17 A Quick Reminder

Defender la alegria y organizar de la rabia. [We must defend our joy and organize around our rage.] - Organizing Principle from Mexican activists shared by Costa Rican artist and activist Natalia Astuácas 

Another week is before us.

Where are you celebrating and defending your joys?

• This week includes the birthdays of three awesome humans in my family. I’m celebrating them. 
• I got to see two of my closest friends. It was an incredible weekend. I am celebrating them, us, friendship, and the fact that their plane made it safely there (which feels like a frickin’ miracle these days).
• I plan to do some painting this week. (Ask me about it, I may need a reminder.)
• Who wants to get together in the next couple of weeks and enjoy some wonderful food together?

Where are you channeling and organizing around your rage?

• Tomorrow (February 19) I am planning to celebrate the many wonderful federal employees (yes, even you IRS workers) as part of a coordinated action. You can too! Coordinated by the Federal Unionists Network (yes, that is FUN for short), which also has a number of resources for those who work for the federal government https://www.federalunionists.net/
• Did you spend time as a student or staff member at a college/university? Did you go to school at any point between when you were born and now? Do you live close to a school? Call them and tell them to stand against the US Dept of Education’s directive that they eliminate any programs affiliated with DEI or risk losing funding. Ask how you can support them. (Post high school that could be Presidents’ offices; K-12 the superintendents’ offices)  Tell them they need to stand up and fight back. I’m looking at higher ed when I say this - the time for threading the needle is gone. They failed their students who stood up against the genocide in Palestine. Scrubbing their websites and cancelling conferences is not going to work; they actually have to take a stand.
• Looking for ideas to resist that are not protesting? Here are some from a badass fighter for justice, Mariame Kaba.

Some Actions That Are Not Protesting or Voting

Some Actions That Are Not Protesting or Voting A list adapted from Frontline Medics. I’ve added a lot of things and edited other things. [Note: I continue to update this document as more ideas are shared with me. If there are things you want to add, email niapoetry@gmail.com] **I created [with…

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I read something recently that was both jarring and helpful. Those who were responsible for the death of Anne Frank and those she lived with were following the law. Those who were protecting her were breaking the law. 

Know you are loved, embrace joy, and fight like hell ,

e

Don't Quit, John Greenleaf Whittier (pretty cool dude)

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit—
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

[originally written 2.18.2025]