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Ain't I A Woman? newspapers, June 1970-July 1971

1970-07-10 "Ain't I a Woman?" Page 3

sarah-savage

In marriage and familyhood, wives and children are considered property and are protected by the father/husband "To love, honor, and cherish/protect" I think the feces goes. I'm not sure where these fool men are at, but what makes them think they can tell me what I must call myself? What right do they have? Not only do they tell me what I must call myself, but how many names I must have, and how my name must be written.
As I was getting into the movement, politics and then finally home to Women's Liberation, I became angrier and angrier. As shit hit the fan everywhere I became angrier and angrier. As a result, my new occupation and lifelong goal is to overthrow and totally destroy this sick Fascist society. I'm doing everything I can, whenever I can. And changing my name was one of those insignificant/unimportant (at least to the Pigs in Power) acts I DO to show my total rejection of this society.

I said insignificant and unimportant to the Pigs in Power. But--WOW--it was Beautiful to me. I feel like a new person. After all I went through to change my name, coming out of the courthouse, I started yelling and screaming and laughing with absolute JOY. I felt I was a new person-a new Human Being that I created MYSELF. I had in effect told the Pigs to get screwed, that I chose to change my name, to have one name, and to have all small letters. Coming out of the courthouse I felt FREE-- it didn't last long, but what the hell. Anything for a little bit of FREEDOM.
Bureaucracy -- In order to change your name in this Fascist society you either have to be a property holder (FREE holder is the legal term, I think) or get a property holder to sign your form. That's real cool. Your form also has to be signed and sealed by a notary public -- twice. It costs $2.00. And you have to tell why you want your name changed. This is all Piggish --designed to make you want to forget the whole thing. In any case, I trippy-trotted down to the courthouse and asked for the form. The clerk's mouth drops two feet. I get the form, fill it out, get a FREE holder's signature, and go to the notary public for his hallowed seal. He puts on the seal and I went back to the courthouse. When the clerk saw my new name she about passed out. She looked at me like I was some sort of freak. Ha Ha! Right on! She looked the form over and saw the "Why do you want to change your name" blank -- blank She shoves it across the desk -- I write "I like sarah-savage better" -- and shove it back. She says, "That's your reason?" I say, "That's my reason." (more on this later) She pores over the form again. She shoves it back at me and says the notary didn't sign his name under the seal that I'll have to go back and get it signed. Great -- I'll be happy to... the Pig. In 300 degree heat I run back, the bastard signs it. I'm back at the courthouse. The clerk looks it over again. "Gosh," she says, "he's got to sign and seal it again. Now what's he thinking of? He knows it's got to be signed and sealed twice." At this point I'm ready to kill both of them. Back to HIM for sign and seal -- back to the courthouse. Finally --- $2.00 on the desk and my name is changed, but it can't be used in legal matters for 30 days. WOW --- PIGSHIT is running rampant these days. 
Thoughts on the "Why do you want to change your name?" blank -- Wen I saw that question I pondered what would be the best approach. (After thinking this whole thing out later, I realized I didn't ponder long and carefully enough) I realized that I very much wanted to change my name -- i.e., I had something to lose if I didn't play their game -- this was one of my first PITfalls. So I flippantly wrote, "I like sarah-savage better." I had considered going into a political rap, but decided against it because I didn't want to aggravate the situation any further-- and I really wanted my name changed. I also knew lots of Women were seriously thinking of changing their names -- and I didn't want to jeopardize their chanced. I felt guilty writing BULLSHIT on that blank, but, I felt you had better write BULLSHIT or you won't get your name changed.
That's what happens -- when you have something to lose, all of a sudden your back is up against the wall and you start compromising. If I had it to do over again I would go into a political rap on that stupid blank. Women are changing their names right and left around here. I just heart the other day that the Pigs are running out of forms. So what? I have a feeling that if this name changing continues, the Pigs could take some repressive measures so that Women won't be able to change their names. (The Pigs can do anything they want, you know. The law is made to protect the people in power. If the "little people" get out of hand, the Pigs can do anything they want.) So what? If the Pigs do take repressive measures, several options are open to us. 1-- Disregard the courts entirely. 2-- Take the issue to court. File suit against the county (or whoever it is) for not letting them change your name. If you choose this option, get a Woman lawyer. DO NOT USE A MALE LAWYER. (More on this later.) 
On using the legal system -- Before going to the courthouse I had debated not going through the courts and just changing my name on my own. If I did this I would be showing my complete disregard and irreverance for the court system. But -- I reasoned -- and wrongly so i believe now-- name changed never seem to stick if people don't get them changed legally. This could be, but it doesn't have to be. Clearly, changing your name through the courts lends credibility to the whole hting. People all of a sudden take you seriously. it's too bad, but that's where peoples' heads are at. On #2 above -- on suing the county for not allowing you to change your name. I'm not really into this, but if that's where you're at, my feeling is that you should make the trail into a carnival. Women could go as WITCHES, Jane Addams, Sojourner Truth, anyone. Make a mockery of their stupid courts. Just don't go into that courtroom trying to prove any point. You may win m(at least legally speaking) your case but your victory will be accompanied with more bullshit repressive measures. You know -- like you might need 5 FREEholders' signatures and 10 notary publics' signs and seals. The PEOPLE never are given or win anything -- the People take it. Nothing more needs to be said. Right on Sisters! 

