NationStates Jolt Archive

It isn't important to me that I convince others to do what I consider to be right. It'd be nice, but it's not my priority. I have a deeper analysis of course. Without it, I'd be somewhat adrift...but as much as I enjoy exploring that analysis with others, and debating them, and just discussing our disparate views, what resonates within me is not the talking, but the doing. It's why I've rejected most political movements. They focus too much on the analysis, and forget about getting things done.

It's why I became an educator. So that I could help provide the type of education I think is most important...education founded in critical thinking, and in constructive examples. Education that is inclusive instead of elitist. Education that is equal parts thinking, and doing.

It's why I want to be a lawyer. Not to make money...not with the kind of law I intend on practicing. I don't want to feel hopeless, and wish that someone out there would do the things I feel need doing...helping immigrants navigate the bureaucratic webs, teaching workers how to ensure that their safety is provided for, easing the fear that so many have when dealing with the smallest of legal issues...

What I always search for is others who leave the intellectual wanking mostly behind. Who save if for the moments when action isn't urgently needed. Who can meet, and get a plan hammered out without obsessing over the colour of a banner, or the font for a political magazine. We don't necessarily need less talk and more action...but we need to make sure that we don't JUST talk.

I don't think any revolution can be powered by talk alone.

How do you act? Have you ever been part of a movement that really accomplished something? If so...please share your experiences. I think too many people go into it with the idea of just fooling around, or meeting people, and never invest much into it...perhaps that is why so many groups are all about airtime.

How do you act?
According to the judge: Irresponsibly and without due Course.

It isn't important to me that I convince others to do what I consider to be right. It'd be nice, but it's not my priority. I have a deeper analysis of course. Without it, I'd be somewhat adrift...but as much as I enjoy exploring that analysis with others, and debating them, and just discussing our disparate views, what resonates within me is not the talking, but the doing. It's why I've rejected most political movements. They focus too much on the analysis, and forget about getting things done.

It's why I became an educator. So that I could help provide the type of education I think is most important...education founded in critical thinking, and in constructive examples. Education that is inclusive instead of elitist. Education that is equal parts thinking, and doing.

It's why I want to be a lawyer. Not to make money...not with the kind of law I intend on practicing. I don't want to feel hopeless, and wish that someone out there would do the things I feel need doing...helping immigrants navigate the bureaucratic webs, teaching workers how to ensure that their safety is provided for, easing the fear that so many have when dealing with the smallest of legal issues...

What I always search for is others who leave the intellectual wanking mostly behind. Who save if for the moments when action isn't urgently needed. Who can meet, and get a plan hammered out without obsessing over the colour of a banner, or the font for a political magazine. We don't necessarily need less talk and more action...but we need to make sure that we don't JUST talk.

I don't think any revolution can be powered by talk alone.

How do you act? Have you ever been part of a movement that really accomplished something? If so...please share your experiences. I think too many people go into it with the idea of just fooling around, or meeting people, and never invest much into it...perhaps that is why so many groups are all about airtime.

I'm not telling any more of my story for free.

It'll be in a book some day. I'll send you a signed copy though,gratis.

Circumstances will likely force me to call it fiction. Names, places will be altered. You still wont believe it.

I, on the other hand, think that the most important changes happen one person at a time. I think all the marching and burning of various tokens is simply a way for people who ALREADY believe something to get together and reinforce each other's convictions, but that the only way you can really change the world is to change people's minds and that happens one person at a time.

Granted, large catalytic events do tend to change lots of minds quickly, but the way I work on something I believe in is I talk to people. I find out how they feel about a particular subject, and if I disagree, I tell them, and explain why. If I can convince three people of my cause, and move them to convince three others, and so on, then things change. I guess in this respect, I do similar things to what you do as an educator.

I tend not to be a joiner of groups. I am not as interested in being a face in a sea of marchers, I would rather sit down with a person or a couple of people and give them individual attention. I do write letters (although whenever presented with one of those bulk email "write your congressperson" form letters I always rewrite it rather than sending out yet another cut and paste copy), I do make phone calls. And on some of the issues that have concerned me, what I do, in conjunction with what many others do, seems to have worked. And I vote, which at times seems like spitting in the wind, but still should be done.

So I think talk IS important, but it has to be used well.

95% of the time I find myself on the side that people are protesting against, so no, I'm not really into activism.

I, on the other hand, think that the most important changes happen one person at a time. I think all the marching and burning of various tokens is simply a way for people who ALREADY believe something to get together and reinforce each other's convictions, but that the only way you can really change the world is to change people's minds and that happens one person at a time. Which is entirely my point. What most 'activism' entails is mutual ideological masturbation, infighting, and then perhaps a bit of good analysis. What gets left behind is any meaningful action. By meaningful, I don't just refer to marches and protests. These things are important, but the merest part of what needs to be a much wider movement of REAL action.

