Dolores Huerta

 Dolores Huerta:  The Activist 

Who is also a Woman, a Mother and a Human Being !

It was just 2 days earlier when I presented a talk about gender equity. In my story, I made a reference to Dolores Huerta who I had the great privilege to take care of, in the capacity of a primary physician. Until of course my official retirement almost a year back. In less than 48 hours after I had spoken about how inspiring she had been to me, a story broke out in the media about her and within hours stormed into the national spotlight. Social media remains flooded with opinions and criticisms. There are voices of solidarity from many corners and also rambling voices of doubts about the timing and intent of the statement released by Ms Huerta. 

What remains to be sifted from stories is the facts and non-facts. Even in the things that fall under “non-facts” there remain facts that simply cannot be verified. And because they cannot be verified, they become game to be challenged. Ms Huerta stating that she had 2 sexual encounters with Mr Cesar Chavez, each resulting in pregnancy, and she giving the babies to families to raise as their own are facts that can be verified through various pieces of evidence, corroborated by credible sources and stamped with DNA testing. The circumstances under which the sexual encounters occurred, whether they were consensual or not, the reasons for remaining silent about them until now and the intent for breaking the silence after all these years are things that cannot be verified by anyone other than Ms Huerta herself. And this shortcoming makes her vulnerable to coming under scrutiny about her honesty, integrity and character. 

No one except her knows what went through her mind when the sexual encounters happened and after she knew she was pregnant as a result of those encounters. 

What I know from my interactions with her during the short durations of her visits to my office is that the issues she kept fighting for during her entire lifetime were definitely of foremost importance to her. We would discuss with each other our individual perspectives regarding single payer system in healthcare that her foundation was actively promoting or the farmers movement in India which she had stepped in to voice support. Although we had differing views on these issues and hardly seemed to agree much on them, it was evident to me how much the issues were important for her to spend her time and energy towards, even in her 90s. That was enough proof for me that activism must certainly have been the central focus for her when she was young. Therefore when she says she chose to not disclose the personal stories of sexual assault at the time because it would hurt the social causes she was fighting for, I can believe her. 

Reading through the comments on social media I could see some people questioned her choice to give up her babies for sake of the activism or her personal life where she has birthed 11 children ( plus the two that were only recently revealed) from 3 or more fathers! While I would never have given up my babies or had so many sexual relationships in my lifetime, I do not feel I am qualified to question her choices. My value system cannot apply to other people in every aspect. My value system is for me. When I start applying it to another individual I am devaluing that person and paradoxically going against my own values. It becomes my offense. 

Sexual harassment and sexual assault can never become a value in any value system. But how any woman responds to sexual maltreatment can differ based on her circumstances, priorities and many other factors. She cannot be judged for her choices when she is subjected to wrongdoing. Only empty minds have the luxury to make those judgements. Thoughtfulness lies in trying to understand what made her pick her choices. 

It is easier to live your life and exercise the liberties of making choices at every turn without being judged by the world when you are not living in the limelight. People who are in the public limelight do not have such luxury. Every small action that ought to be part of their personal life also gets dragged into public debate. Today what’s going on all over the media and in private discussions about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta is an example of this rather ugly phenomenon. Suddenly people who were hailed as heroes and honored with the highest awards and recognitions, lauded for their contributions and courage, are torn down to being objects of ridicule. It becomes not just a personal tragedy for those individuals but also for the entire community who had put them on pedestals. When the idol they worshipped falls in such a precipitous manner, their faith is shattered. 

Perhaps this phenomenon is worth some thought. Human beings are all imperfect. By definition, one who is perfect is called God. In the Hindu tradition God has appeared a few times in the human form. And in that form even He has been faulted for several things. Ram is questioned for abandoning his pregnant wife. Krishna is criticized for many many things. From stealing butter to courting Radha who was a married woman, to polygamy and for brainwashing Arjun into fighting a war, amongst other things. It has been my personal reservation not to idolize any human being to an extent where I lose sight of right and wrong, and put so much trust in them that they can never do anything wrong. Most of us don’t understand human beings and show the audacity to pass judgment on Gods. If it is difficult to understand human beings, one ought to know that it is several times more difficult to understand God.

I believe no human being should be trusted implicitly. They cannot be perfect. And when their imperfections become public, the fault shouldn’t be theirs that it shook your faith. You are accountable for your faith being shaken. Put faith in that which is perfect. Or then put faith in yourself and hold yourself accountable for your actions. Those who are idolized never came begging to you for putting them on a pedestal. You took it upon yourself to idolize them. Unlike the people you elected into office. Those elected officials are accountable to you for their actions. But people who you idolize don’t owe you anything. So next time you have a human idol in your life, think twice about accountability and blaming. 

Having said that, rather than putting anyone on an unshakable pedestal, there is another option before us. To view their life more objectively without thinking of them any different from the rest of us. Let the good things they do be an inspiration for us and the not so good things that they do be lessons to learn from. It is valuable to learn what not to do, just as much as it is to learn how to do ordinary things in an exceptional way. When someone like Dolores Huerta is standing in the witness stand being judged by the whole world we could show them grace rather than cruelty with our words. 

