User:Average/Activism
The primary purpose of Activism is to create change in the face of intransigence. Hackerspaces have been ambivalent regarding the importance of it. Those against it feel it will turn people away who would help fund the movement. Those for it feel that without it, no real progress can be made and injustices will stand in uncomfortable relation to whatever successes are had within the space.
Don't ever be intimidated by lawyers. I've had Bar approved lawyers tell me that a judge can't overturn a law -- that they must uphold the law. But that's the purpose of the Executive Branch. If the Judge couldn't overturn a law, how could s/he rule a law "unconstituional"? You make sure your judge knows that before you accept a verdict that you feel is unfair.
Whatever the case, there's a lot of misplaced advocacy that passes for compassion and inappropriate judgement that marginalizes those who are already underserved. The Left, for example, has completely duplicated the errors and self-righteousness of the Right: marginalizing the underserved while turning the power of a true revolution for society into various glamours (fancy Javascript websites designed to trap you into their internal web, inclusivity that judges those who have skills but have different beliefs).
The challenges for a true and just activism are known. It is not trivial and those who partake in activism must be intimately familiar with the troubles of this society as well as its ideals. Society doesn't need false revolutionaries any more than more crusaders for the Church. The failure of both sides is huge, hence this movement as a sanctuary and learning-grounds that offer no pressure and puts the choices in your hands. Many hearts and well-intended spaces have been lost to bring you this message.... ;*)
Anyway, check out some of the links below. There's plenty of opportunities to be great.
See also:
