"A-camp", rainbows biggest mistake.

I dont feel that A-camp is a problem. I've helped up at front gate, man its hard. I think that those brothers and sisters up there deserve a beer or two. They deal with alot up there. They are like our filters, they keep people out who could cause us harm, they deal with the LEOs, their up there breathing in dust all day helping people park and showing family where to go in at. Family is family, and we're all one, whether we're A-camp, G-funk, serf, nerf, Katuah, Tea Time, Fairy, or whatever.
Love and Lite
Sweet Pea

 

YOU are to cool for me!!!

good way to get your dog's throat slit with a bowie knife... or at least a few good stabs in the dog's lungs!!!


Ever see a dog and it's owner respond to a big can of bear mace when it is thrown into a camp? Hope you never get to experience it I carry my gas mask

I guess if YOU are what the majority of rainbow are like now a days... I can see why rainbow has changed for the worse!!!

And not because of A camp.

I guess people like you who run around feeling they are better than others could be the blame!

I guess people like you who feel they need to dictate who belongs and who does not... are responsible for alot of the negative energy at gatherings.

I guess people that goto the gathering with thier dogs, and use them to attack people, because they are too pathetic to stand up for themselves... are what is ruining the gathering.... amongst other things.

and people say A camp is a problem!!!

Az

 

said exactly what... I was trying to think of a way to say

Az

 

or holy

 

just remembering past vows:

Rastapatch said: I am hoping that i will get to be in colorado. If i go, i have decided to spend my time helping make the nicest shitter experience i can at the "Welcome Home!" camp.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been trying to focalize. whatever that means anymore here in colorado, the family is spread far and wide. Sometimes no contact for weeks and weeks.

Holly sent me an email of yours and you weren't very sweet.

Tom Travelor has been in contact w/you too!

Definitely will try my best regarding coordinating logistics for shitter architecture. Could bring incense.

My friend let's me have seconds from his incense factory, not THE best like nag champa, but they try.

I will bring what I can bring. Thanks for the PM.

One thing tho~ now that we are in a *new millennium* let's drop the old and think with the new.

No more thinking of ppl w/ disabilities as beggers... ie: "handicap"-really means hand-in-cap...drop it, please.

Think now of the person before the disability.

We are now having * Angel-Camp*. From what I've heard, "Handi-camp* isn't focalized anymore, so in honor of MamaTurtle who cannot make it to this years Gathering, we will have AngelCamp...

That's the intention anyway..

Waiting for word from the Scouts! Hoping that I can make it to Spring Council.
-------------------------------------------

Regarding A-Camp...mixed feelings.

One time coming to a Gathering, I think it was in Paonia, we arrived late and pulled out the sleeping bags and crashed for the night in the bushes off to the side of the trail.

Woke up in the morning, and realized I was in A-Camp. Oh YAY, I say to myself as I look to the side of me and there was this Old Road Dog Fella and his dog.

Well Long story short. I've run into him a few times out in the world, and he really is a lovely old man. Last time I saw him, we talked and talked the whole afternoon away. It was really nice.

He's a family man and does community works. I had been mistaken in my * assumptions * having seen him on a soup-line in Denver too. I was in a car and was passing by...

And my husband's Mother was a long time A-camper too. I'm wondering where she is going to camp this year, now that she has 2 younger sons and a companion. I wonder if she's going at all. That'll be interesting.

I think why I have mixed feelings is that I'm a nurse and just know what alcohol does to the body and mind. And it's a form of suffering.

We are all suffering in different ways and I think (IMHO) that we are here to help each-other transform that suffering, yes?

So, even if it appears to be total dysfunction on the out side, just a loving vibe felt and projected by anyone will have that healing affect/effect. Everyone comes away with a healing. All to varying degrees through all types of filters, but hey... it's all good.

Sometimes it just gets too heavy (seeing ppl suffer w/ alcohol) and I have to take a break.

The hardest part is when you have family w/ alcohol problems ( and other drug problems) and they never make it to a gathering in their whole lives and never know it's out there.

Ya know, life's a broad-spectrum of experiences.


Loving you all~

 

And yeah sometimes you just gotta shine a little brighter. What's a light for if not for walking around in the dark unhindered? This label slapping catogorizing sure makes us feel safe huh? But in any group there are those that stand alone solid and steadfast in the soul. The intake of spirits (while it can be abused by some) can also be a holy experience...a thin blade to walk.

