|
Invocation
by
Marta M. Miranda
Ironweed,
2005
On this
night, at this moment with this breath
En esta
noche, en este momento, con este
respiro
We evoke the
communal spirit of justice
Nosotros
evocamos el spirito de comunidad y
justicia
We break
bread with our neighbors, we extend our hand to our enemies
and we pray for global justice
Nosotros
partimos el pan con nuestros vecinos, estendemos nuestras
manos al enemigo y pedimos por justicia
universal
We feed our
souls with the courage of those who have dared to break the
silence of oppression
Nosotros
le damos de comer a nuestras almas con el valor de aquellos
que tuvieron el coraje de romper el silencio de la
oppression
We honor the
holy places of protests, the streets, the marches, the
public halls, the seat on the segregated bus, the brown hand
who refused to pick the grape, the power to love in spite of
hatred and shame, and we are strengthened by the convinction
of those who dared to spit in the master's
soup.
Nosotros
honoramos los lugares santos de protesta, las calles y
desfiles, los pasillos politicos, el asiento en la guagua
segregada, la mano mora que no recogio la uva , el amor que
ama envuelto en verguenza y recimos fuerza en la convicion
de aquellos que escupireron en la sopa del
patron.
|
On
this night, on this moment with this
breath
En
esta noche, en este momento, y con este
respiro
We
promise to bring water and hope to the thirsty
immigrant
Nosotros
prometimos traer agua y esperanza al imigrante con
sed
We
demand access for the less abled bodied amongst
us
Nosotros
demandamos acceso a los que el cuerpo no les
funciona bien
We
rejoice in the inherent goodness of all
people
Nosotros
regosamos en la inherente bondad de todas las
personas
|
We worship in all the names given to the holy ones and
we pray:
Nosotros
resamos en todos los nombres de dios y
pedimos
For the
marriage of compassion to power
Por el
matrimonio de compasion y poder
For the
abundance of the earth to feed the mouths of the
hungry
Por darles
de comer a las bocas hambrientas con la abundancia de la
tierra
On this night
at this moment with this breath we pray
En esta
noche, en este momento con este suspiro
rezamos
We pray that
our men and boys claim their true masculinity and bring
their hearts to their sexuality
Resamos
por nuestros hombres y ninos, pedimos que ellos reclamen la
verdadera masculinidad y que unan sus corazones con su
sexualidad
We pray that
our women and girls grow strong, safe, and
free
Pedimos
que nuestras mujeres y ninas crescan seguras, fuertes y
libres
And we
pray for us the justice workers, that we may have a circle
of family and friends to come home to and for a lover who is
willing to wash our aching feet
Por un
circulo de familia y amigos en nuestras casas y por un
amante que nos labe nuestros adoloridos
pies.
Namaste,
Amen
Inspiration
and credits given to: Judy Chicago, Cesar Chavez, Rosa
Parks,
Anne Frank,
Camilo Cienfuegos, Thich Nhat Hanh, Georga Ella Lyons and
Rigoberta Menchu.
**************
Children's
Creativity and Diversity
Children's Diversity participants share
their creativity at Ironweed 2003
"Children's
Creativity and Diversity" participants at Ironweed 2003
enjoyed a fabulous day led by Alliance members Susan Mead
and Omope Daboiku. After drawing some amazing self-portraits
using multi-cultural crayons, they read picture books by
George Ella Lyon and other Appalachian women authors. Next,
they listened to stories and songs about the Cherokee and
Monacan Indian Nations, while learning about African
Americans, Chinese and European immigrants, and other
racial-ethnic groups who have enriched Appalachia.
Once on-stage, they
wowed us with their multicultural banners, along with a
rousing rendition of the environmental lament, "There's a
boom in Appalachia, boom in Appalachia...... Bring on the
trash 'cause we need the cash!"
Participant Alex
Franklin then paid the women of Ironweed the ultimate
compliment of the day: "Grandma Sheri sure has cool
friends."
**************
Carpetbag
Theater and Friends fill the stage at Ironweed
2002
The
Enchantment of Ironweed: Creating Our Own
Way
by
Linda McKinney
Ironweed,
2002
We gather as women
from across seven states, to honor and celebrate the lives
of women and to reach out to other women who are "looking
for something." We organize a good time, a time for letting
our hair down, and for listening to women perform works that
amaze and inspire. We create "our way" of expressing art as
cultural activism.
