Becoming Part of the Solution

Retell

Influencing Public Policy
Jeanine C. Cogan

 What Can We Do?  Becoming Part of the Solution
Allan G. Johnson

Allan Johnson starts his piece off with the following statement.  "The challenge we face is go change patterns of exclusion, rejection, privilege, harassment, discrimination, and violence that are everywhere in this society and have existed for hundreds (or, in the case of gender, thousands) of years.  We have to begin by thinking about the trouble and the challenge in new and more productive ways..." ((Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 502)

Johnson speaks about two myths of why we don't fight for change.
Myth #1-  "It's always been this way, and it always will"
Johnson says it won't always be this way.  History shows us that the only thing we can count on is change.  I love his description of fluid societies.  "A society isn't some hulking thing that sits there forever as it is.  Because a system happens only as people participate in it, it can't help being a dynamic process of creation and re-creation from one moment to the next." (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 503)
Myth #2- Gandhi's paradox and the myth of no effect
This myths reminds us that we can't decide to change the world and have a need to see the change.  It isn't going to happen that fast.  We can however, change it a little bit at a time.  We can do this because we don't get overwhelmed and discouraged with the need to see a final result.  Johnson talks about Gandhi one saying something like this ". . .nothing we do as individuals matters, but that it's vitally important to do it anyway." (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 504)  He also gives an powerful image to show his point.  "Imagine, for example, that social systems are trees and we are the leaves.  No individual leaf on the tree matters; whether it lives or dies has no effect on much of anything.  But collectively, the leaves are essential to the whole tree because they photosynthesize the sugar that feeds it.  Without leaves, the tree dies." (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 504)

React/Recall
Not choosing the path of least resistance came up as the main idea of becoming part of the solution.  It reminds me of how, by not saying anything, we are agreeing with the way things are. It takes courage to speak out, and people might be uncomfortable and angry with you, but it shows you aren't satisfied and that there is another way.

I remember watching the video of my sister's wedding.  The videographer chose to interview people at the reception.  Guests were given the opportunity to say something about marriage, or really anything they wanted to say to my sister and her new husband.  Three of my father's friends started talking.  Two of them were saying some things about the "little lady" and other inappropriate things.  They laughed and were acting silly.  The third man spoke last.  He starting talking very seriously about cherishing each other, not taking each other for granted, etc.  The other two men immediately stood up straight, changed the expression on their faces and looked ashamed.  They had only been acting like many of the guests did.  Making fun of marriage and how Scott would need to keep Tiffiny in her place.  This man obviously didn't agree.  With his words, he showed the other men what he felt was important.  He didn't care what they thought of him.  In a few minutes, he changed the world just a little.  He made two men stop and think about their words and actions.


Rethink
I need to be part of the change.  I need to stop taking the path of least resistance.  I need to stop being mad at how our society does things and make an effort to change things.  There are millions of Americans who think like I do.  They aren't happy with the status quo but they do nothing to change it. Allan Johnson says it loud and clear "Their silence and invisibility allow the trouble to continue.  Removing what silences them and stands in their way can tap an enormous potential of energy for change. . . . " (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 502)  He is talking about me and friends I talk about these issues with.  I need to remove what is silencing me so I can speak out for myself and others.