Category Archives: Mutual Aid
Settler Colonialism as Structure
This morning my Quaker meeting will be discussing resources in preparation for upcoming meetings related to the question, How Is White Supremacy Keeping Us From Hearing God’s Voice? Following is the abstract of one of those resources. AbstractUnderstanding settler colonialism … Continue reading
Property
I continue to struggle to convince others that we cannot make progress toward justice as long as we are content to remain in systems that continue to cause injustice. Racism is built into the social, economic and political structures of … Continue reading
Posted in abolition, capitalism, decolonize, enslavement, Indigenous, Mutual Aid, race, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Mutual Aid and Black Liberation
As I was learning about Mutual Aid over the past year, one of the things that impressed me was in addition to work related to food and shelter, Des Moines Mutual Aid also manages a bail fund. I was glad … Continue reading
Soul Repair
I’ve recently been writing about the concept of moral injury and how I immediately recognized that as a way to express many spiritual struggles in my life. (see below). Specifically, moral injury is a perspective for understanding the damages done … Continue reading
Mutual Aid, Survival, Polar Vortex and the fierce urgency of now
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there “is” such a thing as being too late. This is no … Continue reading
Moral Injury
I recently came across a discussion of moral injury, and immediately recognized how that applied to a number of situations in my life, past and present. Much of what is written about moral injury relates to war. Unsurprisingly as combatants … Continue reading
Des Moines Mutual Aid and Black Lives Matter ask for help from faith communities
In this dangerous, bitter cold I think about those who are houseless. Des Moines Mutual Aid and other Mutual Aid groups in Des Moines, and Des Moines Black Lives Matter are responding in many ways as you can see below. … Continue reading
Mutual Aid and Colonialism
Over the past several years I’ve observed and experienced a powerful confluence of Mutual Aid as a tool to work toward decolonization and antiracism. In the following I write about what I have learned about Mutual Aid. My objective is … Continue reading
We Must “Think Again”
When people reflect on what it takes to be mentally fit , the first idea that comes to mind is usually intelligence . The smarter you are , the more complex the problems you can solve — and the faster … Continue reading
Black History Month in Iowa
Black History Month is observed in February in the US and Canada. It is good to see events related to Black History. I feel it is important for those who don’t know, to learn a Black State of Emergency in … Continue reading