Recently, the topic of social activism was introduced to our class. Opening up the subject with some trending hashtags - #notyourmascot, #notmypresident, #yesallwomen, #blacklivesmatter, and #idlenomore - started the discussion into what do we know about social activism and the converse topic of slacktivism. The Twitter feed for #slacktivisim is chock full of ways to recognize slacktivism, what it is not, and turning hashtags into action. #ActivismIRL shows us many ways of transmitting our inaction to one of proactivity. Many take the easy route and click their way to feeling like they are making a difference. I, too, have made this choice. This video below not only shows the complacency of #clicktivism, but how clicking can share awareness of issues many be ignorant of. Another video response to Kony 2012 is here. Three big questions posed and should be considered when clicking are: Who is making money from these clicks? How accurate is the information being shared widely? Is having an awareness about issues a bad thing?
'
Are we able to follow the example of our instructor's father who, not only was an advocate for social justice, but was, also, a supporter of the NDP in many senses of the word. This man put his money and his feet where his professed beliefs led him. Others, like Margaret Trudeau and Buffy Sainte-Marie make their mark as true social activists as well. I do hope that the words that we speak equal the actions we are asked to take, unlike these people:
A student in a previous class has created a page to save the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan that is worth having a look at.
I feel that if a cause is worth making an effort beyond clicking and sharing a post it needs to be addressed. Whether you volunteer, contribute, pray, speak up and speak out do something besides letting your fingers do the 'walking'.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|