Each time a woman
performs, there's a moment of enchantment, a sudden hush
when our spirits are touched by what she has shared. As a
woman without a clear talent, that moment of enchantment
even happens for me. It happens because I feel safe within
the space that the Alliance creates for women to give birth
to their own unknown self-expression.
I read an essay
that I wrote for the Appalachian Women's Journal. And I
experience enchantment, a moment when I am larger than my
own low self-esteem, and the voice of self doubt is just a
whisper. I have a voice without the full vibrant colors of
the other women, but I wrote and now read my own work,
because of the Alliance women pushing, pulling, and
inspiring me to create, work and organize. And I know this
is a good thing because enchantment takes shape and spreads
out across the whole space and spirits are touched within
those of the audience.
For women who are
searching for something, the Alliance has a place for you;
where your work and commitment can strengthen and grow into
meaningful, creative work throughout Appalachia. Come join
us, so that your vision and energy and spirit will help to
create our way.
|
Taking
A Stand: Guerilla Theater at Ironweed
by
Carmen Shuler
Ironweed
, 2004
|
|
I am the
concerned, and sometimes distraught, mother of a
United States Marine Corporal serving in an Iraqi
hot zone.
When I was
asked to be in an anti-war demonstration at
Ironweed, for a moment I was concerned about
whether or not I would be viewed as not supporting
the troops. But I knew that my oldest son, a Marine
serving in Iraq, would be proud for me to "act-out"
in support of the troops. I knew that he would
believe that Americans have the right to question
the weight of oil rights in the decision for a U.S.
lead pre-emptive strike on Iraq. My son was raised
to be patriotic in a family with a military
history, but he was also taught to question dogma
and to seek the truth.
|
As a Cherokee
descendant, he was taught to understand the secrets the
United States government has sometimes kept locked away.
Right now my son and many soldiers are fighting a war in
Iraq, because it is their military duty under a misguided
Commander in Chief. Their lives are in the hands of a
government's war and political strategies.So, because of
their plight, I agreed to be wrapped in a flag and to don a
beard to represent Uncle Sam at Ironweed.
Our anti-war
demonstrators depicted pall-bearers carrying a coffin draped
with the USA flag, to represent the Bush-controlled media
which will not allow America to see photos of the flag
draped-coffins when our military dead are returned to the
homeland. As "Uncle Sam," I lead the pall-bearers with the
coffin through the crowd. Uncle Sam was drinking from a
bottle of oil labeled with a dollar sign ($), and pointing
from the coffin, to the oil can, and back at the crowd in an
"Uncle Sam wants-you" style.
As we walked
through the crowd, my mind was bombarded with the reality of
each American citizen's responsibility for taking whatever
actions to stop unnecessary war. I felt the pain of mothers
and fathers who have lost their sons and daughters in Iraq
and are crying out to America, "Feel our pain and loss! Ask
yourself, has international terrorism been lessened?" And
from the coffin, it seemed as though I could hear the voices
of the fallen warriors saying, "Speak out for us. Speak out
against the greed of the guilty oil corporations. Speak out
as you grieve for the unnecessary blood shed of U.S.
military personnel and innocent Iraqis."
Because our troops
are treated as dispensable by the government, I demonstrated
to gain some hope that sanity may soon be restored to our
country and that our troops may be returned home.
I acted out against
the Iraqi War (Operation Oil Rights) and I spoke out for our
U.S. military troops who were lead into this war on false
misinformation, as documented by the 9/11 Commission Report.
I will always remember 9/11 and I hope that the responsible
terrorists will be brought to justice, including Osama Bin
Laden. My family and I will always mourn that tragic day.
However, I do not believe that the war on terrorism and
Operation Iraqi Freedom are one and the same. Thomas
Jefferson once said that the highest form of patriotism is
dissent, and Abe Lincoln said it is a sin to be silent when
it is your duty to speak out. We cannot be afraid to act out
for the lives of the soldiers that are sworn to follow the
commands of their superiors. We cannot be afraid to act out
for the lives that are still at risk and for those US and
Iraqi families that have suffered so much loss. I'm just one
mom, who wants her son to come home, safe and in one piece.
Those words, heard from some book or movie, are now real to
me "Creator, please bring Zach home, safe and in one
piece."
