How To Change the World…?
That is my question. How, in this predominantly conservative world, can we change the world in any way without becoming part of some organization that follows the same rules that we are trying to get rid of !?
Take for example a “gang” called Straight Edge. This group of people merely started up to spread the idea of abstinence, and sobriety; but have sadly turned out to be considered now as an actual gang convicted of harassment, murder, and even terrorist activities. Some say that they are a menace and some say that they are the ideal group of people for the future but my point is this: Can we change this world without succumbing to criminal actions and/ or becoming part of something we stand against?
Can change happen without violence?
14 Comments »
Filed under: Food for Thought
April 16th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
NOPE
April 17th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
well jose, actually straight edge only became a quote “gang” because some bands hired some, well less than reputable security at concerts, which lead to violence,the orginial straight edge ideals, started by minor threats ian mckaye, were all layed out in the song, named, you guessed it “straight edge”. *side note: why is it that you cant be clean sober and abstinenant without being associated with straight edge, it just gives the rest of us a bad name, because of all the radical stuff.
sorry to go off on a tangent, anyway, to answer your original question, i believe that change without violence its a great thing to have in mind, but when you start talking religious, political, or philosophical ideas, people tend to get offensive (sort of a pre emptive strike so they dont have to defend their ideas) there will always be radicals who try to change things with violence, the best thing a leader of a movement can do is try to make it clear that they do not want to use violence as a means of changing perspective.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
It would help me to know what you wish to change. To change “the world” (i.e. everybody) would require the removal of free will, because there will always be someone with a different opinion (usually more than one). It is what makes us human.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Just in general. If you wanted to change the world in anyway for any reason that really means anything to you.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I would like free ice cream and less reverse discrimination…
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Tommy, we all scream for free ice cream (but then we head to the economists’ moral hazard), but I would like to take issue with the term “reverse discrimination.”
This is one of the terms that has an odd pedigree and numerous logical contradictions. First of all “reverse” anything is backwards, so the reverse of discrimination is… egalitarianism? equality?
Second is the tacit logic underlying the term. It assumes that discrimination can only go in one direction–from the dominant group towards minority groups. Of course this is absurd, anyone can discriminate against others, no matter what group he/she/it is a member of.
I have been in MeChA (in college, not in our lovely corner of the world) meetings that were clearly discriminatory towards all whites (a strange term in itself) and towards all other non-Mexican Latinos. That seemed very problematic.
To conclude, Maya Angelou once said that few people actually seek to change the power paradigm; they merely wish to flip it so that they’re on top. I think she’s basically right. How do we actually and fundamentally alter the structure of power so these “discriminations” become less respectable and less effective?
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Mr. Eldridge, I agree with what you say about “reverse discrimination”. Now, to answer your question. There are a number of ways we could go about altering the structure of power. The problem…the ones I can think of right now would involve violating people’s first amendment rights.
For example, freedom of speech. Make it illegal to speak out against people of different races. Of course, that wouldnt eliminate the problem entirely, but does making drugs illegal stop addicts? I can seee how it would work if say, you were to declare racial insults times of “clear and present danger”. But like I said, 1st amendment right, freedom of speech.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
To your question Jose, I think that change CAN happen without violence (example:strikes) but both parties have to have an incentive to not commit violence. The caucasians supporting segregation in MLK’s time had no incentive to be peaceful, and therefore violence broke out. But today, you could get arrested for hitting someone because they were on strike. So it is possible, just not often happening.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Well spoken, although I wasn’t using the term with logical intentions. What we need to do is squash the model down into a horizontal model, so to speak, in that all people see each other equally. The only barrier is pride, which causes the discrimination and tension. Eliminating pride is next to impossible, due the independent thought of humans.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I honestly don’t see how your example of straight edge-ism works with this topic. You are asking, “how can we change the world in any way without becoming part of some organization that follows the same rules that we are trying to get rid of?”
How does your example of Straight edge-ism tie in at all with the paradox you just listed? Straight Edge is all about self-restraint and self-respect, having the right to choose regardless of what others do or think of you. How would that be an “organization that follows the same rules you are trying to get rid of?”
If you didn’t already know, I have been practicing a straight-edge lifestyle since the 6th grade. Yet, in all those years, I have never been radical about it nor have I shoved my views down anybody’s throats (as many people percieve “edge” people to be).
It isn’t at all a “gang” like you claim. There arent established groups or anything like that, it’s all individual. The point of straight edge is not to abolish or prohibit drugs or alcohol for everybody. It’s just my own personal choice to not do it. It isn’t a violent group or anything like that. Sure, some people might be stupid and beat people up, but don’t generalize everybody else.
I think I consider myself a pretty peaceful person actually.
Anyways, to answer your question…. CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE is the best way to make change in the world without violence! peaceful protests! writing letters to politicians! there are many options!
May 4th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
No matter how popular, strong, or intelligent you are Jose, you, or for that matter, any of us, will never be able to change the world. If you want to see change in its people, then you must change yourself and show others by example. From that, you cannot force anyone else to change, but only let them see how change APPEARS to have affected you for the better.
People always want the best things in their lives, whether it hurts someone else or not, thats a given. There are few who try to oppose that mentality, but even they realize that eventually they are just trying to serve themselves.
At the moment, our civilization here in the United States sees everything, shares everything, and enjoys everything, through media technology. Do remember how things were 15 years ago? Sure, things haven’t gotten that much worse if you are looking from an elders viewpoint, but seriously… The worst thing I remember on television back in the 90′s was Jerry Springer and his cavalier female audience, only no beads… You want to make a change? Make it where it counts, with the next generation.
I would agree with Tom’s argument approach as well.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Pride is the root of all sin. Humans are dispicable. Who would want to lead such irrational creatures anyway.
May 6th, 2008 at 6:44 am
God, perhaps?…Anyways, I still don’t understand what you want to change. If we do create the perfect society in the future, would that not just create New conservatism? There are only so many situations that would make for healthy living, so continual change is out of the question. Honestly, I just wish people would be content with what they have.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Ha that reminds me of a quote
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.
Hannah Arendt
I don’t have anything against conservatism just the way things are now. And if I become a conservative, if the world ever truely changes for the better, and there are different perspectives on perfection of the world I would gladly accept their challenge.