Today we read from Alice Walker's We Are the One's We've Been Waiting For, the section "All Praises to the Pause; The Universal Moment of Reflection" (47-79).
It took almost an hour to complete. Afterward students were to engage Leymah Gbowee and Alice Walker in a conversation about the need for reflection or as Walker puts it, pausing, especially after victories like graduations.
It took almost an hour to complete. Afterward students were to engage Leymah Gbowee and Alice Walker in a conversation about the need for reflection or as Walker puts it, pausing, especially after victories like graduations.
In a short response, have Leymah identify three (3) points in Walker's essay to reflect on. Walker can respond in a fictional dialogue or through her writing. Write in Leymah's voice. You can start anywhere in Leymah's story you like: at the war's end, when her sister dies, when she leaves Daniel, when she stops drinking. . . after she graduates from college.
Use the text to inform the conversation.
Homework is to bring in a completed Initial Planning Sheet and a published book review. We will develop thesis sentences together tomorrow. Think about themes.
Homework is to bring in a completed Initial Planning Sheet and a published book review. We will develop thesis sentences together tomorrow. Think about themes.
Post your conversations between the two women here. When the speaker changes, change the line. Each speaker has her own line.
Include a works cited page for the two books.
Bring your laptops. We will meet here and then walk over to L202E which is where we will meet beginning tomorrow. The doors to the Learning Resource Building (LRC) will be locked. I need to negotiate this for tomorrow morning for the next three weeks (smile).
Include a works cited page for the two books.
Bring your laptops. We will meet here and then walk over to L202E which is where we will meet beginning tomorrow. The doors to the Learning Resource Building (LRC) will be locked. I need to negotiate this for tomorrow morning for the next three weeks (smile).
NOTE:
We completed Exercises: 49-1; 53-3; and 55:1. I told students to not use the MLA handout I gave you (yellow). Perhaps we will look it over and correct it.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 9:56 AM
11 Comments:
Tiffany Chang
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
27 June 2012
Free Write: The Pause
For my hypothetical conversation between Alice Walker and Leymah Gbowee, I have decided to choose the time period after she gets her master’s from graduate school, and is comfortably living a steady life.
Walker: There is a time when you need to have The Pause. The Pause is “the moment when something major is accomplished and [you] are so relieved to finally be done with it that we are already rushing, at least mentally, into The Future” (Walker 48). For you, Leymah, that time must have been after the cease-fire of the war, right? That is such a big achievement, for the Liberian women to successfully to stop the war. Did you pause after that?
Gbowee: Yes, I agree with the importance of a pause after a big achievement. But for me, I felt that I couldn’t pause. The women may have been able to stop the war, but it was not over yet. There were still so many things that we had to fight for. All around us, there was still inequality for women. We had to do something about it.
Walker: It may have seemed like you had to keep going, especially since you were trying to distract yourself from the loss of your sister, but it is essential that you take a little time off and just take it slow and relax a little. “During the pause is the ideal time to listen to stories. But only after you have inhabited Silence for long enough to find it comfortable” (Walker 59).
Gbowee: My sister passed away so suddenly, and “had taken all her memories of my children, all the moments I’d missed and depended on her to describe and give back to me later: Pudu’s baby speech, Athur’s football games, Nuku’s struggles with math” (Gbowee 200).What else was I to do? All the years that I have spent away from my kids, I was hoping to hear the stories from Mammie. I couldn’t stop, it hurt too much.
Walker: Yes, that makes sense. But life keeps going on, and you must not fall behind because of one situation, as important as it is. You must keep up with life with your fellow peers. Was there something in life that forced you to just stop for a while to consider what your next step was going to be?
Gbowee: Actually, there was one thing—my children. Every single one of my actions,” I did because I wanted to stable Liberia for my kids, not because I was after power and glory” (Gbowee 199). It was never about getting attention for me, and I paid the price by not getting to stay with my kids. I am truly sorry to my children that I was not able to be there for them. However, that is the way life turned out to be for me, and I wouldn’t do change anything if I was given another chance.
Walker: I see, so you paused for a moment to reflect on your children and your life with them, how did The Pause help you?
Gbowee: I knew I had to finish graduate school quickly, so I could come back and provide my kids with a steady life. I was able to realize that I want to be able to spend more time with my children and take time to be a real mom. Being a mom takes much courage, and women need to have much strength. Which is why when I was reading your essay, I found one part that I could really connect with. The part when you stated “When are the women, and the Feminine within women and men, going to say Stop?” (Walker 60). That was perfect in describing the Mass Action. I really appreciate you mentioning this because it was the women that had to say stop. The men weren’t able to put an end to the war, so the women knew it was their job. We all found the courage to finally put an end to it.
