Radical: A Returning to the Root

Whenever a tragic event transpires because of an individual’s actions such as the recent Boston Marathon bombing or the terrorist attracts of September 11th 2001 or even a protest held by the Westboro Baptist Church, we tend to talk of these people/groups as radical. We also label them as extremists. Which one is it? Are all radicals extremists as well? Now these two words are different and yet we use them as if they were interchangeable and I’m not too certain they can be used so fluidly. I want to examine these words and use them in right and appropriate ways.* 

The word radical comes from the Latin radix meaning root. This means that when something is radical it is relating to the root or base. Roots are important. They dig deep, the spread into the dark and find things which have been lost. They discover new areas. They also provide nourishment to the rest of the plant.

I have studied many so-called radical groups as a part of my undergrad education. Generally radical groups, or more commonly known as separatist groups, split off from the main-stream because they feel a calling to go deeper (notice I didn’t use extreme though I grammatically could have). Political radicals can be seen all over the spectrum. When Charlotte Bunch and other separatist feminist of the early 1970’s started The Furies Collective, they went in search of political refuge, acceptance, the idea of woman, what it means to be a lesbian just to name a few. They dug deep into the ideas of what it meant to be a woman, where the political process of America was headed, and how to change the culture around them. Marilyn Frye, theorist and lesbian feminist philosopher, says that “A separatist practices separation consciously, systematically, and probably more generally than the others, and advocates thorough and “broadspectrum” separation as part of the conscious strategy of liberation”. In short, she sees a separatist, and I would correlate this with a radical practice, as the willful exorcise of oneself from a community in order to liberate, or free, the self. (Frye) They needed to separate themselves from the over-culture in order to really get into the heart of their experiences as women, as lesbians, and as members of democratic society.

When religious groups becomes radical they are often seeking a more interpersonal experience with the divine as their tradition sees it. This looks different depending on the religion, the tradition, and the power structure of that group. Radical Christians dive deep into the social well-being of their community bolstered by the exemplary life of Jesus. (Fisher 219) Nuns, monks, and hermits of all the worlds’ traditions are radical in that they want to feel their idea of the divine so much that the outside world must be left behind. In terms spiritual anatomy the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Chakras slow down so the heart (4th), mind (5th), and crown (6th an 7th) may be fully open to the experience/imminence of the divine.(Myss) Siddhartha (Buddha) sat under a tree, Jesus went to the garden, Muhammad went to the mountain, Inanna left heaven and earth and went into the underworld where everything she had was taken from her.

And here is the other half of what it means to be a Radical. They must bring back what they learned and experienced to the community. I don’t know if it is the radical’s journey to stay radical forever or if there is a katabatic (to descend and return) cycle. Roots bring nutrition to the rest of the plant; same can be said for a radical person. Once the knowledge, experience, wisdom is found, it is the job of the Radical inform the community. Now wither or not the person with whom the Radical is in contact with is receptive of their message is not the point. The point is there is new wisdom to disperse. There are truths to be absorbed. The wisdom gets transported into the world and watered-down and altered which can disappoint/infuriate a radical. Thus, when faced with difficult and trying times, we humans and turn towards violent and iritic behaviors. I believe that is not the job of anyone, especially a radical, to use violent or corrosive force to disseminate their message. Not only does this give the whole community of which the radical is a part of a bad name but it negatively impacts the community in which we all live.

I hope I have opened your eyes to the idea that we use the label of radical far too often to describe people who act soul in destructive ways. I would say the amount of radicals who commit the hanus acts we hear about in the news is significantly less than we think. After examining the word radical and the whole would actually portray its characteristic, perhaps it is extremists, those who are on the limits of their community, who are the perpetrators of these great crimes. Maybe after reading this, and examining the groups you are a part of, you will find yourself a radical. What is calling you to dig deeper? What is calling you away from the over-culture and towards a more intense study? What lessons have you learned from being so close to a topic it calls in to question everything you’ve known to be true? What called you and you responded with such a fervent yes, every shred of rationality said to go forth? What lessons have you learned there in the deep?

