Yesterday when I got to campus two strange things were happening. First, hovering above the small town were three black and angular military helicopters landing in the practice fields; unusually. Second, lining one side of the main street were protesters chanting a phrase that was garbled by the distance. I chose not to approach close enough to make out the cause for which they demonstrated. But today around campus I've noticed coffin shaped signs hanging on trees asking "Are we responsible for the actions of our government?" and the like. Are these events related, who knows? But it did get me pondering...
Whenever I see demonstrations of this sort I tend to walk the long way around. Even living in Flagstaff, I was too busy or too tired to take part in much activism. I thought this was because I was a shy person. Or even worse, I feared that I avoided protesting because I lacked conviction in my beliefs. I have a new idea.
I don't protest because the relationship with the living other is more important than any theory or cause or conviction (paraphrased from Nel Noddings' work). That is, building and maintaining relationships with other people is what really matters. I listen to someone speaking because I care about them and I wish to show that I care by considering their thoughts and opinions. However, the person shouting from the other side of the road does not care about me except as a mind to be influenced, manipulated. And I don't care about that person except that I wish to avoid them.
I do think that activism has a place. Organizing protests and demonstrations can bring people within a group closer together and it can spark dialogue between the people who care about each other enough to plan an event together. But my goal in organizing a demonstration is not change the minds of strangers (how aggressive!) but to build relationship and start dialogue with my co-organizers.
However, I hold this opinion loosely. Perhaps at times I am shy and cowardly when I choose not to join a cause I believe in. But at other times, I know that I am choosing to change the situation through care instead of combat.
