meish dot org: life, unfolding

I remember having an argument with a friend prone to activism when I was studying in Canada all those years ago. He was always organising petitions, protests, rallies, demonstrations, hunger-strikes and whatnot, against logging, war, poverty, homophobia, whaling, environmental waste…you name it. If there was a cause, he was up in arms about it.

I was happy and eager much of the time to participate in the things he co-ordinated, and even took on some responsibilites myself, because I believed strongly in the causes involved. But the argument came about when one day we had organised a huge beach-cleaning operation around the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and had collected well over 40 tonnes of rubbish, with the help of an army of volunteers.

That night, we watched the news, to see the coverage of local Earth Day efforts – including our own, maybe – when the anchor handed over to Brad for the weather, without a mention of our enormous haul, my friend switched the tv off in disgust.

“Well, that was a waste of time” he grunted. My jaw dropped.

Our argument centred around his central belief that it is only worth doing something if people see you do it; if you get a soundbite on the news, a sidebar in the local paper, a public response from the governor. Otherwise, it was effort wasted.

I disagree. I don’t think that media response should be validation for doing something in the first place. I think that sometimes, doing it is enough.

If we pick litter off beaches, the coast is cleaner. If we write letters for amnesty, voices and opinions get heard. If we take placards down to a rally, and waggle them about, we create a public presence, an awareness. If we hand out leaflets, lend books, write articles, or talk with people, we educate them. Public action is not a means to an end, but an end in itself.

And in a funny way, kids, I feel like that about blogging. If it gets noticed or recognised, then great. I try and make these pages interesting, entertaining, accessible for everysurfer (like the quintessential everyman) but I don’t do it for recognition, media or peer or otherwise. I do it because I do it. If I write my head out onto this page, I do it for me, but I also take pleasure in the knowledge that I am adding to the web, in whatever small way.

The same is true of the academic papers I’ve published on the site – I do it for the permanent record it offers my words (and the chance to escape from more mounds of paper cluttering up my house), but also because I know that whatever is out there is accessible. If I can help someone finish a term paper on Bolivian Quechua drinking rituals, then great. If I show up in the bibliographies for theses about internet culture and community, fantastic. It’s been worth it.

When I’m blogging, or reading other people’s blogs, I am often reminded of a quote by Ani Difranco, writing about her music:

“I speak without reservation from what I know and who I am. I do so with the understanding that all people should have the right to offer their voice to the chorus whether the result is harmony or dissonance….Should any part of my music offend you, please do not close your ears to it. Just take what you can use and go on.”

I like that. Take what you can use, and move on.