Fervent activist-->realization that politics is irrelevant

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I’m writing this for my school newspaper column. Feel free to comment/criticize/suggest ideas, because I can use all the input I can get to make this a better piece.</p>

<p>"My column, which I wrote before Spring Break, was going to about taxes. How irrelevant. I used to be very politically aware and active; hence, my column title. I cared about the issues I wrote and read about, and engaged in politics-related activities such as formal policy debate, in which during the year I heavily researched and debated foreign aid to Africa. Every issue I cared about evoked an emotional response, and the more I learned, the angrier and sadder I became, combined with a rational feeling of complete powerlessness over the issues. I’m not going to change the course of the election, I’m not going to change the treatment of veal, and I’m not going to calm the riots in Tibet. I’m done.</p>

<pre><code> Debate aims, at least partly, to foster political awareness and activism in student participants by educating them about the conflicts and inequalities in today’s society. Most debaters that I’ve met have, indeed, become less politically apathetic; many of the top college debaters are pot-smoking communist hippies. Over my years of debating, however, I’ve come to a different realization. I’ve learned about the near-infinite counterarguments to every position, and the frenzied activists, following their conflicting consciences, who push different positions in real life. In fact, millions of lobbying dollars pursue Congressional votes on almost every major issue.

The 2008 elections contributed in my turn away from politics. Yes, the candidates throw around important ideas and issues, but much of the election is about rhetorical posturing. Barack Obama bowled and fed milk to Pennsylvania calves in an attempt to boost his popularity among blue-collar white voters, who primarily favor Hillary Clinton. John McCain engaged in a “biographical tour” in which he visited the places that played important roles in his life. Do these events really tell us anything about the candidates’ positions? Nonetheless, rhetoric and perception dominate electoral politics.

And let’s be realistic. We have no power. My individual vote, as much as I would like to believe it does, is useless, canceled out almost instantaneously after it is cast. Every argument is contested. A few Ron Paul stickers and flyers in school or a half-assed senior speech on free trade and poverty won’t change the politics of the general public. And if I have no control over the process, why do I even care? Star Trek: Voyager is waiting."
</code></pre>

2

<p>First, be careful of overt and insulting generalizations- “many of the top college debaters are pot-smoking communist hippies.” </p>

<p>Secondly, I would come up with a different title. I was expecting something more substantive than your journey into hopelessness and irrelevancy. It speaks of you, not politics itself. The art of politics is a very difficult skill to master and encompasses more than just debate. Business, Government, Academia, Social- all have their own version of politics that if skillfully applied, can land some pretty remarkable results. I would dig deeper into the skill and art of the subject and try opposing those points rather than writing about the focus you have placed on yourself.</p>

3

<p>So many of today’s students think that activism = protest rallies. This is so untrue. Not every political issue can be solved by holding a protest rally. In many cases, a protest rally will bring negative attention to the issue, rather than positive. Positive activism is much more likely to create goodwill which can then translate into more support for the political issue. This entails creating positive PR such as providing accurate information to the media which supports the cause. Holding a protest rally and screaming in front of television cameras is more likely turn turn people “off” on the political issue as it is to create support for it.</p>

4

<p>Politics is not irrelevant. Your vote is arguably irrelevant. That’s a huge difference.</p>

<p>You also don’t explain why politicians’ choice to participate in photo ops somehow cancels out the substantive policy differences between them. All the bowling and calf-feeding in the world won’t change the fact that withdrawing from Iraq and staying in Iraq are two alternatives with immense, life-and-death consequences for lots of people.</p>

5

<p>Reaction? CC would delete my post and I would get my hand slapped by the moderators if I typed it. Trying to say it politely but firmly…this is absolute drivel.</p>

6

<p>deep breaths…deep breaths :D</p>

7

<p>PlanPlusDebater, if I might suggest a meta-theme as an alternative: the futility of the the perception that life is all-or-nothing. You seem to note only two alternatives: “I can totally change the world immediately” or “I am completely powerless to cause any change, ever.” That’s not a valuable theme to rant over because your premise has stated a false dichotomy. Those are not the only alternatives. In fact, they’re probably not even two of the actual alternatives. You certainly will cause some change, somewhere, at some time, about something you care about. It may not be “world peace, tomorrow!” but it might be something as significant as causing one person to realize something about the world that they hadn’t thought about before. Most major changes in the world didn’t happen overnight, or as a result of the inspirational words or heroic deeds of a single “great man.” Rather, they were a product of many people moving in a given direction, a small step at a time, until “suddenly” everything had changed.</p>

