so...how was it

we usually tell beggers that they should plug into a kitchen...then they wouldn't need to beg cuz everything they need will just show up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shanti Sena is only a crock when people refuse to get involved!! If you want something to change, you get out there and do it; don't just sit around & bitch on the net if you didn't attempt to change things!!!!!

 

I cant offer anything on this years gathering but i can say that i have a lot of gutterpunk friends and i dont see them begging, they may go spangin or dumpsterin, or daylabor then bring it back to camp. the ones that make me agro are the ones that put up "tolls" smoke toke or choke! i get asked for stuff a lot mostly tobacco but then im in need at times myself...so for me its not the gutterpunks as a whole but as a few indeviduals as well as a few that arent gutterpunks

 

Shanta Sena is a way to get people to react...not asses and then react. Honestly, I think it causes more problems than anything else. Look at the riot that happened this year...all because someone called Shanta Sena. Had they not just simply screamed it...no one would have surround the FS (no matter what their intentions were)...and there wouldn't have been an incited riot. That's what I mean...no one THINKS...they just DO...and thinking without doing is nothing but trouble.

Oh and by the way, I can bitch where ever and when ever I want. That's the beauty of free speech. Maybe I'm doing my part by expressing my view on it and get others to think about it too...

 

The gathering was just ok. Lack of drum circles, lots of cops and rangers through the day, though not causing any trouble that I saw. Just walking through the forest. Would stop to talk once in a while to different hippies, and then move on. Though I know that they were busting people, as I saw someone being handcuffed on the way in.

Huge issue was the WARNING from the block the cops set up and the "SPEECH" about how it was an illegal gathering; meanwhile, there are cars stopped all over being searched by the cops. I'm sure hundreds and probably more like thousands of people who otherwise would of been there contributing, ended up turning around.

One of the big things lacking was a fire at main meadow (since it was illegal to have a fire unless you were a kitchen with a permit)....this seriously divided the people at night, and during the day it was too humid and hot in the sun to be out there, so it was mostly empty except for the 4th during the day.

By the night of the 4th there was only 1 decent drum session going on that I could find even after walking a couple miles around.

The 4th was great and I really appreciated the silence. Thousands of people with barely a sound to be heard. The entire time I was filled with energy, and as always GREAT food. Sumpntaeat had some great meat dishes .

Overall for me a postive experience. Met some very cool people and got to know a couple more locals a little better.


- Damian

 

we had a neighbor sister yell Shanta Sena because her guy would not get out of the tent after they were arguing and a another sister yelled it when she needed a new bandage for a cut on her finger, she was walking around yelling for a bandage and when no one had one she yelled Shanta Sena.....

 

So many misconceptions about Shanti Sena! Shanti=Peace Sena=Keeper Peace Keepers A cut finger should be refered to CALM but anything involved with keeping the peace is Shanti Sena

Yes, Dancer Annie, you can bitch about whatever you want where ever you want but by bitching instead of trying to change things, you are part of the problem. Problems are solved by doing not by talking or bitching.

Shanti Sena is EVERYONE!!!!!!!! Every man, woman, child, dog, cat or any creature involved in keeping the peace. no one in our kitchen walks around calling themselves Shanti Sena, but each & every one will come on the run if a call of Shanti Sena is within their hearing range. The job of Shanti Sena is to disfuse a situation & if someone is not working toward finding a peaceful solution to a problem, then they are not Shanti Sena no matter what they call themselves.

 

Whoa. She never said she wasn't trying to "change things", and furthermore I feel she made an impassioned plea to her family to take notice of some things that need addressing...and I contend that, as is evident by the very need for council & passing the feather, talking & "bitching" BEFORE taking action is necessary as a starting point for any discussion(s) that ultimately result in change. We've all been disillusioned at times with family as a microcosm of the world at large. Let's bitch away until we truly and sincerely "get it right", dig? No one should be frightened off, and if they are it's our responsibility as a movement to present alternate ways of viewing things, and if that's construed as "bitching" in some cases, then I say "amen" to it and hope that all our voices are ultimately heard. That said, lovin' y'all hippiestead!!!

 

from the photos I saw at welcomehome.org.....the gathering didn't look as populated or colorful as years past.

 

.........amen brother

 

i can't seem to find the 2006 gathering pictures on that site. I looked under "Photo Gallery," but I didn't see 2006. Could you point me to where they are because I know I'm in at least two of them?

 

Wo ! how it was , is ,
and shall be .
our children ask ' why can't we stay
here forever ? '

believe it . ranbO! troubles
are as nothing .

 

Sorry but saying that 'something needs to be done about the gutterpunks' did not sound like an impassioned plea to us nor did calling Shanti Sena a 'crock' especially since Shanti Sena has worked well in Rainbow for many years just as it worked in Native American tribes for centuries. There are other accounts of the rock throwing incident from this year that say one rock was thrown by an anarchist (not a gutterpunk, different philosophy) and that the 200 Shanti Sena folks who came out of the Gathering actually put a halt to the violence.

