The Power of Creativity in Addressing Injustice

The Power of Creativity in Addressing Injustice

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Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed with frustration by the injustices that seep into our daily lives? If you’re anything like me, you feel an undeniable compulsion to raise your voice and create meaningful change. I’ve grown weary of remaining silent, simply a bystander as the world unfolds, paying heed to the persistent issues that plague our communities and the globe at large. This is precisely why I am excited to introduce my blog, "Rant And Rave." This space is dedicated to amplifying my voice, with the hope of sparking conversations that can lead to positive transformation.

For my first post, I wish to shed light on a local Facebook group that has inadvertently hindered my artistic expression. My goal here is not to attack the group but to share my personal experience and encourage them—and others on social media—to adhere more consistently to the guidelines they’ve set.

Here’s my story: As an artist, the desire for recognition pulses through my veins; I pour my heart and soul into every piece I create, striving to leave a distinct mark on the canvas of this world. During the day, I work diligently as a delivery driver, navigating the streets to support myself financially. In my free time, I take great joy in teaching English to foreigners, nurturing the hope of one day launching a successful online school. Writing is my true passion; in addition to composing heartfelt songs and poetry, I am currently working on insightful articles and two books, while an endless stream of creative ideas swirls in my mind, eager to be brought to life. I share this not out of vanity, but to illustrate my commitment to expressing my creativity without barriers.

It’s vital for me to recount my journey, especially since I single-handedly fund 100% of my projects and yet often see a meager return of less than 10%. Friends frequently advise me to cease offering my services for free, but that contradicts my fundamental values. I am deeply committed to helping those in need, especially the homeless individuals who, like me, are striving to improve their lives through learning English. Having faced my own challenges and struggled to find help when reaching out, I cannot bring myself to deny others the opportunities I believe they so richly deserve.

In my quest to connect with a broader audience, I have meticulously crafted a professional website to showcase my artistic talents and articulate my voice to the world.

Reflecting on my long-standing participation in the Facebook community, it’s hard to recall when this journey began! Over the years, I’ve engaged with numerous groups, each operating under a unique set of rules, including strict policies prohibiting negative posts. I abide by these guidelines, as following the rules is ingrained in my character; I have a profound aversion to breaking regulations.

Nevertheless, I often find myself in conflict with these groups, wrongly accused of violating rules I firmly believe I haven’t breached. Typically, I opt to leave and move on. However, this particular instance feels different. This is my opportunity to voice my side of the story, even if it is confined to my blog. So, let’s explore my experience with a Facebook group known as Lovelanders and the challenges I’ve faced within its confines.

This group presents itself as a sanctuary for local Loveland residents to share their ideas, artwork, and other community-related content. One of their primary rules asserts that members cannot promote a business or engage in sales. I completely understand and respect this guideline, which is why I’ve never attempted to use the group as a platform to recruit students. Yet, on several occasions, when I've sought to share my artwork, I’ve been met with disheartening rejection at every turn.

Most recently, I attempted to share a link to my professional website in the hopes that people would explore and appreciate my art—completely free of charge. Once again, I was met with a dismissal. Frustrated, I decided it was time to question the rationale behind their decisions.

To their credit, the administrators did reach out to me. They acknowledged that my post did not promote a business or involve selling anything, yet they still rejected it. They categorized my content as a “grey area” and opted not to allow it. My lingering question is: what rule did I actually transgress? The answer remains that I broke none; yet, they contradicted their own guidelines and chose to silence me once more.

It’s disheartening when such scenarios arise. If they intend to restrict members from sharing professional websites, they should clearly articulate that in their rules. Furthermore, it feels inherently contradictory to profess commitment to the sharing of art while simultaneously denying artists the opportunity to showcase their work on their personal websites.

Ultimately, I believe that group administrators need to critically reassess their rules and clarify what they classify as those elusive “grey areas.” The very intention behind creating a supportive community should align with the realities and aspirations of its members and the art they tirelessly create.