Reflections

I can't breathe ~ George Floyd Resistance means " to take a stand against, oppose ".  In physics, it is a drag force (air resistance) or opposition to the current flow (electrical resitance). Effective resistance requires power. It doesn't just protest what is happening. The person pictured to the right, for example, is protesting but, standing in front of tanks, he is at the mercy of the guys driving them. Brave perhaps, but futile if they decide to run him over. Protest and resistance are both forms of opposition. But only resistance wins wars. Now it could be argued that protest is powerful in that it exerts moral pressure.  This may be so, but it has to come from within the ranks. There is no way, if men don't take a stand against the denigration of women, that women will get very far by protesting it themselves. There is no way, if bystanders don't confront bullies, that victims will be able to stop harassment. There is no way, if white fol...

More on the theme of violence and domination... with my apologies in advance to those taking issue with my sexist generalizations. I had the experience this past weekend of being with a puppy who was constantly nipping, to the point of drawing blood. It reminded me of my previous experience with a neurotic (adult) dog who, one year after his rescue and devoted maternal care from me, nipped frequently and ultimately almost bit off my nose. Two plastic surgeries and one dog later, I have often wondered why I never made a good dog mommy.  I realized over the weekend it was for the same reason that some people, especially women, get abused. We are unable to assert ourselves OVER another living being.  We coddle and resonate, nurture and coo. We do not dominate.  So we get dominated.  (That logic still does not make sense to me but that is because I live in a non-hierarchical world). What was happening with this puppy was that she (it was indeed a she ) was tryi...

I’m gonna say it: Men scapegoat women They cannot hear us when we cry, Just squawking and pecking Then feel attacked And bludgeon us like chickens With stony silence- at best At worse, words And worst- their fists So many stories in their heads Muffling our real voices And killing us It’s not their fault, Women, you need to know They’re made that way The world’s that way War goes that way It whores that way That’s just… How it is Sad. Because they’re our boys ! They have a great lack A missing-something… Compassion, lucidity, wisdom, estrogen… Emotional intelligence?? Whatever that precious silver is Lining our hearts Breaking us open like a blue sky When we are struck And hold our loved ones closer A mysterious padding around our ego That lets us turn the other cheek And look past our pain into them A gift, a huge muscle! That protects us From taking it personally Go figure gals, We’re stronger. ...