A very brief discussion does take place before a Shanti Sena action but there is simply no time for circles & feathers when a violent situation is happening.

we certainly aren't trying to frighten anyone off, we're just saying the same thing over and over...participation is the key to Rainbow. Y'all can sit around in circles passing the feather around if that's what you want to do; us, we'll be out there doing; we'll be building a kitchen that will feed part of our large Family, we'll be getting in the middle of folks arguing before it comes to blows, we'll be asking kitchens what's up when we hear rumors of a dog fight every hour as should have happened with the supposed dog fights at Shut Up and Eat it and we'll offer any help we can to the kitchen who was kind enough to watch Family animals if their owners get carted off to jail. Want to see someone hurt by the judgemental statements of others? Try reading the 'Something is different' thread where Princess Sara talks about how she feels; poor sister & her kitchen of gutterpunk Family got totally cut down because some folks just wanted to bitch.

Oh & by the way, please be aware that 20 councils took place in KY'93 to leave the site because the site in AL was better suited to a Gathering; leaving KY was concensused every time and only some of the people had enough respect for council to leave KY for AL resulting in a split Gathering.....

 

I totally know what you're getting at, and I don't disagree. I just feel like people sometimes need to blow off steam if they're upset, and we as their family need to listen. That's all. There are indeed situations that call for action rather than discussion, agreed. That's why I spent the first two days at the '99 gathering just helping people in the parking lot get un-stuck from the mud. No concensus needed for that, eh?

I sincerely didn't mean to be confrontational with my post; Annie has some concerns, and I've seen some of what she was referring to first hand. The best/worst example of where she seemed to be going with her concerns about Rainbow was my own experience with the bread & puppett festival in VT. Everybody kept trying to reign in the negative energies without "bitching", and everytime someone critiqued the direction in which the festival was headed people jumped on them for being pessimistic. So no one "did" anything, then the last year the festival was held, a brother got killed and the whole thing got discontinued. Not to say that we'd let that happen to Rainbow, but let's make sure of it; I'm willing to listen to the bitching first, and THEN take action accordingly if deemed necessary. All due respect to you folks, & Peace, hugs and hoping that we'll see some of you in VT at the NERF regional!!!

 

PS-I myself have much deeper roots in the punk/hardcore/skater scene than the traditional/conventional "hippie" scene, so I was in no way making generalizations about or condescending our "gutter" punk brethren. Just wanted to clarify. And to further clarify/agree with Hippiestead, I agree with the philosophy of "no spectators" immensely...but if any of y'all feel the need to "bitch" constructively, know that I'm a willing sounding board! Now let's all stop bitching about bitching and get together to discuss all of this in person at the next gathering!

 

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/sites/co2006/photos/?dir=&startpic=20

my fav is on this page........the monster rock

 

Those 200 folks who came out of the gathering STARTED the violence in the first place. The FS got rowdy once 200 "Rainbows" surrounded them. Not to take their side, but how would you feel if you were in a small group of people and an extremely larger group surrounded you? Wouldn't feel too safe, would you?

and I didn't hear any brief discussion before that riot happened when Shanti Sena was called...and I was listening to all of it over a walkie talkie, keeping people posted about what was really going on.

Has Shanti Sena worked every time? No. I know of cases where women were being raped and calling Shanti Sena for a valid reason and everyone turned a blind eye (not at this gathering, previous gatherings)...so who chooses to listen to whom and who doesn't???

 

I had an awesome time, but then i didn't have a car so avoided those hassles, and i plugged in to some great kitchens: Magic Bowl (early, before it became Dust Bowl), Haribol Krishna, Instant Soup, and PPK. The "secret" to having a good time at Rainbow is to help out, the bitches are usually slackers. I heard a ton of great music at Popcorner, Instant soup, Bread of life, Yoga, and Granola Funk (I helped carry logs for the Pirate ship as well).

 

In a perfect world, hopefully everyone chooses to listen to all sides &all people; if for no other reason than to get as full a picture as possible. But there is no perfect world. we check out every Shanti Sena call that happens within hearing range but hey, that's just us; not everyone at Rainbow has the same ideas that we do.

As far as the large group surrounding the small group; a large group saved our butts from gun pushing LEOs in MO, 5 unarmed hippies faced with 2 armed LEOs weren't odds that were in our favor, especially when one of the hippies was our 6 yr. old son. we've watch LEOs threaten to arrest our children (AL '93); the violent acts on the part of the LEOs are a tactic they use in order to bring about violence, and it sucks when it works.

Radios, please Annie, don't get us started on that one, sometimes radios are only trouble; every now & then they actually are needed in an emergency, but not nearly as often as they are used. we're not saying that it didn't happen like you heard but there are many sides to the full picture here.

Ya know, it's not the bitching so much as the finger pointing that really bothers us when it comes to Rainbow disillusionment. some Rainbow jobs (like Shanti Sena) are very difficult & too many times we've seen folks get raked over because of misunderstandings or miscommunication when they were only doing the best that they could at the time. There is only one way to change anything & that's by being involved.

