
We will be working with the Quad County Urban League at their art show on September 29, 2010 in Aurora, IL. More info to come!
Originally posted March 2, 2010
Dear President Obama,
As a former resident of Chicago and a current resident of a Chicago suburb, I know how important it is for Chicagoans to have model politicians, something that has been lacking in this otherwise great city for some time now.
As President, you have the opportunity to finally set the example that not only proud Chicagoans but also proud Americans can look up to and strive to simulate.
Today, I am asking that you live up to the promises that convinced the American (and Chicagoan) public to elect you President of the United States of America.
You can do this by standing by your promise to remove all combat troops from Iraq by August of this year.
Americans are heartbroken in the face of continued deaths in Iraq and disowned as millions of dollars continue to be diverted from their communities, homes, and dinner tables .
Please end the cycle of disappointment and betrayal that Americans have been experiencing over the past 7 years and take the higher road that is the road to freedom for all citizens of the world.
I am one of many people who are part of a campaign that pledges to monitor the progress of withdrawal from Iraq because we feel this is in the best interest of both Iraq and the United States.
Originally posted February 18, 2010
So, in my spare time, I work at the American Friends Service Committee in Chicago. As an apprentice there, I am learning all kinds of cool stuff about the peace movement and non-profit orgs, etc. The AFSC is a Quaker anti-war group that has been around for almost 100 years and has strong international presence.
Anyway, I wrote a Letter to the Editor today, and I figured I would just throw it up here as a reflection on my non-feminist activism:
It has come to my attention that we are nearing the 1,000th U.S. military death in the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan.
As I reflect on this milestone, I must wonder many things: Why are we still there? Why are so many dead, including so many civilians? Why have Americans stopped caring?\
Although I do not have the answers to these questions, I must assume some responsibility, along with the general public, for not doing more.
It has become obvious that, despite losing so many of our friends and family to this almost-decade-long war, Americans have become bored and uninterested with this conflict. Despite the bodies returning home and the suffering and deaths of so many innocent Afghan civilians, there is no huge, nation-wide, peace movement.
Where is our cross-country march? Where are those Obama-voters who were promised so much more? Where are those embarassed to continue calling themselves "American" after we've been sold out by our own government once again?
As we approach this tragic milestone of the Afghan war, I think it is important for all Americans to reflect on this conflict and consequential death toll; to reflect on what we each have done to support or oppose this war; to reflect on how we can live with ourselves, knowing that we have, in some way, contributed to the deaths of 1,000 of our fellow Americans, as well as an uncountable amount of innocent Afghan citizens.
Originally posted Febuary 3, 2o10
I recently discovered the game, Apples to Apples. This game is great for parties, fun, and easily travelable. Unfortunately, most of the cards are boring as hell. Thus, I've decided to take it upon myself to make my own cards that will be slipped into my own home version for more excitability.
Here are some samples and a few links for clarification. Feel free to borrow them for your own game!
Red Cards = Person, Place, Thing, Event
Green Cards = Desciptors, adverbs, adjectives, etc.
Red Cards:
Drama Student - Insert gag reflex here.
Mooseknuckle - The cameltoe's les distinguished male counterpart.
Pitchfork - Midwestern celebration of Lesbos.
Fonzanoon - Fart bubble biter!
Penis Apache - Mount that trophy!
Ringworm - Same fungus that causes Athlete's Foot and all the more reason to ditch gym class.
Yeast - Who's bakin' bread? Mama's bakin' bread!
Analrapist - Analyst + Therapist = Tobias Funke
Green Cards:
Zealot - Extremist, Radical, Fiend
Gay - Lover, Unseasonably happy, Sublime
Stank - Rank, Funky, Duckbutter
Stiff - Arthritic, Congealed, Rigid
Ravenous - Insatiable, Starving, Veracious
Queer - Atypical, Eccentric, Questionable
*Thank you Nikki Rice for your assistance in the creation of these cards.
Originally posted February 1, 2010
Now the question has become: How do I, once again, get out from under my mother's roof and resume my place as a contributing member of society, rather than a leech on the welfare system? Now that I think about it, my unemployment is probably running out soon...
Here are some options that I've been contemplating:
1. Return to college and get an MA, in what? Public Administration? Journalism? Education?
2. Join the Peace Corps or other such agency?
3. Keep applying from amongst the hurd for the same entry-level positions, demanding over-qualified, extremely under-paid, out-of-options employees?
On top of these issues, I need to re-locate. Spending the year in constant adjustment to the fluxuating seasons and weather extremes of Global Warming makes living in Chicago seem both hostiile and unreasonable. Arizona, California, and the likes are begging for my migration. Unfortunately, without the money to travel to visit, interview, etc., such a move has been little more than a burden on my seasonably-depressed existence.
All in all, what I really want to do is go to areas in need of humanitarian efforts: war zones, poverty-stricken areas, etc. I want to help, but also to learn, travel, and live. Unfortunately, I have few skills I imagine would be required of such work and little interest in first aide. Bandades and condom distribution are one thing, but cutting into or closing up flesh is a whole nother. What type of work does this leave? Should I get a degree in counseling? Would that even help?
Too many questions and too few answers. If anyone knows of any doors wanting to be opened or has input at all, feel free to offer up your suggestions.
GE
A feminist lens and a lot of glitter makes the world go round.