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by xenadu02 3427 days ago
Have you ever really thought about the phrase "the revolution will not be televised"?

More than anything you must fight apathy. Most people are busy and don't have time to pay attention to politics or get involved. Humans are also social creatures; knowing that you aren't the only one - that you aren't some oddball - makes a huge difference.

At some point people start to question their pre-conceived narrative. They stop wanting the status quo. The revolution begins when people's minds are changed. Visible action comes later. Sometimes that "later" is a decade or two when a new generation takes power and decides to do things differently than the generation before. Sometimes that "later" is next week and involves a literal revolution as we think of it.

But you can't say protest doesn't matter. It is the first step in changing hearts and minds.

1 comments

> But you can't say protest doesn't matter. It is the first step in changing hearts and minds.

Well I was trying to say that it doesn't work as it used to compared to the Civil Right Movement, Vietnam War, Women's Liberation. Something is off. Maybe it is just my perception. We saw what happened in Ukraine, Arab Spring and other countries. There it seems to work. Here it seems less so.

> Humans are also social creatures; knowing that you aren't the only one - that you aren't some oddball - makes a huge difference.

That's a good point. I hadn't considered it enough. Just knowing you are not alone is great motivator.

> They stop wanting the status quo.

Interestingly, I think that is what changed the election completely. Both Sanders and Trump supporters, especially their energy and enthusiasm, despite the media blackouts and lack of support from major donors like banks and even whole countries, have shown that people stopped wanting the status quo. Sadly the DNC never stopped to re-evaluate how come a relatively unknown old white male, seemed to have gotten so many votes.

> The revolution begins when people's minds are changed. Visible action comes later.

Well voting produces a visible change not that much later, in historic terms it is rather instantaneous.

> Sometimes that "later" is a decade or two when a new generation takes power and decides to do things differently than the generation before.

Wonder if there is a chance now to form a new party. What happened to Sander's supporters. They were all mostly young, very enthusiastic, it seems like now should be the time to give them a voice and harness that energy.