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| Parkman Bandstand; Boston Common: Boston, MA |
Media Rundown: 8/16/2012 #opwalkabout
"I'm walking because I'm ignorant. I'd thought that I was ready to teach, only to find as I'm preparing for this journey, that I have so much more to learn."
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 8:00AM I am departing from Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common, and starting a 462 mile trek to 100 Congress St. SW in Washington, D.C.
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Press Release and follow up (See release below pagebreak)
Boston Metro Coverage (Page one inside cover left column)
http://issuu.com/metro_us/docs/20120815_us_boston
Had an interview with Boston Innovation today! Should be up on Saturday.
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Media Alert: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
One Woman Walking from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C.
8/14/2012
Dear Respected Members of the Media,
My name is Kristen Hoye, mostly folks call me KC. I am one woman participating in a simple action. I am departing August 29th, and walking from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C.
I came to the rough realization last year that I am easily polarized. Like many I've railed against government, I railed against the media, and in my railing and flailing about, I realized that I am ignorant. Setting out to correct that ignorance, I started reading legislation, newspapers, whatever came to hand. When all was said (it's never done), I came to the conclusion that there was nothing that I alone could do. That I, in my ignorance or even in my educated state am the cause of suffering, and that suffering is systemic.
I've spent a year planning, rearranging my life to accomplish one goal. Walk to Washington, D.C. and deliver the letter below to the leaders of our Great Nation. Over the past year I've largely spent my time researching. More recently I've worked with activists, planned actions, researched laws, protested at rallies, above all I've listened. I've learned that the issues have not changed in the past 50 years.
The problems we face are the same today as they were in the days of our grandparents. Racial profiling still exists, only in a wider variety of populations. Poverty and starvation domestically and abroad still exist, but are glossed over by large name NPO's that haven't altered the statistics in decades. We, as a country continue imperialist practices, regardless of the cost to the countries we are working in, or making provisions for the resulting influx of immigrants afterwards.
So I am walking 460 miles. I am walking on behalf of those who cannot take the time, those with responsibilities and commitments they can't leave behind. For those who cannot betray interests and must remain silent, I am walking from Boston to Washington DC. I leave August 29th, 2012 at 9:00AM from Parkman Bandstand. Follow my journey at www.whywalkabout.com.
With the utmost respect,
Kristen (KC) Hoye
Phone: 857.540.0341
Hashtags: #opwalkabout #AUG29
Twitter: @KCTheManagement
Website: www.whywalkabout.com
Route: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204078157938825597807.0004c39ef9e8e6534f193&msa=0
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Letter to our leaders:
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Salutations,
I've re-written this letter enough times to have a good long think about who I'm writing to. In many ways we are the same, we are all residents of these United States, we are all human. The only difference between you and I that matters to me, is that you are in a position of trust. That you, unlike me must take into consideration the lives of others in your decisions. Unlike me, your decisions can't just be in the interest of your constituents or party members. You have to think of the interests and concerns of all United States Citizens, and I do not envy you the task.
I am an average American. My education isn't exceptional, I am not a leader, I am not gifted in any sense of the word. I am just a woman, perhaps more forthright than most. Even from my lofty perch of white-female-middle-class-privilege, I can see that there has been a shift in the priorities of our leadership. I don't have the answers, to pretend would be disingenuous, foolish, and ignorant. But even I can see that the issues are beyond any given piece of legislation or party line. The question on my mind, a question so pressing I spent a year planning and nearly a month walking is;
"Why is the suffering of others, so that we may live as we do, systemic?"
Until a short time ago I was largely ignorant of the suffering I cause. My existence creates a footprint, and to my shame, most of my life I've ignored the size of the tread. Even if I personally pare down to subsistence, the suffering of people elsewhere that supply our Great Nation with food and energy is no less. In fact, if I consume less, more profit is made by those brokering the commodities I'm no longer using. No less coal or oil will be produced, the food supply will not be adjusted. There is quite literally nothing I can do to ease the suffering of my fellow humans globally.
Greater minds than just mine need to start working on this puzzle. The world grows closer at an astounding rate. Our children, and the children of those that we cause suffering to will have to live together.
I am afraid for the future, I am afraid for my future children.
So I've come to you on foot, all the way from Boston along the Lower Post Road. To impress upon you the importance of this question, and to remind you to consider the cost. If you have the strength to do so, take responsibility.
Sincerely,
Kristen Hoye
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The route I am walking from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C.
View Walkabout - Walking directions From Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common, Boston, MA to 100 Congress Street Southeast, Washington, DC in a larger map
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In the past few months I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing organizations and people. Ciclovida, The LEAH Collective, Free School University, Occupy Boston, NOFA, OB Radio, to name a few. In the process of diving into this crazy education I've learned some very hard lessons.
These "issues" are larger and more complicated than I'd ever imagined:
As much as battling the irresponsible use of pesticides is important, so is questioning the use of proprietary chemicals in mining, or ensuring that farmers have a choice in the seeds they grow, or fighting for free speech. All of these issues are delicately connected as much by our own consumptive nature, as the greedy machinations of a few on top of the "food chain".
I firmly believe that this system isn't broken, it's just been neglected. There aren't enough folks reading through the legislation, running for office, voting, and ensuring that our rights aren't being violated. There aren't enough of us taking the conversation to the streets. A thousand people can hold signs and march, it's a great way to get attention, but it doesn't education J. Q. Public on just what the hell is going on here, and why the hell something needs to change.
In my observation, volunteer run community organizations are understaffed and underfunded and outgunned:
Just based on the brief experiences I've had with these organizations, it is apparent that they are fighting an uphill battle. With so few volunteers, confusion about lexicon, loggerheads over preconditioned notions regarding other organizations and people. There's been a breakdown in the "we're all in this together" vibe, and a distinct rise in the "if I don't do this no one else will" mentality.
In some cases, these organizations have fallen victim to smear campaigns by local government and community organizers have been ignored or politically castrated because of past affiliations. My worry is that this will build into a trend of mistrust, and a failing in fellowship and solidarity between activist organizations and the community in general.
As technology progresses, some of the old dogs in this fight are falling behind and the young pups are left scrambling for lessons learned by a previous generation of activists:
There is a correlation between the generation gap and the communication gap on many issues. From small business management, to community organizing, the chasm between generations is widening.
I'm walking to answer these questions.
How can communication between businesses, community members and community organizations be made more effective?
How can local businesses be educated in a manner that will empower them to approach the internet and marketing proactively?
Where does "main street America" sit on so many of these "hot bed issues" like The DREAM Act, NDAA, HR-347, and the recent Executive Orders that infringe on state sovereignty?
What is the most effective way of moving the conversation about politics and the economy from social media and onto a publicly accessible forum, as well as across the dinner table?
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| Photo By Rita of Occupy Boston |
Roxbury Safety Net
The Blackstonian
UNregular Radio
Mass Bytes
Shakefist Magazine
HBGC
Sisters Network
LEAH Collective
Student Immigration Movement
MassCann
NORML Women's Alliance
Ciclovida
MAMLEO
Veteran's For Peace
Free Mass Media
MikeCann.net
Occupy Boston
Occupy Monsanto
Encuantro 5
S.N.A.C.K.s
Children With Hairloss
Everyone I've forgotten.
https://www.facebook.com/events/168752673259492/permalink/176583565809736/?notif_t=like
http://www.whywalkabout.com/
https://www.facebook.com/opwalkabout
http://issuu.com/metro_us/docs/20120815_us_boston
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