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    avatarBy No Comments3 Mins Read

    I was walking home from work today through the city and came across a protest in the city centre by the local Marxist group calling for Equal Rights in regards to Gay Marriage. I totally agree that the discriminatory division between homosexual couples and heterosexual couples should be removed, with marriage and all rights associated with it available to all.

    What I’m conflicted about is the group’s tactics, its approach to getting its (very important) message heard. The group was chanting slogans, yelling thru megaphones, leafleting, petition and info tables all set up. In many ways these elements are all great, showing organization, seeking to get the message out. My questions come from whether such an approach is effective for the context. Does yelling through a bullhorn going to encourage people to engage (I found it hard to hold a conversation with the people at the petition stand), who is the intended recipient of these slogans? Does the tactics being employed develop support or does it just vent anger? When I engaged with the woman behind the stall, rather than discuss the issue of concern- gay marriage rights- she immediately talked about anti-capitalism and handed me a copy of the organizations periodical. Again, this isn’t problematic as such, but there was no attempt to link how capitalism may have an effect on sexual discrimination or vice versa. Instead it felt like the protest was the merely a means for the group to promote itself.
     
    My encounter left me feeling ambiguous. There seemed to be a confusion of intent, what was the purpose of the demonstration, what did it aim to do? Raise awareness? Engage with people? Send a message to those in parliament? All of the above?
    In many ways I admired the group’s efforts, their commitment to be out in the public raising awareness and seeking to promote a radical critique. On the other hand I wondered what their efforts hoped to achieve, did they engage with people? Or were they based more around habit, or even laziness, with city commuters either avoiding the area or coming away as I had, feeling that the issue at hand was quickly pushed aside in favour of a Marxist economic discussion once you actually talked to someone. I think protests and demonstrations of this kind can be influential and have been in the past, but I also wonder if there is a need for more creativity, more considered approaches that doesn’t dilute the critique or vision, but avoids stereotypes and stagnating habits.
    I left encouraged and discouraged all at once
     
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    Hi,I live in Melbourne, Australia, and I think I first came across Znet courtesy of the linear notes of a Propagandhi album along time ago. Soon after that Michael Albert gave a talk at my university- University of Queensland- where I first encountered in any detail his proposals on Parecon, which opened my eyes to exciting and new possibilities for progressive change. I particularly related to his call to offer people something other than just critiques- the 'What are we for?'Since then I have attempted to become more involved in social change, probably not as successfully or actively as I hoped (and still do), but I continue to try and discuss, engage and grow more confident/assured in political/social activism outside just those close to me. Not only do I agree with the many focuses examined in ZMag and Znet but I also have a passion for animal liberation/rights. Ive been a vegan for 6 years and a vegetarian before that and have appreciated the exeprience of having the personal and the political combine in daily life, having my lifestyle choices and habits be a daily political challenge to those around me. Its allowed me to engage and discuss other radical political views on other topics further just thru an initial question of 'what my lunch is today?'More personally I enjoy punk music, as controversial as some may find that label, its energy and ability to question help provide me with daily motivation. I also enjoy movies, and I like engaging science fiction novels- especially sci-fi's ability to hold a mirror to current society thru the use of future worlds, scenarios or alien customs.I've just started a PhD in Melbourne, where I hope to examine the continuing rise of nationalistic rhetoric in Australian society. Im looking for some part time work as there are a lot of bills and not much money. My old job was as a file clerk at the University of Queensland, shuffling paper as a means to pay the bills. So it was by no means the worse job available but it put into sharp relief the need for social change where work can be engaging and empowering for all.Im more than happy to chat about any ideas or topics, so please feel free to contact me as I look forward to meeting new people and hopefully working together to make the changes we seek in this world.

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