High school nicknames, sarcasm klaxons and the spark of self expression

Posted on 05/04/2012 by Genna

It was 1988, I was 15yrs old, my favourite band was Depeche Mode and my mood + clothing [black, black and more black] were that of a dedicated teenage goth. [does rock fingers with both hands]

And yet I still somehow managed to find myself a student at an extremely conservative, right wing, Christian boarding school in the middle of cocking nowhere.

My folks [who I was very clearly UNIMPRESSED with]* & my little brother [annoying little bastard]** lived 2hours away, so I had to live in the hostel Monday to Friday [harrumphhh!!!].

Come 3pm on a Friday afternoon, I was ecstatic when I could give the proverbial two’s up to the school and jump on the bus homeward bound, to get away from the ~~freaks~~ people I went to school with.

7 years earlier my folks had decided, that we as a family, were going to emigrate to pastures new, to head for the sunshine, wave teary goodbyes to our friends and family and leave behind our Scottish homeland.

I don’t think my folks quite realised what it would be like living and growing up in Apartheid South Africa.

I guess it seemed like a better option than remaining in ol Iron Knickers’ [Margaret Thatcher] Britain, what with her love of Scotland and all***

I guess in some ways, merely being born with white skin [more like pasty, translucent, freckled, immune to tanning kind of skin. Well, we are Scottish after all] meant ‘certain advantages’ in Apartheid SA but from the minute we set foot in that country, I felt a creeping sense of unease at the open segregation and treatment of those not in possession of said white skin.

[to be fair, I was also TRES disappointed that we were not collected from the airport by elephants but that's another story altogether. And I was 8. Nuff said.]

So my observations on what the actual fuck was going on all around me added to my sense of unease and followed me through my attendance at white primary schools [the only choice] and eventually the aforementioned ultra conservative, Christian high school of doom.

Being the vocal, expressive, opinionated and far from shy individual that I am, it became very apparent, very quickly that I would do myself NO favours in this environment.

I was told on more than one occasion that children were ‘seen and not heard’ [this seemed to extend to the women folk too, nice touch of misogyny to go with all that bigotry & racism]

Needless to say, I ignored that completely. I would not let them silence me.[Stands on soapbox. Puffs out chest. Roars]

And it was with that stubborn determination that I found my ‘voice’ and spark of Self Expression. It was always there but all of a sudden I realised it could be channeled into something that was meaningful and would have an impact.

It anchored in me my belief that our Self Expression is one of the most powerful and fulfilling aspects of being alive. [Depeche Mode also factor on the whole 'being fullfilled' list for life. Dave Gahan? Swoon]

Being outspoken against Apartheid and the completely nonsensical, outdated, frankly moronic arguments put forward by these so called ‘Christian’ fellow students [this included the teachers and the headmaster, whose office I found myself in frequently] earned me the nickname of Genna Mc “Winnie” Mandela.

Hilarious.

But I wore the name with aplomb.

1. Because it separated me from their numb-skulled thinking, their knuckle dragging attitude and general intolerance to anything other than what they truly believed was the ‘right way’. [So totes the WRONG way, as it happens]

and 2. Because, well being associated with the marvelous Mandelas was something to be proud of. Perhaps not so much Winnie, considering what we know about her now but ol Madiba? *heart him*

Did the numb-skullery infuriate me to the point of tears? Sure. Did it make me Ranty McRantypants of the Clan McRanty? Oh fuck yes. Did it make me despair of humanity? Yup. These attitudes still do.

Unfortunately that kind of hard headed, bigoted, racist fuckwittery lives on today, in all the countries of the world.

And although I continue to be frustrated by it, it doesn’t stop me from speaking out against it.

Even in the face of the most insidious attitudes, we have to continue to use our voices and express ourselves.

[The current trend of old white men that STILL seem to think they can police our vaginas, is a perfect example of this. STEP AWAY from our vaginas, mofos!!!]

I’d even go so far to say that our lives depend on our self expression.

I’m serious.

No matter if it is speaking out against injustice, speaking up for those that cannot speak for themselves or simply using your voice, to amplify your goddammed fine self, either way, you have a voice and self expression and you should be damn well using it.

So the question is…

Are you?

* all is forgiven now

** love him to bits really but then, not so much

****extreme sarcasm klaxon

**** Not every person I went to school with was racist and not every white person in South Africa, then or now, is either. The extreme right, ultra conservative, racist & bigoted views are still in a minority over there [thankfully] and South Africa has made many strides to a more democratic, diverse and tolerant society.

If you are all about expressing yourself and getting your message out there AND you want to do so via the medium of video [but you're kinda nervous/clueless/unsure] then I have the perfect thing for you.

My new ebook guide “SHINE on SCREEN: Your guide to producing great video on your own” is due to launch on the 9th April 2012 [I know it's Easter Monday but consider this better for your hips than all those chocolate eggs!!]

Come back on Monday to get your copy!

My message for women on International Women’s day

Posted on 08/03/2012 by Genna

Use your VOICE. Your self expression will entertain, encourage, inspire, welcome and teach so many people in your lifetime. Why would you want to miss all of that?

Look in the mirror. Ignore that zit, those wrinkles or whatever else you are prone to focusing on. Look into your own eyes. Tell yourself you ARE enough and have everything you need already. Good.

Don’t be afraid to call yourself a feminist. It’s not a FUCKING DIRTY WORD. If more of us were willing to say “Yes I am a Feminist, what of it?” then the better the world would be [this goes for you dudes too]. After all how could you possibly NOT be for the advocacy of women`s rights on the grounds of sexual equality?

My two favourite feminist quotes below

Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. ~Cheris Kramarae and Paula Treichler

“We need to reclaim the word ‘feminism’. We need the word ‘feminism’ back real bad. When statistics come in saying that only 29% of American women would describe themselves as feminist – and only 42% of British women – I used to think, What do you think feminism IS, ladies? What part of ‘liberation for women’ is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? ‘Vogue’ by Madonna? Jeans? Did all that good shit GET ON YOUR NERVES? Or were you just DRUNK AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY?”
― Caitlin Moran, How To Be A Woman

Poetry and video – a marvelous combination

Posted on 24/02/2012 by Genna

I saw this on FB the other day and just had to share it

And here is the full poem – so bloody lovely, wonderful and full of positivity.

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.

It’s opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…

…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!