When it comes to fighting for a cause, we can’t all have Chuck Norris on our side.
That kind of privilege is now reserved for Republican presidential candidate and newly anointed campaign-trail funnyman, Mike Huckabee. With the help of a single one-minute ad/extended Chuck Norris joke, Huckabee became one of the most watched people on YouTube and saw a substantial jump in polls.
Fortunately enough for the rest of us, examples of successful activism have proven popular and well executed over the past few weeks. Often dismissed as too “radical” or “ineffective”, grassroots movements of recent years have struggled to organize and maintain their commitment in the face of public skepticism about their efficacy. Maybe that’s why the idea of big, deeply inconvenient strikes breaking out in France, New York and L.A., puts me in a good mood. As much as I love watching a good, newsy fallout – and boy, do I - it’s the growing spirit of collective protest that has really gotten me going.
If the hoards of federal employees in Paris and the community of ushers on Broadway were too far away to get you pumped, I’m sure you at least have something emotive to say about the writers’ strike. If not, maybe Mike Garrett’s email plea to students urging us to petition board members and boycott stadium concessions impelled you to act when you never thought you would. Oh, to stand and cheer in the cold for hours, with beer soaked bellies crying out for sausage dogs - can’t you just smell the revolution? If you can, and you like it, don’t be embarrassed; thanks to these events and the celebrity endorsed pop-green movement, “activist” is the persona of the moment.
Unfortunately, as with all trends, this enthusiasm for social change will soon come to an end. Before that happens, sit with our paper. Take some time to reconsider the democratic candidates’ progressivism, laugh at some First Lady faux pas, or update yourself on the sexual goings-on at USC.
Should you still feel riled up come January, if you find the exhilaration of actually giving a damn about something unshakeable, get in touch with us over here at the Trojan Horse. We are always looking for new writers, editors and artists who are confident enough to make their voices heard.
When the crowd dies down, how else are we going to beat big name endorsements from the likes of a guy whose roundhouse kick is the preferred method of execution in 16 states?
To get involved email us at troho@usc.edu
