It is interesting. By in large, contra dancers tend to be on the
liberal side of the spectrum. And, judging from this discussion, even
the reasons for not bringing up current events are because we want to
get away from the message ("denying people healthcare is so important
that they'll shut down the government..."), not because we hold the
opinion that "Obamacare is going to destroy America and everything we
hold holy...".
Though I tend to be on the extreme left, (like, I think of NPR as
National Pentagon Radio...) and sometimes I can't help but comment by
giving my dances titles like:
There is No Way to Peace; Peace Is the Way
Malcolm's X
Black Wednesday (the day after Bush II's second stolen election...)
and occasionally making comments, I want the dance to be a place where
people of all political persuasions and colors are welcome.
So, if a card carrying Tea-Partier, or an anti-women's-right-to-choose
fundamentalist Christian, or a fundamentalist Muslim, or a nazi-white
supremacist, or a flat-earther, or a "God made the Universe in 7 earth
days exactly 10,000 years ago...", or a person with any sort of
ridiculous belief structure comes to the dance, and finds joy in sharing
the dance with others, I am happy they are there and don't want to drive
them away with my ideology -- even though I'm Right!
Granted, if this variety of people all showed up at the same time, we
might end up with fireworks, and that is something we must watch out
for. I once had to tell a man that his racist comments to a Black
dancer were not welcome at the dance, and if we heard him say anything
like that again, he would be immediately asked to leave. Still, if
someone has those belief structures, and can come to the dance and not
show them, it should be a chance for us to revel in the humanity of all,
regardless of the ridiculous beliefs they -- or we -- might carry.
So, I guess I'm saying that there should be at least a caution before
extolling certain ideas from the podium. Let's find other places to
carry out political and social discussions and keep the dance a place
where we can connect with people and see beyond their beliefs and find
their humanity.
Now, it's back to our generally White, mostly liberal dance community...
~erik hoffman
oakland, ca
PS, if anyone wants to discuss things political, I'm happy to, but
privately!
On 10/4/2013 2:36 PM, Dave Casserly wrote:
I agree with Chris. It's a moot point, since the dance Sargon was asking
about is cancelled, but as a furloughed fed, I would rather not be reminded
that half of our country thinks denying people heath care is so important
that they'll shut down the government to do it. Reminders are all over the
place in this town. It'd be nice to be able to go somewhere that isn't
reminding me I'm not going to get a paycheck anytime soon.
-Dave
On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:13 PM, Chris Page <[email protected]> wrote:
While I'm amused at some of the suggestions here, I'd offer a contrary
opinion. If I were going to a contra dance, I'd want to be in a space
where I could get away from all this political noise, and just enjoy
being at the dance community, without the reminders of all the
political divisions.
-Chris Page
San Diego
(who has contra danced with Republicans)
On Wed, Oct 2, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Sargon de Jesus <[email protected]>
wrote:
Hello fellow callers,
So, in the event that I call, I'd love some ideas for dances
themed/titled
around shutdowns, openings, bickering, childishness, etc. What have you
guys got? Any suggestions are happily welcome!
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