Friday, April 03, 2009

Action is better than hope

Arundhati Roy sez: “Governments of today have learned to deal with protest. They know to wait out a demonstration or a march. They know the day after tomorrow, opinions can change, or be manipulated into changing. Unless civil disobedience becomes real, not symbolic, there is very little hope for change.”

Let’s start by accepting the undeniable fact that most standard tactics of dissent have been rendered woefully impotent. Activism has undergone immense commodification. If we were to believe our TVs, buying a Chevy is now a revolutionary act.

Let’s also accept that looking to “leaders” (whether that be an Obama or a Chomsky or whomever) is a dead end. It’s long overdue that we create fresh new opportunities and methods better suited to our current needs and circumstances.

Ani DiFranco sez: “Every tool is a weapon if you hold it right.”

Let’s say you’re a handy man/woman/person and you get hired for a job. I’m guessing you’d bring your full toolbox to the worksite. After all, you can never be sure what might pop up and what tools you’ll need. In other words, if you have a job to do, it would be illogical to decide beforehand that certain tools are off limits under any circumstance. Keep all your tools at your disposal—even if some remain permanently untouched—just in case.

Similarly, let’s say you find yourself in a fight with a dangerous opponent. Would you rather have a hand grenade or a knife? Before you jump at the chance to blow someone up, contemplate the possibility that this fight could be happening in an elevator or on a crowded dance floor. Again, the situation dictates the tactics so it pays to be prepared and open-minded.

I’ve got news for you all: We can win*...but only if we stand up, band together, and create new ways to fight today, tomorrow, and every day.

*By “win,” I sorta mean this: Help create a softer place for most/some of us to land.

Your thoughts?

+++

Night shift poetry

+++

Click here to complete your tour of the Internets
(Thanks, Keir)

+++

Mickey Z. on YouTube:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Share
Posted on 04/03 at 12:06 PM
View and Add Comments • Permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages