Yes, I am a product of the ‘80s. It’s mostly evident in the music I like and listen to when the world gets to be too much. Even Josh loves ‘80s music. This comes in handy when we’re on long road trips like the one I’m planning for Mother’s Day weekend. (I’d say we’re planning, but I can’t tell him we’re going until the day before…)
Today, when I opened Facebook and scrolled through the posts from the pages I’ve “Liked” one in particular caught my eye. Among the many Ds related pages, and the television shows, actors, musicians I like to keep up with, there’s a sight called IMissThe80’s. The administrator posts lots of YouTube videos that used to appear on MTv, back when MTv played videos…
Today he had posted a song by Corey Hart – Never Surrender. I had to listen to that one. It sums up how I feel about my “everyday advocacy.”
Today he had posted a song by Corey Hart – Never Surrender. I had to listen to that one. It sums up how I feel about my “everyday advocacy.”
“And nobody wants to know you now
And nobody wants to show you how”
In times where my activism has kicked in, the people in my life who “don’t get it” get sick of hearing from me. I can get obsessed. If something hits a nerve, comes too close home, or just makes me sick to my stomach, my "overactivism" takes control of my senses. I can feel like a woman on a mission. Sometimes, it gets to the point where I say or post things without thinking. It’s a gut reaction that can not be stopped.
The new technology has made life simpler in some ways. Remember, I grew up when we didn’t have computers or cell phones. Learning to use Twitter has enlightening me and given me a new outlet for my activism.
One of the dedicated Thursday night Tweeters showed me how to use the phrases already trending to catch more people’s attention. Like today, #IWishIWas showed up in the trending box. I used it to create:
#IWishIWas The person in charge of conducting an independent investigation - oh wait! That's @DougGansler #JusticeForEthan http://chn.ge/11Ime8X
The new technology has made life simpler in some ways. Remember, I grew up when we didn’t have computers or cell phones. Learning to use Twitter has enlightening me and given me a new outlet for my activism.
One of the dedicated Thursday night Tweeters showed me how to use the phrases already trending to catch more people’s attention. Like today, #IWishIWas showed up in the trending box. I used it to create:
#IWishIWas The person in charge of conducting an independent investigation - oh wait! That's @DougGansler #JusticeForEthan http://chn.ge/11Ime8X
“With a little perseverance
You can get things done”
Yes, we have to keep at this, even when people are telling us to “talk about something else for a change.” When it comes to advocacy, we have to ‘persevere.’ When people were telling me that Josh couldn’t do something, I had to change their minds. When people said I couldn’t go back to college, especially for something with no set career goal in mind, I had to show them that I could. Sometimes, advocacy and activism is just a matter of responding to a situation by doing what feels right. You may not be able to explain it to others eloquently, but you know it’s something you HAVE to do.
“And when the night is cold and dark
You can see, you can see light
'Cause no one can take away your right
To fight and to never surrender
To never surrender”
The reason we do this is simple, we can see light. We know our children and we see the reactions of others. We know there can be, no, there HAS TO BE a better way. We read things like the story of a mom who hears “Did you get tested?” and we know that some people think our children don’t deserve to be here. We see scientists trying to find more “people friendly” ways to justify killing unborn and live babies with Down syndrome. We see friends sharing pictures of not quite married people who happen to have Down syndrome, realize that they think they're being helpful, and choose to enlighten them with another way of seeing.
And we see a beloved family member, someone who could have been our child, killed by strangers for no reason.
We know we HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
This new technology brings all these stories to our doorstep - into our living rooms and our lives. We are all connected in ways that someone like me, a product of the 80’s, could never have imagined. Now that we’re here, and we find out that there is still so much injustice, so much misunderstanding, we look for new ways to do something.
To make a difference.
To reach even one person, change even one mind.
For me, I try to make use of the new technology, and the ‘old ways.’ I blog, tweet, email, and post. I’ll write and send “snail mail.” I’ll ‘go home’ to be where I can be seen and see others. I’ll set off balloons, and talk to reporters. I’ll hug the family that I met when times were simpler, and our outlook on life was less jaded, more optimistic. I share their pain and outrage.
Not doubt I’ll come back even more determined.
I’ll NEVER SURRENDER the idea that small acts of defiance can change the status quo.
And we see a beloved family member, someone who could have been our child, killed by strangers for no reason.
We know we HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
This new technology brings all these stories to our doorstep - into our living rooms and our lives. We are all connected in ways that someone like me, a product of the 80’s, could never have imagined. Now that we’re here, and we find out that there is still so much injustice, so much misunderstanding, we look for new ways to do something.
To make a difference.
To reach even one person, change even one mind.
For me, I try to make use of the new technology, and the ‘old ways.’ I blog, tweet, email, and post. I’ll write and send “snail mail.” I’ll ‘go home’ to be where I can be seen and see others. I’ll set off balloons, and talk to reporters. I’ll hug the family that I met when times were simpler, and our outlook on life was less jaded, more optimistic. I share their pain and outrage.
Not doubt I’ll come back even more determined.
I’ll NEVER SURRENDER the idea that small acts of defiance can change the status quo.