I often pay tribute to my father for his contributions in my life. My daughter remains silent when I do that because she feels I am partial to him. She believes that I overlook his faults. There is a difference between overlooking and not openly talking about. It is true that I do not talk about his faults. And I admit that he had many. To those whose ears may be perked with curiosity for some juicy gossip, chill ! One of my father’s undesirable traits I have talked about in the past was his anger. These were serious enough to cause hurt. As a child I have been the victim of physical reprimanding when I did minor things that angered him. While physical disciplining wasn’t uncommon or legally punishable in India at the time, by any standards, my father’s threshold for using physical force to discipline his kids, especially the eldest one, was far removed from the average. However, all the wrong things I endured or saw in him could not erase all the right things I saw him do in his life. I don’t think we should allow anyone’s right things to be erased by the wrong ones. I choose to remember him for the good things he did for me, so my life could see better days. I know he did those with the most sincere intentions. Both he and I knew as long as he lived that I held him to the same standards as anyone else for everything. He very well knew where I stand with issues and what are my limits to appreciate him and how far I would tolerate when he wasnt doing right. He would never have claimed that he had my support for those things. Quite the contrary. He would try hard to prevent me from knowing about things he knew I would not take lightly. I was his most vocal critic in private. But that’s where I drew the line. Criticizing him strictly in private, at least from the time when I was old enough to understand the world better. As a child who has benefited immensely from my parents, including this precious privilege that I call ‘my life’, I am not qualified to criticize them publicly just because I had the opportunity to see them up close and their flaws were visible to me more than anyone else. Whoever is qualified to criticize them can do so. Each has a right to their opinion. I can see for myself if those who judge my parents are qualified enough, fully knowing my parents’ greatness, and not just their flaws. I choose to live my life being proud of my parents than ashamed of them. I choose to focus more on what they taught me to do, without losing sight of what I learnt not to do. I have often encouraged my kids to avoid the mistakes I make in my life, even if they don’t find anything to learn from how I lived my life. They are human and have every reason to make their own mistakes. But if they are smart enough, their mistakes will be quite unique and original. Neither contrary to the right things their parents did in their lives nor mirror the wrong things that their parents did. Yes, even mistakes need to be original to have some value for a discussion! Unauthentic mistakes when talked about are called gossip. I’m happy if my kids turn out to practice compassion, respect and gratitude. Most of their faults may be forgivable if they uphold this much with every person they come in contact with. 

Coming back to the saga of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, they both have done a lot of good work for the larger community. If all the allegations against Mr Chavez prove to be credible, they would easily tarnish his image as a hero and provide more things to learn about what not to do. He is no longer alive and it hardly matters to him. But it matters to his family. How they heal and reconcile with this tragedy is to be seen. I hope they get kindness and understanding as they navigate through this difficult period. 

Ms Huerta is alive and can directly feel the impact of the private and public reaction to the disclosure. I have a feeling she may have felt a sense of relief to break her silence about such a heavy burden she carried all these years in the heart. Yet it may not be easy facing the complex reactions from the biological children she abandoned, the dynamics between all her children, the surge of gratitude she may feel for those who stand behind her staunchly in such a tricky situation and the strength she will need in order to process the public scrutiny which she may or may not have fully anticipated. It may be a moment of searching for answers within herself as to why she did what she did at the time she did. Any of us who is disturbed by whatever information has unraveled in this case may perhaps try to understand the same questions: What must have made her do what she did at the time she did? 

To understand we need to get into her shoes. Also go back to the time when she was in those shoes. Not many of us can do that even if we sincerely attempt to do so. Surprisingly many can have an opinion about everything they know nothing about. I am guilty of being one of such people when I was younger. Fortunately I learned a bit from the words of the saints. Sant Sohiroba’s words are a reminder:

आपुल्या मते उगीच चिखल कालवू नको रे

हरिभजनाविण काळ घालवू नको रे

(Aapulya matay ugich chikhal kaalavu nako re

Hari bhajana vina kaal ghalavu nako re!)

Don’t add to the mess with your useless opinions. Keep to yourself when you don’t know the facts accurately. 

This was Sohiroba’s opinion that he had arrived at with clarity and firmness. Just like Sohiroba and the true saints, most ordinary people are quite firm about their opinions. A small detail is missing! Clarity ! 

And unlike the truly wise people, minds that lack clarity or insight are quick to express their opinions on social media. It costs nothing.

 Personally I have withdrawn my presence from social media so there can be one less voice that lacks clarity. But today I feel confident about the clarity of my opinion in this matter. Therefore in the midst of thousands of opinions pouring out today on the subject of the Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta story I am choosing to add my thoughts. 

I just watched a snippet from her interview during the evening news. When asked about how she would want the followers of Cesar Chavez to look at things given the new revelations she quite simply urged them to see the good things he achieved and for the good leader he was while acknowledging that there was an evil side to him. 

I agree with her.

She is the same person I have always known her to be. Straightforward and clear in her views. No beating around the bush. 

It is a moment for great reckoning. 

If you can’t arrive at any conclusion, showing grace and praying for grace towards the ones in the hot seat is an option to consider. 

Whether with words or in silence…