Activism Step One: Pay Close Attention | Mickey Z.

[Tace]

Photo credit: Mickey Z.

Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

Way back, during the pre-Internet days of yore, I garnered much of my radical education from WBAI-FM radio in NYC. There was a particular morning host who always ended his show with this simple bit of advice: “Stay strong and pay close attention.”

As they say in South Florida: BINGO.

Marshaling strength and paying close attention enables activists to better comprehend how much we are lied to, how maliciously we are manipulated, and how deeply all our grievances and all our solutions are connected.

But… what do we with all this new-found evidence?

Mary Oliver has some suggestions:

“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”

A very common activism trap is potentially activated each time one of us decides to stay strong and pay close attention. This sudden influx of bad news — horrendously bad news — may provide the necessary anger and focus to sustain a movement. More often, it unleashes a torrent of bitterness and despair.

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http://worldnewstrust.com/activism-step-one-pay-close-attention-mickey-z

[gregcrawford]

1. As always, Mickey nails it!