That acts close to my life, such as being unapologetically out about who I am, are important. Likely more important than attending a rally or writing my congress-swine. I think I affect more voters, for example, by letting my friends know I do not fit their relationship norm, than I ever might by holding a sign. People tend to dismiss rallys of "others" when they will stop and consider a friend saying the same thing quietly and by example. It can also be more dangerous, though. You can't hide in the anonymity of a large group. You are revealing yourself to people 'close' to you. Sometimes that hurts, as I've been reminded all to recently. It takes courage to make the personal the political, because by definition you're putting *yourself* out there in a way that you may or may not as a traditional activist.
I have come to believe this more and more strongly as I've aged. Being politically active in the more traditional way was *fun* when I was younger (or, more relevantly, had more time) but I think that the things I've done close to home - the food I choose to prepare, the way I conduct my relationships, the things I discuss with my kids and friends - those are where real change happens in the world.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2005-12-07 10:04 am (UTC)I have come to believe this more and more strongly as I've aged. Being politically active in the more traditional way was *fun* when I was younger (or, more relevantly, had more time) but I think that the things I've done close to home - the food I choose to prepare, the way I conduct my relationships, the things I discuss with my kids and friends - those are where real change happens in the world.