Ricardo Harvin

Yes, everything is #politics, everything is #political. Trying to avoid politics does not make you safe.

Being #politically aware, well-informed, and consistently active are our only hope for our individual and collective safety.

Choosing to disengage is cowardly surrender, and does exactly what the oppressors want, making you another one of their tools.

It's ok to rest and recharge, it's not ok to put the full burden on others; that's complicity.

Jun 30, 2023 at 10:04pmWeb
Show threadRobinJul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin I don’t think it’s anyone’s place to tell anyone else how to handle their life. Or judge them for it. Everyone offers what they can. Mental health is also paramount. My Afro-Honduran husband, who came to the US when he was 20 and has worked six days a week for the last forty years, is not politically engaged but he very much utilizes his situation to help his community and family. And he always votes
Show threadRicardo HarvinJul 1, 2023
@Chimaera Voting is literal political engagement. Thanks for making my point.
Show threadRobinJul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin this reads as political engagement that’s more than just voting though
Show threadRicardo HarvinJul 1, 2023
@Chimaera Voting is action. I'm not sure what you mean to say.
Show threadRobinJul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin ah, the way your original post is worded read as if being an engaged activist was what was required. He’s never taken the ability to vote for granted.
Show threadYogthosJul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin what people generally mean when they say they're not interested in politics is that the system represents their interests the way it is and they see no reason why anything needs to be changed in any substantial way
Show thread2¢Jul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin it's also ok to define the terms of your engagement. It's not others' place to dictate that to you.
Show threadRicardo HarvinJul 1, 2023

@Qbitzerre You're making my point: engagement is key.

It's full and permanent disengagement I'm challenging, not how or when one engages.

Show thread2¢Jul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin why would you think there is disagreement?
Show threadRicardo HarvinJul 1, 2023
@Qbitzerre I guess I misread your post 👍🏿
Show threadStefanJul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin unless your mastodon is full of US political posts and you live in a different country 😔
Show threadRicardo HarvinJul 1, 2023

@Billyboof I'm not talking about just the U.S.

You think politics doesn't affect you, regardless of who you are or where you live?

You're mistaken.

It directly and indirectly affects all 8,000,000,000+ of us humans.

Show threadpaviJul 1, 2023
@ricardoharvin Well put, maybe we should post this in bold letters if masto allows it 😉
Show threadKevin Karhan Jul 1, 2023

@ricardoharvin #Apoliticalness is a #political #statement, and it has only two options:

1.
"Live in a facist policestate and I don't want my family and myself to be forcibly disappeared for speaking my mind!" [i.e. in North Korea and "P.R." China]

or

2.
"I'm a naive bootlicker and I want to profiteer from opression!" [i.e. #USA, #EU & most of the world]...

Show threadLeftyLabourTechTorontoJul 1, 2023

@ricardoharvin I think a strategy of guilt tripping people who aren't politically engaged is a strategy that is doomed to failure.

A much better strategy is to learn why people are disengaged, put forward solutions to the things that cause them to become disengaged and encourage engagement.

Show threadRicardo HarvinJul 1, 2023
@leftylabourtech Have at it.
Show threadLeftyLabourTechTorontoJul 1, 2023

@ricardoharvin I have been involved in activism of various sorts (labour, social justice, election campaign volunteer of various sorts) for getting close to half a century now. Some years I do more than others.

Putting forward milquetoast liberal solutions that don't impact people's lives very much doesn't motivate people. Neither does "fear of the bad guys". Putting forward more radical proposals for transformative change does.

Show threadLeftyLabourTechTorontoJul 1, 2023

@ricardoharvin That, and I'm feeling pretty good this week. We just elected a new left-oriented mayor here in Canada's largest city after having right-wing mayors for the last 12 years.

The right talked taxes and crime. On the left we spoke to people's number one issue, namely the need for affordable housing in a city with one of the biggest housing bubbles on the planet.

Show threadihavenopeopleskillsJul 2, 2023
@ricardoharvin Something on which we can all agree
Show threadRicardo HarvinJul 3, 2023
@ihavenopeopleskills sadly, not in my recent experience.
Show threadChristopherSep 8, 2023

@ricardoharvin
This "don't talk about politics" is surely some dastardly scheme by the crusty old corrupt scumbags pulling the strings in the back rooms - to keep us, The People, from Uniting against them.

Because, when I sit down and have a long serious talk with someone from the other side, we actually agree rather strongly on most issues that are deeply important to us.

Typically though, they've never heard about Operation Ajax, and can't even believe Iran Contra/CIA/"China White heroin" 🤦🏼‍♂️