From the 1930s through the 1960s, Saul Alinsky, a tough, pragmatic American activist and a lover of humanity, pioneered a method of helping poor and working-class people organize themselves to improve their communities, especially in crime-ridden Chicago neighbourhoods. He subsequently wrote a book entitled “Rules for Rebels” which highlighted some of the peaceful but assertive ways which allowed ordinary people to push for social change. He would immerse himself in the neighbourhood, listen to ordinary people’s troubles and needs, assess where power lay, and empower previously divided groups to seek common goals by standing up to government and corporate machines. After the recent South Florida high school shooting and other mass shootings, you could sure use another Saul Alinsky right now.
Perhaps, just perhaps, this latest school shooting is the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was inspiring to see hundreds, if not thousands of young people organizing to protest against the lack of gun control measures in the U.S. and for changes in the gun culture. They are even planning a huge march on Washington. All of this is very good and nice, except as Alinsky would note, you need to start on-going community-based initiatives to effectively influence state and local authorities. The youth movement must align itself with existing community and state-wide organizations to develop comprehensive and continuous plans of action. Local, state and federal politicians have to feel the immediate heat. The movement must use social and main stream media to get its messages out. It must organize support wherever possible in upcoming federal and state elections for pro-gun control candidates. There must be open and effective protest.
Do not fool oneself, for any initiatives will have to be organized on a long-term basis. There is little doubt that the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its supporters, including the arms industry, will throw everything except the kitchen sink into a counter campaign, while increasing lobbying at state and federal levels. However, if history is any indication, further mass shootings will unfortunately occur in the U.S. Moreover, these youth represent future leaders who must take a concrete stand against organizations such as the NRA and their appalling past and current influence on federal and state governments.
The issue of gun violence in the U.S. has existed for decades, and it will perhaps take decades to halt the evident trends. Hopefully, there are some Saul Alinskys’ among the youth of today. Those of us who care, must support their cause and peaceful protest. Otherwise, these horrendous tragedies will simply repeat themselves, year after year after year.
FROLITICKS 