Values, Wise Women, Building Power
and the anatomy of a progressive event...
Julie Duhn introduces author Austin Frerick.
Maybe 45 people from as far away as Des Moines, Algona, and beyond gathered in Iowa Falls on April 11 to listen to Austin Frerick discuss his new book--Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry. The event, as well as the rest of the book tour, was the product of the good work of Austin and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.
It’s an excellent book about--well, just what the title says it is. More of what we are used to--how the corporate world, including big tech, big insurance, big food, big medicine, and big pharm are working to squeeze the little guy and gal until we pop. Empowered by anti-government sentiment, deregulation, and radical individualism, the ghost of Ronald Reagan and 50 years of failed trickle-down economics haunts us all. Here are my brief thoughts on the book and the review of one of the best writers about American agriculture and rural life Alan Guebert.
I was honored to be the moderator of the discussion in Iowa Falls and several things came together in my head at the event that made me think of ways Democrats can be better at building power at events like this and percolate it outward. I’m tired of Democrats holding campaign events that are mostly cerebral and as dull as an 1890s Victorian tea party afternoon poetry reading when they should be as exhilarating as a kick-ass poetry slam that builds community and power. After all, democracy is at stake and we are the ones who will save it.
Austin’s event in Iowa Falls was powerful, but I knew that I had to play my part and contribute to building power. Take it over the top. At the event, things were going through my head that I want to share here.
When first responders have a significant event where they need to assess what went right and wrong, they do an after-action review. This column is a kind of an after-action review of the Frerick event in Iowa Falls that we can learn from. It’s also an after-action review of political events in general. What fell together in my head at the meeting that I want to share was the product of, in no particular order, these things:
my anthropological training
discussions with progressive friends about values and identity
having attended thousands of political events
having interviewed hundreds of politicians
having interviewed 8-9,000 Iowans
having worked for Zuni Pueblo in the 1980s and 90s.
having spent numerous days in the legislative session this year
Let’s start with the anthropology. Done right, political events are a subset of a broader kind of ritual called rites of passage, and the Frerick event was one.
In a rite of passage, there are three stages--separation, transition, and reincorporation. We begin in our normal world, then transition into a sacred or semi-sacred space gaining new knowledge and status, and finally are reincorporated into the real world, born anew. We become masters of both worlds, the new and the old, ready to embrace new calls to action. Sometimes we endure hardship and encounter foes and mentors on our journey, and we always bond with others to eventually be reborn as masters of both worlds. In the most effective rites of passage, there are rituals of intensification where emotions are heightened, perhaps aided by singing, chants, food, and intoxicants. As part of these gatherings we affirm, maintain, and strengthen bonds of solidarity which will assist us in meeting new challenges.
So, everyone at the Frerick event left their normal world, their homes, their work, whatever, and entered a sacred space—the Iowa Falls Public Library. We heard Austin’s presentation, bonded, and were born anew into a world where we would do our best to help bring progressives back into power in Iowa, if and when a call to action is issued. Which it was.
The event began perfectly. A powerful older woman, Julie Duhn, introduced Austin. As an employee of Zuni Pueblo in the 1980’s I was exposed to a powerful matriarchy. A matriarchal society is one where women hold much power. Historically at Zuni, women owned all property and material wealth. Households are made up of women and their descendants related through the mother.
If you are a married man and come home at night and find all of your stuff on the doorstep, you are divorced.
I could write on and on about the anthropology of matriarchy and patriarchy and what drives them, but that belabors the point.
We are at a tipping point in history. The so-called “Christian” right and their dismantling of our democracy in favor of a patriarchial theocracy that suppresses the rights of those who don’t believe as they do, but especially the rights of women and the marginalized can only be defeated by empowering the matriarchy and others who are marginalized.
And should anyone aligned with the MAGA movement call me weak because I support the power of the matriarchy, remember that I’m an old UNI wrestler and could kick Trump’s ass.
Perhaps the best politician I ever saw work a room at Zuni was former Republican Senator from New Mexico, Pete Dominici. Pete would enter the conference room looking for the oldest woman. When he identified her, he would then walk quickly to her, honor her, and engage in polite conversation with her and the other women sitting beside her, and only after the other women were addressed would he turn to the older men to engage them in conversation before he spoke, asking what he could do for the pueblo. Asking. What. He. Could. Do. For. The. Pueblo. And he delivered.
He was brilliant.
Julie did a wonderful job contextualizing Austin’s work—honoring him as a scholar and making his observations come alive in terms of her existence and identity as a mother, grandmother, and citizen of the earth. She spoke with power with a compelling personal narrative about how water quality issues impact her and others where she lives. Her eyes occasionally caught the eye of her proud granddaughter in the audience. Her grandaughter beamed.
Julie’s a wise woman. We need to listen to her. When grandmother speaks we must listen.
Austin then gave a short and lively summary of his book, and then Julie introduced me to moderate the Q&A.
I rarely prepare for any public presentation anymore. I don’t have time and am a little lazy about it. Being a radio guy, I also know that unscripted is better.
But I did know that I was being brought into the middle of a rite of passage and my role was to expand and elevate the intensification part of the ritual that Julie and Austin had already begun.
I don’t remember what order I did all of this in, but in my mind I began by thanking Julie and Austin, the people of Iowa Falls, the library, Iowa CCI, the CCI staff in attendance, and the audience. I honored them. I looked them in the eye—I saw each and every one of them, including the young CCI staff who sat at the table at the entry to the room to sign us in. I recognized and honored representatives of Progress Iowa and the Iowa Farmers Union for being there.
I drew a big circle and drew everyone close. Made us kin. We are brothers and sisters. We can do anything as long as we work smartly together.
