OnLine With Zoe

What Price Peace

I think that many people believe that peace is too expensive.  Some people think that killing leads to peace.  Some people think that might makes right.  No one I know, no one I work with, no one I share dinner with does but, clearly, some must think this as the citizens in our democracy keep electing people who do believe that the path does not have to contain any hint of the destination.  They don’t even think that the route to their spoken destination has to demonstrate their spoken fundamental goal.  They obviously believe that you can kill on the road to peace. 

I want to ask how could this be and, yet, the question is taking me to a terrible answer; more correctly, many terrible answers.  They are afraid.  They have taken revenge back from the lord.  They have built a statue and made a movie of Gandhi and thrown away his teaching that, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”  They have become glib about politics.  They have decided to not participate in the election process.  They have stepped out of the fray, as corporations rule the world and there is nothing one can do.  CRAP, IT ALMOST MAKES ME SORRY I ASKED. 

My code of ethics requires that I ask.  I wish they would ask.  ASK ME!  ASK ME!

International Peace Day

An Open Letter

I am finding this weather to be so odd.  Living near the ocean for most of my life, I am accustomed to a breeze, alas today there is none.  Lying on my bed, under the whirring ceiling fan, reading a book, my second stream of consciousness is percolating with thoughts on feminism.

It leads me to a question (not an answer) of where do we develop and transform feminism?  Where do we lift the standard, expand the range, deepen the commitment?  From 1:15 – 1:30 on an excel spreadsheet driven schedule?  How do we, the seven that fate appropriated ~ coalesce, formulate and demonstrate a feminism for 2007? 

Where is our Feminist Forum?  I am beginning to see the wisdom in campus chapters in a new light.  They are more fertile fields , though dangerous for physical safety.  I pause and wonder if leadership must come from such immediacy.  An adage arises of giving work to a busy person has a better result than looking for one with free time. 

Where is our Feminist Forum?  Do we hold a possibility to demonstrate that CANOW could be – should be – would be – designers of this Feminism 2007?  Was that the role of the founders ~ they were the women who had both the dream and the muscle to see the birth full term. 

Where is our Feminist Forum?  How do we create a CANOW that honors all as equals, pays a full and qualified staff, mines the intentions of the membership, supports the local leadership, informs the media and serves the public?

Where is our Feminist Forum? How could it occur in resolutions presented in 2 minutes with no dialog illustrating that the author’s intention was poorly written and abandon the meaning that was never clearly imparted?  How can I, age 59, work on issues that are labeled “Young Fem?”  How can I stop “white” women from working on issues of Diversity?  (Society has never considered me part of conformity)  How can I draft women to work on issues of “Veteran Feminists” when ageism is an eviscerating bigotry that, if dictated by age, results in retirement from work, politics, health and, ultimately, life? 

Where is our Feminist Forum?  I ask because I want to know.  I ask because I want one.  I ask because I wonder if CANOW is that in theory, but missing practice.  I ask because I believe WE hold the answer but lack both being asked and opportunity to consider.  How do we truly lead, as servants. 

Oh I guess I just have heat stroke.

A Powerful Sweet Treat ~ you deserve it.

This has been on heck of a week, Gay people who have any sense about them did not really relish all of the media ripping apart the orientation of Senator Craig (R Idaho).  I would venture to guess that his behavior only made many more men live in fear, freak out in the realization of how powerful, corrupt and vengeful the family values-identified world is, and get further in that closet ~ behind the wing-tips and Ferragamo neckties.  The youtube video of his I AM NOT GAY press conference has been viewed 61,487 times, as of this moment.

The second idiotic news story, that was unavoidable, was the horror of talking Barbie, showing up in the form of Miss Teen USA, South Carolina.  We did create her, you know.  She looks exactly as we told her.  Those teeth!  That skin!  And hair like spun gold.  We think she is so pretty, we have contests and runways and crowns.  Oddly, these contests are defended with a sentence or two about the expensive scholarships winners are given.  This young lady would not be able to get into a university ~ so I hope she can pass it on to her younger fat sister who is wicked smart, wearing glasses and braces, watching at home on her notebook computer and hates her own body.  This youtube video has been viewed, as of this moment, 10,658,187 times. 

But here's the deal.  We need a little balance.  And it is available.  Just like the ridiculous people who think that the internet is only porn, you and I have looked further and know better.  All we have to do is go just a tiny bit below the surface and there it is. This lovely youtube video is by a woman and about a woman.  It has been viewed 166 times.  Hey give yourself nine minutes, turn up the sound and watch the beauty.  You deserve it.  I believe that when you do, the day will be more in balance.  War won't end.  Poverty won't be eliminated.  The oppressed won't be liberated.  But we will be better at handling it all.

And please leave a nice comment.  Women bloggers and vloggers are just eviscerated with hateful comments from unbalanced people.   This vlogger will make more visual treats for us. 

I LIVE ALONE AND LOVE TO WORK ~ Mary Cassatt