Activism was the grand topic of this week. After reading How to think like an Activist by Wendy Syfert, we learned how activism has existed for many years. The French revolution was a bloodier type of protest but on the other hand Gandhi start what is now known as peaceful protest. Protest has been the only way people in history have seen change and implementing new laws so people can feel like there is an inclusion of opinions when making sed laws and rules. Activism has changed in a way that they (the government) no longer see it as peaceful or revolutionary but more like pests who do not shut up. Kids in America are still protesting for guns laws and protection in schools, they are considered rebellious or out of line. I loved the quote from Emma Gonzalez, who is the teenager from the Parkland Florida school shooting, who then became a gun control advocate, she says “Adults like us when we have strong test scores, but they hate us when we have strong opinions.” This goes to show you that yes, we have seen some change in the past but now at the present time it is not enough to pass a bill to protect children from gun violence.  

This now takes me to my next part of the discussion which is what film I picked to watch this week and that is Knock Down the House on Netflix, I loved this documentary so much because it has to do with ordinary people who just want to be the change and see the change and be a part of the change. It is about the underdogs who people never thought would win a seat in the senate. This within itself I would consider a revolution. Having old white men that were born in the 1900’s does not sit well with me. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is someone I admire so much she really did the damn thing! Another woman who is another revolutionist is Paula Jean Swearengin, she decided to run for senate because she got fed up and mad as hell because her neighbors were all getting cancer because of the water contaminated water. She felt so passionate about her state and the suffering of her people that she decided to stand up and fight for what was right. It was the start of the domino effect, It started with AOC and trickled down to the other states. Hopefully, our senate continues the right path of change and supporting activism.