Lullabies for Activists
Two other musicians and I offered an evening of “lullabies for activists,” and some young adults were interested. I encouraged them to bring sleeping bags, mats, and pillows and to plan on falling asleep. We met at the Alternative Library—a lovely, peaceful space in a former church. It has great acoustics, and young activists seem to feel at home there.
I arrived first, visited a little with the library staff, set up some chairs, tuned up, and began to play softly. The activists arrived and set up their little “nests” or cuddled up on the couches. My fellow musicians arrived a bit later, quietly got out their instruments, and joined in.
Our goal was to reassure our listeners and help them rest rather than entertain them. The music was beautiful, calm, and quiet. It was interesting enough to engage the listeners and repetitive enough to let them drift into sleep, and it wound down gently and slowly, just like “real lullabies.”
Some of the activists had been arrested for interfering with oil tankers and pipelines. As an elder with health issues, I’m not confident that my body could recover from pepper spray and police violence. But I’ve shared lullabies with two generations of babies, so that’s something I can do to support these young adults.
A couple of them plan to arrange another gathering and invite their friends. I’m thinking about posting on the door part of the RC commitment for world changers: “The future needs me, well-rested, well-nourished, well-exercised, and well-organized.” At some point I might need to offer an RC introductory lecture (once I’ve built deeper relationships).
Bellingham, Washington, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of wide world change
(Present Time 198, January 2020)