Lessons learned on social activism?

Subject: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 03:31 PM

There seem to be a lot of folks here with good hearts and much experience in life.

What lessons have you learned on making the world a better place?

Thanks, MA

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 03:45 PM

Harder than it looks.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 03:46 PM

Be willing to start small - but most importantly start now. Today. Sooner if possible. If you wait for the ideal situation to save the whole world you'll never start anything.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 03:53 PM

And Russ - sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Jacob B
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 03:54 PM

I'll pass on some old wisdom.

"It is not yours to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it."

Start now, and do what you can to try to make the world a better place, no matter how small it seems.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 04:03 PM

On "harder than it looks", that may be true when translating our hearts into our policies.

I HAVE noticed that with business I look into, there seem to be plenty of others already engaged in something along the same lines, complete with patents et al.

But with social issues it's a vast frontier, with plenty of room for innovation and making a difference. I also have less reluctance on moving forward and working with others.

Would still like to hear some specific lessons experienced by individuals.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 04:08 PM

First and foremost... If you want to make a positive difference in the world, set a good example.

Second... Pick your battles carefully.

Carol

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Jed at Work
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 04:14 PM

change yourself.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 04:17 PM

Oh, and I would especially love to hear personal accounts such as "When I ..., we tried..." or "I'm currently...and we found it better to..." ... if anyone is willing to share their specific stories and experience...post anon. if that's more comfortable for you...

Thanks again!

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 04:26 PM

M/A - What are you interested in ? What do you mean by social activism ? Do you want to feed the homeless ? Get a recount on an election ? Save the redwoods?? We could be more specific if you are also.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Peter T.
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 04:39 PM

A few thoughts from a long-time (if not very successful) activist waiting for a hard strike to end:

1) Try and develop a philosophy of life or a core of belief out from which you operate. This can be strategically helpful because it helps you to see links and make connections and be creative in ways that your opponents -- typically government bureaucrats and other constrained folk -- cannot. Don't try and be a mirror or mimic of the forces of power -- they are better at what they do than you will ever be. Strike out for new terrain. Don't get locked into convention. Use your integrated sense to find new partners, allies, ideas that will always elude your adversaries. The strength of the unofficial is in their larger horizon.

2) Never forget that your adversary is usually smart, and learns lessons. Most 60's activists thought that the adversary would never smarten up -- boy, were they wrong.

3) Treat your adversary with as much kindness and respect and thoughtfulness as possible. Give your adversary lots of room to come to you. You will often find that there are people in the enemy camp who are unhappy with the position they are in. Where do you think all those brown envelopes come from? Don't push your adversary to the point where there is no escape, unless you are fighting to the death.

4) Protect your family and friends. I repeat: protect your family and friends. A third time: protect your family and friends. You need them.

5) Choose your issue, or let it choose you with care, and after some brooding. Gandhi went to endless trouble to study all sides of an issue, and would then pick on one little piece of it that captured the essence of the issue, or was the most vulnerable part of the adversary's case.
6) Find copies of the work of Saul Alinsky, Judith Brown's biography of Gandhi's early work in South Africa and India, and one of the big biographies of Martin Luther King. These are completely invaluable.

7) Make sure that you help fold up the chairs at the end of the meeting, help wash the dishes, bring some food, learn people's names, have some fun.

8) Learn a prayer or two that you can have when things go really bad.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 05:02 PM

Wesley,

My intention with this thread is not so to seek personal advice, but just to hear stories shared by anyone who has been driven to write a song, participate in government/policy making, reflect on their society and get involved, stand up for justice, etc., with the hope of making a difference. Hopefully from a personal "folk" perspective. I hope that's not too general or too selfish or too offensive.

There are lots of things great and sensible about our societies. Perhaps I should concentrate on my own shortcomings (a life-long journey) and ignore the things that appear shocking to me. But I bet some people on a folk site have for some reason been motivated to make a difference, and I would love to hear their stories.

I'll start a different thread about specific issues that I'm involved in or concerned with (if I'm brave!), and seek such specific personal advice there, but I hope this thread could contain some stories about Mudcatters and their experiences.

