What does a movement look like? It’s not something you can
build, in some sense. A movement is what it is in the sense of the word – something must be moving.
Something must happen. I don’t think we can ever say, let’s build a movement,
and we give ourselves a timeline and a movement happens. I think movements are
extremely organic, unpredictable and highly infectious. Organisations are
birthed out of movements, not the other way round.
Why are movements so compelling? Is it a buzz word for our
generation? I think a few things about movements appeal to the Gen X and Ys.
Firstly, the sense of being unstructured or deconstructed appeals to the
post-modern generation. The sense of being flexible, fluid and unrestrained.
Secondly the fact that every person can own and be part of a movement without
any formal strings attached. Thirdly the appeal also lies in how people gather
around a common cause. The power of the ground swell.
Movements are important in all cultures and society. It can shape mindsets and shift paradigms. It causes things to be shaken from their status quo. A movement is powerful because it can influence and involve someone without even the person knowing.
Movements for the betterment of our world will require, in my opinion, 2 main things. A compelling vision, and a committed mechanism. Of course, a vision of the future, a vision of change, is always the starting point of any great movement. But a committed mechanism, something that people can engage in in a consistent manner, will determine the longevity of a movement.
I dream of a "Life Movement" in Asia. A movement, ground-up, proclaiming and contending for life. Where every life is so valuable that abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, would be things of the past. What would it look like if every person in Asia began to have a vision for life? Is it possible? I believe it is.
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