Astrogirl
I was sitting and waiting for the train to come when something that had
been stirring in my brain for nearly a year began to ferment once again.
I wasn't thinking about this "something" at all.
Unsurprisingly, I was daydreaming of Emma Goldman and imagining that I
might at some point in my life come close to touching upon her sincerity.
In Living My Life she tells of one of her first experiences speaking in
front of people. She has been strongly influenced by Johann Most and is
speaking in Cleveland to a group of animated workers. She gives them a
"sarcastic arraignment" and prods them to fight for more than
temporary gains. It is then that an old worker rises to speak
"he said that he understood my impatience with such small demands as
a few hours less a day, or a few dollars more a week. It was legitimate
for young people to take time lightly. But what were men of his age to
do? They were not likely to see the ultimate overthrow of the capitalist
system. Were they also to forgo the release of perhaps two hours a day
from the hated work? That was all they could hope to see realized in
their lifetime. Should they deny themselves even that small achievement?
Should they never have a little more time for reading or being out in the
open? Why not be fair to people chained to the block?"
This was a turning point for Emma that impressed upon her the need for
independent thinking. For some reason this particular sentiment hit me
when I was tossing around the current Roe vs. Wade situation in my
malcontent brain. The thought of losing Roe Vs. Wade with the impending
implantation of one more demonic "supreme" court
"justice" makes me grimace and choke back vomit. I do not
believe in petitioning the state and this leads me to wonder what is the
female anarchist role in the struggle to maintain control of our bodies?
Those who will suffer from the overturning of Roe vs. Wade more than just
ideologically like myself, are the poor, uneducated, people of color,
i.e. the same people who always lose under capitalism.
Should I organize demonstrations? Should I implement abortion workshops?
Should I tour the poorest areas of every city and town with information?
What would be effective?
I am not writing this to supply answers or information but to provoke
thought in the hopes that the thought will provoke action, and that
action a reaction. I have found that when I have a question it is best to
ask it because questions either supply answers or deliberation. Both of
which I consider productive. It is from these humble musings that I found
myself scratching at the walls of the beast. Perhaps, this particular
issue seems too liberal for some. Many, in my experience, see it the way
Goldman leered out over the crowd of haggard workers.
It is time that we begin to educate and organize everyone possible, from
every angle. The system doesn't work and there is always a personal
connection to that. For womyn, this is a good example. Let us tie every
struggle into a knot (also a good birth control method) and point at the
big mess of capitalism.
For information on herbal emmenagogues (stimulating menstruation) or
herbal abortifacients (encouraging abortion) go to:
www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2279/intropt.htm