Never once have I spoken at a University, church or a mosque without one or more of the audience raising the question: "can you tell us something tangible that we can do to change this situation?" The topic can be Palestine, the Iraq war, human rights or anything else, yet the inquiry remains the same. 

Initially my answers were generic: "just spread the word". Sometimes such answers are not satisfying, considering that urgency of the situation. Eventually, I tried to develop a bit more comprehensive, cohesive response to quell the feelings of helplessness. And it often worked. Many of my audiences became outspoken, some went as far as volunteering as human shields in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and others became active mouthpieces for peace and justice using whatever capacity they could afford. 

But these little gestures can hardly suppress the feelings of helplessness, to become universal codes that unite pro-justice individuals and groups around a common cause. I do believe that a segment of the intellectual activist community around the world must specialize in research and writing in topics that can answer the question of what the average citizen of this world can do to make a difference, and how activists can utilize their skills and beliefs to unite in their fight for justice. 

In a recent radio interview, American scholar Noam Chomsky was asked what an American could do so that he or she can effectively stop the Iraq war. Chomsky's response was indirect and helped little to direct the growing agitation among Americans to influence their country's foreign policy. In other countries, Chomsky said, people don't ask what can they do, "they just do it." 

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Professor Chomsky was of course alluding to the fact that those who are serious about issues of social justice need little direction on what can be done. I respectfully disagree. In the United States, an average citizen is trained to believe that he has the power to enforce change through peaceful and democratic change. While the concept is theoretically true, practically, considering the influential role played by capital, organized pressure groups and consequently the media, many Americans feel as marginalized as those of undemocratic third-world countries. Considering such complexity, the "just do it" approach can hardly be effective. 

And, in an article titled: "Archeology of the Road Map", Palestinian scholar Edward Said finished a highly dispiriting reality detailed in his article by highlighting the successful work of Palestinian doctor Mustafa Barghouti through the work of his organization: "The National Political Initiative (NPI)." 

NPI's work includes providing medical care to over 100,000 poor Palestinian in secluded villages and the development of a pro-active political movement that mobilizes Jews, Arabs and activists from all over the world. 

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which labors to provide needed protection to Palestinians throughout the West Bank and Gaza is another brilliant example of the work of those who simply couldn't play the role of the audience anymore.