Febuary 19, 2003
Austin, Texas, USA11:19am. On Saturday, 10,000 people gathered at the capital to protest war. Listening to the radio driving there I heard reports that US pilots already begun bombing Iraq.
< After the protest, We talked to a couple self proclaimed "skin heads" who are in the Army, headed to Iraq. "It's just a job," they said.
Ah MAX,
The irony of the emails we send! Yes, I was about to send you one right as I got this one from you - the only one in my inbox. And thank you for putting another of my emails on your website. It's such an honor to be a part of the soloMAX history.
The rally was very powerful. Attendees numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Police definitely numbered in the thousands. An unbelievable majority of everyone in the area was peaceful - I didn't see any problems while I was there, (but I heard about some later.) Despite the major news' stations ignorance of our citizens' voices, the President's attempt at making us stay home due to "terrorist threats" (fear tactic, by the way - there definitely wasn't a single terrorist incident in NYC that day or the next), and the police's unjust intention of keeping protesters away from the actual rally (to keep the numbers down for estimation), I felt we did something really powerful. At 4 o'clock, as I walked away from the cheering, barricaded masses behind me to get to our parking garage and start for home, I couldn't help but weep at all the crowds of signbearers I saw going the opposite direction. Everywhere you looked, up and down the street, on every corner and every inch of pavement, there were peace protesters. I never saw the same face twice that day. The physical and ideological diversity of the people there was astounding (as were the numbers, and the peace among the people and police), but the feeling of unity - the unity of 500,000 people from all over the country - the universal feeling of unity we shared with the millions that marched all over the globe - the knowledge that the unity of these diverse and enormous masses of people was all based on one thing: hope for peace... well, as you can imagine, that feeling was overwhelming and unforgettable. Who knew what each person's reasons were for protesting that day? It was just millions worldwide in 660 cities that said "we want peace. and we don't want war."
I had a great time, and I know I was a part of history. But the three friends I went with, 2 of whom you're familiar with - Laura Jawitz, Anni Irish, and Cassy Wagner - got into a bit of a frightening predicament that I was glad I didn't see. They left the area of 5th avenue, where the official rally was being held, to go find a bathroom, get something to eat, etc. But when they tried to get back to our area, they were denied. Along with others. Huge groups of misdirected protesters, who were not allowed to get to the actual rally site, began forming on 3rd and 2nd avenues, (and later converged on 1st). While I was safe and cold and surrounded by peacelovers between 58th and 60th on 5th, able to see and hear the speakers (featuring Desmond Tutu, Harry Belafonte, Susan Sarandon, and young political NY poets at that), Laura Anni and Cassy were desperately walking back and forth, from 71st to 51st on 3rd, trying to negotiate a way to get back to us. The police ignored them and misled them, they said afterwards. After much frustration, what happened to them (in a not-so-isolated incident) was that they saw an unguarded opening between barricades, and joined the group of people intending to take it. The police eventually noticed and tried to force them back out. But the people knew their rights - they claimed they were on the sidewalks, and it was illegal to be forced off a sidewalk; also, they weren't loitering, they were trying to move forward. This group of about 40 stood their ground, until all of a sudden 6-8 mounted police rode their monstrous but terrified horses into the crowd. Laura said the people literally had to run to escape the charging horses and the vicious police. She also said she saw one person go under a horse, and she saw a horse collapse to its knees, utterly confused and frightened to the brink of physical breakdown. The police used the horses from all sides to press the perpatrators up against the barricades, so the protesters were trapped into being arrested.
After about 2 hours (we were only there for 4 hours - it was below freezing out) the gang was finally able to make it back to where we were - and fortunately, we were still there. I felt so bad for my friends that they had to see that side of such an anti-war protest, whereas my experience was nothing but positive: but they told me they were kind of happy they got to see for themselves just how screwed up the police are and how corrupted their orders of crowd control were. I wasn't too troubled after all... they were safe, I'd had a great time, and a sore throat cold was setting in.. I slept all the way home, NPR on the radio.
By today that cold has ravaged my sinuses like a jackhammer: total destruction and ultimate suffering. I hate to spend my brief February vacation (this week) like this. All I'm doing is wasting days; I'm not living them. When you're sick, all you can do is sit and be miserable and watch the days flit away while you study them weakly. Plus our town got hit with about 2 feet of snow yesterday and today. UGH!! I need light and warmth to heal me!!! This atmosphere is so oppressive... I don't know why i suffer it.
I hope you're doing exceedingly well. Imagining you in sunny Texas/Mexico will hopefully put me in better spirits. My thoughts are with you, my love! Rock the action hero free world.
Your housebound and wintersick,
Carrie/kenneth
That evening at Ruta Maya we saw Sage's spectacular fire show. Wearing black leather pants and a little top with a devil mask and flaming wings... She gave new meaning to the term hot and sexy. Paul and Derek were there as well, juggling fire to the beats of a live band.
Sunday morning we attended Body Choir, a dance studio like space where a hundred or more people gathered to dance free-form without a word(although grunts and shouts of ecstasy were okay.) You could float around in your own head space or lock eyes with a partner and make an intense conection. It was a tribal, spirited, childish celibration of life, community and movement. That's the thing about Austin: people here have not forgotten how to play and be free.
In the middle of the session, we got in a big circle and one woman shared a few words of inspiration and reflection, then we danced again, and at the end there was another sharing time were anyone was allowed to talk of feelings or experiences. Some wept as the spoke. Last of all they shared needs and news of upcoming events. This simple formual could be easily addapted by any community. All you need is soulful music and a comfortable space.
In the afternoon, at the Rhizome Collective Free Skool we made bead necklaces and pinhole cameras. The facillatity has living quarters, a garden, a bike repair workshop, space for stage shows, and a warehouse for creating any kinda art you can imagine. They repaired 25 bikes to give to people in Guatamala, but the bikes were stopped at the Mexican border because they didn't have paperwork to show that they were a donation.
That evening we attended Leann Athorton's full moon barn dance potluck, a monthly south Austin tradition. "This scene wouldn't happen in North Austin. This is an old Austin thing; a south Austin thing," I was told. A couple hundred people gathered outside around potluck tables, Barbaque pits, a campfire and on benches facing a gazboo stage were a half dozen acts honky tonked from 4 til 10pm, after which I presented the musical protion of my slide show.
Monday night, in the Library at Blairs mansion, I did a final show for two dozen friends and special people that I've had to the pleasure to meet. It was a beautiful scene with wramth and glow of the fire place and wonderful artwork covering all the walls. I am very grateful to have friends like Blair, Justin, Shad, Paul, Vannessa and Brockett who open their homes and hearts to me. I thank you!
In a few days I'll be on the Mountain of Death. Yahoo!!!