Walker: Yes, thank you. What the Liberian did for their country was amazing. I really admire your work. It was nice seeing the women putting the brakes on something so massive.
Works Cited
Gbowee, Leymah, with Carol Mithers. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War--A Memoir. New York: Beast Books, 2011. Print.
Walker, Alice. “All Praises to the Pause. ”We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness. New York: New Press, 2006. 47-79. Print.
Chie Shan Chan
Professor Sabir
English 1A: Summer 2012
27 June 2012
Reflection of the Pause
This fictional conversation between Alice Walker and Leymah Gbowee occurs right before Leymah decide to get a master’s degree.
Walker: A chapter in my book We Are the Ones talked about taking a “pause” in your life when “the moment when something major is accomplished and we are so relieved to finally be done with it that we are already rushing, at least mentally, into The Future” (Walker 48). Where do you think in your life have you taken a pause, Leymah?
Leymah: There was a time in my life where I suffered the abuse from my husband, Daniel. I endured his mental and physical harm on me for so many years. Daniel being the only one with an income made me feel worthless and uncaring about anything that happened around except caring for my children. But when I was finally able to get a job and become more independent, I took the time to think about my relationship with Daniel, I was slowly coming to the decision that it was time to separate myself from him.
Walker: Ah, I can understand where you might be coming from. I had heard a CD by John Perkins where “the [Amazon] woman’s nature is thought to be nurturing and conserving” (Walker 59). Women are always thought of as people who stay home and do the housework and take care of the children while the husband go out to make money. But besides your relationship with your husband, I heard that you became active in helping Liberian citizens.
Leymah: Yes, my new job was working in the THRP where I would work with many Liberian victims and help talk about their pain. I eventually became a leader of a group a women fighting for peace. I enjoyed the job very much because I felt that it was meaningful and gave me a purpose for me to finally be someone who matter. But this role threw a weight load of responsibility and problems that arose. There was a time where we had done a lot of campaigning and publicizing but we still failed to stop the violence from continuing to happen. I had thought, “How could I have been so stupid as to think a handful of women could stop the war” (Gbowee 160). There were times when I didn’t have a direct plan and at that moment, I began to imagine would happen if things didn’t work out.
Walker: It’s always a courageous move to make on an issue as controversial as this. But you succeeded in the end! You’ve made such big accomplishments at such a young age. What was the recent pause you reflected on?
Leymah: I did feel proud of myself for the work I’ve accomplished. But I would never be able to regret the times that I’ve lost with my children. Whenever I think back, I dedicated so much time to my work that I barely knew my children. There was a time when my daughter came up to me and asked for breakfast. I had no idea who liked to eat what or anything about them, actually. I may be deemed a heroine but I have failed to create a loving connection in my family.
Walker: Leymah, you may not be the best mother for your family but I once read a message, “Know the river has its destination” (Walker 78). Your true destination was to help fight for the peace in Liberia and make the lives of many Liberians better.
Works Cited
Gbowee, Leymah, with Carol Mithers. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War--A Memoir. New York: Beast Books, 2011. Print.
Walker, Alice. “All Praises to the Pause; The Universal Moment of Reflection.” We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For. New York: The New Press, 2006. P. 47-79. Print.
Linde Huang
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
June 27, 2012
Leymah Meets Alice
Setting: Leymah has read Alice’s book. They meet for coffee and discuss how Walker’s words had resurfaced old feelings and memories that Gbowee shared.
Leymah: Hello Ms.Walker, nice to finally meet you, after reading your book, I was already inspired by women’s empowerment, but actually reading it hit home with me on a few notes. First of all, after my abusive relationship with Daniel, I really have to agree with you when I read your book on how it said, “It is the woman who says: Stop. We have enough firewood and canoes, don’t cut down any more trees.” (Walker, We are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For 60).
Alice: Oh yes, when I mentioned the Swa people and how they are considered equal, yet have completely different roles in their community. Men work as destroyers and the women have the duty of being nurturers.
Leymah: Yes, and when you mentioned “During the Pause is the ideal time to listen to stories. But only after you have inhabited Silence for long enough to find it comfortable. Even Blissful.” (Walker 59). And I cannot agree more. After writing my own book, I found that your passage corresponded with one section from my book really well, “Each seapker wept with relief when she finished’ each spoke with the same words…I knew something extraordinary had happened. ( Gbowee, Mighty Be Our Powers; How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War 105). Relating to the women, and how they shared my pain, and the final relief that each person received after finally sharing. It was the bond that we formed through the pain we all suffered through which really brought us comfort.
