Nonprofit Arts Analogy Test — Words : Action :: Poem : ?
“Words, words, words.” Hamlet, Act 2. Scene 2.
There. I’ve quoted William Shakespeare and Mark Twain. Impressed? You shouldn’t be.
Great (and not-so-great) thinkers have used a superfluity of words to say that words don’t matter.
· “Talk doesn’t cook rice.”
· “Words may show a man’s wit but actions his meaning.”
· “Do not be wise in words, be wise in deeds.”
· “Talk is cheap.”
· “Easier said than done.”
· “What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”
· “All companies say they care, right? But few actually exercise that care.”
· “Just do it.”
Ironically, there are thousands more of these quotes and adages. Included among them is the column you are now reading.
In a Möbius strip of logic, nonprofit arts organizations endorse words that attest that words are less important than actions — and then bridle at the idea of showing impact based on actions, not words.
Even historical words such as those found on the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America did not insure independence for the United States of America. War did.
The words of the U.S. Constitution have been interpreted powerfully by those with the bully pulpit. They’ve been often mutilated to serve that power, but hey, one person’s insurrection is another person’s freedom fight.
The weakness of words (especially the spoken word) lessens impact. Saying something powerful is far less impactful than doing something impactful. And yet, one political side still thinks words inspire change.
After Roe v Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, most people were outraged. Support for abortion rights stands at 71% among Americans (split along party lines — 82% of Democrats and only 24% of Republicans believe that abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances).
The titular leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, chose to express outrage by reciting a poem.
Outraged people don’t want their leaders to recite poetry. They want action.
It’s right there in the first chant every American child learns:
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”
Correct. Sticks and stones can, in fact, break one’s bones, despite the victim’s intent. Names (or words) will never hurt someone who doesn’t want them to do so. Which is more powerful?
Words are the refuge of those that either have no power or believe they have no power. There exists a dysfunctional, quasi-abusive relationship between two ridiculously archaic political parties. This relationship includes one minority party whose leaders lied, fomented a weaponized insurrection, and succeeded in restricting freedoms for women, the LGBT community, and non-whites (especially at the voting booth). The majority party, always on their heels and in appeasement of the abusive party, delivered outraged oratory, poems, and “civility” in response.
Because, one day, they’ll change. Right?
For years, the radically oppressive Republican party, even though it was outvoted in 7 of the last 8 presidential elections, has ruthlessly wielded more sticks and stones (and power) than the majority Democratic party.
In case you were wondering, all this leads directly to your own nonprofit arts organization. If you are presenting art because you enjoy art and only because you enjoy art, you are not respecting your charter as a nonprofit. That’s vanity, not service. Vanity has weighed down this portion of the sector with 16 tons of irrelevance and caused nonprofit arts organizations to plummet in funding and sustainability.
If however, you have taken actions to improve your community’s people, you have a chance. Keep doing that and show your receipts.
Relevance cannot be proven by words. Too many times we have witnessed nonprofit arts organizations proclaim that their art is “as relevant today as when it was created,” or worse, “more relevant now than ever.”
When you proclaim relevance, you prove irrelevance.
On the other hand, using the same art to serve people is another story. If you claim that your art inspired change, then have a disinterested party measure the positive change that it has inspired. If you believe that your art is capable of improving the lives of an underserved sector of the population, then bring it to them free of charge, relying on donors who want to give back to their communities. These are just examples, but actions you can easily undertake to prove relevance without having to proclaim it.
There you go, 756 words on the subject of how weak words are compared to actions. If they inspired you to act… write me.
Based in Kirkland, Washington, Alan Harrison is a writer and speaker specializing in nonprofit organizations, strategy, the arts, and life politics. His columns appear regularly in major publications. Contact him directly at alan@501c3.guru.
If you’re feeling generous or inspired, just click on the coffee cup above. You don’t have to, of course, but if you can afford it and find some value here, please provide the desperate need for caffeine.
Alan is always looking for good opportunities to write and consult for nonprofits that need a hand. And, of course, that elusive Perfect Opportunity™.
