I don't want to get into making her case for her, but really quickly:
Originally Posted by linux_author
- don't see how bicycling and pedestrian rights is related to "social justice" (whatever that means - redistribution of wealth? elimination of the class system?)
For her, bike/ped rights has a political component as well. Not so uncommon in activism that people's wider concerns inform their attitudes about the specific causes they work for. OTOH, there are lots of cycling activists who focus exclusively on better bike facilities, wider lanes, more signage, etc. But yu can't read more than two posts here w/o seeing that for lots of folks, cycling is at least in some small part a political act.
- why should the complexion of a movement or organization matter? does that mean that the NAACP is ineffective or less legitimate because of its makeup? should BET feature wider and more varied audience-related material instead of appealing to a limited audience range?
The complexion of the organization matters becase it's not representing the wider majority or cyclists...people for whom cycling is not a political act, or recreation, or exercize, or a competitive sport, but rather an economic choice. Complexion comes into it because in NO and in lots of other places, there is at least a perception that the poor are in large part non-white. (I don't know for a fact and am not saying that that's statistically true, just that that's the perception, one of many places where race and class overlap in this country.)
- "put our own house in order"??? not sure what that means?
I think she wants to make sure that going forward, her org. is representing the needs of all cyclists.
(i grew up in a city orphanage in urban, center city philadelphia... my brothers and sisters were a rainbow of race and religion... our main benefit was a decent education, but alas, we didn't have bicycles...)
- i think that the original question could be rephrased into a question of participation, not due to any failing on the part of current members, but more of a lack of ways to encourage advocacy and develop interest...
I think you're exactly right. And I admire that she's committed to that and hope that she retains her commitment to foght for the benefit of all cyclists even if they have trouble changing the complexion of their organization.
I didn't think there was much in the letter to generate so much discussion, but I'm glad it got posted... it's been really interesting hearing everyone's take on it.