It seems as if a majority of us are just watching our news feeds like we're being fed interesting made up stories about the world around us that are great to pass the time, but pose no real threat to our reality. We watch CNN, Buzzfeed, The New York Times, The Washington post, etc, etc, and make no choice to do anything but watch.
We watch as Native Americans who have had had their land for centuries get it taken away because the U.S feels the need to expand and build new pipelines and suburbs across their territory. As if their lives and rights are any less than our own. (http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/01/us/standing-rock-sio...) We sit back and watch as public officials openly racially profile workers and deem them unfit to do their job because of their heritage. (http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/11/24/jill...)
We watch through our screens as prejudice spreads with the fear cultivated in the last election and families of Muslims, Mexicans, LGBTQ and even Blacks are once again afraid to go outside, and feel no safety in their own neighborhoods. A slight glint of white supremacy once again rears its ugly head.
Then through another ping of our iPhone notifications we sit back and watch as America begins to fall into a fit of centralism and ignore other issues that could use our attention around the world. We watch as other countries start to turn in on them selves, some literally just burning with the tide of war. We sit back and maybe shed a tear from our screen as we see a young child's lifeless body on the side of some war torn country that you probably can't remember the name of. But what's our new policy again as Americans again? Oh right, "America first". (http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/17/world/syria-little-b...)
So we're perfectly fine with sitting back and just watching the news stories as small children die, and whole countries fall apart. As long as you still have access to Taco Bell and Chipotle its fine right?
When are we going to learn that it's not enough to sit back and watch? But you know its too much work to cause change, so we'd rather sit and wait for someone else to make a move first right?
Wrong
For now, we're lucky. It's not us, maybe the turmoil is a state over. But pretty soon it could be a town over, and then maybe a street over . But the point is, these issues may not seem to effect you directly now. But they will have an effect in the long run I can promise you that. Even if somehow they don't seem to effect you, you know if the shoe were on the other foot, you would definitely want someone to raise their voice, and make moves to help you out.
Write an article, go to a local rally or town hall meeting. Hell, find an online movement that's trying to make a difference. Even spread the news you see on Facebook to find others that agree and want to help. We can't just keep sitting on our asses and not doing anything. Because then we really are the lazy Millennials and obese stereotypical Americans we are accused of being.
But this will probably just be another article you read, think about, then forget in another hour. So if no ones listening, I hope one day you are someone, and that you are remembered for making a difference.
Debate that America.
