[mschatz]

I have been reading a lot of social protest books lately (Upton Sinclair, Orwell, ect) and seeing so much of what they talk about in our everyday life is infuriating, and it makes me want to do SOMETHING to make things better. I am not sure how to get started, or even what it is i want to improve. Anybody else ever take action as a direct response to something they read? What did you do?

[Sinful Messiah]

Well before taking action, I would make sure you have every angle of your philosophy covered and justifiable. This takes work and dedication. Don't be some random yahoo that goes out and protests without even knowing all the issues.

[Workers United]

Originally Posted by mschatz

I have been reading a lot of social protest books lately (Upton Sinclair, Orwell, ect) and seeing so much of what they talk about in our everyday life is infuriating, and it makes me want to do SOMETHING to make things better. I am not sure how to get started, or even what it is i want to improve. Anybody else ever take action as a direct response to something they read? What did you do?

Try not to get caught up in small issues, look at the root of the system and the systemic causes of things. One can spend a whole lifetime putting bandaids on big wounds.

I like Orwell. I have tons of other book suggestions, depending on what you like: theory, literature, etc.

I've taken a lot of action, because I'm a political activist.

[finnegan]

Read some William S Burroughs and Robert Anton Wilson.
Join this:

[Mossberg]

I killed someone with an ice axe.

[mschatz]

Originally Posted by Sinful Messiah

Well before taking action, I would make sure you have every angle of your philosophy covered and justifiable. This takes work and dedication. Don't be some random yahoo that goes out and protests without even knowing all the issues.

Very true. I dont want to be that guy. Any suggestions as to how to go about this? i also dont want to wait for perfect information for fear of never acting. Dont want to be a coffee-house philosopher, i want to be someone who makes some difference

Originally Posted by finnegan

Read some William S Burroughs and Robert Anton Wilson.
Join this:

Noted and i check these guys out. Any suggestions for which of their writings i should read first?

Originally Posted by Workers United

Try not to get caught up in small issues, look at the root of the system and the systemic causes of things. One can spend a whole lifetime putting bandaids on big wounds.

I like Orwell. I have tons of other book suggestions, depending on what you like: theory, literature, etc.

I've taken a lot of action, because I'm a political activist.:

Seems like some good advice. any suggestions you can give for books or ways to get started in activism would be appreciated. Yes, Orwell kicks a whole lotta ass


I also like the ice axe idea

[Bas Rutten Gear]

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Ghandi

[InternetHero]

Not usually.

There are few things that infuriate me.

[finnegan]

From Burroughs, I suggest reading "The Job" first. It is a collection of interviews with him, and make his work a little easier to digest. Think of his books as devices and not as novels, and he becomes a lot easier to digest.

Burroughs quote from Nova Express:

"There was only color and music and silence where the words of Hassan i Sabbah had passed-
Boards Syndicates Governments of the Earth Pay
Pay back the Color you stole-
Pay Red- Pay back the red you stole for your lying flags and your Coca-Cola signs- pay that red back to penis and blood and sun-
Pay Blue- Pay back the blue you stole and bottled and doled out in eye droppers of junk- Pay back the blue you stole for your police uniforms-
Pay that blue back to sea and sky and eyes of the earth-
Pay Green- Pay back the green you stole for your money- And you, Dead Hands Stretching The Vegetable People, pay back the green you stole for your Green Deal to sell out peoples of the earth and board the first life boat in drag- Pay that green back to flowers and jungle river and sky-
Boards Syndicates Governments of the Earth pay back your stolen colors- Pay Color back to Hassan i Sabbah-"

From Wilson, I found Quantum Psychology and Prometheus Rising quite illuminating. There is a lot ****physical stuff involved, (unavoidable with anyone who hung out Timothy Leary) but they are still useful. Also, check out TSOG: The thing that ate the Constitution.

Both authors are aiming to achieve the same thing: Maximum possible liberation. Their philosophy can be summed up by saying that one must be free, or at least cognizant of, their imprints, conditioning, and biological whims before they can be free of anything else.
Its a fun ride with both of these guys, as they are both completely crazy.
Still, Wilson's work in particular changed my life so much I can't even begin to tell you how much better my life is now than before I read Prometheus Rising. The insights into human behavior gave me the tools to do deal with people on a whole new level.

[stevus]

Orwell talked about Big Brother always watching. Now we have cameras on street corners, cameras on highways, cameras on stoplights, cameras in space, and Big Brother can listen to our phone calls. Throw in a little fear of terrorism and people start to love Big Brother.