Remembering Adrienne Rich

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Peggy L Chinn

During the days and weeks following the death of someone who is important, I find myself wishing I had given more attention to who they were before this happened, and devoting time now to remembering.  For me this is a reminder to pay attention to how I spend my days and hours now with those I cherish most. But in thinking about the many writers and artists who I do not know personally, but who have influenced my life in such significant ways, I am again reminded of the importance of our choices in relation to what we read, Adrienne Richwhat we view on television and film, and who we honor in our conversations.  I cannot say that I have read everything that Adrienne Rich has written, and I certainly did not know her personally.  But her death is a huge loss not only for me personally, but for the world.  Her book “Of Woman Born” became a centerpiece informing not only how I view the world, but also who I became as a feminist scholar.  Her poetry is beyond comparison in its depth, richness, clarity of conviction. I have returned over and over again to her essays – particularly one title “Claiming an Education,” reprinted in the Collection of her prose “On Lies, Secrets and Silence.” (of which I have an autographed copy!).  I have tucked in her book a little pamphlet that bears the title “Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying” which is a collection of many of her quotes.  Among these is the line “Lying is done with words, but also with silence.”

The video that I am including here is a wonderful reminder of the honesty and integrity with which Adrienne Rich lived her life … and with which she wrote.  It is well worth the time you will spend watching it.  It was posted today on “Democracy Now.” It includes Amy Goodman’s interview with Alice Walker and with Francis Goldin, and also a clip of Adrienne Rich reading her poem “What Kinds of Times are These.”  I hope you will take the time now to join me in paying tribute to the memory of the incomparable Adrienne Rich.

Adrienne Rich (1929-2012): Alice Walker & Frances Goldin on the Life of the Legendary Poet & Activist.

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To the lawmakers

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Peggy L Chinn

I have recently discovered an amazing performance poet, Lauren Zuniga.  Her video, which I have embedded here, is powerful and amazing, and expresses in just a few minutes what many have attempted to convey for a number of years.  Take a few minutes to watch it, then continue with my comments below.

I also spent some time reading through some of the comments posted on YouTube, which, as one might expect, reflect the extremes that dominate our public discourse.  And, like much of the extreme reactions to this issue, completely miss the mark in terms of the complexity that is reflected in Lauren’s work.  First of all, most of the comments focus on the “rape” part of the poem, and like the well-intended lawmakers who have attempted to provide some measure of autonomy for women, assume that only in the case of rape should women be “allowed” to select abortion.  But this poem, to me, is not simply about abortion, rape, or even the very important issue of women’s freedom to control our own bodies, our own destinies.  It is also about the madness of a society that cannot quite seem to recognize blatant inconsistencies and contradictions from one moment to another – a social order that claims to value “life” for a barely fertilized zygote, and then shamelessly pass laws that allow, even encourage, more killing, that imprison large numbers of people, particularly women and children in lives of abject poverty.  This, to me, is the powerful message embedded in this poem – a poem that focuses on probably the most blatant example of this insanity that prevails in our politics today.

But there is a hopeful note rising to the surface, thanks in large part to the totally absurd political circus going on in the United States, and to the fact that there are so many media outlets that bring the circus into more and more spaces, both public and private.  When politicians engage in blatant contradictions that are contrived to simply serve the purpose of the moment, we have video and audio recordings that document the insanity of their words, and, most important, outlets that show their contradictions side by side.  It is not necessary to label, to try to explain, or to spin what is right in front of us. It is there, plain as day, for all to see.  We can see for ourselves what our all-too-limited memories obliterate from consciousness.  The fact that so many people do have access to see this evidence is because of the rising stars in the pundit world, and this quiet, calm and totally peaceful “uprising” is growing.  It is an uprising that opens a window of awareness, revealing in plain sight the absurdity that prevails in the snippets of today’s news that otherwise would ignore the absurdity of what was highlighted in yesterday’s news.

I am not naive enough to believe that because of this growing “alternative’ media, all is going to be well … to the contrary I am fearful for the future, which could well be dominated by even more insanity than that happening in our 2012 era.  But I do believe there is cause to be cautiously optimistic, and that there is reason to join the uprising in any way we can – which, for me, includes posting this blog!  So stay tuned .. I plan to bring another of Lauren’s performances to this blog soon … one that addresses folks like me, who are tempted to run and hide instead of facing the situation and being part of the solution!

