Friday, April 17, 2015

Paths to Quakerism: PEACE CAMP, with invitation to Events

RantWoman's concept of God/dess, Divine presence, paths to Quakerism, living as a Quaker requires a massive and multifaceted sense of both humor and wonderment.

Take the "Found way to Quakers because of Peace Camp" path.

Consider contemporary Quaker historian and theologian Ben Pink Dandelion. Pink Dandelion's story: he was at one of the peace camps in Britain in the 1980's. He and many of his friends took very anarchist names. After a year, he was the only one who kept his name; RantWoman has been around enough data systems to imagine that his name continues to work its anarchist magic in all kinds of ways. Heck, Quakers cannot even figure out how to refer to him!

RantWoman heard Friend Pink Dandelion speak once. For someone with a peace camp background, RantWoman heard much less go out into the world and bear witnessin worldly terms than she expected.

RantWoman does remember among all the available nuggets , a comment about how early Quakers sometimes were (RantWoman editorializing: so certain of their own direct lines to God that they were) not very nice to each other.

But in the meantime, consider some sample teachings of friend Pink Dandelion on The Difference Between Quaker Meeting and Other Christian Services:




For something rather, uh, DIFFERENT, consider RantWoman and the Women's Encampment for Peace and Justice, chronicled among other places at
http://peacecampherstory.blogspot.com/

Alert readers should find without too much difficulty a  video clip of RantWoman and also at least one picture

In particular, RantWoman expects to spend some time over the next little while wandering back and forth mentally between the 1980's and the present. One reason is a celebration consigning  archival materials to the Schlesinger Library aat Harvard. RantWoman is happy to flack for the event; RantWoman has little leading to attend in person but definitely invites readers who will be in Boston over Mother's Day Weekend to check things out.

Updated Times! HeRSToRy HaPPeNiNG! May 8-10, 2015
ViDeoFeST, aRTiFaCT eXHiBiTioN
& MuLTiMeDia STReaMiNG GaLLeRy
to officially launch this here archive and celebrate its inclusion in the Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice archives at the Schlesinger Library for the History of Women in America, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard.

Free. Open to the public.












SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
(subject to change)
FRIDAY, May 8
3-5:30 pm
PeHP Reception
Radcliffe Room, Schlesinger Library, Harvard

6-8 pm
Dinner
Harvard Square location TBD

SATURDAY, May 9

11 am-12:30 pm

Disarming the World--Pulling its Leg BRoaDCaST PeRFoRMaNCe
A radio play woven from the sounds of demonstrations, singing, chanting and interviews recorded by composer Sorrel Hays in her travels to women's peace camps in Europe and the U.S. 1983-1986. The central characters in the play, Manhattan pianist Patrilla and political activist Tanner are based loosely on Sorrel and one of the women she met at Seneca, Katy van Deurs. Script and original piano music by Sorrel. Sound by Marilyn Ries.
Copley Square, 560 Bolyston St., Boston

12:30-5 pm
Fires of Freedom aRTiFaCT eXHiBiT & MuLTiMeDia STReaMiNG GaLLeRy
The Peace Encampment Herstory Project collection consisting of hundreds of photographs and slides, newspaper clippings, peace camp handbook/flyers/mailings/meeting minutes, published books, handcrafted wall hangings, original & replicated banners, and research from the peace camp's electromagnetic radiation committee will be on display.
Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston St., Boston
5-6:30 pm
Like a Mountain ReMeMBeRiNG CeReMoNy
We will walk/shuttle five blocks to the Boston Women's Memorial for a ritual to acknowledge peace camp women who have died.
Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Boston

SUNDAY, May 10
1-5 pm
Rebel Wimmin ViDeoFeST
Regent Underground Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington (Alewife Station, Red Line to #350 Bus - MTBA)

Every Woman Here: Remnants of Seneca 1982-2006
Estelle Coleman, Alice O'Malley, hershe Michele, Kim Blacklock, Billijo Wolf, 2007; 32 minutes.
A nonlinear narrative documentary produced by the Peace Encampment Herstory Project of The Women’s Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice and its later incarnation, Women’s Peace Land. The video consists of excerpts from nine oral herstories and 18 songs and more than 300 images from dozens of photographers.

And in case anyone wants the first piquant reflection which rises, after a sting at Peace Camp, rantWoman returned to college and finished up a degree. College went much better after time off than before. For instance, RantWoman signed up for a women's studies class. RantWoman remembers the professor being sort of in awe of RantWoman's attempt to write academic papers about her peace camp experience. RantWoman also remembers not wanting to demystify TOO MUCH. Really at times, peace campe was a lot about what does or does not go into oatmeal, how many days in a row one can eat bagels, conflict management mong both humans and felines, and movements of Spirit amid convoluted and hotly contested but very soul-filled circle meetings!

Alert readers who are dying to know how all of this ties into RantWoman and present-day spiritual travails, confrontation with Climate Change, sundry collisions with slices of the past all over the internet and at least SLIGHTLY more sedate contempoary presentation are just going to ahve to stay tuned for another episode.

and meanwhile, check out http://www.micahbales.com/church-more-sex/

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