Perhaps, I was too harsh before. Then, I was exposed to a single brand of activism: the confrontational, angry kind you see marching down the streets. Now, I see another kind, a more sustainable brand aimed at forging bonds across factions instead of burning bridges down.
Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS, a US nonpartisan citizens' lobbying group, provides a step-by-step approach to a new type of activism that focuses on cooperation among multi-sectoral groups:
So you've 1) gotten in touch with your commitment to serve, 2) faced a problem that concerns you, 3) faced the hopelessness you feel about the problem, 4) looked for solutions, and 5) connected with your courage. That logically leads you to step 6: find others to work with, both locally and, if it's a national or international problem, with an institution and people that are working at that level. In other words, don't do it alone. If you try to do it alone, you'll never make it.
One interesting observation with this approach is the lack of villains in the scene. The government is not a villain. Instead, it is seen as an ally, a partner in resolving the issue. There are no scapegoats as well for everyone is a participant to promoting the needed change.
This is the kind of activism that we need, although not something that we would want for ourselves.
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