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What did you learn in school today?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Peggy L Chinn

Sophie and Elodie "panning" for gold in California Gold Country

Recently Karen and I had dinner with my son Kelleth and his daughters, Elodie barely turned 6, and Sophie almost 8. I love these occasions (as I suspect most grandmothers might!). Like almost any other such occasion, this one resulted in yet another wonderful Sophie/Elodie story. Shortly after we ordered, I asked the predictable mundane question – what did you learn in school today? Elodie immediately piped up “we learned about activists!” Since most of the adults at the table were a bit shocked to hear this from a kindergarten scholar, someone asked “so what is an activist?” None of us remember her exact answer since we had not exactly recovered from our shock, but we all recognized her response as exactly accurate. Then, both girls proceeded to give us a recitation of activists with whom they now had considerable familiarity … Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez and a number of others who clearly matched any definition of the term. Personally I was very gratified that there were a significant number of women on their list!

Of course we live in a recognized liberal community, where contemporary “occupy” activism is a daily fact of life in our community. And, it was after all not long after Black History month.  Nevertheless, what the girls were actually learning was clearly far deeper and more important than the surface ability to recite names and tell about the accomplishments of important activists in U.S. history.  They clearly had learned that activism is something to be admired – that those who venture into the realm of working against injustice are to be honored and what they accomplished is something to be cherished. Certainly, this lesson is not one that I learned as a child, not even as a young high school or college student.

I am not naive enough to believe that all school children are acquiring this understanding.  There is ample evidence that in our current divided political and cultural U.S. society, I suspect that many youngsters are learning quite a different kind of “fact” as well as opposing attitudes – that indeed many children are not exposed to even the limited scope of education that characterized by own 1950-60 K-12 education. So when I move beyond my joy and delight with the experience of the children in my own world, the reality that comes into sharp focus remains the central importance of the state of education.  The fact that there are instances of remarkable advances beyond anything I ever experienced, gives reason for great hope.  But the fact that the U.S. now lags far beyond many other countries in education, behind many countries consider far less advantaged, is an ominous signal that we have a long mountain to climb.  We do not need to be “first” in terms of competition … but we do need to pay close attention to the gross inequities in our system, and the great divide in our political and economic systems that are reflected in our education systems, with grave implications. So, the single most important “activist” role that any of us can take, I believe, is some action, great or small, to influence what the children of our communities learn in school today.

 

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It Gets Better

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Peggy L Chinn

 The "It Gets Better" project started with a YouTube video created in 2010 by Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller, because of their concern for the increased incidence of suicides among young LGBTQ youth, and bullying of LGBTQ kids in school.  The project has grown by leaps and bounds, and if you poke around on YouTube you will find many many wonderful videos by folks from all walks of life.  One the recent ones to me is particularly notable, partly because it comes from a place that many would assume is most unlikely - a police department.  Yes it is the San Francisco police department, but still, being in law enforcement anywhere is not typically the most LGBTQ-friendly place to be.  Regardless of your own identity, this is an urgent issue if we hope for a better future for kids everywhere.  Here is the SFPD video ... take a few moments to look see it, and explore others either on the project web site, or YouTube, or both!  

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Dream of a Healing House

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Peggy L Chinn

Many years ago I wrote an article that focused connections between on feminist thought and nursing.  The article opened with a “dream of a healing house” that continues draw commentary and response from folks all over the world.  So I recently requested permission to “re-print” the dream here.  The dream was inspired by the actual experience of being in a dreadful hospital with a first-rate reputation for medical intervention, advocating for my partner at the time, Charlene Eldridge (Charlene died of complications from lupus in 1993).  Together we conjured up this dream wishing that her experience could have been much closer to what we dreamed might happen.  Today, I might change just a few of the details about what might happen in the dream, but sadly, the realities that I still witness in hospitals is all too close to the stark reality of waking up from this dream.  Still, the “dream” has in fact inspired major changes in a few scattered locations throughout the world and still inspires possibilities that I keep hoping might come to pass – even in small doses!  I hope it will inspire you to move in this direction, whether you are a nurse, other provider, an advocate for someone else, or even a patient asking for a different kind of experience in your healing process!

