Apathy. Noun. A psychological defense mechanism used on by people because they don't think they can make any difference in the world. Rather than try, people give up and stop paying attention. Turn off, Tune out, Be assimilated.

Sometimes I think I can't possibly make a difference in the world, and if I can, what difference does it make anyways? People don't seem to care, and I'm sure that the Universe would get along just fine without this planet, so why even bother, right?

Well, then I came to realize something. Life is about the people who do care. If you worry about who doesn't care, it will only get you down. Contrary to popular belief, one person can not only make a difference, they can change the world.

A big problem with our society is that history is rewritten to glorify our country. Somewhere along the line, it was decided it was more important to have brainwashed, "patriotic" Americans, who were pacified into thinking that their government does everything, that their national heros are perfect, and thus they can never hope to change anything by themselves.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

We revere influential people of our past like gods who could never do any wrong. But when you look at them closely, they are flawed people, just like you, and me. Many of them had drug problems, marital problems, etc. Lincoln was plagued almost nonstop by horrible bouts of depression where he felt he just couldn't do anything about all the suffering in the country. Benjamin Franklin smoked pot. Thomas Jefferson had sex with one of his slaves. Why do we remember these people? Because they woke up one day, and said "Well shit, this world sucks, to hell with what anyone says, I'm gonna do what I can to change it." Some of them are a lot worse people than you or I. Many of them were hypocrites to some extent, or at least inconsistent. This does not make them horrible, or evil. They were just people. They were plagued by the same problems, disorders, and weaknesses we all have. The only difference is they tried to make a difference.

We all have talents. We all have weaknesses. We all have options available. If you see a problem in the world, something that sucks, do something about it. Find a tactic, and do it. Very few people who continue to work at something ever fail. The only ones who fail are those who give up.

Hate that obnoxious ad you see on the way to work? Jam it. What aout that annoying billboard on the Interstate? Liberate it. See people dumping shit into storm sewers that you know drain into lakes? Label them. Tired of seeing all those monstrous SUV's of people who wanna be "better than the Jones's"? Let them know. Tired of listening to bullshit on the radio? Make your own station. Fed up with the drug war? Weed and feed the nation. Tired of your story not being told? Write about it. Tired of the commercial software industry, ignorance by design, and profit through disinformation? Use something else. Angry with the MPAA? Disseminate information, or create a diversion.

Tired of anything else? Make your own campaign. Start a chain letter, form a group, make a website. Hell, I'll even host it for you. Anyone who ever said the only way to change any policy is to write your congressman was lying to you. Sometimes it's better just to make noise. And life's more fun that way too :) (Though this is not to say that writing to certain Government officials is never fun either...)

This society has problems. Lots of problems. Not all of them may bother you personally, but the worst thing you can do is fall into complacency or rationalize the ones that do.

Some people may criticize you. They will put pressure on you to just settle down, and accept your job, your place in life as good enough. They might call you a fanatic, a nut. Well news flash to those people, fanatics are the only ones who ever get anything done in this world. No one wins tug of war by pulling at the middle.

Life isn't about worrying about who might disagree with you, or what other people think. To hell with those people. Educate yourself, form an opinion. Don't feel helpless, do something. You can make a difference. All you have to do is try, and I know you'll follow through.

Just don't let the clock run out.

"If one were to project the democratic way of life onto a musical score, its major theme would be the harmony of dissonance"

-- Saul Alinsky