Thanks, MA

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 05:16 PM

Don't do it for the "thank you's". If you do it right, the future beneficiaries will see the change as the norm, which is as it should be.
Those apple trees on the mountainside
He planted the seeds just before he died
I guess he knew he'd never see
The red fruit hanging from the tree
But he planted the seeds for his children and me
(Gone, Gonna Rise Again, by Si Kahn)(it's in DT)

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: TonyK
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 01:57 AM

Peter T, I'm reading Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals' and find it very informative. I'm also reading Daniel Quinn's 'Ishmael' and find it inspiring.

Michael, I found a lot good happening at our county United Neighborhood agency when I volunteered there to help with the Thanksgiving baskets. I found that there is a lot of good work already going on and I can jump in and lend a hand and keep it simple.

I spoke to a fella from A.C.O.R.N. a few months ago and was very impressed with the work they do. I hope to hook up with them some day.

I've found that research, advice and conversation did not prepare me for the experience like jumping in did. That opend me up. I was fortunate to hook up with an agency that was not populated with burned-out help (compassion fatigue they call it) or a right wing philosophy. Find some one doing some good work, join them and you'll get ideas. It has helped me know myself better. It may also help to ask yourself what your motivation is. My reasons for doing it changed as I changed.

I wish you well in your endeavors.

Tony K in Scranton, Pa. USA

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Peg
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 10:10 AM

I have done a lot of stuff over the years; feminist causes, pro-choice efforts, anti-nuke, worked for Greenpeace, animal rights, now write for a pagan website which offers information and networking and occasionally assists those being persecuted for their pagan beliefs...

I have many stories, many setbacks, many victories, soem draamtic some subtle...

hard to choose one, do you have something specific you wnat to know?

BTW great advice there Peter T!!!!!

peg

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: JedMarum
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 10:34 AM

A favorite ancient Greek quote I heard many years ago struck me hard at a key 'teachable moment.' It said "a radical is someone who wants to change the world becasue it is easier then changing himself."

In those days I considered my politics radical - but I knew instantly that this phrase was absolutely true, for me. I could be responsible for no one's behaviour, but my own. I could not make you or anyone else treat people with respect, dignity, justice, generosity .., but I could practice those ideals in my own life. I could not expect justice, fairness, kindness, consideration from the world - but I could demand it of myself - I could insist that those guiding principles were the goals by which I could live my life. I could dedicate my life to reaching as high as possible on the scale of fairness, generosity, concern for others - and when I fell short, remember that the goals were still worth achieving - so pick up the pieces and start again.

I since releaized that these things that we all want for ourselves, our children, our neighbors, our world - so not come to us from the world outside. They are not free and they cannot be legislated. They come from within, and they come because of the way we live live our lives. They come not because of who we are, but because of who we are becoming.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: JedMarum
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 10:36 AM

sorry for the typos ... the sentce should read;

I since releaized that these things that we all want for ourselves, our children, our neighbors, our world - do not come to us from the world outside.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 11:00 AM

Jed, your words are very wise and absolutely true. A person must mature to a certain degree to understand the concept and see the wisdom.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 11:09 AM

With great respect to the sentiments, jed, I think that this is a classic example of a peculiarly rampant but sometimes dangerous way of thinking, endemic in capitalist society, which is that change is individual. This prevents people from organizing together to change society. It is not true that all the things we want for ourselves do not come from the world outside. Many of the things that people blame themselves for -- and are blamed for -- are the result of social forces over which they have little control (especially as long as they refuse to see that fact). People are not just poor, uneducated, etc., because they lack moral fibre or the inner light or don't have the latest self-help book. I agree that one must change oneself; but you should be out changing the world too, as you go along. A balance should be struck.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: InOBU
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 11:09 AM

Right... from thirty some years of advocating for rights, here are the two main things I can tell you...
First and formost, read the letter from the Brimingham jail, and have everyone else you work with read it, again and again and again and again and again... etc. (it is a recipie for social change and the only short concise one at that)
2. WE ALWAYS REMAKE THE WORLD WE OPPOSE!!!! Within our political networks, churches, people's armies, we do what we have been raised by oppresive soicieties to do, we antagonise each other, bully each other, and if we don't do it in obvious ways, we are ruled by passive agressives who will smile and cry at you while they control your life - your mind and your soul. TRY TRY TRY agian to break that mold, and you will find YOU have followers who are allowing YOU to do that. Anyone who says it aint so, either wasn't there or is kidding his or herself. WORD!
In order to find other patterns, you have to get FAR out into places where you find hunter\gatherer societies, who I have found do it to a lesser degree depending on how little institutional contact they have with white folks.
Still at it anyway,
Larry

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: TonyK
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 04:39 PM

I believe an individual can change the world (with help).

