Surest Route to Helplessness Is Not Acting

I recently went to Washington to attend the first Youth Summit on Globalization, hosted by Amnesty International and the Sierra Club. I encountered people who actually participate in politics because they care about social issues. Having the opportunity to interact with citizen activists in my age group was stimulating. It was certainly a drastic change from the apathetic environment at home.

During the conference, the 200 discussed the need for corporate accountability. I then realized the more important need for citizen accountability. I contemplated how my peers at home measured up against the peers I just met. I was astonished by the difference.

My conclusion revolves around two perceptions of social activism.

The first applies to my classmates. These are the people on my campus who are considered active in school. They are the college-bound students who also serve their community.

Most recognize that problems exist in our society, but very few make an effort to resolve them. They are so focused on their own world of academia that they become detached from the world around them. In so doing, they set the wrong priorities.

Thus, many do community service for the sake of their resume. These schoolmates fail to see how violations of human rights and the environment around the world directly impact their lives and health. Even those blessed with the realization often have the attitude that any action they take will not bring about change.

The second perception of activism refers to my new acquaintances. In contrast to my classmates, these high school and college students are truly active in their communities. I recognize that, in some instances, the people I met were older and had broader opportunities to develop a social conscience than today’s teenagers in my community. However, there is something to be learned from the passion about the larger world that I saw in these students from all over the country.

Some even have risked their safety for what they consider a greater cause. Several of the college students, for example, protested in Seattle against the World Trade Organization. They practiced nonviolent resistance in advocating fair trade, even while they were surrounded by incidents of violence. I admire their bravery and sense of justice.

These young activists pointed out that as Americans, we hold the responsibility to speak up for what we believe. We are protected by the 1st Amendment, whereas in many other countries, people suffer for voicing their opinions.

Therefore, it is up to Americans to take the responsibility for checking the assaults on fellow human beings and the abuses to our environment. If we do not, we have wronged ourselves. In effect, we send the message to the exploitative big businesses and corrupt governments that we will not put up a fight for our rights.

To combat apathy, our worst enemy, we need to pay attention to politics. We must read and keep each other informed. Only then can we take proper and immediate action to correct social evils.

Yet we must always remember not to get discouraged by fears of failure. The prevalent attitude among the youth of my community is that whatever they do will not amount to significant change, and that is exactly why nothing significant has occurred. They have proclaimed a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure, which we cannot afford any longer.

Instead, students can get involved locally and find inspiration. They need to stay in touch with the real world and look beyond school for education.

Students should address at least one social concern about which they feel passionate, then join that community organization suited to their interests.

For students consumed by academics, school officials can help by making this outside-of-school project into an in-class assignment. The hope is that students will discover how their work influences society.

School officials should take note, however, that establishing a community service requirement for graduation will not by itself generate a civic commitment by youth. Schools can consider making this a requirement for graduation, but more important, they need to be encouraging of students.

Students must have the heart to do the work. Otherwise, no good will come from their minimal efforts.

On citizen accountability, students should consider the following: If we have the power to fix a problem, why do we still walk away from the issue? I cannot help feeling guilty whenever I see litter and don’t pick it up.

We are responsible to ourselves. When the lands and people of this Earth are exploited, how can we do nothing?