Granted, large catalytic events do tend to change lots of minds quickly, but the way I work on something I believe in is I talk to people. I find out how they feel about a particular subject, and if I disagree, I tell them, and explain why. If I can convince three people of my cause, and move them to convince three others, and so on, then things change. I guess in this respect, I do similar things to what you do as an educator. I consider leading by example to be much more important than leading by theory. Meaning, even in the classroom, I make it clear that the 'why' of things should be looked at and discussed, and the background investigated...but you learn best by doing. I don't necessarily need someone to go, "wow, after three hours of debating with you, I think that your analysis is right!". But if I can convince them to help someone in need, volunteer some time with others...to act because they feel that they can actually accomplish something, I'm happy. They don't have to agree with my worldview...they have their own. Hopefully we can still work together.

I like the movements that don't focus on making sure everyone is on the same ideological page. If our goals are generally aligned, let the little differences go. If you are for providing support to refugees, who cares who is a Marxist Lennonist, and who is an Anarchist?

I have been a part of many movements, some successful, some not. The successful ones have been very empowering. The not so succesful ones have almost invariably been good learning experiences. I find too many movements spend too much time talking to like minded people, or simply talking ideas to death. Some organizations provide very little support for action-oriented people. On the other hand, I think most action should be carefully considered. I need to spend alot of time thinking in order to ensure that I am acting in a way that is consistent with my values, and talking to people in order to ensure my values are where they should be.

Among some of the successes:
- I helped get a politician elected from a "fringe" party whose views sorely needed to be heard
- I helped a citizen's group oppose the destruction of a wildlife sanctuary

BTW, if you don't mind my asking where are you going to law school or thinking of going to law school?

BTW, if you don't mind my asking where are you going to law school or thinking of going to law school?
I'm going to the University of Alberta. I don't really care where I study, frankly...because it's not going to be the 'name' of the institution that is going to dictate my effectiveness as a lawyer. It happens to be the closest, and least inconvenient school to attend:)

Some great 'movements' I've been involved in:

A Distress Line, that really focused on educating people as we supported them. For instance, we spent a lot of time talking about suicide to people who called because they thought someone they knew was suicidal. Through education, we helped many people in the community come to terms with the prevalence of mental illness, domestic abuse, suicide and depression, addiction and so on, allowing them to face it, and deal with it, rather than just thinking it is a 'small' problem, or something too scary to tackle.

An group of advocates...in the area of labour law and landlord/tenant agreements, we served as advocates mainly to immigrants and single mothers who were getting screwed out of wages, or having landlords take advantage of them. We weren't professionals, but we helped these people access the many available resources, including advisory boards, and helped them navigate through rental agreements and basic labour laws such as minimum wage, overtime and so on. It was really awesome...it's incredible how much money gets screwed out of people simply because they don't know any better.

I'm going to the University of Alberta. I don't really care where I study, frankly...because it's not going to be the 'name' of the institution that is going to dictate my effectiveness as a lawyer.

I agree. It's what you make of it really. There's not a big difference in terms of quality between Canadian law schools anyway.

I am a home visitor for at-risk first-time mothers. It's practically volunteer work, considering how much I'm paid.

How do you act?

Like a 33 year old boy.

Have you ever been part of a movement that really accomplished something?

I don't know, but I've tried. I've always championed womens rights, gay rights, and equal treatment for the poor. I stood up and did what I could during Katrina/Rita, the immediate after effects, and still continue to rally support for those victims who cannot rally themselves.

I'm currently campaigning for Kinky Friedman for Governor of Texas - we'll see how that goes.

As to whether or not I've done any good, I don't know. I hope so.

A little push here, a little shove there. Sneaky is fun.

How do you act? Have you ever been part of a movement that really accomplished something? If so...please share your experiences.

Well, I've been a member of organisations supporting gay rights and we fought hard for gay civil marriages (gender neutral äktenskapsbalk pending), church blessings for gay couples entering civil marriages, gay adoptions, gay anti-discrimination laws, an ombudsman to deal with that discrimination (HomO), a general air of social liberalism in public discourse... Oh, it ends up being quite a lot over the years. It's been fun at times, and frustrating at others, but it's also been a great source of patience for me. I've learnt to push for reforms, but to know that they can take time, and that in the end, we will prevail, as we will not tire, we will not be silenced. And that's comforting.

How do you act? Have you ever been part of a movement that really accomplished something? If so...please share your experiences. I think too many people go into it with the idea of just fooling around, or meeting people, and never invest much into it...perhaps that is why so many groups are all about airtime.

Well, you know my issue is firearm rights.

What I do is:

teach safety to those wanting to learn. (about half a dozen so far)
Donate to and support politicians who lean towards my stance on it.
support/oppose legislation by letter writing, phone calls, awareness, etc.
Join organizations that support the issue.