NEXT WEEK: Extremist

*When was examine the words we are choosing to say we slow down and use a more prudent and judicious speech. This means we describe the word more accurately, view it more sharply, and are able to create stronger bonds i.e. our relationship to ourselves and to each other. Example: How do you describe yourself? What is the narrative you are saying about yourself? What do you so casually say you hate/like/want/love and how is that constructing how you view yourself/your actions? How do you label the world (other people, places, and events) and how does that help/hinder the way in which we move forward?

Bibliography

Fisher, Mary Pat. "Women in Christianity." Women in Religion. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2007. 188-233. Print.

Frye, Marilyn. "Some Reflections on Separatism and Power." Feminist Theory: A Reader. Ed. Wendy K. Kolmar and Frances Bartkowski. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 275-81. Print.

Myss, Caroline. The Language of Archetypes: Discover the Forces That Shape Your Destiny. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2006. Audio.

Lilith

I have always wanted to write about each season and now that the leaves have just started to turn colors I feel that It's time for me to write about Fall. But I'll wait i week or two to write about autumn cause the leaves have not yet begun to... well fall. So instead i will tell the story of a woman scorned. Her name is Lilith. She is considered to be the first wife of Adam by ancient Jewish texts. She was also said to created before Adam. That being said...

"Creator took the soft earth, mixed it with the rains, and formed the first. She was named Lilith and Creator told her that she was to bring spirit to all things in the universe. So she walked the earth and spoke to the trees, the rocks, the rivers. She told stories to the bothers and sisters of the air, earth, and sea. And when she was done and everything was endowed with spirit, she looked at the world and saw that all the creatures were wild and full of chaos. She turned to Creator and asked "Why did you have me bring spirit to all of these beings only to make them wild and uncontrollable."

From that Creator took the hard clay, the raging oceans, and made the second. He was named Adam. Creator told Adam to tame and rule over all things wild. And that he did. And for a time their was peace.

When Lilith met Adam she saw what the other creatures of the land did and fell to the same urges. But when Adam went to place himself on top of her, she stopped him. He was confused and angry. But she exclaimed that because they were made from the same things that they should make love as equals. But Adam did not agree. He said that Creator told him it was for him to rule and dominate over all things wild. And when he went to lay on top of her again she pushed him away saying that if he was to not see her as an equal, then they would never share the same bed.

And with that she called to Owl. Owl took Lilith away from Adam and flew to a mountain cave where she could watch and wait for Adam to change his ways. Adam asked Creator to retrieve Lilith and Creator sent three spirits to find her. They came to her in the mountain and said that if she wasn't to return to Adam then they would cause the mountain to fall upon her. She replied saying that the only way she would return is if Adam would see her as an equal for they are both made from earth and water.

The spirits went to Adam and told them of Lilith's request. He declined. The spirits returned to Lilith's cave but found it empty. She had seen Adam's refusal of equality and asked for Owl to take her into the night sky. Adam looked to the darkened night sky and saw Lilith fly into the clouds. Lighting flashed and thunder roared and it begin to rain for Lilith was crying tears of sorrow. Adam was sad as well, but not for Lilith, but because he was now alone.

Creator saw that Adam was sad and said it was not good for Adam to be alone. So he gathered more earth, and more water, breathed life into it and made Eve. Creator gave Eve no instructions but told her the story of Adam and Lilith. Eve took pity on Adam and slept with him."

And there is the story of Lilith, as seen by me. True or not, it's a story. Can you tell I'm a feminist. There are many myths revolving around Lilith, but they all depict her as strong and free willed. So next time you see a woman defiled, a woman trading in what she belives is right, treated unfairly because of sex, think of Lilith and remember her tale. Even though Lilith is now alone, she can still be found in every girl defining gender roles, in women fighting for equal pay, in people fighting for choice. In everyone knowing that everyone, man or woman, is equal and deserves to treated as such.

~CHUCK