| Topic: |
Sociology > Education |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
07 Jan 2006 06:49:44 AM |
| Object: |
How To Win: Defeating the Radical Right |
How To Win: Defeating the Radical Right
http://www.sexuality.org/l/activism/htw.html
EXCERPTS
How To Win: Defeating the Radical Right
How to Win: A Practical Guide for Defeating the Radical Right in Your
Community
SECTION A - Fight Back
Ten Things to do When the Right Comes to Town
How to Form a Mainstream Coalition in Your State
Organizing Against the Far Right on College Campuses
Hints for Amateur Organizers
There is No Rain Without Thunder
Legal Limitations on the Political Activities of Tax-Exempt Organizations.
SECTION B - Elections
At the Ballot Box
Winning Elections: Organizing Tips From San Diego
Initiative Campaigns
How to Contact Elected Officials
The Numbers Say What?! A Primer on Polling
SECTION C - Communications
Telling Your Story to the Media
How to Organize a Community Speak-Out Project
Tips for Effective Speaking
The Science of Spin
SECTION D - Religion
Using Religious Voices to Confront the Religious Right
Bad History: What the Right Says About the Constitution - Facts to Help You
Set the Record Straight
Theological Arguments Against Intolerance
SECTION E - Public Education
General Attacks Against Public Education
Public Aid to Parochial Schools
Don't Let Them Out of Your Sight for a Second
The San Diego Model: A Community Battles the Right
Creationism
Community Organizing for Sexuality Education
Sexuality Education Talking Points
Religion and Public Education
Prayer in Public Schools and Graduation Ceremonies
Talking Points About Prayer in Schools
Missionaries in Public Schools
How the Law Deals with Religion in Public Schools
Secular Humanism
SECTION F - Censorship
Protecting the Freedom to Learn
Public Library Censorship
Public Funding and the Arts and Humanities
Organizing Against Censorship
Combating Censorship in the Arts: Action Steps
The Sex Panic: Fighting the Myth that Censorship is Good for Women
SECTION G - Gay and Lesbian Rights
Mobilizing a Strong Response: When Your State is Targeted for an Anti-Gay
Initiative
Talking Points Against Anti-Gay Rhetoric
Close Encounters With the Gay and Lesbian Community - Three Steps to
Organizing Around Gay and Lesbian Issues
SECTION H - Reproductive Choice
ProChoice IdEA: A Technique That Works
Talking Points on Choice
How to Organize Support for Clinics, Physicians and Staff
This Door Stays Open: A Community Action Guide
SECTION I - Environment
Patriotic Games: Anti-Environment, Anti-Choice Groups Make Their Move
Healing Creation: A New Theology for a Small Planet.
SECTION J - Resources
Selected Influential Organizations and Periodicals Promoting an Orthodox
View of Culture and Society
A Selected Reading List for Studying the History & Politics of the American
Political Right.
Ten Things To Do When The Radical Right Comes To Town
Matthew Freeman People For the American Way Washington, D.C.
1. Identify all your allies.
Librarians and library associations. They are often the targets of
censorship efforts.
Video and software dealers. Again, censorship.
Gay and lesbian organizations. The Radical Right is leading the charge in
opposition to gay rights.
Mainstream clergy. The religious community finds much to object to in the
Radical Right's agenda.
Reproductive choice advocates. With clinics being blockaded in communities
across the country, and anti-choice legislation being considered in state
legislatures and city councils, the choice community has ample reason to be
concerned.
Artists and arts groups. Censorship, yet again.
Moderate Republicans. As the Christian Coalition moves forward with its
promise to take over the Republican party, moderates are being squeezed
out.
Civil rights groups. The Radical Right has never met a civil rights bill it
liked.
Parents and educators. The schools are among the chief battlegrounds.
Environmental groups. Particularly in the West, the Radical Right is
working to gut environmental enforcement.
Not every group may join in every battle, but make it your business to
reach out to a broader constituency. And remember the old organizer's
saying: if you're comfortable with everybody at the table, your coalition
is too small.
