slight clutter
Stand with Texas Women Bus Tour at Discovery Green
The word filibuster was derived from the Spanish filibustero, and that from the Dutch vrijbuiter, meaning a pirate or a privateer. For me that conjures up images of galleons in full sail, mapping, exploring and claiming a rich new world; the Dutch, the Spanish, the English, the French and the Portuguese all grabbing up as much wealth, land and power as they could. Sovereign nations with courts and governments, with ethics little better than those of the pirates who followed in their wake.
People often assume that the practice of parliamentary filibustering, of extending a debate to delay or prevent a vote, was invented by the British. I’d always imagined that it was named after an honourable member Horatio Filibuster from Upper Small Bottom in the Wold, who liked the endlessly droning sound of his own voice. In fact the practice existed long before the British Parliament. Cato the Younger was known to put the kybosh on Julius Ceasar’s plans in the Senate of Ancient Rome. Filibusters happen in India, Canada, Australia, all over, and of course in the USA.
This woman, and the people gathered around her do not look like pirates. They do not look like they should be wearing the powdered wigs of 18th century Westminster. They sure as hell did not step off a bus from ancient Rome. In this picture a woman stands with pride and quiet authority, buoyed up by the applause of her admirers. This woman stood and spoke, creating a ten hour long filibuster to block legislation that would create new abortion regulations in Texas. Now here’s the thing, filibustering is grabbing all the debate time you possibly can, just like pirates grabbed all the booty. Ethically, I know that manipulating democratic procedure is wrong, but as it’s been around since Ancient Rome, it’s good to see it being done well.
Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, Rachel Irving and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
