The right to express yourself
Jan. 16th, 2003 12:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sealIs a highly potent way to develop new thoughts, and to expand your own ambitions. In most cases it starts with the words, a ramble, a debate, a discussion - even if it is a total wank orgy has the definite potential to lead to development inside a person. Of cause in some debates you have to wade through a lot of shit, and you can find yourself in a totally cynical/idealistic/rage-filled or bullshitting wank. But still, even that has a high potential of leading to something, even if it's not this week or even month.
The question was raised on a list called Dear_Islam, about what the ppl expressing opinions ever have done for the world, to make them feel so special (to actually have the right to argue, as I understand it). I don't embrace that attitude anymore, but I feel obligated to at least ponder the question anyway.
I give money to Amnesty and Greenpeace (and sometimes to local causes)We don't have many beggars in this country, but those that I run into always get a piece of my wallet (most ppl on my friends list are RL friends, and some of them smirk when reading this, I'm sure..)
I have walked in some anti fascist demonstrations, the one I remember most is a big one in Hamburg 3 years ago. It was a protest march against a demonstration that skins and neo nazis had arranged. We outmarched them with thousands of ppl! But to be honest I am scared shitless of being taken by the police. This happened once when I was very young (no big deal, they just phoned my parents and kept me for a few hours), but the mere thought of big uncontrolled crowds and having my id taken away brings out cold sweat in me.
I have been active in an Amnesty group for many years. We were a tight little cell once, writing many letters and raising money for the cause. We arranged art exhibitions and poetry evenings for Amnesty, and I think we did well in our own small context. There were powerful moments of reality, such as when you could actually exchange letters and thoughts with the families of those victims that you pleaded for. A case I remember most is an Iranian girl my own age, who got sentenced to jail just for reading a "blasphemous" writing from a wall on her way to school. She got 10 years, and was raped as well. Today she's out. We never did accomplish anything except this: Nanna, the Iranian girl in my Amnesty group managed to create a link between her, me and that girl. The three of us exchanged a few thoughts. That was all. But her case got known, she was our special case for a fund raising Amnesty evening.
It is not much, but I learned that sometimes, for people in great hardship, just knowing that others more happily situated ones in other parts of the world see what's going on and get affected by this, make a small, but distinct difference.
It is certainly good to try as much as one can. But if you don't have to, it is not likely you will do it because some one points you in some direction and says that you should or must. I think a debate, a ramble or a free speach wank has more potential to induce action.
The question was raised on a list called Dear_Islam, about what the ppl expressing opinions ever have done for the world, to make them feel so special (to actually have the right to argue, as I understand it). I don't embrace that attitude anymore, but I feel obligated to at least ponder the question anyway.
I give money to Amnesty and Greenpeace (and sometimes to local causes)We don't have many beggars in this country, but those that I run into always get a piece of my wallet (most ppl on my friends list are RL friends, and some of them smirk when reading this, I'm sure..)
I have walked in some anti fascist demonstrations, the one I remember most is a big one in Hamburg 3 years ago. It was a protest march against a demonstration that skins and neo nazis had arranged. We outmarched them with thousands of ppl! But to be honest I am scared shitless of being taken by the police. This happened once when I was very young (no big deal, they just phoned my parents and kept me for a few hours), but the mere thought of big uncontrolled crowds and having my id taken away brings out cold sweat in me.
I have been active in an Amnesty group for many years. We were a tight little cell once, writing many letters and raising money for the cause. We arranged art exhibitions and poetry evenings for Amnesty, and I think we did well in our own small context. There were powerful moments of reality, such as when you could actually exchange letters and thoughts with the families of those victims that you pleaded for. A case I remember most is an Iranian girl my own age, who got sentenced to jail just for reading a "blasphemous" writing from a wall on her way to school. She got 10 years, and was raped as well. Today she's out. We never did accomplish anything except this: Nanna, the Iranian girl in my Amnesty group managed to create a link between her, me and that girl. The three of us exchanged a few thoughts. That was all. But her case got known, she was our special case for a fund raising Amnesty evening.
It is not much, but I learned that sometimes, for people in great hardship, just knowing that others more happily situated ones in other parts of the world see what's going on and get affected by this, make a small, but distinct difference.
It is certainly good to try as much as one can. But if you don't have to, it is not likely you will do it because some one points you in some direction and says that you should or must. I think a debate, a ramble or a free speach wank has more potential to induce action.
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no subject
Date: 2003-01-16 04:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-16 05:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-16 09:17 am (UTC)The REAL question was, "Who here really gives a crap enough to do SOMETHING and who doesn't?"
