The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river.
Ross Perot
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
In an age where the media is quick to label all sorts of shenanigans and woke antics as activism, it is easy to forget who our true heroes actually are. Consequently, most of us find our idols in photo-op geniuses who somehow always manage to be at the right place at the right time. Regardless of the what, where, and why of the issue in question, these self-proclaimed activists are quick to hog the limelight with their rhetoric and histrionic blame games. And once they have made their statement, little is known or heard about them or the media personnel that turned them into overnight stars until the time is ripe for their next public appearance.
On the other hand, people that actually work on resolving the issues at ground zero hardly get the credit they deserve. All the noise created by the self-professed activists hijacks their work and drowns out their desperate pleas for some much-needed public support. In fact, these ground workers often lead miserable, neglected lives before dying in penury.
IS ACTIVISM MEANINGLESS?
Not necessarily. When used as a genuine means to address pressing social issues and get actual work done, activism can move mountains, so to speak. It would be downright ignorant to overlook the contributions of some of the greatest social workers in history. Unfortunately, however, modern activism has more to do with media attention and lofty ambitions of becoming popular and/or wealthy rather than actually improving people’s lives.
CONCLUSION
We owe a lot to the people who selflessly work toward making this world a better place. However, over the last few decades, a few individuals with vested interests have hijacked this noble cause. It is up to all of us to call such people out so the real activists can get the plaudits and support they deserve.
Henry Ross Perot Sr, commonly known as Ross Perot, was an American business tycoon and politician. Known for his philanthropic activities, Perot once commented: “The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river.”