Carmen E. Shuler is
the mother of Marine Corporal Zachary J. White (22),
NorthGeorgia
**************
Catch
the Spark
by
Sue Massek
Ironweed,
2003
What do a Cherokee
singer/dancer/visual artist, an African-American grand
champion slam poet and a "glued to the hide" clawhammer
banjo player descended from Irish and Bohemian stock have in
common? They and many more Appalachian women artists
will be performing at this year's Ironweed Festival. Like
the Ironweed flower the festival is named for, these women
are strong and their roots go deep.
In the morning you
can learn to "Catch the Spark" and start a fire with flint
and steel as you dance to Cherokee rhythms and sing a song
of seasons in the Cherokee language. If you are interested
in written and spoken word you can explore your way from
Haiku to slam poetry. You may prefer to participate in
building a sculpture with donated canned goods. There
are workshops where children revel in diversity and teens
discuss the value of "attitude" and how they can get adults
to listen.
In the afternoon
you will find a stage that features storytellers, actresses,
playwrights, musicians (from drummers to singer/songwriters)
and poets. What gives it a powerful twist is that
mingled among those who make a living expressing themselves
through art are the voices and visions of women who've risen
above the forces that have kept them silent far too long.
At Ironweed, their voices also ring out -- against
racism, economic injustice, domestic violence, and
homophobia.
There will be
crafts for sale and a silent auction for those of you who
are drawn to visual arts and food vendors when you get
hungry. Or you can bring your own food if you prefer.
Ironweed is an
undiscovered treasure where the soul is rejuvenated and the
heart is strengthened. A rainbow of people coming
together to celebrate Appalachian women's voices and the
messages they bring.
**************
Cultural
Pride & Prejudice
by
Tara Buckler
Ironweed
2001
Ironweed was such
an intense cultural experience -- dissolving prejudice just
by being around those we are prejudiced against. I've
justified my prejudice by saying that "they" would be that
way towards me, by having contempt towards those I assume to
be racist, homophobic and ignorant, classifying an entire
community as rednecks and hillbillies, disclaiming my
heritage in Kentucky by saying, "I'm from Louisville, not
Kentucky," as if Louisville is superior over the rest of the
state, and the south.
During the week-end
I realized the absurdity of my own ambivalence as it is
based on fear and ignorance. And these "lessons" came from
drama, communication and good ol' mountain music; from
sharing personal stories and backgrounds, and music and art
and theater and nature and traditions.
The Women's
Alliance represents a community grown tired of outsiders
showing their images, telling their stories, and promoting
sterotypes -- the last group of people that its okay, even
politically correct, to ridicule and discriminate
against.
I realized how far
my own prejudice extends, and that I need to go back and
visit the small town where I grew up.
************
Ironweed
Reflects Diverse Heritage of Women in the
Region
by
Meredith Dean
Ironweed,
2000
|
|
They
killed G.P. and the kink fell out my hair. He
was my cousin, blood brother, bond of felicity
They said, "Another nigger dead, white folks
don't care."
Southwest
Virginia Poet Patricia Johnson cried out the story
of her cousin, G.P., to a hushed crowd gathered in
the midst of the Appalachian mountains for the
annual Ironweed Festival. Through poetry and dance,
music and prose, the Festival celebrates the
regional leadership and courageous lives of
Appalachian women. Participants in this year's
event also spoke to the devastating experiences of
poverty, racism, and violence that women face in
isolated homes and communities.
|
As those assembled
sat mesmerized by the majestic view, author and West
Virginia gubernatorial candidate Denise Giardina described
the violent destruction of her state by mountaintop removal,
urging us to fight against the desecration of our
Appalachian lands. Dancer Jude Binder reminded us of
women's long herstory of resistance, with her original
rendition of the early life of Mother Jones.
Performance artist
Linda Parris Bailey led us to call forth our own crones and
mentors by conjuring up a wise woman from her past.
The Three Cherokee Women then guided us to an earlier time
of struggle with Cherokee songs and chants; while Sister
Drum brought forth ancient African and Celtic rhythms from
our foremothers.
Musicians Kate
Long, Elaine Wine, and Wishing Chair sang of more recent
struggles -- the Viet Nam war, the civil rights movement --
through the eyes of women. And Reel World String Band
gave us hope for the future of our own effort, an
"Appalachian wind" moving through the mountains.
Interspersed throughout the day were the poetry and songs of
Appalachian women, seven to seventy, who are part of our
Alliance and our movement.
|
