In America, activists are often praised by liberals and criticized by conservatives. Throughout history, activism has been regarded as subversive, disruptive, and often radical, with civil disobedience serving as its defining instrument. American history makes clear that such measures have sometimes been necessary. Had citizens remained passive, Black Americans would not have secured civil rights, and sustained opposition to the Vietnam War would not have forced a national reckoning. Activism, at critical moments, has been indispensable. However, necessity does not imply permanence. The strategies that once corrected grave injustices have, in their modern form, become increasingly corrosive. Contemporary activism too often relies on moral absolutism, institutional distrust, and social antagonism, producing division rather than progress.

What was once a tool for reform has evolved into a permanent posture of grievance, weakening national cohesion and undermining the very ideals it claims to defend. America no longer benefits from activism that seeks disruption for its own sake. Instead, it requires a new, assertive model of activism that builds legitimacy, earns trust, and delivers measurable outcomes. I call this new type of activism pragmatic activism. It has always existed in America. I am simply giving it a name. By prioritizing achievement, institutional participation, and cultural integration over accusation and confrontation, this approach offers a more effective and sustainable path to equality and social progress. Pragmatic activism is the pursuit of social equality through demonstrated excellence, responsibility, and integration rather than accusation or division. Open to all races and genders, it holds that the most durable progress is achieved when people prove, in tangible and visible ways, their ability to compete, contribute, and lead on equal footing within shared institutions, as long as there is a level playing field. This........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)