As I celebrated my daughter's seven months on this plane of existence, I was also grieving for a life lost too soon. A life lost to violence, to greed, to impatience, to a profound lack of compassion, to a fear of difference. The report of what happened to Robert Ethan Saylor has been released, and it's every bit as horrific as I imagined it would be. Yet it's being spun by the sheriff department as a clear case of TRESPASSING, and for some reason it seems perfectly reasonable for this department to okay a killing over that dubious crime.
Those of you who read my blog know that my political alliances lie to the far left, and I make no apologies for that. I am of the opinion that capitalism has inflicted some of the greatest abuses on our world from the slave trade to the death of factory workers in India. We are under the thumb of money and consumerism at all costs. And I fully believe here that we have a smaller example of this kind of abuse. You see Ethan wanted to see the movie again. That's it. He wasn't trying to hurt anyone (in fact almost the reports from witnesses say that he was swearing but he was not TOUCHING anyone...only one person said he resisted the officers who were touching him and I'm kind of like "Well duh" on that one). He wanted to see a movie. A movie that likely cost what $12? His aid tried to talk to the manager. She tried to talk to the police.She told them all that if they just waited it out Ethan would be okay and leave. But you see no one wanted to do this. No one was willing to pay for that movie ticket. Ethan's mom reports that Ethan's cell phones records show that he was trying to get in touch with her to get money to see the movie again. Sadly no one waited, and instead a young man is now dead because he had the audacity to sit in an empty movie theater. He died over $12.
There are many ways this could have turned out for the better but none of those things happened. Instead, the Frederick's Sheriff Department blamed Down syndrome. Yes, you're reading that right. They said Down syndrome killed Ethan Saylor. Not three OFF DUTY deputies who were clearly impatient and/or on a power trip...nope not them but Down syndrome. It's ridiculous isn't it? But there it is. This isn't about training folks. It's about bias. It's about discrimination. It's about not getting justice because someone thought it was easier to blame Ethan's disability. That my friends is bullshit. And it's time to raise an outcry. A really big one. Because even if you're life has not been touched by someone with Down syndrome, I know my readers value justice and equality. That most of you despise this system as much as I do. It's time to broaden our reach. People with disabilities are a valuable part of world, and it's time we stand up for them too.
There's plenty to be done. Kimchi/Latkes has a great post up with an outline of places to go.
Emma, Ethan's wonderful sister, has a Facebook page you can go like to show support. That's here.
Write to Governor O' Malley in Baltimore asking for a independent investigation.
If you haven't liked Down syndrome Uprising, go ahead and do that as well (and yes I am on the "board"). We are not just fighting for Ethan over there, we're fighting for all people with Down syndrome.
Showing posts with label Down syndrome Uprising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Down syndrome Uprising. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
What Activism Looks Like in My World: Feral Beasties
I kind of joke that my default mode is activism. When I found out Jude had Down syndrome, I read all the expected books but I also checked out a bunch of books on disability studies. I didn't know much about the world of disability but I suspected that there would be some fights ahead. I wanted to be prepared because I'm a fierce advocate for all my children.
And activism is kind of part of who I am. For me it started in college with the introduction to Women's Studies. One of my favorite professors was this incredibly gorgeous creative intelligent poet, Lee Sharkey. She gave me a voice for injustice which is an amazing gift to hand to someone. Under Lee, I read about fighters for women's rights, and it expanded into fights for gay rights, fat politics, racial inequality. I can close my eyes, and see her sitting in our circle, her hands swept out as she tendered our blossoming flames. There was so much anger in me when I began her classes, anger and brokenness. Activism, caring about the world channeled that anger into outrage and in trying to heal a broken world, started me on a journey to be able to honestly work on my own broken places.
When I meet H, I found a soul mate in activism. He fanned that fire started by Lee, and introduced me to some new fights. These banners I would take up in the name of my Latino/a children.
And for the last few years, I feel like I kind of stalled with the outrage. I was excited about OWS but I never really got into it like I would have when I was younger. I always had an excuse. I did some slacktivism for the Dreamers: passing on petitions, making some phone calls, fighting with people about the contributions of immigrants to this country, decrying how undocumented workers are treated. But honestly I always felt like I could do more. I felt stuck in this ennui that was kind of overtaking my life.
For the past five years, I had been totally immersed in the academy. I enjoyed what I did with a great passion, and I felt, honestly, that I was doing important work in both my writing and my teaching. In a way, I felt that it was a form of activism especially the teaching. I didn't reach all my students but I did reach a few. But when we moved to Athens that was gone.
Then came Jude. Initially I wasn't in my activism mode. I was in my freak the fuck out mode. But you know that ended pretty fast because Jude won me over. She does that to people. It was impossible for me to not be crazy mad in love with her. So when I read about Ethan Saylor? Well I knew that his mom was likely crazy mad in love with him and that she had lost her son. Senselessly lost her son over the price of a movie ticket, and suddenly the crushing weight of the injustice of the world came down on me. This could be Jude. And as I read more, from books to news reports, this injustice took a hold and shook awake that outrage. Because it's not just about Ethan Saylor or Jude. It's about the horrible injustices that happen all over the world to people who are different. And I knew that I had to fight this with all that I had for Jude, for Ethan, for all my children, for your children, for us.
