Organize a Protest, Take a Stand Against Wrongdoing

Wives, mothers, grandparents, husbands, fathers and others reading this, may I ask you a question, “Do you take a stand when an issue whether small or large is affecting your household, workplace or some other environment or do you just go along just to get along no matter how wrong the person is behaving?” I ask this question, because the way things look around me, from the local store who charges far too much for clothing to the many TV programs that come on night after night with immoral characters, it doesn’t seem like anyone cares too much about anything outside of their little world. Therefore, people don’t bother to do anything (even if some things do bother them,) because they reason, “No one will listen anyway.”

For instance, some store owners don’t listen to their customers; therefore, the more things they claim have changed in their stores, the more they stay the same or get worse. The property owners don’t bother to improve their units, because they know it will cost them more money, so residents will stay in their homes miserable or they leave as soon as they can only to jump from one fire into a raging inferno of problems. A teacher doesn’t want to change her style of teaching, because it simply isn’t what she “feels” like doing, so many of her students continue to fail her class. A minister prefers to lead his own church service; rather than allow the Holy Spirit to intervene, as a result more and more members stay or leave his congregation unchanged. We could go on and on about business owners, leaders and other public servants who don’t want to change, but it all comes back to what supporters will and will not stand for, now doesn’t it? If one refuses to change, why don’t many take a stand (and we aren’t talking about a manufactured one either designed to make you think you are taking a stand when you aren’t.) I’m talking about real protests over everything from a price change to putting scam businesses out of business! You don’t like the price of something, the wages a company is paying you, or the service you are receiving at a local store, do something about it! The public should keep knocking on doors until things get done the right way!

Influences

“Aren’t you concerned about the music you are listening to affecting how you view those around you,” says the psychology major to his friend. “Well no, not really. I mean it’s just music.” How many of you think like the friend in the example thinks? If it’s just music, isn’t it funny how certain songs make you feel excited, sad even angry. They also tend to trigger memories from the past. But, it’s just music, right? What if a song made you want to take a stand for justice or make some positive changes in your life? You don’t hear too many of these songs on the radio and you know why? Because there are those individuals and groups that prefer you stay at home and be content with your little life while the big people rule the world. It’s time you find some songs to motivate you to get some things done in your personal or professional life that you may be putting off. Take the time to consider what is influencing you to move forward, go backward or stand still. Are your music influences positive?

The career mother says to her husband, “Don’t you think one of us should meet with the daycare teacher about the things that are going on at the school?” Her husband responds, “Oh they will be alright. Kids say bad words all the time. They lie, cry, fuss, play a little show and tell with friends. It’s all normal. No big deal. Just think what they will learn when they go to public school.” Well it’s never a big deal when it isn’t your child being bullied, teased, and fondled by other children. But what if the parents all got together and listed their complaints then met with the school administration? The daycare would have to do better and who knows some teachers might be replaced.

You see in both of these examples, one person is concerned (at least for a moment) while the other person could care less. Usually the concerned person won’t do much else when he or she is told, “You are making a big deal about nothing…everyone does it…” So the protest ends and nothing gets done.

Actions and In-actions

Think of the many times you have seen something offensive and said or did nothing. Think of how many times you saw something offensive and said or did something. How does your actions and in-actions compare? Most people prefer not to make a stand about anything unless it’s happening in their own backyard and even so, some will still look the other way. They will reason, “Well I guess it isn’t so bad…I mean other people have had far worse problems.” Well you aren’t “other people” and the elephant in the room is about to take over your entire household no matter how little the matter is! We know from history that all it takes is a spark from someone or something and then before long the whole situation is on fire. Depending on how you view the end result will determine how much passion you have in seeing your objective through until the very end. Most people’s fire burns out as soon as it’s lit, because someone or something puts doubt, fear, and distraction in the way.

