Activism. I think a lot about it these days, in part because of the current US political situation, and in part because a number of friends and relatives are activists for various political causes.
I'm not opposed to activisim. Quite the contrary. But at the same time, I wonder how much good it really does. The protester, waving his (or her) sign in the face of a reactionary, does not (usually) convert the reactionary to a new point of view. Instead the reactionary becomes *more* reactionary. After the protest is over, the revolutionary is filled with a sense of accomplishment and happiness: he (she) has made a difference!!! But what has really changed? Nobody believes something they didn't believe before... at least, not that I've seen. What really happens is that the activist is happy, because he or she has *done* something... but the Powers That Be go on with what they were doing before. They're happy that the activists have made their scene, because that defuses them... so the business people can get on with their jobs. So everybody is happy, but nothing has changed.
We need one (or both) of two things: *intelligent* activism, in which every action is weighed against its probable results, and productive channels are pursued with diligence and insight (even if that's not as much fun), or *extreme* activism, which creates a lot of noise, kills a few activists, and creates a lot of strong feeling among the ones who survive (on both sides of the fight, whatever it is). Maybe real change can come from one of these paths.
I'm not opposed to activisim. Quite the contrary. But at the same time, I wonder how much good it really does. The protester, waving his (or her) sign in the face of a reactionary, does not (usually) convert the reactionary to a new point of view. Instead the reactionary becomes *more* reactionary. After the protest is over, the revolutionary is filled with a sense of accomplishment and happiness: he (she) has made a difference!!! But what has really changed? Nobody believes something they didn't believe before... at least, not that I've seen. What really happens is that the activist is happy, because he or she has *done* something... but the Powers That Be go on with what they were doing before. They're happy that the activists have made their scene, because that defuses them... so the business people can get on with their jobs. So everybody is happy, but nothing has changed.
We need one (or both) of two things: *intelligent* activism, in which every action is weighed against its probable results, and productive channels are pursued with diligence and insight (even if that's not as much fun), or *extreme* activism, which creates a lot of noise, kills a few activists, and creates a lot of strong feeling among the ones who survive (on both sides of the fight, whatever it is). Maybe real change can come from one of these paths.
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fasnagine:
Zorke, how goes the photoshoot?
fasnagine:
great, bad, depressing, full of life, a rollercoaster of moods and thoughts, all working to acheive a greater understanding of life at it's fullest. If your new pics are anything like your previous ones, Im sure I'm in for a great viewing, thxs Zorke!Wish you great photo taking and unlimited exhiliration!