Gag Laws (Alice)

`Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple.
`I won't!' said Alice.
`Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved.

Alice In Wonderland
Lewis Carroll

Gag Laws by Michael Yoder

Back in the old days when there were no AIDS groups, the government had a problem. They recognized that there was a need to provide information about safer sex and condoms but were uncomfortable in using the language that was needed to get the message across.

So they funded AIDS groups to do it for them. And AIDS groups used common “swear” words to talk openly about sex and sexual behaviour. The government was a little squeamish, but they allowed it all because it had to happen. At the same time, charitable organizations had always seen a part of their role to be addressing the injustices that – gasp – even governments perpetrate.

After a while, the governments had a problem with these groups buzzing around them like flies and complaining about decisions that were being made that affected the lives of clients. Funding was still offered but governments decided to swat the flies a little.
At the same time, the government money that came pouring in the door was becoming less and less every year. And it was getting more difficult to raise money through the public. The cupboards were bare and the government grants were the easiest way to fill the cupboards.

Several things happened: the government told the non-profits that they could only use 10% of their funding to do any kind of advocacy work; and the charitable groups got “antsy” about criticizing the government, lest the money be taken away and the bare cupboards became even more bare.

The effect was a gag law that was both imposed and self-imposed.

Now we seem reluctant to say anything negative about the government most of the time. We will advocate, but we do it with a velvet glove instead of a sledgehammer. Charitable groups are more likely to keep their noses out of anything that smells too dangerously critical of the decisions of Parliament – even though getting our noses dirty is why we came into existence.

If we abandon those values – values of justice and fairness, values that insist we be the voice for those who have no voice, and instead become a mute provider of services that fill gaps that are only widening, then we ourselves become no more or less than a politician or a bureaucrat.

It’s a challenge to be David when Goliath is in fact providing you with stones, but in the end, the role of charities is to take the risk and do our best to slay the giant.

The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
Albert Einstein