So does anybody have any ideas on how to get more peaceful, cool-headed folks involved? A few of the Elders have been griping for the last few years that they are ready to have the next generations(s) step in & do things like Shanti Sena, Media Camp & the like. A few younger kitchens have been popping up & that's way cool but we know of several older folks who are ready to 'retire' and have a chance to bliss a bit.........

 

wow..ok...where to start? so forgiveif i ramble..just got back from home myself..so lemme jus start with the only 2 incidents i kno of with leos & no..my whole perception...

it waswonderfull....

ok...my whole trip...
(most)
chevelle (dylanchick1033? on here)was commin to get me from tulsa (yes 5-8 hoursfrom gatherin..28-34 in wrong direction) but instead hearows & bumble & i & what 8-10 piled into a camper on hearowsbf pauls truck (thank my sis for offerin the camper & not carin wen it rattled to peices) it took us 2 days..48 hours or more just to cross missery 1st stop...town of 400 ppl....with the record for the most drug busts in the nation...at a resteraunt the copsdefinately watch...8-12 ppl came out to help us get on the road..1 guy worked on the truck 6 hours..till 2am...& at 7 4 more to get us goin..& wouldnt take 20$ we broke down so often but the sec wed pop the hood ppl stopped.....
we finaly pull in....nearby we're told wait till 6 & the roadblock goeshome...we roll in & we see lots...i mean lots rolling out for the night...25-40 cars at a guess
we roll in & are told to roll up to the 4th cop..who glances at the almost flat tire then the camper wrapped in rope & duct tape holding it together & tellsus, i want you to knowthis is an illegal gathering and your subject to procecution if u go in & i say ok & drive on...(arrived late on the 1st )
while i was there (almost 3 weeks got home last night ) i sawcops on horses playing frisby..i saw them respecting the sillence...
the sillence was perfect at main meadow..it wasbeautiful but hot...huge....i heardshantasenacalled over aflag incident but calmed quickly...

the 2 big incidents the blockade 1 far as i kno no rockswere thrown just the surrounding & ohm...then released em to go...

the other.. a brother was asked to remove his hoody by leo's & said no & was grabbed & arrested..even tho he had nothing...he was unarrested & the cuffs returned ..what i heard was the guy holding him tripped & the 3 fell.....a few held the leos a mommet & grabbed the guy away...

i sawsum of the fs being outtacontrol & not any of the rainbow

but mostly oit was chill all theway rund & theresource ppl..the real fs enjoyed it...fish population even increased..

god so many complaintsabout such awonderful gathering?

chevy i gave 2drums for her offer of the ride (and everything else wonderful bout ya chev) & the 1was misplaces 3 times & all 3 got back to her...on the 4th after dar..it was chilly in the meadow but bout 150 ppl were out ther singin & drummin away & morestart driftin in & it turnsinto a huge cuddle puddle & b4 u kno it its like 300 cuddlin in the meadow ..

ok..after the 7th or 9th..whenever...i didnt like the constant hurry up..move out...when i left therewasjust 18 30 or so cars & couple busses & maybe 500 ppl..
but still lotsa camps still up...
seemed like they were gonna make it a hell of alottawork for few folks


far asthe leo stuff.....we have so many good casesagainst them from this
&......we were able to have awonderful gathering..in spite of any agression we felt from them (i felt none myself only got smiles & waves)

oh....whoever said bout the sis not gettin help by shante sena...sumtimes at a gatherin u cqan shout for an hour with ppl 40 ft away & noonewould hear u..its not a not caring, but really is they just cant hear you.....had that happen when i rolled my chair down thesideamountan

damn need newkeyboard

i wouldnt sY IT WASTHE BEST..THAT STILL GOESTO VERMOUNT.....oops..but it was def huge...beautiful...& even if its tru 1 or 2rocks got thrown wich i dont think happened..i'm proud of hopwwe handled everythimg...aslong as not too many more left in the last 4 days & cleanupsstil goin smooth & fast

all i can say isim glad i wasthere...happy to be homeaqgain after 4 days on amtrack hell...hopin i can find my camerain my gear tomoro & go on tellin wonderful stories bout my experience & still feelin high yet battered by it physicaly (busted up my chair goodon the way to pizza till u puke at lovin ovins...waslimpin along on 3 wheels & back 2 rubbin the frame holdin me back more then havin the brakes on would...so need lil recovery time b4 vermount)



maybe its just amatter of bein at the gatherin ya wanna be at..& havin the experiece u want...but i thought it wasgreat & my only breif interactionswith leos were all real freindly & warm....with smiles they told me it was nothing like they were told it would be...


ya kno...i wasall ready to go thru allthese threads to see wassup & all & share my experiences..but all this negativity just made me not wannaread no more for awhile....

 

Welcome back 'soaringeagle'

I have many sites where I read up on the 'rainbow gatherin'
Not all have unpacked yet...many have luvin stories
So we may hear of more ...

This is why so many need the 'healings' of those who've returned

But,...U rest dear 'Brother'
Don't let the 'downers drain yer 'good' energies

(((((rainbow hugs)))))