Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
The '60s allegedly had it all, but it seems as if that decade isn't too different from the times we are living in now.
Sex? Hello, Christina, Britney and Janet.
Drugs? Walk down the hall of Manzy, take a wiff and you know that hasn't disappeared.
Rock 'n' roll? Uhhh ... two out of three isn't bad.
But, whatever commonalities this generation lacks with the generation of "flower power," we make up for in turbulence. Or do we even have that?
The '60s usually conjures up images of protesters chaining themselves to buildings, sit-ins, walkouts and riots. And while such tactics might have been effective then for events such as the draft, the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement, you can't really recreate the same feeling and effectiveness of '60s activism to the activism today.
In this week's centerpiece (pages 6 and 7) writer Megan Irwin gives us a glimpse into a "new brand of activism" or rather, shows us how to dust off the root of what activism should be.
Instead of just waving signs and screaming at passersby, some activist groups are depending on educating themselves and others to try to make a difference. Activism can take the form going to a club's meeting to talk about opinions and ideas, visiting the Anarchist Library and checking out a book or just keeping up to date by reading the newspaper. And while it might not seem as active, at least you are benefiting yourself through understanding and knowledge, rather than just screaming to the wind.
Keeping up-to-date means you are educated and connected to what is truly happening to the world. This way you can make your own judgments about the world instead of having someone spoon-feed you what to think and how to feel.
This sort of activism also seems to keep people more down to earth. While it is admirable to want to end world hunger, create peace in the Middle East and to make sure all puppies have a loving home, in some cases shooting for the stars isn't the best thing to do. Sometimes, it is better to focus on what you can do now within your community to make things better, and then gradually move up from there.
This isn't to say we should sit by and not worry about world hunger, peace and the puppies. We can still keep that in our minds, but make sure we go about achieving those goals in a more feasible manner, while at the same time, taking care of some smaller, yet still important business at home.
Reach the reporter at spmag@asu.edu.
