Page 10 - the Noise August 2016

... the last edition received some feedback from savvy readers like you.
here, a few of those letters written the end of July ...
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Iwore an A-shaped sky blue skirt and a lighter blue top — both garments ex- pertly made by my mother who, when not teaching physics or chemistry at a local high school, moonlighted as my personal seamstress. A red pair of shoes with white socks and a string of red beads around my neck completed in my 8-year old mind a perfectly coordinated outfit. As every morning, my mother braided my long hair into a ponytail and I was sent off to school just a few minutes walk away from where we lived.
It was a day like any other except that instead of regular classes we were par- ticipating in civil defense training. Teachers distributed to each child a gas mask and a civil defense kit with a peculiar assortment of items, from which I only rec- ognized soap. We were instructed to put the masks on and march orderly to the school basement to protect ourselves from a pretend biological, chemical, or nu- clear attack brought upon us by the enemy. The United States of America was the enemy that as far as I knew was about to use lethal force to kill my schoolmates, my entire family, and me.
I was sure there was no way the ill-fitting mask I was wearing would have pro- tected me against anything. It was the smallest size available but it still did not fit my small head tightly. Sitting in the damp shelter for what seemed like eternity terrified me. I was scared as only an 8-year old child can be. While knowing this was just an exercise, I was sure the threat of war and complete destruction was imminent or else what was the purpose of the training? I did not understand the geopolitical distribution of power of that era or why such a big country like the United States hated us — the children in a small town so far away. It was the great- est fear I recall experiencing as a child and I felt helpless.
Thirty years later I became that enemy. I’m now part of the most powerful coun- try in the world and with the rest of the voters I decide if children on the other side of the planet will go to sleep terrified of what we may do to them. I became a US citizen in 2007 because I could not stand the idea of living in a country and not having the ability to vote, with the hope that my vote can lessen the terror we inflict on children and their families in countries we, Americans, know nothing about. I got involved in local politics and now serve on the Flagstaff City Council because I feel fortunate to have had the chance and the freedom to step up to help those impacted by social and economic injustice.
And while I fight locally for a higher minimum wage to lift working people from poverty, not for a second do I forget that we have to do everything possible to cre- ate a future where others can peacefully organize to correct injustices in their own countries. No child anywhere in the world should be terrified of the United States. We are a nation of immigrants and we can’t forget we have the responsibility to use power wisely. We ought to end our military interventions that do very little for peace but serve only the economic interests of the military-industrial complex.
This is why I am a pledged delegate for Bernie Sanders and going to the DNC: to fight for a political platform that commits the future commander in chief to not just end the wars but advance peace. No more sanitized wars, no more drones, no more terrified children chased out of their homes, no more refugees dying at sea, no more empty promises. Peace is patriotic. This is not the time to give up. This is the time to push forward a political agenda that will make the United States a friend and not the enemy in the eyes of children across the globe.
— Eva Putzova
M
any people look to the leaders of our country for guidance and change. How-
ever, we often forget the impact we ourselves can have on political change. Meaningful change starts with each citizen engaging at the local level. Local munici- palities are where we have the most power to engage and affect change. Local elec- tions are generally won or lost by small margins — every vote cast, counts.
Bernie Sanders has done an incredible job igniting hope despite the realities of our modern political system. Bernie reminds us that we must demand our voices be heard, demand our government work to benefit more than just a few wealthy con- tributors. His genuine message has mobilized millions of supporters and volunteers, and revitalized the importance of small donations.
This election season, many voters have experienced challenges. In Maricopa County, the number of polling locations was reduced heavily causing some to wait over 5 hours to place their vote. Many received provisional ballots in error. Indepen- dents supporting Bernie were not able to participate in the democratic primary at all — some unaware that Arizona holds closed primaries.
Frustrating experiences were shared by voters across the nation, leaving many feeling cheated. However, this election has inspired a political passion in the Millen- nial generation, many engaging politically for the first time. Though we have a lot to learn about our current political system, its problems, and how best to engage with the political process, we have woken up!
Millions of protesters traveled to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Con- vention. I joined them to better understand the issues and the individuals personally engaging in this historic election. I attended rallies for Bernie and a March for Black Lives Matter. I camped in the woods with hundreds of like-minded people. With the presence of music, community and political revolution, it was easy to draw connec- tionstoWoodstockandtheralliesofthe‘70s.Thegatheringwasdubbed“Bernstock.”
Although each group I encountered represented different movements, the un- derlying message was clear. It wasn’t about Democrat or Republican, Bernie, Hillary, Stein or Trump. People want a government that represents them and not the inter- ests of big money. Our country needs a revolution and the people need representa- tion. Individuals from across the country are awake to the current political realities and are ready to enact change. Emotions were strong, yet the sense of community, compassion and acceptance was present within each group I met.
Regardless of the outcome at the DNC, this grassroots political revolution must continue. I believe this movement will succeed only if we continue to focus on poli- tics at a local level. I believe citizens deserve to have their values represented by their candidates and elected officials. Why is it that we do not speak of local politics as passionately and as often as we do national or even state? Any given individual has the power to influence their local representatives in a major way. Local government is where real, tangible change is most possible.
Waking up to this disconnect between Arizona residents and their local represen- tatives inspired me to participate in politics. In hopes of engaging the disengaged, I began a group that met weekly at a local bar to stream City Council meetings. We wanted to inspire people to understand and engage with the local decision-making process. We helped rally hundreds of people around a variety of issues, such as sup- port of low-income communities facing relocation due to inappropriate develop- ments, phasing out the use of plastic bags, protecting community spaces, advocat- ing for in-state tuition for DACA-approved Dreamers and much more. In many of these cases, we were successful in promoting social justice and sustainability.
In Flagstaff, a very small percentage of our town voted in the past local election. Our elected officials, like in any town, make decisions on behalf of our entire com- munity. With such a low turnout, I worry about the voices of the majority who didn’t vote and whether the needs and aspirations of the majority are truly represented.
Thanks to Bernie Sanders, a fire has been lit. Now we need to channel that passion- ate energy to effective avenues of change. I encourage you to get to know your local representatives. Question their values and priorities. Attend City Council meetings. Make it a point to continue to engage politically as regularly as possible. Change will come soon if we each consciously elect representatives that support and represent us, the people of Arizona! You are the Political Revolution.
— Adam Shimoni