isolate and save you from yourself"... Isn't that the truth. It is us who are harming ourselves, and then we complain about it!
I guess the upsetting thing is when you are a person who does recycle, or who doesn't let the water run for minutes to get your glass of water just the perfect coolness. If you're the guy who doesn't take 20 minute, but rather 5 minute showers. Here you are sacrificing for the better of the earth and the people, and you have these others who really don't give a shit, or their too lazy to care. It makes your sacrifice feel hopeless sometimes... but one by one we can change people and enlighten them.
And yes, I love Hank! He's great! My mom and him are pretty good friends. And Dan at Dollar Drugs too! The small businesses have prevailed in my neighbourhood so far, but I wonder what will happen when the old neighbourhood dies or moves away and the new comers enter the picture? I hope they will continue to support our local business in Wellington.
Post a Comment