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 05:45 PM

Back in l973 a the Michigan Chemical Co. mixed a fire retardant PBB (poly brominated byphenyl) in with animal feed. A lot of animals died and probably most of the people in Michigan ended up with some PBB in their system. The problem wasn't discovered until l978 when quite by accident some analytical chemists who were investigating the problem took a break and their equipment analyzed a sample at a temperature much higher than the range they would expect to find any impurities. There were hundreds (probably thousands) of cattle that either died or had to be destroyed. The problem ended up being what should be done with the dead cattle. They finally decided to bury the animals in clay lined pits. Of course no one wanted the pits in their back yard. Two counties in northern Michigan were selected (both with low population densities ~ hence not many voters). Many people in Oscoda County decided to put up a fight. The battle went on for around two years with the end result of the cattle being buried in our back yard. We didn't win but did put up one hell of a fight and I doubt if they would ever attempt to try something like this in the future (at least in this county). My involvement was in writing a song THE PBB TALKING BLUES. It became quite popular at least in our county and was played almost constantly on the picket line blocking the road to the proposed site. I was asked just last year if the song could be used in a presentation about the PBB to some of the students in school. The song sort of sums up the whole disaster. THE PBB TALKING BLUES: Not many years ago it seems Michigan was a farmers dream He had lots of land and lots of cattle And the change in his pockets was starting to rattle He had a good life Took his family to town Every Saturday night And bought them all A dairy delight.

Then along came nineteen hundred and seventy three And the Michigan Chemical Co. went on a spree They ran out of sacks that they'd painted red So they put firemaster in brown ones instead And they stacked it Right along side Nutrimaster And started the animal feed disaster.

The lift truck driver knew that something wasn't right So he went to his supervisor that very same night The supervisor said "No.... its all the same Ship it out on the very next train." So they sent it ... Watched it go .... Down the tracks ... To the Farm Bureau.

Not at the Farm Bureau, they couldn't read So the mixed it in with the animal feed. It looks the same, and that's the trick So what if it makes a few animals sick? And they sold it ... Cattle started dying Dropping in their tracks Why some even fell On the old feed sacks.

Seems no one wanted to take the blame Passing the buck was the name of the game. Why all that meat, its safe to eat And that word came from the Governors seat. Yes it did Now Governor Milliken He wouldn't lie Everyone knows He's a regular guy.

After everyone profited from the poison feed They realized they'd done a dastardly deed Then to ease their conscience, I guess They decided to clear up the PBB mess ... "Lets hide it .. Lets put it out of sight .. Where there's not many people ... To put up a fight."

"No one wants that stuff around, Let's send it up north and put it in the ground." Oscoda County's the place it should go, Not many voters up there, you know." They say putting it in clay will make it stable, But we know it will end up in the water table, And on your table .... And on my table .... And goodness only knows where after that.

With any luck it will end up on the table of some of those politicians folks that sent it up here in the first place

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Matt Woodbury/Mimosa
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 05:47 PM

I've been in a union for 20 years now, in a "right to work" state, which is also a "right to get fired for no good reason" state. I've learned that when we're all focising on a common goal, union and management came come to some good agreements, and sometimes the "opposition" takes advantage of the unions good-will to save themselves trouble at the employees expense.

I've learned that my colleagues can't be bullied into doing what's good for them, but if I stand up for myself and stand firm with those who are with me, anti-unionists may eventually decide to join and pafticipate in the union.

I've learned that part of changing myself is having the courage to speak in the face of injustice, whether it's directed at me, or at others, and eventually, changes happen.

I also have learned that unless I'm working on being a better person myself, I'll find a way to turn my good works into selfish self-aggrandizing posturing.

