Are they activists?
Pr Mark Craig
Associate minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church
All of us at some stage feel the tug of injustice on our sensibilities, whether it be the big human rights issues such as child slavery and human trafficking, or the small everyday issues such as another driver cutting us off in traffic.
St Augustine is quoted as saying hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage—anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.
The way things are has never been more evident than it is today. Information is readily accessible—at the click of a mouse or the swipe of a finger. It seems everyone has a good story and a great cause to support.
In 1995, Dwight Ozard and Fred Clark coined the term “slacktivist” to describe those who support an issue through minimal personal effort and risk. In 2010, Micah White described online advocacy as “clicktivism,” claiming it was a dangerous mix of consumerism and activism. White notes the outcomes of clicktivism have to be measurable and simple compared to the vital and immeasurable inner events and personal epiphanies of which great social ruptures are made. Her words, not mine.
Slacktivism and clicktivism, by definition, separate themselves from what their authors define as true activism: an individual’s inner change, personal effort and risk resulting in great social change.
In practice, these definitions don’t always help. If I click the “Like” button in support of a campaign, do I deserve derogatory labels such as “slack,” “ineffective” and “ignorant”? Perhaps, if that’s the extent of my response, but it’s too simplistic to assume.
The pressure on awareness campaigns to push emotional buttons is high and there is danger in oversimplifying the answer. Transparency, accountability and critical thinking are needed. The answer is not found in the click of the “Like” button.
I want to see change. Change is based on hope, and hope has two daughters: anger and courage.
Tags: Mark Craig