Many oppressed people happen to be our oppressors. So how do we act? How are we to begin? … I think the only choice that will enable us to hold to our vision without being scared into wanting to retreat is one that abandons the concept of naming enemies and adopts a concept familiar to the nonviolent tradition: naming behavior that is oppressive, naming abuse of power, that is held unfairly and must be destroyed, but naming no person one whom we are willing to destroy …
Barbara Deming (1917-1984) American author, activist, pacifist
“To Fear Jane Alpert is to Fear Ourselves – A Letter to Susan Sherman” (1975)
http://homepage.mac.com/dmccabe/janealpert.html
Quotations by:
Deming, Barbara
Think first of the action that is right to take, think later about coping with one’s fears.
Barbara Deming (1917-1984) American author, activist, pacifist
(Attributed)
The longer we listen to one another — with real attention — the more commonality we will find in all our lives. That is, if we are careful to exchange with one another life stories and not simply opinions.
Barbara Deming (1917-1984) American author, activist, pacifist
Talk, Florida State U. (4 Mar 1977)
http://homepage.mac.com/dmccabe/rememberingwho.html