I just returned from a fantastic trip to Japan, and while I’m
not a huge fan of my current jet lagged state, it was definitely worth it. This was my first visit (hopefully not the
last) to the Land of the Rising Sun – a very appropriate name by the way – and during my
time there I noticed some very interesting cultural differences. The one that
stood out to me the most was the tendency to do what is best for the group
rather than for the individual (and it goes without saying that I’m
generalizing a bit). It was a collection of small observations I made
throughout my stay that led me to this conclusion. For example, if a group of
three friends are riding on the subway but only two seats are available, all
three will remain standing – even if there is no one else vying for those
seats. If you go out to dinner with someone and there is sake at the table, you
are not supposed to refill your own glass – instead you pour drinks for one
another. It can take you an hour to find
an outdoor garbage receptacle in Tokyo, but you won’t find one piece of litter
on the ground.
I was very impressed by this community-centric mentality,
and it got me thinking about how these principles can and should be applied in
the world of advocacy. While you do have power as an individual advocate, it’s
those grassroots campaigns that consider the needs of the entire community they
represent with their issue that are truly successful. As an organization or association representing a particular issue area, you should look for other groups with like-minded interests and work together to propel each other forward. As an individual advocate, if you are planning to meet with a Member of Congress it may be
tempting to arrange a one-on-one meeting so you can spend as much time as
possible telling your personal story to your Congressman. But think about how
much more effective the meeting might be if you have two or three constituents
with the same message but different stories and perspectives.
At the very least you can stand if there aren’t enough seats
for everyone in the meeting.
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