Dream of a Healing House

I dreamed that I entered a place called a Healing House.  I had to go to this house because my body was not functioning properly, and the people there could help me.  I felt weak, uncertain, and scared.  When I entered this place, where I had never been before, I did not know what to expect. The place was quiet, and there was a welcoming sense that began to calm my fears.  The people there expected me and showed me quickly to a room where I was to live for the next several days.

 

My room was not large, but it was ample enough to accommodate a comfortable bed, a sofa, and a couple of chairs and small tables.  There were carefully tended flowers blooming in the planter outside the window.  A woman came in and introduced herself as my nurse.  We sat on the sofa together to review what had brought me here and how I thought they could assist me.  She wanted to know about the four people who would be there for me and when each would be arriving for their introduction to my healing process.  She told me that she or another of my nurses would spend time with them, and together we would all make decisions about what to do next.

 

One of the first things she did was to help me relax physically and mentally.  I laid on the bed as she stroked my body, coaxing me through visual images of strength, healing, and peace.  She taught me ways I could bring this sense of peace over myself when I needed to during my stay.  She suggested music that I could turn on whenever I needed it to help center on this sense of calm and peace.  She discussed with me how I could take care of details with my family and job.  She showed me how to use the things I would need while I was there, how to write notes in my record that would be important for everyone caring for me, and how to let someone know when I needed help.  When she left, we had accomplished so much, and I felt so different, that it seemed like we had been together for hours. I looked at the clock – she had been there for only 50 minutes.

 

Over the next few hours, several other healers came into my room to get acquainted, each one introducing her- or himself and making sure that we both understood what to expect next and why they were there.  Each person who came to see me wrote their name and a note about our time together on my record so that I could read it again later.  Each person was concerned about being prepared for the first healing gathering that was planned for early the next day, when my four advocates would also be present.  We would all talk about what I needed and share ideas about how to work together, who could best do what, and what it is that I wanted to have happen here.  I was to leave the Healing House, they said, as soon as I could – I may never be cured of my disease but I would carry a healing spirit with me that would help me to no longer be afraid, and knowledge about how to live in a healthier way.  They said, “We want you to leave here having had one of the best experiences of your life.”

 

Suddenly, I woke up from the dream.  I heard “Doctor Smith, Doctor Donald Smith, please call the operator.  Doctor Donald Smith, please call the operator.”  Crash, bang, clang.  I realized I was not in a Healing House.  I was lying in a hospital.  The laundry cart had just fallen over on the tile floor outside my stark, cold, almost bare room.  The nurses’ call button was out of reach.  I was cold, alone, and hardly knew anyone by name, except the physician who had admitted me.  I felt as if nobody cared who I was.  I knew nothing about what they were planning to do to me.  Nobody knew who to call if something went wrong.  I would have to pay for a phone if I were to have one.  I had no money.

 

“Code 7, code 7, 8-4-0 immediately, 8-4-0 immediately.” (p 71-72)

Re-printed by permission by the National League for Nursing.  Originally published in Chinn, P. L. (1989). Nursing patterns of knowing and feminist thought. Nursing and Health Care, 10(2), 71-75.

 

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Dog-on-car, or, connections between personal and political

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Peggy L Chinn

Over the past week or so news of Mitt Romney’s long road trip with his family dog in a kennel tied to the roof of the car has gone viral on the internet and in news casts. Some might view this story from many years ago as a trivial matter that in no way deserves so much attention. But in my view it is a welcome call for thoughtful consideration of not only what we value in a political leader, but also the connections between what we all do in our personal lives and our public/political lives.

Recently my son brought a most amazing little creature into his life, and so now, I have the Coco giving Peggy kissesmost adorable granddog imaginable.  Her name is Coco, and in the photo here you see her giving me kisses on the long 4-hour ride home to Oakland after picking her up at the breeder’s.   She was 8 weeks old at the time, and her preferred perch was on my shoulder, just as you see her here.  Now, at the age of 3 months, and barely 3 pounds, she still greets me with enthusiastic kisses that you can only imagine from this photo!

