Manifesto used to be an OK word describing the document or positions/viewpoints of politicians and scientists. If you say you have a manifesto today, you are likely to be met with a raised eyebrow. Wackos write manifestos today. So how about the word “activist?” Are you an activist? Not me. I’ve never gone to a rally, tried to hang a banner off a corporate headquarters or chained myself to a tree. I don’t even put bumper stickers on my car. I can’t think of a political or social cause that I would risk jail over.
This doesn’t mean I don’t care about anything enough to do something. It’s just that my something is more quiet and earnest than loud and demanding. I fight with my pen for one thing. I write letters to newspapers (USA Today’s editor once because of clearly biased reporting) and to my elected representatives (Senator Leonard Lance not too long ago regarding funding for environmental protection). Yep, push me too far and you’re going to get a sternly worded letter. I also have a job where I make the world better by influencing my company to be more responsible.
There are many different tactics; we can all be activists. I applaud people with the courage to march and carry picket signs, but I will cross the street from them so as not to be mistaken for one.
This doesn’t mean I don’t care about anything enough to do something. It’s just that my something is more quiet and earnest than loud and demanding. I fight with my pen for one thing. I write letters to newspapers (USA Today’s editor once because of clearly biased reporting) and to my elected representatives (Senator Leonard Lance not too long ago regarding funding for environmental protection). Yep, push me too far and you’re going to get a sternly worded letter. I also have a job where I make the world better by influencing my company to be more responsible.
There are many different tactics; we can all be activists. I applaud people with the courage to march and carry picket signs, but I will cross the street from them so as not to be mistaken for one.