If They Fool You Twice...
Protest doesn't mean what the media is telling you
If you thought our silence meant inaction, you would be mistaken. Much to the chagrin of those intent on gripping ever tighter on the reins of power, we have been hard at work investigating NJ election turnout numbers that don’t add up; attending the NJGOP leadership summit for a second time and keeping our eye on NJ legislative actions. We have also been networking with individuals around the State from both sides of the aisle in our efforts to ensure the People have a voice in this country again.
We hope by now you understand just how much power you have when you work together with people in the community which is why we felt compelled to comment on the incessant media noise about the possibility of Trump being indicted and the protests they expect to ensue. The news is littered with reports of NYC barricades being erected and DC being on high alert. This is not 2021. We will not be making ourselves targets for infiltration and negative media attention. That solved nothing; we all know the definition of insanity...
5 Effective Ways to “Protest”:
Is a policy at school making you angry? Gather a group of parents and show up at your next school board meeting to make public statements. Keep the pressure on by coordinating an email campaign, filing complaints, or consider initiating challenges in court. Pressure created by the use of your “pen” works.
The NJ Open Public Records Act enables you to request information, emails and contract information etc from government offices. Every citizen has this right but it is woefully under-utilized. Sometimes the very act of requesting this information lets those in charge know you are paying attention.
Stay positive and avoid the fear peddlers on TV and radio. The act of staying positive and having faith in the face of uncertain times is quite possibly the most powerful tool in your arsenal. Meditate. Pray. Cultivating equanimity provides peace of mind leading to meaningful action when the time is right. And clear thinking enables you to think critically and say no to policies that make us all less free and less safe.
Engaging the two-party system may be necessary for now but don’t blindly follow either political party. The party system creates an effective way for both sides to use propaganda that leaves you uninformed and ineffective. Everyone picks a team and stays there. This can be particularly important to consider when scrutinizing local politics and issues. We will take back power when more people realize that party organizations are on the same team and we the People are on the other.
Get out in your community and meet people! Humans need social outlets. We need time together to remember what is important. COVID took that away from us. Reclaim your humanity! Use your senses: look people in the eye, observe body language, listen to words and tone of voice. And no, it is not necessary to hang out with people who think just like you. We don’t need like-minded connections just “like-hearted.”
Human interaction is a basic currency of society. And civic engagement can be a fancy way to describe knowing what’s going on around you and doing something about it because you genuinely care about impacts beyond yourself. We encourage you to approach this by channeling your passion tactically, mindfully, civilly, and with purpose. While you must resist the urge to blindly follow, it is equally important to stifle social tendencies (‘politeness’ or ‘political correctness’) which result in not saying what’s really on your mind. If you bear this in mind while practicing these 5 ways to “protest” you’ll be well on your way to rebuilding our government “for and by the People.”