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Posted on 11/04/2009 6:27:01 PM PST by EagleUSA
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky Vintage; Reissue edition (October 23, 1989) Buy It
An inspiration to anyone contemplating action in their community! And to every organizer!
Saul Alinsky wrote the book on American radicalism - two books, in fact: a 1945 best-seller, "Reveille for Radicals" and "Rules for Radicals" in 1971. The "Reveille" title page quotes Thomas Paine... "Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul."
Saul Alinsky, who was a labor and civil-rights activist from the 1910's until he died in 1972, has written here a guidebook for those who are out to change things. He sets down what the goal is: a society where people are free to live, and also aren't starving in the streets. A society where there is legal and economic justice. Then he sets out to say how to get there.
Alinsky spends a lot of time critiquing the idea that "The end does not justify the means." What end? What means? He feels that there are circumstances where one can and should use means that in other circumstances would be unethical. I am not sure I agree, but Alinsky certainly speaks with the voice of experience.
Alinsky's goal seems to be to encourage positive social change by equipping activists with a realistic view of the world, a kind of preemptive disillusionment. If a person already knows what evil the world is capable of, then perhaps the surprise factor can be eliminated, making the person a more effective activist. Alinsky further seems to be encouraging the budding activist not to worry to much about getting his or her hands dirty. It's all a part of the job, he seems to say.
(Excerpt) Read more at nea.org ...
Switch your mouse back to semi from three shot burst.
I’m reading it and it’s quite disturbing. I can only read a chapter a day.
This exact article has been posted 3 times within minutes. I’m not one to whine about repeat posts because sometimes they are valuable for people working different hours but this particular article was posted within minutes. Thank you.
With people like Alinsky, what can you say? It's a pity they're already dead, eh?
LOL
Of course I posted to the one that died quickest.
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