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ACTIVISM
Continued from page 9B
Keeping It Real
11 too often, social
justice activists
- "those RC types"
- are stereotyped as
economically illiter-
ate, unwise in the
ways of globaliza-
tion, too idealistic to understand the "real
wxrld." In reality, social justice activism
is all about facts and compromise; activ-
ists are continually searching for that fine
line between idealism and practicality.
For one, events like the Naked Pro-
test are just the tip of the iceberg. Sit-ins,
mass action and rallies are almost weap-
ons of last resort in an activist's arsenal.
For example, Residential Dining Servic-
es adopted fair trade coffee without any
public prodding or mass action. Only
when people in power stop cooperating
in good faith does public demonstration
become necessary - like with Coca-
Cola.
Brandvain, who helped with both the
low-key coffee and high-profile Coke
efforts, explains the difference: "The Uni-
versity, from the start, showed an interest
(in fair trade coffee). They were listen-
ing to us. With the Coke issue, and many
SOLE things, the University is pushing
(activists) away, saying 'Don't bother
us with this.' I think if we'd gotten that
response with fair trade, we would have
used a lot more of (the Coke) model."
Really, "activism" isn't as flashy or
"active" as it seems. Behind the occa-
sional public events are hours upon
hours of research, writing and negotia-
tion. "You have to really understand why
you're fighting to fight effectively or to
organize effectively or anything," Miller
said. It is education and knowledge of the
issues at stake that really drives activist
projects forward.
"We're not just holding rallies," Rah-
man pointed out to me, "We go to confer-
ences, we make sure everyone is on the
same page, has the same basic analysis
of the issues. So everyone is moving for-
ward in education."
It also isn't as ideological as casual
observers may infer. Every step of the
process - from picking a campaign to
setting goals and crafting strategy - is
influenced by real world concerns. Activ-
ists on other campuses, according to
Bates, wanted to fight against Taco Bell's
abusive treatment of tomato farmers.
University activists didn't join that cam-
paign because there's no Taco Bell on
campus; there would have been no way
to define "victory."
Indeed, Bates personally feels that
enumerated goals are necessary: "I'm not
going to get involved in something that
doesn't have a direct, appreciable, count-
able result - otherwise, it's a waste of
my time."
Even individual activists are bound, at
least to some degree, to swim with the
current; students are only powerful in
groups, and it's much more effective to
join existing campaigns than create new
ones. When Brandvain arrived at the
University, he was interested in social
justice, and he knew about the benefits
of fair trade. But why did he join the fair
trade coffee movement, when tea farm-
ers could also benefit from fair trade
deals? A movement for coffee already
existed. Why'd he choose to fight against
Coke? Because "even though there are a
thousand things wrong with Pepsi," he
realized there was already a movement
against Coke: "It doesn't make sense for
me to splinter and work on my own thing.
There's value in working together."
A Way of Life?
n the end, the committed
student activists who keep
fighting, fight after fight, do
so because - at some level
- they all enjoy it. They're
students, and they're not vol-
unteering their lives to social
justice because of the moral impera-
tive. To quote Brandvain, "A lot of
people like to watch television or
play video games, and I just find
working on some constructive proj-
ect - especially toward some social
justice goal - more fulfilling, more
fun, more social, more challeng-
ing."
For some, it's the rush of victory.
For others, it's the sense of power
that comes from outmaneuvering
a multinational corporation. For
many, it's the internal gratification
that comes from knowing they can
- and are - making a difference in
people's lives.
It's no surprise that Hardie,
speaking from her own experiences,
can summarize the mindset better
than I can.
"Some people just prefer to be
called 'A person that does things
that she cares about,' instead of an
activist. That's all (an activist) basi-
cally is."
POINT/ COUNTERPOINT
/a ..ii~.iBusted?
The GJ. Joes and Ninja Turtles debate Macs and PCs _-
BtT: The Real American
Heroes
By: Heroes
In A Half Shell
Don't you just love iPods? We sure do. Espe-
'ially when they break just after their warran-
fy ends and you have to go and buy another
one for $400. Why can't Apple just make a
prduct that lasts more than 12 months?
They are useful though. The generals pod-
ast their orders now so we can just do our
workouts in the barracks. But besides that, all
we've got on there is the national anthem and
"Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" - Big and
Rich are clearly the new Beatles.
But besides these miniature jamboxes,
Apple is completely worthless. Their com- How are you guys complaining about
puters - that look like expensive micro- Apple sucking money out of their custom-
waves - are clearly made for 4-year-olds. ers? Bill Gates probably sits in his money
Who needs pictures to tell them how to pit mumbling "my precious" while he
open programs? Speaking of which, ProTo- thinks of another terrible operating sys-
ols works just as well for recording as any tem. Windows ME anyone? What the hell
Apple application - "Dueling Banjos" never was that?
sounds as good on Macs. Just because the Apple founders have
And you can't even play video games on found a way to effectively use RAM doesn't
them. How are we going to practice bombing mean y'all have to bitch about it. And as for
things and shooting people in the head if we the icons, they're completely customizable
can't play children's war games? - we have "Hello Kitty" pictures as ours.
And the best part about Macs is that
they can't get viruses. We can get our porn
without worrying about viruses. And boy
do we. But those websites are flooded with
that shit. Have fun with your pop-ups.
Sure we're still vulnerable to spam when
we sign up for free iPods on said sites'
advertisements. But really, who doesn't
want to know how to enlarge their penis?
Long story short, Apples are just better
machines. Plus they look cooler. We take
offense to that microwave shit.
12B - The Michigan Daily -Thursday, March 23, 2006