Raising the Flag for Your Cause
Everyone has a cause that means a lot to them, regardless of where their political and social beliefs stand on the spectrum. And, as people with a passion for something, they want to be able to express how they feel in a way that everyone can see. There are many different ways you can show that you believe in something, and some of the most powerful forms of expression are through visual representation. If you’ve just started becoming passionate about a cause and aren’t sure how you want to go about showing your support, this article will give you six things you can do to let people know where you stand on an issue.
Start a Fundraiser Online
Fundraising sites such as “GoFundMe” have taken off in the past few years, as people are able to get more and more attention for causes they support. One of the best ways to show support is through donations that can be used to further activism. However, not everyone has a lot of money to spend on causes, so starting a “GoFundMe” campaign can allow you to get a pool going that will help raise contributions.
Use Social Media to Your Advantage
There are billions of people using social media, and the platforms that social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and more provide are invaluable to activism. Because there is such an ease of communication, people are able to spread information and breaking news stories with just a click of a button. These apps are free, meaning that raising awareness on them is costless to you. In some cases, social media has even broken news to the public before actual news stations and papers have. That’s the power of citizen-driven media.
Fly a Flag!
Another great way to let people know you support a cause is to build a flag. Putting your beliefs on a banner will show people where you stand. Flags are universal, and they’ve expanded past solely being used for country and city insignia. They date back thousands of years, and have been used to express powerful messages ever since their inception. If you support a cause, let people know by putting your beliefs—in symbol or word form—on a flag for the world to see.
Have Custom Clothing Made
Sites such as Etsy and CaféPress give people the chance to create and make customized clothing, stickers, jewelry, and more. If you want to support a cause, you can check either of those sites to see if there is attire you can wear that will show off your beliefs. Or, if you’re not finding what you’re looking for, you can go to design services such as Custom Ink, Uber Prints, or Vista Print to make your own t-shirt design that will say exactly what you want it to. You can also design clothing with these sites and sell them to help raise money for the cause you support.
Start a Petition
The White House website has a page where you can start petitions. You can find it at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/. Other petition sites include Care2 and Change.org, both of which can be used to create petitions that will help you spread the word and get a movement behind your cause. These petitions, particularly the ones on the White House website, send a strong message of public support for whatever cause they are referencing. Also, if you create a petition and it gets 100,000 signatures within 30 days, the White House responds with an update on your petition.
Engage in (Meaningful) Debate
One of the most important things you can do to support a cause is to engage in meaningful debate with the other side and find out why they are against what you are trying to accomplish. Although it may seem unappealing, as debates in this day and age can get pretty heated, talking to the other side and hearing them out means that there is a chance you two will at least come closer to finding common ground on some issue. The art of communication is two-sided, and in order for you to be successful in supporting a cause, you should try to talk to your opposition and understand what drives them to believe what they do.
As communication has become more advanced, more and more causes are able to be aired and made visible to the mainstream. With the vast amount of resources at hand, both new and old, there are many different ways you can show that you support something. Whatever your beliefs are, you should be able to express them freely (as long as you’re not harming someone else or breaking the law, of course). Through flags, online petitions, social media, fundraising campaigns, and more, you can rally people behind what you believe.