Myself I am the chameleon the shapeshifter illusion breaker, worldbridger...if more high vibes started haging out with the low vibes you may have chance of upping the overstandings. Remembering always as a good travel of the interdimensional cosmic plane to honour local tradition. And who knows they just might blow YOUR mind! How many stories are thier about great mystics, sages, spririts, or angels etc. checking into the goodness of folks by acting like a crazy person or a bedragled begger? That yelling drunk might be an angel in disguise...or someone in need of a good solid buddy. And ya know what...chances are if you can humble yourself enough to be their friend they will treat you with the same respect...

"And ALL the stars were there, ALL the stars were there, eaching shining brightly it's own unique glow. And there was union, a union so strong and so great and so beautiful that it could never be broken."

Loving everyone
Heron
Also a lot of highly intuitive and elated soul people do drink to soften their sensitivity to the world. Or frankly just to keep their feet on the ground. I knew a fellow who could not hitchhike unless we was drunk. He was so damn high he appeared more normal when drunk...it was sad in a way...he definetly needed some family to come down and spend time in a non-judgemental way...

 

How very Rainbow of you


Like feeding violence with more violence is going to help.....

 

Gosh darn folks! Poor phucker, I can see why you chose the icon you did...this response to Golden String's post is just as jackassed as his was! Violence and negativity begets more violence and negativity. I totally agree with you about Golden String's ridiculous "Rotty" post, but disagree with your retaliation. Alas, I know it was probably you just emoting the anger you felt (I felt it too) when you read that stupid post. Guiding dogs into doing something agressive is what gives certain breeds like Rottweilers a bad name. I love dogs immensely, which is why I took issue with your response about the bear spray and such. Please don't gas me or my Shepherd when you see us at the gathering, stop and say "hello" and give him a pat instead As far as golden string's post, just let your dog be, and he/she will protect you if absolutely necessary. Don't encourage it, and discourage it if possible. In most cases, just having your dog at your side would act as deterrent enough so that no one would attack you. A Campers in my experience can be obnoxious, but usually are pretty harmless beyond that. Let 'em be and offer 'em a hello as you pass. Ignore them if they're being unkind and say a silent prayer for them that they may find peace at some point in this lifetime.

 

Succulent Flower, You are a fun person!
Let's see, i said 'hope to', and 'spend my time helping' and you heard a "vow". I will have to be more clear. How can i say 'spend my time helping' with out it sounding like i "vow" to do what others want?
You come on a thread about a-camp, and initiate a conversation with me about what you percieve as my "vow" to make a shitter stand up to your standards. That tactic will get less co-operation from me than outright bribery, but not as much co-operation as . . . . well . . . as co-operation.

I remember your friend Holly. She also came to me on a thread and changed topic. She sounds like a girl who has good intentions, as do you, and our mutual friend Traveller. I will tell you the same thing as i told them, and i hope you hear me as sweetly as i am trying to be.
I volunteered to do something. There are a million rainbows in this country, and 10,000 on this forum alone (so says the salesperson) and 25,000 at the gathering in colorado and you want to tell me i am not volunteering my sweat in a sweet enough way? Neither you or she or he offered so much as to stand around asking for volunteers. All three of you implied that i was not doing something, and did not even give me a directive of what that was or how you could help me.
Instead of making vague accusations about what i said to Holly, why don't you just print the transcript for our gentle readers. It is easy to find. Just look on the website i help maintain to folkalize welcome home camp. http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/welcomehome2006

As i said before, i bet we have a lot in common and i hope that you are there to help. I believe in you and trust that you have the best of intentions.

Perhaps you could someday get around to making a SMALL list of how welcomehome camp could be made better (for all) and post it? That would be sweet of you.

One more thing. As i have told everybody concerned. If there is the slightest bit of confrontation at the welcomehome camp; I will pack my tent, and move it to main meadow, where i will fast in silence while doing hand and foot massages for everybody that is nice to me.

 

I always find it ironic that folks with very specific names say that names are not important, or are divisive.

If names are so bad, why do we pick such individualistic usernames? Why have the names of months? why call it a rainbow gathering instead of just calling it 'driving to colorado (whoops theres another name) into the rocky mountains (whoops another one) to go camping'?

I think first poster is wrong, and second poster is less wrong, and third poster was funny, and the folks with the picture of the long metal thingie they live in sound like they were at a gathering before.

Am i allowed to say 'they'? or is that divisive and unimportant labeling driven by my ego?

 

My apologies if I have offended or riled anyone...I guess I let myself get riled. I just went to the profile and was unable to change my name to something less descriptive, makes sense though why I can't...but yeah...sometimes it's best to say nothing at all... Yes ego...and truly fluid formless blend and flow from one to the other...I was only trying to say that maybe it would be easier to mix and mingle if we put those things behind us...but I'm the first one to say that everything I say good very well be bullcrap.

