Page 34 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2017

True Sanctuary
I grew up in Penngrove, attended Petaluma High, spent the next two decades in San Francisco and the East Bay, before returning to Petaluma, where my family is and where my heart always was. I am currently a criminal prosecutor by day, with the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office, and writer by nights and weekends. In past careers, I’ve been a builder, a realtor, a developer, a human and physical resource manager, a security consultant, a financial analyst, and an economist, among other things, with companies ranging from music stores to publicly traded corporations to Burning Man.
Our prosperous valley town that has been promoting itself all over the world as an oasis for relaxation, wine and good food for travellers from a more hectic arena has suddenly exploded into political activity.
“I was living in a fool’s paradise,” said one woman to a group of thirty others gathered in a “Huddle” at a local home to discuss how to move forward in the wake of the inspirational Women’s March that took place
in more than 600 towns and cities across the globe. Others in the room
echoed her sentiment, saying they had never been politically active, but
now felt absolutely compelled to do something to protest the ascension of
this Administration. The group named itself Sonoma Indivisible and may collaborate with another group similarly titled, Sonoma County Indivisible. Meanwhile a MoveOn chapter has been started in nearby Petaluma. Everyone was planning to attend Town Halls held by Senator Mike Thompson on. A Women’s Strike planned for International Woman’s Day March 8 may sprout similar action here.
Petaluma is truly unique in that “locals” are always willing to step forward in order to help indoctrinate the new folks about what it means to be a Petaluman. Petalumans lead by example, volunteer where they can and donate when they cannot volunteer, support local businesses whenever possible and generally take care of their community, whether individually or collectively. So far, we have been able to maintain a close-knit old-timey feel, and I hope through my writing I can help encourage this to continue.
Donald Trump has invaded our lives. He is everywhere, radiating from
the television set and the computer screen, the smart phone and the I-pad, broadcasting through all media, the ultimate real life Big Brother of 1984.
Life has been irrevocably altered; it is no longer possible to think of the future without a shudder, to plan one’s own day without including time for phone calls, petitions, meetings, Town Halls, and time to debrief from the stress of witnessing an Administration committed to abolishing the departments which they have been appointed to direct.
Petaluma Perspectives will be twofold. First, I plan to present community events that may be of interest to Petalumans, who on average tend to be highly engaged, which is one of the reason Petaluma has such a great small-town vibe. Second, I will give non-Petaluma residents a heads up about upcoming events that may entice them to cross over the Cotati grade and venture down into Petaluma for a look around. While in many respects it remains deeply rooted to its rural past, Petaluma has also developed into a mini-cosmopolitan epicenter with cultural and culinary delights to rival anywhere else in the Bay Area.
Resistance is necessary, but is it all we can do? In our community,
the threat of deportations is foremost.“It Won’t Happen Here,” a statement of conscience and refusal to comply with any federal policy that tramples the human rights of minorities and women, has received widespread support in Sonoma County, and now school boards, city councils and county commissions are creating resolutions based on it. Our school district is considering a resolution to provide “safe haven” for students. Becoming a sanctuary city, a di erent but related proposal, is also being considered by the city council.
We’re proud of the many restaurants that closed their doors on
the Day Without Immigrants. We’d like to know what vineyards
George Lako spoke here January 29th at Vintage House, hosted by PraxisPeace; the daylong event was attended by 300 people. It received ample coverage in the Sonoma Index-Tribune, which has poked its head out of its conservative corner to join the voices speaking up for the people’s rights.
That all being said, I look forward to serving both Petaluma and the larger Sonoma County community.
The Petaluma Downtown Association is looking for volunteers for
this year’s Butter & Egg Days parade, held on April 29. Volunteers get some pretty cool swag, like t-shirts, water bottles, refreshments, and a training dinner prior to, and a thank you dinner a few weeks after the event. But best of all, volunteers get the satisfaction of helping put on Petaluma’s premier yearly celebration. Any volunteer group of 10 or more will get their logo printed on the back of their parade t-shirts! Apply at www.PetalumaDowntown.com.
Meet “The Muslim Next Door” at a special event put on by the Islamic Center of Petaluma on March 11 from 6:30-9 PM at the Petaluma Community Center (Lucchesi Center.) Speakers will include Imam Tahir Anwar, Rabbi Ted Feldman (from B’nai Israel Jewish Center, a Petaluma institution dating back to 1864), and Petaluma’s new Chief of Police, Ken Savano. It is great to see my hometown embracing the idea of tolerance, understanding, and education, even with the world in apparent chaos all around us.
Copper eld’s Books welcomes the Writers Forum on the 3rd Thursday of the month, March ~ October. “The Forum is a unique opportunity for participants to share ideas and explore the many facets of writing. Workshops are led by a variety of speakers presenting information about the craft and the business of writing.” The March 16th Forum will start at 6 PM.
are doing to protect workers.
Lako , Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Science and linguistics at UC Berkeley, has written many books about language and the brain, most famously Don’t Think of an Elephant in which he argues that telling people what not
to think only makes them think about it more. In an essay titled “A Minority President,” he writes, “By ghting against Trump, many protesters are just showcasing Trump, keeping him in the limelight rather than highlighting the majority’s positive moral view and viewing the problem with Trump from within the majority’s positive worldview. To e ectively ght for what is right, you have to rst say what is right and why.” (my italics)
Petaluma Museum’s honors Women’s History Month with a March 16-26 exhibit titled, “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business.” Housed the in the historic 1906 Carnegie Library building, the Petaluma Historic Library & Museum is a true piece of architectural history, as well an incredible music venue, aptly nicknamed the “Carnegie Hall of the West” due to its superior acoustics. Upcoming performance include “The Scandinavian Spirit: Grieg and Norse Myth” on Monday, March 20 and “The Eastern European Spirit: Dvorak, Janacek and Bartok” on Monday, March 27.
Two worldviews are colliding here, writes Lako . Progressives want a more caring, nurturing society, while Trump and his supporters are for a “strict father” society in which “father knows best,” punishment is the appropriate price of sin, and old fashioned, allegedly Christian moral values favor white males, heterosexuals and the rich. Feminists have a word for that: it’s called patriarchy.
The March main event is “The Outrageous Muse: An Evening with Alma Mahler” on March 31. Alma Mahler was a composer in her own right, as well as having been married to composer Gustav Mahler, architect Walter Gropius, and novelist Franz Werfel, and muse for many more men of genius. Although known as the “prettiest girl of Vienna”, concertgoers will get to experience first-hand that Mahler’s talents were more than skin deep.
How do we build an e ective resistance to the ominous ascension of the old patriarchal order without showcasing Trump? In a song that I love, “Brother Warrior,” Kate Wolf sang, “We are crying for a vision/ That all living things can share/ And those who care/ Are with us/ Everywhere.”
Mary Bales of the Petaluma Art Association (petalumaarts.org) informs me that the artist deadline for inclusion in this year’s Petaluma Open Studio Tour (May 6 & 7) is March 16. This is one of my favorite events of the year because I get to view (and sometimes purchase) great local artwork, while also getting to meet the artists behind the artwork and see the studios where they create their masterpieces.
I believe we have that vision. It’s not socialism and it’s not dependent
on government “handouts.” The “new age” we embraced in the 60s is still attainable. We need to articulate it for the 21st century and make it manifest, while the storm rages outside our door.
34 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/17