upgrading my subscription now to "paid." As a retired community college teacher and "working" poet, I appreciate your response to the tyrannical idiodacy in d.c. we need our poets storytellers shamans troubadours now more than ever--somebody's gotta keep the truth alive!
Thank you, Chris La Tray, for this hopeful post and words" I'm not going to let some petty wannabe despot and his moronic billionaire lackey get in the way of what we are doing... this situation isn't going to last ... and even if it does, it won't be forever," I am in my 7th decade, served and seen a lot of shit but never imagined what is happening now could happen.
I am on my library board, and we will fight and be active on local and state issues. I am frustrated and angry at the lack of what I can do at the national shit show level. Still, calling, writing representatives, Letters to the Editor, signing petitions, and joining large groups that will challenge this fascist administration helps, especially with limited financial resources.
CMarie Fuhrman started a writing group (write here) in McCall when she was our Idaho State Writer in Residence 4years ago. Since then, we have grown to 30 + writers, hosted 20 open mics, and will host our 3rd annual party crawl this Thursday. We have also bought in other writers
and helped with housing and meals. Last month, Rebecca Evans, Kim Cross, Alexandra Teague, and Christian Winn came to McCall to celebrate CMarie's beautiful new book, Salmon Weather. Good things happen even at difficult times. We cannot pay for transportation, which has prevented other writers from visiting, and we will figure out how to raise money for that.
My 82nd Airborne Division company motto was, " Give us something we can't do." I will always rise to the challenge of showing others what can be done and never give up. Your words are inspiring and remind me of what one person can do. I look forward to meeting and talking with you this summer at Elk River. Thanks again for this post I needed.
I also recommend everyone who possibly can, to plant some foodstuffs -- on your kitchen counter, windowsill, balcony, or parking strip. Wherever you can. Take care of your little posse (family/friends) and get to know your neighbors. It is very much a monkeywrench to the system of Big Food. I hope that is both vague and helpful enough.
Exact same thing happened to Idaho's Humanities program. Meanwhile, protests appear to be spawning new and bigger protests. Gotta keep up that momentum.
I dig what you are doing, Chris. I want to read your words because they steady my heart. I can't explain it. But I hope you understand it. Day to day, we resist this wave of bad spirit storming. I hope to make it to an appearance. I host a Zoom book club and on Monday night at 7 on April 28 our group meets to discuss Becoming Little Shell. You are sure welcome to be a special guest if you have an hour around 7 that evening. Anyone else in the paid subscribers on substack are welcome, too.
I strongly support your call for a general oligarchy boycott. I believe this is a spiritual imperative, for all of us who can afford to do so, and that it can become a spiritual practice that can actually go beyond breaking the oligarchy: it can put many of us who have lost our way, back into right relationship with nature.
Thanks for your encouraging words! I’m working on a post to this effect right now, but it feels lonely to frame it this way, as so many (white) progressives don’t like to touch spiritual language.
Serendipitous, your quote of Georgia O'Keeffe - just spent a few hours at the Santa Fe museum earlier this month, and learned so much about her and her perspective. Talk about a badass. We need that gumption, which you continue to bring, these days!
Thank you for this post, Chris. For shedding a light and sharing the personal impact the cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities have had on you, Montana residents, and everyone in every state. I am late to this post and in spreading the news of how these cuts will impact so many of us; there is so damn much to RESIST and STAND against! However, my voice will SHOUT just as loud as it has been for everything else being obliterated by this moronic administration!
Appreciate you, your craft, and your voice. Bless you for what you bring and give so generously to, not only Montanans, but everyone.
I have a little extra this month and I’d like to donate to your travel fund so you can keep providing your communities with events. How can I do so?
I’m thinking about that. Miigwech for the offer!
upgrading my subscription now to "paid." As a retired community college teacher and "working" poet, I appreciate your response to the tyrannical idiodacy in d.c. we need our poets storytellers shamans troubadours now more than ever--somebody's gotta keep the truth alive!
Miigwech!
Adelante!!
Thank you, Chris La Tray, for this hopeful post and words" I'm not going to let some petty wannabe despot and his moronic billionaire lackey get in the way of what we are doing... this situation isn't going to last ... and even if it does, it won't be forever," I am in my 7th decade, served and seen a lot of shit but never imagined what is happening now could happen.
