Introduction to a paper I'm writing for FYE...This is the very first draft.

Krista Speicher
Dr. Sheckles
FYEC How We Move People
"How does one become an activist?"

Since happiness is rightly regarded as the same as acting well, the best way of life is an action-oriented one. Yet the action-oriented way of life need not be in relation to others, as some suppose. Nor are only those thoughts action oriented that occur for the sake of what results from the action. Much more action-oriented are those sorts of contemplation and thought that are complete in themselves; after all, acting well is the end, so that [those sorts of contemplation and thought] must be a kind of action. But especially we say in the most definitive sense that people are “acting” who by thoughts are architectonic of external actions.
-Aristotle

From Ignorance to Activism: The Process of Becoming Involved

As Aristotle argues here, within the realm of activism exists a conflict between action-activism and quiet-activism. For surely a certain type of thinking is action- oriented, and although this is most definitely its own end and comprehensive in itself, it produces actions outside of itself. Therefore, thoughts may not be directly acted out, but thoughts generate and channel actions. Think of it as a gun- a gun is undoubtedly a weapon in itself, but the trigger must be pulled in order for an action to occur. Nonetheless, even a pulled trigger is not enough to result in anything, or for the gun to complete an action. After pulling the trigger, air encompasses and solidifies the bullet with its graceful transparency, and soon enough that bullet becomes part of something more than itself; it becomes means to an end, wholly integrated into its surrounding. The air surrounds the bullet and holds it up, and there is no turning back or falling or swirling or faltering for this bullet- its destination predetermined with the pull of a trigger. In order to further the idea of activism, it is beneficial to look different characters that exemplify activism, analyzing the process whereby these specific characters become activists.