I recently received the message below from a Quaker friend. As a
folklorist I wonder if this is an adaptation of the older Scandinavian
tradition, or a new phenomenon. Has anyone else received this message, and if
so, from what source?
Cheers, -Nicholas
My name is Nadia Jensen and I have an idea for a
quiet revolution.
> Please take 5 minutes to read my email, then
help if you can:
> Here's some history behind this idea: When
Norway was occupied by Germany in 1940, Norwegian women began to knit RED caps
for children as a way of letting everyone know that they did not like what was
happening in their country, that they didn't like having their freedom taken
away by the Nazis.
> My great aunt, Karin Knudson Myrstad, was one
of the women who knit red caps for her children and others. Similarly, in
Denmark, women knit red-white-and blue caps (colors of the Allies) for the very
same reason.
> The result was that whenever Norwegians and
Danes left their homes -- to go to the store, to work, etc, they could see that
THE MAJORITY opposed what was going on in their country. As you know, both
countries organized effective Resistance efforts and changed history --
everything that happened began simply by wearing red! (or the colors of the
Allies, in Denmark).
> I believe, as many of us do, that at the very
heart of our democracy is our right to oppose certain policies of our
government. Increasingly, our government is redefining "freedom" in
ways that make too many Americans perceive that it is risky to oppose its
policies -- and in particular, current inroads about individual freedoms and
policies in the U.S. and abroad.
> However, many of us DO oppose what our
government is doing to individual rights -- and I have an idea that will allow
all of us to recognize each other very easily.
> SO... I have been thinking that it's time to
take action in a way that is effective and easy for all of us to do: Just wear
red every Friday between now and election day.
> Wear a little or a lot -- just be sure that
when you leave your house to go about your day -- to work, to school, to the
store, to the gas station, wherever you go in your daily routine -- that
everyone who sees you will see that you are wearing red because you believe in
freedom and you don't agree with our current administration's policies at home
or abroad. I'm certain that we'll see lots of us wearing red for freedom --
because WE ARE THE MAJORITY. We just need a way to show each other who we are!
Between now and election day, ask everyone you know to wear red for
"Freedom Fridays".
> I have already spread the word to friends and
have had a very enthusiastic response. This email has been forwarded around the
country by many who receive it - feel free to send it on to your friends and
co-workers.
> --Nadia Jensen