Comments on: … did I learn from Utah Phillips? http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/ A working notebook Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:15:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Nate http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2779 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:47:18 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2779 Edited this down. I think it pairs well with Jefferson's piece in the September IW about replacing ourselves. * I had the privilege to meet Utah Phillips before he died. FW Phillips had a song with the refrain, “building a ship, may never sail on it, gonna build it anyway.” That’s an important sensibility. “Building a ship.” The IWW is a sort of ecosystem where several elements depend on each other, and move at different paces. One of the main things I do in the IWW now are trainings and administrative work. This is important but it’s hard in that the pay offs don’t come quickly and often happen elsewhere out of my direct sight/experience. This is different from helping organize a picket or a job action, or moving a co-worker in a one-on-one. I used to think that revolutionary activity should always be joyful or make us feel good. I no longer feel that way. Obviously this stuff should have enjoyable and/or joyful elements, at least sometimes, but that’s a different matter. The work we need to do is often hard and trying and tiring and involves sacrifices. Many things worth doing are hard and are not immediately rewarding. To not do them because they are not immediately rewarding is not justifiable. “May never sail on it.” I told FW Phillips that his music and stories were a big part of my introduction to the IWW, and that I had really enjoyed talking with him and hearing his stories. He said thank you. He said something like “I was your age when I met the people who got me into all this, and they were about the age I am now. Someday you’ll be my age and will be getting new people into all this.” It was (and is) a sobering thing to say, and definitely felt (and feels) like shoes I can’t fill. It’s also an important reminder to think long term: Utah was I think 73 when I met him. I just turned 30. All this ties in to my feeling burnt out lately. On the one hand, I need to make sure I do not burn out entirely, so that I can continue to play a somewhat positive role for the long term. On the other hand, the point in the song is important. This stuff is not about immediate returns - or, at least, not about seeing our really big goals accomplished. I find that a useful reminder. This work matters. We have to keep doing it. “Gonna build it anyway.” ** Follow on/related thing... building a personal support system to help stay in. Edited this down. I think it pairs well with Jefferson’s piece in the September IW about replacing ourselves.

*

I had the privilege to meet Utah Phillips before he died. FW Phillips had a song with the refrain, “building a ship, may never sail on it, gonna build it anyway.” That’s an important sensibility.

“Building a ship.” The IWW is a sort of ecosystem where several elements depend on each other, and move at different paces. One of the main things I do in the IWW now are trainings and administrative work. This is important but it’s hard in that the pay offs don’t come quickly and often happen elsewhere out of my direct sight/experience. This is different from helping organize a picket or a job action, or moving a co-worker in a one-on-one.

I used to think that revolutionary activity should always be joyful or make us feel good. I no longer feel that way. Obviously this stuff should have enjoyable and/or joyful elements, at least sometimes, but that’s a different matter. The work we need to do is often hard and trying and tiring and involves sacrifices. Many things worth doing are hard and are not immediately rewarding. To not do them because they are not immediately rewarding is not justifiable.

“May never sail on it.” I told FW Phillips that his music and stories were a big part of my introduction to the IWW, and that I had really enjoyed talking with him and hearing his stories. He said thank you. He said something like “I was your age when I met the people who got me into all this, and they were about the age I am now. Someday you’ll be my age and will be getting new people into all this.” It was (and is) a sobering thing to say, and definitely felt (and feels) like shoes I can’t fill. It’s also an important reminder to think long term: Utah was I think 73 when I met him. I just turned 30.

All this ties in to my feeling burnt out lately. On the one hand, I need to make sure I do not burn out entirely, so that I can continue to play a somewhat positive role for the long term. On the other hand, the point in the song is important. This stuff is not about immediate returns - or, at least, not about seeing our really big goals accomplished. I find that a useful reminder. This work matters. We have to keep doing it.

“Gonna build it anyway.”

**

Follow on/related thing… building a personal support system to help stay in.

