top of page
Search
  • Writer's picturegordondeleeconsult
    • Aug 12, 2018
    • 4 min read

Community Involvement, Activism, and Politics


By Marjorie Gordon-DeLee, MA

August 12, 2018


This nation is constantly bombarded with human issues that need to be resolved because there is nothing in life that is going to be perfect at all times and with this comes people lives that are intertwined with these unbalanced circumstances that will be affected as well. With that said, there should always be someone or groups of people compassionate enough about standing up for the suffering of another human being and speak out in an effort to solve the issue at hand whilst putting their own selfish pursuits in life on the back burner.


From a very young age, I have always had this deep desire to be involved in community affairs or activism. It is this passion inside of me that I have to want to make a difference in someone else life that would solve a problem that they were encountering that would lead to them having a better day. However, at every juncture, I have always run into roadblocks. Those roadblocks came in the form of life challenges that made it impossible to act upon my desire and in the form of people who blocked me as I tried to do good for others and make a difference. Consequently, leading to a lifelong desire that never really materialized, at least, not until now. It is now at the age of 63 that I have the freedom and ability to incorporate this type of community involvement into my life and have an impact on society. It really doesn’t matter the scale of involvement that it is on. Tt is the mere fact that I do have the option and freedom to do so at this time, utilizing the voice that God afforded me as an individual to perform his work on earth.


With the previous statements being established, I want to discuss community involvement, activism, and politics.


Community Involvement

First, when we speak on the community, it involves building relationships. Relationships are the things that bridge the gaps between barriers, that become ‘sticky subjects’ for many people (Google.com). That is to say that there are some subjects, such as: solving the homelessness of people, feeding the starving children, providing health care to the low income or no income people, providing employment to the ex-offenders and attacking other employment issues, etc.) are just a few of the subjects that people make attempts to not discuss or not get involved in within their communities.


The reason why it is important for me, as well as others, to get involved in our communities is within God’s plan for us to serve others in this society. Helping mankind and strengthening our communities as we all pull together with our ideas, resources, and time in pursuit of a common interest and that interest is to solve a problem. During the course of this involvement, we, as individuals, receive those immeasurable benefits of pride, satisfaction, and accomplishment.


Activism

Secondly, there is the area of activism which Merriam Webster defines as a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue. Having already lived over half of my life, it is important to now want to live the remainder of it with even more purpose for the maintenance of life for my children, grandchildren, great-grandchild and all mankind. Taking the steps involved to stand up for what I am passionate about in life and that is the fairness and equal treatment of people and for whatever it is in this society that is preventing people from living their best life.


Politics

Last is the discussion on politics which is defined as the activities, actions, and policies that are used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence a government (Merriam Webster). This is an area that I have always been intrigued by because of the total influence it has on every aspect of society. The political arena has the power to build up a community to its highest level or to tear it down. The type of power that comes through the political arena affects the lives of people. Because politics affect the lives of people, this is where I want to be. The laws that are enacted should reflect beneficial outcomes for the people in communities and in this nation. Laws should never impact a person or group of people negatively so much as to cause them to suffer in any way, shape or form.


With the aforementioned stated, I want to share the beginning sentences of “The Declaration of Independence”, which states:


“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.” (www.us.history.org)


As just stated, “The Declaration of Independence” plainly exclaims that “whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it” (www.us.history.org). As the society can see from the present form of government, changes must take place for the people of this nation to have fair and equal treatment evenly spread out to each person. That is to say, notwithstanding their, sex, race, color, national origin, or religion.



Activism. (n.d.) In Merriam Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Retried August 12, 2018 from https://www.google.com/search?q=activisim+definition+merriam+webster&ie=&oe=



US History. The Declaration of Independence. In Congress, July 4, 1776. Retrieved August 12, 2018. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

C

20 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

bottom of page