Do you know who the very best politician is at looking and SEEING his audience? Donald Trump. By far. At his rallies he walks onto the stage to the sound of Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA” and stands there and looks at those assembled, trying to catch everyone’s eyes to make a connection. He smiles at individuals, points at them, nods, and makes a connection. Normally when a politician enters a stage, the music fades, and the politician speaks. Not Trump. He becomes revered, anointed, and celebrated as the patriotic music plays and he makes the crowd at one with him. I’m not saying anyone should repeat this behavior, just learn from it the importance of seeing your audience.
I read the other day he tried to make eye contact with jurors at his trial. Of course he did.
The audience asked Austin some great questions, and he knocked them out of the park. Occasionally I added a comment to what Austin said. I wanted to elevate him, and his work. But I also wanted to make a couple of points—one about values, and the other about getting involved.
And I wanted to intensify emotions in the room.
I’ve been talking about how Democrats need to run on values and not policy for several years with an anonymous friend. More recently, It’s been with Katy Siddall and Jen Sinkler with Progress Iowa and Josh Manske with the Iowa Farmers Union. I wanted to make that point with the audience, but as I looked into the audience I saw Jen and Josh were at the back of the room. They are the ones I referenced above who represented their organizations, and I knew that I had to manifest our shared conversations about values.
Where to begin? In my memory I said something like:
“My values come from my family and Sunday School. Feed the hungry. Heal the sick. Comfort the poor. Welcome the stranger…these are your values too.
These are Democratic values. Every faith tradition I know has similar values. Same with those with no faith. What are your values?
Values are what we run on…values aren’t debatable. Policy is. Democrats get caught up in arguing about policy, which is a distraction—values must come first.
Note that the values listed above are antithetical to the the values of right-wing MAGA “Christian” nationalists who starve and demonize the poor, the sick, the stranger and the marginalized.
Parenthetically, I stopped by Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand’s office recently and we spoke about this. He told me that when he shares his faith first many Iowans become more comfortable talking about policy.
Our values are reinforced by our identities. At the core of my identity is my family, and it’s informed by the fact that I’m a carpenter’s son and a carpenter, a roofer, an old UNI wrestler, an anthropologist, a former cab driver, car salesman, university professor, bartender, bouncer, writer and reporter. I’ve seen many sides of life, and I’m informed by it.
What’s your identity and what has informed it? Be proud of it. Use it to help move progressive ideas forward. You matter. Your experiences matter.
I asked the audience to consider what they specifically can do to help Democrats win. Can they donate, make phone calls, knock doors, talk to friends and neighbors, take people to the polls. WHATEVER! Just anything you enjoy or are able to do, no matter how big or small.
Democratic candidates often say, “there’s a sign-up sheet at the back table IF you want to volunteer.” Don’t ask us IF we want to volunteer, ask us HOW we want to volunteer. If people are there, they want to help, and just need to figure out how.
Asking us to “volunteer” in general is a big ask. It’s abstract, and implies a serious time commitment for people with a great many responsibilities and perhaps children to raise. Giving us options that fit our interests and obligations will result in all of us being able to be part of the team. Make us one.
I spent a few days at the legislature this year watching the dreadful session unfold. Democratic legislators were valiant as Kim Reynolds and her fellow Republicans did their best to dismantle our education system, social safety net and punish women, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community.
I told the assembled crowd that, and then said something like:
And do you know who is going to lead Democrats to victory this fall? Those who have the most to lose—the marginalized. Women, minorities whose histories Republicans want to erase, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, the poor. We need to help them.
I don’t think I mentioned teachers and librarians, but I should have.
I wrapped it up, and I had managed to deliver a few applause lines. Austin told me he liked my “mini-sermon” and Julie told me I did OK!
Julie gave another call to action for progressive change, and another powerful woman, Lisa Whelan, Executive Director of Iowa CCI, wrapped it up with another call to action.
Austin, Julie and me.
Remember, as I’ve written before, being a Democrat means being for democracy and love of country in a time of insurrection, for voting rights in a time of voter suppression, for public education and libraries when they are under attack, for smart government being part of the solution, not the problem. For a free and honest press in a time of misinformation and lies, for historical truths in a time when they are being outlawed, for a true and deep understanding of our civil rights history, for our freedom to worship how one sees fit under the rising threat of theocratic authoritarian rule. For reproductive freedom in a time when raped fourth-grade girls are forced to give birth, women miscarry, even die because their medical treatment is banned. Where healthcare is a right, not a privilege, where clean water, clean air, and climate solutions are possible, where taxation doesn’t favor the rich, where equal opportunity is for all, and where your chances in life aren’t determined by your ZIP code, race, gender, faith, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
These are your values, and your identity, and a declaration, if you want it. A declaration for all Americans who want to save democracy and make the world a better, more humane place. Take it, make it your own, grow it, and build on it as more outrages are forced upon our nation. Sing it with pride where you worship. Shout it from street corners, corn and cotton fields, from shrimp boats and tug boats, from construction sites to restaurant countertops. Beat it on your desk and keyboard, and dance it until you can dance no more.
I’m proud to be a member of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative.
Bon, this is one of the simplest, most profound calls to action I have read. I found myself listing and matching my own experience and values as I read, and feeling that elusive hope—hope for awakening to the community that is in front of us if we have the courage to show up. There is no time to lose. It is incumbent on each of us to find our voices and actions in creating the place in which we want to live. Thank you for offering us a path.
Excellent point about values first, then policy. My fear is not understanding how the majority of Iowans’ values are apparently so different from my own. Is it an inward focus vs outward focus? Past vs future? Fear vs confidence?