| March 24, 2006 Editor’s Desk by Aaron Selbig, insurgent49 [Editor's
note: Once again, we are pleased to present a guest column this week
from Insurgent49 co-founder Nova Stubbs.]
The
Protest of Petty Power
It's been a powerful week here at Insurgent Headquarters.So, I have been told I am supposed to be in the post rebellious stage of life. No longer young and dumb, at this point I should be fully assimilated into the mainstream. Respecting the word of those on "top", not always agreeing with it but by no means challenging it, especially if the overall effect is direct. I am not talking about protesting the war or the grand system of things. Oh no ... I am talkin' the day to day garbage that we all deal with ... THE PROTEST OF PETTY POWER. Today, I was asked to sell out, to loosen my stance and change myself to fit others. It was coming from a person who has some power over my situation ... power over my well-being and interests. It is that kind of person that we have all known: a boss, a teacher, a client, a parent, a customer or anyone who knows that they in some way can dictate your fate. They use this power to make you bow down. After so many years of dealing with this stupid idle crap of playing the "good" role, today I let my usual amicable demeanor pass. No ... the customer is not always right, and neither is the teacher, the parent or the boss. Petty power is a sickness. Sure, you might be the bottom rung at a job, so you go home and use indiscriminate power over your children. Or you may take it out on the waitress and your bank teller. Fuck, I don't know. What I do know is that wielding this type of power is contagious. Next time, someone will use this power over you. Don't be in fear of losing your job, getting an "F" on a paper or not getting the “check.” Don't sell out. I am not saying dump a bowl of soup on a customer’s head, or tell your boss to go fuck themselves. STOP THIS CYCLE OF POWER by looking them straight in the eyes and saying: "Do unto others as you'd like done unto you." Smile because you mean it. If you lose your job, don't worry because if this protest becomes as contagious as wielding power, maybe people will start to think and the ultimate hierarchical structures will begin to crumble. If someone confronts you with your use of power, maybe they are right. Or maybe not ... but no one has the right to treat anyone as if they are below them. I did this (pretty much) today and yes, setbacks have occurred and life is a little harder. But, when I stood up for myself, smiled and left, his eyes didn't gleam like mine. He questioned himself and his holier than thou attitude ... I could feel it. And you will too ... as the world becomes a better place. |
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March 17, 2006 March 3, 2006 February 24, 2006 February 17, 2006 February 10, 2006 February 3, 2006 January 27, 2006 January 20, 2006 January 13, 2006 January 6, 2006 December 30, 2005 December 23, 2005 December 16, 2005 December 10, 2005 December 2, 2005 November 25, 2005 November 18, 2005 November 11, 2005 November 4, 2005 October 28, 2005 October 21, 2005 October 14, 2005 October 7, 2005 September 30, 2005 September 23, 2005 September 16, 2005 September 9, 2005 September 2, 2005 August 26, 2005 August 19, 2005 August 12, 2005 August 5, 2005 July 29, 2005 July 22, 2005 July 15, 2005 July 8, 2005 July 1, 2005 June 24, 2005 June 17, 2005 June 10, 2005 June 3, 2005 May 27, 2005 May 20, 2005 May 13, 2005 May 6, 2005 April 28, 2005 April 21, 2005 April 14, 2005 April 7, 2005 April 1, 2005 |
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Insurgent Media.
All rights reserved. in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership. |
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