Activistas

Is the Paternal Political, Too??

We've got The Maternal is Political on our nightstand (and I'm actually making progress!).  There's the Mothers Movement Online.  We're urbanMamas, Activistas, all women at every turn.  So where, oh where, are the dads?  We asked our resident dad Eric Miller to weigh in.  He says:

This is truly a remarkable time in history.  Hillary smashed some glass political ceilings for women--not as many as some would have liked this year, but significant ones all the same.  Barack continues to smash glass ceilings for African Americans and looks good to reach the clouds in November.  At least many are hopeful. 

Are stay-at-home dads breaking any ceilings?  True, we're generally not disenfranchised, indeed we're generally in partnership with someone making enough money to support a family--not a small sum these days. And we're nothing close to a racial minority in terms of being held down politically.  But maybe it's an opportune time to ride the tide of glass ceiling breaking for us stay-at-home dads. 

What does this stay-at-home Dad worry about?  Our education system is underfunded and in shambles, health care is brutally expensive and getting worse, our environment seems saturated with everything from phthalates and BPA to carbon dioxide and methane, food prices are going through the roof, and we're entering a recession. 

Ok, ok, so these issues are not particular to stay-at-home Dads. However, my paternal sense of responsibility and desire to improve the world increased 1,000-fold since Liam was born.   Are dads moved to become politically active more than previously?  Are dads different from moms in terms of political activism?  Are dads on-board the maternal political movement? 

Portland at the center of a car-free future

I have a bike sticker from Car-free Portland. It says, "Live free or drive," and I keep remembering it as "Car-free or die," mashing up the New Hampshire license plate with the car-free sentiment in my head. While I wouldn't go so far as to start getting angry at people who do drive, I'm very proud every time I can make a choice other than a car.

Despite my subconscious battle cry, in a (hopefully) positive, affirming way, I'm seeking to spread my car-free gestalt by endlessly promoting my much-loved mamabikeorama. When I get on that bike with my boys and my groceries, I do feel so full of affirmation. Not only are there constant admiring looks, pointed fingers, whispered "wow!"s and a plethora of questions, but there's also this: I'm combining my exercise, my transportation, my family togetherness, and my general daily experience of beauty all in one. As I ride around the neighborhood or venture farther, I discover something new every day, finding magic, as my web site tag line says. I am being wholly myself, and thoroughly in the world, but in the most gentle, lovely way possible. As I said to someone the other day, how great is it that I get to do the thing that is an American symbol for fun -- riding bikes -- as part of my daily life?

I'm not the only one who thinks about biking and going car-free with such starry eyes. The next two weeks mark a number of bicycle events in the city, with the 'Toward Carfree Cities' conference as a highlight. June 17th is a free public day and you can register on the web site -- see the panel with urbanMamas Olivia Rebanal and Marion Rice at 10:45 a.m. I hope I'll be able to sneak out of work and see some of it!

2nd Pdx Reading for The Maternal is Political

If you missed the Powell's reading a few weeks back, as I did, never fear.  You can head for In Other Words on Wednesday, June 25th @ 7 PM and catch local mama Shari MacDonald Strong read from the new anthology she edited, The Maternal is Political.  I've only made it through a few of the pieces, but I'm impressed so far.  Shari's piece, Raising Boys In A Time of War, is definitely worth a read, both for its style and content.  In fact, that's the piece we'll  start our online discussion series next week.  We aim to read an essay a week (or so) and talk about it here on Activistas.  As a teaser, here's how Shari starts her piece:

During the summer before the 2004 election, I taught my children to call out "Peace!" when I asked, "What do we want?" and "Now!" when I prompted "When do we want it?"

Info on all her readings is posted on LiteraryMama, where she's a senior editor.  See you on the 25th!

Got Friends in Key States? Ask 'Em to Support = Pay

Forty five years ago today, on June 10, 1963, the Equal Pay Act was passed, making it illegal to pay unequal wages to men and women who perform equal work.  And while this was a huge step forward, the sad truth is that women still earn only 77 cents to the dollar.  Point being, mamas, these wage laws badly need to be strengthened. 

Several bills have been introduced into Congress repeatedly — including the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Fair Pay Act — but Congress still hasn't stepped up to the plate. And, as you might recall, the U.S. Senate didn't pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act this Spring, either.  But the good news is that the National Women's Law Center is hot on this one - again!  Their quick update on the Ledbetter bill's progress:

On April 23, 2008, the Senate voted on a motion to advance the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a key bill that would have a major impact on the lives of women who’ve been subject to pay discrimination. We've made it past the first vote — and we're gearing up for round two in the Senate. With 57 Senators voting in our favor, we are now just 3 votes away from moving the bill forward. And we need your help to make fair pay a reality for women.

Activistas on Mothers Movement Online

Read about us!  Yourself!  Activistas!  We submitted an article to the Mothers Movement Online for its April/May issue because the topic was the current status of this thing called the 'mothers movement.'  It's called One City. One Blog. A Whole Lotta Mamas.  And they published it.  And added a subtitle: The Activistas are ready for the revolution.  A compliment, to be sure.  But are we?  Really? 

According to the MMO's founder and editor, Judith Stadtman Tucker, what is needed now is not more talk (though I do love that part!), but action, straight-up political organizing, real work toward concrete change. Like national paid leave that actually pays enough to keep mamas at home with their babies until their scars heal.  Like truly flexible work. Like universal health care so the amount of time we have outside work to spend with our children isn't dictated by the need for health care.  And I could go on, mamas, like all day.

