*Can the Minority affect Changes in a 'Majority Rules' Atmosphere?

Can the Minority affect Changes in a Majority Rules Atmosphere? My article this month is about how the silent minorities, by uniting, can and have changed things over the voices of the very vocal, organized majority

In history we saw this with Gandhi.

In the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's after the arrests, after the physical fighting, after the hate killings -- what in the end brought the Majority to agree with the then Minority? It was very simple; The Minority at the time boycotted any and all businesses that did not allow them equal access. In just a year they almost brought Birmingham Ala. to a stand still and their voices were heard.

I also remember the gay men's movement in Dallas TX., in the 80's, another Minority in a city of very vocal Majority. How did they get change? They unified and it ended up many of them had great jobs, and most owned their own businesses. They contributed to the politicians that did not want to legislate morality but wanted certain agendas to pass that helped the whole community, and was not based on prejudiced. They gave to politicians who agreed with them and worked hard for those politicians. Now 20 years later you can go to the Oak Lawn area of Dallas that used to be a slum of sleazy adult book stores, prostitutes, things that scared the vocal majority and find now it is one of the most affluent sections of Dallas. Multiple businesses owned by gays or co-owned by gays and the hetero's love it! They shop there, eat there and are grateful for some of the most outstanding stores anywhere in Dallas. It's come a long way since it's days of being a slum that was only good enough for the minority discards in society.

In October of 2003, Kenner, LA. was to be the host of "Fetish in the Fall". They had everything they needed; all of the licenses and all other legal requirements for the event. The Kenner Police Chief sent out threatening and intimidating letters to every motel and hotel in the area and said not to even rent a room to anyone who intended to attend this event. Don't ever think you have to come out and not keep your anonymity; you do not shop in Kenner, LA. and you encourage others not to. You do not stay at a hotel/motel in Kenner, you do not go to the mall there if you live and shop in or around New Orleans, you avoid the quick stops within that incorporated city on I-10. Don't ever think that the minority by unifying, quietly, non-combative; just normal people who believe in their right to privacy are powerless. Over and over history shows that they can evoke change without confrontation.

What do i do now living in Louisiana? I tell people nation wide "Don't stop in Kenner, LA, for anything." and I say that to everyone I know, not just people in the lifestyle. I say clearly, "Go to the next suburb of Metairie." Eventually the loss of money will be noticed in Kenner.

The radicals in Ocean City Maryland found out that Black Rose 2003 had booked a whole resort there and they looked and looked until they found a little-known ordinance that you can not have nudity any place where there is a liquor license, so at the last second the City, the NCSF, the Resort and the planners for Black Rose 2003 called it off. Hmmmm, aren't there other places just as nice to vacation and shop along the east coast line?

It can not be won overnight but it can be won.....

We need to look at what is going on, and for the first time not to give a damn in what alternative lifestyle we each are in, as long as we protect our children and other's children; as long as we do not shove our views down the throat of society. Time is on our side, as well as the most important thing that talks, our money. Money we spend for vacations and political contributions. It adds up and suddenly that man or woman or police chief that says we are deviants and they have the moral obligation to protect society from us, find that now they have merchants and employees asking what happened to the money? What happened to our local economy? Why are people eating in Metairie and staying there and spending money there when we are just one exit away on I-10? It has always amazed me that the loss of revenue suddenly gives that distasteful minority a voice and they are heard.

The resort manager in Ocean City Maryland has said almost the same thing; that now those same people ruled social deviants will be taking family vacations with their children somewhere else, he is predicting that the people of Ocean City, Maryland have no idea how far reaching into that communities pockets this ban on Black Rose 2003 is going to have in the long run.

These are just my thoughts. I can tell all of you, those of us who live in Louisiana, in Houston and suburbs, in Mississippi, and Alabama along I-10, will be very careful as to where we stay and where our money goes to help any suburb. Just as the years go by I will continue to say.... Mmmmmmmmmmmm Ocean City, Maryland.... can't remember what i heard but i know it is NOT a place you want to take your family to on vacation... go somewhere else nearby.

Just my .75¢ worth as an ol' hippie that was in the lifestyle before we had names, pigeon hole labels, and in-fighting within our own groups and across to other groups. Politically and as consumers we have GREAT power.... we just need to make our money count.

A southern Louisiana sub,
cajunrose

www.atruerose.com

Never believe that one person, added to another, added to another with time can not make at least one small difference... it is worth all of the frustrations ----cajunrose Sept. 2003

Email cajunrose