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Give Thanks for the Activists
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Anne Winkler-Morey, W A M M
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I’ve heard it three times in the last three weeks. Activists are “divisive,” “childish,” and “negative.”
When black leaders of the community opposed the appointment of former Republican legislative leader David Jennings as Minneapolis’s school superintendent, Jennings called them “divisive” and the “radical fringe.” The Star Tribune, Minnesota Daily, and the mayor of Minneapolis concurred.
When AFSCME 3800 (the union local representing clerical workers at the University of Minnesota) protested an address of University President Bruinicks, the Minnesota Daily called them “childish.”
When students, instructors, and community members concerned about the future of Chicano studies at the University of Minnesota pointed out the need for more faculty and the history of unmet promises, they were told that such talk is “negative” and will only harm the department.
In each case, the activists became the villains: A great advocate of African-American children’s education was poised to raise the educational achievement of children of color, but black activists screwed it up, once again. The university needs more money for everything, but childish, protesting secretaries are turning away donors who would benefit them. The university is committed to building a real Chicano studies department, but the negativity of students, instructors, and community members will insure a failed hiring process, once again.
To anti-war activists, this should all sound familiar. We are the ones, after all, who refused to put down our picket signs when U.S. troops were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. So it is our fault when they die or come home spiritually, mentally, and physically broken. We didn’t support them. We said, Bring them home. We were divisive, childish, and negative. We said no to war.
It is time to raise our fists in thanksgiving and affirm action. We know that activists are not any better or worse than anyone else. But the act of collective struggle for justice is noble. Che Guevara said, “Revolution is love.” So is any collective action to end injustice. In this time of Thanksgiving, instead of trading recipes because pilgrims stole land from Indians, let’s trade picket signs and affirm activism. And let me be the first of the season to express my depth of gratitude to all you civil rights, labor, education, and anti-war activists out there. I thank you for your unifying, adult, and very positive action. |
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© 2003 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete November 2003 Index - click here
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