Social Activism is the New Black

Quick rant:

Why is it that everyone who seems to be interested in social activism wears scarves, takes pictures, idolizes U2, owns a Mac, and thinks America sucks?

To self-proclaimed lover of oppressed,

In SoCal you’re only allowed to wear scarves 5 days out of the year. Otherwise, you’re just trying to be trendy.

That camera you just bought could buy a well in Africa. Let the real photographers keep to the picture taking. Otherwise, you’re just trying to be trendy.

U2 is awesome, but they were awesome before they started helping out Africa. Really.

I own a Mac. I bought it because I thought it was “cooler” than a PC. How is a computer of any kind more or less cool than another? It’s a computer. Trendiness at it’s worst.

America is a pretty enjoyable place to live. In fact, I would venture to say that we are the most giving country in the world not to mention most free. Well, at least for now. Hating America is trendy.

Trendy and “social activist” go hand in hand nowadays. I don’t like it. Those who need to be focused on are actually being put on the back burner because of the things mentioned above. This whole “movement” still has a layer of pride and false humility to scrape away for it to be helping anyone. If you’re not careful, it all becomes about you and not the King who really is about justice.

That’s all. I know I didn’t clearly communicate everything and most of it probably seems a bit harsh but I don’t have to clearly communicate everything. It’s my blog and I will suck at thoroughly communicating my points if I want to.

kimmysun Says:

February 21, 2009 at 4:21 pm

ha… you’re so funny…and so right on, it’s sad…so sad.

Cindy S. Says:

February 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm

oh, girl, preach it!!

Becks Says:

February 21, 2009 at 11:51 pm

Also, allow me to add to this all the new fans of global warming who prolly don’t know how to spell ozone as well as all of my students who proudly wore Obama shirts for two months, but now could care less to read a book about him.

julie Says:

February 22, 2009 at 7:31 pm

lindsey, i just read this post to my husband and we both feel like you communicated your point perfectly. we see this shallow activism in dc all the time. everyone has a job working on policy or for human rights–yet so many spend a small fortune on starbucks and alcohol and complain about how they want promotions and raises. it’s disgusting. i like starbucks and all but there’s just no need to drink two venti drinks everyday.

we do need to wear scarves often though.

bluestraveller Says:

February 22, 2009 at 10:51 pm

Thanks for the comments!

Julie,
Do you know anything about McClane Bible Church?

Sherry Says:

February 22, 2009 at 11:11 pm

I agree to a certain extent and completely disagree with you at the same time. I’m glad that becoming socially active is trendy. So glad. At least people are becoming aware and want to be identified with a group of people who cares about issues that don’t directly affect them. Some of my students, for the first time, seem to be acutely in-tune to the “bigger picture,” and that does my soul well. As far as I’m concerned, being just a little more aware and active in social justice issues is a step. I don’t think it means we can’t own nice cameras or cute scarfs. It’s arrogant to judge others by their level of commitment to the oppressed because it’s not clear where we should draw the line. Does your choice to live in America mean you don’t care about people in Third World countries, for example? Highly unlikely. Seems silly, right?

raj Says:

February 23, 2009 at 9:50 am

Sherry,
I think the post was an observation rather than a judgment, and it was a valid one at that.

Where were all of these social activists during the Bush administration? Say what you will about the former president, but he certainly didn’t hold enough power to suppress such seemingly-stalwart champions of justice. In fact, he gave money away to NGOs by the truckload to address this country’s problems.

I will grant that President Bush was not as inspiring to the masses as President Obama, but doesn’t that need for inspiration invite the question of these activists’ commitment and motives?

If people had modeled before the sort of social responsibility they claim to support now, we would never have needed a spokesman for hope and change. If a conservative retakes the White House in an election or two, are these progressives going back into hiding, or are they just hoping that it never happens again?

I’m not saying that some people have not been genuinely and lastingly affected by the cultural shifts occurring in our country, but I seriously doubt that all of them have been.

Character is who you are when the other party gets elected.

February 23, 2009 at 10:05 am

Thanks for the feedback!

Raj, I wasn’t referring to Obama supporters or Democrats at all. This goes across the board.

Sherry,

Like I mentioned at the bottom, I didn’t thoroughly communicate my points. Now I don’t want to share them because I’ve already been told this rant was judgmental. It was an observation more than anything. I think you’d sing a different tune if you were surrounded by 20somethings all the time who are all the same. High schoolers realizing these things is a wonderful thing…and not at all who I was referring to.

February 23, 2009 at 10:18 am

Lindsey,

My words are truly hypocritical because I get frustrated by the whole “scene,” too. I just think we need to be careful. I guess I’m glad that the “look” of this decade will be one associated with social justice. Just like the hippies of the 60s and the punks of the 80s, many groups of young people have “dressed the part,” and met their looks with little action (while the adults shook their heads in disgust). I don’t think that negates the awareness that I’m so thrilled to observe (whether among adults, twenty-somethings, or high schoolers). Like I said, even a little is encouraging to me.

Also, I live in the Bay Area, and I’m an English teacher in a young English department. I know a thing or two about the look and stances that mirror one another.

I’m sorry if my comments bothered you. Looking back, I see that they sound much harsher than I intended. I apologize if they came off that way. I’m glad you raised this discussion, for sure.

February 23, 2009 at 10:21 am

By the way, I was drawing attention to your post because I though it was a very worth discussion. I will delete my link.

February 23, 2009 at 10:28 am

Sherry, by all means write a post about this topic! I would rather it be from you as opposed to linking to mine because it was written so quickly and poorly.

Phil Says:

February 23, 2009 at 8:46 pm

Am I trendy if I love scarves, hate Macs, own a fancy camera and hold social activism in the highest of contempt…America, on the other hand, kicks ass.

February 25, 2009 at 2:38 pm

lindsey,
i don’t know that much about mcclean, but i actually work with some people who go there. if you want to know anything i can try and find out!

i must disagree that it is a good thing for social activism to become ‘trendy.’ trends are exactly that–they come and they go, and perhaps i am cynical (i do not deny it) but for most this is a passing phase. i should also mention that in the land of NGO’s i have a lot of friends who are making big bucks ‘helping the poor.’

there are a small few out there who are true activists. mother theresa comes to mind. but i think the majority are frauds, myself included sometimes. by God’s grace i hope to be different but i have a long way to go.

how is that for harsh? you can’t blame me–after nearly 8 months (not to mention surviving this past election season), i’m a little idealized out.

February 25, 2009 at 10:56 pm

Julie,
I would love to find out more about McLean…what they think of it, your thoughts on what they think of it, etc. Raj is applying for this program called Future Leaders and if it’s something God wants, we could potentially be out there by the beginning of July. Anyway, thanks for your input about this whole thing. I respect your opinion about the matter considering where you’re living and your time in India. Not to mention, you’re, like, awesome.