Alice: Yes, there’s only so much a woman can take, in my book, I said that, “Sometimes, of course, it is all simply too much. We’ve heard enough. We’ve seen too much. It is hard to bear our own human thickness.” ( Walker 64).
Leymah: Right, right. Right before my mother said that she would, “Tie her waist” (Gbowee, 72) I was at the lowest of my low. Arthur and I were stuck at the hospital because I could not pay for my bills, and I just could not help but to break down and cry. I was a mess, and every woman has had this breaking point. It was just a matter of time of where and when it would happen.
Works Cited:
Gbowee, Leymah, with Carol Mithers. "A Glimpse of Peace, Helping Women Find their Voices" Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War--A Memoir. New York: Beast Books, 2011. 72, 105. Print.
Walker, Alice. “All Praises to the Pause” We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For, Inner Light in a Time of Darkness -- Essays. New York : The New Press, 2006. 59, 60, 64. Print
Yizhe Liu
Professor Sabir
English 1A
27 June 2012
Freewrite: The Pause and conversation between Leymah Gbowee and Alice Walker.
“Pause” is defined as temporary stop in action or speech. According to Alice Walker, pause is unmoved, and sometimes it can be a feeling that is not able to continue. (Walker 49)
Leymah Gbowee: Why were women, who bore the brunt of war, expected to remain quiet while men debated how to make peace? (Gbowee 100)
Alice Walker: The Swa people are indigenous people who’ve lived in the Amazon rain forest for thousands of years. In their society, men and women are considered equal but very different. Man has a destructive nature while woman’s nature is to be nurturing and conserving. Therefore her role is to care for the home and garden, the domesticated animals and the children. She inspires the men. But perhaps her most important duty is to tell the men when to stop. (Walker 59)
Walker: It is the women who say: Stop. When, ask the Swa, are the women going to say Stop? (Walker 60)
Gbowee: No one else in Africa was doing this: focusing only on women and only on building peace. No one else was organizing activist women across borders. (Gbowee 113) We did it because our country was in trouble and we needed to stand up, and because God ordained that we should be the ones to do so. (Gbowee 184)
Gbowee: They say God responds to our prayers but when we have been praying for deliverance and nothing happens. The war is not ending. We are not going home. He is not listening to us. (Gbowee 25)
Walker: Sometimes it comes when you least
Expected it.
And sometimes it doesn’t.
……..
After the end,
And before the beginning,
Is time, too
Let it alone, don’t try so hard.
This is god, too.
All of you is. (Walker 50)
Works Cited
Gbowee, Leymah, with Carol Mithers. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War--A Memoir. New York: Beast Books, 2011. 25,100,113,184. Print.
Alice Walker. “Four: All Praise to the Pause; The Universal Moment of Reflection.” We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness. New York: The New Press, 2006. 47-79. Print.
Wanda Sabir
28 June 2012
Great responses. I really like Tiffany's. It is easy to follow and clearly written. Is the next post yours as well Tiffany? There is no name but the time of the post is close to yours.
Other posts are also good. Some of the in-text citations are incorrect. If the author is mentioned, one does not have to put her name in the parenthetical. Also, one does not put the title of the book on the parenthetical unless there are more than one citation for that author. In the works cited, the chapter and the book are cited differently. The chapter is enclosed in quotation marks. Do not forget the periods between the parts of the citation. They are important.
I also like Linde's. It just needs editing for clarity.
I liked how you had Walker comfort Leymah Chie Shan Chan in your conversation. That was kind of you (smile).
Yizhe Liu, I like the way you used the poem. Better spacing would make this clearer.
In googleboooks I found a link for part of Alice Walker's book. Did anyone find this as well? I recall mentioning this as an option for those still waiting for their books to arrive. The book is also in the public libraries in Alameda and Oakland and Berkeley.
We will be reading more from Walker.
The link: http://books.google.com/books?id=7UhGflTa_7cC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false
Name: Tsgereda Leul
Professor Wanda Sabir
Date: 27 June 2012
English 1A summer 2012
This is the conversation between Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gwobee and Alice Walker. In the book We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting for: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness by Walker.The chapter that we are going to focus on is, “All Praises to the Pause; The Universal Moment of Reflection.” (Walker p. 47-79) According to Alice Walker, “the pause is the moment when something major is accomplished and we are so relived to finally be done with it that we are already rushing, at least mentally, into the future”(48-49). Laymah Gbowee the activist struggled with her drinking problem, but at the end of the day, she came to realize that she has to stop or pause.
