VGRC

Inaction.

This one word pretty much defines the state of Western society, and it is one that most of you are likely guilty of as well. Pure inaction. There are not a whole lot of people out there willing to stand up for what they believe in, or live the words they preach to others. It has always been human nature to retreat to familiar safe surroundings, both in the physical realm and in terms of ideals. Do you want to know why there are so few radicals? Because everybody is too afraid to rock the boat or challenge their own worldview.

I know to some I will be preaching the obvious, but I hope this may serve as a wake-up call to others. Specifically, this little rant is for the people who already have started to think for themselves, but just are not really doing anything.

So you call yourself an activist? What are you really an activist for: Genuinely helping a cause, or just simply wanting to associate yourself with one? Corrupt has an excellent article on that topic.

But say you really do believe in your cause. Maybe you're campaigning to get people elected. Do you stop when voting is over? Do you do anything besides arguing over who should be in seats of power? Perhaps it's time to consider Don't Just (Not) Vote. As put by CrimethInc, "Voting for people to represent your interests is the least efficient and effective means of applying political power. The alternative, broadly speaking, is acting directly to represent your interests yourself."

Perhaps you just have ideas. Most of you will likely never write an article on them and get them out to other people. Changing the state of society requires communication, and the only way to spread your ideas is to, well, actually spread them. And while you're at it, act on them and live them. Nothing convinces better than a working example.

Are you waiting for a revolution? There is a common misconception among basement radicals and internet bloggers that a revolution in this country will be a giant organized event. The truth is, your life is your revolution. You can either squander it away waiting for somebody else to pick up the slack, or you can get going now. One example of this is the book Evasion. While the author's exploits of squatting houses and eating out of dumpsters are not necessarily an example to be followed, it shows how one person took their ideals and put them to work in his day-to-day life, without waiting for society to catch up and change to fit. The rest of you should be doing the same.

In the coming days, expect a small series of follow-ups to this article. It's time to get moving, kids.