I suppose that energetically I feel that once you slap a title on something or someone you may have actually unconciously energetically restricted them in a confining role...especially if you are someone they look up to. Our thoughts manifest our reality and everyone fluctuations in us affects our neighbor. Think of the classic emontional abusive partener slapping a labels on their mate...how restricted their psyche becomes.

When I look at people I look first for what they truly are and I fall in love with that part. That is who I speak with. I say "Hi soul" no matter what name crosses my lips. The diamond in ruff stands before me. As we throw off countless infinite layers and labels some having negative connetions and some positive it leaves more and more of the naked beauty to beam through the openings until you...

My sincere love to any that my first post offended...all senseless ramblings are retracted.

Humbled and loving it

 

Wow that's deep.

Well, uhm, . . .. well see ya later, huh?

 

honest question..

how many replying here know A campers on a personall level?

 

i've been getting aquainted lately , and it's taken some patience to know their ways . it's rather like hanging out with cannibals . ritualistic cannibals , you know , only eat people who are too weird .

 

Well i assume that you didn't mean me, since i already admitted to drinking off the keg with them under a beer box sign. Just to be clear. . . . .One here.

I do think i know what you mean though. I experience the phenomenom when i hear folks talk about main circle, and main counsel, or the magic hat. There are folks who will say many things as if they knew, but you never see them at the counsel, just hear them talking swag later on the internet.

 

i love my A camp brothers an sisters,, although i admit,, i wander away when tensions get started..

dont like seein folks get there ass beat,, even if THEY DESERVED IT..

i know sooooo many kynd brothers that call them selves,, that are A camp/front gate..

it kinda upsets me when folks talk shit about them an have never bothered to sit an shoot the shit with them...

 

yeah man that's what I meant

 

this is per your request Rastapatch~ it was e-mailed to me~

hey there -

I understand what you're saying. What I need to say is Im not the leader or instigator of this.

Here is how I've gotten to where I am with this. I'll try to make this as short as possible.

I joined CO Family group last year, late summer, I believe. I posted how happy I was to be there. I read posts from some others about how disgusted they were with disability situation at gatherings. I, of course, was amazed that such a thing could be and expressed that - in return I received some sarcastic messages about'naive young hippies' not knowing anything. I am naive, but not that young!

This really irked me, as yes, I am very idealistic, which breeds naivete. But still, I always believe the good in people before the bad, unless they're actions prove otheriwse. So, I was intimidated, and tried to make amends to my 'naivete'...since I am a 25+ yr activist, I took the activist stance - first of all, I was, and am appalled at the way some people responded to my request for help in figuring out good access for wheelchaired individuals - I posted on CALM first - since I was and am planning on offering healing sessions there (Im an herbalist and Reiki healer) - there were two people who posted who were cold and callous. Much the same response as I said earlier - let'im take care of their own situation, etc.

So that confirmed for me, if these were 'so-called' long-time Rainbows, AND in CALM - a healing group, and they said things like this - well - I was shocked and disgusted...since my expereince to this date had been that Rainbow was all about love, and hope, and kindness and the family.

Since then, I have still been bringing it up, with encouragement from Tom, Wolfstar ( this is me: succulentflower ), and a few others - MamaTurtle, who is too ill to come this year, even though she is in TX. MamaTurtle told me she has encountered rough times at gatherings too. She is the one who created special rickshaw thingys for wheelchairs.

However, the only positive Ive heard to this point, besides from you, is from Rob, who tells me that its been routine that disabled can drive their vehicles on a back 'road' to main circle, and not have to worry about the access. Since I trust Rob quite a bit, that made me feel better - however, when I asked others about this, they were pissed about the idea of 'backroads' being used to get to the circle and said that was off-limits. I could give you some 'names' from CALM, but I prefer to not start conflict. Suffice to say, they were very agro.

So, all in all, there are a lot of people who havent responded and then those on two sides.

I know that Wolfstar and myself (Wolfstar, please respond if otherwise) DO NOT want to see a protest - its just outrageous. I myself have recently been diagnosed with permanent , dibilitating auto-immune diseases. I cant handle stress, violence, anger, irrational behavior - I stay so far from A-camp, as to walk by it with my own force field on. The idea of having to handle any kind of aggression - I'll have to find a back way in.

Im responding to your message in depth, because my feeling from you was one of censure and of not knowing what Im talking about - so Im giving you my experience of this whole thing.

