I read today the post, Adios to Gringolandia, by One Pissed Off Liberal and particularly the 500 + responses. I am puzzled. This writer is leaving the U.S. because politics has become so defeating.
In our local group, The Progressive Alliance, last week we discussed the piece.
Generation Hopeless? Occupy has left some Millennials questioning their place in social movements. BY MATTHEW RICHARDS
http://inthesetimes.com/...
In this piece the writer is not leaving the U.S., but he is giving up on politics. These posts, the 500 responses and the viewpoints they represent concern me.
The first author tells us that he has protested, voted, picketed, etc. and Mathew Richards records his experiences in Occupy.
I am willing to assert that I have protested, picketed, voted, organized, etc. at least as much as these writers. I can demonstrate that if you wish. And, yes many things are currently difficult.
A good book on the current state of our politics is Democracy Inc.: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism. ( 2008)By Sheldon S. Wolin.
I strongly disagree with these perspectives and with nihilism in general, as represented by Chris Hedges in The Death of the Liberal Class.
I don’t disagree with their analyses of the issues, I disagree with their proposed solutions of withdrawal.
Withdrawal from political participation is precisely what the dominant elite want of us.
So, what are some alternatives?
First, have some historical perspective. ( Hedges has this).
Neal Meyers provides a start here.
A Historical Perspective on Occupy
Why Occupy is a continuation of the Left’s struggle.
BY NEAL MEYER
http://inthesetimes.com/...
Second, join a community of resistance or create a community. Working for substantive social change requires a long range struggle. In order to maintain your energy, your perspective, and your sanity, most of us need to be involved with other people. You can’t go it alone.
The testimony of the writer of Goodby to Gringolandia says to me that an active on-line community of supporters is not enough. You probably need human face to face support. I know that I do. And, at times, there is nothing wrong with taking a 6 month time out, but leaving the struggle is not a positive nor a useful approach.
Working with a sustaining community gives you energy. At a time when you are discouraged, defeated, some one else in another part of the community will pick you up with their initiative or their energy. Think, for example, of the brave efforts of people carrying out the Moral Monday protests in North Carolina.
Over the decades of political struggle I have worked with a number of communities, the United Farm Workers, Central America solidarity groups, currently I work with Democratic Socialists of America. I can’t know which community would be most appropriate for readers. But, I am confident that we usually need a community around us. If you can’t find an appropriate community, then you need to go out and create one.
It is a long and difficult struggle. But, I don’t agree that the best response is to withdraw. In arguing for leaving, you are becoming a significant part of the problem.