So exactly what is “wrong” with the image of Romney’s dog being transported on the roof of his car, especially given the part of the account that includes the dog experiencing dire gastrointestinal distress, being hosed down to clean up the mess, then returned to the roof-top kennel to continue the trip?  What does it mean when any of us engage in scenarios in our personal lives that raise questions about how we view and treat those around us who are less powerful?  What is the value of calling for a broader consideration of the meaning of such incidents?

It is true that no one incident, especially one from years ago, is sufficient to provide a definitive picture of what a person stands for or how they will perform in a public role in the future.  But it is sufficient as a spring-board for raising the kinds of questions that many are now examining, not only related to this one candidate running for the U.S. presidency, but for all of those in whom we place public trust.  The fact that public discourse has turned to questioning the values and ethics of public practices that shape private lives, and vice versa, is one of the most important developments of the past few months.  The dog-on-car incident stands, for me, as a symbol of the abuse of power that has happened in many many governments, corporations, institutions, and yes, even religious organizations.

When any of us feel at liberty to take advantage of someone in a less powerful position than we ourselves hold, we are essentially engaging in a “dog-on-car” action that speaks volumes about who we are and what we are willing to do with power. We are responsible as citizens to call to task our leaders, bankers, businesses we engage with – calling on them to “do what they say” and live true to their values in all aspects of life.

But this all starts right at home. As a teacher, I am responsible to be ever mindful of the relative power that I hold when I engage with students.  As an adult, parent and grandparent, I am responsible to be ever mindful of the power that I hold in relation to the children in my life.  I am basically an ordinary woman living an ordinary life … but still, I hold powerful weapons that could be used to exploit and abuse others (children, students, friends).  I have the same choices that everyone else does!

So here’s to precious Coco, the most cherished children in my life, my friends and family!  Not only do I want my life and interactions to live up to my highest ideals of love and peace  … but I also pledge to always value any time when it is necessary to call on me for full accountability along these lines!  And, here’s to ongoing dialogue that helps us all bring more clarity to what we need in our public leaders, and in those in whom we place our trust.

 

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Here comes 2012 – a banner year for political junkies!

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Peggy L Chinn

Yes, I admit it … I am a political junky, and also unabashedly what today is being called “liberal” and/or “progressive.”  But fundamentally, these labels are, like all labels, much too restricting to really pinpoint my views, much less anyone else’s.  When I really examine the system of values that drives my political opinions, I have to point to the values that shaped me in childhood, which were plainly and clearly known as “christian.”  Today, I especially detest that particularly label because it has come to mean something entirelyObama is a socialist, the same way Jesus was different from what I gleaned in my upbringing!  The cartoon here pretty much sums up what I mean …

Long ago I abandoned my childhood affiliation with formal religion, but the values that are at the heart of not only christianity but all major religions, and loudly professed by many, are consistent with the values that shape not only my opinions, but my actions, to the extent that is humanly possible.

One of the values that was taught to me in my early upbringing as a value/action that is among the “worst” is that of hypocrisy.  Among my very favorite stories that I heard over and over again was the story of Jesus overturning the tables of the Pharisees who were selling their goods at the entrance to a temple.  Please don’t hold me to this little story as accurate, or get into details such as what was supposed to be going on in the story — the important thing here is that I took away a lesson that hypocrisy is one of the worst things in the world! What I got from the story was that the guys (maybe some gals) selling their wares were professing to be righteous, but their actions defied their righteousness. And in fact, this symbolizes in my mind what we are today protesting in terms of the corporate practices that have created our vastly unjust economic system.

So this promises to be a truly banner year!  None of us are free of our own indulgences that are clearly in the realm of hypocrisy, and it is not something limited to one political party or another.  But the blatant hypocrisy of many who loudly proclaim to be “christian” and then support policies and actions that are so totally non-christian — this is something that I simply cannot abide.  Many are also speaking out on this issue, and in this year that is following on the heels of the “year of the protester” it is my hope that we will see more and more exposure of the many hypocrisies that damage our nation and our politics.

