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=> Re: Adelita: Part Two

Re: Adelita: Part Two
Posted by parhad (Guest) - Tuesday, December 9 2003, 13:58:18 (EST)
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Warrior Empress wrote:
>Hope I am not sticking my nose in where it doesn't need to be, but I have a few ideas.

***Always appreciated and why do you think Ashur gave us the noses we have.
>
>Do any members of the family know how to make crafts they could sell or even export? Hand made stuff from mexico fetches massive prices in the west. Maybe an old woman would be willing to teach her trade? I am sure you can get them hooked up on e-bay or something like that...and you have computer access.

***As far as I can see this isn`t an artsy craftsy village. The people tend their fields and haul water and wash and cook and it takes up about all their time. But they could certainly be shown how to make something...but on their own, I haven`t seen any such thing.
>
>Also, about the schooling issue, are any of the elder children educated in any arts - languages, maths, sciences, alternative medicine, handicrafts, carpentry etc to open a free high school? I know this is not really a money making scheme, and classes may have to be held out in the open. But organisation and education are fabulous ways to get people organised and raise their self-esteem. I hate the fact that many young women feel they have no future but to get married in the vain hope some man will take care of them.

***I hate the idea as well...that`s why I was upset at buying the make-up...but then Hollywood wasn`t built in a day either. I think where you and I and others are coming from on this issue is from a base where we think about empowerment and think not only of ways to do it but feel it`s essential. The Power set-up in heavily Catholic countries and among the poor at that is that God takes care of the big stuff...you just tend to your own row. That kind of initiative isn`t lacking by any means...but most of the ones who have it are long gone or can`t wait to get out.

***I just found out today from my lawyer that the eldest girl has a man...whether he`s a husband or not I don`t know and that he spends the week in San Miguel on odd construction jobs...visiting on Sundays. But they were ALL living in that one room. The younger mother was with her in-laws but the new baby upset everyone there because they too were many crowded into a tiny space so she was asked to go back to her mother`s home.

***As with the children of Iraq...I don`t know how much can be done besides improving basic quality of life issues in any one generation. Adelta and her entire family...and there could be more in hiding somewhere...would consider themselves blessed if they had a roof over their heads and three squares a day. The education thing is my own concern and especially that the girls and young mothers not get caught in the same trap.

***My lawyer also said Adelita was most grateful and openly so for all we`ve done...especially the baby things she picked up yesterday. We`ve an appointment for the baby with a Pediatrician and one for the mother with a female OBGYN for next Tuesday...neither ever saw a doctor before. The OBGYN is going to discuss birth control with the mother...I don`t know how far the Pope is is up inside that girls underpants...where he doesn`t belong...but if she can be interested in it at all...I`d consider it the best money spent in a long time. No one wants to limit her right to be surrounded by babies...but sure as shit that man is going to fuck her and fuck her till he can`t stand the noise of so many babies then he`s going to go find a girl friend to fuck and she`ll be left alone...only not alone.

Adelita brought in an estimate from Manuel...he wants $120 a six-day week and $65 for a helper. He figures eight weeks to do the job...only I`m going to modify the design somewhat...I can`t see building neo-ugly when for a few bucks more and a bit of drawing we could make something pretty as well. Since we`re using river rocks the cost of bricks is gone. My lawyer suggested to Adelita that the family begin hauling rocks but I nixed the idea...I`ve been there...to ask those kids to haul stones one by one up the hill is a little too Byzantine for my tastes. When the time comes I`ll take my trailer out and we can park in the dry river bed while the men do the loading...the kids can help of course. Me...I`ll take my laptop and blast the Christian Church some more.
>
>I think with the kids, their skills, interests and passions need to be tapped into. There may be not much in the way of school supplies out there, but locals are pretty savvy in scraping things up and sometimes even teaching by oral practice is effective.

***I think you still need a teacher to guide things and that`s a major exopense but also something many parents might feel is superfluous...but it`s definitely worth pursuing...for all we klnow there is a Mexican Warrior Princess in this village eager to burst out. The boys are okay for now...they`re at the right grade level...but the 14 year-old girl is in danger. The building where my studio will be has additional space in it that could be converted to very nice living quarters. If we get the store up and functional, it might be that the boys and the girl could move to town and attend school during the week. You have to be flexible and creative, like during a disaster...which is what a life in poverty is every day.
>
>I am here in Africa, teaching for peanuts in a local primary school. We are lucky and have many resources but there are so many who have none. At the moment I am trying to organise some sort of women's centre. We have no centre to speak of so we may start to meet at individuals womens houses. We want to start a collective - skill sharing kinda stuff. I tutor your kids if you clean my house once a week, or babysitting for cooking - stuff like that. Skills can be shared between women and many here are great cooks who could get into catering if they knew how. We also would like to start an education campaign. Basically discuss womens issues and get women some sort of reference system - if they need a cheap doctor, free tutoring in literacy, an abortion etc.

***Excellent...I`ll certainly try to see if there`s any interest in the people themselves...I too want to make a sort of patio cafe at Adelita`s...there isn`t anything there in the Pueblo now...it could become a meeting place in time. I have to be a little careful how I proceed cause I is one of them men things you hear tell so much about. The men are suspicious AND the women are too. But I have a good group of dedicated and professional women and who knows, we might even find a REAL macho guy or two to join us as we proceed. But first things first...Adelita needs shelter for her family and before we begin any construction we need to secure the land for her somehow...there`s no way I`m sitting around on my thumbs while one more man throws her out of the house I build for her. The Bourbon is chugging and snorting in the corner...

***A 99 year lease might be the best way...fastest too. If the brother doesn`t want to sell or can`t subdivide. A lease with a renewal clause for another 99 years. That ought to be enough time to move this family along.
>
>I am sure there is a world's worth of knowledge in Adelita's pequena village. Are the people interested in getting together? Organisation, literacy and self-esteem are often the sure starter ways to begin a social revolution and an alternative to the sick feeling you (may?) get just giving people money. And the cops can't bust up a women's coffee gathering now, can they? :)

***No...everything you`ve said is true and has merit and is worth persuing...we`d probably evolve into it anyway. If giving money alone solved peoblems I`d give till I needed some...but on its own it doesn`t, We`ve paid the Shumirum off 12 years ago...money is NEVER the problem...not really.
>
>Sorry if this naive, but now living at the other side of the world, I have felt poverty to its (almost) bitterest end. Can't get doctors coz of the cost, rely on donations of rice and beans etc, etc, etc, worry where I may be living tomorrow.
>
>Life is a major struggle, and its brave of you to face even the struggle of those individuals and familes around you. I know it may seem futile to only help one family, that's why I would like to suggest you, or Adelita, or her daughters and sons, may get the whole community involved somehow?

***We`ll do that...but we have to start with one and this one just happened along...it could be 15,000 others within a fifty mile radius as easily. Saving even one child`s life is worth it...look how much wealth and satisfaction came to just a few people from killing 500,000...surely one can benefit from saving one?
>
>Peace,
>The Empress

+++all ways.



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