I guess you're writing the book for community activists, but it wouldn't hurt to keep in mind the average, non-activist person, to increase the numbers of people involved.
Speaking to someone who cares about an issue and would like to help do something about it, or at least express an intelligent viewpoint on it, but doesn't have a clue how to go about doing it. And who is turned off by suggestions to do overtly activist things.
Example: I was at a Dean introduction meeting a few years back, when he was running. It was at a public place, where we viewed him speaking via TV to various groups across the state or country. At the end, activist types walked around trying to get signatures to impeach Pres. Bush. I was totally turned off. There was no discussion beforehand that this would be asked, or why they wanted to impeach Bush. No issue was mentioned. I would never get involved in something so overtly activist that is not issue-oriented. I WOULD have done other things to try to have an effect on a specific issue.
But who would I have written? Who would have bothered to read my communication? How long should it be? Does it do any good when I sign those form letters I get via e-mail, that I sign and which are automatically going to be sent to various politicians? I'm not interested in general, negative actions that are party-based. I don't see that as helpful.
Or is there even a place for normal, non-activist people? Or do they need to just be on their own and not get involved in community action events?
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