In Struggle
In Anger
All Power to All the People
Seize the Time 
sarah-savage (or, as I used to be
called in the old days, Jan Deahl)

[photo]

a Woman?            July 10, 1970             3

Saving...

sarah-savage In marriage and familyhood, wives and children are considered property and are protected by the father/husband "To love, honor, and cherish/protect" I think the feces goes. I'm not sure where these fool men are at, but what makes them think they can tell me what I must call myself? What right do they have? Not only do they tell me what I must call myself, but how many names I must have, and how my name must be written. As I was getting into the movement, politics and then finally home to Women's Liberation, I became angrier and angrier. As shit hit the fan everywhere I became angrier and angrier. As a result, my new occupation and lifelong goal is to overthrow and totally destroy this sick Fascist society. I'm doing everything I can, whenever I can. And changing my name was one of those insignificant/unimportant (at least to the Pigs in Power) acts I DO to show my total rejection of this society. I said insignificant and unimportant to the Pigs in Power. But--WOW--it was Beautiful to me. I feel like a new person. After all I went through to change my name, coming out of the courthouse, I started yelling and screaming and laughing with absolute JOY. I felt I was a new person-a new Human Being that I created MYSELF. I had in effect told the Pigs to get screwed, that I chose to change my name, to have one name, and to have all small letters. Coming out of the courthouse I felt FREE-- it didn't last long, but what the hell. Anything for a little bit of FREEDOM. Bureaucracy -- In order to change your name in this Fascist society you either have to be a property holder (FREE holder is the legal term, I think) or get a property holder to sign your form. That's real cool. Your form also has to be signed and sealed by a notary public -- twice. It costs $2.00. And you have to tell why you want your name changed. This is all Piggish --designed to make you want to forget the whole thing. In any case, I trippy-trotted down to the courthouse and asked for the form. The clerk's mouth drops two feet. I get the form, fill it out, get a FREE holder's signature, and go to the notary public for his hallowed seal. He puts on the seal and I went back to the courthouse. When the clerk saw my new name she about passed out. She looked at me like I was some sort of freak. Ha Ha! Right on! She looked the form over and saw the "Why do you want to change your name" blank -- blank She shoves it across the desk -- I write "I like sarah-savage better" -- and shove it back. She says, "That's your reason?" I say, "That's my reason." (more on this later) She pores over the form again. She shoves it back at me and says the notary didn't sign his name under the seal that I'll have to go back and get it signed. Great -- I'll be happy to... the Pig. In 300 degree heat I run back, the bastard signs it. I'm back at the courthouse. The clerk looks it over again. "Gosh," she says, "he's got to sign and seal it again. Now what's he thinking of? He knows it's got to be signed and sealed twice." At this point I'm ready to kill both of them. Back to HIM for sign and seal -- back to the courthouse. Finally --- $2.00 on the desk and my name is changed, but it can't be used in legal matters for 30 days. WOW --- PIGSHIT is running rampant these days. Thoughts on the "Why do you want to change your name?" blank -- Wen I saw that question I pondered what would be the best approach. (After thinking this whole thing out later, I realized I didn't ponder long and carefully enough) I realized that I very much wanted to change my name -- i.e., I had something to lose if I didn't play their game -- this was one of my first PITfalls. So I flippantly wrote, "I like sarah-savage better." I had considered going into a political rap, but decided against it because I didn't want to aggravate the situation any further-- and I really wanted my name changed. I also knew lots of Women were seriously thinking of changing their names -- and I didn't want to jeopardize their chanced. I felt guilty writing BULLSHIT on that blank, but, I felt you had better write BULLSHIT or you won't get your name changed. That's what happens -- when you have something to lose, all of a sudden your back is up against the wall and you start compromising. If I had it to do over again I would go into a political rap on that stupid blank. Women are changing their names right and left around here. I just heart the other day that the Pigs are running out of forms. So what? I have a feeling that if this name changing continues, the Pigs could take some repressive measures so that Women won't be able to change their names. (The Pigs can do anything they want, you know. The law is made to protect the people in power. If the "little people" get out of hand, the Pigs can do anything they want.) So what? If the Pigs do take repressive measures, several options are open to us. 1-- Disregard the courts entirely. 2-- Take the issue to court. File suit against the county (or whoever it is) for not letting them change your name. If you choose this option, get a Woman lawyer. DO NOT USE A MALE LAWYER. (More on this later.) On using the legal system -- Before going to the courthouse I had debated not going through the courts and just changing my name on my own. If I did this I would be showing my complete disregard and irreverance for the court system. But -- I reasoned -- and wrongly so i believe now-- name changed never seem to stick if people don't get them changed legally. This could be, but it doesn't have to be. Clearly, changing your name through the courts lends credibility to the whole hting. People all of a sudden take you seriously. it's too bad, but that's where peoples' heads are at. On #2 above -- on suing the county for not allowing you to change your name. I'm not really into this, but if that's where you're at, my feeling is that you should make the trail into a carnival. Women could go as WITCHES, Jane Addams, Sojourner Truth, anyone. Make a mockery of their stupid courts. Just don't go into that courtroom trying to prove any point. You may win m(at least legally speaking) your case but your victory will be accompanied with more bullshit repressive measures. You know -- like you might need 5 FREEholders' signatures and 10 notary publics' signs and seals. The PEOPLE never are given or win anything -- the People take it. Nothing more needs to be said. Right on Sisters! In Struggle In Anger All Power to All the People Seize the Time sarah-savage (or, as I used to be called in the old days, Jan Deahl) [photo] a Woman? July 10, 1970 3