ARTISTS SUPPORT ME WITH A VOTE:AS ME OR AS MOTHER TERESA?

SHOULD I GO TO ST PATRICKS CATHEDRAL AS MYSELF OR AS MOTHER TERESA TO SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC NUNS? VOTES FROM ARTIST FRIENDS

Dear Friends.
  I received this letter below and would definately like to go . Cant make all of them. Need your vote. Please advise. Should I go as ME OR AS MOTHER TERESA on Tuesday May 29th, 4:30-6:30 to St Patrick's Cathedral to show my solidarity?
  Im definately going, just dont know how to go...as art or as life. Issue is, can art/life intersect here? Or not?
Not sure what is "appropriate", and dont want the Mother Teresa appearance to be mis-construed or distracting....
You know how things can get! In being more carefull,
Linda ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Friends:
  This message goes out to all concerned Catholics in the metropolitan New York area from Call to Action New York and Voice of the Faithful New York.
Next Tuesday, May 15th, we will STAND WITH THE SISTERS in prayerful vigil outside St. Patrick's Cathedral from 4:30 until 6:30PM. We will repeat our sidewalk vigil on Tuesday, May 22 from 4:30-6:30PM, and again on Tuesday, May 29 at the same time.
At our VOTF NY meeting last night, we agreed to seek to have the mandate against the Leadership Council of Women Religious (LCWR) revoked. In this action, we are joining Catholics across the United States who are gathering throughout the month of May to protest an unjust mandate issued without evidence or pastoral care.
If you are not familiar with the recently announced doctrinal Assessment by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, read about it here. Support the sisters by signing the national petition here. Over 40,000 have already signed. As agreed at our meeting last night, our goals in addition to having the mandate against the LCWR revoked are:
1. Show all nuns across the US that we stand with them,
2. Encourage the clergy to shed their silence and join our prayerful and respectful protest, and
3. Help the people in the pews stand up and find their voice in support of the sisters.

All who are interested can make signs ("Stand with the Sisters" or "We Are ALL Nuns") and meet beneath the Atlas statute on Fifth Avenue directly across from St. Patrick's Cathedral between 49th and 50th Streets in Manhattan. Those who wish can gather at 119 West 23rd Street, 10th Floor, Room 1003, at 3PM on May 15 to make signs here. We will then go up to the Cathedral as a group at 4PM. Help get the word out. Please forward to all your family, friends and mailing list members. Look for more communications in the coming days. This is our opportunity to repay in a small way the sisters who taught us and trained us, for all the love they showed us and the sacrifices they have made.

  NOW IT IS OUR TURN TO SHOW THE SISTERS SOME LOVE.

