KotaPress, March 2003

Quandary in War Time

I do not support this f---ing war. I did not vote for Bush.

But I am a guerrilla poet & bookmaker because I rail against the traditional, established "art world" that is exclusive and segregated. So it's a bit of a quandary. The title "guerrilla poet" is "violent" and I have heard from folks in this war time saying that I should re-think my use of that title, re-think the titles of my classes, etc. Well, sorry folks, but I'm a paradox.

I will continue to rail against this idea that poets have to follow the academic path and feed the academic money-machine in order to be "real" poets. I will continue to rail against the idea that you have to apprentice for years and use only the best materials and have perfect techniques in order to be a "real bookmaker."

But beyond that, I do not rail for violence in the world. Not to mention that I am also a bereaved mother who has cremated her own son -- so knowing that there are other children dying -- American, British, and Iraqi -- is not something I will ever get behind in any way, shape, nor form! To that end, I offer the following links for you to visit sites where poets and artists are speaking up for peace, stepping out for non-violent solutions. Check it out:

http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org
http://www.poets4peace.com
http://www.unitedpoets.org
http://www.notinourname.net
http://www.lysistrataproject.org
http://www.baringwitness.org

Miracles to you,

Kara L.C. Jones, Dakota's Mommy
Editor-In-Chief, KotaPress