Excellent piece, thanks Peter. I’m circulating it around my networks. I think fleshing out the idea and practice of “citizen philanthropy” is one of the top priorities of the next few years.
As a retired soc. teacher, I love the tone. “This is what citizenship should FEEL like!” To often we associate this attitude with small towns of the past, or some rural 3rd world villages. Peter exhibits a driving enthusiasm and confidence.
Here is a new dimension to ‘Think Globally, Act Locally’
And what is the effect of this grass roots concern and action on the recipients ? How do folks react to help coming from face-to-face individuals acting on their own concern —instead—of help coming from legislated agencies or “rich fat-cats” seeking tax deductions.
I didn’t realize how ‘philanthropy’ was boxed in to big time agencies striving for scale, instead of ‘concern for each other’.
There might be some lessons here from “Imagine Chicago,et al” & ‘Imagine Democracy’.
“Imagine Everyman a Philanthropist”
I don’t doubt your sincerity, but I feel compelled to digitally slap you across the face regarding your leading paragraph.
Democracy doesn’t “look like” the protest marches you had the privilege to participate in. Democracy “looks like” Washington and the Continental Army freezing to death in Valley Forge, preparing for the Spring when they can fight to create a democracy (Constitutional Republic actually) by defeating the most terrifying fighting force the world knew at that time, the British Army. Most of them would die creating your freedom and mine.
Democracy “feels like” the marines who raised the American Flag at Iwo Jima and the one who felt his best friend’s brains in his lap at Normandy.
Democracy “feels like” the kid from your generation that doesn’t delude himself into thinking that marching in a few protests makes him a better citizen, but instead he signs on to defend his country in spite of all the “digital native” messages to do otherwise. He doesn’t necessarily sign on to any particular policy or conflict but he recognizes that freedom isn’t free. She recognizes in herself something rare, something greater than self and answers the call to defend her freedom and that of her family. You and I are the fortunate beneficiaries.
In all of recorded human history, democratic forms of government that respected and preserved individual freedom are the very rare exception. Even in our own time, they are the rare exception. They only came about because greater men than you or I conceived of it, fought to the death to create it, and continue to put their lives on the line to defend it.
No democratic government that respected human liberty was ever created or preserved by protests or protesters. The strong arm of the tyrannical government always squashed the voices of the dissidents as they do today in China, Iran, North Korea to name a few. Only when individuals have been willing to sacrifice their own lives so that those who came after might live in freedom was freedom ever secured.
No, what you participated in was not what “democracy looks like”. What you participated in was the privilege of the freedom you enjoy based on the actions of others…the fruits of their labors. To march a few blocks, chant a few chants, look for some chicks to hang out with and head home for a few beers or a few bong hits, is not what builds or preserves a democracy.
So please, don’t flatter yourself with delusions of grandeur. Don’t embarrass yourself by broadcasting your reckless ignorance of what it takes to create or preserve a democracy. Instead, the next time you see a soldier in uniform at a Starbuck’s offer to buy his coffee. You will do far more to preserve our democracy that way.
I didn’t realize a conversation had emerged around this blog post. Thank you everyone for posting replies. I’m struck by the completely different take Charlie Boulder had in response to my post. I’m very grateful for the kind words from Bill Kilgour, Vectorpedia, and Michael Edwards (whose articles on Philanthrocapitalism I’m a big fan of). I’m also grateful to Mr. Boulder, despite the digital slap across my face.
My blog entry was not about the lead up to the Iraq War or the utility of protests in the streets. But while we’re on the subject, I don’t think true democracy requires guns and force to defend. Mr. Boulder and I will never agree on that, so there’s no point in debating it. But I would point out that his version of democracy is an invitation for me to keep quiet, accept militarism, and focus on consuming coffee at the local Starbucks. I don’t do any of those things very well.
I’m wondering what Mr. Boulder’s response is to the citizen philanthropy part of my blog entry. Does he think I should keep quiet and thank the big time philanthropists who laid the foundation for me to imagine microphilanthropy? Should I treat their program officers to a coffee when we pass in the streets?
My blog entry is about imagining citizen-centered approaches to everything from democracy to journalism to philanthropy. That’s where my focus is now, and where it will stay as long as I’m passionate about using technology to encourage people to do more with their time, resources, and inherent goodwill.
Charlie Boulder’s comment missed the point, I think.
Democracy is a system of government which puts sovereignty, power, in the hands of the citizenry. It’s common to refer to that power as freedom—power to do X = freedom to do X—but it’s helpful to remember that what we’re talking about is power in the hands of the citizen.
So yes, democracy looks like a citizen signing up for military service AND it looks like a citizen protesting their government’s use of military force. Our democratic system of government is created and sustained by expressions of both conformity and rebellion, because the power to conform and the power to rebel are possessed in equal measure by the citizens of a democratic state.
Disclosure: I’m the friend that Peter referred to at the end of the blog entry, and a card-carrying fan of Peter Deitz and the call to use our power as individual citizens to engage in philanthropic activity.
COMMENTS
BY Michael Edwards
ON July 24, 2008 01:15 PM
Excellent piece, thanks Peter. I’m circulating it around my networks. I think fleshing out the idea and practice of “citizen philanthropy” is one of the top priorities of the next few years.
