Dear Daughter, So You Want to Become an Activist?
Activism is important. Just make sure you're advocating for the right side, in the right way, and you actually know what you're talking about.
Dear daughter,
Passion is a great thing. I’m glad you’re passionate about something, anything. Nop no sarcasm here, little lady! I’m proud of you for standing up for something you believe in.
“But?” I hear you asking.
“No buts. I fully support your passion and your right to express your beliefs.”
“Then why this talk?”
“Because I love you, and I have an opinion to share with you. So give me a few minutes before you accuse me of trying to stomp on your passion.”
Activism matters
Activists have been critical throughout the history of humanity, especially in social matters and the matters of human rights. They initiated much-needed change, and we all owe our predecessors a ton of gratitude for making our lives better today by exposing themselves to harm and persecution because they wanted to make the world a better place. It was always an act of courage and defiance!
We live in a society that is incomparable even to one just 100 years prior for the better. In most places, anyway. These good, passionate people who had the guts to stand up to the norm, to go against the machine that was trying to eradicate them, to say no to the status quo, against all odds, under threat of personal and reputational harm, are indeed our unsung heroes. They’re the ones who made it possible.
I’m proud of you for wanting to step into their shoes and fighting for justice, equality, and freedom for all beings, human or otherwise. I know your heart is in the right place, and I truly am proud.
“But?”
“Still no buts. I love you, and I am proud of you.”
We come from different generations, you and I. It’s perfectly normal that we don’t find the same things equally important, relevant, or even accurate. I fully accept this reality, my darling daughter. The future you’re creating is not for me and my generation but for you and your children. Always keep this in mind. Know who you’re fighting for and what the consequences of your victory or failure will mean for future generations.
A sorry excuse for activists today
Activists today have a terrible reputation and for a good reason. They suck at presenting their case, their reasoning is flawed, and the image they represent is not exactly the shining beacon of humanity but one of the escapees from a mental institution.
Chanting memorable and impactful slogans isn’t the same as running around like a headless chicken, screaming at everybody, throwing pig heads at children, and mindlessly ranting nonsense. I know that their hearts are, for the most part, in the right place. But their execution could do with a bit of work. Not to mention an examination of the validity of their fight.
These days, most activists in the West are “fighting” for:
Veganism, so for animal rights, I suppose.
Trans and gay rights.
The planet.
Some chosen minority, race, religion, or otherwise.
Which is all well and good, except that their approach to it is an absolute abomination.
They are gluing themselves to airports, stopping highway traffic, throwing around dead animal parts, destroying priceless art, exposing sexual organs and practices to children, calling it education and entertainment. Just - no!
It’s all so tiring. Who exactly will you inspire to action and self-reflection with such heinous acts of rage and stupidity? Well, I guess it’s achieving its immediate goal, which is to get into the news, cause outrage, and get attention. Only this attention is purely negative and doesn’t achieve anything else in the way of empathy or rethinking.
Do you know who also uses these same tactics?
Terrorists! Yes, terrorists. Did you know that the aim of terrorism isn’t to kill innocent people but simply to make as big of an impact in the news and the minds of people as it possibly can?
It’s not murder for the sake of murder. It’s desperate marketing with the attempt to spread awareness of either their perceived struggle and unfairness against an occupation that they cannot fight or simply an extreme version of activism for some higher idea like religion. One that justifies such horrible acts of murder and mayhem.
And what does terrorism achieve in the way of convincing people of the validity of the terrorist’s claims, struggles, and ideology?
Do you feel sympathy for the terrorist?
Do you feel obligated to research the validity of their ideology and beliefs?
Do you want to join their movement?
Do you feel inspired to get out of your way and help their cause?
I’m pretty sure it’s a “no” on all three counts. Right? I’m going to need verbal confirmation here, little lady! These are weird times.
Understanding or lack thereof
I can’t believe I have to write this, but please make sure you understand the truth and the whole picture of any issue you deem worthy of standing up for.
I see kids being swept away in a campaign of hate instead of love, chanting terrorist chants, calling for genocide, and hunting down oppressed minorities of the past, perpetrating more violence and division, not less.
Then there is the “how dare you” crowd, who don’t understand the first thing about the economy, technology, and societal impact of their demands.
I don’t even want to talk about the headless chickens calling for the slaughterhouse, such as “Gays for Islam” as a recent example. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that the two ideologies aren’t compatible. Come on, kids - use your brains just a little! I promise it doesn’t hurt.
Don’t be one of those fools. Be smarter. Be better. Make better choices. The only way to make better choices is by first learning all you can about any subject, including listening to opposing voices with an open mind. If you choose to stand behind some idea, make damn sure you understand what you’re supporting.
Just as an illustration, people were chanting and supporting the Nazies and Hitler. They were protesting against freeing the slaves. They demanded communism, which ended up destroying their lives, killing them in the millions. Narratives, propaganda, and ideologies are a serious problem.
You have to get the whole picture from both sides. There are always at least two valid perspectives. Find the closest thing to an objective picture, and only then decide what you stand for.
There is a better way
By causing terror, anger, fear, and mayhem, whether verbal, artistic, or physical, you’re only ever going to achieve more anger and disapproval being turned back toward you and the very things you’re trying to promote.
You can’t fight racism with more racism.
You can’t fight violence with more violence.
You can’t fight discrimination with more discrimination.
You’re making things worse instead of better. Such actions result only in negative reactions. Negativity breeds more negativity.
The best ideas, the ones that change the world, are not achieved by the people promoting them being absolute dicks, but by good examples, open debate, research, and hard evidence.
Lead by example and open discussion
If you really believe in some cause and want to enact change in this world, be that shining example everyone looks up to and wants to follow on their own accord. When you see someone who believes in something wholeheartedly, and they are a good person, radiating charisma, wisdom, and strength, you want to emulate them. These are the people who attract a significant following. These are the people who inspire others to change and better themselves.
If you want to convince people to look at some issue from a new perspective, be it scientific, social, economic, or existential, you can only ever do it by
Setting up a good example and showing them how things can be different and better, not by yelling at them what they should do but by showing them what you’ve done successfully.
Open debate, where different opinions and beliefs can discuss their differences and find common ground - not censorship.
Thorough research and scientific open discussions, comparisons, examinations, and experimentations that will inevitably, if your claims are correct, prove themselves before everybody, not by suppressing opposing science.
Show the good in the differences between us, not just focusing on the bad of the opposite group, finding common ground, not battlefields where you’re making enemies of the people you’re trying to win over.
I love your passion
I really do, and I encourage you to express it. Just do it in a smart and productive way. I don’t have to agree with your ideals to respect them.
I am becoming an old man with less relevance in this world. A world that is constantly changing and a society that is always evolving. This is a world for you, daughter, not for me. You’ll have to live in the mess you make. Your children will have to live with the consequences of your actions on a small and large scale.
Examine your beliefs occasionally
Be open to being wrong and changing your mind on things you take for granted at this moment. It’s called growth, and with growth comes wisdom. If we all believed what we believed when we were kids, well, you get the picture, don’t you?
I’ve been wrong more often than I would like to admit. We all were. It takes humility, wisdom, and strength to admit you’re wrong and change your mind. But that’s a normal, healthy thing. You should always be willing to change your opinion as new information presents itself. That means you’re smart, not stupid!
“I am the wisest man alive, for I know that I know nothing,” said a very wise man once upon a time, and the older one gets, the more he understands the wisdom of these words.
I love you. Your proud father!
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