I’ll Give You a Topic… Discuss

I’m gonna turn serious on you

Published on January 22, 2004 By Urban Faery In Blogging

Since I finished my first semester of University I’ve been struggling with my own role in changing the world. In most of my classes last semester I felt like I was constantly bombarded with the message that I was part of the lucky (mostly white middle class) population that received higher education and because of that I was going to be in charge of continually exploiting the rest of the world. I finished my semester feeling rather bleak. It was though instead of professors inspiring us to make a difference in the rest of the world we were being told “To bad you were born into being an oppressor… Suck it up and deal with it.”

As a challenge to myself this semester I’m taking a seminar course called The Pedagogy of Human Rights and Social Change. There are nine students and a professor and we meet three hours a week. The main assignment in this course is to collaboratively pick an issue and find a way to make a change. I have to say I’m excited, but nervous about how this is all going to turn out.

Tonight as a part of citizenship awareness month we had Craig Kielburger come speak. He is the guy who started up the “Free the Children” organization that does so much to help the global community. He started the organization when he was twelve years old with nine other twelve year olds. I’ve been inspired. He was talking about how “easy” it can be to make a different. He told us that for 10 billion dollars you can educate every child in the world. That’s the same amount that the U.S spent on cosmetics last year, and the same amount that was spent on ice cream in Europe.

His point throughout the lecture was that we don’t need to feel guilty that we are blessed to live in Canada. We need to become active citizens. We need to realize that feeling sad or angry about what is going on in the rest of the world isn’t enough. If we are passionate about it we will act on it. I mean, imagine if every citizen thought of an issue they were passionate about and worked to make a change. That would be amazing!

Anyway, I was moved tonight from feeling helpless to feeling empowered to use my citizenship as a Canadian to make a difference whether it be by planting a tree, writing a letter, or starting my own organization. Now I just have to sort out my passions!

Comments

Wahkonta Anathema

on Jan 22, 2004

Great to read thoughts like these. I am an activist on an individual level, declining the group mentality as it tends to get bogged down in minutae when action is what is called for. I spent a lot of time on the subjects of psychology and philosophy, then going into law when I became enmeshed in that system. I find there is a great deal to be done for the good, and using my individual talents and acquired skills is how I go about it. I will never get a award froma civic organization or be known for what I did until I'm gone and someone pulls out my voluminous work and theses to hopefully say, "Wow, this guy did a lot in his life and we never knew it." While you are young it is good to socialize and by joining a group you'll feel your way to a path. But I find the pressure to conform to sidereal points of action detracts from one's best use of life energy.
I put up a reply (I can't think of where, I put up so many) in which I described my observation of the formation of a 'Anarchist' cell in a City a few years ago. It gradually turned into a gay social club of liberal politics. If I had allowed myself to be side-tracked by their nonsense, I could not have gotten anything done. Most all 'organized' groups are like this, serving the ulterior motive of the 'organizer' rather than the groups' goals. There are a lot of ego-maniacs in such orgs. who are not there to help anyone but rather satisfy their own ego and neurotic need to control (ususlly out of inner feelings of inferiority although it appears to others they are leaders and independent, as they NEED to be accepted and gain approval by others, not trusting in their own self-judgement).
Of course, not all activists are ego-maniacs, some truly doing good for the sake of good. When you recognize the guy or girl who is quiet and gets things done, keep an eye on them as they are the true leaders in the rough. Always be a majority of one in your moral decisions and it will go easier in dealing with groups. Unlike a business, don't look for the popular or one who goes along and gets along, but the one that gets things done. Charity has more to do with life energy units than dollars and the efficient and dedicated use is what you want.
You will find in yourself the birth of 'passion' in such activities as well, a great thing which most humans never know, but only read and longingly speak of. With passion, anything is possible. Mao tse tung was holed up in a mountain snd surrounded in a seige. he had passion for his beliefs and broke out to march 10,000 miles across China and imprison his enemy and rule the whole Country. He had passion. Jesus had passion, as did Malcolm X and Mother Theresa. These are good studies and you'll find kinship in your hours of despair in them. My library is my room of friends who are there for me to draw energy and inspiration from in my efforts. Start to find your friends and collect them for such times.
Remember that those who say, "You can't beat the system" lacked the right tactics and strategy and are examples of how NOT to proceed, more than being wrong. There are no problems, only solutions. And ALWAYS remember three lefts make a right so don't do the same thing too long or hoping to get a different result by repetition. I draw energy from the likes of you and am glad to have you on board to help the good people out. Lord knows we can sure use it. Good luck and as they say in the military, CARRY - ON.

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