NOW THAT YOU KNOW,WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

I would like to start a new thread,(my first one),on a topic that has kind of percolated in me during the past 24 Hrs; I will preface my question by saying that first and foremost,I asked this question of myself,only to then start considering the larger picture.This topic is in no way meant to be a finger - pointing excersise,only a stimulus for some honest interaction about the elephant that is standing in the middle of the room that no one wants to acknowledege. THE QUESTION IS:
All of us here have knowledge of the corruption and tyrranny,if not outright exploitation of ourselves and our environments by the "World Leaders",(whomever they may be),and yet in the very end,WE don't do anything about it.We like to talk about these issues,write about them,spread the news to those we know,and yet the government machine trudges forward, and we are appalled by what we see happening...overtly for anyone with an ounce of critical thinking to see...
We do our jobs,we pay our bills,we pursue our hobbies,
and it all continues to unfold before us. Are we totally powerless as a people?When the protests of the 60's occurred,there was some bogus stuff going on(on the protest side),and then there was some real,tangible,political and societal changes that occurred. If nothing else,things are generally worse now.I could make a list of all of it,but,wait-I just remebered where we are! In short; Now that you/we know about it,what are you/we going to do about it?

But are they really the ones in control?

Or are they they the visible part of the iceberg?

I tried to bring this point up and highjack this forum as a forum for activism. I was told that was a big no-no. You can use sites like www.meetup.com to work that magic, but not on ATS. ATS is about stuff (denying ignorance) but neccessary coordinating things.

Okay that was a tangant. I have thought of it and figured out that if i do not support these policies and feel that I can not change then then my only recourse is to wish America well and leave.

Learn about the legal system,get familiar with how it works and PARTICIPATE!.
None of the things that those in power do happen until they write laws to make it legal for them to do what they are doing.Learn about the legal system and ask the courts about these bogus laws and regs,complain,sue for information,write petitions.
Don't bother with congressmen,they're too deep into the system to really do anything anyway,fight that parking ticket with the wording they use in the legal system,they have no jurisdiction to even write it,let alone collect money for it,if everyone were to question all this trickery from down here,the correct way,the system would collapse and things would change.
You don't need a lawyer,you need a brain,you need to take time to learn how to defend yourself from the system,by the system's own rules in it's own forum.
Then the system will be forced to change.
The system is based on intimidation and ignorance.

[Edited on 2-10-2003 by uNBaLaNCeD]

First of all,I don't think leaving your home country because you don't like what the "powers that be" are doing would do much good.Is that the 21st century version of love it or leave it? IMO it's the people who ask the tough questions that are the ones who are displaying how much they care about what they see,not the people who clock out,grab some McFood on the way home for an evening filled with Must See TV.I'm just wanting some comment on how we got to the point where technology has the potential to do some good in the world, yet we are collectively sleepwalking through our lives.Am I just beating an old,dead horse called APATHY?
I like every point that 'Unbalanced' made....and I realize this is not a forum for activism...although I guess I see that the end result of a forum like this should be activism (IMO).I was wondering where the mental masturbation stops and the actual "intercourse" starts.......

What do YOU suggest?

Personally I do not feel comfortable stating any plans I might have now or in the future in a forum this open that as we know from common sense is being watched.

This is why I share some things, but not EVERYTHING.

Once you show your opponent your hand, it loses its potency.

Knowledge is power, and they already have too much of that.

Hello is anybody out there?

so who really is in control?

*15, 15*
I posted this earlier, you should be aware my friend...

It's time to get out of the nursery and into the infantry.
All of you are sitting here drinking intellectual milk when you should be out there using your WMS (Weapon of Mass Salvation), the pen, to do some good in this world.
There IS some good in this world worth saving.
That truly is what I feel my mission here on ATS is.
To make every single member aware of the need for warriors (warriors of the mind, not terrorists).

If you truly want to prevent the NWO, you must actively take part in spreading knowledge.
First of all, get the hell out off of this computer and into the world and bring forth the truth.
Be assertive, don't let the ignorance of others blind you in your mission.

You already have the tools you need to win the war, go use them!


Cheers
- Tass *40*

*15, 15 more*
NEO, the Orders are still fighting it out while several of the other, not so "major" factions sit on the sidelines, not willing to choose sides.
We had a conversation about this earlier, did we not?

- Tass *40 now I'm tired *

WE'RE JUST ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL!

Word of mouth is the most powerful tool, and it works exponentially.

Spend some time doing things other than preaching to the converted.

Live the 'Deny ignorance' message in daily life.

Sometimes even I am surprised by the results.