<p>So you might explore the reason that you’re so impatient, instead of complaining about the lack of immediate response to your fervent activism. Now there’s a column. :)</p>

8

<p>

</p>

<p>Second, be careful of readers who have no sense of humor.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Great! Then try disputing my arguments.</p>

9

<p>

</p>

<p>Thanks, interesting point, except I already considered it while writing my column. If it takes so many people, why does it matter that I’m a part of it? All of your arguments assume a collective movement. Pretend I was never born. What, the movement won’t go on? I’m just justifying my own realization that politics is irrelevant FOR ME.</p>

10

<p>(And you’re right; I probably should clarify the title. Politics is irrelevant FOR ME.)</p>

11

<p>^^You may certainly choose to ignore politics, but that won’t make it irrelevant for you. Unless you are moving to some remote desert island in the middle of the ocean, you’ll still pay taxes; you’ll still have to follow the law. And those laws and taxes will be imposed on you by politicians.</p>

12

<p>^Except that I can’t change the laws and whether I involve myself functionally makes no difference, which is my point. I’m not denying yours.</p>

13

<p>Ever hear the expression “Every little bit helps?” It’s like the stone mason who hammers his chisel against a stone. The first forty-nine times, nothing happens. The fiftieth time - the stone breaks. Does that mean the first forty-nine times “functionally made no difference?”</p>

<p>With all due respect, PlanPlusDebater - you’re flattering yourself. You are not irrelevant. You do have an impact, by your actions and inaction. The fact that you don’t see an immediate, dramatic change in response to your conduct doesn’t mean you have no role to play in the development of the world. It’s just that aren’t likely to see a gratifyingly immediate payoff for your efforts. Choosing to withdraw from efforts to improve the world is a choice - and it is a choice which will have an effect on the world, whether you can see it or not.</p>

14

<p>

</p>

<p>Can you absolutely not change the law or do you choose not to? Thousands of individuals throughout our history have changed laws so it’s far from an impossible task.</p>

<p>Also, I can tell you were completely serious in your writing. If you really meant to inject humor into that article, I’d suggest a different approach. I’m sure that not many will catch that humor after reading four paragraphs of “The Glass is Always Half Empty” prose.</p>

<p>I’d seriously consider re-thinking that article and starting over with a competent and scholarly direction.</p>

15

<p>PPD, when you go to a concert or sporting event, do you clap?</p>

<p>How come?</p>

16

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes, of course I do! Your analogy, however, is false. Yes, I clap in a room full of others to show my appreciation (N.B., that room is much smaller than the worldwide political area in which I am 1 of 6 billion), but the major difference is that I clap because it brings me into the moment and heightens my excitement or pleasure over whatever I’m clapping for. Politics, in my experience, has brought me nothing but anger or sadness, and any “gains” (under the previous philosophy I had) are short-lived, with ardent activists working feverishly to counter them.</p>

17

<p>

</p>

<p>You say you’re “dad of 2”, so I’ll guess you’re in the 40s. How have your (not your generation’s, not your friends’, YOUR) actions affected American foreign policy? I’m saying that arguments such as “oh, together you’ll make a difference!” are irrelevant. It can still function as “together minus 1”.</p>

18

<p>50s, actually - and I’m am very upset by the consequences of my generation’s actions - not least of which is saddling your generation with 9 trillion dollars of national debt. But I have accomplished a few things - locally, but only through long term, consistent, boring, work, along with a lot of other people. And I don’t intend to stop working to effect positive change, locally, nationally, whatever. A bunch of other people accomplishing modest goals in their localities, instead of just saying “whatever” and the cumulative effect actually adds up. What did Blake say about good men doing nothing?</p>

19

<p>PPD, after looking at your history I’m trying to figure out exactly where you are wanting this thread to go? Are you looking for advice and criticism as you invite by stating in your OP- “Feel free to comment/criticize/suggest ideas, because I can use all the input I can get to make this a better piece.” or do you want a debate? You have been given a lot of advice but you seem to want to debate us on every point we make. Just curious…</p>

<p>Also, just two months ago you were looking at joining the Columbia Republicans and now you have done a complete 180 and are ready to just give up politics altogether. What has happened in the past two months that made you change your mind so drastically?</p>

20

<p>“Politics, in my experience, has brought me nothing but anger or sadness”</p>

<p>All right, and this is relevant to other people how? I mean, this isn’t a blog or a memoir you’re proposing writing, right? It’s an opinion column.</p>