Data hosted with ♥ by Pastebin.com - Download Raw - See Original
  1. Media Alert: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: One Woman Walks from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C.
  2. 8/14/2012
  3.  
  4. Dear Respected Members of the Media,
  5.  
  6. My name is Kristen Hoye, mostly folks call me KC. I am one woman participating in a simple action. I am departing August 29th, and walking from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C.
  7.  
  8. I came to the rough realization last year that I am easily polarized. Like many I've railed against government, I railed against the media, and in my railing and flailing about, I realized that I am ignorant. Setting out to correct that ignorance, I started reading legislation, newspapers, whatever came to hand. When all was said (it's never done), I came to the conclusion that there was nothing that I alone could do. That I, in my ignorance or even in my educated state am the cause of suffering, and that suffering is systemic.
  9.  
  10. I've spent a year planning, rearranging my life to accomplish one goal. Walk to Washington, D.C. and deliver the letter below to the leaders of our Great Nation. Over the past year I've largely spent my time researching. More recently I've worked with activists, planned actions, researched laws, protested at rallies, above all I've listened. I've learned that the issues have not changed in the past 50 years.
  11.  
  12. The problems we face are the same today as they were in the days of our grandparents. Racial profiling still exists, only in a wider variety of populations. Poverty and starvation domestically and abroad still exist, but are glossed over by large name NPO's that haven't altered the statistics in decades. We, as a country continue imperialist practices, regardless of the cost to the countries we are working in, or making provisions for the resulting influx of immigrants afterwards.
  13.  
  14. So I am walking 460 miles. I am walking on behalf of those who cannot take the time, those with responsibilities and commitments they can't leave behind. For those who cannot betray interests and must remain silent, I am walking from Boston to Washington DC. I leave August 29th, 2012 at 9:00AM from Parkman Bandstand. Follow my journey at www.whywalkabout.com.
  15.  
  16. With the utmost respect,
  17. Kristen (KC) Hoye
  18.  
  19. Phone: 857.540.0341
  20. Hashtags: #opwalkabout #AUG29
  21. Twitter: @KCTheManagement
  22. Website: www.whywalkabout.com
  23. Route: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204078157938825597807.0004c39ef9e8e6534f193&msa=0
  24.  
  25. ********************************************************************************************************
  26.  
  27. Letter to our leaders:
  28.  
  29. ********************************************************************************************************
  30.  
  31. Salutations,
  32.  
  33. I've re-written this letter enough times to have a good long think about who I'm writing to. In many ways we are the same, we are all residents of these United States, we are all human. The only difference between you and I that matters to me, is that you are in a position of trust. That you, unlike me must take into consideration the lives of others in your decisions. Unlike me, your decisions can't just be in the interest of your constituents or party members. You have to think of the interests and concerns of all United States Citizens, and I do not envy you the task.
  34.  
  35. I am an average American. My education isn't exceptional, I am not a leader, I am not gifted in any sense of the word. I am just a woman, perhaps more forthright than most. Even from my lofty perch of white-female-middle-class-privilege, I can see that there has been a shift in the priorities of our leadership. I don't have the answers, to pretend would be disingenuous, foolish, and ignorant. But even I can see that the issues are beyond any given piece of legislation or party line. The question on my mind, a question so pressing I spent a year planning and nearly a month walking is;
  36.  
  37. "Why is the suffering of others, so that we may live as we do, systemic?"
  38.  
  39. Until a short time ago I was largely ignorant of the suffering I cause. My existence creates a footprint, and to my shame, most of my life I've ignored the size of the tread. Even if I personally pare down to subsistence, the suffering of people elsewhere that supply our Great Nation with food and energy is no less. In fact, if I consume less, more profit is made by those brokering the commodities I'm no longer using. No less coal or oil will be produced, the food supply will not be adjusted. There is quite literally nothing I can do to ease the suffering of my fellow humans globally.
  40.  
  41. Greater minds than just mine need to start working on this puzzle. The world grows closer at an astounding rate. Our children, and the children of those that we cause suffering to will have to live together.
  42.  
  43. I am afraid for the future, I am afraid for my future children.
  44.  
  45. So I've come to you on foot, all the way from Boston along the Lower Post Road. To impress upon you the importance of this question, and to remind you to consider the cost. If you have the strength to do so, take responsibility.
  46.  
  47. Sincerely,
  48. Kristen Hoye