The activist in me

November 22nd, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

Come to think of it, my quirky name aside, I am a relatively unremarkable person.

I do not believe I possess any truly outstanding characteristics that differentiate me from the madding crowd. However, I do credit myself with having a sense of natural justice and altruism that has been cultivated from a very young age; yet I never took any steps in this direction till recently.

For many years I have envied the passion and drive behind the work of social activists, and rallied behind their causes (mainly with lip-service), but I never saw myself as one of ‘them’. I shied away from joining causes I vehemently believed in, namely child and women’s rights, always putting myself down saying I had no time and nothing to contribute; I was of the opinion that only a certain ‘calibre’ of folk could be activists.

But meeting real activists out there changed all this. As I got to know them better, I discovered that they are mere humans too. Perhaps this sounds very obvious, but this realization only dawned recently, and I am confident in saying that many others out there probably think the same: that activists out there are truly exceptional beings, different from the rest of us.

Truth be told, and at the risk of offending some people, they are not, really. They too succumb to bouts of bitchiness and irritability; they too make mistakes and can exhibit selfish tendencies. But what they do have is the commitment to band together for a cause bigger than what they are; they work to inspire the public and mobilize them to create awareness and take action against painfully visible injustices.

Sadly, many times their pleas and work fall on deaf ears, or are greeted by apathetic attitudes. It is painful, having one’s efforts met by blank stares, and often we end up preaching to the converted. Perhaps it is the manner in which they speak, or their choice of words, but in the end I believe that their intentions are good, and merely require a few moments of one’s time, and an open mind to receive and question their rhetoric.

Activists go out of their way to gather information, either through research or fieldwork, and present these updates to the public. While one of their main aims is usually education and awareness, they also often work hard to raise money via sponsorship or charity drives to fund their causes. They are not always the angry, bitter hippies associated with anti-war movements such as in the time of the Vietnam War; in fact many activists would prefer non-confrontational ways of coming to amicable solutions.

Many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as WAO and SPCA also have shelters or safe spaces for the abused. Others like World Vision have long-running programs where individuals can ‘sponsor’ a child and their communities in third world countries to provide them with basic amenities like running water and education. If you take the first step, more often than not you will find that the people here are understaffed, exhausted, and appreciate any way, shape or form of help be it manpower, knowledge, or finances.

The causes closest to my heart are, as I have mentioned, working with children and women. Much as we tell ourselves that we live in a gender-equal world, the realities are not so. Women and children are still exploited for labour and sex slavery, and many others are still denied their rights to education and equal pay.

I am still in the early stages of activism; there is still so much I do not know. There have been many times where I feel I am at a disadvantage because I am still ignorant towards many issues, but I doubt that anyone can hold this against me as long as I display a willingness to learn. Activism is a long, hard road that very rarely brings with it immediate success and acclamation, but no doubt it also brings with it great satisfaction when goals are achieved and dreams are lived.

Check out Facebook for an assortment of causes to commit yourselves to, or start local with these champion cause-fighters:

 

 

 

 

 

Activism is not for everyone, granted. But it is for the person who longs for changes in the world; it is for dreamers who can take action, for idealists who know when to snap back into reality, and for those who love, who can take hate and transform it into positive energy.

Above all, it is about being active and consistent with fighting for the cause that you believe in, and to never underestimate the power of appealing to human intelligence and rhetoric.

I sincerely hope all you dreamers, idealists and lovers are aware of the hidden powers you possess. Have confidence, dear hearts, you can make a difference.

Last 5 posts by Melody Song

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