######################################################################################################################### HERE ARE THE RESPONSES FROM THE ARTISTS WHO SENT IN THEIR VOTE TO THE QUESTION, "SHOULD I GO AS MYSELF OR AS MOTHER TERESA?" I THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR THOUGHTFULL SUPORT OF MY QUESTION AND THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE OF JUSTICE, ETHICS AND HONOR. LINDA MARY MONTANO , MAY 2012. ######################################################################################################################### #############################
I cannont believe this is happening! THANK YOU DEAR SIS for supporting them. This is a hard call to go as You or ...as you. Do youn kow any of the sisters yourself? I would ask them and explain your heart wish is to support them. Caterina DeRe ##############################################
Linda, Since Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful are pretty serious stuff, (and there may be Sisters of Life - founded by Mother Teresa there- altho I doubt it) It seems best to go as a lay woman in SOLIDARITY with the nuns. Keep Mother Teresa for those special events where you want her presence to be warmly felt. I VOTE FOR LINDA MONTANO to go as herself . Luv, ARTMOM Sister Maryjane Robertshaw
#############################################
I would do this as LIFE not as ART an go as yourself. The context is such that a person making ART while participating could distract from the solidarity of the action. Michael Titus Parkes #################################################
Linda, Thanks for including me on this thread. My two cents... They are doing a protest to call attention to the issues they want the world to see. That's what protest is about basically. Making a stand and getting a message out. When throwing pebble into water (several hundred people at a protest) you want the most ripples (millions of people to know about it.) Question to ask… What would help get the message out? What would make the point?Then they will be thrilled! Photo ops are always very important. I would vote FOR you going as Mother Teresa. Perhaps you can have her holding a sign? Or doing something that makes the point they want to make. (Mother teresa on a cross comes to mind, but that would be a bit much! For sure!) As my Dad wisely told me, "Not everyone is going to like you." Some may be offended. Possibly. Possibly not. But in any case, the vast majority will love you. Why live life trying to make EVERYONE approve? It just doesn't work. On the other hand, there are lots and lots of protests I do not go to at all. I prefer to do some art project, more privately-- in small gallery or something interventionist. Yesterday lots of people protested Bank of America, which can be a cruel company. It is foreclosing dozens of houses in our neighborhood every week. But I did not go. Instead I am producing an "Occupy Bernal Foreclosure Fighter Fiesta Block Party and Good Neighbor Awards Ceremony. More my style. I don't like mass protests. I feel uncomfortable. Its not my way generally. But occasionally can be fun. So if you feel uncomfortable going, don't go! Do it YOUR way. Whatever that is. Like you always tell me, "you will figure it out." Love, Annie Annie Sprinkle #########################################################################
My immediate reaction ...go as YOU the other will be too much of a distraction ........my opinion, Bob Schuler
###################################################################
LINDA, THERE IS NO QUESTION - MOTHER TERESA. YOU LOOK SO MUCH LIKE HER THAT HER WORSHIPPERS WILL THINK YOU ARE A VISION ! YOUR FRIEND, DIANE TERAMANA #######################################################################
Hi linda, Don’t have a strong sense of which would be best. To err on the side of caution might be best. Love, Joan Joan Apter ######################################################################
Perhaps as Performance it would be not in the spirit of the gathering, but you are the one to know... Josepha Gutielus ########################################################################
GO AS YOURSELF. TO GO AS MOTHER TERESA WILL BE PERCEIVED AS DISRESPECTFUL. IN YOUR HEART, YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. Steven Kolpan ############################################################################
I wouldn't know what to tell you, Linda, I think it depends on the context, or whether you feel you would be helping by being there as Mother Teresa. My first instinct is..in that context, maybe mis-construable or distracting, my second is, well art is important, but you know that you will be meaningful to be there as yourself--that is art as well. Best of luck, Mira Schor #####################################################################
Go as the mother. Beth Stephens #############################################################
dunno, ask jesus? Paul McMahon ######################################################################
Dear Linda Can not read all the info on this issue in the read about it link but I signed the petition. I think the question of going as Mother Teresa or not is complicated ..It could bring some publicity to the vigil that could be welcomed by the participants if they want that .. and visually impacting the event with your spiritual re enactment perhaps another plus. I just do not know how people would take it . Yes it certainly would be a distraction of sorts but not a bad one, given the location in NYC there are many distractions and I think your intent is to focus attention? Have you included nuns and religious "certified professionals.." in your inquiry as to the art life intersect appropriateness at this event ? I think if you are not sure , perhaps you could go to one event as Linda and get a better read on your concerns. I think your reserve indicates you do not feel totally right with it. Whatever decision you make thus will be the right one for the day.... Hope you are well. Love Marlena Marlena Marallo ###################################################################
