Apathy or Want of a Purpose?

Posted on January 23, 2003 in Citizenship Crosstalk Social Justice

MJ of Friday Fishwrap wrote about her apathy:

I used to be an activist. I’d be the first out the door if I heard the was a march or rally and I’d lose my voice screaming for people to get “out of the bars and into the streets” as we marched through San Francisco. I used to wheat paste posters in the middle of the night. I was arrested at the Nevada Test Site. I remember the last “No War for Oil” protests and El Salvador, Bad Cop No Donut, Kill Your Television and Take Back the Night.

But now… now I have a house and taxes, I have a family and I live in a very white bread suburban community where people just don’t march. I’m 15 years older and I’m jaded and well… I’m just not very angry any more.

I’ve had a similar feeling about demonstrations. When I ask “OK, just what are we trying to accomplish here,” I get “Well, it’s going to make me feel better.”

What good is a superficiality set against a superficiality?

What are we aiming for? What programs do we have? We’re better off getting out on the street, learning to inspire the apathetic for a reason. I think those of us who put in time in the past have been put off by those who come to “show that they did something” after long nights of pasting posters (as MJ did) or running online organizing against the Gulf War (as I did).

I was very turned off when some people started talking, a few months ago, about what they were going to wear and where they would go drinking after the demonstrations of last autumn. They got all hot and huffy about my words and I lost a few friendships over it. A few accused me of being “anti-demonstrations”: I countered that I merely didn’t want to waste my time attending events packed with people who weren’t going to be there for me the day after and who didn’t seem to have a broad goal apart from attaining the feeling that they “had done something”.

That’s simply not good enough for me. I want to know that my actions effect change for the better. We can’t fight selfishness with selfishness. MJ is honest when she refuses not to stake her house and family life on flimsy acts. As chari pointed out in a comment:

I wouldn’t worry… you’ll know when it’s time for you to get off the couch and out into the streets once again. Since it’s beginning to bother you, most likely that time will be soon.

And when there’s a purpose for it, you can rest assured that I will join arms with MJ and chari.