Be sure to read Judith's piece, Power in a Movement, where she sounds the wake-up call.  She's hard-hitting, but right-on, I think.  In short, she says: Enough talk, already.  It's time for the mothers' movement to get organized - or risk missing our window of opportunity.  And here's a tidbit to lure you into her thoughts on how to shift from talk to action:

Reader, I must tell you that a change has come over me. I'm no longer satisfied with writing and talking about the mothers' movement and the values and policy priorities of a caring society (and what it will take to move the United States in that direction). I'm tired of dissecting the relationship between motherhood ideology, conflicts in feminism, and opportunities and barriers to organizing mothers for political action -- so tired of it that just writing this sentence makes my head hurt. I, for one, am ready to move on to the next phase. I want to get the job done. And I have some ideas about how we can get started.

But if you don't have time to get to the denouement on page 4 (though I highly recommend it), allow me:

The Difference of Generations

This political season I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference of generations.  Women my mother and grandmothers’ ages, whether they are fans of Hillary Clinton personally or not, understand the significance of this race differently than I do.  I understand how amazing it is that she was the first woman, and Barack Obama the first African-American, to run for President.  It’s so great that this is the political landscape for Democrats this year: history-making, significant. 

And while I understand the importance, it was not enough to base my decision on.  Because of the historic nature of the race, I would not have supported anyone except the two of them, I knew that much.   But in deciding to support Obama, I did not feel the huge sense of betrayal my mother felt in doing the same.  I didn’t feel like this was a betrayal to feminism, or that this would be the last time I would see a woman vying for the office in my lifetime.

Even in my life, women have made major steps towards equality, but none so large as the strides that were made before me. Because of them, I have been fortunate to grow up in a time when women having choices about careers, marriage, and having children is not revolutionary.  It is just the way it is.  I truly honor everything they sacrificed and fought for so that my experience of life as a woman could be different.

Thank You, Hillary. Now Let's Eat.

No hiding that I'm an Obamamama.  But I am so very grateful for what Hillary did to advance women in politics - and in general.  A recent Op-Ed in the NYT says it so well:

Nobody is ever again going to question whether it’s possible for a woman to go toe-to-toe with the toughest male candidate in a race for president of the United States. Or whether a woman could be strong enough to serve as commander in chief.

[Clinton's] campaign didn’t resolve whether a woman who seems tough enough to run the military can also seem likable enough to get elected. But she helped pave the way. So many battles against prejudice are won when people get used to seeing women and minorities in roles that only white men had held before. By the end of those 54 primaries and caucuses, Hillary had made a woman running for president seem normal.

Summer of Service for the 13-21 YO's Among Us

After a recent conversation about volunteering with our babes, I was glad to hear about a local program for teens to get involved in community service this summer.  Totally different concept, huh?  Thanks to ever-creative Hands on Portland for setting up the Summer of Service Program, which they 'sell' like this:

Are you 13 to 21 years old and...

   ...fulfilling community service graduation requirements?

   ...enhancing your resume or college application?

   ...looking to meet new people?

   ...interested in building a stronger community?

Volunteering is the answer!

The program kick-off is Saturday, 6.21.08 at Zenger Farm.  Sign up here.

Being Green Together: Local Parent Co-op

There's green parenting advice pretty much everywhere you click in the blogosphere these days, but here in Portland it's been taken a step further - natch!  So if you're interested in doing more than just reading about being green, check out the newly formed Portland Green Parenting group.  It's a membership group ($10 to join) with a private forum to share info, take classes (yup, you too can brew kombucha and make your own green cleaning products!), buy bulk food, do the potluck thing, and more. 

Looks like a cool opportunity to create community and be a whole lot greener, right here at home.  Not just in the blogospehre!  Here's how they describe themselves:

Portland Green Parenting formed in October 2007 after Rebecca and her family relocated to Portland, Oregon. Today, we are a community of over 100 families in the greater Portland area who have come together to grow as parents and educate ourselves on how to raise happier, healthier children who care for our environment and each other while making new friends and having fun!

Anyone already a member?  Got feedback to share? 

I've long wondered about food dye... you?

Just last week my kids combined water and food coloring in our 4-compartment popsicle maker - one color per compartment.  Great, messy stuff.  Next day we froze it "to see what'll happen," then inevitably they got eaten because, well, they look like popsicles.  I let it go, but was more than a little uncomfortable with them eating food coloring.  "But, Mama, it's for food, it's supposed to be eaten."  Right.  Once again, I am uncomfortable with approved, "safe" products.  And this time, it's not just me.

Check out this recent CBS News short and the call from Center for Science in the Public Interest to ban eight food dyes in all foods because it might cause hyperactivity in kids.  Yeah, the FD&C color listed in so. very. much. of our food.  Nutritional content?  None.  Good lookin'?  Check.  Get rid of it?  Why not?  It's not exactly in the USDA Food Pyramid, mamas. 

FD&C is short for the Federal  Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act, hardly a far-reaching piece of legislation.  The FDA's explanation of why we need to dye our food includes this excellent excuse: 'Color is an important property of foods that adds to our enjoyment of eating. Nature teaches is early to expect certain colors in certain foods, and our future acceptance of foods is highly dependent on meeting these expectations.'