Why I protest

[valarltd]

My protests are small.

I take to the streets now and then, but not often.

I confront people on facebook about their pictures, when I think those pictures are wrong.
Someone posted something about the Bible being banned in schools and allowed in prisons, with the implication that if it was allopwed in schools we wouldn't need prisons. I objected, shwoing him that nowehere in this country is the Bible banned from schools. What is prohibited is the teacher reading from it in an authoritative way.

I confront people about the Pledge of Alleigance. I do not stand for the Pledge. I do not bow my head for prayers. (they're never to my gods anyway, and my gods don't demand subserviance) These are small, every day protests. By choosing to stand against coerced displays of patriotism and faith, I am digging in my heels against America's slide into theocratic fascism.

I take it for granted that people won't care that I am queer, won't care that I am pagan. When the ladies at weight watchers start in about church potlucks, I mention coven potlucks. Because it desenitizes them to these things. Out of all the closets means bigger target, but it also makes you the human face.

I see my country, a country I work for, support and work to make better for my children, falling apart.

I see theocrats gaining power at every level, religious nutballs running for president and making a good showing.

I see my own wages stagnating, my children's hopes of college or even a better life evaporating. I see greed of a few being prioritiozed over the needs of the many every time.
I see people we elected to represent and help us blockading any and all help for us.
I see a future of debt slavery, corporate control and anesthsetized people who can't figure out why they can't afford all the shiny stuff they see on TV.

So, I protest. In my small ways.

Comments

To Defeat The Corporate State Takes Patience and Guile

[nebris.livejournal.com]

“Do not expect to defeat The Corporate State at the ballot box. Big Money can power its way through almost any election cycle. That is not however a call for Revolution. Big Money can power its way through those as well and rather unpleasantly.

Instead it must always be remembered that by its conscienceless and rapacious nature, the thing sows the seeds of its own destruction. Therefore what is required is both the ability to survive its collapse and to have another functional structure extent to replace it. Anything else is empty rhetoric.”

That said, I do very much respect your slow chipping away at the monster. At this point, that's my default strategy as well.

~M~

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

thank you

[cinnastyx.livejournal.com]

Keep on with the small protests. If you can cause one person to change their mind or how they view a group that they're not a part of, it's a very good thing!

More and more the government and big business seem to be using Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" as a blueprint on what to do instead of what to avoid doing. It's becoming extremely worrisome.

"Fight for the value of your person. Fight for the virtue of your pride. Fight for the essence of that which is man: for his sovereign rational mind. Fight with the radiant certainty and the absolute rectitude of knowing that yours is the Morality of Life and that yours is the battle for any achievement, any value, any grandeur, any goodness, any joy that has ever existed on this earth."

[montgomeryscott.livejournal.com]

Continue to protest, my friend. It's all that any of us can do.

Someone I care about got arrested at Occupy a while back, and she only was released because of white privilege. Everything is a mess.