Forum Post: Postive Direct Action

We are all propelled by the spirit of our times. My own interpretation of that spirit, as we throw off our economic, political and psychological chains, might best be described as "positive direct action."

Strikes and boycotts have been succesful in the past, and while they may have positive aims, I would like to draw your attention to their essentially negative character.

When we demonstrate, what are we demonstrating? It is usually our opposition! We are saying "no." The quintessential negative word.

The London riots were an inspiration to me because I am inspired whereever and whenever I see resistance to oppression. So many people in society saw the London riots as a justification for the same institutions that oppress us all and against which the riots were a revolt. The same goes for the people in Portland Oregon who protested the US entrance into the Iraq war by blocking I-5 the western United States' largest highway. The same goes for the Naxalites in India or guerillas and Jihadis the world over. The same goes for black block tactics and Crimethinc. The same goes for the Cuban revolution, for the Venezuelan revolution, the Iranian revolution, the Intifada.

When the media goes about its anointed duty of smearing the good work of Occupy the world over, they start with the idea that Occupiers are lazy; doing nothing but complain.

Gandhi's Salt March[1] was a magnificent act of defiance. It was political. It was strategic. In the end it was effective. At its core, the salt march was a revolutionary, positive act. Ordinary Indians defied their British rulers through the simple and productive act of making something, salt, that was valuable to themselves and to eachother.

The Salt March is a template I would like to see us emulate. I have created a project[2] at the website of the International Organization for a Participatory Society[3]. I would love your comments on these ideas and, if you are ammenable, your assistance in developing them further and implementing them.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_March [2] http://www.iopsociety.org/projects/economic-revolt [3] http://www.iopsociety.org/