ACTivism Part XIV

Written By: Puck Arks

ACTivism Part XIV

 

Activists work to help make the world a better place. That work may take months or even years and for many it may only come into fruition long after we are gone. 

But that is the sacrifice of an activist, the future and those who will inherit what we leave behind. When asked by children be it your own or others what have you done, what will your reply be? 

Own your activist identity because the world needs more of us out there in public being the voice for the voiceless. 

1. Try to spend as much time as you have available being out and active in the community, protests or even social media. 

2. Those in power privatize lives by keeping everyone in their private space, breach the equation and learn to enjoy public spaces as often as you can while meeting new people and networking. 

3. Eat in public spaces, dance in public spaces, converse in public spaces, congregate in public spaces.

4. Always remember that being in a public space with other people will alleviate your feelings of depression and alienation.

5. Activists are bound to feel depressed, they live a life with no credit and no rewards, but they also sleep well at night knowing they are doing what's just. 

6. Always be yourself, do not feed a system that you are fighting.

7. Do not frighten people with your behaviors, remember you are trying to get a message out there and a calm personable demeanor is more likely to get others to engage in civil discussions.

8. Being loud is fine, but remember that one can only shout and scream for so long before they will be ignored. Speaking with calmness and knowledge will encourage people to listen. 

9. Ration your energy, debate coolly, always save a part of your mind for another day and another attempt to persuade.

10. If you’re at a protest, instead of being loud and rude, have a calm conversation with a police officer, bystander or counter protestor. 

11. If you’re at a protest, explain to the bystanders why you’re here, rationalize your action to them instead of antagonizing them.

12. Don’t be hopeless with stubborn people, instead remember the power of planting a seed. 

13. Human interactions are much more powerful than mass media interactions, talk to people, they will never forget you or your thoughts.

14. Those who'd like to keep their grip on power try to limit human interactions because non-commercial human interactions are the only thing it cannot control.

15. Always remember that schools and teachers are well paid in order to neuter the very dangerous human interaction that they have with you.

16. Educators will often try to speak in the name of movements, it is wise to learn from their rhetoric but generally ignore them.

17. When celebrities take up causes they usually do it in an opportunistic manner and to enhance their celebrity, ignore them.

18. Anyone who is publicly successful in society generally will have no interest in effectuating change, it threatens their success.

19. Anyone can be abusive, anyone can hate and be violent but the activist must always remain calm, peaceful, collected and determined. It is a long road. 

20. The peaceful activist is the biggest threat because they threaten the cycle of violence the state depends on to suppress the voice of we the people.