Previous blog posts discussed the current cultural war we are stuck in, and how speech and art are suppressed. Considering the popularity of these posts, I will list 50+ ways that you can show courage and strategy in such turbulent times.
I’ve also made a video about the current attacks on liberty, and in it, I referenced two terrific poems: The old English melancholic account, The Wanderer, and of course, Tolkien’s famous All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter.
Alot of people right now are looking for ways to help improve their situation, without drastic measures (like quitting their job, cutting off long-established relationships, etc). If that is you, this blog post will assist. Make sure you comment below or share this article if it assists you, because I want to help as many people as possible.
I take a generous definition of the word ‘courage’ because no matter how small your action is, it matters. That’s why I’m encouraging everyone who is reading this article, no matter how much power they wield, to employ these suggestions. Not all of them are suitable for everyone, and as I argue in this video, any action ought to show strategy and wisdom.
What I’m saying is: be careful.
Here are the 50+ ways for the voiceless to show courage and bravery in these rocky times.
Finance, Technology & The Arts
Learn soft and hard skills. The ability to do things, whether they are ‘soft’ or ‘hard’ is absolutely crucial. You could learn a language, computer coding, or anything that contributes to your professional and personal standing. We don’t need ninjas to win the cultural war, but we do need curious people who are dedicated to improving society.
Support artists and authors who don’t bend the knee. Yes, they exist, and if you look hard enough: you’ll spot them. It’s not a bad idea to read their books, buy tickets to their shows, or even write letters of support. Having and sticking to your principles is hard in this world, and when people do, they should have support.
An example? Laurence Fox, a British actor who faced nasty heat (and got sadly personal when his family and career got involved). Watch his interview with Triggernometry (great channel, also independent and worth supporting) here:
Try alternative tech & media. Silicon Valley aren’t the only boys in town. Look out for smaller social media networks (like Minds or Gab!) and finance platforms (SubscribeStar!). As for media, independent content creators are creating terrific content, with just as much, if not more, insight than mainstream news. Without showing off, Snowy Fictions is proudly independent.
Diversify your income. We live in a rocky world, and having multiple streams of income has benefits. Without giving financial advice, I strongly suggest looking at your books, and asking yourself essential questions about security. Just in case you are ever in the awful position of getting fired from your job for thought crime.
Donate to causes and those who need help. No matter how small your pledge is, a financial pledge to a cause or content creator on fundly or subscribestar makes a difference.
Encourage businesses to uphold free speech. That could mean writing to them when deplatforming occurs, or supporting businesses financially when they do the right thing.
Start a business. This option isn’t for everyone, least the faint of heart. Besides, for a business to draw profit, it can take years. However, being your own boss has its benefits. Running Snowy Fictions taught me about responsibility and built a strong work ethic.
Vote with your dollar. Don’t like it? Can shop elsewhere? Do it. But also, if you see a business doing the right thing, then consider supporting them or even just saying thanks.
Invent. There’s something terrific about an inventive mind. Our complex world needs solutions, and maybe you could help build one. Traits such as initation and creativity are great to have.
Unleash the power of an Anonymous account. For those who want to say something, but remain anonymous.
Shareholder? Use that as leverage. If you have a financial stake in a company, see about leveraging it.
Unsubscribe from mailing lists and companies that guilt-trip or shame you. Make sure you provide feedback and let them know. Your mailbox doesn’t need to be awful!
Like and share Youtube videos, Twitter posts, that offer thought outside the ‘accepted’ orthodoxy.
Get creative. You may like painting, creative writing, film, performance, ceramics or sculpture. That’s cool, and something Snowy Fictions encourages. Art is also great at convincing people to explore different ideas, or to see things in a new way. Use that to your advantage.
Complain to companies who deplatform or fire individuals. Learn to create noise, because some companies (not all) will back down if public pressure gets to them.
Political
Vote in elections. It’s a no brainer. But it is usually not enough, and even the strongest of politicans can fall to bureaucracy. Still, don’t use that as a reason to not vote.
Know your legal rights. The law has flaws, but sometimes, it can protect you. Having a nuanced and detailed understanding of the law can equip your actions.
Have children? Find out what they are being taught in school and why. Some parents shy away from this, because they know its horrifying. But find out, and get any proof you can. Talk to other parents, and make noise. The education system will never change unless its given a reason to.
Psychological
Do not believe the words of those who do not have your best interests at heart. People will call you racist / sexist / Nazi / misogynist / bad person / bigot. Do not believe them. Do not value their opinion, or let it get to you. Sometimes, the most courageous thing you can do is show resilience.
Focus on your listening / writing / talking / reading skills. Learn to further your ability to articulate yourself. It will make you more persuasive and stronger. Psychology professor and author Dr. Jordan B Peterson has said something similar:
Learn history and literature. It shocks me how many people my age do not know about the Chinese cultural revolution, Stalin’s gulags, or even the atrocities of the Reign of Terror in France. Truth is, history and literature are bloodbaths. But that’s how it is, and it shouldn’t change just because someone is offended by it. Learn history, it will strengthen your arguments, and nuance your understanding of the world. Literature will do the same.
Let go of the familiar and take a risk. Not only does it make you more attractive (people like decisive and strong-willed individuals) but it leads to bravery and boldness.
Learn logic and how to deconstruct arguments. Any argument can be scrutinized, including the ones by your enemies. Crack open a book about critical thinking and the different modes of logic. Train yourself to detect poor arguments, and to articulate why they are bad. Now that’s power.