Believe me, my expereinces of Rainbow have changed my life, and I am thrilled it will be in CO this year - I am thrilled to be around so much love and wholesomeness - life has been extremely hellish for many years, and I look to the gathering as a balm, an ultimate vacation of peace and prayer.

My experiences online, in the Rainbow community, have not been the same as on the land. And I never visit the AGR sites.

Thats all for now...I wish everyone could get along - the critters seem to do so without much problems.

peace,
Holly
----------------------------------
kevin jefferson <rastapatch@yahoo.com> wrote:

Holly, i want to say this as carefully as i can.

I have followed this conversation for a very long number of years.

I am glad that you are going to the gathering this year. I am glad Tom is getting to go, he has not been in 33 years.

Within the decades that i was at the gathering, and Traveler was not, i never saw a single person, any person, ask for a single thing at a gathering and not get it almost immediatly. Ever. Anybody. Ever.
-----------snip-----

A little history here folks: Tom Travelor carries the seed of the First Gathering, and he wants to come home.
---------------------

Rastapatch:
When you say there is no idealism at the gathering, I wonder if you are speaking of your own experience with people being told 'if you can't make it in too bad'?
----snip-----
Succulent>>this has been reported by a lot of ppl w/disabilities, not being acknowledged of their experience of having to stay away from gatherings, or having to stay in their vehicles in the lot.

Succulent>>>I really do think that you are unaware, because this IS happening.

----------
Rastapatch:
Have you experienced that alot? I wonder if i am unaware, or if maybe there is a certain way that i say things that helps people say yes to me.
Or is it just a coincidence that i don't experience that. Or am i just oblivious.

------

It's a possiblity by these remarks here that you ARE. And what are you implying (this comes off as rather hostile. But it is hard to sound compassionate online. Sometimes it's the way the sentence reads)

"Or maybe there is a certain way that I say things that helps people say yes to me."

Now that sounds snide for sure!

This implies that we aren't asking for the RIGHT things the RIGHT way.

How can I help you understand, that we are looking for accessibilty for the gathering, that's it.

We aren't personally atttacking you, we just want to ensure accessibility and a strong welcome home for EVERYBELLY!
-----------


I have camped right in handi-camp before, twice. It is well stocked, and often has a prime location. The folks that run it are capable, and take pride in the fact that they carry their own weight. They often have a dirt road straight from their camp down one mile or so to the main circle.

------------

IT has been reported by folks at TGC , that *Handcamp"* focalizer past away and didn't pass the torch, so it has been the inspiration of some family in Colorado to have a *AngelCamp* in honor of Mamaturtle, who's heartsong it was.

---------------------
I was once on medical leave ONE DAY AFTER an operation on my innards. I could not walk more than a hundred feet without resting. I was given whatever i needed, and did absolutly no work for the entire gathering. I layed in the shade and did not even explain myself. I had a great time.
-----------

I am glad that you *tried* to identify with someone with a disability here. It's a good try. It's normal to do what you did after a surgery. Ppl get up and walk sometimes the same day after surgery (depends tho) primarily because it helps get the GI tract moving. I'm sure you didn't leave AMA, huh?
-----------
I took my son to the gathering when he was five weeks old, and we stayed for a month. We washed cloth diapers on the site every day, and hung them out to dry. We had lots of help, and everybody had a great time.
The folks who run handicamp stay there to run their camp, and i believe they go in and out of the gathering as much as they want. Most handicapped folks that i know at the gathering do not even stay at handicamp. They stay anywhere in the gathering. There is a brother named Sharp who sharpens blades at info. There is a brother who is at main counsel almost every year. There are 90 year old men who are barely in this world who wander the main meadow every year, and sleep on the ground under a tarp.

I'm glad i get to see the good side of the gathering three times a year every year for decades. I must be amazingly lucky. I hope you and your angels are lucky also.

This group is for a specific purpose and that is to set up a welcome home camp that helps all folks who are on the trail, on their way OUT of the parking lot and down to the gathering. We hope to show them how to run a fire-pit, and how to put ashes on a fire. Boil their water, and wash their dishes, etc. If you decide to help us with that it would be great.

I absolutely refuse to be any part of any protest. If it comes to that i will take my gear to main circle and put my tent in the shade and fast and do massage. I will give equal access to massage to all folks, with nice girls in the front of the line.
----nobody asked you to be part of a protest----

But what is are you going to do if a person with CP shows up at your shitter? Pack up your gear and fast and massage ppl?

Ignore it and turn your back?

