Because cowardly politicians bend to strength, we must show we are strong. Perception of public opinion matters to politicians. Some politicians see following public opinion as their job. Others are fear-driven and will always take the side of the strongest person or force, because cowards feel small inside and seek protection above principle. To apply this insight, we should direct our work at demonstrating that we are the strong ones. And we show we are strong just by showing them who we are: a massive wave of people holding bravery and compassion and creativity and joy and rock-hard resolve. We just have to be the wave.
This second video in the Why Protest? podcast series starts with a personal story from The Audacity’s facilitator, James Cook, about his night with a trumpet and why arts activism works. First, artists of all sorts know how to tell a compelling story that can hit different parts of the human soul. That’s convincing. Second, by doing works of activist community art together we will weave a web of community connecting people who know each other, who know how to work together. That web of community is a safety net of trust… because they will be able to take any one of us, but they cannot take all of us if we stick together. Community arts activism is preparation for surviving the looming authoritarian disaster.
Episode 1 of a YouTube series on the question, “Why Protest?” Each video shares an answer from a different vantage point or experience of protest.
Episode summary:
GOP senators voted unanimously on 3/1/25 to target some of the already most vulnerable children for being different. Living in Maine, it’s necessary to point out this includes Senator Susan Collins.
The morning after the vote, the Ivy League Debate Club circles in Democratic Leadership are murmuring their wishes that we regular folk avoid talking about it. “Shh. This issue loses the game in Maine!” they say.
But we’re not in an oak-paneled room of cozy polite opponents winning on points. MAGA has played Kayfabe for years. Confidence wins that game. And that means confidence in one’s values, whether they be cruel (Republicans targeting kids) or kind (lifting up all children, not using them).
The priorities of this argument are also oriented inappropriately to elections. Yes, elections matter, but winning them is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to build a constructive, trusting, nurturing society that includes and benefits as many people as possible, and they’re HURTING VULNERABLE KIDS. It is crucial to make that unacceptable, and that means standing up in our communities and setting the standard. That is what public demonstrations do: reset the agenda to reframe the stakes and priorities, with the confidence needed to win a Kayfabe audience over.
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Because cowardly politicians bend to strength, we must show we are strong. Perception of public opinion matters to politicians. Some politicians see following public opinion as their job. Others are fear-driven and will always take the side of… Read more: Why Protest? #3: Because Cowardly Politicians Bend to Strength
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