What can activists do to push the culture towards encourgaing ACTIVISM?

[iconoclastNYC]

I think we should think about how we can leverage Hollywood to make activism cool again.

Friends of mine (20-somethings) use the word activist as a slur.

There is a problem with the culture in that it potrays activism as something that is bad, passe, uncool, and unamerican.

We need to take actions to change this.

Any suggestions?

[sundancekid]

1. how about "reclaiming civic values" -- a group of us were discussing

this very thing just last sunday ...

[acmejack]

2. I was unaware it had a negative connotation!

We need to push it as an American's civic duty & make a point of showing how people in other lands are unafraid to take to the streets to express their views.

[bryant69]

3. There's no easy solution

I mean it would be nice to see some movies that depicted protesting as a positive thing.

I would also say it would be better if protesters considered how to convince other people to consider their point of view - in a way it's sales job. Some protesters do a very good job of this, and others not as much.

It's hard to think abuot how to sell an idea that is self evidently true.

Bryant
Check it out -> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Dora]

4. Make activism fun.

Activism needs to be more than mass-produced signs and uninspired chants on capitol grounds.

I think people need to start gathering in our public parks and talking amongst ourselves there. I've been to a few "protests" at the Capitol here in Austin, and I've found them uninspiring, tired, and unseen by others.

In fact, I think we need to skip the signs and chants entirely, at least at first. Skip the agendas and the microphones. Skip the parades that block rush-hour traffic and alienate and anger people who would otherwise support our cause. We need to simply start gathering and talking, breaking bread together and having fun in the sun. The "activism" will come together naturally as people spend more time together instead of hiding in their homes and doing what we do on the 'net.

I was born in 1969, and so I wasn't involved with any of the peace movement of the 70's. But when I think of images that I've seen from that time, the picture I think of most often is of a huge gathering in Golden Gate Park. I think of the smiles.

That's what I think we need to be doing.

Gathering.

Just gathering.

And then see what comes next.

[populistdriven]

5. If every DUer had a neighborhood picnic it would make a huge difference