An
old friend named Fred called this morning. He did what he’s almost
always done: He complained. First, he complained Bernie isn’t gaining
ground fast enough. Then he complained Bernie isn’t doing enough to
reach out to blacks and Hispanics. Then he complained that Hillary is
hopelessly drowning in an email scandal she brought on herself. Then he
complained Joe Biden won’t make up his mind. He also
complained about the Republicans -- how much money they’re amassing for
the general election, how they're pandering to the worst in America,
and Donald Trump’s racist and brainless demagoguery. Which led him to
complain about America, our educational system, the unwillingness of
many Americans to vote in their best interest, and the oligarchs and
plutocrats who are destroying the nation and the world.
Finally, I had a chance to speak.
“So what are you doing about any of this?” I asked.
“Nothing because it won’t make any difference what I do.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said. “Hundreds of thousands of people are now rolling up their sleeves and getting involved.”
“So what? They don’t have a chance,” he said.
“They’ll have a good chance if they're joined by others like you, and they become a million people. If they grow to ten million, they’ll make history.”
“You’re an idealist,” he snorted.
“You’re a complainer,” I said. “We need fewer complainers and more organizers. If you don’t spend at least an hour a day organizing, mobilizing and energizing people, I don’t want to hear your complaints ever again.”
“Well …” he stuttered.
“I’m serious,” I said. “Stop complaining. Organize.”
He said goodbye.
I'm not sure the ratio between Fred's complaining and organizing will improve, but I feel better already.
Tell everyone you know: Stop complaining. Start organizing.
Finally, I had a chance to speak.
“So what are you doing about any of this?” I asked.
“Nothing because it won’t make any difference what I do.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said. “Hundreds of thousands of people are now rolling up their sleeves and getting involved.”
“So what? They don’t have a chance,” he said.
“They’ll have a good chance if they're joined by others like you, and they become a million people. If they grow to ten million, they’ll make history.”
“You’re an idealist,” he snorted.
“You’re a complainer,” I said. “We need fewer complainers and more organizers. If you don’t spend at least an hour a day organizing, mobilizing and energizing people, I don’t want to hear your complaints ever again.”
“Well …” he stuttered.
“I’m serious,” I said. “Stop complaining. Organize.”
He said goodbye.
I'm not sure the ratio between Fred's complaining and organizing will improve, but I feel better already.
Tell everyone you know: Stop complaining. Start organizing.
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