Does social justice suffer from a lack of diversity of perspectives?

[-Peacemaker-]

So often social justice activists with the loudest voices, at least when we tune in to media, proclaim the need to fight for lgbt, immigrant, minority, and women’s right. Which on the surface sounds great, but the so called solutions tend to be condemning people who targeted as hostile and voting correctly. The political agenda is what troubles me. Why do so many social justice advocates sound like they are parroting politicians? And why are options for advocating limited to voting, convincing others to vote, and crushing opponents...usually those who vote on the opposite side? If people have a heart for immigrant they are more than welcome to go serve some in a refugee center, though it might cost them a Saturday night and it may go uncelebrated by their peers. The homeless are huge justice issue. There’s nothing stopping people from serving a shelter. The disabled, those suffering from addictions.. there’s plenty of opportunities to serve those people, though it will cost time and money. How about going to an inner city neighborhood and community service? Not a bad way to improve racial relations. And what if some folks actually took some steps to lift some burdens of people on the opposite side of the political aisle? It would inspire instead of condemn. It worked for MLK. No reason to reinvent the wheel

 

[Father Heathen]

Are you asking why those who support the rights of X would rally against politicians who oppose the rights of X?

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Are you asking why those who support the rights of X would rally against politicians who oppose the rights of X?

I’m questioning what does it mean to sincerely support. What is just flattering and what is genuine ie usually involving some time of sacrifice of time and money and often not out of an abundance but a sacrifice that hurts

 

[sayak83]

So often social justice activists with the loudest voices, at least when we tune in to media, proclaim the need to fight for lgbt, immigrant, minority, and women’s right. Which on the surface sounds great, but the so called solutions tend to be condemning people who targeted as hostile and voting correctly. The political agenda is what troubles me. Why do so many social justice advocates sound like they are parroting politicians? And why are options for advocating limited to voting, convincing others to vote, and crushing opponents...usually those who vote on the opposite side? If people have a heart for immigrant they are more than welcome to go serve some in a refugee center, though it might cost them a Saturday night and it may go uncelebrated by their peers. The homeless are huge justice issue. There’s nothing stopping people from serving a shelter. The disabled, those suffering from addictions.. there’s plenty of opportunities to serve those people, though it will cost time and money. How about going to an inner city neighborhood and community service? Not a bad way to improve racial relations. And what if some folks actually took some steps to lift some burdens of people on the opposite side of the political aisle? It would inspire instead of condemn. It worked for MLK. No reason to reinvent the wheel

Who told you MLK was not shrill and politically active? I am pretty sure that picketing, marches and rallying was the way he went about his agenda.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Who told you MLK was not shrill and politically active? I am pretty sure that picketing, marches and rallying was the way he went about his agenda.

I remember King trying to inspire his enemies to repentance, not destroy them. I also don’t remember him operating in a mob, ganging up trying to outnumber his enemies. Actually he took on the mob and would get beaten and thrown in jail. That’s what an actual warrior looks like

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I agree that participation in community services is an undervalued and overlooked activity in your average American life. And we absolutely should spread the word that these do make a difference and just a couple hours could help a hungry family, or displaced immigrant, or scared lgbt kid.

I don't think that precludes political involvement though. Getting policy aid as well as manpower is also important, and that means encouraging voting on issues which affects these people.

I do think that refusing to work with political opponents on these issues due to them being political opponents is tragic, in the same way that I think two people with differing religious backgrounds refusing to work together is tragic.
I have never turned away volunteers who were Republican or who were Christian, and none of them have turned away me, a liberal Democrat atheist.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

So often social justice activists with the loudest voices, at least when we tune in to media, proclaim the need to fight for lgbt, immigrant, minority, and women’s right. Which on the surface sounds great, but the so called solutions tend to be condemning people who targeted as hostile and voting correctly. The political agenda is what troubles me.

Why? Is it not common sense that, if you believe in certain values, you would object to political ideologies that oppose those values?

Why do so many social justice advocates sound like they are parroting politicians?

Could you give some examples?

And why are options for advocating limited to voting, convincing others to vote, and crushing opponents...usually those who vote on the opposite side?

Firstly, they aren't limited to just voting. Voting is, of course, an important part of fighting for the rights and ideals you believe in, but there are lots of other methods used to get messages across - protests, rallies, letter writing campaigns, awareness, lectures, etc.

Secondly, what exactly do you mean by "crushing opponents"?

If people have a heart for immigrant they are more than welcome to go serve some in a refugee center, though it might cost them a Saturday night and it may go uncelebrated by their peers. The homeless are huge justice issue. There’s nothing stopping people from serving a shelter. The disabled, those suffering from addictions.. there’s plenty of opportunities to serve those people, though it will cost time and money. How about going to an inner city neighborhood and community service? Not a bad way to improve racial relations.

Lots of people DO do that. Are you suggesting that people who are interested in social justice should limit themselves entirely to hands-on charity work and shouldn't try to enact change on a larger scale by influencing social and political opinion?

And what if some folks actually took some steps to lift some burdens of people on the opposite side of the political aisle? It would inspire instead of condemn. It worked for MLK. No reason to reinvent the wheel

What exactly would this entail?

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I remember King trying to inspire his enemies to repentance, not destroy them. I also don’t remember him operating in a mob, ganging up trying to outnumber his enemies. Actually he took on the mob and would get beaten and thrown in jail. That’s what an actual warrior looks like

MLK, as powerful and memorable person as he was, did not define the civil rights movement, which continued both with violence and nonviolent protests according to the different philosophies of disparate groups. See: Malcolm X.

