Activism

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
"Give me somewhere to stand, and I will move the world."
Archimedes

"Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating."
O. Henry

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.”
Thomas Jefferson

A socially active person, by definition, assists other members of the family, peers, group, neighborhood, and finally the society at large. A citizenship is best in a society where it is populated by altruistic people, those who care about others and assist one in need without expectation of a reward. Each person specializes in a different career to excel his or her profession. In social issues, some are active, some are inactive, and some are reactive. Although each person is connected to others in the community, whether such community should move towards issues collectively varies among people.

“Past” oriented people believe in self reliance or individual self preservation for basic human needs such as food, shelter, health, justice, and career engagements. They do not believe in any difference in people’s degrees considering their abilities in providing themselves those basic needs, and if someone is lacking some; it is that person’s personal shortcoming. A rich person can buy the needs, so it is up to each individual to increase his or her own wealth to a level that enables that person to buy certain needs. Someone who is born into wealth is considered lucky to be born into a family whose ancestors had the wisdom to accumulate wealth. With such point of view, wisdom surpasses knowledge, and wisdom has an expanded definition that includes stepping on the weak for the benefit of self. In conclusion, someone who is not rich is lazy and unworthy of wealth. However, people who believe in social justice seek equality for all. In order to reach the equality, it is important to educate others of the social issues and ills of the society. Leading activism requires many characteristics in addition to the will to be involved, such as charisma, self-confidence, and talent of leading a group. Sometimes a will to improve a group of people’s lives, such as the struggle of MLK, is sufficient motivation. Sometimes plain resistance, such as the working of Gandhi gains results. It could also be in a sublime form championed by Mother Theresa in our time. However, each one of us can be an activist in pushing forward our points of view. “Future” oriented people are generally active in social causes and what benefits majority of people. On the other hand, “past” oriented people have more individualistic tendencies and they are more reactive to social issues. They may be active in a certain group, but the mission of that group is not in support of a common cause. Activism emerges in different shapes and forms. One person can be an activist in bringing up a specific cause. This person can work alone or attract a group of people around him or her, with certain enthusiasm and charisma. The group can be a political party, a non-profit organization, or a union. Leading activists usually have certain goals, and challenge the establishment to achieve such goals. A group of people (whether in the form of a non-profit organization or a union) usually has a mission to achieve long-term goal (or set of goals). They pursue those goals either systematically or gradually, by constantly challenging the system.

Nonprofit organizations mainly champion the mission of providing certain charities for those in need. Each organization has one or more goals that is accomplished by receiving contributions and other assistance from those with means, sympathy, and altruism. In a society where the government does not exercise the responsibility of providing for all its citizens, there are people who receive more than their share and there are those who lack minimum subsistence. Nonprofit organizations establish a department (usually called development department) that creates innovative ways of influencing the rich, to donate a small portion of its wealth, and in order to assist the poor. Charity organizations are acting as the valve to release the steam off the subjugated, and to prevent an uprising of the poor against the rich.