Avoiding That Tool Classification

Good Readers:

Madame will be back in this blogosphere for you Wednesday.  Send her your “thank you for rescuing us from the spankdaddy” sentiments, lol. Until then:

A reflexive retort is often, “But I didn’t do any of that or support any of that!”

Don’t let yourself off the hook so easily.

Because, yes you did.

Silence, willful ignorance, apathy, diversion—they all become tools of implied agreement with the malevolence being done.

As Getty Lee sang, to not choose IS a choice. You don’t have to be Edmund Burke to realize that when good people do nothing, that is all that is required for malevolence to succeed.

Only some people can be big activists.  But anyone can say…

“That isn’t factual.”

“That isn’t right.”

“We shouldn’t do that.”

“That doesn’t speak to my values.”

“We need to find another way.”

“I won’t be a part of that.”

“We can do better.”

“It’s only really hopeless if we say it is.”

And then…

“I want it on record that I want something different.”

“I don’t like hopeless feelings; bet you don’t either, so let’s do something about it together.”

“The universe seems to respond to action.   Let’s take some action, no matter how small.”

Because one person taking a stand, voicing some counter to malevolence, CAN feel like the proverbial drop in the bucket, the spit in the wind.  But when you join with even ONE other person—preferably local—to take some action, it unleashes energy, possibility, and the promise of at least some small effect.  As well as the mutual support group benefit that is so important in this disconnected society.  And if you can find one that is thoughtful and considerate (like Madame,  for instance!) you will avoid the narrow echo chamber effect that stunts and divides us.

You’ll also find you’ve rescued your true inner self-respect from the land of delusion.

Isolation and disconnection are the tools of the malevolent status quo.  One’s social circle is the biggest influence on whether—and for who—one votes.  Make a determination that you and yours will not disempowered about that at least.  And if you say you don’t care or don’t know enough, you are failing as a citizen for not paying attention.  If you don’t know where to go to get independently informed, pick something from Factcheck.org, The Real News, PBS, CSPAN, Reuters, World News (which includes the BBC, Al-Jazeera, The Guardian, Times of India, etc.), The Independent Media Center, or AlterNet, just to name a few.  You don’t have to become a news junkie.  Just starting by using those sources to check what the candidate or officeholder is saying about the issues that seem important.

And if you ever want additional suggestions about sources or anything else, let me know.  I’ve got plenty!

Next post:  In addition to responding to Madame, I’ll be addressing the “tired of having two poor or lackluster choices” excuse for not voting.