There is a specific kind of quiet that only the privileged can afford; the privilege to ignore politics, the privilege to be “moderate.” For many people, more often minority groups, politics is not something that they can choose to ignore, as a change in policy will affect their everyday lives.
Cambridge University Press’s definition of moderate is “having genuinely moderate views across issues, being inattentive to politics or political surveys, or holding views poorly summarized by a single liberal–conservative dimension.” There is a difference between passivity to politics and leaning towards middle ground policy. Apathy to politics is the real danger to society.
In times of oppression and government discourse, it is more important than ever to have clear and informed views on politics. Bishop, theologian, and anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
The world we live in would not be the same without people who take a strong stance in what they believe in. From the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement and then the Women’s Rights Movement, there were countless leaders who pushed for change.
Martin Luther King Jr. in his Letter from Birmingham Jail said, “I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.”
Social progress and justice cannot be reached without people who take a stand for what they believe in. Without MLK Jr. and countless others activists, would the Civil Rights Movement been effective? Without Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and numerous other women, would women have the rights they do today? Did these activists ever take a stance of “moderation” in their work? Likely not.
“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality,” said Italian poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri.
That being said, neutrality or moderation is the easy choice. Especially if a person is not directly affected by politics, it is much easier to choose to ignore it. As young people, specifically under the age of 18 who are not yet able to vote, it is easy to see how complicated politics are and also choose to ignore it.
It’s easy to think, “because it doesn’t involve me, and I can’t do anything about it, why should I care?” That is where privilege is shown. Young women are losing access to reproductive healthcare. Immigrant families are being split up by ICE. Minority voting protection is being weakened. It is a privilege to not be personally affected by politics, but it is a selfish choice to choose to not think about the people around you.
As young people, we inherit the consequences of current inaction. Climate change, student debt, gun violence, and countless other political issues will only grow worse without action. Moderation is a barrier to social progress, and social progress is the key to developing our world. The leaders who shaped our world today did not do so by hiding behind the shield of moderation. We must honor those who came before us and pave the way for future generations by disregarding moderation and choosing to care.
