Guest guest Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 An Amma Devotee's Version of The OAH and UNITE-HERE Local 2 Dance of Solidarity Since I mentioned this example in a previous post to one of our devotees' , allow me to clarify the narrative of how a different organization's decision to boycott came about. With all due respect, again, to the tremendous efforts of the Southern California satsangs to host our beloved Amma and Her many followers and children with as much compassion, love, and generosity as they have done. I cannot emphasize enough that I mean no criticsim of their service. Some years preceding the 2005 meeting which was moved from San Francisco to San Jose to honor the UNITE-HERE merged unions' request for a boycott of the Hilton et al., the Organization of American Historians( " OAH " ) had scheduled their (our) annual meeting at a hotel in St. Louis which was involved in some major civil rights litigation about race discrimination. In response to vigourous leadership from critical race scholars and Missouri natives who were also prominent scholars in the Organization, the meeting was moved to another location in St. Louis, and I believe it engendered some high-level committe meetings about making socially-responsible choices for future plans. The American Studies Association ( " ASA " ) which has many progressive and radical scholars in its ranks, and is one of the more supportive academic venues for " people of color, " adopted policy language on convention planning to this effect a year or two (or three?) earlier. Forgive my imperfect memory and rather impromptu recollection of the facts. I also recall that at what must have been the 2002 meeting of the American Historical Association in San Francisco -- a far more conservative group than either the OAH or the ASA -- at least several of my (history) teachers, both graduate and undergraduate, stayed at non-conference hotels and lodged objections to the treatment of the hotel workers at the main conference site. Prior to deciding to move the 2005 OAH conference, pre-registrants and other members were polled about our preference. 75% or more stated we would not cross a picket line. I recall being among those who sent financial contributions ( -- mine was very small -- ) to help offset the costs of moving the conference to a labor-friendly site in San Jose, but like many, ended up not attending. The OAH lost quite a bit of money out of this political decision, but perhaps preserved some of its integrity. I did attend the 2005 ASA meeting in Washington D.C., six months or so subsequent to the moved OAH meeting, where some of this solidarity buzz was imprinted in my awareness. As in my many blessed times with Ammachi, I experienced at least a few blissful moments of " feeling the love " of the Universe, counting among my " OHHHHH... it IS all connected " memories of that trip a surprise realization, upon looking up into the neon-lit sky of downtown Washington, that the national headquarters of my husband's International Union was located behind the main conference hotel. I was hosted by a family who also takes me in when Amma visits the metro Washington area, and during a windstorm several summers previous, their children were protected from an uprooted tree that smashed into the house. The daughter and I had sprinkled some of Amma's Devi Bhava petals on the tree after the programs at Tyson's Corner, and so it seemed by Her grace that they escaped injury. Magical thinking, perhaps, especially since two of the grandparents are themselves dedicated servants (ministers) of God. But still... It seems obviously quite different to ask a group of scholars, many of whom engage in social history practices aimed at documenting injustice and provoking egalitarian possibilities down the road, to boycott, than it is to engage a group of monastics, spiritual seekers, and transcendently-oriented communities such as many here in " Amma-world. " Nevertheless, I do not think that any of the grievances of hotel employees in the greater vicinity of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) should be dismissed as " propaganda, " nor minimized as outside the realm of human rights that must flow to each and every person, not simply those with citizenship status carved out of a woeful history of colonial expropriation. How did the Christ put it? " That which you do unto the least of my brothers, so you do unto me. " For documentation of some of these facts -- excluding the provocation on tribal histories in the Americas -- please see: http://www.oah.org/meetings/2005/news-update-021505.html http://lists.ysu.edu/pipermail/working-class-studies/2005-February/000027.html http://www.pcma.org/resources/resources/whitepapers/HCCUnionInfluence.asp http://www.unitehere.org/ I deplore the Los Angeles Times' irreverant language of " snub " and labor leaders " showing the backs of their hands " to our Beloved Amma. But defending our spiritual leader can proceed without retaliating defensively, dismissively, or other " ostrich-like head-in-the-sand " modes of avoiding the pragmatic reality of service workers' honorable request for dignity. Again, I pray that the sanctifying presence of Our Lady, Sri Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, at the LAX Hilton will help to bring about a change in the hard-hearted labor practices of its management and corporate leadership. And that Her grace will flow to the organizing efforts of the local union. Forgive what ego, arrogance, and self-righteousness may still resonate in this post. I still ache to drive to the Los Angeles Devi Bhava program -- tomorrow? -- and wish all of you who are able to attend a most blessed and divine time. Salutatations to our Mother. with loving respect, Prashanti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 Ammachi , " Prashanti " <ammasprashanti wrote: > .... How did the Christ put it? > " That which you do unto the least of my > brothers, so you do unto me. " > .... > with loving respect, > Prashanti > >>> namaste, Jesus also said: " The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me, " How these two statements worked for me is: It was after meeting Amma, that my compassion for the poor increased more than before and i took opportunities to donate to Amma's charities while I was working. Now, that i'm on a very small retirement pension which i'm sharing with my non-working partner, when I go to a city, i take some bills and/or sandwiches and becoming more expert at recognizing the homeless. It's very little but like Mother Theresa said " it's not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving " Today, I went and prayed to Amma I do not want to search and that only a few should come to me. And, guess what? They did. Amma Bless, amarnath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 Om Namah Shivaya, While in India for Amma's 50th., Amma advised devotees to give what people begging needed, rather than $. I believe this is so it wasn't used for drugs, etc ... Now that I have experience working with homeless people, I better understand this wisdom. Sweta amarnath <anatol_zinc wrote: Ammachi , " Prashanti " <ammasprashanti wrote: > .... How did the Christ put it? > " That which you do unto the least of my > brothers, so you do unto me. " > .... > with loving respect, > Prashanti > >>> namaste, Jesus also said: " The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me, " How these two statements worked for me is: It was after meeting Amma, that my compassion for the poor increased more than before and i took opportunities to donate to Amma's charities while I was working. Now, that i'm on a very small retirement pension which i'm sharing with my non-working partner, when I go to a city, i take some bills and/or sandwiches and becoming more expert at recognizing the homeless. It's very little but like Mother Theresa said " it's not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving " Today, I went and prayed to Amma I do not want to search and that only a few should come to me. And, guess what? They did. Amma Bless, amarnath Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Auto Green Center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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