Mimosa

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 06:02 PM

SORRY ABOUT THAT

Back in l973 a the Michigan Chemical Co. mixed a fire retardant PBB (poly brominated byphenyl) in with animal feed. A lot of animals died and probably most of the people in Michigan ended up with some PBB in their system. The problem wasn't discovered until l978 when quite by accident some analytical chemists who were investigating the problem took a break and their equipment analyzed a sample at a temperature much higher than the range they would expect to find any impurities. There were hundreds (probably thousands) of cattle that either died or had to be destroyed. The problem ended up being what should be done with the dead cattle. They finally decided to bury the animals in clay lined pits. Of course no one wanted the pits in their back yard. Two counties in northern Michigan were selected (both with low population densities ~ hence not many voters). Many people in Oscoda County decided to put up a fight. The battle went on for around two years with the end result of the cattle being buried in our back yard. We didn't win but did put up one hell of a fight and I doubt if they would ever attempt to try something like this again. My involvement was in writing a song THE PBB TALKING BLUES. It became quite popular at least in our county and was played almost constantly on the picket line blocking the road to the proposed site. I was asked just last year if the song could be used in a presentation about the PBB to some of the students in school. The song sort of sums up the whole disaster.

THE PBB TALKING BLUES:

Not many years ago it seems
Michigan was a farmers dream
He had lots of land and lots of cattle
And the change in his pockets was starting to rattle
He had a good life
Took his family to town
Every Saturday night
And bought them all
A dairy delight.

Then along came nineteen hundred and seventy three
And the Michigan Chemical Co. went on a spree
They ran out of sacks that they'd painted red
So they put firemaster in brown ones instead
And they stacked it
Right along side Nutrimaster
And started the animal feed disaster.

The lift truck driver knew that something wasn't right
So he went to his supervisor that very same night
The supervisor said "No.... its all the same
Ship it out on the very next train."
So they sent it ...
Watched it go ....
Down the tracks ...
To the Farm Bureau.

Not at the Farm Bureau, they couldn't read
So the mixed it in with the animal feed.
It looks the same, and that's the trick
So what if it makes a few animals sick?
And they sold it ...
Cattle started dying
Dropping in their tracks
Why some even fell
On the old feed sacks.

Seems no one wanted to take the blame
Passing the buck was the name of the game.
Why all that meat, its safe to eat
And that word came from the Governors seat.
Yes it did
Now Governor Milliken
He wouldn't lie
Everyone knows
He's a regular guy.

After everyone profited from the poison feed
They realized they'd done a dastardly deed
Then to ease their conscience, I guess
They decided to clear up the PBB mess ...
"Lets hide it ..
Lets put it out of sight ..
Where there's not many people ...
To put up a fight."

"No one wants that stuff around,
Let's send it up north and put it in the ground."
Oscoda County's the place it should go,
Not many voters up there, you know."
They say putting it in clay
will make it stable,
But we know it will end up
in the water table,
And on your table ....
And on my table ....
And goodness only knows where
after that.

With any luck it will end up
on the table of some of those
politicians folks that sent it up
here in the first place

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: JedMarum
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 06:07 PM

Well said Matt. Good song Bob.

PeterT I would argue that if you wish to change the world, the place to start is with yourself. I am certain that when I am true to my values, and goals, I am working diligently to make this world a better place for all of us. Again, I understand that fairness is not what I can expect or even demand from the world, but it is something I can always strive to bring into the world.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 06:28 PM

"If you wish to change the world, the place to start is with yourself."

True - but that word start is crucial. Like when people say "charity begins at home" the word that gets ignored too often is begins.

Throwing yourself into activism can be a way of running away from the job of changing yourself - but it can often also be the way in which people do set about changing yourself. Being involved in any struggle alongside other people, or on your own, will change you. It can destroy people as well as save them.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Morticia
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 06:41 PM

Do whatever seems important to you but be clear on your motivation.If it's meeting your needs, say so....there's nothing wrong with that. People who get off on the kudos of taking up a cause or helping other people are still not wrong....as long as they know themselves well enough to know that's what they are doing.
In a career of supporting and working with disadvantaged people, the ones who 'want to help' without awareness of themselves or their limitations are the people I most dread coming into contact with.Altruism makes me nervous.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: mousethief
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 06:43 PM

Mort - agree, but people who get off on the kudos could be in for a big letdown; oftimes kudos are not forthcoming. You're absolutely right though that people need to know what they're doing, and why, to be truly effective (and least harmful).

