My revolution of common sense
a manifesto of sorts?
Today he-who-shall-not-be-named called for a "Revolution of Common Sense". Him and I and many political philosophers across time have had very different ideas of revolution... Here is what it means to me.
My revolution is a garden planted in an abandoned lot,
My revolution is a free library and food pantry inside a laundromat,
My revolution is a community kitchen where everyone feels welcome,
My revolution is a repair café which is easier to access than something new,
My revolution is a pop-up clinic where care is kind and freely given,
My revolution is a barter market buzzing in an empty parking lot,
My revolution is a worker-owned coffee shop with a training program,
My revolution is a fleet of bikes delivering food and solidarity,
My revolution is a legal clinic scribbling hope into eviction notices,
My revolution is a night patrol that protects without a badge,
My revolution is a community fridge of rescued food,
My revolution is a tool library building a future none of us owns alone.
and in response to some of the executive orders that are expected:
My revolution is yelling LA MIGRAAAA if I see ICE,
My revolution is knowing the fastest way to a safe haven when someone needs it,
My revolution is supporting and organizing people's assemblies, where voices rise and power shifts,
My revolution is asking churches and universities to open their doors and act as sanctuaries,
My revolution is handing out real, tangible information to those who need it most,
My revolution is making sure every refugee in my city knows that I’m their ally,
My revolution is building a network of resistance that cannot be ignored.
The process of revolution unfolds gradually, small projects springing up: one here, another there. Over time, the distance you'll have to travel to reach one of these spaces of solidarity will shrink. Over time, we'll relearn the goodness of humanity and the sacredness of nature. In time, institutions of solidarity will challenge existing power structures. Some will fail and there will be times we feel like we're going backwards. We'll learn from these lessons to create stronger systems. Eventually, a critical moment will come about when the powers that be can't deal with the mounting crises anymore. At this point, a surge of energy will erupt that will give way to the formation of a new social order.
If this revolution or new future is difficult to picture, I recommend reading some fiction to spark your imagination. My personal suggestion is Everything for Everyone, by Eman Abdelhadi and M. E. O’Brien. See more in my blog post Solarpunk, utopian and anti-capitalist fiction for imagining brighter futures.
