Activist Marz

OK, so my ENTIRE life I've been told that I really am some lost refugee from the '60s. That I was born 10 years too late. That I should have been at Woodstock (go look it up if you don't know what it is :D), that I should have lived in the era of tye-dyed shirts and bell bottom hipster jeans and peace signs, and sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Peace rallies and Folk Singers with songs of protest. When everyone had a CAUSE they believed in, and would fight, risk going to jail, because of that cause. All of a sudden, at the ripe old age of 47, I've managed to find myself in the position of ACTIVIST.

I fit the definition. I have a cause, I'm passionate about it, I'm diligently gathering as much information as I can on the topic, AND, I'm continually looking for ways to 'stick it to the man' as they would have said in the 60s/70s. Now, we'll just say, 'paralyze my opponents'. It's truly been a fascinating, eye-opening experience (by the way, I haven't started writing folk songs...yet). One I'm sure will get passed down at the family dinner tables when I'm 102 and my great-grandchildren want to hear about what a rebel their Great-Grandma was. How much trouble she caused (I'm still wondering if I'll end up getting arrested yet or not, that one is still out for debate).

One thing I've noticed is that people, in general, are stupid. They get "stuck" on an idea, regardless of how preposterous, and you can't change their mind for anything.

Another thing: people LOVE conspiracy theories. UFOs, JFK, can Twinkies survive nuclear holocaust? Did Bill Clinton REALLY inhale?? Was Arlen Specter really a robot after his brain surgery?? (honestly, it kind of appeared that way). The more outrageous the theory, the more likely people are to believe it. Or, at least be influenced by it.

In the past few months, I've watched more "responsible, reasonable adults" resort to name calling, tantrums, and other childish behavior that I truly care not to mention. Instead of working together as a community to solve a community's problem, people are divided, yelling at each other, insulting each other, resorting to pot-shots behind anonymous names on FaceBook (ok, I can almost understand kids doing this sort of thing because it's childish and ridiculously immature, but ADULTS???, come on, be serious).

I feel like I'm stranded out alone on a desert island. I'm trying to figure out REAL methods to solving the issues, while everyone else is acting like 10 year olds. I'm spending DAYS doing research, I'm contacting the people I need to contact and sharing what I need to share and moving on. They think I'm a radical. I've been called "evil", "diabolical", "genius", "insane", "naive", and "ridiculous". They think there's not much hope for what I'm working for. I DON'T CARE. If I can get ONE person in a higher position that me to think, than my efforts won't be in vain. I'm so frustrated, I have a few close people that I can trust to talk things out with. But, I can't share what I'm thinking with too many because now, on top of everything else, we're playing "spy". If the other party finds out what I'm doing, then there will be time for them to counter my actions. That would not be good. So, I'm running around in secret, digging up information, trying to figure out how best to use it, afraid that someone is going to inform on me.

And all I WANT to do is sit back and flash peace signs at everyone, wear tye-dye and put my purple hair up in pigtails.

I said, WAR, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

-Edwin Starr