Author: Maya Angelou Review first posted April 2004 It took a while to decide to review this book. There is an unfortunately strong current societal meme which says if you are: (less victimized, &/or more financially secure, male, white, privileged, whatever) then you don’t get to comment. I understand it’s a natural reaction to the…
I found myself somewhat disturbed when the older white male speaker confidently asserted that Gandhi was the first person to really codify nonviolence. Had the speaker never heard of the extensive uses of nonviolence, both interpersonal and inter-clan, by many of the indigenous peoples of North America? The Haudenosaunee (or Iroquois) in particular leap to…
I will be marching in the San Jose Women’s March on the 21st of January, mostly because traveling to Washington to march is financially currently beyond me. Consequently when I heard there was free nonviolence training being offered in association with the march, I eagerly signed up. Not only do I want to be prepared…
To all my friends with children: I am so very, very sorry! I owe you all an apology… and some explanation. :-D It is probably no secret to those who know me that I don’t care for kids that much. The very young ones are often loud and shrill, and their high-pitched voices frequently hit…
Woo! Just finished my first interview for my dissertation research — and it went swimmingly, I think! Feeling much relief here, as well as some amusement at myself for needlessly stressing so much. Hopefully my participant enjoyed herself as well! Now, a couple of notes for future interviews: zoom.us works great! Very clear directions, very…
Last three titles of my ten most influential books and articles which helped shape my thinking regarding feminism and the human community — woo! Got it posted at a reasonable hour, too! :) 8) Iroquoian Women: The Gantowisas by Barbara Alice Mann I loved this book! It’s so refreshing to read excellent research that…
Whoops! Finishing off the list of my ten most influential books and articles which helped shape my thinking regarding feminism and the human community took a bit longer than expected. Life intruded — mea culpa! So, continuing with #4… 4) “En’owkin: Decision-Making as if Sustainability Mattered” by Jeannette C. Armstrong This article was personally revelatory…
Woohoooo! Current scoreboard in the Collie’s advancement to dissertation candidacy game: HRRC approval (as in: the ethics committee): a decision is promised to me by the end of the month at latest, and… Dissertation committee approval: three out of three — DONE!! :-D I’m getting very excited about this — it’s so wonderful to see…
Whew! Got my definition for indigenous hammered out adequately, I think — thank heavens! It’s been a pretty good couple of days so far, in fact, which makes me very happy. There’ve been a few really nice or fun things that’ve left me pretty pleased with how life is going. Admittedly, I wish I could…
Just a few happy-making things today! Most pleasingly, things are progressing well, I think, with my dissertation proposal — woohoo! I’ve sent in the rough drafts of the Introduction, Methodology, and Literature Review, and received commentary back. In all the cases there’s a lot of polishing to do, of course, and a few bits where…