Also, don't be offended when people ask questions that you may answered for yourself two or three years ago. Some people are not as quick in untangling webs of deception as others are. Show patience, and reinforce what they are saying, even the most obvious things.

Ask them what they will do with their knowledge, as well.

Originally posted by NephraTari
What do YOU suggest?

Personally I do not feel comfortable stating any plans I might have now or in the future in a forum this open that as we know from common sense is being watched.

As was suggested earlier, (by Unbalanced),my main suggestion is to educate yourself and then to choose something that you feel you have a chance to influence and go for it.
I just wanted to spark some debate over why activism seems to have fallen to the wayside.Of course I'll be the first to admit that seeing the way people have been treated during the WTO &World Bank protests isn't much encouragement to get out on the street and raise hell.I'm examining my own complacency,and thought maybe it would be good for some of us as a group to do so.What each person should do to fight the good fight is up to them,not for me to suggest.Discussing it here may crack that door open for someone......

What is the meaning of this? Rebel-rousing? If so, that was the most convoluted mismashed bunch of rhetoric I've seen since, well, since being in the political mudpit!

Who, as THENEO asked, is the enemy? You mention nothing but a vague "them", only directed at teh politicians. What THENEO was trying to get across is that the politicians are merely controlled by "Them", yet you incite action while not directing the action toward the particular "them", or defining the action to be taken.

Knowledge is mentioned, as well as the spreading of it, but who's knowledge, and what "truth"? For example, while UnBalanced is just as read, just as knowledgeable as I am, we do not see the facts the same way. Which way do we charge? Gee, do you think that it might be engineered to be this way, so that even if a percentage realizes something is askew, even that percentage can't get on board the same train and go in the same direction?

Thomas makes a good point.
Right now, no matter what we know, it is only a portion of the truth, and even at that we do not know that it is not misinformation.
We can share what we have learned.
We can inspire others to think.
However as Thomas said, who is the enemy?
I can't give you a name.
I don't have one. Do you?

The introduction of the word "enemy" adds no value to the topic at all.

If you were someone who is concerned about useless battles, then you would not support a "war on terrorism" where there is no enemy. That represents hypocrisy.

The forces and structures that need to be changed that were presented in the first statement, were corruption and oppression. I can see how these are fit for change without resorting to mindless militaristic models about "the enemy".

Some of the things that need changing to remove the negative aspects of human existence described here would be archaic laws, adversarial models for resolving conflict, and diminishing values placed on life education. None of these things talk to destroying any enemy.

One must educate
before others can retaliate

Speak your mind, voice your opinion, soon others will follow.

But, I would also add that ATS is a bit... too open for this line of questioning. Next thing you know, the government will be knocking on our doors for "thought crimes".

Originally posted by Thomas Crowne
What is the meaning of this? Rebel-rousing? If so, that was the most convoluted mismashed bunch of rhetoric I've seen since, well, since being in the political mudpit!

Who, as THENEO asked, is the enemy? You mention nothing but a vague "them", only directed at teh politicians. What THENEO was trying to get across is that the politicians are merely controlled by "Them", yet you incite action while not directing the action toward the particular "them", or defining the action to be taken.

I'm not going to step onto the slippery slope of defining any action by anybody.It's obvious that the pols are just faces for the machine.But I will give examples;
Why do we actually tolerate,(as a society), letting people like Dick Cheney with obvious conflicts of interests into public office?Why are we letting the current admin. come along with all of these former(and current) lobbyists/business interests and undo decades worth of environmental legislation?To use ATS's own topic,if HAARP and programs like it are so dangerous,who is doing ANYTHING to call attention to it,( to the mainstream-anything here IS preaching to the choir),and through whatever means(publicity,protests-NOT VIOLENCE).The list of what needs to be fixed is endless,as are the remedies. If I were trying to stir everybody up,I would cop to it.The part of my opener that I think you missed,which is the basis of my even bringing this up,is that I started to question MY OWN inaction,MY lack of will to get out there and put my a** on the line.What would it take to get people out of their houses and into the streets,or the library,or city hall,or back into school?Perhaps I'm asking what has changed about US ("The FRINGE") since the vietnam era? People were very quick,(perhaps too quick in some cases),to get out,let themselves be seen and heard.Today getting people to go out there and be seen and heard is very difficult.I also admit that there is some wisdom to this,but to me it kind of looks like we're just too afraid to be seen,too afraid of what they will do to us.
If people are afraid,RIGHT NOW,to even speak out for what's right,doesn't that say a lot more than any thread or website,or e-mail?

[Edited on 9/29/03 by shamanseeker]