From the Greek Nostos. Damn.
Seriously though, this student critique prompted further questions. Facebook seems such a ubiquitous foundation in social interaction these days that it seems odd that kids would avoid it entirely.
Me: "Adults use money too, and you love that. What's wrong with facebook?"
Teen: "It's just everyone complaining about stuff or being political."
Me: "I thought you were all about being political. We talk all the time about how we need to change the world. You were so proud to go to that protest the other day."
Teen: "That's action. Facebook is just everyone sharing their opinions. And one person's opinion doesn't matter."
Damn again. Is the kid right?
Perhaps. I've noticed an increase in the amount of (arguably) political opinions on facebook. In general, I support that trend. Civic participation in a new platform. It beats apathy, right?
Maybe. If it reflects action. If it encourages others to take action and unite rather than to descend into a game of who is the most self-righteous. More than anything, I worry that viral petitions and twitter zingers encourage a hallow type of activism - a short attention spanned, no risk, activism that is heavy on politically correct statements and image crafting. Simultaneously, I am inspired and hopeful that our interconnected world has more opportunities than ever for people to communicate, unite, and tackle the enormous problems our species is facing. So I am cautiously optimistic for a more politically minded facebook.
Having resolved THAT for myself, I consider the other part of my student's critique: The belief that one person's opinion doesn't matter. This is the ever present question in a democracy. How much does YOUR opinion matter? In general, the answer seems to be: very little. Few important votes are ever decided by the margin of a single vote. The closest election I have ever heard of was my high school's campaign for senior class president, and unless you care deeply about the details of a class reunion, that is of limited importance.
If the Cheerleading Squad is your idea of an political interest group, it's a safe bet that the big picture significance of your campaign is minimal.
Some answer this quandary in a practical way: the smaller the issue, the larger the impact of one opinion. Thus, if you want to make a difference, focus on the small things.
Others answer in an optimistic way: although we are only one, our example and message can inspire others. We can be a ripple creator, spawning waves of change that will improve the world.
I think there is some truth to both of these outlooks. In the last week, however, I have realized there is another way you can answer the question. If you want your personal opinion to truly matter, then there is one surefire way....
Be This Guy:
One Opinion to Rule Them All...
Who's that funny looking old White Guy? Oh, that's Justice Kennedy of the Supreme Court of the United States (SOCTUS). His opinion matters, a whole hell of a lot. This week he got a lot of publicity for writing the opinion making same-sex marriage legal throughout the nation. It was a 5-4 decision at the Supreme Court, meaning he was the deciding vote. A lot of progressives glowingly endorsed him and viewed him like this after reading that last paragraph.
It is so Fabulously Ordered!
I momentarily jumped on the bandwagon (hate it when I do that) and wrote a post saying: "It's been a good week Supreme Court. Let's keep it up." I had been buoyed by support for wider health care, and a move to limit the outrageously high incarceration rates in America. I was hopeful that the Supreme Court would continue the run of releasing decisions I liked. Spoiler Alert, they didn't.
In the last two days, two more 5-4 decisions have came out. Most supporters of the gay marriage would probably not consider these subsequent decisions fabulous.
In a Gross case, the Supreme Court upheld use of a controversial lethal injection drug that has led to overly lengthy executions and allegations of excruciating pain.
Then, SCOTUS decided that the EPAs regulations against mercury pollution from Coal plants were not appropriate. To repeat, the agency in charge of protecting our environment informed coal plants that they need to screen to prevent excessive emissions of mercury which have been scientifically proven to cause more than 10,000 deaths a year. The Supreme Court said they can't do that.
Let's put it this way:
Do you have an opinion about whether or not marriage between gay people should be supported and recognized by the state?
Do you have an opinion on whether or not our nation should have state sponsored murder?
Do you have an opinion about whether or not the EPA can regulate blatantly harmful pollution?
Justice Kennedy has an opinion on each of these things. I am dubious whether I know anyone who would agree with Justice Kennedy on all three of these cases; how many people do you know who are pro gay marriage, pro pollution and pro death penalty. Apparently Kennedy is. And as the deciding vote on such a wide range of issues, his personal opinion carries about a million times more weight than most of ours.
Again, Damn.
So, for those of us who ARE not Justice Kennedy, but want to believe our opinion matters, what can we do?
I suppose... write a weekly blog. Engage...
