Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2013)
Street roots July 5, 2013 SAUERS, from page 8 hope to raise awareness. The practice (of the death penalty) is undeniably racist. The statistics about it are awful and we are actively involved in that campaign. We continue our work with Winona LaDuke and Honor the Earth. (Saliers, Ray and LaDuke founded the organization in 1993). We have some more concerts to raise money and awareness, particularly around mining issues in the Midwest. We work on justice issues in indigenous communities and how that relates to all of us. S.Z.: How do you walk that line o f the social and political environment around you where you live in Decatur, Georgia? E.S.: It s a good question. When you live in a state like Georgia, for all of its beauty, politically and socially it can be quite challenging for someone with my views. The political differences can be quite extreme. For me, it helps to have a lot of people who are simpatico with my kind of thinking. You know with the immigration bill, my partner is Canadian and they won’t put bi-national couples in the bill because it will get completely shut down by the GOP. Those are very difficult things to live with when they come up because you try not to take that personally. It’s not just Georgia, it’s all over this country. I’m so excited about the progress we’ve made. It is very disheartening to think how far we still have to go. But there is just a preponderance of American views that are small minded. S.Z.: What does poverty look like in the South? E.S.: There are terrible issues of poverty all over the South. The South is primarily agrarian, rural. But there is also urban poverty. I’m thinking about that book, “The New Jim Crow.” It is really eye-opening about mass incarceration and the war on drugs. There are a lot of people in jail busted on drug charges and it basically wipes out their chance for any kind of mobility in life after they get out of prison. They end up in the numbers of people who are homeless or experiencing poverty. Without the public transportation piece, they have trouble finding jobs outside of the impoverished areas (where they might be living). It’s just systemic oppression. In addition, mental health outreach. There are a lot of reasons why people end up on the streets and homeless. There is no reason, with all of our wealth and resources in this country, that anybody should go hungry or be impoverished to the point of homelessness. There is just no rationalization for it. especially to make a living at it, my gratitude runs really deep. And it is completely tied to my faith. S.Z.: The Supreme Court o f the United States ruled against both DOMA and effectively derailed California’s Prop 8. Where do we go from here? S.Z.: You are co-owner o f Watershed, an Atlanta-based restaurant whose namesake is one o f your songs. Portlanders love their food. Tell me about your interest in foodie culture and what role Watershed plays in your life. E.S.: The Supreme Court rulings on DOMA and Prop 8 are an historic victory for civil rights in the U.S. Because my partner is Canadian, our lives were immediately changed. There is much work to be done on LGBT issues, but I take this moment to celebrate these important victories. S.Z.: Minnesota last month joined the ranks o f the now 12 states that have approved gay marriage legislation. The South, however, is severely under-represented. Do you think you will see a day when you can wed in your home state? E.S.: I don’t think I’ll see a day anytime soon in my home state. It’s unfortunate, but I believe that that’s the case. S.Z.: What keeps you from marrying up North? E.S.: Not much, [laughter] I’m telling you, We’re that close. We just don’t want to rush into anything. If everything goes as we’re planning, we will be married in Canada. But our hope is that we can live in the United States. We can’t stay in the United States if my partner is unable to work. It’s part of her freedom and her life, to work, if she chooses to. So we face that decision in the future. S.Z.: You wrote a book with your father, A Song to Sing, a Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice, that was published in 2 0 0 6 , it discusses music as a key aspect o f spirituality in our lives. Your songwriting is so personal and quiet spiritual. Can you talk about the connection between your music and your faith? E.S.: I believe in God, I call it God - whatever this benevolent force is that has guided my life and guides everything around it and through it. I believe we are all in the midst of a spiritual journey and that we have access to great, great gifts and great awareness and great ability to change, if we are open to it. Music is so powerful and mystical. It’s power is beyond our comprehension. So having been gifted to play music and E.S.: In my W ith the Im m lgratloa b lllr childhood memory, I can still my partner Is Canadian and taste things that I they won't put bw iatlo it& l experienced then. couples In the b ill because It Many of my w ill get completely shut memories as a child involve food. down by the €O R Those are Being a very very d iffic u lt things to live sensual person, I w ith when they come rap have had a fascination and because yon try not to tafee interest in foodie that personally« culture my whole life. I love sharing food. I grew up eating dinner with my family, around the table and I was always cooking with my friends. The communal aspect of food is a deep aspect of my life. I’m really proud of Watershed. When it was in Decatur, it was the first farm-to-table restaurant there. From the very beginning, we really believed in the seasonality of food and knowing where it came from. You don’t get strawberries in the winter, you get strawberries in the summer and peas in the spring. You don’t get a perfect tomato until the middle of the summer. And you wait for it, you know? The new Watershed is in a different part of town and it’s bigger. Our chef, Joe Truex is from Louisiana and he brings that influence with him. We’re still farm-to-table. We employ a lot of people. We recycle and focus on not wasting food and trying to give back to the community. J S.Z.: What is a favorite dish on the menu right now? E.S.: It’s a dessert. It’s a hot milk cake with a caramel icing. It’s just mind blowing. I love everything on the menu though. S.Z.: Can we look forward to another 25 years o f Indigo Girls? E.S.: If God is willing, I’m willing. sue@streetroots. org homeforward hope, access, potential Stephens Creek Crossing Public Housing Waiting List to Open Tuesday, July 9 through Saturday, July 13, 2013 Home Forward is excited to announce that its waiting iist for Stephens Creek Crossing 1 ,2 ,3 , and 4 bedroom subsidized apartments will be open from July 9 through July 13, 2013. Applicants must meet income guidelines. Stephens Creek Crossing is a new apartment community being developed in Southwest Portland near Capital Highway and SW 26th. It will have 109 apartments with income-based rents, and they will be ready for move-in in January 2014. Applications will be accepted online from any internet connected computer at vm w ,homeforward.org beginning July 9 at 8:30 am. Call 503.280.3830 (TTY: 503.802.8554) or visit our website for locations where you can use a computer and complete details on how to apply for this waiting list.