]]> by: Nate http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2680 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:55:24 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2680 hi friends, Todd, I like that a lot. Say more. Colin, that's a big compliment. I'll take a crack at it. I may need some editorial help. And let's talk in the next month or so, I miss you. love, Nate hi friends,
Todd, I like that a lot. Say more.
Colin, that’s a big compliment. I’ll take a crack at it. I may need some editorial help. And let’s talk in the next month or so, I miss you.
love,
Nate

]]> by: Colin Bossen http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2677 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:45:47 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2677 Hey Nate, you should consider revising a version of this for the Industrial Worker column "Workers Power." I think that the issues you are dealing--burn out and long term commitment--are huge and are things that most young activists--a category we are both rapidly leaving--fail to consider often enough. One thing I think that is important to remember. Utah was part of several communities--the IWW, the folk music scene, the hobos, various Unitarian Universalist churches, the Catholic Workers--that have long commitments to social struggle and helped sustain him for the long haul. One thing I always appreciated about Utah was the fact that he stuck with things. I think he was rewarded by being sustained by them. Hey Nate, you should consider revising a version of this for the Industrial Worker column “Workers Power.” I think that the issues you are dealing–burn out and long term commitment–are huge and are things that most young activists–a category we are both rapidly leaving–fail to consider often enough. One thing I think that is important to remember. Utah was part of several communities–the IWW, the folk music scene, the hobos, various Unitarian Universalist churches, the Catholic Workers–that have long commitments to social struggle and helped sustain him for the long haul. One thing I always appreciated about Utah was the fact that he stuck with things. I think he was rewarded by being sustained by them.

]]> by: todd http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2676 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:36:37 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2676 errico's post makes me think of that grand funk song "ride captain ride on your mystery ship" or whatever. nooooo!!!! :) i've always tried to use nietzsche's ear-mark for the worthiness of some way of living. If you had to live the way you do, again and again for all eternity, would you hate it or love it? I try to push for the love it side. That doesn't answer whether its pleasant or pays off (i tend to think the good is distinct from happiness), but it does tie you to an orientation towards your particular process. errico’s post makes me think of that grand funk song “ride captain ride on your mystery ship” or whatever. nooooo!!!! :)

i’ve always tried to use nietzsche’s ear-mark for the worthiness of some way of living. If you had to live the way you do, again and again for all eternity, would you hate it or love it? I try to push for the love it side. That doesn’t answer whether its pleasant or pays off (i tend to think the good is distinct from happiness), but it does tie you to an orientation towards your particular process.

]]> by: Nate http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2673 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:08:12 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2673 Thanks Praxis, that's nice of you to say. take care, Nate Thanks Praxis, that’s nice of you to say.
take care,
Nate

]]> by: Praxis http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2672 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:32:15 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2672 Beautiful post, Nate. Thank you. Beautiful post, Nate. Thank you.

]]> by: Nate http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2671 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:33:40 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2671 Thanks E, you're kind, and the feeling is mutual. I like the Noah metaphor. And of course we know - I mean , we may not have evidence, but still we <em>know</em> - Noah just captained the ship and others not named built it - collectively. xox Thanks E, you’re kind, and the feeling is mutual.

I like the Noah metaphor. And of course we know - I mean , we may not have evidence, but still we know - Noah just captained the ship and others not named built it - collectively.

xox

]]> by: errico http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2670 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:00:11 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2670 build away, my friend. We can't all be noah, riding the same ship we build. Most of us are destined to be bit players in history - it's a good role. Also, know that your comrades love you. (So does your mother). build away, my friend. We can’t all be noah, riding the same ship we build. Most of us are destined to be bit players in history - it’s a good role. Also, know that your comrades love you. (So does your mother).

]]> by: errico http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2669 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:59:50 +0100 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2008/08/06/p718/#comment-2669 build away, my friend. We can't all be noah, riding the same ship we build. Most of us are destined to be bit players in history - it's a good role. Also, know that your comrades love you. (So does your mother). build away, my friend. We can’t all be noah, riding the same ship we build. Most of us are destined to be bit players in history - it’s a good role. Also, know that your comrades love you. (So does your mother).

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