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Unleashing my inner activist in my otherwise pacifist life [1]

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Date: 2023-09-23

There is at least a little activist in each of us, whether we’re willing to admit it or not. I mean, do we not have something to say? Do we not engage? We do. I do. It’s why I write. The second we engage in the fight for what we believe is right, is when our inner activist comes out. That, in a nutshell, is the basis for activism.

Okay, so have you ever made someone mad, I mean really mad? If you have, do you remember how the situation unfolded and got resolved?

With me, I can think of only two occasions when I actually angered someone enough that a physical altercation ensued. This was during my academic upbringing in both elementary and junior high school. One encounter was justifiable while the other was not. One battle I lost, the other I won. The ultimate outcome: No real damage done.

Obviously, some take this activism thing to the extremes. Others, like myself, are more reserved. It’s who I am.

There are several occasions, as a matter of fact, where I just refused to back down. It’s because I knew I was right.

So, I was at an auto parts store purchasing what else?! auto parts. The total price was under $10. I handed the cashier twenty in legal tender and I was given change based on if I had actually handed over a ten-dollar bill. Needless to say an argument erupted - the cashier refusing to turn over to me the remainder of the change I was rightfully owed with me refusing to accept anything less than what I was owed me.

So, I asked to see the store manager who, in effect, acted in the role of arbitrator. The cash in the cash register drawer was thus counted and as it turns out, there was X number of dollars more than what should have been there. I was then properly paid the owed difference.

In the other situation I went to a drop-off location designated for used electronic-gear collection. The enterprise was happy to take the stuff off my hands for a price. “That’ll be twenty dollars, please.” I didn’t have it. So, I gave what money I had on me with the promise that I would drive to the financial institution where I do my banking and withdraw from the ATM. Apparently the electronics recycler trusted me to do what I said I would and that’s what I did. I then drove back to the collection site and paid the difference. And, wouldn’t you know it. It wasn’t long thereafter that I received a letter from the recycler explaining that more money was owed. Each time, I replied with a letter of my own explaining that I had already paid. This back and forth went on for quite some time before the recycler apparently discovered the error and relented. If not, this matter probably would have been turned over to an independent collection agency to resolve, which, of course, never happened. You see?! My activism paid off. Worth every penny and then some I earned in return and for all the time expended in seeing things through to successful resolution.

But, don’t get me wrong. Don’t think for one moment that I do not have strong opinions regarding certain issues. I do.

One has to do with that school band leader who just kept going and going and going and refused to stand down until the band that he was leading had finished playing their song. His own activist stance unfortunately led to his being repeatedly tased by on-site local law enforcement. Was he right?

I listened to the band leader’s side of the story. As I understand it, he insisted that the band had to finish playing the song. Personally, I don’t see why. And, I don’t know why he just didn’t comply with the order given to just stop playing. I ask myself: What if there was an earthquake like there was during 1989 San Francisco Bay Area Major League Baseball World Series on October 17th. A game that had to be be postponed because of the quake. But, I guess with this one band leader, his thinking, apparently, was that the show must go on. The end result, it didn’t, at least not for him in conducting his part. So, I would ask now: Was it worth it?

And, now, also as I understand things, there is a lawsuit pending. I am of the opinion that this whole confrontation could have been avoided. It was unnecessary as I see it.

Well, you read it here first, folks. And, besides, you’ve gotten to witness the inner activist part of me being unleashed, a most definite departure from the otherwise pacifist life that defines who I am the majority of the time.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/23/2194992/-Unleashing-my-inner-activist-in-my-otherwise-pacifist-life

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