The journey from Corporate America and Suburbia to the Land of Activism and The Agitator Republic has taken me to virtual kingdoms far and wide. I had been content to drop frequent blog posts for months, but now that the blog has a sufficient foundation of content, I need to focus on garnering support for its cause.
To that end, I have floated inquiries to a prominent law firm that does exemplary pro bono work and a renowned national organization for social activism. Additionally, I have started a GoFundMe page to cover expenses related to rebuilding my life and hiring an honest-to-goodness attorney to defend my visitation rights. Preliminary stuff, yes, but even fighter pilots have to start with paper planes.
To offer perspective on my approach, below is the slightly edited body of the email I sent to an attorney at that prominent law firm. Disclaimer: The names of people and places have been changed to protect the innocent.
“I hope this email finds you well.
For several months now, I have endured the tumult of a contentious divorce. I was never able to find quality representation and as a result, opposing counsel wiped the floor with me. I have lost just about everything I was able to put in place for my children’s college fund and my retirement.
It is by no means a fun situation, but I am coping and I have learned first hand how devastating divorce can be to good fathers and their children. Such fathers need quality legal advice and protection from predatory divorce attorneys. Beyond that, the loopholes used by unethical divorce attorneys to batter unsuspecting fathers should be identified and closed.
I have started a blog that tells my story and offers advice to fathers who suddenly find themselves in dire straits. My goals are to call national attention to a long-standing social injustice, lobby for changes to divorce laws and build a database of attorneys who specialize in defending fathers.
Is it possible that the firm’s pro bono group could look into helping responsible, caring fathers maintain their connections with the kids they love and otherwise be less victimized by the divorce process?
Thanks for your consideration and have a wonderful day.”
As for the gem I sent to the national activist organization, a review of this post offers a glimpse of the portrait I painted for them.
And finally, there is the GoFundMe page, which can be viewed here.
Oh my God…the waters of activism are soaking the bottoms of my trousers. I’m scared to think of where this could all lead!
Who am I kidding? I’ve said for months now that this is where I’m headed. Dealing with the pain of alienation from my kids and other nasty issues sometimes hinders my progress, but for me, this is manifest destiny. These days, my ups outnumber my downs.
ACTivism definitely helps.