A Boomer's Footprint

Tag: Activism

  • Become an activist from the comfort of your couch

    A maze to get through

    Navigating the maze of decision made for us

    There is a great website I subscribed to that may interest you as well.

    Here is the link – http://petitions.moveon.org/

    Any member (membership is free) can start or sign an ongoing petition.

    Some petitions on today’s home page include:

    No Room for Hate on Saturday Night Live

    Urge the US Government to accept more Syrian refugees

    How about ending the tax breaks for CEO bonuses instead?

    Stop the War on Women and Planned Parenthood

    And last week:

    President Obama, you have my support to stop illegal gun sales

    Tell President Obama to Ban the Box

    Tell Pop Secret to Stop Killing Bees??

    No More Tax Deductions for BP Oil Spill

    Don’t Let Murdoch meddle with National Geographic

    Give Seniors a Cost of Living Social Security Raise in 2016

    Some of these may be issues you are unfamiliar with. But you can see there are a variety of petitions created by people like you and me,  who feel strongly about a topic. I hope the authors have researched their topics. Of course, as with all information on the web, we can conduct our own due diligence before signing any petition.

    To decide if this website is for you, check out the “about page” to learn more about the organization – http://petitions.moveon.org/about.html

    Let us know if you post a petition – what issues are important to you?

     

     

  • Boomer Activism

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    The Skies the Limit

    Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, or direct social, political, economic or environmental change, or stasis. Various forms of activism range from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, sit-ins and hunger strikes. Research is beginning to explore how activist groups in the United States and Canada are using social media to facilitate civic engagement and collective action. (From Wikipedia)

    Back in the 1960’s, many boomers took a stand. We became activists.

    We marched, protested, challenged old rules and norms. We made our voices be heard.

    We fought for the advancement of civil rights, of sexual ethics, workplace flexibility and diversity, environmental values, and women’s equality.

    We experimented with sex, drugs and rock and roll.  We engaged in our own personal development.

    How sad and frustrating that over 50 years later many of the same issues we fought for still exist.

    Did we believe that business and government would represent our best interests?

    So maybe we dropped the ball. Did we become complacent with the status quo?  Did we rely on others to fight our fights?

    Unfortunately, I think there is truth to these questions. We buried our heads in the sand so continued disparity and inequality grew around us.

    Okay we can admit our failure and let the battle for equality begin anew.

    Inequality for diversity, women, veterans, youth and older people lives deserve our support. Which group speaks to your heart? What program can you begin or support an existing one?

    We may believe that one person cannot make a difference but we also know this is not true.  Thousands of individual stories exist as individuals saw a problem and work to resolve it.

    As boomers, we have numbers, power, experience and resources on our side. We can use our talents to make a real difference for ourselves, others and for the planet.

    We all have the opportunity to STEP UP and make a change to better a situation.

    What contribution are we going to make individually and as a generation?  This opportunity can be so exciting and challenging as well. But let’s do it.

    Don’t be shy – email me with your story of change for others.

    I would love to post it on my new web page – successes. Let your tale inspire others to STEP UP as well.