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Today I reflect on the heinous violence in Las Vegas and wonder how we could create a society where this won't happen. Safer gun legislation will help for sure. I'm glad people are taking action for that. But there's another angle that I don't hear as much mention of: these mass shootings are almost always done by white men.
I am concerned about what little boys are taught about being male; about the toxic nature of white supremacy for white people; about the impact of the glorification and normalization of war on us as individuals; and that white people (including me) are desensitized to our status as oppressors.
Men are encouraged to not emote, to not connect. We hear statistics about women who are sexually assaulted, but what about the number of men who sexually assault? Historically (and still), people become white by leaving behind their ethnic identities (think of the waves of Irish or Italian immigrants for example). When we lose our cultures and our connections to roots, we become less whole.
Please, let's be mindful of how we socialize white men. If you are someone who creates media, please do so through an anti-racist, feminist lens. If you are in education, do the same. Whatever way you interface with the world, it is on you, on me, on all of us, to change the way white boys and men are allowed, and even encouraged, to act. Most won't go as far as what happened on Sunday, but the 1,000 cuts endured daily by all people of color and other women and transfolk, also kills.
Whiteness + masculinity + mental illness + access to weapons = tragedy.
We have the power to slowly turn this ship toward justice. The newsletter below is full of opportunities to work with others to make real change. Whatever you do, don't do nothing.
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PJC Educational Programs and Events
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Poverty in an Unequal Economy - and what we can do about it!
Thursday, October 12, 9am-2:30pm, Main Street Landing Gallery, 60 Lake St, Burlington. Facilitated by Equity Solutions.
Main Street Landing is host sponsor. $5-$100 individuals, $100 institutions.
Register.
Friday, October 17, 4-6pm, PJC. Discussion for those 25 and under. Led by Marina Kisyova. FREE. Email [email protected] to register.
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| Center Hours
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
New Store Hours
Monday-Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 9am-4pm
Hours are subject to change. Call
(802) 863-2345 x2 to confirm.
Location
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront.
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Pick up a voucher for these shows at PJC and pay $2 cash at the door. For current PJC members and volunteers. For information on membership
click here. Come to the Peace & Justice Store to pick up your voucher. Limited supply!
Compagnie Herve Koubi,
October 8, 7pm
The all-male French-Algerian and Burkina Faso company's abstract athleticism and hip-hop sensibility ignite elements of capoeira, martial arts, and contemporary dance.
Sean Dorsey Dance
October 20, 8pm
While The Missing Generation is about the LGBTQ community, Dorsey projects his message to a broader audience as an invitation to reflect on past biases and identify lingering ones.
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Support the PJC when you shop online!
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Welcome Neighbor Lawn Signs
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The signs we carry feature the greeting in Swahili, English, and Arabic.
If you can't get to our Burlington location, you'd rather display different languages, or you want a free option, you can
click here
to print them in any one combination of 20 different languages.
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Privilege & Accountability Workshop in Shelburne
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-Ita Meno, CQ Stragies and PJC facilitator
For years, "knowledge is power" was social justice buzz language that determined what was enough to upend oppression. We know better, now. We know that "being" and "knowing" does little, if anything, to smash the dominant paradigm and undo systemic injustice. Learning can only be a beginning. Information is only a slight movement towards liberation, but more is required. What are you doing with the information? Are you engaging in dialogue? Are you pushing for the removal of laws that allow for discrimination?
If you are interested in joining a group of folks to move through questions presented in a Privilege and Accountability workshop, please register for the one in Shelburne that starts October 17.
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| From the Blog: Poverty in an Unequal Economy |
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-Angela Berkfield, Equity Solutions
Growing up poor in rural Vermont, I always knew that my family had less than some of my friends and the families on TV. I built assumptions based on my experiences and observations. The store clerk looked at me differently when I paid for my candy with food stamps-- there must be something wrong with needing Welfare. I felt a prick of envy when I overheard a schoolmate complaining about her family trip to the Caribbean-- she must not have any problems if a tropical vacation was a nuisance.
I struggled with anger and powerlessness around wealth and class until I learned about the facts of inequality in the US...
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Woodstock John Brown Day Celebration
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The John Brown Day Celebration and Anti-Racism Symposium in Woodstock honors John Brown as a man who dedicated his life to righting the moral wrong of slavery. The goal of the Symposium is to promote dialogue through listening to understand, leading to action. All three aspects of listening, understanding, and acting matter. Listening to understand the history of abolitionism and anti-abolitionism in the Upper Valley is one focus. Learning teaching and personal skills to actively and compassionately understand and undo racism and white supremacy.
In the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel: "...few are guilty, but all are responsible." Understanding how we are all responsible for listening to one another and standing up for justice to create a compassionate, just society is the purpose of this gathering.
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This is a partial listing. See more events in our public
calendar.
October 3, Tuesday
October 4, Wednesday
October 5, Thursday
- 5-6:30pm The Meaning of America: Revisiting 'Our' Origins Story in the Age of Trump, at Saint Michael's College, McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall, Colchester
October 6, Friday
October 7, Saturday
October 8, Sunday
October 9, Monday
October 10, Tuesday
October 11, Wednesday
October 12, Thursday
October 13, Friday
October 14, Saturday
October 15, Sunday
October 17, Tuesday
- 5:30-8pm Volunteer drop-in at 350VT Office, Burlington.
- 7-8:30pm Champlain Area NAACP meeting. 427A Waterman Building, UVM, Burlington.
October 18, Wednesday
- 6-8pm Center for Crime Victim Services listening forums. Bennington Free Library, Bennington.
- 6:30-8pm Coalition for a Livable City. PJC.
- 7-9pm Tournees French Film Festival: National Diploma. Cheray Science Hall 111, St Michael's College, Colchester.
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Action Highlight: Fair Trade Month!
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October is fair trade month! There are a number of things you can do to show your support of fair and ethically-sourced products:
- Sign this petition to tell Mondelez (the parent company of brands including Cadbury, Oreos, Chips Ahoy, and Toblerone) that you want their Cocoa Life Campaign to guarantee fair payment for their cocoa farmers.
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Download and print
this flier (as seen below) to let your neighbors know that you support fair trade!
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Buy fair trade chocolate for Halloween at the Peace & Justice store or elsewhere! The last thing we should be giving trick-or-treaters is chocolate made by enslaved children.
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