[Austin-ghetto-list] Sticking with my lowbrow art

[Jon Ford]

Carol-- you don't  EVER need to apologize for being for peace-- I'd say if 
that's your "kneejerk" response, you have very good reflexes of heart!  I 
forwarded your letter from Garrison to my son in New York, who has lately 
taken to wearing the American flag and talking tough--he liked it, helped 
him put things in perspective--me too.

Jon


>From: EarthAnjel@aol.com
>To: austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net
>Subject: [Austin-ghetto-list] Sticking with my lowbrow art
>Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 09:57:29 EDT
>
>Dear Jaxon,
>
>I am most heartily sorry if my recent posting made you feel unwelcome or
>disliked.  My posting probably was a kneejerk reaction, but my intention 
>was
>not to injure your feelings or dishonor you in any way.  It is just that I 
>am
>afraid right now and endeavoring to hold fast, with shaky knees, to the
>Highest Place within me.  I am afraid of what can happen if people rush
>toward hate and condemnation and perhaps injure innocent people or add fire
>to the flames of fear and accusation that are already burning brightly now.
>In the tiny, rural, South Louisiana village near where I live, some people
>are ostracizing a gas station and convenience store which has recently been
>purchased by some Muslims.  It seems wrong to me to judge someone like that
>before we know them.  I think I would rather give up a level of security
>before I exclude people on that basis.  I am not "religious", really.  I do
>not belong to a church.  My church is really everywhere and, especially, 
>out
>in nature.  I also validate Telebob's point of view, although it feels
>totally out of my realm, that it is necessary to respond to what happened 
>on
>September 11th -- that it is necessary to defend against attacks like this.
>I am so grateful to the people who can do that.  I am just hoping that 
>while
>they do, they look at the big picture, including ourselves as a nation, and
>that we try to do whatever we need to do from the perspective that we are a
>global community.  I sent to all of you recently an essay written by Jim
>Garrison, President of the State of the World Forum, in which he described 
>an
>interesting facet of this situation where George W. Bush, a unilateralist
>since his oath of office, is engaged in a fight with Osama bin Laden, the
>ultimate unilateralist, who was created from the alliances of George Bush,
>Sr.  And how George W. is now required to be the penultimate 
>multilateralist
>in order to successfully combat bin Laden.  I hope something Good can come
>out of this tragedy.  I don't have the answers.  I am writing this in a 
>hurry
>because the Grandmothers' Circle to which I belong is giving my two young
>granddaughters a coming of age ceremony -- a First Moontime Ceremony -- 
>this
>afternoon, and preparations remain to be done.  It feels strange to be 
>doing
>this  -- honoring the life-creating changes occurring in their young bodies
>-- when I am quivering inside, while the war drums are beating, the sabers
>rattling.  Everything seems strange and surreal.  I appreciate and honor 
>the
>men and women who are going to fight for and defend us.  My own 18 year-old
>grandson may soon be one of them, and others to come, if this war goes on
>very long.  What is wrong?  What is right?  I have so many questions and so
>few answers.  I do feel safe within our group, though, to pour out the
>anguish and confusion in my heart as I am doing right now.  And I want 
>Jaxon
>and everyone else to feel that way, too.
>
>So I am writing this email to apologize to Jaxon and any others I may have
>unintentionally offended by my kneejerk posting.
>
>Love,
>Carol
>
>I honor your gods.
>I drink from your well.
>I bring an unprotected heart to our meeting place.
>I hold no cherished outcome.
>I will not negotiate by withholding.
>I am not subject to disappointment.
>              -Druid vow of friendship


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