video by Sanni Zhang and Karen Xu
What does it mean to assemble?
This answer has changed for me even since I filled out Maggie's original Google form that included a form of the question. Since then, I have seen the concept of assembly take on a lot of different forms. In one word, I think assembly means to rally and unify. But something that has taken shape for me during the COVID-19 pandemic is that assembly can mean rallying behind a general common goal without necessarily exercising that goal in the same way. Despite failures of our federal (and local in many cases) government, I would say that I've seen people, virtually or from all over the world, rally, "assemble" behind the cause of saving lives and helping strangers get through these tough times. For a close friend of mine, this has taken the form of sewing over 80 (and counting!) masks to donate to hospitals, essential service workers, and others in need during this time. For me, it has taken the form of continuing to work my job at a local grocery store despite personal risks (and despite my mother's fear, and her not supporting it out of an understandable fear for me). For my dad, his wife, and my legal stepbrother, assembly has taken the form of volunteering at the food bank every week. My dad also assembles by pestering the town Board of Health every week to start mandating masks in stores to protect essential workers like me and my coworkers. A random town resident on main street, who may or may not have the means to assemble with actions, assembles with words by putting up a sign that says "Thank you first responders and essential workers" in their yard for drivers to see (and that I now see every morning that I drive to work). Assembly doesn't have to be a physical unity. It's certainly not in quarantine. I think before this, I associated assembly a lot with doing the same act. With marching on Washington, with political action, with taking over Athens. But just like everyone has a "reason to march" in the March for Our Lives, or the Women's March, or March on Washington, everyone who has stake in the common cause right now has their different ways that they can (and are) contributing to our grand, Zoom-filled assembly towards greater hope, compassion, and towards saving lives and protecting those we don't even know (and those we know and care for deeply). - Hannah Gearan |
Chorus-Leader's Manifesto
Thank you, judges, for your viewing, for supporting what we’re doing Soon you’ll choose a winning play here! We’re the choice, far and away, clear? If you wanted something witty We’re the smartest in the city You were seeking something funny? Try and say we weren’t, honey Praxagora and this chorus Floor agoras, they adore us Other shows can hold their wrath in We’re the baddest band in Athens Try to top our tight translation Timely for our situation Know that I’m not trynna lie, sis We’re divine like Dionysis Not to flex, but I’d be lying Saying we’re not satisfying Like a drummer goes on drumming We can keep an audience coming ;) Jokes and references all finished, Let not questions be diminished Thinking to our presentation, Implications for our nation: How should we be represented? Who has power? Who’s contented? How can we best make our choices? Magnify the silenced voices? How to fight a changing battle? Turn with tides that roll and rattle? How can stories be rewritten? Told so that all people fit in? There’s injustice, but despite it: What are tools we have to fight it? Diligence and patience? Theater? Monologues in perfect meter? How can we best come together? Sail through wind and stormy weather? When there’s wrong and when there’s evil, What is our form of upheaval? Still, together, we are stronger Also, when we can no longer Take the world as we know it That’s the time to overthrow it. If you’re feeling isolated Know our city’s never gated Know that if in doubt you’re swimmin All can be assemblywomen Have no semblance of a tremble From afar we can assemble Organize and we can rise up Champion, so time to wise up Now, fair judges, I’ll transition: Vote for us, our show, our mission If you find yourself in favor Of our version, of our flavor Use your vote because it matters Even when assembly scatters But! Here’s something much worth noting There’s recourses more than voting Overall, we stand united Fear not, fire’s been ignited In pursuit of some solution Will you join our revolution? -Luna Mac-Williams As I watch the world disentangle at its mythical seams,
I find myself looking at stitches I see fearful hurriedness divaricate us But then I turn the other way And I watch some kind smiles tumble back into place I find myself chasing silver linings But in that quest For a made-up metallic border I see modicums around me become slivering stitches That find what they can, and patch loose strands back up again I find myself remembering That a black widow spider devours her mate Futures die before they occur But she still creates gossamer That glints in the sunlight Creates spindly shadows And grounds the dust mites drifting in loose zephyrs -Hannah Gearan To come together with a common purpose, if not a common idea of how to get there. To assemble, in my mind, has a sense of unity– people will sacrifice their personal preferences and gains to achieve a common goal
to become a part of a whole. you are now a component of something much larger than yourself. a cell of a being that can do so much more than you alone. you give what is uniquely yours to a being composed of humans who are giving what is uniquely theirs. the result holds incomparable power and wisdom.
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