Sometimes we get some historical Rose Colored Glasses and miss the less savory parts of the overall times when comparing to today. Another example is feminism. People forget that first wave feminists literally stabbed people and blew up buildings at times.
I can't think of any civil rights battles that wasn't marked by some violence somewhere.
I endeaor to work through legal channels only, unless the law requires me to persecute or ignore persecution, and then I would endeaor to provide safety to those being persecuted in what way I could.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Immortal, I believe social justice that transcends political boundaries. I don’t think it’s possible to have a genuine heart for justice and only talk about hotbutton political issues. If someone genuinely has a heart for the hurting they’re going to be drawn to groups that aren’t even mentioned by politicians. How people spend their time and money really shows biggest concerns

 

[-Peacemaker-]

MLK, as powerful and memorable person as he was, did not define the civil rights movement, which continued both with violence and nonviolent protests according to the different philosophies of disparate groups. See: Malcolm X.

Sometimes we get some historical Rose Colored Glasses and miss the less savory parts of the overall times when comparing to today. Another example is feminism. People forget that first wave feminists literally stabbed people and blew up buildings at times.
I can't think of any civil rights battles that wasn't marked by some violence somewhere.
I endeaor to work through legal channels only, unless the law requires me to persecute or ignore persecution, and then I would endeaor to provide safety to those being persecuted in what way I could.

Can you name me a social justice advocate that transcended racial and political lines more effectively?

 

[Kemosloby]

I think the "social justice" you seek is limited by the willingness of people to accept what is wrong as right. Doing too much is sometimes just as wrong as not doing enough. The government's job isn't to provide everybody with the garden of Eden, or to make sure everyone has an Iphone and food stamps.

 

[sayak83]

I remember King trying to inspire his enemies to repentance, not destroy them. I also don’t remember him operating in a mob, ganging up trying to outnumber his enemies. Actually he took on the mob and would get beaten and thrown in jail. That’s what an actual warrior looks like

That is not community service. Boycotting, marching, picketing, shouting slogans and holding rallies excoriating the southern bigot politicians by speech are all part of activism. Large turnout and shows of force through such turnouts are always an important aspect of such activism.

Anyways, as far as I can see, there isn't any violent activism going on at this moment in US. Frankly there is no activism of ANY sort going on in US at all.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Immortal, I believe social justice that transcends political boundaries.

Well that's noble and all, but what exactly do you do when faced with political opposition who are absolute in denying rights to others and show no chance of changing their minds? Fascists, for example? How would you reach across to them?

I don’t think it’s possible to have a genuine heart for justice and only talk about hotbutton political issues.

But many activists DON'T just talk about political issues - in fact, they mostly talk about SOCIAL issues.

If someone genuinely has a heart for the hurting they’re going to be drawn to groups that aren’t even mentioned by politicians.

Why?

How people spend their time and money really shows biggest concerns

And what method would you prefer social justice advocates to use? I see a lot of allegations but no actual solutions.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Can you name me a social justice advocate that transcended racial and political lines more effectively?

How would you begin to quantify that?

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Can you name me a social justice advocate that transcended racial and political lines more effectively?

How did MLK reach out to the KKK?

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Well that's noble and all, but what exactly do you do when faced with political opposition who are absolute in denying rights to others and show no chance of changing their minds? Fascists, for example? How would you reach across to them?
ns.

I think most of the people that want to battle the ‘fascists’ and the ‘racists, and the ‘bigots’ should probably be worrying about their own sin issues. And once they did, they would have a way deeper perspective on the problems and solutions. If they talked more like MLK they would get way more accomplished

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Incidentally anyone remember that one time MLK put a bunch of kids in the front of a protest specifically with the intention to provoke the police into laying into and then arresting a bunch of black kids (which they did) and subsequently called it one of the smartest moves they've done? No?
It was called the children's crusade and even other civil rights activists criticized MLK for using violence against children as a way to garner press.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

I think most of the people that want to battle the ‘fascists’ and the ‘racists, and the ‘bigots’ should probably be worrying about their own sin issues. If they talked more like MLK they would get way more accomplished

Now you're kind of confusing me. Earlier you said more should be done to reach out to opposing views, and now you're saying that they shouldn't engage with opposing views.

I'm asking you to present a solution. It's all well and good pointing to what you see as faults - I'm asking you to say what they SHOULD do instead, and saying "Do what MLK did" isn't really a response, especially considering MLK was VERY politically active.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Now you're kind of confusing me. Earlier you said more should be done to reach out to opposing views, and now you're saying that they shouldn't engage with opposing views.

I'm asking you to present a solution. It's all well and good pointing to what you see as faults - I'm asking you to say what they SHOULD do instead, and saying "Do what MLK did" isn't really a response, especially considering MLK was VERY politically active.

I have no doubt MLK inspired members of the clan to do some self evaluation. How do you like people to approach you when they call you out for something? Would you feel inspired to change if they just kept telling of what scumbag and waste of humanity you are? One must first identify with his so called enemy, not create an artificial barrier by claiming to be morally superior

 

[ImmortalFlame]

I have no doubt MLK inspired members of the clan to do some self evaluation. How do you like people to approach you when they call you out for something? Would you feel inspired to change if they just kept telling of what scumbag and waste of humanity you are?

Once again, you're presenting a problem and not a solution. From what I've read, seen, heard and experienced firsthand, modern social justice activists are just as involved with engagement, education and debate as they are with direct political or social activism. I just don't see the problem you're seeing.