A lot of people debate without ever -really- caring to leave some sort of positive impact on this planet, they don't really care to change their perception but are more interested in saying, "Look how right I am, point A, point B and point C." And a lot of people debate because they like to, because they're bored, etc., but in that process, they're also leaving a b.s. impression on people who actually care.
I think it's much more wise to read history, map out a timeline of events, keep up on the FACTS of the current events and come to a conclusion from that. As far as the atrocities committed in the countries in discussion, -everyone is guilty- but they'd rather just keep pointing at one another saying, "You're worse than we are!" Nobody here can tell us what's really going on overseas, they cannot tell you if it is a fact whether or not a country has weaponry and it's because it's simple: they're not involved. None of us are really involved enough to know what's really going on.
People also forget that we're not always viewed as a melting pot here of various cultures and religions. Who we are as a people is generalized by who our president is. Bush calls himself Christian, but he really isn't, yet people across the ocean say, "Ah! He said he's a Christian! But he's in support of oppressing us! America = Bush = Christian = oppression! " Then you have good people who actually follow a Christian way of life across the ocean, trying to help others in their time of need, get blown to bits because of that formula.
And when our government fails to prevent terrorism, we scream at them for not doing enough. Then when our government starts rounding up migrants with expired visas and criminal histories, etc., all of a sudden we think they're doing too much and we tell them they're intruding on -our- privacy. Our?
no subject
Date: 2003-01-16 12:34 pm (UTC)The purpose of LJ is to be able to debate, argue, discuss. Nobody said that this was a
UN team! We are people getting together and listening to several view points. It's all about opinions and ideology. That's the whole premise of this 'war on terrorism' and people's civil rights being thrown away. If you can get people to THINK about what is going on that is just as effective as sending money, writing your congressman, etc. We are truly in a war of ideas.
The REAL question was, "Who here really gives a crap enough to do SOMETHING and who doesn't?"
We are doing something. That is why we have several communities that alert others of protests and people in the media to watch. It's about being organized and communicating and passing information from the streets of Baghdad and Ramallah. It's about getting the voices published that are ignored in American media. This country is based on dissent and I hear nothing but the war drums beating on every news channel in the USA. BEING AWARE IS DOING SOMETHING. Educating folks on the reality of the world is doing something. I have had several folks on LJ and in my mailing list thanking me for making them aware on various issues.
I think it's much more wise to read history, map out a timeline of events, keep up on the FACTS of the current events and come to a conclusion from that. As far as the atrocities committed in the countries in discussion, -everyone is guilty- but they'd rather just keep pointing at one another saying, "You're worse than we are!" Nobody here can tell us what's really going on overseas, they cannot tell you if it is a fact whether or not a country has weaponry and it's because it's simple: they're not involved. None of us are really involved enough to know what's really going on.
Your wrong. We have communities with several people who are in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait. US Policy effects them and their families. We hear their voices. We hear the voices of Palestinians who are affected by the occupation of Israel. We hear the voices of the victims of Afghanistan. None of these voices would be heard if we were not networked and sharing information.
We are all involved becuase we pay taxes and as long as we vote we are involved. Yes everybody is guilty of human atrocities which is why a community like dear_islam needs to be constantly challenged.
And when our government fails to prevent terrorism, we scream at them for not doing enough. Then when our government starts rounding up migrants with expired visas and criminal histories, etc., all of a sudden we think they're doing too much and we tell them they're intruding on -our- privacy.
The US govt. asked people from the Middle East to come forward if they have any issues with their VISA or other immigration problems. After rounding up over a thousand immigrants they placed them all in jail. This sends only one message: IF YOU ARE AN ARAB AND AN IMMIGRANT DO NOT GO NEAR I.N.S EVEN IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT BECAUSE THEY WILL PLACE YOU IN JAIL WITHOUT CHARGING YOU. This is how you fight terrorism? By singling out a group of people frightening and treating them like animals? Are you aware of how many Arabs and Muslims have been secretly arrested, tortured and threatened? All proven to be innocent. This is America? You want me to be silent because it's all fruitless? I don't think so.
Information is power.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-17 08:02 am (UTC)(And isn't it funny - while I write this, I'm hearing demonstraters outside the window. I don't know what it is about, but it is at least a bunch of people who believes in something! *l*)
Re:
Date: 2003-01-17 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-17 03:01 pm (UTC)And I never mind meeting new people, that's what living is for. Among other things, of course...! I'll add you right back!