Freedom Fridays

(courtesy of Andie Miller)

Rhode Island National Oraganization for Women

Join us in a truly grassroots effort to send a message about freedom -- wear
red every Friday until election day in celebration of Freedom Fridays.

Some more info, in the words of Nadia Jensen...

BACKGROUND: I believe, as many of us do, that at the very heart of our
democracy is our right to oppose the policies of our government.
Increasingly, Bush is redefining "freedom" in ways that make too many
Americans perceive that it is risky to oppose his policies -- and, in
particular, current family planning policies in the U.S. and abroad.

However, many of us DO oppose what Bush is doing to family planning
programs -- and I have an idea that will allow all of us to recognize each
other very easily so we can see that WE ARE THE MAJORITY.

SO...I have been thinking that it's time to take action in a way that is
effective and easy for all of us to do: Just wear red every Friday between
now and election day, November 2. Wear a little red or a lot -- just be sure
that when you leave your house to go about your day -- to work, to school,
to the store, to the gas station, wherever you go in your daily routine --
that everyone who sees you will see that you are wearing red because you
believe in freedom and democracy, and you don't agree with our current
administration's family planning policies at home and abroad. I'm certain
that we'll see that lots of us wearing red for freedom, democracy, and
access to family planning services -- because WE ARE THE MAJORITY. We just
need a way to show each other who we are.

There's some interesting history behind this idea: When Norway was occupied
by Germany in 1940, Norwegian women began to knit RED caps for children as a
way of letting everyone know that they did not like what was happening in
their country, that they didn't like having their freedom taken away. My
great aunt was one of the women who knit red caps for her children and
others. Similarly, in Denmark, women knit red-white-and blue caps (colors of
the Allies) for the very same reason. The result was that whenever
Norwegians and Danes left their homes -- to go to the store, to work, etc,
they could see that THE MAJORITY opposed what was going on in their country.
As you know, both countries organized effective Resistance movements and
changed history - everything that happened began simply by wearing red!!!!
(or red-white-blue in Denmark). Of course once the Germans realized what the
caps stood for they threatened to kill anyone seen wearing one -- but there
is NO danger to us for doing the same thing. We are simply wearing red as a
form of civil dissent, that's all -- we are not doing anything illegal or
unpatriotic. In fact, it's quite patriotic to love freedom! So now you know
why I chose the color red -- I have always thought of it as a color of
courage and compassion. Let's use it, as many Norwegians and Danes did, as
we continue to work for freedom and democracy.

Freedom Fridays