I’ve written plenty about the lessons I learned during my time as a high-profile “activist.” The “left” I knew back then was not yet the cesspool of hypocrites it is now but… the signs were already there. As I look around now at new “activists” I’ve met — from ALL points on the ideological/political spectrum — I often see the same counterproductive and deceptive signs, tendencies, and archetypes.
No matter labels such as left or right, if someone is working to better their neighborhood, and people who surround them, that is winning in activism, and it goes by many names in the West, though I notice real life changing people always get badmouthed as they focus on facts, instead of ideology.
14. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
15. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Americans (and other nationalities) pride themselves on being rugged individualists. True or not, we are faced with BOTH a herd mentality and a failed attempt to herd cats.
As you say, many activist movements ( you name the special interest group) are interested in self-anointment as saviors, cannot stomach activist competition and are not below sabotage. “Charismatic leaders” are often malignant narcissists in disguise. They are the ones who perpetuate the vicious cycle. I don’t see a way out of the conundrum in our “me first” society.
That meme... where the kings advisor tells the king, just make the pitchfork people think that the torch people are coming for their pitchforks....yea, that one.
For the big NGOs, performative activism is a good business model. They rely on funding from people who are committed to the status quo, but want it slightly improved. Those donors can be satisfied with a splashy effort to "raise consciousness".
Excellent essay! If I actually solve the problem, I am out of work!
In the 50 since "the War on Poverty", U.S. taxpayers have spent over $22 trillion on anti-poverty programs. A trillion dollars is an unimaginable amount of money! Where did it go? Into pockets of corrupt officials!
"Los Angeles County spends close to $1 billion a year caring for and managing homeless people, with a majority of the money going to their health needs, according to a new report."
Today's protests make me laugh. They are all astroturf. And mostly angry mobs, like Antifa and the Trans Agenda. And they're funded by Soros. OWS was probably even engineered. Marching does nothing. Organizing locally does, and not "demonstrating" but working with local councils on actual issues.
No matter labels such as left or right, if someone is working to better their neighborhood, and people who surround them, that is winning in activism, and it goes by many names in the West, though I notice real life changing people always get badmouthed as they focus on facts, instead of ideology.
Another relevant banger from Jesus:
Matthew 23
14. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
15. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Yes, thanks. Looking at secondary gains for changes not happening illuminates a lot. And important respecting someone’s free will and path.
Right on, MZ.
Americans (and other nationalities) pride themselves on being rugged individualists. True or not, we are faced with BOTH a herd mentality and a failed attempt to herd cats.
As you say, many activist movements ( you name the special interest group) are interested in self-anointment as saviors, cannot stomach activist competition and are not below sabotage. “Charismatic leaders” are often malignant narcissists in disguise. They are the ones who perpetuate the vicious cycle. I don’t see a way out of the conundrum in our “me first” society.
Yep. We even have those who speak out against the COVID shots now talking about how to make mRNA safe, lol.
It's almost like they were in the movement for some other purpose besides truth?
Maybe they serve too many masters.
That meme... where the kings advisor tells the king, just make the pitchfork people think that the torch people are coming for their pitchforks....yea, that one.
For the big NGOs, performative activism is a good business model. They rely on funding from people who are committed to the status quo, but want it slightly improved. Those donors can be satisfied with a splashy effort to "raise consciousness".
Excellent essay! If I actually solve the problem, I am out of work!
In the 50 since "the War on Poverty", U.S. taxpayers have spent over $22 trillion on anti-poverty programs. A trillion dollars is an unimaginable amount of money! Where did it go? Into pockets of corrupt officials!
"Los Angeles County spends close to $1 billion a year caring for and managing homeless people, with a majority of the money going to their health needs, according to a new report."
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-county-homelessness-spending-20160205-
story.html#:~:text=Officials%20last%20spring%20reported%20that%20the%20city%20of,people%2C%20the%20city%20said%20in%20its%2021-page%20report.
Again. There are still homeless. Where did all the money go?
Today's protests make me laugh. They are all astroturf. And mostly angry mobs, like Antifa and the Trans Agenda. And they're funded by Soros. OWS was probably even engineered. Marching does nothing. Organizing locally does, and not "demonstrating" but working with local councils on actual issues.
Amen.