What if you could change the pricing on a favorite item, move to a location you always wanted, get a better job, start a dream business, build up a substantial savings, vacation wherever you want or buy a piece of jewelry or a car you have had your eye on for years, would you be happier? For some of you who have never had any of these things happen to you, you would most likely respond, “Yes, I would be happier. Now what do I need to do?” I’ll tell you. Take a stand! There is strength in numbers. If you want that doggie in the window, find out how many other people want it too! How many other people are thinking like you? Use social media and forums to find out. Letter write, take an ad out in the paper, set up local meetings with plans to reach goals, distribute fliers and send out information about your cause via the Internet. Who else is having problems trying to get what you want? Conduct online research. Make phone calls to customer service. Find out if there are class action lawsuits. There are plenty of ways to get the things you want out of life, if only people would unify and take a stand!

Offensive Programming

There is a television on in most households during some part of the day. Unfortunately, this is the worst distraction that keeps people from doing much of anything but dream. There is usually an adult seated in front of it, a child or both. How many times have you redirected your child to a different room when something comes on TV that is inappropriate? There are some parents who brag about not cursing in front of their children, not spanking them, or doing anything else deemed “bad.” Yet, it’s perfectly okay to let one’s child watch others curse one another, fight, and do may other things that if their child did those same things, the parent would be seriously offended, angry, and ashamed. Offensive programming is on TV because there is no strength in the numbers who are against it.

Think about this for a moment, your TV is using offensive programming to make you get defensive about it. For example, if someone challenged you about the lies, scripts, conflicts, and tricks in TV programming, you would become annoyed maybe even angry and feel like this person was taking something away from you (which they are for your own good.) However, this person is only trying to help you use your critical thinking skills. He or she knows most parents desire what’s best for their families that TV programming simply can’t provide, so rather than sit back and let you and your family be programmed by TV foolishness, the concerned individual exposes it!

Chances are the person you live with, who may not like all your TV watching, sees that things aren’t getting done around the house like you promised. Your dreams are being unfulfilled because you spend your free time watching TV; rather than trying to make something happen. Your children aren’t spending much quality time with you, because when you do have a little time to spare you are either watching TV or thinking about watching TV.

To date, there are no big bucks being spent on an advertising campaign against negative TV programming. You don’t see any billboards, no posters, or people standing along the street trying to rally support to change television programming. Why? Because most people are content with the programs selected by those who own the networks. If they weren’t, they could bankrupt them. So if the people, not just one or two, don’t take a stand, business will go on as usual.

Think about your own household for a minute. If you don’t communicate your concerns to a partner, child, or other loved ones, do you think they will know how to help you? Of course not! Therefore, you nor they can take a stand. Some don’t even know what to stand for until something terrible goes wrong. If you don’t know what you are standing for then you or no one else around you will take action—that is until it’s too late. You have to be watchful and pay close attention to the problems. What is your family saying to you? What stand should you take? What bothers you about this world and how is it affecting your household? What would you like to see changed? How do you intend to take a stand?

Daily there are images being portrayed on TV and the Internet that are offensive. But, I guess that all depends on what your definition of what “offensive” means to you. Nowadays, many viewers are so desensitized by what they see, they are unable to tell the difference between what’s right and wrong anymore! An entertainer can parade around the stage with the shortest skirt, shorts or even underwear and no one bothers to turn the TV channel in a family’s home. Instead the man of the house comments, “Hey look at that!” His wife watches the TV right along with him and laughs. I wonder if the wife would be equally supportive if the short skirt wearing woman showed up at the house and bent over in front of her man? Right away, some women would say, “Well TV is different.” Really? The same message portrayed on TV is the same one a sexy-dressed woman portrays on the street, “Look at me…I could take your man if I wanted to.” Look at these images long enough and you will fantasize about someone other than your mate and/or attempt to act out your fantasy especially if you and your mate have relationship problems. “Wow, he’s handsome…wish I had a guy like that…he takes care of his family,” the dissatisfied girlfriend thinks. “Now that’s my type of woman…wish I was with someone like her…she’s so sexy,” the disgruntled husband dreams. TV takes what is unreal and makes you want it to be real!

