Before we get to the first of the month topic, I have to say–holey chicken! What an amazing collection of recipes, stories, tragedies and triumphs. Whether or not you’re searching for the perfect roast chicken recipe, give the comments a peek if you can. And there’s still a few more days to enter to win the dutch oven, too.
Last month, I started a series I’m calling “first of the month.” Essentially, I ask a question and, if you like, you pipe in to discuss. There’s no giveaway or incentive involved–it’s really just a place for you to write. You can write as much or as little as you want, or if you want to answer on your own website, just leave a link in the comments. Last month, we talked about money, and this month, I’d love to talk about politics.
Some of you may know that for the last three years, I’ve held public office in my little New England town. In just under two weeks, my term is up, and I’m not running again. There are a few different reasons why I’m not running, but mostly it has to do with the fact that often two or even three nights a week, I sprint out of the house right at dinner time and I don’t come back till long after the girls are asleep. The girls are feeling done with this schedule, and I think I’ve had enough of it, too. I’m also in the midst of writing a book about dinner, and somehow I think “take frozen soup out of the freezer and convince your family they want to eat it” is not quite going to cut it when it comes to the recipes.
I haven’t written too much about my experiences in town hall here, although it certainly comes up now and then. Last year, I wrote a piece about campaigning for Martha Stewart Living Magazine, which isn’t online although this reaction to the piece is. (I’m proud of this, as I think it’s the only time someone has written an actual reaction to something I’ve written!) But over the last few years, I’ve helped to make a few little changes happen. People have come up to me on the street and thanked me for what I’ve done. I’ve learned that the press is not my friend. I’ve been misquoted and misrepresented in our two local papers more times than I can count. There are a few issues I’ve approached with good intentions and then messed them up so they might be worse than when I found them. I’ve learned about when to listen, and maybe more importantly, when not to listen. I’ve been the subject of Bill O’Reilly’s anger (a story for another time). I’ve gotten better about speaking clearly and on the fly, and, depending on the moment, I’ve both gained respect for and entirely lost hope in the power of American democracy.
So this is my question. Right now, in the midst of all that’s happening in politics (choose any issue or any country- take your pick), how do you claim your place in your democracy? How do you use the power you have, and what do you do to try to stay engaged and inspired? Feel free to talk about your political leanings or not. I know we’re all kind here, and we can respect our differences as well as our similarities.
Thank you, as always, for stepping into the conversation. Thank you also for reading each other’s words, and just for being here, too.
Occasionally I teach workshops, and I have one coming up this fall. Join me and stellar novelist 
I’m glad you’re asking this question. Just I was wondering how I could be more politically active, which is hard, being bedridden a majority of the time. I sign petitions and read as much as aI can from a number of websites, magazines, and blogs. I find that you have to depend on yourself to find out the right information these days, you can’t rely on the standard news anymore. I also consume consciously, that is, spend my money where it will do the most good. I have found facebook to be a useful tool in being politically active. I can voice may concerns and get feedback from friends. It’s also a great way to stay up to date on all the organizations that I follow and support.
I love hearing that you feel like Facebook helps you to stay engaged. I feel like I do some grumbling about FB, and it’s always good for me to think about the ways it connects people.
I keep informed with issues I am concerned about (a great many it seems) by various media. I contact my representatives, congress and have also written the White House. I use my money to purchase from sources I believe in. But I do not discuss my politics with others. I was raised to understand that I have the right to believe in what I believe in and others have to right to believe in what they believe in. But I do not have the right to push my feelings and beliefs on others. Doesn’t work anyhow, I don’t change my beliefs when assaulted by others beliefs so why would I assume it would work the other way. However I have a duty to stand behind my beliefs by voting and contacting those who “working for us” and letting them know how I feel about things.
Absolutely, Syd. I’ve been thinking about this topic specifically lately just in my own conversations in the small local political world here- I wonder if it’s possible to share what one believes without pushing it on others, that is, for the sake of having a conversation? I’m not sure if it is- and I absolutely agree that you can’t change people’s minds, but sometimes I think they might be able to change their own when it’s based on their experiences. And what seems to be lacking at the national level right now is a good, open conversation.
Alana, I love your blog, your cookbook is worn to nubs, and I eagerly await the next. And, while that is awesome for me, I think a larger thing I appreciate about this blog is the authenticity with which you approach it and the vibe it puts out into the larger world.
I’m a big believer in the theory that how we do one thing is pretty much how we do everything, so if you’ve managed to incite the ire of Bill O’Reilly, you must be doing something right. 🙂
As an American, my bias is Americans have the best process on earth, and I think it’s probably tragically broken. I also think intention matters, so we keep trying, we still have peaceful transfers of power, etc., and there’s a lot to be said for that. I also think a big part of the brokenness is simply human…I don’t often pay attention to media frenzy one way or the other, mostly because I don’t think it’s really that much different than the Romans at the Colosseum, screaming for blood and cheering when the lions chew someone to bits. Details are different, stories are much the same over time.
