In Tara Houska’s essay “Sacred Resistance,” she talks about her struggles fighting for indigenous rights. In one part of her essay, she talks about a protest she is at and a woman who has put herself up on a tripod and the police are trying to bring her down. She says, “I see red as I try to speak, clearly and calmly in an attempt to reach these people who would directly, intentionally harm a human being for the profit margin of an oil company”(216).
In this passage, Houska is so shocked at the response and actions of the police that she sees red. It was a peaceful protest fighting against something that would harm their land and way of life and yet the police and organization felt that they had to dangerously get this woman down. The first words of the quote are “I see red…” I think this is the perfect way to emphasize her anger. She is frustatred that she has to explain to the officer that this is not the way to do it. She has to explain to him that what he is doing is wrong and could hurt people in the process. Houska says, “…directly, intentionally harm a human being…” In this quote, Houska emphasizes the word “intentionally” to show that the organization and police show no emotions or remorse towards their cause. They do not care how these people leave, as long as it is quick and easy. Even though she is angry and can see red, she still speaks calmly and clearly because she knows that this is the way to do it. Violence is not needed, nor is the answer. This quote helps understand her essay more broadly by showing how she questions people’s morals. She cannot believe that she is even having to do these things in the first place. She is having to explain to someone that what they are doing can kill someone. There is a safer way to do things, but some people take the quick, easy, and cheap way.
People are having to go the extra mile to get things done. Things that should not have to be done in the first place. People should not have to fight over their own land or their own bodies. It is your business and yours alone. The government and other organizations have no right to control people and push people aside. People should not have to convince a police officer to stop what they are doing so someone can live. Someone who was doing no harm to someone and was doing a peaceful protest. People are having to fight battles that should not have to be fought. It should be givens, but sadly it is not.
What stood out to me in your post was, “there is a safer way to do things, but some people take the quick, easy, and cheap way.” I was stuck wondering, “why?” Then, of course, I began to make a connection to capitalism. We often see police officers as a hallmark of capitalistic society. They give tickets out just to fill a quota. Or, they commit acts of violence toward marginalized groups because the system will let them get away with it. The capitalistic grind of working and moving on keeps allowing these systemic problems to be swept under the rug. Perhaps people take the “quick, easy, and cheap way” because that is the value our society has taught them. They should value time and money but not human lives.