Part of the branding we’ve put together for the upcoming American Liberty Tour is the phrase “We’re all activists now.” For far too long our movement has viewed activism as something extreme, something off our radar grid, and something we aren’t all involved in.
But I think we need to start viewing activism in a different light. Remember, our founding fathers were activists. And anyone who made a sign and got out into the streets on April 15th is an activist.
Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action to bring about social change, political change, economic justice, or environmental wellbeing. This action is in support of, or opposition to, one side of an often controversial argument.
The word “activism” is often used synonymously with protest or dissent, but activism can stem from any number of political orientations and take a wide range of forms, from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism (such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing preferred businesses), rallies, street marches, strikes, both work stoppages and hunger strikes, or even guerrilla tactics.
Indeed, we’re all activists now. And we need to view our movement as such.
Which is why the American Liberty Alliance has partnered with American Majority for some high impact activists/candidate training during our American Liberty Tour. American Majority will show you how to do everything from filing a FOIA as a blogger to actually running for school board or another local office.
During the American Liberty Tour, we’ll be hosting 17 of these trainings across the country over a five week period. You can click here to view the list of available trainings and register to attend.
We as a movement now know what the problem is. We’re starting to understand what the answer is. Now it’s time to ensure we can bring about the activism needed to take back control of our country.
If you can’t make it to an American Majority/American Liberty Tour training, keep an eye out for a training event coming to a location near you.
It’s time to equip ourselves and prepare for the political fight of our lives.
For Liberty,
-Eric Odom
Eric Odom
Eric Odom is Executive Director and Co-Founder of the American Liberty Alliance. Eric is a libertarian minded, free-market activist. His profession is web strategy and online community development.
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Eric –
I usually think of myself as being the little woman who keeps the home fires burning while the activist is away. Thanks for helping me see that the rallies I attend, the letters I write, and the businesses I patronize or avoid, etc also qualifies me as an activist.
I live up in NH and not to many people are going through the Northeast with the Bus Tours. I’d be willing to drive to Boston, but that is as far as I would go.
I’m looking forward to it. See you in Atlanta!
Thanks for all you are doing. We need everyone to stand up in this critical time for our country. I have talked to many in the area who are disappointed that all the buses are going through Dallas. Fort Worth has many surrounding areas where people could get there and be back to work; whereas, a drive to Dallas is mostly sitting in traffic. Any chance we can get one in the future for TX. Coming from Waco on 35, there are many places that could pick up people from Arlington, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Mansfield, Benbrook, Weatherford, Azle, N. Richland Hills, etc. and even Dallas outskirts.
Even though many of us, myself included, can’t make any of the tour stops I can still do my part. Like Kathy stated, write letters to representatives in government. Find out which companies that we should or shouldn’t patronize. I strongly suggest you avoid any General Electric products. This company is bought and paid for by the Obama administration. This may not sound like much but it all starts will one person doing their part and then one becomes two . . . then four . . . then eight and so on We are all activists now!
How about the phrase “active citizenship”? I know the phrase needs to be catchy and memorable and mine may not be. However, it does describe what we are to be about, and if more engaged in it, we would have less of the stuff going on that we now have.
Thank you for all you are doing. Living in Oregon which is very liberal is not easy sometimes but by talking to people and able to give facts even those who thought this country was headed down the right path are now seeing things differently. I truly think if each person does what ever you can, we can get our country back so our children and grandchildren can grow up in country that we have grown up in..Thank you again for all you are doing..
I am so excited to see Americans standing up for what is right and what they want! We can no longer sit with our heads in the sand. I am concerned that my grandchildren will never know the freedom and the America that we have known. Save those e-mails you are sending and documents for your grandchildren… the text books will never tell the truth.
Thanks Eric for your great work! Since I can’t leave my elderly mother to attend Tea Parties, town hall meetings, etc. I have typed my fingers off since January writing the WH and Congress on my opposition to the rapid rush towards socialism by the Obama Administration and liberal Democrats. My own two senators are democrats and don’t respond to me anymore. I have seen my one senator suggest a regional pool of sharing health insurance of which I have responded interstate commerce needs to be opened up across all states, period. I composed a six page letter yesterday (8 1/2 x 11) to send as an attachment to my politicians and will tweak it after Obama addresses Congress. Funny how I have been calling myself an activist since January and won’t give up. It is up to us the American people to preserve our democracy by the constant pressure we have applied towards Washington. Some Democrats are backing away from the public plan but we need to make sure they back away from the whole bills already before the House and Senate. Pelosi is hellbent on a public option. As Ronald Reagan quoted, “One of the tradional methods of imposing statism or socalism on a people has been by way of medicine.” He also says socialists try to promote it as a humanitarian project to take care of people who can’t afford it. Interstate commerce opens up competition and lowers cost and maintains quality of health care coverage and tax credits help those who can’t afford the premiums. Simple solution without the government as the third party involved. Combine interstate commerce, tax credits and the biggie, tort reform, we have solved the problem of insuring the uninsured. Our government still plays us as being stupid but fail to realize that we see that this isn’t about health care, cap and trade, etc. but about control under a socialist government. Our voices are louder than theirs and I have suggested to Washington they reread the Declaration of Independence. There is a similarity between what the colonists were battling (King George and control) and what we are. This time though we aren’t farmers with pitchforks but educated and informed nation of Americans whose voices are more powerful as long as we don’t let up. This is a long battle for us until at least 2010 and hopefully voters will make the right choices. We need to vote out the liberals and vote in the conservative and moderate politicians. Wow! that would pretty much clean out Congress! Then again if we get the Constitution loving folks in Congress perhaps they will legislate on our behalf with our input and get us back on the path to prosperity!
