Activism

Posted by parhad on September 22, 2001 at 12:38:55:

One of the serious problems we have with being any sort of Activists is our burgeoise mentality, the "peasant's" fear of being pointed to or standing out in a crowd. We try to put on a "face", to deal in appearances where we don't believe we can be effective at realities. We have among us people who act badly, but who get away with it because the rest of us don't want to stop them, because then WE might "act badly".

The people who trample on your rights, treat you as second class citizens and deny you the respect you feel you deserve are not "nice" people, or atuned to your needs. They aren't concerned about you or your appearances, obviously. If you want to do anything about it you are going to get disheveled, maybe even have to raise your voice and be prepared to yell and fight back. These are things we abhor, things we have been taught bring us "down to their level". It's part of that Christian ethic of allowing people to spit on you, gaining what satisfaction you can in how well you "endure" it, like "our lord". This habit makes us famously incapable of defending ourselves, let alone mounting an attack first.

You clean up crap with the gloves and tools necessary for crap cleaning...not with white gloves and a raised pinkie you would use when pouring out afternoon tea. You have to do what is necessary, whatever that is, whenever it is called for. That's what I've been doing...in this community first. We have to put our own house in order before we can expect anyone else to respect it.

What made Ross think, after seeing students from our community, that he could get away with such a hateful paper on us...one he felt no qualms about in giving to OUR students and their fellows? Is it his fault...or our responsibility, which we've neglected, that gave him that confidence?

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: One of the serious problems we have with being any sort of Activists is our burgeoise mentality, the "peasant's" fear of being pointed to or standing out in a crowd. We try to put on a "face", to deal in appearances where we don't believe we can be effective at realities. We have among us people who act badly, but who get away with it because the rest of us don't want to stop them, because then WE might "act badly". : The people who trample on your rights, treat you as second class citizens and deny you the respect you feel you deserve are not "nice" people, or atuned to your needs. They aren't concerned about you or your appearances, obviously. If you want to do anything about it you are going to get disheveled, maybe even have to raise your voice and be prepared to yell and fight back. These are things we abhor, things we have been taught bring us "down to their level". It's part of that Christian ethic of allowing people to spit on you, gaining what satisfaction you can in how well you "endure" it, like "our lord". This habit makes us famously incapable of defending ourselves, let alone mounting an attack first. : You clean up crap with the gloves and tools necessary for crap cleaning...not with white gloves and a raised pinkie you would use when pouring out afternoon tea. You have to do what is necessary, whatever that is, whenever it is called for. That's what I've been doing...in this community first. We have to put our own house in order before we can expect anyone else to respect it. : : What made Ross think, after seeing students from our community, that he could get away with such a hateful paper on us...one he felt no qualms about in giving to OUR students and their fellows? Is it his fault...or our responsibility, which we've neglected, that gave him that confidence?

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