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maevele
Still hurting for Joanna Russ, I got the news today that Madison's most rock star activist, Ben Masel, known best for his marijuana activism, but a central force in Madison's larger protest and activist community, frequent political candidate, brilliant kind man who I was privileged to know through his friendship with my best friend's dad, died this morning. He was so full of joy and light. I mean, yeah, he was angry about stuff, hence the activism, but he always had such fucking joy in his eyes. He was, from my experience, sarcastic and cynical but still idealistic and hopeful, he never seemed beat down by the challenges the movement faced, he was aware of how fucked up things were getting but never stopped believing that a movement of the people could actually fix it. He was revolutionary as shit, and truly believed in peace.
I just saw him at the capitol protests last month. He looked busy, so I didn't say hi. I knew he had cancer, but I thought he had longer.
Today is the block party that started as an anti war protest back in 69. The first Mifflin was a three day anti war riot. Ben's first mifflin was 71. It seems a fitting send off, except the party has changed from a revolutionary protest to a beer soaked college party. But the roots are still there, and it's the same madison activist roots that grew Ben. So it's his goodbye party. I'm considering attending for the first time in years, just as tribute to him.
He'll be upsetting authority in the after life, or the ether, or his next life.
Stick it to the man, somehow, in his honor today.
I just saw him at the capitol protests last month. He looked busy, so I didn't say hi. I knew he had cancer, but I thought he had longer.
Today is the block party that started as an anti war protest back in 69. The first Mifflin was a three day anti war riot. Ben's first mifflin was 71. It seems a fitting send off, except the party has changed from a revolutionary protest to a beer soaked college party. But the roots are still there, and it's the same madison activist roots that grew Ben. So it's his goodbye party. I'm considering attending for the first time in years, just as tribute to him.
He'll be upsetting authority in the after life, or the ether, or his next life.
Stick it to the man, somehow, in his honor today.
