Resistance In Existance

[Crystal Casas]

Close your eyes and think of your utopia--what would you want destroyed; what would you want created?

Do you see safe American families in their homes not worrying about family overseas-- their thoughts uninterrupted with fears of terrorism? Can you picture them tucking their children in their warm blankets, inside their warm house, behind their white, picket fence? Does this utopia include help for those less fortunate. Can you imagine you and your friends joining together to feed the poor. Would you have classes of poor or rich in this utopia?”

Well, for some, a utopia forms from desires for justice in favor of the everyday oppressed, hungry, and poor. In our society exists a radical demographic that endures daily struggles fighting against a machine that limits and oppresses us. With anger fueled by generations of domination, come new theorist, or idealists who have faith that our government structure will be abolished.

Can you see yourself unmasked of materialism, not interested in your Ipod, or text messages? Can you think of hierarchy as a structure of the past? Imagine never looking up to see someone higher than you? Visualize everyone on an equal level where stereotypes and boundaries are all in the past.

I interviewed my cousin's girlfriend who lives in California. She is an activist, and an expecting mother who has a different view about voting. Nikki Escobar feels that she can “speak out” about her opinions by not participating in voting. She identifies herself as an anarchist, a feminist, but most importantly an artist.
“ I identify as Pilipino (not Pilipino-American, although I am a citizen). I’m adopted, bisexual, and an animal and queer activist. I support groups that encourage collectivism, direct action, and community: the ALF, EZLN, SASG, La Otra, League of Filipino Students (specifically the Third World Liberation Front), Gay Shame and so forth. I’m into writing and studying poetry, performing and reciting spoken word, writing zines and essays, reading literature and rhetoric, eating fresh food. I was a part of 2 ‘progressive’ organizations in the Bay Area, which worked closely with the South of Market Filipino immigrant and youth communities. We dealt with everything from gentrification of the veteran housing in San Francisco to gang violence among youth. I stopped working with both organizations because they accepted funding from corporate pools such as Gap. I now study and organize with the Student Anarchist Study Group that meets in the infamous Mission District of SF. We read anarchist theory, discuss issues, and organize on and off campus. I attend San Francisco State University and will be graduating in two semesters. I plan to raise my baby and enjoy his or her infancy before applying to grad school. I want to pursue creative writing. My motto is “An Artists Life until the End.” This means that I will pursue art, love, and experience first and everything else comes second.”

When Nikki wakes up, she smells her fresh brew of fair trade coffee. Taking in the aroma, she finds her strength to fight the day and is ready to oppose any force that tries to engulf her. She puts on her vegan friendly attire and walks into the world thinking of her next poem, which will serve as her next confrontation on the world we live in.

Some people would see not voting as being apathetic to politics, not caring, or not an active way of showing knowledge, or interest in politics. They might also say not voting will not make a difference, and if you really want change, you have to vote.
Nikki opposes these opinions:
“My initial reaction to these opinions is just as reflexive and automatic as “if you’re not a part of the solution, then you’re a part of the problem.” This generalization is conjured up by those so deep in the system that they cannot think on their own; they merely spit textbook answers whenever confronted with an opinion outside of their norm. If we break that statement down (“if you’re not a part of the solution…”) and other statements just like it, we will find little factual evidence.
The first fallacy is “solution.” The speaker is assuming that voting is the solution. This is a biased ideology that is skewed in what we think is a democratic system. What I mean by this is that it is believed that the only form of change is through government’s process for change (ie, voting); realistically, change has never been so slow since our current (and very young) political & economic systems took over. Before the U.S. and similar nation-states decided how to allocate progress to certain communities, many of these communities were moving along on their own. If it takes blank number of years to receive blank number of rights (ie, suffrage) but injustices still exist (ie, unfair/unequal pay due to gender or womyns health determined by the State) after a bill has passed AND the possibility of wavering waits before us, then no true change has occurred. The government simply “allows” (temporarily, occasionally, and/or seasonally) the people to have parts of what they must first “ask” for. The idea of voting as a “solution” is relative to what is deemed as problematic; if the solution does not fit the problem then it is NOT a solution.”

I choose Nikki as my subject for this profile because she is enthusiastic on social issues; and, as others would assume her not to be, is highly informed about current events, and political ideology.

