Real
change that serves everyday Black, Brown, Red, White, and Yellow
peoples does not come about by osmosis nor by magic. Change, that
serves the people (and not the Wall Street corporate
vultures and military elite), is brought about
through serious, protracted, collective political struggle. In other
words, the actualization of a collective people�s
vision.���
The
time has come to turn the economic and political hopelessness and
despair that so many legitimately feel--into an organized people�s
movement on both the local and national level simultaneously.
An increasing number of people are realizing that they have been
politically pimped once again; but what is just as important is
the realization that only we the people can and will
stop being the dupes of these political, economic, and military
hustlers and pimps of everyday people.
This
means quickly, thoughtfully, and precisely formalizing a
people�s vision of and for political and economic justice and
systemic change. This vision must be kept simple and be inclusive.
It must be purposely and consistently developed and
implemented from the bottom up, not the top down.
Such
a people�s vision must be codified into a clear, precise,
and simple political platform which means
we must practice the following:
1.
Constantly exposing, with a view towards reversing,
the daily barrage of corporate-government double-speak and disinformation.
(Remember, we the people, are the constant targets of this
double-speak and disinformation).
2.
Being painfully honest with ourselves and one another, about our
strengths and weaknesses, and stalwart in our determination
to breach our own psychological and political comfort zones
with a view towards fostering the collective betterment of everyday
people. (This is not easy, but it is definitely necessary
and possible).
3.
Listening to (not simply hearing), the ideas, experiences,
and suggestions of those women and men within our political people�s
movement. (There can be no collective people�s vision
without the shared vision of others of like minds).
4.
Let us remember that we will not always agree, for if we do�then
somebody�s lying.
(Our
movement does not need yes-people; it needs creative and
honest people.)
5.
Concentrate on what we must yet do, not merely upon what others
may have already done. (There is more than enough important
political work for all people of good will).
The
above are simply some suggestions, as we uncompromisingly
actualize bringing about real systemic change
in building a clear, precise, and simple political platform that
serves the people�s interests and a people�s vision.
To
be sure, the corporate government and its media cronies, etc., will
engage in every conceivable effort to �neutralize and discredit�
our efforts. This is a given. Nonetheless, this struggle is not
about grooming political �messiahs;� it is about actualizing
the power of everyday people! So expect neutralization,
discreditation, and demoralization tactics and activities against
our people�s movement�but do not, even for an instant�be
thwarted by them. Subterfuge is a tool of the mighty, but
undaunted consistency is the tool of the strong�everyday
people. We are not powerless.
If
we want self sufficient and sustainable food and housing, then we
must bring this about. If we want energy that does not suck
from and destroy our mother earth dry�then it is we�the
everyday people who must creatively and stalwartly make this
a reality! There are no single issues�for they are all
interlinked, and we must act accordingly!
The
growing joblessness, home foreclosures, burgeoning prison population,
bloody wars abroad, environmental degradation, and a de facto national
police state in this nation deeply affects everyday people everywhere,
and it did not simply happen---, it was brought into being
by the avaricious corporate / military elite who are the scourge
upon this nation and planet. We must always remember that
capitalism is by its very nature,�systemic terrorism against
the poor and everyday people.
We
/ you, hold the key to real systemic change, and it
is we who must bring it about!
Each
one teach one! Onward then my sisters and brothers! Onward!....��
BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board Member, Larry Pinkney,
is a veteran of the Black Panther Party, the former Minister of
Interior of the Republic of New Africa, a former political prisoner
and the only American to have successfully self-authored his civil/political
rights case to the United Nations under the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights. In connection with his political
organizing activities in opposition to voter suppression, etc.,
Pinkney was interviewed in 1988 on the nationally televised PBS
NewsHour, formerly known as The MacNeil/LehrerNewsHour. For more
about Larry Pinkney see the book, Saying No to Power: Autobiography of a 20th Century Activist and
Thinker, by William Mandel [Introduction by Howard Zinn].
(Click here
to read excerpts from the book). Click here
to contact Mr. Pinkney. |