Why We Should Give a Damn
As I have written in the past, I think very highly of journalist, activist and public intellectual Christopher Hedges (photo below), and his inspiring line: “I don’t fight fascists because I think I will win. I fight fascists because they are fascists.”
His life is a reminder that there is always reason for hope, not because good is bound to prevail over evil, but simply because there will always be people who never give up fighting for what’s right.
It’s easy to get caught up in the insanity of today’s world, its ever-intensifying concentration of wealth and consequent corruption, its having appointed a sociopath as its most powerful leader, the downward-spiraling of its environment, and so forth. Yet this apathy is precisely what the forces that seek to profit by ruining our civilization and planet are counting on.
Here’s another way to look at this: do you have anything better to do? Do you find it fun to go wine tasting and play golf at the exclusion of pushing for what’s right and decent? I sure don’t; I love giving this everything I have, and I bet you do too.
Craig,
The trouble with becoming an evangelizing puritan endless ranting on about the wickedness and degeneracy of of others, is you become the thing you claim to oppose.
The outraged students who acting as mob, violently prevent a speaker whose views they suspect they may not support, from speaking, are not “moral”, “decent” or even anti-fascist” , in fact the tactics they employ are indistinguishable from fascist principles!
You condemn the Presidents more extreme rhetoric, while employing the same or even more vehement terminology against him and his supporters.
Playing golf and wine tasting, are not “evil” nor particularly elitist. (although for his age, the President is a very good golfer). Nor is your horror of people watching Monday night football with friends and sharing a beer or two.
These activities may not suit your taste, and seem low brow and only enjoyed by plutocrats or ‘deplorables’, but in reality, they are harmless activities enjoyed by millions of ordinary folk, who just want to live their lives without be hounded by over-zealous fanatics.
I spend a good deal of my life promoting clean(er0 technology. The small successes I’ve achieved in promoting adoption, haven’t been by preaching revolution and fiery condemnation of
my clients morals or lifestyles.
Instead, I try to set a personal example and interest others in the positive benefits of clean(er) technology in practical ways.
That’s not apathy.