By Jonathan Grindell
In a world of commodification and consumption, there are alternatives in the forms of community and compassion. Community breaks down these barriers by acknowledging that we are all in this together. Compassion dissolves feelings of competition into those of mutual aid and solidarity. A world that dichotomizes life into very rigid definitions only brings about commodification and consumption. No one is treated fairly, everyone must buy as much as possible to “fit in.” These categorizations affects all of us: “womyn,” people of color, non-“humyn” animals and all other living species.
Having grown up full of white male privilege, it was very easy to ignore the aforementioned statement. It seemed like nothing was in it for me, I was doing fine all by myself. It wasn’t until I realized how “they” had me hook, line and sinker, as well. Feeling forced to internalize my emotions and to never challenge authority, I became a very isolated and resentful person. Seeing how segregated I was on Long Island, I found myself in my room all alone, lacking a sense of autonomy and self-determination.
Then it hit me: I have the ability to create change in the world. This world includes our environment. As the late Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Organizer Utah Phillips said, “The earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those who are killing it have names and addresses.” I became furious that a handful of corporate executives were allowed to profit off of our environment. Notions of patriarchy are ever-present. There is a diversity of tactics available to combat this injustice. Just as it was a great challenge to realize that I needed community, it took a deeper level of understanding to realize that all our lives are at stake. I’m not talking about our unnecessary modern conveniences; many of those must be given up. I’m talking about our basic needs: air, water, food, and most important, love.
If our old, polluting power plants aren’t repowered, we will have to worry about the quality of our air. If global corporations are allowed to pollute our waters, where will our drinking sources come from? If “food” continues to come from sentient beings that are tortured, while other “products” are continually genetically modified and full of pesticides, how can we eat humanely and safely? With so many advertisements being broadcasted, how can we love, much less stay comfortable with, ourselves so we can love others?
These are significant hurdles to overcome. The lessons I’ve learned is that most people advocate for a better world. They realize it’s in all of our self-interests. As an organizer, I am surrounded by people advocating for change right now. Coming off of a regime where torture was tolerated, there is a collective concern for each another. People do not generally want to see one another suffer. This rings true across the species line to non-“humyn” animals. The time to let others profit, while the rest of us struggle, is over. This is a new era and it’s never been more appropriate to follow one’s heart into this new world.