I'm curious as to why you imply a threat of pulling out of Welcomehome Camp, fasting and massaging ppl who are mice to you.
------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps you would like to trade massage? You might need it after helping folks in the parkinglot all week.

namaste'
-----------------------------------
H Heiman <grnwoodtree@yahoo.com> wrote:
Well, Im by no means the 'organizer' here - I've got my small part to play...so I cant tell you what is definitely needed - Tom would be the one who would have a much clearer idea. I think he's been somewhat under the weather.

I agree regarding the protesting - when I first heard it, the idea was so appalling - driving into a gathering, and having discord and passive resistance right off the bat - it really bothered me - the whole atitude of it bothered me - but Im thinking these disabled folks are downright pissed...after years and years of being told 'if ya cant make it in, too bad'. So I can see thier point - which is part of the reason Im involved - I havent been to a gathering in years - and this one I was hoping to be a good, positive experince, filled with healing energy, and prayer. We are also planning on getting married there.

I guess there still is no place for idealism in the world - even within the RFOLL.

peace,
Holly
---------------------------------------------------------------
kevin jefferson <rastapatch@yahoo.com> wrote:
Thanks for taking the time to reiterate some of the details or your idea. Where do you desire to set up your station?
It is my hope to take part in a welcome home camp that is within the gathering, close enough to the circle to feel it, and far enough away from the parking lot to be sure you are at a rainbow gathering. Safe and quiet at night, cool and fun during the day.
In my vision, if there is enough folk energy at the camp, we would rotate folks into the parking lot to help direct folks towards the welcomehome camp, where there will be information about the basic layout of the gathering, and rest and refreshments.
Let me know if you want me to help your crew dig a shitter.

I think it is everybody responsibility to be co-operative, that includes many complex factors, one of which is asking in the right tone of voice.
I do not do protest. If there is any formal protesting i will leave the immediate area until it is over. If it continues, i will do massage under a tree at the edge of main medow.
Mother Theresa said, 'I will not attend an anti-anything rally, but if you have a pro-peace rally let me know.'

H Heiman <grnwoodtree@yahoo.com> wrote:
Yes - of course - I have posted about this a few times - and earlier today was one of them.

These arm bands are for ANGEL CAMP volunteers - which need to be at
Welcome Home camp - yes, very necessary, and very relevant.

There is a group of us here in CO who are working on making sure that the Disabled are not ignored this year - Tom Traveler,Wolfstar, myself, and others are involved in this. Due in part to the huge amount of activism put for by Tom, and all his efforts to instigate awareness, there may very well be a record turn-out of disabled folks this year!

I am making armbands SPECIFICALLY to identify 'Angels' (those who will provide entrance info to disabled folks as they drive in) These folks will need to make sure they are available when they say they will be, and will not be wandering! We are also working on having a pertinent Disabled-friendly guide to be handed out by the Angels - the angels will also give hands-on help if necessary, guiding folks to the places they need to be.

I hope this spells things out in enough detail for now - this is why I've asked twice now for volunteers who will be dedicated to being Angels. There's been rumors of a disabled-folk protest, and direct action at the gathering if they are not treated not only equally, but with respect. It seems this has been dearly lacking in the past - and when I've brought it up on other lists(will not specify names), I've been told various things, including that its their responsibility to figure out how to climb the hills and navigate rocks and gulleys - no sense of care or respect at all. This is pretty appalling to me - as I guess I've held a dear vision of Family caring and helping each other through all circumstances.

We are ALL Family,
peace,
Holly
Hey Now Brother Rastapatch, sorry I confused the word vow with the word hope, try not to get stuck on it. Sometimes your words read kinda hurtful. Somehow you made that word sweet sound so sour in your last post. Ouch.

Also, so *what* that I digressed onto accessible shitters on this thread, are you that bothered by it? I apologize. Geeze.

We are just asking for ppl to volunteer for a good Welcome Home for ppl who happen to have disabilites, evolve a little will ya!

 

O I forgot! Just my thoughts regarding this *protest*...I really don't think it'll happen.

If it did, it would be an organization like ADAPT that would show up. They are professionals. They demonstrate, get arrested, get bailed out and go home.

I don't think that Holly is reassured about this *almost/may happen* protest not really going down.

The point is tho-- what ARE ya going to do if say 350 ppl in wheelchairs show up? Which is the point. They *may* show up.

At first we thought that the *disability act* would motivate ya'll, but we learned (to *some* ppl's relief I'm sure) that the Gathering doesn't have to comply.

We are *just hoping* that some of ya'll will do the right thing, maybe without anyone asking you too. Your Mother would be proud!