>> In a sense my question is rhetorical, there is no right or wrong answer,
>> but I am interested to hear people's opinions and rationale. Is it
>> better to renounce your power and fight against the ills inside the
>> system from the outside of the system? Or: Should you embrace the
>> power you have and use it to influence and effect change from within the
>> system.
>
>The power is illusion, like the control an alcoholic believes alcohol
>will give them. Just as you cannot create a more sober society by
>drinking more, you cannot bring about true change by becoming an
>oppressor. And if you are not a top notch oppressor, your power will
>be severely limited.
>
>I am a believer in both. I think we should create the communities
>that we would like to live in now. And I think that outside of those
>communities, we need to use the power of democracy to bring about
>change in the system. Because, until the system of oppression falls,
>it is the system under which we must live, whether sheltered by our
>own communities or not.
>
>Stephen
I have left the entire msg above as stephen's para 1 seems to me to be
contradicted by his para 2. Oh well... I agree with part of what stephen
says - That we should create the community we want but...
Ghandi talks about how joining the system to overcome it does not work -
"The means corrupt the ends" That the only way to win peace is to be
peaceful ect. The democratic system is a system which supports patriarchy
in many ways, (now I know that democracy is almost sacred in USA but do try
to suspend your horror for just a moment)
People believe that democracy gives them a voice, people believe that
democracy is fair! (It is the modern opium of the masses, the old opium was
religion).
Democracy keeps the powerful, the moneyed in power. How can one become
President if the USA for example. One must campaigne heavily for
recognition which costs BIG BUCKS! Is this true democracy where only the
wealthy can get political power.
And who votes in this democracy. How many people does this involve? You
all know that the percentage is low. What you may not know are the
demographic characteristics of the people who vote and those who do not.
Voters are characterised as wealthy and educated. You may argue that you
vote, and are not wealthy, but I think perhaps you are educated.
People who do not vote (in USA) are overwhelmingly not white, not wealthy,
not educated. People who are oppressed. Oppressed people as well as not
voting, can also be characterised as feeling that they are politically
impotent (they cannot make a difference anyway so why vote). ECT.
FACT: The people in Australia who want Australia to have a similar system
to the US (Australia currently has compulsary voting) are the Right wing
parties. Reason for this: Because they know the above to be true. They
know that if they can get the system America has for us that we will be
able to have other things America has - intractable poverty, unbreakable
power by the wealthy, a conservative govt for ever.
So what's the alternative?
Work in the system but not by being a part of it. Do not covet wealth and
power. How? I havent' all the answers but people have written on Ghandi's
philosophy which explains why you cant fight evil with evil ect.
Education is also a big thing. There is a widespread belief that voluntary
voting is a human right. To me this is just silly. How can this be a
higher human right than human dignity, a persons right to self
determination, a persons right to feed themselves without being sent to a
white mans jail?
I have to go now.
I hope this stimulates some thought, discussion, even flame would be welcome.
Kylie.
We must not be frightened to speak out just because our opinions seem
vastly different to everyone elses.
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