2. Get your own ducks in a row before the battle begins.
3. Know thy enemy...Research!
4. Get help from folks who've faced it before.
5. Get the facts out.
6. Avoid jargon.
7. Organize, organize, organize.
8. Do not bash your opponents for their religious views.
9. Take them seriously. They won't go away.
10. Build your support even before the Radical Right comes to town.
How to Form a Mainstream Coalition in Your State
Organizing Against the Far Right on College Campuses
Seek Out Allies.
Research Affiliations With the Far Right.
Discovering affiliations can be difficult since many individuals and groups
will deny they are affiliated with the Radical Right
..Be Honest About Your Assessment.
In addition, don't underestimate their strength.
Assemble and Disseminate
When lobbying an elected official, the same principle applies.
Turn to the Media, But Don't Assume They Are On Your Side.
Far Right Youth Groups
The following are key Far Right groups focused on recruiting young people.
While reproductive choice is an important issue to the Far Right, they also
expect to gain members with their crusades for anti-homosexuality referenda
at the state and local level.
Hints for Amateur Campaigners
There is No Rain Without Thunder
Organizational Outreach or Yes, Politics Does Make for Odd Bedfellows
The Research: Dig Deep -- the Truth is Out There Somewhere
If you begin your coalition in a non-election year, you can approach the
research methodically.
Political beat reporters;
County Registrar's records: ballot statements, candidate petition signers,
voter registration, campaign financial reports, etcetera;
Newspaper articles and letters to the editor;
Special interest publications: religious, anti-tax, anti-abortion, gun
lobby, and conservative news, opinion, and education;
Statements at local public meetings or organizations' meetings;
Transcripts from past public meetings.
Media Relations: It's a Love-Hate Thing
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling
Legal Limitations on the Political Activities of Tax-Exempt Organizations
Know Your Allies and Your Base.
Know the Opposition.
Define Your Goals.
Establish a Pre-endorsement Process.
Help Qualified Candidates Communicate With Voters.
Know Your Voting Public.
Know Your Free Speech Rights.
Become Familiar With Campaign Tools.
Create Your Own Tools (When Existing Ones Don't Exist).
Avoid Duplication Through Collaboration and Communication With Allies -
Continue to Work--Even After the Election -
Continue to work with your allies as well.
Initiative Campaigns
HOW TO CONTACT ELECTED OFFICIALS
Telling Your Story To The Media
Introduction.
I. Starting out or First Things First
II. Impress 'Em With Paper
III. Finding Those Reporters
IV. Setting the Stage
Press release
Press conference
Press advisory
Editorial boards
V. Talking to Reporters
Proactive
Reactive
VI. Conclusion
Pointers from the Pros Media tips from three professionals.
"Call ahead of time and let producers know you have someone they might find
interesting. Call in advancenot when news breaks."
"Know what different shows are looking for. Not all shows want the same
thing. 'Equal Time' is different from 'Nightline' which is different from
'Crossfire.'"
"No one wants someone who is dull, who's slow. We look for someone who
engages."
"Consider taking a publicspeaking class. Become more versatile at quick
analysis. Learn to articulate your viewpoint in a few short sentences."
"Don't sound like a nut. The media thinks anyone with a cause is crazy. Be
as unemotional as possible."
"It's got to sound like news. The first question is 'what's new?"
"Look for a larger hook. Tie your news into something national."
"Never assume a reporter is telling the truth when he says he won't tell
anyone." Reporters using your off-the-record information may name you in a
quote directly above, he explained, virtually giving away your identity. In
addition, reporters may not report what you say, but may use it along with
your identity in conversations with other sources.
"The information highway is a twoway thoroughfare. A good reporter can also
be a good source. If you have a good relationship, they can serve as an
earlywarning system for you."
"Be sensitive to the personal interests and idiosyncracies of journalists
most important to you."
"Different reporters put different degrees of credibility on different
sources. Know how to take advantage of the special relationships that may
exist between some of your staff or board and key journalists."
How to Organize a Community Speak-Out Project
Finding Speaking Engagements.
Speaking Out In Schools.
Media Outreach.
Newspaper monitoring.
Coordinate responses.
Write letters and opinion pieces.