Michael Edwards
BY Bill Kilgour
ON July 27, 2008 09:36 PM
As a retired soc. teacher, I love the tone. “This is what citizenship should FEEL like!” To often we associate this attitude with small towns of the past, or some rural 3rd world villages. Peter exhibits a driving enthusiasm and confidence.
Here is a new dimension to ‘Think Globally, Act Locally’
And what is the effect of this grass roots concern and action on the recipients ? How do folks react to help coming from face-to-face individuals acting on their own concern —instead—of help coming from legislated agencies or “rich fat-cats” seeking tax deductions.
I didn’t realize how ‘philanthropy’ was boxed in to big time agencies striving for scale, instead of ‘concern for each other’.
There might be some lessons here from “Imagine Chicago,et al” & ‘Imagine Democracy’.
“Imagine Everyman a Philanthropist”
Nifty, nimble ideas. Thanks for their stimulus.
BY Charlie Boulder
ON July 30, 2008 10:45 PM
Peter,
I don’t doubt your sincerity, but I feel compelled to digitally slap you across the face regarding your leading paragraph.
Democracy doesn’t “look like” the protest marches you had the privilege to participate in. Democracy “looks like” Washington and the Continental Army freezing to death in Valley Forge, preparing for the Spring when they can fight to create a democracy (Constitutional Republic actually) by defeating the most terrifying fighting force the world knew at that time, the British Army. Most of them would die creating your freedom and mine.
Democracy “feels like” the marines who raised the American Flag at Iwo Jima and the one who felt his best friend’s brains in his lap at Normandy.
Democracy “feels like” the kid from your generation that doesn’t delude himself into thinking that marching in a few protests makes him a better citizen, but instead he signs on to defend his country in spite of all the “digital native” messages to do otherwise. He doesn’t necessarily sign on to any particular policy or conflict but he recognizes that freedom isn’t free. She recognizes in herself something rare, something greater than self and answers the call to defend her freedom and that of her family. You and I are the fortunate beneficiaries.
In all of recorded human history, democratic forms of government that respected and preserved individual freedom are the very rare exception. Even in our own time, they are the rare exception. They only came about because greater men than you or I conceived of it, fought to the death to create it, and continue to put their lives on the line to defend it.
No democratic government that respected human liberty was ever created or preserved by protests or protesters. The strong arm of the tyrannical government always squashed the voices of the dissidents as they do today in China, Iran, North Korea to name a few. Only when individuals have been willing to sacrifice their own lives so that those who came after might live in freedom was freedom ever secured.
No, what you participated in was not what “democracy looks like”. What you participated in was the privilege of the freedom you enjoy based on the actions of others…the fruits of their labors. To march a few blocks, chant a few chants, look for some chicks to hang out with and head home for a few beers or a few bong hits, is not what builds or preserves a democracy.
So please, don’t flatter yourself with delusions of grandeur. Don’t embarrass yourself by broadcasting your reckless ignorance of what it takes to create or preserve a democracy. Instead, the next time you see a soldier in uniform at a Starbuck’s offer to buy his coffee. You will do far more to preserve our democracy that way.
BY Vectorpedia
ON August 3, 2008 02:24 PM
Excellent article on philanthropy…..............I would hope organizations in this field would read this article to develop thier standards and goals.
BY Peter Deitz
ON August 6, 2008 08:56 AM
Hi SSIR community,
I didn’t realize a conversation had emerged around this blog post. Thank you everyone for posting replies. I’m struck by the completely different take Charlie Boulder had in response to my post. I’m very grateful for the kind words from Bill Kilgour, Vectorpedia, and Michael Edwards (whose articles on Philanthrocapitalism I’m a big fan of). I’m also grateful to Mr. Boulder, despite the digital slap across my face.
My blog entry was not about the lead up to the Iraq War or the utility of protests in the streets. But while we’re on the subject, I don’t think true democracy requires guns and force to defend. Mr. Boulder and I will never agree on that, so there’s no point in debating it. But I would point out that his version of democracy is an invitation for me to keep quiet, accept militarism, and focus on consuming coffee at the local Starbucks. I don’t do any of those things very well.
I’m wondering what Mr. Boulder’s response is to the citizen philanthropy part of my blog entry. Does he think I should keep quiet and thank the big time philanthropists who laid the foundation for me to imagine microphilanthropy? Should I treat their program officers to a coffee when we pass in the streets?
My blog entry is about imagining citizen-centered approaches to everything from democracy to journalism to philanthropy. That’s where my focus is now, and where it will stay as long as I’m passionate about using technology to encourage people to do more with their time, resources, and inherent goodwill.
BY Christine Egger
ON August 7, 2008 02:11 PM
Charlie Boulder’s comment missed the point, I think.
Democracy is a system of government which puts sovereignty, power, in the hands of the citizenry. It’s common to refer to that power as freedom—power to do X = freedom to do X—but it’s helpful to remember that what we’re talking about is power in the hands of the citizen.
So yes, democracy looks like a citizen signing up for military service AND it looks like a citizen protesting their government’s use of military force. Our democratic system of government is created and sustained by expressions of both conformity and rebellion, because the power to conform and the power to rebel are possessed in equal measure by the citizens of a democratic state.
Disclosure: I’m the friend that Peter referred to at the end of the blog entry, and a card-carrying fan of Peter Deitz and the call to use our power as individual citizens to engage in philanthropic activity.