Who

February 6, 2002 7:15 AM

Who are the new revolutionaries? A Mefi thread from yesterday contained the quote "We are skinheads, and we are revolutionaries." That got me thinking... who are the social revolutionaries these days (not political, there are plenty of those)? People who are trying to lead humanity to a better way?
posted by dammitjim (8 comments total)

The Democrats?
posted by Postroad at 7:44 AM on February 6, 2002

I'm voting for Sherron Watkins on this one - she saw the bullshit and put her finger right on it. Lots of us working in a corporate environment see this kind of activity on a daily basis, unfortunately most of us are too chicken to call it out.
posted by lilboo at 7:48 AM on February 6, 2002

Fundamentalist Christians represent the new counterculture, like it or not. You hate 'em. They don't care. What more do you need to know?
posted by Faze at 7:50 AM on February 6, 2002

i like keith hart and bernard lietaer who're both trying to lead a currency revolution, which i think intersects well with this movement (via robotwisdom :) the global south!
posted by kliuless at 7:51 AM on February 6, 2002

Revolutionaries are so tiresome.

They generally act with such self-righteous earnestness that I have to hide my snickering behind my handkercheif.

Have a sense of humor. And be a little flexible, comrades!
posted by evanizer at 9:44 AM on February 6, 2002

Bill Gates and people like him, who have a social conscience and realize that government, any government, does not have the will to take the earth society to the next level. There are so many areas needing attention, and anyone who wants to can help by choosing an area (environment, health, education, justice, etc) and pitching in. Revolution is just speeded up evolution.
posted by Mack Twain at 10:21 AM on February 6, 2002

What about groups like The Ruckus Society or Earth First! ?
posted by redshifter at 11:10 AM on February 6, 2002

I'll second Mack Twain's nomination of people who step forward like Gates, and add: The Covenant Keepers. Although I don't agreee with them on most issues, they are positive social revolutionaries in one aspect: providing psychological support to people victimized by the current practice of trading in a spouse for a more convenient, newer model.

mathowie also deserves a nomination. He's breaking new ground by creating a prototype open platform for self-regulating free speech.
posted by sheauga at 11:19 AM on February 6, 2002