But activism looks different than my college days. Because now I have five beasties to take care of while I'm fighting. I think they're all becoming a bit feral as I spend hours on the computer. This caught up with me the other day at a field trip I went on with my daughter's unschool. They were going on a wilderness adventure with a wonderful guide who runs a group called Wild Intelligence. It's an amazing program where children are let back into the woods. We meet her school at a piece of land called Earthsong. Throughout this wild adventure into the woods, my phone kept peeping. It was a big day as we just gotten off from a horrible teleconference with the major Ds orgs. There was a lot of messaging, a lot of commentary, and it was all coming to me via my phone in the wilderness. Even in the wild you can't escape technology.
As Piper ran wild, I was struggling behind her with Jude strapped to my chest in a carrier, R holding onto a strap and whining...I was also on my phone trying to type replies to the group. I'm sure the other moms thought I was gossiping. Little did they know I was coordinating twitter parties and press releases.
And activism is kind of part of who I am. For me it started in college with the introduction to Women's Studies. One of my favorite professors was this incredibly gorgeous creative intelligent poet, Lee Sharkey. She gave me a voice for injustice which is an amazing gift to hand to someone. Under Lee, I read about fighters for women's rights, and it expanded into fights for gay rights, fat politics, racial inequality. I can close my eyes, and see her sitting in our circle, her hands swept out as she tendered our blossoming flames. There was so much anger in me when I began her classes, anger and brokenness. Activism, caring about the world channeled that anger into outrage and in trying to heal a broken world, started me on a journey to be able to honestly work on my own broken places.
When I meet H, I found a soul mate in activism. He fanned that fire started by Lee, and introduced me to some new fights. These banners I would take up in the name of my Latino/a children.
And for the last few years, I feel like I kind of stalled with the outrage. I was excited about OWS but I never really got into it like I would have when I was younger. I always had an excuse. I did some slacktivism for the Dreamers: passing on petitions, making some phone calls, fighting with people about the contributions of immigrants to this country, decrying how undocumented workers are treated. But honestly I always felt like I could do more. I felt stuck in this ennui that was kind of overtaking my life.
For the past five years, I had been totally immersed in the academy. I enjoyed what I did with a great passion, and I felt, honestly, that I was doing important work in both my writing and my teaching. In a way, I felt that it was a form of activism especially the teaching. I didn't reach all my students but I did reach a few. But when we moved to Athens that was gone.
Then came Jude. Initially I wasn't in my activism mode. I was in my freak the fuck out mode. But you know that ended pretty fast because Jude won me over. She does that to people. It was impossible for me to not be crazy mad in love with her. So when I read about Ethan Saylor? Well I knew that his mom was likely crazy mad in love with him and that she had lost her son. Senselessly lost her son over the price of a movie ticket, and suddenly the crushing weight of the injustice of the world came down on me. This could be Jude. And as I read more, from books to news reports, this injustice took a hold and shook awake that outrage. Because it's not just about Ethan Saylor or Jude. It's about the horrible injustices that happen all over the world to people who are different. And I knew that I had to fight this with all that I had for Jude, for Ethan, for all my children, for your children, for us.
But activism looks different than my college days. Because now I have five beasties to take care of while I'm fighting. I think they're all becoming a bit feral as I spend hours on the computer. This caught up with me the other day at a field trip I went on with my daughter's unschool. They were going on a wilderness adventure with a wonderful guide who runs a group called Wild Intelligence. It's an amazing program where children are let back into the woods. We meet her school at a piece of land called Earthsong. Throughout this wild adventure into the woods, my phone kept peeping. It was a big day as we just gotten off from a horrible teleconference with the major Ds orgs. There was a lot of messaging, a lot of commentary, and it was all coming to me via my phone in the wilderness. Even in the wild you can't escape technology.
As Piper ran wild, I was struggling behind her with Jude strapped to my chest in a carrier, R holding onto a strap and whining...I was also on my phone trying to type replies to the group. I'm sure the other moms thought I was gossiping. Little did they know I was coordinating twitter parties and press releases.
It's not easy managing a three year old and trying to type on a miniature phone pad. But I had to do it because damn it someone had killed Ethan Saylor and we need to make people sit up and pay attention. So I tumbled through the woods, tripping over roots, losing my phone a few times, and likely missing a few adorable moments with R.
My house is a wreck. The beasties are getting wilder. I'm afraid our homeschooling has been pathetic lately. Jude has gotten rather spoiled because I spend a lot of time typing while nursing. My grammar/spelling has never been the best but it's gotten a lot worst from typing while nursing. Jude is likely the only beastie who has benefited totally from my hastily typed blogs. My angry tweets. My small offerings to various groups.
I tell myself that it benefits her to have all this in arm time. After all, a hundred years ago, she might been put into an institution where she would have never been touched. Now she gets to be in my arms all day while I shoot off emails and tweets to people like Doug Gansler, GA of Maryland because I'm one angry mom and we might live in Maryland some day. I'm sure Gansler gets to do his work in an office free of children...and maybe I'd get more done but...
I wouldn't have this for inspiration...these beautiful, happy if a bit wild children who love their sister and deserve to live in a world that is safe for them all.
I've let them know what all this work is for and I've told them about Ethan. Not just about how he died but about how he lived. And sometimes, like at night, when they fight over who is going to hold Jude, I think that perhaps they aren't becoming so feral after all.
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