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Tee Shirt Wearers
This may be an odd topic for a progressive blog, but I have to get this off my chest. Sitting in my dorm room I am wondering why are things so hard. Why does it take so much effort to get things done on both grassroots and executive levels? Ideally we come in to this network of people with great ideas, knowledge, and energy and then where does it go. What happened to all the people who were down for the cause? All of those people who had your back giving you inspiration. Where did they go?
When one begins this path of progressive work and service, we are told that the "movement" needs people to run it. We are told that it takes all of us to make this movement work. In hearing this I am called to remember the quotes and sayings that the older members of my frat were saying to me when I joined Kappa. The said “We are not a tee shirt wearers frat". If you come in to this organization that it is about work and sacrifice and achievement, not about parties and girls but work. Similarly that’s what the Progressive movement is about, it is about sacrifice and work and then achievement, not reaping the benefits of others. This is what I'm not seeing. What I see is one of two things and I might be wrong in this. First I see people who work hard and have passion and drive, then second I see the "Tee Shirt Wearers", people who are always down for the cause until the work starts then they can't be found. Well where did you go? What happened, did you lose interest? Did you over extend yourself?
What kills me about tee shirt wearers is that they are the best pump fakers in the league (football reference: when you fake a pass to someone) only because they will have you believe that they are doing all this work for you, and you probably have things depending on these individuals, and you can't do it because they just fall of the face of the earth. So what should we do about them? the good hearted rainbows and puppies side of me thinks that we should give them another chance and nurture them and hope that there inner leader will come out. The other side of me, for argument sake let’s call that side Konfidence, thinks that we should just write them off and focus on the group that does work and is constantly getting things done. What Do You Think???
When one begins this path of progressive work and service, we are told that the "movement" needs people to run it. We are told that it takes all of us to make this movement work. In hearing this I am called to remember the quotes and sayings that the older members of my frat were saying to me when I joined Kappa. The said “We are not a tee shirt wearers frat". If you come in to this organization that it is about work and sacrifice and achievement, not about parties and girls but work. Similarly that’s what the Progressive movement is about, it is about sacrifice and work and then achievement, not reaping the benefits of others. This is what I'm not seeing. What I see is one of two things and I might be wrong in this. First I see people who work hard and have passion and drive, then second I see the "Tee Shirt Wearers", people who are always down for the cause until the work starts then they can't be found. Well where did you go? What happened, did you lose interest? Did you over extend yourself?
What kills me about tee shirt wearers is that they are the best pump fakers in the league (football reference: when you fake a pass to someone) only because they will have you believe that they are doing all this work for you, and you probably have things depending on these individuals, and you can't do it because they just fall of the face of the earth. So what should we do about them? the good hearted rainbows and puppies side of me thinks that we should give them another chance and nurture them and hope that there inner leader will come out. The other side of me, for argument sake let’s call that side Konfidence, thinks that we should just write them off and focus on the group that does work and is constantly getting things done. What Do You Think???
- Jason Richberg's blog
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A big part of the issue is
A big part of the issue is that we organizers and activists left of center need to make our movement(s) more fun to be in. When we deride much of mainstream mass-consumer culture, we need to offer an alternative to those who would like to join us. We need a welcoming Left, not a Left that is just work, work, work, guilt, guilt, guilt. Yes, work needs to be done, but we need to have some good, dedicated fun time together. If the only time you see your fellow activists for an extended period is at meetings, where there's always a long list of agenda items, and more often than not is very stressful, people will drift away. People will stay active if their circle of hang-out friends is also active - they help support and encourage each other's work.
Our citywide activist group in DC generally goes out to eat/have drinks after our weekly meetings, and that helps provide the kind of meaningful social relationships that people need. It also helps form the basis of emotional support within the group - something that a lot of progressive groups sorely lack. (Sometimes even just a few words of encouragement or an extra "thank you" for a job well-done can be the difference between keeping or losing a productive group member.)
The Point
In many ways I do agree with you, but if your co-workers regardless of situation are down for the cause until work needs to be done then it isn't a matter of fun but of dedication. When I work on projects I understand that as much as it is about fun if we do not accomplish our goals then the purpose is diminished. We do need to associate with our coworkers in and outside of work, but if they don't show up to work then what?
(Konfidence)
Well, if
Well, if co-workers/classmates agree with you, that's already half the battle won. The trick might be to ease them into progressive work, by starting off with it being 90% fun and 10% work, and gradually changing the proportion to eventually be something like 60% work and 40% fun - and by that time people will be having fun even during the "not fun" working part.
For those who wouldn't attend anything like a political/progressive activity in the first place, even though they are progressive, then that probably means getting to be friends with them in a purely social atmosphere, like happy hour, etc., so then they'll be more likely to say yes when you want to do some progressive work because you're not just an ideological comrade, but also a friend.
But of course, some people will just be impossible to reach. And sadly that's their loss, in the end.
If....
To give people a false sense of security by tricking them into having fun, is wrong. If you have fun while you are working that is fine at the end, the progressive work should be fun it should be uplifting and spiritually enlighting but there is work to do. I doubt that the Obama camp says before meetings lets prank call some people, or the McCain Camp has monopoly Mondays right? if anything they go out after work and socialize. The point of my Blog was to talk about those who say they are Progressive and don't do anything with it but are quick to show up at functions for a photo op.... I ask are you a Tee Shirt Wearer
(Konfidence)