Dear Linda, Thanks so for sharing and asking for counsel from friends. I know how you feel, though on a minor scale. That is, when I am going to give a poetry reading. It is the art, the creative work that matters and yet there we are by name. Am not sure if this makes sense, but perhaps begin by being yourself, sharing briefly to those present about why you came, how you believe art communicates (is a communion) between all who are present-- and you wish to offer a blessing in the role of Mother Teresa. Maybe say something about how those who have passed over, our ancestors, are available to each of us as companion spirits to strengthen us (through their gifts) on the journey, give us courage to be in ways on our own we would not consider possible. Before a reading, I'd pray, asking God, the divine, to remind me that my writing is a vocation and I've tried to be faithful. Whether people understand or care about what I've written is not "my job." Go with the flow, I'd say to myself, hide in the poems, they will protect you. And so, Linda, I will be with you in spirit, no matter what you choose to do. Courage and Love, Cookie Carolyn Cook ############################################################################
I say go as you holding a large picture of Mother Teresa...otherwise if you go as Motherr Teresa, you'll be called out as a publicity hound... Tobe Carey #########################################################################
Go as both! Pauline Oliveros #####################################################################
Dear Linda, This is a good problem. I read Dear Abbey all the time and love her advice, so I'm putting on my DA wig and working on an answer to your question. Well, since there's gonna be sign-making/carrying during the protest, the words carried on them will represent the thoughts and feelings of the protesters. You, Linda, have other talents, as highly developed as a few well chosen words, for sure. Your costume or character, in my opinion, would not detract from the protest. I believe it would embellish it. Either way, your voice will be heard; but you can empower the event with your art. Yes, add art to reason and you turn consomme into goulash or visa versa. Good luck, Bart Bart Freidman ########################################################################
Dearest Rosita Life / Art / is the question.... just go is my answer !( congratulations if u read through the 'doctrinal assessment!!! I couldn't really understand it but when I saw 'radical feminism' and 'homosexuality' I guessed the patriarchy were up to no good!! ) I send my support to you & the sisters . seems like time is way overdue for a more enlightened outlook! Elizabeth Cross #########################################################################
Thanks for including me as a friend...sending the pics and in asking for opinions... we all have one. I think it would be too theatrical for the Mother costume. Save it for Halloween. Instead make your statement in a way that is "huge" and with integrity. Have a large button made (or make one yourself) saying what you want to say and wear it on a red hat, white veil or something. Loving you in support xoxox Joan Yushin Loori ##########################################################################
Here are my thoughts... if the protest is advocating that "lay people" can hold banners saying "we all are nuns" then I think the answer is obvious. You need to go as MOTHER...but this can be subtle. If you don't want to be an overt MOTHER T this can be an implicit action. Wear the habit but the attitude can be as "quiet" as need be for your comfort zone. Read the moment in the moment to guide your performance. love you Namaste Victoria Aruna Singh ############################################################################### Either way...you'd surely be seen as Mother Teresa....and if SHE ever had anything to say in support of religious women other than obedience being THE virtue, dressing as Mo. T. would give you a chance to quote her. If not, why bother? I wish I could be there with you... blessings! Beth Bastach #####################################################################
i understand your desire to go as mother theresa but if i were you, i wouldn't. as you said, it might be misconstrued. i think the symbol of mother theresa is loaded. why don't you go as a nun? one of many? . Angelika Rinnhofer #########################################################################
I think the decision should depend on whatever is best for the 'cause' And i wouldn't have an answer to that Is there anyone who could advice you, i.e. re good 'publicity' for the cause or not? I would vote for life. Moira Roth
#############################################
Go as Mother Teresa but be prepared for some people to be offended(Doug Hall as JFK at the JFK Museum in Dallis for instance-people were crying). Then meditate on it and learn from the experiences. There's a chance that you'll hurt someone's feelings-although I don't know why but people are offended. Question: Is offending people the same as hurting their feelings? Meditate on that. Dale Hoyt
############################################################
My gut reaction is: go as yourself if you intend to blend in to the protest, go as MT if you intend to publicize your attendance as an art event. or... go to the protest as yourself and stage your own protest event as MT.... since you thought of the question I assume that deep down you have doubts about going as MT, so perhaps listen to that... Chris Harvey ##############################################################
Well dear Mother Superior, on the one hand MOTHER TERESA is distracting, but on the other, that's just the point, of all sisters/mothers she must be there to show support. Of course all the old fears and hatred of costumes and theater will be arounsed, but that may not be a bad thing. i vote for MOTHER THERESA. Gabrielle Cody ##################################################################
Hi Linda, We think you should go as yourself to avoid complications of an iconic reference.... Much Love, Carolee Sherry Carolee Schneemann ####################################################################