Activism and... partying

IssueNovember 2012
Comment

Activism and partying? I haven't really experienced linking these together. If you're talking about a 'regular party', it doesn't really link to my peace activism.

It sounds interesting having those two things linked together. What comes into my head is people with different views who feel strongly about something coming together in a party and discussing things in a casual way.

You have to have music at a party, but I feel it should not be a mainstream band. 

I haven't even been to a party with other activists, not to my recollection. Oh wait, I did go to another activist's birthday party once. Everyone casually got along, they were talking about things, it was more casual than a regular party.

I danced once at an activist's house. Does that count?

Woman activist, 17

I'm not quite sure what that's meant to mean, that linkage, 'activism and partying'.

I would say, in my social life, going on demos, going on actions means you get closer to people and you do form stronger relationships and that's helpful for protest too.

Have I ever been partying with activists? Quite a bit! I've always had a really good time. You have to be around people you do trust and get on with and have things in common with.

Partying is definitely helpful to activism: the more you get along with people, the more you trust them.

Woman activist, 18

This makes me think about how Hannibal from The A-Team and activists have so much in common: they're just doing it for the 'jazz'. What links parties and Hannibal is that parties sometimes have jazz. So Hannibal is the essential catalyst!

Man, 17

[Long pause] I think parties are like drinking: there is an expectation that people will go to them and they will be fun. My experience is that I've never been to a party where I didn't sit in the corner feeling miserable.

It does depend on what you mean by 'party'. A party is normally full of people you don't know, isn't that the definition?

A party is like after the Ratcliffe thing where after we all [114 of us] got released from the police station, we went back to the Sumac and there was a party. I thought: 'Oh God'.

It's like going to the pub, there is an expectation that people want to go and sit bathed with very loud music and drink alcohol. Maybe this is just my jaundiced view.

When I started, fairly late in life, going to parties, thinking I had been missing out, I realised that I had not been missing anything. At all.

For me, a small convivial gathering of people already you know is not a 'party'.

Man activist, 38

Partying with activists is the best way of getting romance in your life! I got together with my partner through clubbing after my first court case. He was my Mackenzie friend. Look where that's led me!

Woman activist, 47

Topics: Activism
See more of: Activism and