Letters-to-the-editor campaigns need to be coordinated with individuals in
locations around your state.
Identification of the individual responding as a resident of the area
Concise, not terse, prose
Factual, not clinical, information and analysis
At least one positive theme.
Regional radio and cable television.
Talk shows:
For more information, please contact the OSOP Resource Center:
503-223-4992.
TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE SPEAKING
1. If your audience is an individual or small, informal group, conjure up
the best image you can of who you will be addressing.
2. If your audience is a group that you are a part of as a member of the
public (a City Council taking testimony, a school board debating
curriculum), or a group you have been invited to address (school students,
the Rotary Club, a debate or panel), your effectiveness will be
proportionately enhanced by how well you actually know the group and its
context.
Who is the group?
What does it do? What causes or activity does it embrace?
How many members does it have? Who are they?
Does the group have a position on this issue? What is it?
What are the group's main concerns about this issue?
What questions might the members ask, or want answered?
What is the most negative response that could be expected?
What is the format of the meeting? How many people will attend?
3. Contact a member of the group who is opposed to your views (get the name
from your contact person or someone else who might know). "I am ________,"
you will say, "and I will be speaking to your group on ___________. I got
your name from ___________ and wonder if you would be willing to help me in
my preparation. I am interested in what you, as a member, would want to get
out of attending my speech. What questions would you like answered if you
were to come hear me speak?
Prepare. The best preparation is experience.
1. Gather information and evidence to use to substantiate the things you
will claim in your presentation.
2. Write out a draft of your speech (or the answers to the questions you'll
be asked).
Practice. This sounds so simple, but feels so strange.
1. Say the speech out loud over and over again.
2. Have your speech and delivery critiqued by someone whose opinion you
trust and who you are certain will give you honest feedback. How do I look?
How do I sound? Does my argument persuade you? Am I being nice to you if
you disagree with me, but firm in my opinion? Where can I improve?
3. Finally, use your critiquer to help you practice other skills of public
speaking:
Bringing the subject back to your issue
Calming the hostile participant
Saying "I don't know," or "See me later about that"
Buying time ("Let me think" or "Let me see if I heard what you said")
Diversion("That's an interesting question. But the real issues
is...")
Personalizing ("You know, when I...")
Deliver. Much of the skills of delivery will be honed during practice.
Other ways to improve delivery:
1. Tape your presentation. Listen/view it later and critique it.
2. If appropriate, ask that participants fill out evaluation forms and
give you suggestions for improvement.
3. Have the group, on the spot, engage in an evaluation of the
presentation.
4. Bring friends to the presentation with the task of watching and
critiquing you.
Responding to Questions.
1. Listen. What is the question about? What do they really want to know?
Is it intentionally inflammatory? .
2. Affirm.
3. Respond.
4. Add information.
Additional Tips.
Try to stay calm and softspoken, make eye-contact and smile.
Don't be angry at people --direct your anger at the system of homophobia,
or at the pain your loved ones have suffered, not at the people you are
talking to.
Don't make fun of anyone -- use humor only if you think the audience (and
those opposing you) will join in, and then do so very gently and with
kindness.
Don't guilt-trip -- help people understand that they can take
responsibility to end injustice without being "guilty" of wrong-doing or
"sinning."
Points of Concern for Both Sides of A Debate.
The Science of Spin
I. What is it?
IIDoes it Work?
III. Making Your Message Stick
IV. Content
V. Playing Defense
VI. Conclusion
Using Religious Voices to Confront the Religious Right
WHY INVOLVE THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY?
1. The power of a religious response to religious claims:
2. The resources of the religious community:.
3. If you don't, the Religious Right will:
HOW TO ORGANIZE WITHIN THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
1. Work within existing institutional infrastructures: .
2. Clergy are the key to their congregations: .
3. Non-congregational institutions: Don't forget potential allies in
non-congregational institutions.
4. Choose your allies carefully:
5. Indicate how the religious institution might benefit:
6. Know how to respond to church/state and tax-exempt concerns:
7. Know what to ask for and of whom to ask it: .
8. Build long-term relationships:
[THERE IS VAST AMOUNTS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOUND AT THIS SITE]
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