Sustainable Health and Well-Being
  • About SHWB
  • Bio
  • Resources
  • Contact

Mountain Justice Part 3: Remembering Community

6/6/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
OK - here is a long rambling story, probably hampered by faulty memory and a bit of sentimentality. Fairly warned.

When I was a junior in college at Transylvania, I took an education course with Dr. JB -- here is where my memory may be a little creaky so fellow Transy folks, set me straight. Dr. B was a member of the local school board and was ultra ultra liberal. I on the other hand, at the time, wasn't sure where I stood about much of anything. So we did lots of cool exercises in this class -- you know, the kind where the professor asks an opinion/attitude type question and the students move to different corners of the room representing where they stand on the particular issue. I remember one question -- we were talking about some artists -- hippies back in the day -- who were being supported by welfare and the question asked was something like, "Should society support people who produce art but who don't have jobs or otherwise make money?" I remember moving to the corner of the room that probably represented "Somewhat disagree." I remember Dr. B looking at me with eyebrows raised.

A couple of days later, we were talking about our favorite books -- and I mentioned Atlas Shrugged, which I had just finished -- an epic, dramatic book with all kinds of political subtext which totally eluded me. Dr. B again looked at me, raised his eyebrows, and commented, "Why am I not surprised?" I was puzzled and a little hurt -- actually, I had no idea what he was talking about but his reaction did not seem positive and felt judgmental for reasons that I didn't understand. Looking back at that experience, I think he was indeed making judgments and assumptions about me, and what I wished he had next asked me -- and to my students if you are reading this, make sure that I ask this of you -- was WHY I liked the book. 

What I think I would have said was that the characters in the book strove for excellence in what they did and were way big on independence. Again, I was 20 -- and I had just begun to really appreciate a couple of things. One -- I felt a real high, a sense of pleasure and satisfaction, when I excelled at or accomplished something -- a piece of music that took 9 months to master and memorize, an exam in genetics class, a thorny paper in sociology. It felt good. And two -- I was just realizing that, guess what, I was expected to become independent and self-supporting in a very short time, a pretty scary but at the same time exciting prospect. So of course, when I read Atlas Shrugged, the stuff about independence and achievement jumped out at me. And all of that other stuff about weak liberals who suck at the teat of the government fell away like chaff (insert sarcasm emoticon).

Why in the world am I remembering this now? I am not sure - but I think because, even while I still love to learn new things, to do well, to take care of myself, to be pretty independent, this is only part of the story. I of course did not follow Ayn Rand's philosophies when I chose to work as a psychologist with young children and adolescents and their families. I followed a calling that involved working toward excellence and a measure of independence, yes, but I also embraced a belief that I had something to give to others outside of myself, and a responsibility and need to do so.  

And my experience at Mountain Justice poked at some other needs that often lie dormant in me, especially my very real need to be part of a community. A community with meaning.

My first night at Mountain Justice, I found myself elbow-deep in greasy dishwater, pre-rinsing dinner dishes before passing them on to the washer (Joe) and sterilizer (Jessica). Steve Earle blasted on somebody's iPod. The MJ folks, almost without exception, thanked me as they handed their dirty dishes to me through the pass-through window. Thanked me. I was hot and sweaty and smelly and sticky and tired after a first day of workshops related to organizing to fight mountain top removal. And I was happy.

I felt this way for 12-13 years when my children and I were part of a Unitarian Church community -- mostly when I was working with the kids and teenagers. When we had overnight lock-ins full of silliness and seriousness and song. When I watched the youth group plan and carry out, with only a little help, the annual ITALIAN DINNER (yes, that needs to be capitalized -- it was THAT important) that raised money for scholarships for other youth programs in the city. When I sat with the kids the Sunday after 9/11 and watched them grapple with the hugeness of what had just happened to their ideas about the world and fairness and safety. When I listened to middle-schoolers thoughtfully and energetically debate the question -- "Are the 10 commandments still relevant today?" And when I felt the anxiety and uncertainty of the youth who were soon-to-be-launched (was it their anxiety and uncertainty I felt, or ours, their parents'? hmmmm).

I often feel this way at work -- I am crazy about my work community of smart, funny, brave people who are committed to providing top-notch higher education. But I miss having an away-from-work community, particularly that special kind of community that is actively engaged with the bigness of life beyond ourselves in a way that is joyful and inspiring.

All day today, I have been reading Facebook updates from my new Mountain Justice friends involved with a big action today in D.C. -- many brave souls traveled to D.C. to attempt to meet with their Congress reps to urge them to support The Clean Water Protection Act (HB1375) and to fight to end mountain top removal -- and many more of us participated in a call-in day to our representatives to ask that they support the bill. Some activists have recently been able to testify before Congress -- Maria Gunnoe, winner of the 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize, spoke to the House Committee on Natural Resources. I encourage you to read Aaron Bady's column for his take on her talk -- and click on links in his article to see Maria's slides depicting MTR and describing its horrible effects on the entire ecosystem, including human health.

Several more folks shaved their heads in mourning for all that MTR has taken away from communities, continuing a symbolic action that began on Memorial Day in Charleston, WV. And a number of people from WV, VA, Tennessee, and Kentucky were arrested, including Stanley Sturgill, a veteran Kentucky deep-miner whose story is told by Jeff Biggers. Check out these amazing sites for more information... Appalachia Rising, iLoveMountains, Center for Biological Diversity.

Next week, I hope to travel with a group to Harrisburg, PA to talk to people about the importance of supporting clean air and clean water regulations, to ask that the energy companies engaged in fracking and mountain top removal clean up their acts. 

I am a baby in this growing community, a baby (even though many of the folks are younger than me by 20-30 years). I feel privileged to begin my journey with this well-established community of very strong and grounded and wise citizens. A community focused on excellence - excellence  in living with integrity and courage, and the best kind of independence - a self-sufficiency that is supported by interdependence with and generosity toward others.

1 Comment
Lou Martin
7/6/2012 01:24:34 am

Mary Beth,

June went by fast, and it is only now that I am getting to read part 3 of your MJS series. So much to think about here. First, I think it is always good to be reminded of the power we have as teachers, and when deployed carelessly, that power can hurt and exclude.

Second, I also appreciate the feeling of community that was so much a part of MJS and the March on Blair last year. And it's not just about asking the big questions but also living as a community and working together on the little things like washing dishes. It makes me think about what life was like when we truly lived as communities, for better and for worse.

Lastly, I'd love to hear about Harrisburg when you get more time to write!

Lou

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mary Beth Mannarino is a licensed psychologist who provides coaching in the areas of leadership, career, life, and parenting. She is also an environmental and climate educator and activist. Dr. Mannarino is professor emeritus at Chatham University where she continues to teach courses to students in health professions related to environment and well-being.

    Picture

    Follow MBMannarino on Twitter
    My Bloggy Rules...
    I write about my own experiences, opinions, dreams, and ideas. I invite you to share your ideas, and to be part of a dialogue. I will make mistakes! But it is great to take the risk to put this out there and, more importantly, to hear from you.

    Archives

    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    August 2013
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    Air
    Art
    Biking
    Children
    Climate Change
    Coal
    Community
    Culture
    Economics
    Energy
    Environment
    Faith
    Families
    Family
    Food
    Forgiveness
    Immigration
    Jobs
    Leadership
    Love
    Mountains
    Mountain Top Removal
    Nature
    Occupy Movement
    Peace
    Politics
    Pollution
    Religion And Spirituality
    Social Action
    Social Justice
    Sustainability
    Transportation
    Water
    Well Being
    Well-being
    Work

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.