I am on my library board, and we will fight and be active on local and state issues. I am frustrated and angry at the lack of what I can do at the national shit show level. Still, calling, writing representatives, Letters to the Editor, signing petitions, and joining large groups that will challenge this fascist administration helps, especially with limited financial resources.
CMarie Fuhrman started a writing group (write here) in McCall when she was our Idaho State Writer in Residence 4years ago. Since then, we have grown to 30 + writers, hosted 20 open mics, and will host our 3rd annual party crawl this Thursday. We have also bought in other writers
and helped with housing and meals. Last month, Rebecca Evans, Kim Cross, Alexandra Teague, and Christian Winn came to McCall to celebrate CMarie's beautiful new book, Salmon Weather. Good things happen even at difficult times. We cannot pay for transportation, which has prevented other writers from visiting, and we will figure out how to raise money for that.
My 82nd Airborne Division company motto was, " Give us something we can't do." I will always rise to the challenge of showing others what can be done and never give up. Your words are inspiring and remind me of what one person can do. I look forward to meeting and talking with you this summer at Elk River. Thanks again for this post I needed.
I'll be there, too, David. Hope to be included in the conversation. 'They' shouldn't mess with old people!
I’m looking forward to it!
I appreciate it, David. CMarie is a force of nature.
I also recommend everyone who possibly can, to plant some foodstuffs -- on your kitchen counter, windowsill, balcony, or parking strip. Wherever you can. Take care of your little posse (family/friends) and get to know your neighbors. It is very much a monkeywrench to the system of Big Food. I hope that is both vague and helpful enough.
Yes!
HAYDUKE LIVES
Forever. 🔧
Exact same thing happened to Idaho's Humanities program. Meanwhile, protests appear to be spawning new and bigger protests. Gotta keep up that momentum.
It happened to Humanities programs all over the country and it sucks.
This is the response I wanted from you and I too am willing to help you. Long live the monkeywrenches!
💚
La Tray on target! BTW, my enrollment was approved. Got picture for ID taken today.
I love hearing that. Welcome home!
I dig what you are doing, Chris. I want to read your words because they steady my heart. I can't explain it. But I hope you understand it. Day to day, we resist this wave of bad spirit storming. I hope to make it to an appearance. I host a Zoom book club and on Monday night at 7 on April 28 our group meets to discuss Becoming Little Shell. You are sure welcome to be a special guest if you have an hour around 7 that evening. Anyone else in the paid subscribers on substack are welcome, too.
7:00pm in what time zone? I can probably make it happen….
That is 7:00 pm in the Mountain time zone.
I'm in Bozeman. Send me an email to receive the link, Chris.
You could pop in, or stay the whole hour.
We have members who attend regularly from Helena, Missoula, hamilton, Sioux Falls, Great Falls, but somtimes others from other states. d28rik@msn.com
"METTLE"....FKN A! Thank you for the inspiration Chris. See you in Msla for Indigipalooza!
Miigwech!
I strongly support your call for a general oligarchy boycott. I believe this is a spiritual imperative, for all of us who can afford to do so, and that it can become a spiritual practice that can actually go beyond breaking the oligarchy: it can put many of us who have lost our way, back into right relationship with nature.
It IS a spiritual imperative! What a great way to frame it.
Thanks for your encouraging words! I’m working on a post to this effect right now, but it feels lonely to frame it this way, as so many (white) progressives don’t like to touch spiritual language.
Serendipitous, your quote of Georgia O'Keeffe - just spent a few hours at the Santa Fe museum earlier this month, and learned so much about her and her perspective. Talk about a badass. We need that gumption, which you continue to bring, these days!
I was in that museum last summer and loved it, love her. I’m happy to know you were there too!
Check out Project Mail Storm. It’s a gentle monkeywrench of a project….
👍🏽
Bold resistance! Thank you.
✊🏾
Thank you for this post, Chris. For shedding a light and sharing the personal impact the cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities have had on you, Montana residents, and everyone in every state. I am late to this post and in spreading the news of how these cuts will impact so many of us; there is so damn much to RESIST and STAND against! However, my voice will SHOUT just as loud as it has been for everything else being obliterated by this moronic administration!
Appreciate you, your craft, and your voice. Bless you for what you bring and give so generously to, not only Montanans, but everyone.
Many blessing and MUCH LOVE,
~Wendy💜
❤️
Thanks, I needed to read this today. Standing right there with you.
💚