Blame it on those Ad Men
There is something that we need to talk about. Let’s start by reading this excerpt from Riana:
Throughout human history, children have spent the majority of their lives with both parents every single day. This continued up through the transition to agriculture and really ended only in the modern era. Though it is an ecologically and environmentally sound form of family life and that it, ultimately, leads to greater psychological happiness.
And actually washing dishes is fun. We don’t have to be prosperous and find excitement from each task that we do, but it’s not hard labor and I enjoy my full days at home. I’m very lucky that i can be at home all day to play with amaya and let her learn from me: cooking, sewing, washing, cleaning, reading, gardening, fixing, writing, drawing, crafting. woman’s work? perhaps. but i think its better than lining the pockets of someone else, working for basically nothing (for what end or purpose), probably harming the earth more (we have 30 less environment impact by me not working). this work i do at home benefits us, not some unknown corp exec and doesnt pollute the earth.
We have made the choice to live off of one salary (and my husband works only four days a week) and that means that we will always be poor. one car, less “stuff”, nothing new for years, but much more happier. that means we get to see and be part of her milestones, hear each new word uttered and each new task mastered.
She learns how to live, truly live: forage and hunt for food and prepare it from scratch, reuse and reclaim and collect water, build a shelter and this means happiness and avoiding misery. Learning to be clean is part of being human. Chores, scrubbing the toilets, washing clothes is not drudgery, but something to be enjoyed, part of cleaning up after ourselves. it leads to satisfaction and being good stewards of our earth.
It seems that many of us kids in our 20’s and 30’s are desperately trying to hone in on the perfect expression of gratitude to the many lives that have been sacrificed for our right to self, a face–occupation. Let’s all take a minute to remember that what we do is a vehicle for who we are. We are fighting for honor and respect and opportunity. Is there a more honorable, respectable, and free person than the artisan? In my heart I do not believe so.
The day I found out that my job would be coming to an end after our project closes out I was walking home in the rain. I contemplated how to deal with these next few months–do I disengage myself from all of my work or do I continue to throw myself into it? Then it came to me: WHERE ALL YOUR STARS OUT? WHERE YOU BUSY WRITING YOUR HEART OUT? Dear god, let us see that we are our own child. We are teaching ourself to live. Be an artisan of whatever you want. People have died for you to do so. They didn’t die for you to fill someone else’s pockets. Be a peasant. Use your parts to heal the world.
An equivalent of the D.A. is forming. Young people are leaving (or being asked to leave 
) their corporate jobs and demanding better ways to live. Pretty awesome.
More on this later. Tater. ox.
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WE SHOULD BE IN DUMBLEDORES ARMY FOR REAL
Comment by Matthew — January 10, 2009 #
I need to remember to read that letter every new year, and every birthday, and every everything.
Comment by Alisha — January 10, 2009 #
fuck, “Be the artisan of whatever you want.” I keep filp-flopping between trying to be satisfied with the fact that i have jobs that pay the bills and maintain my appearance of doing something “productive” with my post-graduate self, and the fact that I don’t believe in living according to anyone’s values but my own. Productive? Isn’t living out the desires of my entire soul productive? Isn’t offering the world what I am best at productive? Isn’t being revolutionary productive? Fuck productive. That notion is how the world got ourselves into this whole mess. We need to create things with our soul. To stop feeling guilty for what pleasures us the most. To stop being ashamed at what we could do best. To be artisans of whatever the fuck we want. I am so excited for you guys right now. The beginning of things is always my favorite…like being a born baby. There is sooooo much to absorb.
Comment by jennabee — January 30, 2009 #