Thankfully, I was preoccupied the day apathy became chic.
After two years in college, I am longing for days of yore, when protests were as common as fraternity parties-I am yearning for the 1960s. The fashions may have been awful, the movies may have been dreadful, and it may have been the beginning of political correctness, but there was something in the air that is missing today.
Today, we just have lights and camera. What happened to action?
Action today seems relegated only to those activities that will advance one's career. This applies as much to people of our generation as it does to our parents, who were the "youth" of the sixties.
Cut!
To see this level of apathy, disinterest and inattention is disconcerting-especially when you work for a newspaper's editorial department, and spend some of your time waiting for letters to the editor. You may find that your time is better spent waiting for Godot.
For example, in the last volume we ran an editorial calling for the abolishment of the death penalty and received zero letters in response. Eighty percent of America reportedly supports the death penalty, but apparently no one in the Duke community cared enough to voice support or opposition to our stand. It is difficult to imagine that at Duke-where political thought is about as consistent as the Chicago skyline-we are of one mind on this topic. Or, is it that we just don't care enough to express an opinion one way or the other?
In six years Gov. George W. Bush has presided over two-thirds of the executions in the U.S. in the last 23 years-and this guy wants to be president. But try to start a conversation about that issue, or any other, and the most common reply is "I don't follow politics," or, "I try not to have opinions."
"I try not to have opinions." Now, that's real apathy. You might call it Zen apathy. You reach nirvana when your head is completely empty.
It is true that political topics and issues of the day pay little personal dividend. To take a stand or give voice to our positions does little to advance our careers or earning potential. But we are not mere consumers; we are citizens of a great republic who should be engaged in the issues.
America needs someone like Dr. Laura (OK, maybe someone who isn't a scold, so not Dr. Laura) to stand up and shout to the masses: "It is OK to have strong opinions about something, and it is also OK to express those opinions!" This shouldn't be news-this is the foundation of a free society. Many people entertain conflicting opinions about serious issues. Think not? What if someone came up to you right now and told you that they just had an abortion? What if a friend walked up to you and informed you that he or she was gay?
Apathy is the worst problem that America faces because it makes it impossible to form a consensus for action. It is especially apparent in the electoral process-turnout in this year's election is expected to hit a record low. I am not saying that the political establishment is free of guilt for our loss of faith in politics and government. Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, Richard Nixon and many others deserve plenty of blame. Nonetheless, the American people need to stop complaining about not being informed, and not being able to do anything. We need to start acting. If we are unhappy with the candidates, it is our job as the electorate to express that concern in the press and at the ballot. We don't need an election to think, but it is a great place to cap our political discussion after thoughtful dialogue with others-with those who agree with us and those who do not.
Someone told me not long ago that it was arrogant to have opinions and to assume that anyone's actions and opinions will change anything. He may not have made that observation 35 years ago. We can do without the strife and political cant that are also part of the sixties' legacy, but we sure could use some of that action. There is no easier question than "what do you think?" It is time we started to ask and answer this question.
Let's get those cameras rolling again-America cannot afford to be in a mental freeze frame.
Martin Barna is a Trinity Junior and Editorial Page Editor of The Chronicle.
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