Alex

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: M.Ted
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 07:23 PM

For what it's worth, Capt'n Bob left out the fact that a good number of Michigan Farmers and their families suffered terrible, nameless wasting illnesses, and many died, before the PBB contaminations were discovered. It did great damage to family farming in Michigan, and the Farm Bureau was destroyed. Corporate farming has moved in, often in fairly subtle ways, and a way of life is gone--

This was an eco-catastrophe for sure, and the sad thing is that, with the exception of Bob's post, it never gets mentioned anymore--and for those of you who don't know about this, re-read his song, because, though he missed some of the horrible effects, he got the cause exactly right--a simple mistake, compounded in to a disaster by hundreds of people who looked the other way--

The PBB story is a good lesson for anyone who is concerned about social activism--great suffering human can be averted if even one person speaks up when they see something going wrong--

The next thing is to remember these things after they have happened, and remind people of them--so that they can be ready for the next time, since there always is a next time--

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 09:01 PM

I will tell a story:
.....In the mid-60s, I was active in civil rights..even to the point of going to Mississippi for voter registration marches..(lots of varied stories there!) But this is a different 'view' of the subject.

....I was talking to a friend in Kansas about the situation, and wondering how men could be so mean etc., to allow an entire race to be subjugated...so HE told me about his grandfather......seems the old man was a farmer in Oklahoma, and had black field hands working for him, and had a reputation of being 'too' good to them, giving them decent pay and extra consideration. So...when the civil rights noise started, some neighbors were talking to Mac's grandfather about how to deal with 'uppity' blacks who had the temerity to want to vote and ride in the fron of the bus, etc.

"I suppose you are all for givin' 'em equal rights and such", one of the guys said sarcastically to the old man.

"Nope", he replied, "I think we should keep things just like they are."

"Well!", said the questioner, "I thought you were a liberal do-gooder...so you agree with the rest of us, huh? I'm glad to hear you don't want the damn N*****S getting to uppity, and........."

At this the old man stopped him..."No, you don't understand. It ain't like I don't think they've been treated unfairly, I just don't want to change things."

"Well, why not?"

"It's simple," said the old man," If somebody had stood on my neck for 300 years, and then stepped back and said,"OK, you can get up now", I know what'd be the first thing I'd do when I got up!"

...it is a rare man who sees that view of the issue...and to this day, it makes me wonder how close to the truth he was.....

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 09:09 PM

M.Ted ~~ Thanks for elaborating on the PBB disaster. The sad thing is that we will probably never know the full ramifications of the entire mess. A family I knew rather well was involved in the back to the land movement that was popular at that time. They had chickens, rabbits, a few cows, garden and were trying to live a simpler life. It seems that the PBB was in all kinds of feed. When their animals started getting sick they processed most of those remaining and used them for food.

The husband had one of the highest levels of PBB in people who were tested. It ended up tearing their lives apart along with their dreams of a simpler way of life. We will ever know all of the health problems that resulted from this disaster and you are right, it certainly did destroy a great number of people as well as family farms.

We had some rabbits for the kids at the time (trying to teach them about caring for animals) and every few days another one would drop dead until they were all gone. The young ones thought it was because something they had done. At the time no one knew about the feed problem.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 09:12 PM

!!!!!!...I did EVERYTHING I could to be sure I did NOT post twice!..when Loki would not answer, I went to shorty to see if it had posted...it hadn't..so I cut it from loki and pasted it to shorty, and hit 'submit' ONCE!....

