Fuck Quakers

Tonight an African American woman named Avis Wanda got kicked out of Quakerism because she advocates for justice.

That's a simplification of what some Quakers would say is a complex issue. But when I heard this, I thought, this is what Quakers do. They emotionally and spiritually bludgeon people until they conform, leave, or, in this instance, kick you out (but in a really "nice" way so you feel like it's all your fault). That's my experience anyway.

You can read about her experience here. Don't read the articles responding to her article. The response from her now former Meeting called her a liar in the nicest way possible. We can't possibly be racist, they claim.

I admire her. I couldn't stick it out with Quakers. My experience of them is that they sit, listen, fold their hands, and do only things that protect their reputation and privilege.

One Voice Mixed Chorus in the Twin Cities commissioned a choral piece about Bayard Rustin. It was powerful and I hope many people get to see it. The one flaw is that the piece holds up Quakers as if they were all fighters for justice. A few were extraordinary. But most mirrored the rest of the culture, like they do today. See Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship by Vanessa Julye & Donna McDaniel.

I've watched this process over the couple of years from an intimate perspective. Liz is a support to Avis, and I've been astounded at the inaction at the quarterly meeting and yearly meeting level.

Tonight, Avis asked me to knit her a hat. In black. You bet I will. Because Fuck Quakers.

Please Help

I didn't know what to call this. But I am asking for your help.

The congress is working on repealing the Affordable Care Act, and I'm wrecked. The ACA allows me to be able to have insurance, not just because I am being treated for leukemia, a pre-existing condition. The drug I take that keep me in remission costs $14,346.49 per month. I've been on this drug and a another one like this since February 2002, and if you do the math, I hit my lifetime limit sometime in 2013.

I'd have to bankrupt my family to get onto medicaid, and I refuse to do that. If that'll even be an option by the time the GOP controlled congress is done.

So I have three asks.

1. Call your senators and representative. Here's where you find your representative and their contact information. Here is where you find your senators and their contact information. Tell them a story of yourself or someone you know who will be impacted by overturning the ACA. Even my story. You could say that you have a friend who will have to bankrupt her family in order to live if the ACA goes away.

Here's a script:

Hi my name is ___ and I live in____ I am a constituent of Congressman ______ or Senator _______.
I am VERY concerned about plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut medicaid. These plans would mean many hundreds of thousands of people would lose their health care and over millions of Americans have pre-existing conditions. It is unacceptable to play politics with something as important as healthcare. (If you are talking to someone ask if the congressman supports repealing without having a replacement for the ACA and whether he will cut medicaid).
I/my family member/someone I love will be impacted (Share the story).

If you live in Minnesota, it's estimated 374,000 people will lose their health care, and 744,000 people have pre-existing conditions that would disqualify them from having health insurance.

2. Ask your friends to make the calls. Ask them in person. Call them to ask them. Email them. Share this post on social media.

3. There are five GOP senators who are on the fence about repealing the ACA. Please also call them, and ask your friends to call them.

Here are the 5 Senators we must call today.

Please call for the women, mothers, children, the veterans, the sick, those living in rural areas...

Senator Bob Corker - (202) 224-3344
Senator Lisa Murkowski - (202) 224-6665
Senator Rob Portman - (202) 224-3353
Senator Susan Collins - (202) 224-2523
Senator Bill Cassidy - (202) 224-5824

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.