There are a lot of visibly corrupt people, and just as many seemingly corrupt people, who have been demonized in the upper political positions of various groups. Whether by intent, or indirectly, positions of power offer people a platform in which they are able to establish more power for themselves in the future. More power earning more power is foundation for corruption.
It is not just politicians in government either. There are leaders of many groups acting out their political agendas through the power offered by upper level positions.
So many of the activist groups, which I believe, at their core, are inherently good, unfortunately fall victim to corruption as well. As the people leading one group or another start to obtain popularity, finance, and power they are more susceptible to the influence and temptation of that power, making them corruptible. Lets face it, everyone is corruptible under the right set of circumstances, and we are all only human.
Something that is important to highlight, is that when figure head does become corrupted it serves to undermine the foundation and principle of which the group is meant to serve. Take for example the activist groups which claim to serve women, the black community, homosexuality, and observe their leaders. Do they display the characteristics and decorum of a professional representative of a cause worth fighting for?
The actions of the leaders trickle down into the following, and this can be very haphazard. If you have unwavering faith in the cause and your leader holds great power, how ever is also corrupt, you are far more likely to emulate them in an effort to empower the ideals of the cause, which in turn actually won't serve the empowerment of the people beneath your cause.
Identity politics has a tendency to relieve individual responsibility and force people into groups by race, gender, alignment, faith etc. It is a fair claim to assert that many of our current leaders are using the platform of identity politics to push personal agendas, and rely on being part of a group to negate their own irresponsible actions.
If a leader is corrupt, and a follower continues to follow them, they are no longer serving their cause, but you don't see followers rejecting corrupt leaders. Standing more firm in the cause itself than in the specific group which claims to represent it. If a skate shop started selling dildos you'd have no problem finding a new skate shop, right? But there does seem to be a tendency to stand behind a figurehead no matter how reprehensible their actions.
This, in turn, not only serves to mock the group being represented by a certain movement, but also makes those individuals which are participating actively in the movement non-credible.
Once a corrupted group or leader starts wavering from the straight and narrow path which is the virtuous approach to the realistic attainment of honest goals within our society for the betterment of everyone, and starts making reckless attacks on opposition of the goal itself it is a safe bet that their only true intention is self preservation of the group and power. You can see this often in the actions taken by representatives of the groups.
Some questions to ask yourself in the identification of value of a leader, group, and movement.....
1- is there one common goal, message, or point.
-is the message ethical, logical, and beneficial to the foundation of the cause?
-is the group being used to address individual personal issues, political, or social issues?
2- do the representatives of a group interact well with opposition?
-do they participate in open dialogue?
-do they encourage opposing perspective to add to over all understanding?
-do they make clear, concise, and honest points?
-are they professional in it, and taking action through the proper venues to achieve desired outcomes?
3- are they connecting to their intended audience?
-is the approach that which reaches only people in agreement, or are representatives communicating directly and properly to people they are attempting to show the meaning of their cause to?
-are they using language which highlights valid points, and addresses invalid arguments?
4- is the approach legitimate?
-are they filing paperwork with t's crossed and i's dotted, or yelling in the street?
-are they standing on the highest ideals of value of their meaning, individually and as a group?
-are they actually(members and leaders) members of the group which they serve?
-do they address the needs of their intended group, or use their image?
5- will obtaining their stated goals support desirable outcomes?
-will achieving victory in a stated goal be a fair for all achievement?
-is the goal in question an essential, and required position?
-is there a logical, ethical, and well researched reason for changing current practice by persons and establishments to meet the expectations the stated or intended goal reaches to obtain?
There are many reasons for needing to speak out loud against travesty and tyranny in the world. There are hurtles to overcome in the world even in today's age. the world, and the people in it, including you and me, are imperfect. So let's put a little effort into the highest and kindest and most professional representation of ourselves, and our cause that we can. after all, you will win in paperwork and professionalism much more than in destructive attacks in the streets, and refusing to stoop that low will support your effort with much more strength.
It is also unfair to dismiss groups entirely, as a group. Many member of groups do not encourage and condone the kind of behaviour highlighted in this article. Individual responsibility and representation has to take some note in all our minds when the tensions rise. Person a might be corrupt, and sure person b does not leave the group, but it may be for them that, regardless of their leader, they themselves have an ethical reasoning for contributing even under corruption.
If you want to represent a cause, again, just put on your best suit and hat, grab a file folder, and fill things out through the proper venues and protocols which are already in place to see the benefit you are striving for. Every moment you throw a rock or carry a sign, virtue signalling, is a moment that you could be doing leg work.
what are your thoughts on this topic, and on this article?
do you agree? if so then why?
disagree? we'd also be happy to hear why.