On Air Pollution .....

[H2O Man]

I was speaking with friend Joseph Bruchac this afternoon. He is the Abenaki poet who authored “Entering Onondaga” and “Water Thanks,” two poems that I often make use of on this forum. (Both poems will be included in the soon-to-be-published book, “Water Man: A Native People's History of the Northeast.”)

We talked about some of the environmental crises we are facing. I mentioned that this summer, in one presentation, I told how a Sidney, NY town official had told Onondaga Clan Mother Audrey Shenandoah to “shut up” during a public meeting. I had said that there were many women in the audience who had had similar experiences.

The government tries to shut these women down for a specific reason. It doesn't matter if a woman is Native American or not. She might be black, brown, red, yellow, or white – but if she is giving voice to the wisdom that all “Clan Mothers” bring to society, they are considered a threat.

No such woman would, for example, attempt to justify dropping the standards for protecting the quality of air that their grandchildren – or any child – breathes. That just would not happen.

This is not to say that there are not females of the ilk of a Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachman. They are the measure of the toxins poisoning our environment. And they are distinct from those women who care for all of society's children.

[rosesaylavee]

1. I firmly believe that the many problems we face

will not be resolved by men alone. Women have experienced what it means to be powerless, to be told to 'shut up' and for the most part, the healthy ones at least, have a great sense of empathy for those who have been or are currently powerless. I don't know if its coincidence or not but there seems to be a stepped up mind set in advertising and in women we see in the media that appears determined to downplay women's roles in society, to return to the idea that women are here to please their men. Only the men seemingly can make the right decision about a woman's right to choose, etc.

I don't think the PTB will easily close that pandora's box that opened up society to women in the work place and in community and national leadership roles. I grew up on the cusp of all that and was convinced that by the time I reached middle age, all of that former backward mindset would be history I could tell my grandchildren. Ha.

I would be interested to know what the Clan Mother's response was to the official who told her to shut up?

[H2O Man]

2. It was an

odd night. The person who told Audrey to "shut up" was the town's attorney. I had known her for years, and had been favorable impressed with her advocacy for youth. But that evening -- and on a couple of following nights, in more public hearings -- she was toxic.

Audrey has spoken at the United Nations. The leaders of the former Soviet Union had called her on environmental issues. Even President George Bush the Elder had called her to Washington for private discussions about his environmental concerns. So she simply ignored the insult, and continued speaking.