Activism
"Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. This action is in support of, or opposition to, one side of an often controversial argument.
The word "activism" is often used synonymously with protest or dissent, but activism can stem from any number of political orientations and take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, both work stoppages and hunger strikes, or even guerrilla tactics."
(Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activism)
Misconceptions
It has been said more than a few times that political activists are nothing but nuisance. ?some say they clog up the streets or that they were paid by a political rival to oppose another politician.
Well, let's clear that up. There are three kinds of activists, in my view, in the Philippine scene. One is "mobocracy" (in contrast to democracy, that the view of the majority, here it takes the view of the mob); the ones that blame a politician for their strife. They blame the person and only the person (even though it is the system that corrupts the person). They are the ones who usually pay people to join their rallies. They reach in great numbers but their purpose and/or principles are usually a blur, even to themselves. They are the ones that are closest to the word nuisance.
Second; there are the extremists. These are the ones who agitate the people for a revolution. They want a civil war yet their reason for it is not quite clear. They understand their purpose but fail to impart that view to the masses. These are the ones who either crave power or just wants to see the world burn.
And third; there are the activists who are filled with theories and applies those theories. They also impart those theories to the masses. They take these principles from philosopher-socialists who have proven themselves times over. These theories have been tested and proven all over the world; lessons learned from history are taken in part.
The third kind of activists arouse the masses political awareness, organize the masses to take action against oppression, corruption, destruction, injustice and mobilize them towards social, political, economic and environmental change.
(Let us call the third kind of activists "the movement" for this essay)
The movement teaches the masses all their views of a better world, all the theories and lessons how to get there in an alternative school they cal PaDePa or Pambasnsang Demokratikong Paaralan (National Democratic School). The movement is composed of freedom loving, democracy seeking and justice driven youths as a majority of their numbers. Making a living proof of Jose Rizal's statement that the youth is the hope of the motherland.
Yet some say that we are too young. Well, "say not 'I am too young.' to whomever I send you, you shall go; what ever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you says the Lord." (Jeremiah 1:7-8)
We should not leave the politics to the politicians. We are the future of this world and whatever they sow, The youth will reap. The youth, the movement should takes part on politics because if the youth does not then there will be no hope for the country.
The decaying system
The movement takes legal ways to bring forth change, yet the government ignores their petition and even discards them. Most of the government officials do not want change because the system feeds their greed for land, wealth and power (to the point that they oppress the poor). So the movement takes to the streets and filling it with their cries for social justice. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9) Fighting for the rights of the oppressed. "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4) To set the captives free "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19) To free all from the oppressive and decaying system and oppressive government.
"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
" 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them." (Ezekiel 34:2-10)
A system of the oppressive government filled with people of lies.
"This is what the LORD says:
"As for the prophets
who lead my people astray,
if one feeds them,
they proclaim 'peace';
if he does not,
they prepare to wage war against him.
"Therefore night will come over you, without visions,
and darkness, without divination.
The sun will set for the prophets,
and the day will go dark for them.
"The seers will be ashamed
and the diviners disgraced.
They will all cover their faces
because there is no answer from God."
"But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the LORD,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin.
"Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob,
you rulers of the house of Israel,
who despise justice
and distort all that is right;
"who build Zion with bloodshed,
and Jerusalem with wickedness.
"Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
Yet they lean upon the LORD and say,
"Is not the LORD among us?
No disaster will come upon us."
"Therefore because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets."
(Micah 3:5-12)
The Ideal System
The movement is Fighting the system. They aim to bring forth a new and better world.
"Behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.
I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more.
"Never again will there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out his years;
he who dies at a hundred
will be thought a mere youth;
he who fails to reach [a] a hundred
will be considered accursed.
They will build houses and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the works of their hands.
They will not toil in vain
or bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the LORD,
they and their descendants with them.
Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but dust will be the serpent's food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,"
(Isaiah 65:17-25)
This new world where the system ends all misery.
"However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you," (Deuteronomy 15:4)
They are the activists with integrity. putting the people [learn to do right!Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.(Isaiah 1:17)] and the new world before themselves.
Being Passive
If you have seen what this decaying and oppressive system does to your fellow men, do not turn away. Yes, the Lord said turn the other cheek but not towards your neighbor. Do not think that the movement is fighting for themselves but rather for for your neighbors. Be the light of the world.
