When someone mentions the word
“activism”, the first image that comes to mind to most people is one of Greta
Thunberg marching in 40 different cities or of Malala Yusafzai recalling the
attack she survived, all great role models who sacrifice so much for a cause
bigger than their existence. However, while it’s important to celebrate their
accomplishments and the movements these activists have started, I’m here to
remind you all that activism is much simpler and closer to us than what most of
us thought.
Activism is defined as “the
use of direct and noticeable action to achieve a result, usually a political or
social one” according to The Cambridge Dictionary. The definition is quite simple,
but seems daunting to many young adults because we have great
expectations regarding the effects activism must produce. What many
don’t realize is that small actions done daily are actually included in the
definition of activism. Activism is bringing a reusable cup to buy coffee in
the morning. It’s attending charity fundraisers. It’s
informing your entourage on a social issue that’s important to you. It’s
thrifting clothes, instead of always buying from fast-fashion stores, and so
on. While these actions might not seem relevant or influential, it’s already a
start, and that’s what activism requires: a spark. Without the desire of changing
the world for the better, activism would have never existed. However, it’s
important to spread that desire and motivation in any way we can.
What I want people to remember
after reading this article is that we shouldn’t shy away from activism just
because it seems like some people are investing more time and energy than us.
Rather, we should stay informed on the causes that matter to us, listen to what
others want to teach us and then try to get as involved as much as we can.
-Ingi El Shahid
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