How many times have we seen every sexual being under the sun perform a little PDA (public display of affection) on TV? If the heterosexuals get away with some explicit sexual acts on television, do you really think the homosexual, transsexual or bisexual community is going to be silent about this? No way! They will want some scenes too and these days they are getting just that slowly, but surely. There is strength in numbers and of course a whole lot of money behind a movement (and knowing the right people helps too.) Is it really important for us to see anyone and everyone doing something on TV no matter what their sexual orientation? Last I checked, sex is intimate and reserved for a private room. Try doing the real thing in public view or in a stranger’s home and watch how fast people will protest. “I can’t believe they did that in front of my children…what kind of people are they…I was disgusted by the act!” Yet, people will sit amongst family and friends and watch both the opposite and same sex PDA as well as other sexual acts on TV and make no protest about them. Can we say, hypocrites?

No Stand Equals No Change

A parent tells a child, “Don’t smoke, drink or use drugs.” Meanwhile, he or she is doing the same. Another parent says, “Don’t watch that Rated R movie! You are too young.” Yet, he or she sends the child to stay with relatives who engage in Rated R conversation and Rated R acts. Neither parent takes a “real” stand for self or family. Neither wants to rock the boat. “Well I need her—that’s my babysitter. I won’t bring up the cigarette smoke, because I don’t want to offend…well some of the radio music and TV programs are okay, other kids hear and see the same things…” For this parent, it’s just easier to let things go and besides she is paying the babysitter a reasonable amount. But then something bad happens to the child and now being “reasonable” goes out the window!

A worker is upset with some shady practices occurring at his workplace. He knows others see what he sees, so he invites them to come to a meeting to bring these issues up to the boss. The cowards back down. “I need my job…let’s not say anything because the boss might think we are doing the bad things too…I don’t want to get in trouble…” So no one takes a stand and questionable events continue to happen that is until someone threatens to sue or many begin to lose their jobs. Now employees have the courage to protest.

There are relatives you know that won’t do anything when it comes to writing a letter, making a phone call, filling out a complaint form, or suing a corporation who has wronged them. They make excuses while cussing and complaining to other relatives. They talk about what they won’t stand for; yet, they can’t tell you when they plan on taking a stand for wrong acts committed against them. They are talkers, but you don’t have to be like them—be a walker! You can talk with people while you walk to wherever you need to go to take a stand!

Sometimes people don’t want to take a stand because the group or individual has done so much good in the past. Others prefer not to say anything for fear of revenge. Whatever the reason a person or group chooses not to stand up for a cause, a wrongful action, unfairness, deceitful acts, or something else, at least the individual or group should at least try first. No one sincerely knows what changes may occur because someone spoke up. With so many ways to tell a story online and offline, there is no excuse why someone or a group can’t expose unlawful practices, lies, manipulative tactics, strange behaviors or something else that may help free others from abuse.

Some people will protest about questionable events that happen in history. They will claim that some tragedies were created to get some laws passed. I tend to believe this argument, but I also will say that some events would never have occurred had people made a stand in great numbers with a serious financial backing a long time ago. But what usually happens? That one voice that made a stand was shut-down with comments like, “Don’t listen to him, he’s crazy…Don’t talk to her she is a trouble-maker.” So the protests fell on deaf ears. Those of you who have the power and the wealth to twist the arm of those who you know are nothing but media attention hogs and power hungry pigs who really don’t really want to help no one but self, should take a stand! Don’t label the whistle-blower. Instead, do your own research and get some things done!

I read somewhere once the following quote by Peter Marshall, a Senate chaplain, back in 1947, “If we don’t stand for something, we shall fall for anything.” So I challenge my readers to stand up against wrong happening in your neighborhood, church, workplace or somewhere else, and while your at it, tweet about those bad programs you see on TV, create a blog and/or a social media page, and demand you want to see something different! Better yet, create your own shows and upload them on YouTube! I have personally done some of these things myself to get people to think about issues related to the following: domestic violence, secret societies, Christian cults and false prophets, deceptive entertainers, motherhood challenges and parenting issues. It may not be much, but at least it’s a start.