Activism!

Are you passive, or are you active? A passive person watches as the world goes by, and never really takes control of his or her life. This person believes that what happens, happens and it’s going to happen whether they do anything about it or not. Que sera sera.

On the other hand, an active person not only speaks up, but also ACTS when things aren’t right, or when things need to be changed. If you are active, and you consider yourself an activist, you are not a victim of the world because you are in control.

Now, activism can be achieved in large ways, or minor ways. You can be an activist like Martin Luther King Jr. and speak out against racism and segregation, or you can do little things as well.

Below you will find an e-mail I sent to CafePress.com after ordering a group of t-shirts from them. Initially I bought about seven shirts from them, but after realizing what kind of company I was giving my money to, I decided to write them a letter, and inform them that I would be sending all the t-shirts back, unopened. Here is the e-mail. We’ll see if they write back.

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Dear CafePress,

I currently have an order that’s being shipped and I’m considering returning it before I even look at the shirts.

Here’s why.

I originally purchased the shirts because I thought to myself, “This is a company that isn’t just out to make money. They actually have a conscience too and even want to help the people of Darfur.” After I saw this site of yours:
http://www.cafepress.com/darfur_crisis I was eager to purchase this shirt and more.

Then, as I was looking for other shirts, I started seeing things like these shirts:
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/SPEAK%20ENGLISH/-/cfpt2_/copt_/cfpt_/source_searchBox/x_0/y_0
One shirt even goes as far as to say, “SPEAK ENGLISH, or GET THE FUCK OUT.” Now, maybe I’m crazy, but it seems a bit hypocritical to be promoting the end of a genocide on one continent, all the while you’re promoting racism and bigotry on another one.

Obviously, I’m only one person and I can’t stop you from promoting hatred, but I can’t take my business elsewhere. I have been pleased with the service, but I want you to know that as soon as I receive the t-shirts, I’m sending them back.

Respectfully,

Corey Topf
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“Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth.” – 1 John 3:1