Essential Activism

[Guest guest]

Essential Activism

 

What is essential to all activism? Are all means justified

by the end to be accomplished? Not necessarily.

 

I propose the following as a functional, not definitive,

description of the " essential qualities " of an activist.

Let us determine what is important in our definition and

what is optional to the making of an activist for our time.

 

(All: please feel free to amplify or dispute these opinions.)

 

Clearly we can (indeed, must) eliminate most of the things

we immediately associate with activism as either an optional

action or perhaps even as unnecessary and to be avoided.

Among these " options " are demonstrations, protests, rallies,

civil disobediance, sit-ins and take-overs, and any other

action which would lead to " bad press, " poor public relations,

producing more " negatives " than positives. (Perhaps it

would be irresponsible to either endorse or condemn such acts.

Irresponsible because we do not wish to wage war with potential

allies.) Likewise, let us consider speeches, sermons, polemics and

diatribes on the Internet as non-essential to activism,

but rather an option. Successful activism must be non-violent

and compassionate. It is essential, especially in the area of

animal rights, to error on the side of compassion, if such error

is possible.

 

I do not condemn or look down upon speech-making, polemics

position papers, demonstrations, passing out leaflets, tagging

products, etc. Nothing is to be considered wrong or even less

worthy of our consideration. I only seek to define whatever is

most essential or fundamental to our work.

 

Ideas, in a society without ideals, do not sell. In such

societies, ideas are turn-offs. Philosophers are ridiculed.

Perhaps our society is not so much without ideals but that

they are so diverse and so specific that none seem to agree.

In such a climate action alone receives attention. What is

essential in action?

 

Is an activist political? Certainly not necessarily!

 

So what's left to qualify as an activist? Is an activist

necessarily an organizer? I think not. It may be an

important option but certainly not an essential activity

for all activists to be involved, nor essential to the goal.

 

How about a " social consciousness " as an essential ingredient?

Social consciousness seems an acceptable component that requires

further definition or can be balanced by other essential

components.

 

An activist must be focused.

 

An activist must consider the question of " who am I and what

am I doing here. " The " answer " is functional and dynamic to

the individual activist and his/her situation and concern.

 

An activist is active rather than reactive or passive. The

activist takes responsibility for himself/herself and

assumes a responsible position to, not for, others.

 

The activist views himself/herself in a diverse and complex

social context, as one among many. As individuals, groups,

communities and societies move to fulfill their needs and

desires in the context of a finite world of resources,

inequities and injustices occur. These injustices are

happening now! Injustice is the focus of the activist.

 

An activist is a practical and pragmatic visionary!

 

An activist " understands " that the needs of our times, both

in practical socio-economic matters and in terms of theory,

calls for a generous definition of our " science. " We need

a vision that does not limit itself to just observing and

explaining socio-political behavior or to theoretical

speculations about how to best satisfy a society of

gutless people who think mostly for the moment, mostly

for themselves alone. What we need is a science that treats

people as holistic individuals with a structure of basic

needs and an inborn potential to grow towards higher levels

of being and more fulfilled lives.

 

What the activist is...is essential...what is done is an option!

Let's not be so hypercritical of the actions of others who share

our cause. Let us rather be united in the values we share.

Otherwise nothing is gained. If we discuss, let us share how

we ourselves do the work.

 

What can the activist do?

 

Above all, keep informed and act upon your knowledge. If

you don't understand an issue, find out. If your uncertain,

get more information. Most importantly, understand the

message of those who shave your beliefs especially when they

act in a manner that you find questionable. If you are

easily offended by PETA's social parodies, why are you not

more offended by McDonald's Happy Meals etc.?

 

Above all, an essential quality of the activist is compassion

for one's cause. It may also be essential to extend one's

compassion as far as possible to win others to your cause,

especially in the area of animal rights, where the importance

of our work may not seem as obvious to others as it is to

us. To win the hearts and minds of others, compassion,

are and concern is above all else essential.

 

Finally, select some work, effort, or cause that you can

support wholeheartedly and become involved is some way

with that work or cause. Determine what it is that you

can easily do...and do it consistantly.

 

Don't over-commit your resources or energies...even your

mental energies. It is better to go slow than to not

commit at all...and it is likewise better to be committed

on a regular basis to one cause than to be overwhelmed by

every good cause on the planet.

 

If I had to support only one cause in my life, I would choose,

as I have, animal liberation. If I could make one cause central to

every other act in my life, as I have, it is animal liberation

through veganism.

 

Ernie