Alice Walker said. “If we cannot give ourselves such a pause, the Universe will likely give it to us. In the form of illness, in the form of massive mercury in retrograde, in the form of our car breaking down, our roof starting to leak, our garden starting to dry up”(49).
Leymah agreed with walker. She said, “And I drank. More and more and more still. So much of what happened in my life had been unplanned: My years with Daniel (the father of my four children), my leadership of the Mass Action, I never expected to be living without my kids or imagined that Geneva (big sister) would die. When I drank I didn’t forget, but I could relax a little. When you have a history of ulcers, abusing alcohol is taking your life in your hands. One night the pain in my stomach was so bad, I end up in the ER (200).
Walker suggested that, “this is the time of the pause, the universal place of stopping. The universal moment of reflection.”
Leymah: “I had a meeting and passed a bar on my way home. I meant to have one gin and tonic. I don’t remember how many I drunk, but the pain from my ulcer pushed me to a pharmacy and after I took a painkiller, I passed out for a while in the front seat of the car with the engine on and the AC going. The pain’s so bad… I think I am dying…” (208-209).
Walker: “sometimes there is a feeling of not being able to continue. That, in the pause, whichever one it is, there is no movement. No encouragement to move, at all. I am hear today to encourage you not to fear it. And why is it important to be told, to be reminded not to fear the pause? Because some of the most courageous people on earth are scared of it, as I have been myself” (49).
Leymah: “It might sound too easy, but that was the end for me. I still don’t sleep easily and I still wake up too early, but I don’t drink anymore” (209”.
Works Cited
Gbowee, Leymah, with Carol Mithers. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War--A Memoir. New York: Beast Books, 2011. 199-209. Print.
Walker, Alice. We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting for: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness. New York: The New Press, 2006. 47-79. Print.
Marisol Mora
Professor Wanda Sabir
Date: 27 June 2012
English 1A summer 2012
Walker: The pause, there that you did, Leymah. How did that affect you? Why was it important to you? (Walker p. 47-79)
Gbowee: I had to get my life together and i knew i had to provide for my children. Because no one would do it. No man would ever take on that resposibility. I would never allow that. After leaving Daniel I was in a sad state of mind, which made me realize I had to do something! Something to not only make myself proud of but also my children.
Walker: When exactly did you realize your sadness?
Gbowee: When I moved back into my parents home. My father was not happy with my life and my mother did not support me. At first that did not give me perseverance, until something happened with my son. After that I knew what I had to do.
Walker: Thank you Leymah, you always took responsibility and helped people throughout your life. I really admire you and your leadership.
Works Cited
Gbowee, Leymah, with Carol Mithers. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War--A Memoir. New York: Beast Books, 2011. Print.
Walker, Alice. “All Praises to the Pause. ”We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness. New York: New Press, 2006. 47-79. Print.
La Tasha Hodge
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
27 June 2012
Fed Up
Another lonely night and I’m absolutely fed up with daydreaming. Does he really think it’s okay to be absent from our home like this? One or two nights here and there, sometimes my common law husband Daniel would stay for weeks. Now I knew better than anyone that Daniel didn’t have a steady job, so who in the world was he trying to fool by staying out all night, leaving me to handle the kids and deal with his rude ass family.
Not quit sure what I was trying to make myself vision, but what ever it was, my eyes were wide shut. In my mind I knew enough was enough, however I could only think that I was making the right decision for three children Nuku, Amber, and Arthur. There were many times I should have left him, the one memory that stays fresh in my mind was after I had Arthur, and Daniel had abandon me in the hospital, leaving us there for a week. As I waited with my per term delivered baby, in a cold hospital hall way with a thin blanket and helpless. I hear someone say girl “get up and stop crying as long as you have your education you will never be helpless.
It was a sunny morning and my plans were set, I was going to return home and make something of myself, I was going to make myself and children proud of me. Once Daniel left the house, I packed the kids up and headed to the bus station with no money the bus driver aloud us to ride for free. With three children and few possessions rushed on the bus. A lady be hide assisted me with loading the kids on the bus, then gave me a pleasant smile and handed me a a small book title “We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For” by Alice Walker. On this bus trip back home I barley wanted to deal with the kids, my face so planted in this book.
