Activism and Judgement
I’ve been a poor excuse for a blogger. I’d be surprised if anyone checked this stuff out anymore since it’s been such a long time. Work has me crazy busy right now with the beginning of the ski season.
Anyhow, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about judgement and its role in activism. At first thought, I wondered to myself if judgement has any place in activism; yet, later I wondered if activism can exist without it. I’m in a quandary.
Part of the nature of activism is recognizing that something is wrong and can be better, and acting upon that; recognizing that something is wrong and can be better necessitates judgement. Activism is not about making passive personal choices–though personal choices are important; rather, it’s about exercising the powers of persuasion so that the current societal climate can be ameliorated. Isn’t there an element of intrinsic judgement in the art of persuasion?
I hear the cry, “Don’t judge me! Respect my choices!” Yet, I think to myself: Not all judgement is wrong, and not all choices deserve respect.
I try hard not to pass judgement on others; afterall, I don’t know their personal histories or what necessitated the choices that they’ve made. I do, however, try to provide as much information as possible regarding the subjects about which I feel passionately, and, more often than not, providing that information is considered “judgemental.” I guess I’m okay with that label, but I’d rather be more effective in my persuasion of others and thus more effective in my activism.
December 1st, 2006 at 2:30 am
You are speaking as if all judgement is negative. In fact more often than not we pass positive judgement towards others than we do negative.
December 1st, 2006 at 2:34 am
It’s perfectly healthy to be judgemental of anothers choices. The key,although often difficult, is to not be judgemental of the person. I have been able to get along with a wide variety of people because we agreed to disagree, but we respected our individuality. As long as their is more debate than evangelizing things seem to work out.
December 1st, 2006 at 2:41 am
Very thoughtful post…I often wonder about the same thing. I tend to think that most people are just ignorant and mindless about their choices. And of course, I mean this in the nicest way.
So many people just have no clue there even IS a better way. I try to be gentle in my approach to educating them…even though it gets tiring after awhile. You are right in saying that we don’t know their background, issues, etc. For example, I tend to be pretty outspoken when it comes to shopping at Wal-Mart. But I know there are people who honestly believe that because of their financial situation they cannot shop anywhere else. Or, they are just completely oblivious to this corporate hog’s atrocities. Ok…I’m off on a tangent.
Glad to see a post mama…keep ‘em coming
December 2nd, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Relax. There is no separation of activism and judgment, and it would be a sad state of affairs if there were. Our decisions and actions are entirely political; to believe or act otherwise is to support laissez-faire - which is a political statement. In other words, people who don’t vote effect an election too. Silence is a response. Don’t think yourself into a non-paticipatory/inactive quandary on this, as too many demons lie in wait to take advantage of such a state of affairs. As Karl the Idiot once noted, “Up until now, philosophers have tried to understand the world, when the point is to change it.” You cannot embrace change without making an activist judgment.