Having said all of that, I think history also proves that the light always overcomes the dark; that peaceful, non-violent means always work in the end; that one person and a small group of committed people really DO make a difference. Look at Ghandi, Dr. MLK, the mothers and grandmothers in the countries asking where their children are, Wangari Maathai, and a million others. Just showing up peacefully and stating your truth clearly and peacefully matters. We are all we have, and we are enough.
There will always be Romans in the Colosseum screaming for blood, if blood is what excites people and pays the bills. And, there will always be people outside, walking the road non-violently to peace. We’ve proven that again and again, and we’ve proven again and again that non-violent resistance changes the world and is what brings down empires. Whatever local part we play in that makes a difference in the larger world, just like a small stone makes big ripples in a pond.
So, keep walking your path and know what you do makes a difference. Thank you for your service that shows up in many ways.
Peace 🙂
Thank you sooo much for leaving this post. I struggle everyday with my own anger, fear and guilt I have of the “American Christians” I consider myself a Christian, but am so far removed from the Christians I encounter these days. MLK, Mother Teresa, Florence Kellenberger(my mother-in-law) those are examples of what I think being a Christian is. I can say I have moved away from so many people I know because they have voiced their beliefs about the right to own guns, pollute the earth by consumerism, gay haters, foreign haters and just down right selfishness as they are walking through the doors to church that I am beginning to think it is me that is not thinking right. I no longer am evolved in the Catholic church that I so much believed in when I was younger. I even at one point in my life wanted to be a nun. I am so ashamed at what some Christians post and say as if they are speaking for all Christians. So your post proves to me that their are peace loving people out there and we just have to stick to our beliefs that love, peace and thinking of others first IS the answer.
I agree, and I also think that like Jesus, to turn the other cheek means to expose the violence. When we respond in an empowered way, rather than a forceful way, it changes things. Too often as activists I think we add aggression to an already tense situation, when in fact all we need to do is maybe be still a bit.
I actually did a post on this in my own blog awhile back…here is the link.
Peace 🙂
http://blessingsenterprises.com/you-may-say-im-a-dreamer-but-im-not-the-only-one-2/
Terri,
I read your blog and you hit it right on the head, thanks. I do love that speech and I don’t listen to it often enough.
Allison
Thank you, Terri. You’re words mean so much to me. And I love the way you’ve put it here- it’s true that these stories keep repeating themselves, and always through all the horrible violence, there are good people “showing up peacefully” to speak and help others. It can be so easy to be centered on this time and this place. History helps.
I don’t know if this really falls into your category, but here goes. I had a brush with local politics last year with our local planning commission. I wanted to have chickens in my backyard but according to zoning, I was not allowed to have them. I decided to speak up. With the help of my dear friend, we wrote a presentation. Just a little background—I’m terrified to speak in front of adults!! Children, yes (I’m an elementary school reading specialist) but adults scare the poo out of me! Anyway, I knew that I would have to speak in front of the Board. What made it worse was I was the last one on the agenda so I got to sit there getting more and more nervous. Long story short, I handed out my presentation packet to the members and gave my speech about how I wanted to raise chickens in my back yard. And I didn’t faint while doing it! Funny thing is, one of the members lives near me and agreed that chickens would be quieter than the dog that barks in his neighborhood at 2 a.m. Anyway, it took a year (and many emails to make sure they hadn’t buried my request) but our county passed the ordinance allowing backyard chickens. It was small-scale, but boy did I feel empowered. And now I have the most wonderful, adorable, egg-yielding hens!
Oh it absolutely is on topic! We’ve had lots of chicken drama here- we could use a poultry crusader like you.
I think that this is a good example of how people often get involved in local politics. They come to their first board meeting to talk about an issue or a problem their working on, and it just continues from there. I started by working on environmental issues, and then I got sucked right in to the rest of it. 🙂
I concur with Terri on the authentic of your blog. It is what always has be coming back to it, and I sincerely appreciate your honesty with everything. I have to admit, I’m not as involved locally in politics as I should be. I know that the decisions made closest to home are the ones that likely will effect me most, but living in a big city like Atlanta, I do feel alienated from the local process.
However, I am a staunch believer in voting and educate myself on every race, candidate, and amendment even when the ballot is 50 long. In high school, I participated in Marine Corps JROTC, and after spending a week at the Parris Island boot camp, I have a huge respect for what our solders today and yesterday have done to protect our rights to vote, some making the ultimate sacrifice. I never miss an election, rain or shine. It’s such a powerful feeling to have that right, and every time I do, I’m filled with gratitude for those that made it possible.
I love that you brought this up, Shawn- not only that you always exercise the right to vote, but also that you stay engaged by making sure you are informed. It’s a step a lot of people don’t take.
I also think it frames the experience so well to always vote with those in mind who worked so hard (and many who lost their lives) just so you could have this moment. The soldiers, the activists- everyone who fights for you. It puts voting in context. And even with all the complications of elections and corporate donations and all the things that could make us think our vote doesn’t count? We vote anyway to honor those who fought so we could.
