Saturday, March 22, 2003

Fairly recently after an overwhelming Green defeat in our local and congressional elections, I exchanged an email or two with one of the leaders of the Green party in the New York City area and was saddened but not surprised to find little had changed. The agenda for the coming year was as expansive and unattainable as ever. I again pleaded the case of building a constituency and urged the practical application of the Green motto "think globally, act locally" providing a collection of suggestions for implementing such an initiative. I promoted ideas like holding a neighborhood trash and graffiti cleanup, help to provide job or vocational training, volunteer with the elderly, sponsor local sports teams or youth organizations, or plant trees or gardens all the while modestly but consistently promoting who was behind it. I felt and feel these types of things will show the community that the Green party not only cares, but is willing to tangibly help improve the lives of our families and our neighbors families. Perhaps then the next time someone is handed a flyer on the street or solicited for a donation, a foundation will have been established to motivate them to listen and support broader Green initiatives. My email went unanswered.

Unfortunately I have found this type of response or lack thereof, as well as an absence of cohesive solidarity, indicative of most of the so-called progressive or liberal organizations in this country. All efforts at recruitment seem directed primarily at existing liberals, not the vast majority of Americans who are disinterested or confused about politics. In my opinion, this large apathetic demographic who usually casts votes on the side of the Democrats, is an untapped fertile field of support for progressive movements and if approached correctly could turn the tide against the system that currently chokes the Democracy out of this country in subtle and deep-reaching ways.

But I feel it falls to progressives not only to reach out to this group of people, but also to do so in a moderate and constructive way. A friend recently advised me "It is more effective to appeal to peoples intellect than their emotions". This comment marked a turning point in my political activism as I realized this is exactly what I was *not* doing throughout most of my actions and initiatives, a truth which I now realize speaks to the very limited success I have had in making people understand or adopt my views and agenda.

posted by Shaun Kenney | 3/22/2003 09:56:00 PM | 0 comments

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