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Working in the non-profit world, I frequently come across “Awareness” days, weeks, and months: “National Liver Awareness Month”, “Deaf Awareness Week”, “National Infant Mortality Awareness Month”, etc. I don’t know about you, but I am keenly aware of my liver, I do understand that people are deaf, and I realize that infants die. The passiveness is all in the word “Awareness”. What a vague concept. It may have a stronger meaning to those that are strongly involved in the cause, but then, they are already aware. If you are suggesting that others that are not involved with the cause become aware of it, then you have already done your job simply by putting the name out there. When I hear that it is “World Blindness Awareness Month”, I am now aware that there is world blindness. What happens beyond the awareness? If you want to draw attention to a cause, do you not want action around it as well? To simply ask that people be aware will certainly accomplish what you are setting out to do, but it is not changing much. There seems to be a hope that awareness will draw to action, and while it may in some circumstances, is it really yielding the best results? I propose “action”. You see, by making a national recognition day/week/month an “action” you are calling others into action, and on top of that, making them aware. I am much more likely to be involved in “National Prevent Sexual Abuse Action Month”. It makes me feel like we are in serious motion to do something and it makes me want to get involved. Its a direct proposal to do something; an invitation. It makes me think, “Wow, not only is this a problem, but something needs to be done THIS month!”. It rids the passive voice, and replaces it with a powerful voice. Action occurs when the request to do so is put forward.
If I didn't know better I would swear you were hired