Know your weaknesses, and tame accordingly. Because if you know your weakness, and don’t let it get to you, then it’ll never hurt you. Yes, it’s easier said than done, but never impossible.
Become independent (or close to it). Relying on people or systems isn’t necessarily bad. But when it is a toxic person or system, then there is a problem.
Think long-term. The cultural war has raged on for years, decades even. It is not stopping anytime soon. Short-term losses absolutely suck, but if we keep fighting, we can win. But we only can win if we believe we have a chance.
Understand human psychology. Understand behaviour, and why people act the way they do. From that, you’ll figure out what people respond well to.
Focus on why you are fighting this fight. Have a clear mental picture in your mind about why you are fighting. It could be your children, for example. Never lose it.
Master the English language (or any language for that matter). Language is easily manipulated. Words can take new meanings.
Take care of yourself. Your mental and physical health is important. Don’t let anyone tell you that it doesn’t matter.
Care about the world and the future. Again, don’t feel guilty over giving a damn about the world and what happens to the people who live in it.
Put effort in everything you do. No half-measures. Put in the necessary effort for change.
Social
Find allies and like-minded people who want to build a better world. Remember: you are not alone in the cultural war. Many people in a variety of industries do not believe in toppling statues, censorship and bullying. Yes, it is hard to find a like-minded soul. But once you do, never forget or neglect that connection. Having allies is crucial.
Reward courageous behaviour by others. If people are standing by their convictions, and not letting their behaviour be dictated by tyranny, that is commendable. Reward such conviction in whatever way is suitable. People take huge risks by speaking out, and they shouldn’t feel alone.
Become a role model and earn the trust of others. If you act in an admirable way, people will notice. People must learn that their actions impact on good, positive people. Becoming a role model makes it harder to be torn down.
Write letters of support to individuals who speak out. It matters.
Network online, because it’s a perfect opportunity to find like-minded souls who are making a difference.
Earn respect from your community. Similar to my role model point, if you earn the respect on a community level, your opinion may have more listeners. You should think about your local community, especially your neighbours
Attending a protest? Film it. No brainer. If you have footage of protests, then you can dispute lies by the media.
Volunteer your time to make a difference. There are plenty of causes worth supporting, or you could spend a few hours every week dedicated to writing supportive letters. What works is up for you to decide.
Learn the nuances of collecting evidence and data. A great skill that will help you present evidence and arguments. Having an established understanding of appropriate methodology might be the difference between convincing someone, or not.
Convince others that the cultural war has not yet been won, and that there is a strong chance for our side. Think about the world you want to live in.
Strategy
Think long-term. The great military strategists do (and that’s why you should study them). Besides, the cultural war has existed for ages. Winning will take a while, and we must accept that.
Use humour. People like humour, and it brings people together. However, if humour is not your strong suit, it is best not to force it.
Tell a story to win people over. Humans respond well to stories, and instead of saying ‘two people were murdered during the looting’ you should provide the names of the victims, what their jobs were, hobbies, and any details about loved ones. It’s easy to refute arguments. Stories are a different beast. This only becomes manipulation and unethical when you lie or exaggerate.
Normalize your position. What I, and many people are arguing, is not freakish or strange. We must convince others that it is not weird to oppose Marxism and mob rule.
Know how to diffuse tension from an anxious situation. A really good skill to have, that turns pawns into kings. If you do this often, and effectively, people will look to you for direction.
Negotiate and advocate for yourself. You can start small. But it’s vital that you negotiate your case, and offer opposing arguments to the dogma presented. Make it clear that the decisions by your opponents have adverse affects that are best avoided.
Make recruitment seamless and grow confidence in your position. People will naturally have their doubts and concerns, and the best way is to not mock or belittle them. Discussion and empathy is key, as is having the answer to their questions.
Bring out the best in your allies, and the worst in your choleric-tempered enemies. This is some Sun Tzu wisdom, and is really hard. But when done well, you can place any bait in front of your opponents, and watch them swallow it up.
Ask questions. Got boring diversity training at work? Someone, aka a member of BLM, is asking you to bend the knee? (Thanks, discount Daenerys Targaryen!) Ask them questions. If you can, and its suitable, appear dumb and uneducated, so they’ll have to abide. Push harder, and they’ll explode, call you names and place accusations. Best of all? They’ll do it in front of an audience, so all their insanity can be seen.
Remind others, especially the unpersuaded, of your similarities, not your differences. This makes it harder for you to demonize, and onlookers may see your words as an act of goodwill.
Engage people’s curiousity in your arguments. Being interesting is a greater virtue that righteousness in politics. Interesting people can solve problems, moreso than an angry person. Your audience, subconsciously, knows that.
Use your emotions to demonstrate the ‘human’ argument. Emotions are tricky, but if you can master them, you’ll argue that the decisions of your enemies impact on people, and cause justified rage. People fundamentally relate first to emotions, not logic and arguments.
And finally…
Say ‘no.’ Is this a powerful word? I think so. Although it does require some strategy. However, when you say ‘no’ and mean it, you are causing a linguistic earthquake. I understand that not everyone can quit their jobs. And really? Maybe you shouldn’t quit. That being said, you must get comfortable with saying ‘no.’ Because they’ll be a time somewhere when its the best word to use.
Yes, people will make you feel guilty and bad, because you are not giving them what they want. But hold your ground, because history is kind to the courageous.
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