Questioning Activism

Howard Zinn spoke at New Haven this past week and his "talk" was dedicated to activism. Why activism is needed and what exactly is activism. I often read Howard Zinn in the Progressive and his book "A People's History of the United States" (he recently updated the book for youth) is on my list of ten books that have to be read.

It got me to thinking as we in Hoboken are coming upon another useless city council election on May 8th. The same people saying the same things election after election.

I have attended every anti-war rally since the talk of war began to spread. The first huge rally occurred in October of 2002 in which I hobbled on a cane to attend...two days after Paul Wellstone was killed, the inspiring Senator from Minnesota. What we are doing isn't working. Going to rallies is important to make our voice heard, but it isn't working. The same people continue to run our country, whether the Democrats or as my friend likes to call them the Rethuglicans. But, they are virtually the same, one far less dangerous admittedly, but let us first understand that globalism became popular under Clinton, he ended welfare, he coalesced the media in the hands of the few, was less than supportive of unions, etc. I could go on for a while.

We need people in government who know the struggles of everyday life, of all races and both genders, not a system that encourages blue blood hackery, corruption and party boss behavior...most people in our country feel that universal health care is needed, that the rich should pay their fair share of taxes and that we should be out of this ghastly war. Yet, none of it occurs and none of it will occur until we stand up as people, as a community and as a nation. It will not be done for us, we must do it ourselves. What are you going to do?