Jean Quan steps up

 

From: "Andrew Phelps" <starfish@northcoast.com>

Sender: s-acc@yahoogroups.com

Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:58:37 -0800

Subject: [s-acc] behavior object outreach

 

Hi

I keep working - in my political way - for recognition of the fact that people stereotyped as "behavior objects" deserve respect and that we should be empowered to be part of the "progressive lived experience." In line with the NSR project I'm now engaged from time to time in "doing things" which test the "social boundaries."

Thus I've written of listening to Dr. Gabor Maté and hearing Amy Goodman's partner Juan Gonzalez present. And more recently, regarding my KPFA experience cutting me off from Richard Wolff, the Marxist economist. For me - that is "x2" (times two) because when I was a labor organizer and "mental patient" activist in DC the 70s, I did something similar. I get experience observing "OSR behavior" as practiced in various progressive circles.

Today I attended an MLK, Jr. event at the ILWU hall in Oakland. One speaker was my Congressperson Barbara Lee - the only person in the U.S. House to vote against the "War on Terror." [See HERE.] She was followed by Mayor Jean Quan, one of the organizers of Asian-American Studies at U.C. Berkeley in the 60s, and more recently facing criticism for her "pepper spray" handling of the Oakland Occupy. The "Occupy" was much in the air, but not a word was spoken by the many speakers in that "pro-Occupy" union environment.

I did manage to give Jean a copy of MLK, Jr.'s speech to the APA on changing the way we do "behavior management" so that how we live by our values earns respect: She tucked it under her arm with 2-3 other items, as she left the room. My report is that while "civility" was operative at this event, still our passion to have our imagination and "beauty path" process respected is still at the stage of "dream not found." My subjective experience was that I was "glad there aren't separate bathrooms (in the Union Hall) for 'behavior objects' only." [!]

I hope people (no corporations need apply) will post about their "personhood" experiences. Delphine tells me that she planned to march in Sacramento with the banner of 9to5, in their MLK, Jr. Day celebration today.

 

Respectfully,

ABO "Andrew Behavior Object"