Activism Etiquette and Religious Etiquette
I havent deliberately started with a taboo topic but thought this might be a good place to start. I often think about the things we are passionate about that can make others uncomfortable. The truth that we may all have things about ourselves that make others feel a little uncomfortable. These things could be anything and it isnt limited to activism or religion. It could be that football team we go for, the music we like or even the things we like to do in our spare time. These are the things that are a part of us, for whatever reason. These things can elict feelings of joy, shame or anger (among other things), depending on how you share who you are with others.
I can think of a number of workplaces I've been in where somebody is just so incredibly happy about their paleo diet or 5:2 diet that they start hard selling them. This of course makes the lunch room a bit awkward for the lady eating her hot chips or icecream (me), especially if she is the only one who is still not on the diet after a few months have passed. Lunchtime had become the time of day where my coworkers were calorie counting and success story sharing or having clunky and disjointed discussions about whatever I brought from home or the shop next door this time. When we really like something we get pretty excited about it. Thats what people do. We are social creatures. Sometimes we dont understand how others don't have the same enthusiasm.
Sometimes, although thankfully not always, we might get stuck on a one-way method for getting things done. Maybe we had such an amaaaaazing experience that the thought crossed our mind that 'Wow. Everybody has just got to try this. I am so happy. I think everyone should feel like this!' I remember feeling that way in 2011 when I studied a particularly intense Diploma via the local university. I loved it! I had it in my head that I was going to subtly convince people one by one that they would study this very unique diploma and they would love it. I also thought I was going to 'plant a seed' thought and I wouldnt even have to directly convince them. Sort of like Inception, if you saw that movie... get them to think it's their idea and it'll stick better. I know how crazy that sounds but thats how easy it is to get carried away. 'Someone will just hear a little bit about how great it is and they will just want it.' Sometimes we forget that it isnt exactly true. People have to want it for whatever reason. You can't make people want it or need it and some people don't really care. Some people have also had a prior negative experience.
Now, I'm not going to go too in depth about negative experiences people have had because of someone else's religion even though it is very much valid but I will touch on this. The way we all have the potential to provide such a negative experience to others is huge. Religion and beliefs are particularly sensitive. It is a known fact that insitituionalised religion and movements have been core to many negative experiences others have had. Push, push, push and telling you how to feel and know. Religion is a belief, not an insitution. Any insitution or organisation is an option to support belief. Belief is ANYTHING that you believe. So how can someone tell you what to believe...? This does not mean that organised or instituional religion is bad, but rather that how we present religion requires a more person centred approach. You might be thinking 'No.. but that's not a church' but the truth is that it very much can be. Each organisation or church, by whichever means, has the ability to review its methods in following its own traditions. Each individual member has the indiviudal responsibility for their actions. They have responsibility for the experiences they provide others with when they enact upon their interpretations. If everyone took this responsibility experiences would have the potential to be more neutral or positive.
The same can be said with activism. As someone who has been around a bit of it over the years, it seems very aparent that especially where I live people can get pretty passionate. By activism I mean anything from animal rescue to environmental protest. Heck, lets even through humanitarianism in there too. People are getting so passionate lines are blurring. If someone has or hasnt made up their mind about whether they want flouride in their water or donate to a particular charity might seem like a big deal but they are not your enemy. We can so easily get into heated discussions or think less of someone because they arent angry about the RSPCA in America or because they havent donated to the charity of YOUR choice or whatever it is this time. Do we attach or stereotype certain attributes to others because they do or dont support a movement?
I drink Nestle milo. You'd be surprised how many people I know that dont consider themselves to be activists that touch Nestle products and insist I don't either even though the original boycott campaign is over. Some of this is becuase of my own belief and perspective is that I think change needs to come from the inside and I think there are more effective ways to bring about change. I dont drink coffee although I still eat chocolate. I buy fair trade when reasonable. I think Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance is GREAT but I dont think everyone else is a monster if they dont. I'm pretty sure getting pushy with those things will make me memorable for all the wrong reasons. What can I say, getting extreme about ANYTHING is pretty psycho and leaves people who believe or support the same things open to sterotyping by others. It also distracts people from whatever statement or support your making and they may even avoid you in future. You just gotta let people be and accpet them for who they are.
I leave you with this thought as I also leave you with a challenge, if you dare.
Whatever it is that you are doing, when you are doing it, do it well. When you do it for others -do it even better. When you do it for them make it count. Be memorable for something positive and not just for how you want someone else to be.
Thanks for coming back.
Mezuzalah
Anonymous gives money to a homeless man from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oQWh_HNFs0