Rioting via the keyboard - is it enough? "Al Qaeda Resurgent"

I've been mulling Morra Aarons-Mele's passionate response to the NYT editorial, Al Qaeda Resurgent, all morning. She's really hit me in the solar plexus. In Why Aren't We Rioting in the Streets? Aarons-Mele begins:

"I want the country to go on strike. I want the Congress to stage a sit in...I am just one woman, angry about this war and I feel powerless because I don't know what to do to help stop it."

Here's where I find myself: I'm terribly disappointed at the slow pace of change, and missed opportunities for global statesmanship. While many days I feel like taking to the street corners with a handpainted sign about any number of issues, I feel like I have bigger change of effecting long-term change every time I put my head under the hood at BlogHer.org and BlogHerAds.com.

Nothing is more important to me right now than publishing new voices from throughout the political spectrum that articulate a reality check to the powers that be. I think blogging equals participation, and participation of any kind leads to action at the ballot box, and to real change.

A couple weeks ago, I heard some confirmation from outside the blogosphere that this approach is working. I was in Miami, speaking on the power of community at the WeMedia conference. The highlight of the conference for me

was hearing former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, now president of the University of Miami, talk about the value of listening to what people are saying online. She told an auditorium of about 500 people:

"As a decisionmaker, if I don't use multiple sources, I make mistakes," Shalala said. "The one thing I've learned out of all the new media discussions as a decisionmaker...is that it may take more time, but you can get a lot more information from the public" by researching what people think.

Later Shalala talked specifically about how reading opinions about her latest hire, a new football coach, affirmed her choice. This communications activity, she said, is affecting 18-24 year-olds in a way that will change their voting behavior:

"It looks like they're starting to vote. That's in part influenced by new media."

We're talking and decisionmakers are listening because, increasingly, they have to. To me that means we need to publish and promote as many women writers as possible as we burn up to Election 2008 -- and I mean writers from left, right and center. Because women are still underrepresented in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, not just on newspaper op-ed pages.

I'm seeing more and more women brought into public policy discussions every day via blogging, whether it's Hillary Clinton's and Barack Obama's candidacies, the war in Iraq or health care. I've even (jealously) sacrificed my own writing. I've been missing in action on this site and on BlogHer in the past couple of months, planning for BlogHer's massive redesign. And I think I've made the right choice. In that time, the editors and community on this site have confirmed my choice by continuing to rattle swords, ploughshares and olive branches at the White House and those seeking the White House, in a way that really helps motivate me.

Specifically:

Kim Ponders' scathing perspective on the Bush administration response to the Iraq Study Group Report:Affirming our Way to Victory in Iraq among others

Aarons-Mele's other posts on distractions (SF Mayor Gavin Newsom's affair) and outrages (treatment of vets)

Kim Pearson's incredible coverage of Second Life, both the Scooter Libby trial and Iraq

Dana J. Tuszke's perspective on Election 2008

Melinda Casino's five-second therapy delivered to the blogging left over Marcottegate, which she pretty much predicted

Birdie Jaworski's coverage of presidential hopeful and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson

Marianne Richmond's and Laura Scott'scoverage of the effects of social media on politics, and on pending legislation that could change the arena for all of us

And everyone I may have missed!

As I just wrote back to Morra in her comments, I suspect that if she were sitting across from me in this cafe, she might say, "Yes, Lisa, but people are dying RIGHT NOW. What are we doing about it?"

And so I've asked her back -- and I'll ask you too -- is there a way that we could improve rioting via the keyboard?

Because I'm all...fingers.

What do you think?

Comments

[jenB]

I know I am judging from another country, but here goes. I think that new media, in particular blogging has had a gigantic effect on every area of human culture all across the world. I like to think that tolerance, knowledge, and humanity, are the greatest gifts an online community has given. That said, I am not sure anything can replace in person protesting or civil disobedience. When I look at American history, I am most impressed by the protests against racism, segregation, Vietnam, and I even witnessed an awesome peaceful protest on immigration reform last time I was in San Francisco. I love that about America. It takes A LOT to get people to get out and do such things in Canada, we are a quiet people and didn't become a country with as much violence and aplomb as the USA. I dunno what my conclusion is, but I would love to see more fist shaking on the streets.

[jen lemen]

Here's the question I'm asking myself lately:

Can things really stay the same if we hear firsthand accounts of women in grief over sons lost to war, women working as housekeepers without pay for the untouchable diplomatic core, women waiting for peace in the Ivory Coast, so they can return to work for political change without fear of death? I know women with stories like this to tell, but no time or resources to get the word out about their experiences.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe part of my responsibility as a blogger is to do something about that. A really good story can change the political landscape in a minute--at least that's what I'm hoping.

[Lisa Stone]

jenB, jen lemen, thank you. I somehow managed to mark my typepad comment alerts as spam again and completely missed your comments.

Jen Lemen, yes, I think you have a terrific voice and I would love to see read you blogging about these! (More Jen at http://jenlemen.com, folks).

JenB, yes, you and I feel the same. That fist-shaking thing, even if it's blaring horns at women in black wearing signs, as I regularly see in my town, is a reminder that I am not alone in Horrified protest, in a desire for real leadership and change. As is your comment. :)

No. More. Spectators...