REBEL GIRL ON "PROCESS"

From Dissent 3, 3/18/98 

Originally entitled: 

WE’RE WAIST DEEP IN THE BIG MUDDY 

by Rebel Girl 

     The union’s recent appearance at a district press conference to offer our unqualified endorsement of Trustee Steven J. Frogue was surprising. The growing public record about Frogue is disturbing to say the least, and should have made most pause, even those who have previously wholeheartedly endorsed a man who, at least three years ago, thought the Holocaust-denying Institute for Historical Review was worthy enough to enter the “debate” about the Holocaust. 

     (Just to be sporting, let’s leave out of this my criticism of Frogue’s campaign tactics that attacked gays and lesbians.) 

     Can the union support Steven Frogue? Sure. Why not? In the past it has—to the tune of thousands of campaign dollars. 

     Should they? Sure—if the union wishes. My criticism is with how this endorsement was decided—the process, my union sisters and brothers, the process. 

     According to remarks made by negotiating team member (and vice-chancellor of fiscal services stealth intern—just see who that job goes to—there’s process for you) Ken Woodward during his recent radio appearance on KPFK, the union had not taken a stand on the recall campaign. In fact, Brother Woodward chided fellow Brother Bauer about Bauer’s claim to the contrary: “Well, the faculty union actually itself, as Roy Bauer well knows, has not taken a position on Mr. Frogue....” 

     So the union’s quick action, some four weeks later, to oppose the recall campaign and support Frogue caught some of us by surprise. Had we missed something? A meeting? A phone poll? A flyer? Were we supposed to vote on Frogue as well as our contract? What happened? And when? 

     My concept of a union is pretty basic. A union is just that, a confederation, an alliance. It is made up of people who have some kind of affiliation—In our case, our shared working conditions. A union represents its members, recognizing that, of course, as with any union, there might be disagreements among the membership. 

     Still, it’s the charge of the leadership to seek guidance, permission even, from the members and to operate the union democratically. This charge should not be taken lightly. Who says? The law. (No, no, not those pesky ever-evolving F.A. by-laws—the law. Of the land.) 

     When did our union decide to oppose the recall campaign? When did the union decide to reaffirm our support of Steven Frogue? How was this (potentially embarrassing) decision made? When? Who was consulted? 

     Clearly, the union leadership, which has so often ignored the rank and file in the past, has done so again—and this time cloaked themselves with our “manufactured” consent. At the press conference, Brother Bob Kopfstein (at first reading a statement on behalf of FA president Sherry Miller-White) said that the union opposed the recall on the grounds that it was “disruptive.” Apparently the presence on the college board of a person who sympathizes with the Institute for Historical Review and The Spotlight is not “disruptive.” Apparently the systematic dismantling of shared governance is not “disruptive.” Hmmm.

     Perhaps a better tactic, one that would have honestly addressed and represented the obviously deep divisions within the membership, would have been for the union to have abstained from any action in this case. Or certainly refrained from any public action until they had done what union leadership should do--especially in a situation as volatile as this one--consult its members. 

     As for now, my fellow union sisters and brothers, look at those with whom our leaders have aligned us. And why? For what purpose? To save face? To be loyal? 

     It reminds me of an old song, Waist Deep in the Big Muddy. It goes like this: 

It was back in 1942 

I was part of a good platoon 

We were on maneuvers in Louisiana 

One night by the light of the moon 

The Captain said, told us, to ford a river 

That’s how it all begun 

We were--knee deep in the Big Muddy 

But the big fool kept yelling push on. 

The Sergeant said, “Sir, are you sure 

This is the way back to the base?” 

“Sergeant, I once crossed this river 

Not a mile above this place, 

It’ll be a little soggy but we’ll keep slogging 

We’ll soon be on dry ground.” 

We were--waist deep in the Big Muddy 

With the damn fool yelling push on. 

The Sergeant said, “Sir, with all this equipment 

No man will be able to swim.” 

“Sergeant, don’t be a nervous nellie,” 

The Captain said to him. 

“All we need is a little determination 

Follow me--I’ll lead on.” 

We were--neck deep in the Big Muddy 

And the damned fool kept yelling push on. 

All of a sudden the moon clouded over 

All we heard was a gurgling cry 

And a second later the Captain’s helmet 

Was all that floated by. 

The Sergeant said, “Turn round men 

I’m in charge from now on.” 

And we just made it out of the Big Muddy 

With the Captain dead and gone. 

We stripped and dived and found his body 

Stuck in the quicksand 

I guess he didn’t know that the water was deeper 

Than the place he’d once been... 

...Well, I’m not going to point any moral, 

I’ll leave that to yourself 

Maybe you’re still walking, 

maybe you’re still talking 

Maybe you’ve got your health 

But every time I hear the news 

That old feeling comes back on 

We’re--neck deep in the Big Muddy 

And the damned fool keeps yelling push on 

Knee deep in the Big Muddy 

And the fools keep yelling push on 

Waist deep in the Big Muddy 

And the damn fools keep yelling push on 

Waist deep, neck deep 

We’ll be drowning before too long 

We’re--neck deep in the Big Muddy 

And the damned fools keep yelling push on. 

     Famously, CBS attempted to prevent folk legend Pete Seeger from singing this song on the Smothers Brothers Show because of its obvious parallel to LBJ’s suffocating Southeast Asian war policy.