knityourpeace

Speaking of inspirations!  Some of my friends breathed new life in the protest scene up at the Capitol this Saturday morning June 11 for the Farmer’s Market.  Since the protests against Governor Scott Walker and his “Budget Repair Bill” began approximately February 14, 2011, we’ve seen absolutely amazing energy and creativity in the peaceful attempt to get people to listen.  We’ve seen a guy wearing a skirt made out of candy necklaces in freezing weather wearing a banner saying “Why so bitter, Scott?”  We’ve seen Darth Vader, a tractor parade, Union cabs beeping protest songs, and dogs wearing banners.  We’ve seen musicians, filmmakers, school kids, and grandmas.  Even knitters and meditators have joined in.  People have created hilarious and poetic T-shirts, buttons, and signs.  Lately people have been sleeping in tents near the Capitol, where they could get a permit from the city, because access inside the Capitol has now been limited.

For me it’s getting frustrating because it seems the banners are getting worn and it’s easier to look past them.  They’ve become part of the scenery.  Four months of 100s of thousands of people protesting and still the people in power don’t seem to care enough even to try to defend themselves.

I’m frustrated personally because I see so much damage has already been done.  I am a state worker and excellent people have been retiring in droves for fear their benefits will be severely affected.  Who knows if they will be replaced.  Who knows what our future holds as all of our human services programs are at risk of being cut or damaged. It all makes for incredibly stressful working conditions struggling on behalf of people who need our help more than ever.

Even more frustrating for me personally are that many of my own co-workers don’t get it either, saying things like “Oh it will only affect future workers” and “I know, my benefits do seem to be too good.”  I want to scream, “Everyone should have it as good as you do and you deserve it!!!”

I’m weary.

So when I saw what some friends have done with knit-bombing the Capitol with messages like “We Shall Knot Be Moved” strung to a bench, a WI 14 heart for the Democrats who tried to stand up to the insanity, and letters spelling PEACE attached to the fence posts, it all came back to me:  hard-working are people trying to get the message through.  

All throughout our history, thank goodness for the people who kept going — who kept thinking of unique ways to say their peace, who kept walking even when their feet were tired, who kept talking even when no one seemed to be listening.  Thanks knit-bombers for your beautiful art and for getting up at 4 a.m. to present your work.  We shall knot be moved.