As we unloaded from the bus the same lady walked towards me she asked “So young lady did you have a chance to read any during the ride”?
I replied, “I wasn’t able to read much with my children, but I read a couple pages from the Introduction. Just from the first page I can relate. My country is at war, everyones killing everyone, my toxic relationship, I feel these are truly my worst days.”
All I could think in my head is, I had bigger dreams than the troubles I had been trough.
She then introduced herself as Alice Walker “I am the writer of the book”.
Hi, “my name is Leymah Gbowee”.I was shocked I’d couldn’t believe I was face to face with someone who had done something so powerful as writing a book.
I explained I was leaving a place of emptiness “I was paralyzed with shame and sadness” (Gbowee 71).
Ms. Walker said “young lady take some time for yourself” “It is the pause that gives us this clarity, this certainty. It is our time of gathering the vision together, of reminding ourselves of what we want for ourselves and how we want the same for everyone” (Walker 69).
“Ms. Walker I promise to complete your book, you seem to be a wise woman I’m sure I could learn a thing or two”.
“Please do, I’m positive it will be beneficial”. One last thing before I go, respect emptiness. “Most of us believe emptiness is nothing, and we fear having nothing. Emptiness, however, is filled with possibility, filled with space (Walker 73). “I cherish my empty mind that I am careful what I put into it” (Walker 73). Nice meeting you Leymah You enjoy the book, take care of the kids and good luck with your future endeavors.
Thank You too Ms. Walker.
La Tasha Hodge
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
27 June 2012
Fed Up
Another lonely night and I’m absolutely fed up with daydreaming. Does he really think it’s okay to be absent from our home like this? One or two nights here and there, sometimes my common law husband Daniel would stay for weeks. Now I knew better than anyone that Daniel didn’t have a steady job, so who in the world was he trying to fool by staying out all night, leaving me to handle the kids and deal with his rude ass family.
Not quit sure what I was trying to make myself vision, but what ever it was, my eyes were wide shut. In my mind I knew enough was enough, however I could only think that I was making the right decision for three children Nuku, Amber, and Arthur. There were many times I should have left him, the one memory that stays fresh in my mind was after I had Arthur, and Daniel had abandon me in the hospital, leaving us there for a week. As I waited with my per term delivered baby, in a cold hospital hall way with a thin blanket and helpless. I hear someone say girl “get up and stop crying as long as you have your education you will never be helpless.
It was a sunny morning and my plans were set, I was going to return home and make something of myself, I was going to make myself and children proud of me. Once Daniel left the house, I packed the kids up and headed to the bus station with no money the bus driver aloud us to ride for free. With three children and few possessions rushed on the bus. A lady be hide assisted me with loading the kids on the bus, then gave me a pleasant smile and handed me a a small book title “We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For” by Alice Walker. On this bus trip back home I barley wanted to deal with the kids, my face so planted in this book.
As we unloaded from the bus the same lady walked towards me she asked “So young lady did you have a chance to read any during the ride”?
I replied, “I wasn’t able to read much with my children, but I read a couple pages from the Introduction. Just from the first page I can relate. My country is at war, everyones killing everyone, my toxic relationship, I feel these are truly my worst days.”
All I could think in my head is, I had bigger dreams than the troubles I had been trough.
She then introduced herself as Alice Walker “I am the writer of the book”.
Hi, “my name is Leymah Gbowee”.I was shocked I’d couldn’t believe I was face to face with someone who had done something so powerful as writing a book.
I explained I was leaving a place of emptiness “I was paralyzed with shame and sadness” (Gbowee 71).
Ms. Walker said “young lady take some time for yourself” “It is the pause that gives us this clarity, this certainty. It is our time of gathering the vision together, of reminding ourselves of what we want for ourselves and how we want the same for everyone” (Walker 69).
“Ms. Walker I promise to complete your book, you seem to be a wise woman I’m sure I could learn a thing or two”.
“Please do, I’m positive it will be beneficial”. One last thing before I go, respect emptiness. “Most of us believe emptiness is nothing, and we fear having nothing. Emptiness, however, is filled with possibility, filled with space (Walker 73). “I cherish my empty mind that I am careful what I put into it” (Walker 73). Nice meeting you Leymah You enjoy the book, take care of the kids and good luck with your future endeavors.
Thank You Ms. Walker.
Works CIted
Gbowee, Leymah, with Carol Mithers. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War--A Memoir. New York: Beast Books, 2011. Print.
Walker, Alice. “All Praises to the Pause. ”We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness. New York: New Press, 2006. 47-79. Print.
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