“The second fallacy is “problem.” Is apathy the problem? If so, I am not a part of that problem. Not voting does not equate to not caring. In fact, it is the opposite for those who think similarly. Here is a basic explanation in dialogue form -“I care SO much that I refuse to participate in a system that is founded on racist, classist, and sexist principles (both historically and currently through the arms of the political system, eg, the law). If I did not care, then perhaps I would overlook the actual workings behind my vote and aimlessly close my eyes and point to towards the loudest, most charismatic man standing on stage."

When Nikki made this claim, I thought to myself “what a strong point.” You can clearly see that she is not apathetic, nor careless. I asked what concerns she has about how our system’s structure: about its venture, historically, and what current issues contribute to declare this protest against voting?

“A lot of this question is answered in my first response but I can add a little more. To make this a little more specific… the U.S. government is an invasive imperial construct that has caused nothing but devastation to my home country (the Philippine Islands). If I vote for a new “leader” to place into office, I am only choosing the man who will harm my country. Is the situation any better if a victim gets to pick its attacker? Some will say yes. Some will argue that he may be the lesser of two or three evils. My response to that is: Who is telling me that I only have these choices & that I must choose? Those in the system, those who have little connection to the ways in which destruction occurs. If I refuse to pick the attacker, I am refusing to be attacked. Many would argue that we must work within the system in order to see change. This goes back to the first part of my first answer which is that no real change occurs when one has to beg for it in bits and pieces. If there are other ways (and there are, proven in practice and not just theory) then the people can explore them.”

As I had written earlier, Nikki is Pilipino and a lot of her concern has to do with their wellbeing. I wanted to know how this and, being a vegan, an expecting mother, and a womyn of color-what changes would she like to see in our political system, and what issues concern her most?

“I would like to see our political system completely abolished so that its imposing hands will never touch my son or daughter, my dog, or my people in the Philippines and my people here in the U.S. The biggest issues right now are related to foreign policy, Free Trade, the Visiting Forces Agreement, and the government’s involvement in “aiding” the Human Security Act (the Philippine’s version of the Patriot Act), also known as the human rights violations in the Philippines. Obama seems to have won over many people in my community (SF, Bay Area, CA). He is a false hope that these people are relying on. He is almost a crutch for change that the PI will never see in any president’s reign."

Nikki is also a feminist, and disagrees with a patriarchal system. Some people who are oblivious or uninformed on the issue of patriarchy, and how it affects them, might want to know where it intervenes in their daily lives. In my next question, I ask her to recall everyday discriminations she faces.

“ Everyday discrimination/mis and or maltreatment: boys and men speaking in condescending tones to girls and womyn at their intelligence, rank, or age level. Fathers (and sometimes mothers) treating their daughters like property/applying more restrictions in comparison to sons or other males in the family/setting them in the feminine gender role. Husbands and boyfriends (or wives and girlfriends) who use intelligence, money, status, or privilege over their partners. Womyn getting paid less than men across disciplines and careers. School lessons and lectures that teach male-oriented ways of thinking (eg, objectivity in academia and research, certain dynamics of home economics, heteronormative language like boyfriend + girlfriend/man + wife). Lastly, marriage [itself].”

In conclusion, she goes on to say:
“I see the American government, and any other form of government that establishes nation-state domination, as a central character in (and/or embodiment of) this story we like to call 'patriarchy.'

I attempt to practice a non-hegemonic lifestyle and that includes fighting against the ultimate patriarchal manifestation: the government. It asserts power over everyone, including and especially womyn (their bodies, people's perceptions and observations of them, their families, their pay, and so forth).

I view both presidential candidates as one person: the white capitalist male that America, and the world, is all too familiar with. They offer no new insight, no fresh thought or policy, and no one in that position ever will because it is the system that is the problem. Even if a womyn was president, the outcome would be identical because power is the key that opens doors to the same and new forms of dominance. Therefore, I will not be voting this election, or any future capitalist elections. The most important thing from my perspective is that people eventually see McCain and Obama's similarities (and that their differences are not quite different)."

Nikki is a beautiful womyn full of passion, thus proven in this interview. She has brilliant things to say, and I was proud to represent her in this assignment. I feel like exploring and opening these issues for people to retain-or debate- was very fulfilling. To speak on behalf of Nikki left me with a sense of satisfaction because I felt the need to give a voice to this group of radicals. These non-voters do exist, and their beliefs are very real just like other people that may be voting in this election. People like her are truly, what it seems to want to make a change in this world.

