After my most recent experience with political activism, I came to a realization that frightened me beyond belief — while standing at a Youth for Ron Paul table, a student said to me: “I don’t care about politics.” It was then that I realized my fear of apathy toward politics is more than just a hypothesis about my generation — it is true. We have become increasingly apathetic at a time when political activism is most needed.
My mother often told me about her days at this university. The student body used to march on McKeldin Mall in protest of the Vietnam War, and they would picket outside of the Main Administration building for their rights. Now, most students don’t even know where the Main Administration building is. The majority of them couldn’t say what countries we are currently at war with or that the National Defense Authorization Act and Patriot Act eliminate the rights included in the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. I’m not sure when apathy became a cool thing, but it is unsettling.
Living apathetically in this day and age is dangerous. This country is becoming more and more hated globally. The world is falling into financial chaos. U.S. debt is rapidly growing. And yet people don’t care to be bothered. I know I sound condescending, but I’m not trying to. I was apathetic, just like most people my age, until I decided to think about politics. All it takes is taking an interest in the issues.
In 2008, I decided to start trying to learn more about politics, and it didn’t take long to get interested. Once I heard Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) stand and blast his opponents on why our foreign policy is wrong and why the drug war needs to be ended, I was amazed. Hearing someone stand up for the Constitution — a document I admire so greatly — was refreshing. I showed many of my friends Paul videos, and they became supporters. From there, they quickly became more interested in politics in general. There is a reason people stand outside in the freezing cold merely trying to get pedestrians to sign a petition to bring Paul to the campus.
But it isn’t just Paul. I have found myself debating with President Barack Obama supporters and the occasional former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney supporter. At the end of the discussion I say, “Well, at least you are informed and have opinions.” Because in our society, where each citizen has an equal say in who leads us, each person needs to be informed. They need to earn that power. Young people need to wake up because things are changing.
People had to fight to make this country what it is today. Only one-third of Americans supported the revolution, while one-third supported England and the last third didn’t care. As Mark Twain said, “In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.” Americans need to get it together before the country that people gave their lives to defend slowly deteriorates.
You don’t have to be a Republican, Democrat or Libertarian — or belong to any political party for that matter. Just watch a few videos, go to a few websites and become informed. Because as Thomas Jefferson said, “Freedom is lost gradually from an uninterested, uninformed, and uninvolved people.”
Brian Rothman is a sophomore marketing major. He can be reached at brothman@umd.edu.
