Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g0VKeYu00963; Thu, 31 Jan 2002 15:40:34 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 15:40:34 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <200201312040.g0VKe3QZ021599@icicle.winternet.com> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Mev Miller <mev@winternet.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:1910] Fwd: state of union and more X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Status: O Content-Length: 2828 Lines: 37 well I didn't listen to the state of the union -- sorry - I just can't stand to see that man's smug face and listen to sound of his raspy voice. so i just have been listening to sound bites on Democracy Now! radio and reading/watching the voices on the left that I know and trust. someday I'll download his speech and read it too. I guess one of the things I recently learned from a learner about literacy is that it's nice to have the choice NOT to be exposed to something! anyway, I want more to comment on the last 2 contributors about "apologizing for offending." I know for me that if i worried about that, i'd never speak because just about everyhting I say is offensive to someone -- usually on the political right but just as frequently to the liberal middle. maybe we need a dialog on critical dialog as well. Part of what I have learned and come to know about being a conscious anti-opression activist is that I've had to listen to the "offensive" remarks of women of color, poor women, "illiterate" women speaking strong messages about the truths of their lives. being "upset" is how I have learned to look beyond my own assumoptions or to unravel the untruths, lies, and status quo conventions it's so easy to accept. I have been upset - and hurt - but also able to learn and grow and sort out what I've needed to know and FEEL in order to become a better ally even as I live in my daily whiteness (something i might add, I'm still (un)learning everyday!) I also know that I have been "upsetting" to people's notions about fat people, or feminism or lesbianism, or disability, or mixed class background -- I have both gained an understanding of myself and also challenged certain prejudcies. to "upset" can mean to challenge oppressive assumptions and part of engaging in critical dialog means being upsetting and upset -oh just about all the time! but still have the courage of heart and character to seek those dialogs that will help create real change perhaps we don't want to be careless or hurtful or insulting so, yes, perhaps some diplomacy in our speech and writing is necessary. but we also must have the courage to be "upsetting" -- to speak out - to rage - to speak our truths. I know for some women this takes on different levels of risk depending on who and where we are. hmmm.. now, back to Bush.... as for Bush - if he wants to know evil, he should look in his own heart and family and backyard for that! has anyone noticed how the bush connection to Enron seems to be disappearing from view -- and how he has refused to pride documents that have been subpenoed? shout out women! Mev Mev Miller WE LEARN Women Expanding € Literacy Education Action Resource Network 1483 Laurel Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104 651-646-0097 651-646-1153 (fax) welearn@litwomen.org www.litwomen.org/WLindex.html
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