Question 1
The radical strategy employed by Saul Alinsky in his writing is famous and unpopular to most. Famous people such as former American president, Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been termed as Saul’s followers. It is evident that Saul hated “do-gooders” due to their inefficiencies in solving the major issues and using strategies that did not result in polarizing opinions. The do-gooders are interested in being loved and praised thus will not do anything that may be useful people in the lowest social status. Determination of the reason for the hatred depicted by Saul towards do-gooders is complex hence the need to determine the people who comprise of the do-gooders. In his book, “Reveille for Radicals” Saul is critical of the middle class who tend to ignore essential issues or judge people or policies depending on their likes or dislikes towards the individuals rather than the benefits of the systems proposed (Alinsky, 1989). Social workers fall in the similar category due to their failure to solve the social class problems by improving the lives of the low-income earners.
Question 2
I concur with Saul’s argument that helping people without working to change systems of oppression is wrong and pointless. The social workers only engage in mental or helping during emergencies, but they do not empower the victims to improve their living conditions. These types of help just solve the crisis ignoring to address the issues that will ensure such a disaster does not happen in future or enlighten the masses on the way to improve their lives (Alinsky, 1989). The middle-class have the political strength. Therefore, they are opposed to improving the poor to ensure the neighborhood remains and the poor have no voice or power to improve their lives.
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Question 3
Loretta Pyles question is important in changing the dynamics and policies employed by the social workers to ensure that their help improves the lives of the poor communities. Pyles question is rhetorical; she wonders why social workers like herself are focused on mental and emergency without considering progress in life (Pyles, 2007). They seem convinced that their roles in post-disaster are to rescue the victims and limit stress following the traumatic experiences. She continues by claiming that instead of focusing on the critical issues, which can prevent future disasters or improve the society they engage in duties that psychologists can perform better than they do (Pyles, 2007). The questions are also sarcastic to demonstrate her radical nature, but unlike Saul, she is conservative in the manner she criticizes the status quo. She believes that there is a need for changing the role of social workers, but she does not have the power to begin the change.
Question 4
Radical social work is few due to fear of the social workers. Pyle’s questions are progressive, but she lacks the courage of rejection to air her grievances. Saul Alinsky was one of the most polarizing characters and did not fear rejection or critics. Most social workers of today fear to advocate for radical changes because they may lose their jobs. The middle class formulate the leaders of social workers and the policies used, therefore; they have the power to squash anyone who tries to object their systems. The radicalization of any nature in the current world is termed as an opposition to democracy, and the public seems to be opposed to radicalization. Power is essential, and with the middle class and the wealthy making these organizations, any strategy that would empower the poor is illustrated as a crime in the eyes of the public tend to be emotional in their character judgment. A popular character opposed to radicalization will ensure that radical policies do not succeed and people will cheer for the failure. I think that the negative image associated with radicals such as Saul or Hitler limits radical social works.
References
Alinsky, S. D. (1989). Reveille for radicals . New York: Vintage Books.
Pyles, L. (2007). Community organizing for post-disaster social development. International Social Work , 50 (3), 321-333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020872807076044