I, too, vote in every election. I try to educate myself though sometimes it is hard to separate the truth from the spin. I take my children (2 girls, 1 boy) with me so they see me vote, and I talk to them about how important it is that I can and do. I am not comfortable being personally involved in demonstrations, public letter writing. I do contact my elected officials to register my opinion. I sign petitions. But I think the most important work I do is with children and young people, through my work in liberal religious education mostly. I let them know I believe they are smart and capable, that they can think for themselves, find out what they want to know, and learn anything they care to. In every interaction I try to build up their confidence in their own beliefs, values, and ability to make a difference in public or private, large and small ways. The best hope for our broken system is an educated, empowered, engaged citizenry.
Well said, Jill. I think the only way out of the broken system is from the voters up.
Just wanted to let you know that something’s gone wrong with your RSS feed – it has spam injected into it. The current one reads:
“Before we get to the first of the month topic, I have to say–holey chicken
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Oy- thanks so much for letting me know. I’m working on it now, and hopefully should be able to figure out how to resolve!
I’m in the middle of reading Michael Pollan’s new book, which has me thinking about how cooking dinner is one of my biggest political commitments. I vote, I am involved with our community on a regular level, I try to vote my dollars whenever I can. But cooking every night, or say six nights a week, is one of the best ways I know to live out my produce-don’t-consume political value. I like thinking about the ways I can make my kitchen “political” – food that supports workers’ rights, food that supports water conservation and soil richness and biodiversity, food that supports farmers instead of politicians. All good cooking, in my book.
Also, I just love the comments about turning the other cheek. It was Jesus, but also in a contemporary political sense it was MLK and Ghandi and others who championed nonviolent engagement with a violent political system. I love thinking about how we can put this into practice with what we teach our children, every day. Parenting brings us face to face with which of our politics are bone-deep and which we just give lip service to.
Another great topic. Happy weekend Alana.
Hannah, I just need to rewrite what you just said. I love it so much.
“Parenting brings us face to face with which of our politics are bone-deep and which we just give lip service to.”
Being 23 and a duel American/Canadian citizen, there is a lot of pressure and expectation for me to practice my right to vote. It’s something that I believe in, and something that I feel so incredible blessed to have the opportunity to do. Most of my friends vote as well, but I know many young people do not.
I find the problem for me is that the entire process is overwhelming – where do I go to find the best information about the names on my ballot box? How can I possibly trust the information that is being presented by the candidates prior to election day as it is so often different afterwards. (I understand that a lot of the time this is due to circumstances, but it makes it difficult to know what promises to count on.)
Showing up on election day, with no knowledge other than what names are associated with what party makes me feel like I’m cheating the system. I’m not really making informed decisions and helping move my country(ies) forward in the direction that I support. In British Columbia, where I currently live, we are having a provincial election in two weeks. This year I have made a commitment to doing my research so that I can show up informed. I just hope that others my age are starting to make this shift as well.
Thank you Alana for a well timed question that is so important to our lives in democratic countries.
It’s true, Katherine- I think that even if you want to be informed, it’s hard to know where to get your information. I imagine there was a time when you maybe read about a candidate in the newspaper or they came to speak in your town, and you made a decision based on your impressions of them. But now, with SO much information at our fingertips, it’s hard to know where to go. And I think that being informed is such a huge part of being engaged. They have to go hand in hand, but it takes work.
alright, i know chicken has come and gone, but i have been thinking about it all. week. long., after your last post.
and can i tell you? i think your instructions in that post were the best i have EVER read? they capture the heart and soul of of a golden bird — its ease, its flexibility. strong opinions stem from simplicity, i think. and i think folks need to know that there are 101 ways to roast a bird — all excellent. good for you for calling attention to this — not hypocrisy, not conflict, not at all. just the underlying — and here’s a tie-in — democracy of the roast chicken.
also? that kumquat marmalade was THE BOMB. Oh, goodness, would that i’d cornered a flat of kumquats. ummm….
happy spring to you, alana!
molly
And there you go, linking these two posts better than I ever could! I love it. AND I’m gladder than you can imagine that you loved the kumquat marmalade, too, since I think when it came down to it, my craving for pith and sweetness and ease probably came out of a post you wrote way back about candied orange peel that just seemed to stay with my tastebuds. Happy internet that we can feed each other in this way, don’t you think? xo
Here in Boston we just had our 17th annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. This was the first year I’d attended and it was amazing to be surrounded by so many people who shared the same concern – in this case gun violence. The walk attracted double the number of people expected , $10,000. Events like this that get attention are heartening, but then there’s the follow up. Contacting politicians and contacting them some more. I heard someone from the civil right’s movement on the radio recently saying that when you’re working to change the world, you have to have the mentality that the change may not happen in your lifetime, but it will happen. The important thing is to get the ball rolling.