It's SUMMER! Sidewalk Chalk Intactivism, Anyone? - Page 2

[pdx.mothernurture]

Grafitti? With sidewalk chalk? I guess it would be a good idea to check local laws about this sort of thing. However, when I googled "sidewalk chalk activism" or, "chalking activist" I got a surprising amount of hits. Seems this isn't a new/unique idea. <reading>

It's a good way for people to get their messages across.
And all it takes is a good rain and it's gone.
-- John Delaney, Wesleyan College dean of students

Jen

[MsElle07]

You asked for thoughts and people gave you their thoughts. Why are you so defensive?

[Sijae]

I don't necessarily think it's a bad idea. I just would not be comfortable doing it on public property at this time. I also think it would have to be a really positive message to be seen as positive instead of negative.

I think if you are comfortable with it you should do it. It takes all different kinds of activism to change the world :-)

Laura

[baybee]

I want to acknowledge you, Jen. . . I know you've been discouraged about the mountain of ignorance we still have to climb and, yet, there you are
dreaming up ideas to get the message out. I'm definately going to write
"Foreskins for Keeps" on the sidewalk outside my office. Everyone around there knows who the intactivism woman is. Keep brainstorming, I love it.

[Leiahs]

What about doing something like that at college campuses? The campuses I've walked around on in the past tend to always have some sort of sidewalk chalk messages, and I always read them. College age kids are a perfect target group, IMO, too - open minded and close enough to child bearing age to really think about it.

[Telle Bear]

Originally Posted by Leiahs

What about doing something like that at college campuses? The campuses I've walked around on in the past tend to always have some sort of sidewalk chalk messages, and I always read them. College age kids are a perfect target group, IMO, too - open minded and close enough to child bearing age to really think about it.

AWESOME idea!!

[Sijae]

Originally Posted by Leiahs

What about doing something like that at college campuses? The campuses I've walked around on in the past tend to always have some sort of sidewalk chalk messages, and I always read them. College age kids are a perfect target group, IMO, too - open minded and close enough to child bearing age to really think about it.

I would feel more comfortable doing that for some reason and I think it reaches the target audience too. We need to be educating people before they have kids and college kids are usually more open minded too.

Laura

[Microsoap]

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ideoid=2009270

On a patriotic day like today and videos being posted, I like to remind people that:

"Being born American does NOT mean surrendering your foreskin at birth! http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/video/prepuce.html"

Edit: Already has a had an impact. Somebody saw my comment and sent me a message saying this is what they thought about my link and proceeded to send me an older link to a NYT article about circumcision reducing AIDS. I sent him links to:

- the 5 zones that removed during circumcision

- that the African AIDS study results were over-stated

- that prostitution, not circumcision is the reason of AIDS in Africa

- that Jews in America are questioning circumcision

So far, I've been met with silence, so I think I blew this 18-year-old from NY out of the water.

[baybee]

Yes, God Bless America---so many amazing individuals, so much insanity.

Wishing all my pals on this forum a very Happy 4th of July!

[falcon]

I think the thing I'd worry about with chalk is that some ignorant idiot might change it around to a pro-circ message by wiping away a "no" in no circ or adding something

[TigerTail]

it's an excellent idea. (lord, don't the pro-circers hope to shut us up at every opportunity).

ANYTHING that gets people talking about it is a step forward, since the less it is relegated to the back of the brain as an unspeakable assumption & the more it is brought up as an acceptable discussion topic can only help- being the truth and all.

creepy? pervy? um, no, the people who want to carve up children's genitals can own that rap. we don't need to be defensive.

a chalk message is not an illegal graffito, for heaven's sake (and even ink & paint artists in this situation i would consider participating in civil disobedience, if it were public property).

man, i go on the road for a few days & jen gets dogpiled for making a suggestion in CAC? hail no! (thanks for holding down the fort! )

wrong is a wrong is a wrong (apologies to ms stein)

[vermontgirl]

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...tervale034.jpg

Here is my sidewalk chalk intactivism. I did it at the place where I get my CSA veggies every week. TONS of families with children come here. Hopefully it will make some people think...

[pdx.mothernurture]

Fabulous, Vermontgirl.

That brought a smile to my face.

Did you hang around at all to see if people noticed/how they reacted?

Kudos to you for your courage and initiative.

Jen

[Fi.]

Originally Posted by Leiahs

What about doing something like that at college campuses? The campuses I've walked around on in the past tend to always have some sort of sidewalk chalk messages, and I always read them. College age kids are a perfect target group, IMO, too - open minded and close enough to child bearing age to really think about it.

Same. Much better than at a park.

[vermontgirl]

Originally Posted by pdx.mothernurture

Fabulous, Vermontgirl.

That brought a smile to my face.

Did you hang around at all to see if people noticed/how they reacted?

Kudos to you for your courage and initiative.

Jen

Thanks!
No, we didnt hang out much longer. I felt really good about doing it though!

[KBecks]

I think sidewalk chalk messages are generally ineffective.

I also think that I don't think there are really pro-circ people with the same passion as anti-circ people. I think most people who choose circ are doing a lemming move and aren't wrapped up in being *for* circ. I think most parents who circ have little interest in what others choose, fwiw.

[baybee]

It's so strange that I read a story in the paper today about a liquor co putting
sidewalk messages on our city streets. They were done professionally with a logo and all and the substance was a washable mix of chalk and paint. They said the brand name of a rum and "let the summer begin". People were very upset and the city said a special crew spent 6 hours trying to get rid of them completely. I've never heard of that being done before. Of course, it's more annoying when it's commercial advertising and one of the complaints was that one graffiti was right near an elementary school.

I'm in Vancouver, BC Canada

[moonmama7]

Originally Posted by vermontgirl

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...tervale034.jpg

Here is my sidewalk chalk intactivism. I did it at the place where I get my CSA veggies every week. TONS of families with children come here. Hopefully it will make some people think...

The only thing it will make people think is that some old perv or weird kid was messing up public property. Sorry -- not very impressive or clever or helpful to the cause at all.

[pdx.mothernurture]

You know what? We get it. Some people think this is a reasonable way to raise awareness, some don't believe it will be effective. Some of us are going to try it, others are going to refrain. Regardless, please try to remember we're all on the same side; there's no need to be negative/argue amongst ourselves.

As a side note, for those who are new to the board/intactivism, a good place to start that I've never heard debated is to add a pro-intact pic, message, or link to your MDC signature.

Jen

[carriebft]

BAck in college, we had homeless and hungry awareness day, and a school group wrote facts about the homeless all over the campus in chalk. I learned a lot that day.

I don't see how a messege in chalk would be any different than my homemade anti circ Tshirt. Or maybe puff paint separates the creeps from the real inactivists :