‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
Wild rice
BY PETER MOLENAAR “Ricey Wild” is the pen name attached to “It Ain”'t Easy Being Indian.” Ricey is a window to the world, as seen from the Fond du Lac reservation. Her work is published in THE CIRCLE and as such, is part of the fabric of our community. Only occasionally has Ricey vented resentment upon the surrounding White world. However, in one instance, I was moved to respond from the perspective of an industrial worker (Smith Foundry). True enough, us white workers are sometimes a tad “slow.” Nonetheless, in our mutual confrontation with the money-power, unity is the requirement of all. So, the learning process continues. In her April 2016 piece, Ricey decisively leans toward unity by inviting us to become more “Indian.” An example of her sound advice: “Okay, the powwow rules. When you see the Indians stand up, you do too. When they are quiet you zip it. No filming”¦when [...]
Living With Cave Bear
By Peter Molenaar Ursus spelaens (Cave Bear) emerged one million years ago, coexisted with Homo neanderthalenis for 300,000 years, then went extinct in the period of Homo sapien ascendency. Cave Bear was a big vegetarian. In those Ice Age winters, he and his kind occupied in masse the great caves of Europe. There, they would hibernate. Who doubts that our own brethren and Cave Bear coexisted as cohabitants of the cave? Neanderthal man had entered the scene, spear of Africa in hand. Nonetheless, necessity and fear imposed a powerful tension. We soon learned, however, that Cave Bear had come to sleep, and after all, would prefer not to mess with us. So then we, with our fire and spears, held the raiding hyenas at bay, while the old bears, which had come to sleep forever, provided a ton of meat. Enter the dark cave”¦ (more…)
Saving Capitalism
By Peter Molenaar Author Robert Reich”'s most recent book bears the title: Saving Capitalism - For the Many, Not the Few. Those of us born to black and white TV, might remember Robert as the Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton. Of interest currently, is the former secretary”'s endorsement of Bernie Sanders. Certainly, the Sanders Campaign reflects a new mass consciousness, formed in the wake of the “Great Recession.” However, is this campaign merely an effort to save capitalism, or is it an aspect of a process towards a fundamental transformation (i.e., towards public ownership of financial institutions and the dominant means of production)? Meanwhile”¦ In its March 2016 issue, Southside Pride published the article: “Socializing Capitalism ”“ Creating a Market Economy with a Social Conscience.” The author, Kari Andrade, claims to be a capitalist! Oh, my”¦ Perhaps she has read the book of Reich. However, Ms. Andrade begins by [...]
