From Aitch Kay.
Preston New Road gate camp
Lancashire
Uk
Anti fracking frontline✊
Had a guy pull up this eve, had bad opinion of the protectors down at here at PNR and direct action. His wife is pro the work we're doing so he thought he'd stop and ask us some questions. He had his opinions, that were somewhat contrary to ours but we had a good chat and he was surprised that we weren't mutant-dribbling-uneducated bottom feeders that he'd previously assumed we were. We talked about fracking, 'democracy', capitalism, industrialised food, gift economy, by the end of the conversation he admitted that him, his wife and 4 kids are trapped in the system and asked 'what do I do?!'
He admitted he's driven by and shouted abuse at us 'go home' and such but said he'll be coming passed and pipping in support in future and that he'll be back for a brew sometime.
Every interaction is an opportunity to try and reach someone's humanity. Remember people are conditioned and that is their cage, we can only hope to plant seeds of new understanding and a new point of view.
We need people who challenge our beliefs, otherwise we're in an echo chamber and only have our own (fallible) ideas reflected back at us.
When we meet people who have have contrasting beliefs approaching with respect pulls down barriers that keep us apart. Calling someone an 'idiot' (which is a common response when emotions are high and there's an ideological clash) only makes their defenses higher, us more un-relatable, and lessens of impact of our message.
Speak your truth with love.
