After the Women’s March (I caught the tail end in Dublin, while my husband/son marched in Boston), I’m reflecting on what it means to me to speak out. And on why I’m fearful of NOT putting up a yard sign, sharing potentially divisive passions with my audiences, or wearing a Pussy Hat:
How great is 2017! We can speak to one another about our passions and concerns. We can represent different views. We can practice different beliefs.
So why were so many of my neighbors fearful to put lawn signs up to show support for their Presidential candidate?
I put up my Clinton sign after I’d heard from three separate neighbors about not wanting to offend. I DO support Hillary Clinton–she was my candidate, regardless of her opponent and of her/my gender. I also support freedom of speech and information. And I support my neighborhood. Being able to display that yard sign, which is still up, has meant a lot to me.
How great is music! We can sing pastoral songs about timeless beauty and pain. And we can also sing overt political anthems.
Yet many of my colleagues are shying away from songs AND from stage banter that might appear divisive, taking care not to offer anything that could challenge or offend audiences.
How great–and how annoying is social media! A lot of us DO dwell and share online. And I get that many of my friends are choosing to keep politics and social commentary off of their social media streams. They don’t want to get into it. Or they want to step back and learn more before mouthing off. I get it, and I respect thoughtfulness and restraint. Still, the self censorship makes me a little apprehensive: for the folks who’ve never been very active and vocal on, say, Facebook, it feels more natural. But to see pals who are usually so forthcoming holding back. Hmmm…. It’s uncomfortable.
And as for discomfort: how about the term ‘Pussy?’ How about using Pussy as vulgar slang for vagina, in an aggressive way, when our acting President said, “When you’re a star..You can do anything … Grab them by the pussy.”
And how about re-appropriating the term, and marching proudly in a Pussy hat to SHOW that, well, people with vaginas can grab back to create a global movement of dignity and support for women–and for all the strong men, girls, and boys who stand beside us. It was meant as a “unique, collective visual statement.” Calling them PussyHats was a bold way to reclaim the term Pussy, to reclaim power.
Now, a few of my friends are offended by the Pussy-saturated, if you will, rhetoric framing the Women’s Marches. They think that wearing pussy hats is demeaning and gross. They dislike the vulgar vagina climate (pun intended). They don’t accept this level of discourse. Or maybe they just don’t like the word.
But here we are. A person who publicly used the term as a pejorative was elected President. Instead of ignoring or dismissing this violent language, many chose to grab the term back. That many modern-day African Americans have re-appropriated the term ‘Nigger,’ and have re-framed that word in complex ways within Black American culture…. and that slaves before them re-appropriated slave collars, turning them into ornate jewelry, and elective adornment. Whew, talk about complex. That even the term “Girlfriend” and “Sister” can mean something more nuanced and important among women. Language is power. Vaginas are powerful. And pussycats are beautiful, and strong, and inspiring (to many, including this Irish monk in the 9th century who wrote the lovely poem below, and pictured here)
Well, how great is 2017. How great that I can post about this, and wonder about this. How great that we can post signs, sing songs, share opinions, and wear Pussy Hats.
I discovered this little gem, written by an Irish monk in the 9th Century, while visiting the Trinity library Book of Kells exhibit last week:
Pangur Bán
I and Pangur Bán my cat
‘Tis la like task we are at:
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.
Better far than praise of men
‘Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will
He too plies his simple skill.
Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur’s way;Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.
‘Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
‘Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try
*******
Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.
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