After several years in retirement, David Letterman just came back with a new Netflix show called My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. On his first show, he hosted our 44th President Barack Obama. Early on in the interview, ex-president Obama said something that stuck with me. He said that he and Michelle are only special in that “[they] are exceptionally good at telling stories and relating to people.”
After our discussion of what activism is and isn’t in class on Wednesday, I decided that Obama perfectly encapsulates what I now think of activism. During my initial reading of The Monkey Wrench Gang I found myself continually asking, “how did this book inspire an environmental movement?” To me, Hayduke, Seldom, Doc, and Bonnie do not constitute a well-structured group with environmental activism in mind. To me, they exploit violence too often, and do not have a well-defined goal in mind. Since people usually describe this book as “the book that started the environmental movement”, I was confused after reading the first half of this book.
However, after Dr. Gould told me in class on Friday that some of the stories in this book are non-fiction (deeds performed by Abbey himself, I began to appreciate this book a little more. Then, after framing the story with Obama’s aforementioned quote in mind, I began to understand how this book effected a large-scale environmental movement. Abbey is not telling a story about four crazy people in the southwest wreaking havoc, but a story of four people who came together with a common mindset. He’s not telling a story about sex and violence, but a story about people who will do whatever it takes for justice. Last but not least, he’s not telling a story to brag about his personal accomplishments, but a story intended to relate to people.
Although this is somewhat speculation, I assume that Abbey’s novel did just that – related to people. Readers feel a connection to the gang (albeit maybe not the smoking and drinking), and are inspired to take action, no matter the severity. Abbey’s activism was first pushing tractors and burning machines; then, it was telling stories. In a way, Margaret Atwood’s article “It’s not Climate Change – It’s Everything Change” just tells a story. It tells a story of a bleak future, which causes people to feel strongly and relate to the piece. For me, I have never felt more strongly inclined to act after reading a piece than after reading that piece – which speaks to story-telling as a tool for activism.
After this realization, I don’t think that any form of activism is “too strong” or “too weak” – there is someone, somewhere, who will feel strongly about what an activist does. They, in turn, will act in their own sphere, setting off a chain reaction. Even if just one person relates to a movement, it was worth it in my mind.
For anyone who hasn’t seen it, I highly suggest watching Letterman’s new (lengthy) interview with Obama. It speaks to how he inspired a large movement in 2008, how he did it, and his reflections looking back. It’s a great watch for anyone interested in his style of leadership or his personal mantras.