F*ck You, Sarah Palin
"Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess -- I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities." -- Sarah Palin
"America... I've given you all and now I'm nothing..." -- Allen Ginsberg
Thank you Sarah Palin. Thank you for pointing out that in over a decade of serving my community as a community organizer... it all means nothing to you.
Back in December, Mayor Sam once opined that strong, opinionated women like myself and Kim Thompson should run for City Council. We would "kick ass" as he wrote.
In a Sarah Palin world, my efforts to do such a thing wouldn't amount to a hill of beans. Why should I, or anyone who isn't already in the political establishment try to make a difference, try to change the status quo when all our community activist work is meaningless?
Oh, Sarah likes to say that she's just a simple hockey mom with a dream, who joined the PTA (guess what, any stuffed monkey can join the PTA -- it only requires sending in your membership dues and adding your name to the roster) ... did she actually hold an executive position on the PTA? Was she ever a PTA President? Did she chair any PTA events or fundraisers, or did she just send in her membership dues?
Ten years of organizing community events, ten years of devoting my life to helping children, parents and teachers and neighbors and friends ... and in Sarah's world... it don't mean shit.
Walter Moore, dude... I invited you to my school to come and speak in opposition to Prop. S to inform and alert my community. I was at your Rally in the Valley looking to support you and the Shaws. I'm done doing that. It doesn't matter. My efforts don't count.
Ron Kaye ... I sent out email blasts, baked cupcakes, went to the SLAP protest at City Hall and brought two little girls with me who wanted to help bring change too, all this in order to try and help my hopelessly lost city find reform and redemption. I'm done with that now, too. It doesn't matter. My efforts don't count. Not in Sarah Palin's eyes.
Thank you for marginalizing and belittling the last ten years of my life, and the lives of every community organizer who has lovingly given hours and hours of their time (with no pay) in the hopes of making their communities a little bit better than how they found them.
Well... looks like I've got plenty of time on my hands now. Anyone wanna do lunch?
"America... I've given you all and now I'm nothing..." -- Allen Ginsberg
Thank you Sarah Palin. Thank you for pointing out that in over a decade of serving my community as a community organizer... it all means nothing to you.
Back in December, Mayor Sam once opined that strong, opinionated women like myself and Kim Thompson should run for City Council. We would "kick ass" as he wrote.
In a Sarah Palin world, my efforts to do such a thing wouldn't amount to a hill of beans. Why should I, or anyone who isn't already in the political establishment try to make a difference, try to change the status quo when all our community activist work is meaningless?
Oh, Sarah likes to say that she's just a simple hockey mom with a dream, who joined the PTA (guess what, any stuffed monkey can join the PTA -- it only requires sending in your membership dues and adding your name to the roster) ... did she actually hold an executive position on the PTA? Was she ever a PTA President? Did she chair any PTA events or fundraisers, or did she just send in her membership dues?
Ten years of organizing community events, ten years of devoting my life to helping children, parents and teachers and neighbors and friends ... and in Sarah's world... it don't mean shit.
Walter Moore, dude... I invited you to my school to come and speak in opposition to Prop. S to inform and alert my community. I was at your Rally in the Valley looking to support you and the Shaws. I'm done doing that. It doesn't matter. My efforts don't count.
Ron Kaye ... I sent out email blasts, baked cupcakes, went to the SLAP protest at City Hall and brought two little girls with me who wanted to help bring change too, all this in order to try and help my hopelessly lost city find reform and redemption. I'm done with that now, too. It doesn't matter. My efforts don't count. Not in Sarah Palin's eyes.
Thank you for marginalizing and belittling the last ten years of my life, and the lives of every community organizer who has lovingly given hours and hours of their time (with no pay) in the hopes of making their communities a little bit better than how they found them.
Well... looks like I've got plenty of time on my hands now. Anyone wanna do lunch?
Labels: allen ginsberg, community organizers, kim thompson, mayor sam, PTA, Ron Kaye, sarah palin, walter moore
Posted by Debbie @ 9/04/2008 09:48:00 AM
92 Comments
