Survey says!

I remember one time, not long after George Jr. stole the 2000 election (or maybe it was after he was elected in 2004) I was despairing about the state of the world and what would become of it with such a man put in charge of the most powerful country on the planet and a friend of mine said, "I remember when Reagan was elected we felt the same way".  Really, I said, what did you do? I asked him.  "We got through it".  Just that.  We got through it.  And I felt better.  I began to see that this wasn't the first time something absolutely horrible had happened.  Terrible things have happened before and people get through it.  Some individuals might give up, but social change, collective action does not stop.

Now the end of the reign of Bush is within sight.  I thought this day would never come.  His poll numbers are in the pits; for the first time in my life the majority of the US population appear to be against war (I just wish they coulda figured it out sooner; woulda saved so many lives).  I went to an anti-war vigil a few weeks ago and it was nice to be on the winning side for a change.  Most passersby supported us.

We got through it.  Two terms the worst president in US history (thanks bin Laden for making the second term possible!) and we got through it.

This is project is still in its formative stages, so nothing's set in stone yet.  The idea is to talk to a bunch of activists, especially older people or people who've been active for many years and collect their stories about how they got to where they are today, what they've learned over the years and what keeps them going through difficult times.  Because we could use that kind of long-term perspective.

So I've interviewed five people so far.  They're sorta like my trial run --you know the practice interviews you do while still working out the kinks-- but I've gotten such good stuff tonight I really want to use it somehow.  You might get a transcript here or at least some excerpts.

I've got about five or six questions depending on how the interview was going and the interviews take about 5-10 minutes.

I recorded the interviews on a digital tape recorder.

The Questions:

1.) If you'd like, you can state your name and maybe your age.
2.) Where are you from?
3.) What do you do?
4.) How long have you done it?
5.) What was the defining moment or moments in your life when you felt like you really understood the world in a way you hadn't before?  How did it change you or what was your response to this shift in perspective?
6.) From your own personal experience being a political activist, working for political change, what was the most unexpected thing that you learned?
7.)  What's your take on the world now?
8.)  What would you say to young activists today to help them get through difficult times?

I think I'd like to change number 6 to this:

"From your own personal experience working for political change, what was the most surprising thing that you discovered about the process of working in an organized movement?"

That should yield some interesting responses!  I can't wait to ask people that one!

Maybe I'll post my own answers to the questions tomorrow so watch this space and --please-- if anyone out there reading this wants to contribute feel free to put your answers in the comment section below.

Comments

[Brandon]

What a great idea for a project! You are definitely one of the best bloggers on the net!

[Paul -V-]

The Questions:

1.) If you'd like, you can state your name and maybe your age.

Paul -V-. 36.

2.) Where are you from?

Originally, Argentina. Grew up in a suburb of Ft Lauderdale called Coral Springs.

3.) What do you do?

Blog consultant and part-time reporter for a media conglomerate. (ClearChannel) Most of my spare time is dedicated to some sort of activism or blogging.

4.) How long have you done it?

I've been blogging since 2005. I started making money off giving blog advice in 2006. ClearChannel hired me a little over a month ago.

5.) What was the defining moment or moments in your life when you felt like you really understood the world in a way you hadn't before? How did it change you or what was your response to this shift in perspective?

It's difficult to answer this question. I've had several "defining" moments - but the most important one was not a moment per se, it was a church hymn I would sing on Sundays which had a very profound effect every time I heard it:

"What so ever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."

The song was based on Matthew 25:34:

... "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me." Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." ...

I'm not religious, but whenever my faith in humanity or Liberal ideals starts to shake, I go to church to hear that hymn.

6.) From your own personal experience being a political activist, working for political change, what was the most unexpected thing that you learned?

Four things I've learned:

A. Like raising a child, the life of an activist is thankless work. But also like raising a child, it's one of the most sacred things a person can do.

B. Political opponents are your most important teachers. No matter how odious you consider them to be - never, ever, EVER lock them out of the conversation. By doing so, you give them power.

C. Conservative opponents are coming from a space of fear. Address their fears, and their base of support dissolves.

D. Your most radical and subversive friends seven years from now will be sell-out suburbanites. The most they will do for your cause is put a "Kerry 2004" bumper-sticker on their SUV.

Do you remember that nerdy guy who never fit in at the meetings? Seven years from now s/he's will be only one who gives a damn.

7.) What's your take on the world now?

There are no mundane moments.

8.) What would you say to young activists today to help them get through difficult times?

The most effective activist isn't the one who organizes the most rallies, or attends the most meetings, or is on a first-name basis with the most other activists.

It's the one who can pay the bills and maintain a solid relationship with h/er partner.

The ugliest truth idealistic activists have to face is that there is a 1:1 relationship to financial stability and your effective activism. There is also a 1:1 relationship to your financial stablity and your personal relationships. (And while this may be an unpopular thing to write on a feminist blog, the later is especially true for men.)

Find a career which nourishes your desire for social change and puts food on the table for your family.

Remember: Ghandi was a lawyer who built up a clientèle who would support him in his work. MLK had a church to support him in his fight.

The hardest part of being an activist isn't the government, the wealthy elites or ignorance. It's making sure you can support yourself and your family without compromising your principles.

[Margaret]

FYI Barb, I have tagged you as a "thinking blogger." You can find details at http://margaretswanderings.blogspot.com/2007/04/recognition.html
M

[barb]

Thanks Brandon, you're very sweet. Paul, that's friggin' awesome! And Margaret, wow, I'm honored. Thanks, hon. That's really cool.