[Alysa]

I think that Nikki is way off base in her opinions. She says she doesn't want to vote because it is pointless, nothing really changes, that the solutions those in office provide don't fit the problem. I don't see any proof for this opinion. She might not be getting her agenda passed, but the amount of change that has happened in the years since America was birthed has been enormous. I am not sure she understands how most governments in this world operate.
Another reason she gives for not voting :"I refuse to pick the attacker, I am refusing to be attacked." This makes no sense. She defines being "attacked," as having to follow the rules set down by the government. Just because she doesn't vote doesn't mean no one will get elected. What she is, in essence, doing, is the same thing a child does when he is given two choices he doesn't like--pout and defiantly sit in a corner with his arms crossed saying"I'll show you, I won't even choose! I'll just sit right here!"
Also, she wants to abolish the very government that is giving her the freedom to want it's demise. She wants anarchy yet I would be willing to bet that when her home is being broken into, her purse is being stolen and her life is threatened she will want the justice that our current system provides her with. Does she really want to raise a child in a world devoid of restraints and rules? Rules bring order, remove them and you have chaos.
The "patriarchal discrimination" she believes she faces is not a "white male capitalist" that is trying to rule her life. That is human nature. People are rude. They are uncaring. They are self-centered and mean. To say that the government is the embodiment and root of this system is blowing the comparison way out of proportion.
She views the government as "an invasive imperial construct that has caused nothing but devastation to my home country (the Philippine Islands)" If she is so concerned about the well being of her home country, she could probably do it more good if she would go over there and work to improve it's way of life than sit in America and criticize how we treat The Philippines. She even says of voting, "I am only choosing the man who will harm my country." Her country? Which one exactly is her country? The one she left as a child? Or the one whose freedom, liberty and way of life she enjoys every morning she gets up?

[Jackie]

I really dont understand her thoughts on why she wouldnt vote, she says that niether of the candidates gave no new insight on problems in economy or anything else but if you watch the debate or look at what they beleive you see what new insight they have on these problems and it is those new insights that are helping voters choose who has the best solution. She hates the the very thing that is giving her the freedom to be who she is, to feel safe in her home, and to have all her luxuries. She talks about all the reasons she doesnt want to vote but most are issues that either of the candidates or anyone else can help, for instance the paragraph with descrimination and also some of the things like men getting paid more and teachers teaching the male oriented point of veiw, to me this has nothing to do with why she really doesnt want to vote, how can she put that in the same category of worry as the war or the economy?.People act how they want and it will continue no matter what, there is nothing anybody can do about peoples actions. I believe she needs to really look at her life, she has freedom, a job, food, and many other things that everyone takes for granted but yet she puts down the very thing that is giving her all this.

[Felicia Sada]

Response #6

You have a great point; she does have lots of freedom, but also has the right to her opinion. I agree with what Nikki said about "people voting for the most charismatic man standing on stage." It's true, people vote for the wrong reasons. Yes we need change, but change starts within ourselves.

[Felicia Sada]

Response #5

Although there are a few things I do not agree about Nikki's view, I did appreciate her different perspective. I too am not going to vote only because I just do not think either one should be our president. I figure that whoever wins this election is out of my hands and will be ordained by God himself.

[Debbie Hawkins]

Debbie Hawkins

PR # 5

WOW! that is alot to take in, like I have told my kids who are old enough to vote, if you don't like what is happening then do you homework and choose. You should not have any complants, about our system if you sit back and choose not to vote. People can change the world, how do you think that people get the option to run for office, the voter.

[miles ramirez]

i agree with nikki's views on the world of politics and social behavior but not in her way of "change".
voting did seem pointless to me at first, but realizing that theres more to do in this world instead of complaining about the problems and that actions do speak louder than words i decided to vote.
utopias can only be reached as a group effort and encouraging people to do it is an extreme task in itself.
but simply not doing anything about it is not the way, sure she may be a radical of spoken word but she can only go so far on those bases, she needs to take part of what chooses not to do and do it since it is not pointless.
with passion like on the inside of foreign lines to her, she can make drastic changes indeed.