I'll swear I don't know how to act when I get 'document contains no data'--'service unobtainable'--and just plain hanging in mid-air...(I also got "content=0" on one try)...I know, I know..Max is doing wonders with few $$$ and heavy loads...but I sure wish there was some way to have the error messages give some REAL indication of what is wrong and what to do....*grump*

I swept it under the rug for you.
- el joeclone -
one double posting at a time

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: M.Ted
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 09:53 PM

Capt'n Bob,

I remember to this day, sitting in my kitchen on a Sunday morning in 1978, having coffee and reading about this for first time in the Detroit Free Press--People may not remember now, but the 70's were hard times in Michigan, the description of how it was destroying farmers--it seemed like the world was beginning to end--I was younger at the time, and though I grew up in town, most of the people I grew up with, went to school with, and worked with were from farm families, often sending money back home, and going back from time to time to help out--(funny how much the world has changed since then!)--

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 10:33 PM

MichaelAnthony, you asked for personal stories. I find it hard to write about this for now, but will try to later on. I am involved in a grassroots organisation which a few of us started seven years ago or more in Wyoming to work for human rights. We have tried, unsuccessfuly, for each of those years, with ally orgs., to get bias crimes legislation passed. Right now the fight has gone out of me, esp. when they still didn't pass it after Mathew shephard's murder.

We have learned many lessons about communicating with minority groups, law enforcement, those who oppose what we stand for, educational authorities, and ordinary citizens. I'll see what I can put together when I am not feeling so sad about it. (Just watched a movie about Mathew on MTV.)

For myself, it started a long time ago, when I saw something I thought was unjust. I wrote a letter to the editor, continued doing so, now am paid for doing so in several publications, one national and everytime I think about quitting, someone tells me my voice is important, so I keep saying what I gotta say.

It can start with ourselves, alone, BUT I feel when we are in a group, we help ourselves, just naturally, as well as others. It is a good feeling.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 07:32 PM

My life involved in "activism" falls into chapters. There was a time I was involved in CND marches and Committe of 100 sit-downs, and that's when I got into playing guitars and singing.

And then later there was a time when I was working on a movement paper, and it was Vietnam, and Biafra (people forget Biafra), andn the start of the troubles in Northern Ireland, and the counter-culture breaking out in various ways. And I got along to Woodstock, purely by chance because I was over in the States for a pacifist convention, and wrote it up in my paper.

And there was a time when the issues became more personal, and it was about getting decent services and rights for people with disabilities, and other people messed around by a welfare state under siege. And I was having to work in the system as well as outside and against it, which was tricky.

And the only thing I've really learned is that, if you keep on keeping on and don't give up, and don't think too much about whether you're winning or not, every now and again you turn around and look back, and you find that the impossible things you were fighting for have, quite often, somehow come about.

Which means there's a whole bunch of other impossible things that you still are trying for, and can't see how they ever could happen, and in time maybe they will. And they'll bring a whole set of new problems along with them.

But one thing that I never imagined would happen would be that I'd ever be sitting here, discussing this kind of things, and exchanging stories with people on the other side of the world, who like the same music that I do.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Troll
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 10:31 PM

I have a profound mistrust of people who do things "for your own good."
Too many activists are fanatics who can see only their solution to the problem and are quite willing to trash anyone who does not agree with them 100%> The feminist movement lost a lot of women who-like my mother- opted to stay at home and raise a family. They were ridiculed and they turned their backs on the movement, thus weakening its effectivness.
Activism, to be effective must embarce as many as possible and in order to do that, the goals must be clearly and specifically stated.
"We will clean up the Environment" sounds very lofty but " We will clean all the trash out of Deadrat Creek" will get you more volunteers.
I sometimes think that some activists are doing it for their own glory and that any actual WORK is incidental. "We are doing this for the People!" they shout. "It's for their own good!"
That's what they told the Tomcat just before his operation.

troll

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 10:50 PM

Extremely good post, Peter T., especially point #3 - a point which is often lost. That's the kind of activism that builds community and recognizes the humanity of those opposing you. There is a responsibilty one has to the person(s) standing opposite you, along with a responsibility to stand up for what one thinks is right.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 10:55 PM

yep, Mr troll, you DO get more volunteers when you can show them a simple, obvious need...but cleaning up Deadrat Creek may be mostly a cosmetic exercise, and NOT a serious part of the overall solution. It is fine to do it, but so many think that's all there is to it.

