Social movements, inevitably, move beyond their founders, triggering events, and initial raison d'être. Don’t believe me? Read history—that is, if anyone cares anymore about history:
- Multiple competing agendas develop
- Without a charismatic leader who embodies the movement they become directionless
- Without that genuine leader, pretenders turn on each other, destroying the movement
- Celebrities get involved but with rare exception are shallow by definition, seeking 15 minutes of fame and no more
- Meanings of words change, to the point people talk past one another
- Original intent can be overwhelmed, hijacked, displaced, unrecognizably recrafted, forgotten
- Violence can occur but rarely makes the impact anticipated
- Sustainable social change takes place when goals resonate with an objective reality that aligns with human aspiration.
“Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time” (Ecc. 1:10).
© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved, 2020
*This blog may be reproduced in whole or in part with a full attribution statement. Contact me or read more commentary on current issues and events at www.rexmrogers.com/, or connect with me at www.linkedin.com/in/rexmrogers.