So with the fundamental values peace and love, here’s to a fabulous 2012!  May it bring lots of discussion that raises the bar in terms of what we expect from our leaders, our politicians, and our movers and shakers!

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Never too late to Rock and Roll!

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Peggy L Chinn

Within the span of about 2 weeks, I became familiar with a punk rock song from the English rock band “The Clash” titled “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” My second exposure to the song was at the Youth Open Mic at the Starry Plough in Berkeley, where one might expect to hear a rock music!  Indeed this song was performed (and very well indeed) by a boys band, all about 10 to 14 years old, aspiring to become rock musicians someday.

I was delighted to hear the boys perform this song that had been new to me only a couple of weeks earlier.  Admittedly, even though my son, host of the Youth Open Mic, is a very accomplished rock musician and I am terribly proud of his accomplishments, this is not a genre with which I am terribly familiar!  So even though the song has been ranked on lists of “greatest rock songs ever” and it was written in 1981, it was new to me. I became a great fan of the song when I watched the splendid documentary about the Northampton, Massachusetts chorus “Young at Heart.”  This is a chorus of folks 70 and over who, led by director Bob Cilman, who sing a variety of rock and pop tunes and perform worldwide. Their version of the song is fabulous and endeared me to the song, as well as to the chorus.

The documentary caught my attention one evening when I was looking for diversion from the intense, albeit sadly comical, U.S. political drama that dominates the news.  This could not have been a better antidote!  The story of the chorus is amazing and I was stunned that for several years I had lived within an hour’s drive of Northamption and visited the town frequently, yet never learned of the existence of this terrific group. This group represents so much of what goes on in the world around us that is good and worthwhile, even though sadly all-too-hidden.

But here’s the thing: Bob Cilman has established something that has meaning far beyond the benefits of creating something unique and bringing great entertainment to all ages.  The existence of this group is a symbol of what it takes to make the world a better place, to bring generations together, to find common bonds that are required for honest commitment.  I urge you to watch the documentary.  The 2012 calendar of shows will be on the web site soon, so watch for a show near you!  I am determined to get to one sooner rather than later!

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Reflections on the challenges of participatory democracy

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Peggy L Chinn

For many years I have been thinking about the challenges of Peace & Power, and other forms of participatory democracy, and the “Occupy” movement has intensified my thinking about all of this. I live right next door to a vacant lot in Oakland, California, where last week-end the “Occupy” group tore down a fence last week on Saturday night, then early Sunday morning the now-infamous Oakland police peacefully removed the small OWS sign power of loveencampment. We watched it all from our living room window but even more intriguing to

me were twitter, Facebook and blog posts about some of the things happening just before, and during the week-end attempt at taking over the vacant lot. The lot is only 3 blocks from the Frank Ogawa Square outside of city hall, where the police had evicted campers a week before, with not-so-peaceful outcomes. You can read one of the most vivid blog accounts of the experience here – and follow the 26 comments left in response to Rebecca’s description .. it is all packed full of insightful and interesting perspectives.

When word spread that the Oakland general assembly (GA) had decided Continue reading →

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“Peace & Power” has come to the 99%

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Peggy L Chinn

Ever since the “Occupy” movement started, I have watched, with some amazement, reports of the process that they have developed for the “participatory democracy” that is evolving, and especially their approaches for the General Assemblies! Belief it or not, what is evolving is a version of “Peace and Power” for very

Peace & Power cover, 7th Edition

7th Edition

large groups, and I am ecstatic! Of course I would be surprised if anyone involved has actually seen “Peace and Power,” but the important thing is that the ideas that many of us in my circle of friends and colleagues have been using for years are in fact part of a much larger ideal and vision!

For folks who are not (yet) familiar with my long-running book “Peace and Power,” you can peek inside on Amazon! The cover here (and on Amazon) is the 7th edition, but the 8th edition will be out in January!

The video below caught my eye today – it explains the main features of the processes they are using. The “Peace and Power” ideal that is particularly important to notice is that of shared and rotating leadership, and how they are working with shared responsibility and integrating anyone who steps up into the “leadership” process. This is an ideal that baffles most folks in the traditional hierarchies in which I have worked throughout my career, and is met with utter skepticism! But in my heart, I know it works, and brings about Continue reading →

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