If you say 'the house needs painting'..that;s easy to see and fix, but if you tell them "there is deep, slow, progressive dry rot and washing out of foundations"...that is way too hard and tedious to monitor and follow...until things suddenly go VERY wrong...That is what happen with the environment. No one wants to spend the money and inconvenience people when thay can't 'see' a clear & present danger...It is SO hard to make the point that, when dealing with some things, we MUST err on the side of caution...

It's like telling your kids not to take candy from strangers...MOST people wont hurt them...but.........

sorry, but one of these days, they're gonna cut down just a few too many trees in the Amazon basin...or in Oregon...and there is NO way of knowing just how many that is....and 1000 other issues just as serious...primarily fueled by overpopulation...(you don't have to accept it...just watch)

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: blt
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 11:24 PM

For me, I think my first step toward activism was in the 60s, probably 1964 or so, when I confronted a much older and bigger adult male, a member of the American Legion, who was heckling the heck out of marchers against the draft in Danbury, Connecticut. My father, who was with me, became very frightened, whereas I, as a 13 year old, was oblivious to any danger. I was simply annoyed that this guy was acting so stupid, and I told him so. I was shocked when he backed up and remember wondering what I had done. I think it was mostly due to the fact that he wasn't prepared to argue with a young girl. What that taught me was that bullies require standing up to.

During the 1980s, I was very active in direct action against the White Train, a sort of armed transport train that moved components for nuclear power plants around. It was painted white for reasons I can't recall. The folks who protested with me were adherents of Saul Alinsky's philosophy of using theatrical means to gain attention: one guy stood on the tracks, nude; we did the hokey-pokey on the tracks at one point. We sat on the tracks outside the Boeing plant in Seattle. In those days, Buddhist monks would beat drums and chant as the train approached, train-track sitters would try to gain a foothold on the tracks while rather large employees of the Burlington Northern would grab one protester after another (we tended to be a rather undernourished lot)and throw them every which way. We were also trained to go limp (a strategy honored by the demonstrators in Seattle recently). When I think about the lessons I learned from this (other than if you're arrested, it's very helpful when the Polaroid camera used to document your presence at the scene malfunctions), I think of my friend Alison, who was in a wheelchair. She and I have locked her chair to several buildings and train tracks. In spite of her on-going battle with disability and illness, she never, ever, gave up. Ever. She died of AIDS this past fall.

The lessons I return to are the ones that point to the connectedness of the issues involved. Working on the issues of white supremacy, I have to address my own internalized fears and biases. When a right-wing group in Oregon started to advocate for anti-gay and lesbian laws state-wide (seeking to make it illegal, for example, to speak about homosexuality in a public school), I helped organize a speakers' bureau. It became very clear very fast that, without an understanding of how one oppression is simply another facet of all oppressions, the people in this state would probably vote to make homosexuality "illegal" in Oregon. As it was, proposed anti-gay, anti-welfare, anti-abortion legislation has been defeated in Oregon every election since the late 80s by only the barest of margins--51% to 49.

Doing this work, I've also noticed that class issues are critical but typically unaddressed. I've worked, at some point, in a homeless shelter, and have been homeless myself (twice). Even worse is to be poor and mentally ill, for then all rights vanish like smoke.

I've tried to sing about my perspective in the songs I write, figuring it was easier to hear that way. I also think political theater and street theater are extremely effective. Too often rallies and conferences forget about the role of "cultural workers," and subject audiences to one boring speech after another.

In October of this year, I went to a new collective coffeehouse (the Red and Black Coffeehouse) in Portland, OR to celebrate Joe Hill's birthday. The musicians were all died-in-the-wool folkies, oral historians, and very enthusiastic. It was like being at a labor meeting in the twenties to judge from the way people were dressed. We all sang union songs well into the night. This intimacy between folk music and activism is very important, as well as (obviously) traditional.

I've written more than enough.
In Solidarity,
blt

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: Susan from California
Date: 12 Jan 01 - 12:25 AM

Here's some of what I have learned:

1. Say what you mean & mean what you say.

2. If you are involved in local electoral politics--ALWAYS cough up the $$ for the ballot statement. It's the only thing that many voters read.

3. DO NOT underestimate the opposition.

4. Some of your friends simply can't go public, you have to be prepared for that.

Subject: RE: Lessons learned on social activism?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 01 - 10:50 AM

Thanks for these stories!