I am annoyed.
I am tired of some people talking without thinking on both sides of the aisle -- and on both sides of the political spectrum outside government buildings with clearly defined aisles.
In fact I am sick and tired of the whole idea of a two dimensional scale anyway.
I am tired of crowds cheering without thinking.
I am sick and tired of people falling in love with an idol.
I am disappointed in people who should know better.
I am disappointed in people-- people who know things take a lot of hard work, not just some pretty words.
I am tired of people not deconstructing words -- "white"..."race"..."God"..."government"...
People-- words are shortcuts! They are symbols! The analysis must not end with the symbol tumbling from your lips.
It is not that hard to get up on a stage and whip a crowd into a frenzy.
To get up on a stage and say things they want to hear.
But that is NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
People are dying and people are killing -- mindless cheering will not solve this.
If you want energy, if you want a rally, say so.
But don't you dare tell me you are analysing, don't you dare tell me you are breaking things down. Don't you dare tell me that you are listening to everyone.
It is enough that people in the world feel desperate enough to kill themselves to kill others. We don't need more people not thinking, we don't need more people forgetting that from time to time they need to sit on their butts and consider what exactly it is they are proposing. what exactly the consequences of their words will be.
Don't tell me you hate capitalism until you can tell me what capitalism is.
Don't tell me you're a socialist unless you can tell me what that means.
Don't tell me that Mao is a hero until you can explain those millions of lives lost.
Don't tell me that Chavez will save us all until you can explain why there are rumors about certain offshore accounts -- and don't even try to tell me "he really has very little money."
Haven't we learnt enough history to know that we need to beware when someone starts promising us he'll give us everything? Just like that...?
Don't tell me that the "government" is at fault for everything before you break down that huge concept-- all its institutions, networks, people. They don't all have forked tongues!
Don't tell me "science" is bad ... when you are speaking through a microphone to people who've travelled thousands of miles in a day or two...in response to messages sent out over cables in a matter of seconds.
Don't ignore the fact that you live somewhere where you can gather and complain, discuss and debate. We have so much more space than exists elsewhere. Let's use it to think before we scream.
And don't separate the world into 'white' and 'colored' as a start to explaining why we need a revolution in this country.
And please, please, please don't depend on the structure created by your oppressor as a way out. You cannot use categories of identity created by the other to escape in a sustainable way.
Also -- don't throw around with wild abandonment the terms 'rascist' and 'white supremacist' when you abhor them. Do you judge me by the colour of my skin? My "white" skin? Do you define me by what you see? By my accent? How do you categorise me in your mind?
Inclusion and solidarity are beautiful words. I stand by them. They are the only way forward if we all want to move to a better world.
Solidarity must be our motto. Americans often have not heard of this word, even those that already use it to decide how to live their lives. Let's share it. Let's show what it means.
People, don't come to the table with your agenda laid out and tell me this is an open space.
Nothing is ever going to be easy. This is a crowded planet. We've got a lot of convincing to do. A lot of explaining, in gentle voices-- gentle but firm. We need to understand that system that has screwed so many people around the world. Because a system's made up of people...some not aware of their actions, even if they really should be. That's a serious challenge for us.
I don't know if I have that much capacity for empathy -- I'll admit I fail to have empathy a lot of the time. But at least let's admit that it has to be a main ingredient in any new movement that has any hope of making another world possible.
Forgive my anger. It's self-righteous. It's coming from someone that has not suffered like you. It's coming from someone privileged enough to find time for activism. But this is my truth and I want to put it out there.
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