I feel it is my civic duty to be an activist. The founding fathers thought so. I am going to apply for precinct commiteeman in my legislative district. I think that is going to be very key to fill those positions with liberty minded individuals. I was surprised to find that many of these positions go unfilled. I am hopefull that we have seen the last of political apathy now that we have a marxist in the Exectutive branch and many willing accomplices in Congress.
Any way you could video tape your training and put it online for those of us who can’t make it to one of your stops?
You betcha I’m an activist. We’re living in dangerous times, too dangerous for any American to ignore. I’m one who has never “protested” in my life, never thought I could contribute anything of value. But, now, my single voice, my single letter, my single phone call, my single sign, has become one with millions, and together we form a single cry loud enough for Heaven to hear, and to one day say to us, “Well done.”
To Bill Wright,
Bill this company is no longer interested in the free market or consumer sales. It has become a part of the Obama administration and will receive Billions in tax payer subsidies as well as government contracts.
They should be tried for treason as well as the entire Obama administration and congressmen/women who are trying to overthrow our government in a velvet revolution.
God bless you and your family. God bless America and all the real patriots of FREEDOM!
I have never been what you would call an activist, but I believe today we, as Americans, MUST all be activists. If you want to see a textbook definition of what we currently face, look up the German term, POLITIK or REAL POLITIK. Stand up for your freedoms now or lose them forever.
I love the phrase ” We’re all activists now!” We must be because we’ve been silent(I’m talking about myself) for way too long.If we do not want to lose the country that so many have bled and died for we must become activists NOW.
On facebook blog, I wrote that I am perplexed and feeling depressed that it seems the american people are still laid back and letting a racist, socialist, and community organizer destroy this country. I was part of the “People Power” that toppled a vicious regime and restored democracy to my former country. I am feeling better now that americans it seems have waken up to the seiousness of what is happening to our country. My heart and faith in the american people is being restored. thaks for what people like you are doing to lead this activism. I pray for all of you and this country I lovwe so much. I am joining the rally is Sacramento.
If being concerned about what is happening to my country and peacefully speaking out qualifies me as an activist then I have been one for quite a while.
Keep up the great work.
I will be the best activist I can be. I have been silent and ignorant for too long, and as somewhat of a penance for being asleep at the wheel and taking my freedom for granted, I will make up for the years I should have respected, appreciated and fought to keep the freedom we have.
Thank you for all you do and keeping us informed. It does get frustrating to have to listen to the liberal media who demean this cause. It is good to know there are so many growing numbers of folks who are tired of keeping silent and refuse to accept what the politicians are trying to do without our voices being heard. Thanks for exposing what I believe is the true majority.
I’d be interested in attending a class but nothing in the Northeast. I’m on Long Island NY and willing to drive somewhere within reason.
A question for true Libertarians – does it bother you to see your movement taken over by angry Neo-Cons who were for big government as long as it was Bush-style, but are now suddenly labeling themselves “patriots”? I’ve seen the news coverage. Partisan bickering dressed up as a libertarian movement. I see very little true Libertarian thought, and a lot of Neo-Con and Christian right co-opting of a message with disasterous results. I see some in the comments above. “Liberal media”. (Sorry, doesn’t exist and never did. It’s a corporate media.) “Racist President”. (Ludicrous in every way.) My favorite is, “I’ve been calling myself an activist since January.” This to me typifies what I’m talking about. Why weren’t you an activist PRIOR to January? Why weren’t you speaking out against a war that flies in the face of Libertarian principals? Why weren’t you organizing “tea partys” to oppose the Bush stimulus? Why didn’t you rise up when you found out that Bush was not even including the cost of the war in the federal budget?
Beware the Neo-Cons in Libertarian clothing. If you let the right-wing & Christian lunatic fringe co-opt the movement, all of your gains will be lost. Take back the message.