Education is Action!
The most important action we can take is to educate ourselves and our children.
The amount of misinformation available is vast and ever-increasing. Some argue that we must follow a fear-based approach, while others demand knowledge-based policies. It's vital to learn the differences between these philosophies, because the ways we prioritize them will permanently shape the world we’re creating for our children.
Former Maryland legislator, Don Murphy, spoke about his experience serving as an elected official. He said that from his window, he’d watch citizens get off the bus at one end of his block, march around in front of his office with signs, then get on another bus at the other end of his block and go home. He said that he never listened to those people.
The people to whom he listened, were the ones who got off the bus, walked up to his office, sat down, and told him what they needed and why. Demonstrating can send a powerful message in select circumstances, but without first attempting to speak in person about the issues of contention with the official or entity being protested, the message also risks being lost in the noise. Public officials are human beings with feelings, preferences and biases, and we should expect that human beings will respond better to being treated with respect and common courtesy, than they will to hostility and attack.
Knowledge gives us the power to take further action, and our simple presence leads to that knowledge. There are as many different ways to take action as there are people willing to do so. Our voices and our awareness are our strongest assets. Be here and there. Be involved. Be the change!
Some of the opportunities to get involved include:
- Link to BB. Please feel free to use our buttons or banners, found here, or simply provide a text link. We’ll be happy to consider a link back to your site, if you let us know that you’ve linked to BB. We can be reached at staff@building-block.org
- Print and distribute our flyers to family, friends and colleagues.
- Donate to BB. This could be your time, knowledge, expertise, energy, spirit and/or other resources. We need your help!
- Financial contributions can be made out to Building BLOCK and sent to the following address: P.O. Box 541, Lafayette, OR 97127. We anticipate adding a Pay Pal link soon.
- Visit websites on all sides of these issues and subscribe to a variety of e-mail lists -- stay informed!
- Take opportunities to sign petitions and participate in polls, both online and in your local community.
- E-mail, fax, and/or telephone local, state and federal representatives about issues that are important to you. http://www.congress.org
- Make appointments to speak personally with your representatives, and tell them what's important to you. Remember -- they work for you!
- Attend PTA, homeschooling, and other parents groups -- start discussions about goals and priorities.
- When the situations call for it, attend demonstrations and add your face and voice to issues which concern you.
- Write letters to editors of local and/or national newspapers.
- Keep the discussion open!
We cannot afford to stand still and allow our children's futures to be shaped by fear, greed nor intolerance. Get active -- even if your personal actions are simply educating yourself and talking about the issues which impact your life with your friends, colleagues, and relatives.
Knowledge and communication are power !
