FROM THE BARRICADES FOR 6/19

Posted by Jon Pike Jun 19, 2009

You’re probably wondering why this week’s column is NOT about Iran. After all, isn’t that the big story in the world of activism this week? Well, yeah, and there is a lot to say. For instance, while watching the news last night, I nudged my fiancée and told her to notice the cell phone in a protester’s hand. That’s how they’re getting the images out of the country. Right now, the Iranian government is trying to lasso water. They can shut down Facebook and Myspace, but it will do no good.

I’ve always been interested in American activism, and as an American, I kind of see it as my obligation to report on what’s happening in my country. I can tell you how I write one of these things. As I graze the week’s news, I light upon an article. I then see if I can find any links associated with the original article. Most activist groups, not just in Iran, use the Internet to unite people to their cause. I do a little cutting and pasting, and voila, that’s how I produce an activism piece.

What I liked about the story I wrote this week, about the logging protests, is how smart the activists are. They know that they can’t just use one modality of activism. In the case of these protesters, they are using the courts, the legislative process, public awareness, and yes, a little direct action to do what they think need to be done. Direct action can be messy, but as the IWW used to always say, “Direct Action gets the goods.” Direct action forces the authorities to either fight or surrender. As activism is often guerilla warfare, just because the authorities choose to fight, does not mean they will win.

I am almost always surprised by what I choose to highlight in my weekly look at the world of activism. A column like mine, has to let the news flow dictate the direction. But sometimes, you have to highlight an issue that is not well-known. I could have easily done Iran this week. For the above reasons, the logging activism sparked me this week.

I’m enjoying being back on the prairie these days. As I am continuing to decide how much I want to get back into traditional academia, I will probably always have this column to keep me interested in the world of activism.