If I break the rules, I'll confess:
A couple of weeks ago, I broke the rules. I took a small child to the mall, and I wanted to allow him to ride on the easter train (he loved the peek-a-boo bunny) and I am a sucker for making kids happy. I didn't have any cash. So, instead of taking money from the ATM (with big fees) I discovered it would be cheaper to go into a department store and buy something and get cash back. I found a winter hat on clearance for $2.
So, I bought a winter hat, and child's easter train ride!
Another time I went to hear one of my feminist heroes speak (she's in her 80's). I didn't bring any money, but I bought her new book in order to have it signed for a friend (another one of my feminist heroes). It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I'm convinced.
(Reading material is my weakness, although usually I get books used or from the library)
Then (this is the embarrassing one) I went to Whole foods for some dinner, and I founed a writing magazine in the checkout line and bought it (I NEVER buy magazines).
No excuse except that literally, I momentarily forgot about my commitment to buy nothing new.
I'm doing my best... or making a valiant effort... I'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Buying Nothing New and Self-Sacrafice
My feminist has staged an internal debate with my environmentalist. It goes like this:
American Feminist:
Women are expected to do all of the self-sacrificing in our culture in order to be perceived (and self-perceived) as good, moral beings. We give, give, give, to and care, care, care, for our families, our friends, the organizations we are a part of, until we have no time or resources left for our self. Often it is hard for us to answer the question, "what to I need? What do I want?" Why now, take on buying nothing new, as a women. I mean, it should be somebody else's turn to do the sacrificing!
Environmentalist:
The economic principle of 20/80. According to Malcolm Gladwell, in the Tipping Point, 20 percent of people have 80 percent of the impact in (you name it)
eg. 20 percent of the earth's population (that's the USA by the way) use 80 percent of the world's resources. 20 percent of criminals commit 80 percent of crimes.
Perhaps then, 20percent of people do 80 percent of the work to... (save the planet)
Yes, other people should be doing the self sacrificing... like AIG, or GM execs. Give up your personal jet or example... But the simple facts are that they won't. They live by an attitude of entitlement. Our capitalistic culture does not give them props for self-sacrifice and good deeds. Instead they are rewarded for representing and glorifying an image overabundance that is meant to keep everybody else in pursuit.
Eco-Feminist - world citizen:
Feminism is a world view. Feminism sees the world in terms of relationships and mutuality. The earth and the poor, and the women... we are all connected. Everything I do affects everyone else and the earth. If I gain at the expense of the earth and my sisters and brothers around the world, I lose. If I try to listen to the ones (and the earth) that has not been given a voice in our culture... if I try to honor what they do, and their messages... If I pursue conversations about justice for all beings and the earth, I win. Forget about the fat-cats. According to Rene Gerard, Satan casts out Satan. Be part of the 20 percent that does 80 percent of Environmental justice
American Feminist-
That task is too big... Lets make it smaller: What actions are reasonable that do make a difference and without completely sacrificing everything. As a feminist I should include myself in the circle of beings for whom I pursue justice. We all deserve pleasures, and I shouldn't deny myself all pleasure in the pursuit of justice.
What is pleasure and where do desires come from? Perhaps there is room for analysis.
Has a consumerist society manufactured this desire I have for XYZ?
If I live without it, or get it used, how much will it hurt me?
Can I get an equal amount of satisfaction from some other activity... perhaps being a part of a world-changing movement?
Feel free to add to the debate
American Feminist:
Women are expected to do all of the self-sacrificing in our culture in order to be perceived (and self-perceived) as good, moral beings. We give, give, give, to and care, care, care, for our families, our friends, the organizations we are a part of, until we have no time or resources left for our self. Often it is hard for us to answer the question, "what to I need? What do I want?" Why now, take on buying nothing new, as a women. I mean, it should be somebody else's turn to do the sacrificing!
Environmentalist:
The economic principle of 20/80. According to Malcolm Gladwell, in the Tipping Point, 20 percent of people have 80 percent of the impact in (you name it)
eg. 20 percent of the earth's population (that's the USA by the way) use 80 percent of the world's resources. 20 percent of criminals commit 80 percent of crimes.
Perhaps then, 20percent of people do 80 percent of the work to... (save the planet)
Yes, other people should be doing the self sacrificing... like AIG, or GM execs. Give up your personal jet or example... But the simple facts are that they won't. They live by an attitude of entitlement. Our capitalistic culture does not give them props for self-sacrifice and good deeds. Instead they are rewarded for representing and glorifying an image overabundance that is meant to keep everybody else in pursuit.
Eco-Feminist - world citizen:
Feminism is a world view. Feminism sees the world in terms of relationships and mutuality. The earth and the poor, and the women... we are all connected. Everything I do affects everyone else and the earth. If I gain at the expense of the earth and my sisters and brothers around the world, I lose. If I try to listen to the ones (and the earth) that has not been given a voice in our culture... if I try to honor what they do, and their messages... If I pursue conversations about justice for all beings and the earth, I win. Forget about the fat-cats. According to Rene Gerard, Satan casts out Satan. Be part of the 20 percent that does 80 percent of Environmental justice
American Feminist-
That task is too big... Lets make it smaller: What actions are reasonable that do make a difference and without completely sacrificing everything. As a feminist I should include myself in the circle of beings for whom I pursue justice. We all deserve pleasures, and I shouldn't deny myself all pleasure in the pursuit of justice.
What is pleasure and where do desires come from? Perhaps there is room for analysis.
Has a consumerist society manufactured this desire I have for XYZ?
If I live without it, or get it used, how much will it hurt me?
Can I get an equal amount of satisfaction from some other activity... perhaps being a part of a world-changing movement?
Feel free to add to the debate
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