A New Year's Resolution for Activists

[Louisiana1976]

In this New Year, I resolve to learn the balance between that which I can positively effect and that which I cannot. I make this resolution not in a desire to shirk my responsibility to my fellow person, but out of the understanding that life is too short to hold myself to a series of arbitrary, exacting rules that remove the joy of daily living. This goes beyond the familiar language of the Serenity Prayer and has application to every activist cause of which I espouse. Though we may be tough on the offenders, we are even tougher on ourselves, and that inevitably leads to burn out and soul-killing cynicism. There is no sin in recharging our batteries periodically or at least recognizing that the greater problems which face us will remain no matter how many hours we devote to their eradication or how intensely we seek to amplify the volume to raise public awareness.

snip

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/1/1/821122/-A-New-Years-Resolution-for-Activists

[G_j]

1. we need more activism

not less,


to me, the tone is condescending,
almost as if activism is a neurosis or something.

[Better Today]

2. I totally see your point. To me, though, neurosis stems from activism.

Seems nothing will drive a person crazy faster than thinking they spent good time, money, and effort, just to find out they were duped. With so many losses over the years for "our" side (like our anti-war efforts, our anti-tax cuts for the rich, and so much more) and then Obama saying us middle-class folks are "going to be" important, but then we find out we aren't, the lack of transparency (getting better, but still some serious opacity on some issues), the ability of the minority party to stall or sabotage the majority party (which never seemed to be a problem the last eight years, but suddenly is a huge problem). . . .

Sorry, but activism and neurosis are closely related in my world anyway. My activism has essentially stoked me in to some pretty neurotic thoughts, a lot of despair, and definite feeling that I must be crazy to consider participating in further activism. If I hadn't been so involved, I don't think my feelings, my attachment to stuff would be so great, therefore the betrayals, or being ignored (like so many of "our" protests) and such. . . .well hopefully I've made my point.

[G_j]

3. I believe it to be a stage of evolution

any activist who stays an activist, accepts that we fight losing battles.
It's sort of a spiritual journey, there is a point of clarity where one realizes their commitment is strong enough to go on, even without hope.
Later you see the seeds that were planted, bridges built and many positive things, even if a battle is lost.


(that's my own take on it, anyway)

[Better Today]

4. So isn't accepting that all that hard work is on losing battles neurotic in and of itself?