I’ve had one mantra my whole political life: Never give into cynicism.
Cynicism is the refuge of the intellectually lazy, the weak, and the entitled
Cynicism ignores power and invites apathy
Cynicism is nihilism’s partner in inaction and self destruction
Cynicism kills hope and without hope, what’s the fucking point of anything?
Things are bad right now, real fucking bad. The environment is collapsing on itself as a product of dogmatic loyalty to hyper-consumption, our hard earned civil rights victories are eroding to the point they may have literally been illusory this whole time, and democracy itself seems to have just been a wishful delusion to keep us satiated while we are unknowingly objectified by power.
The worst part is we are insulated from the grossest mechanisms of political power by the arbitrary virtue of being first world citizens.
I’m wavering though lately. Pouring through article after article assessing the degree of impact of climate change, seeing the endless victories of counterevolutionaries and tyrants, and watching our intellectual capabilities fail to provide innovative alternatives to the catastrophic system we’ve created.
Normally a quick study of history assuages any burgeoning negativity – watching the progressive, albeit inextricably slow, march toward the “Kingdom of Ends” reinvigorates my fortitude, reminding me of the conceivable victories still to be won.
However when standing at this moment, staring at the obvious historical lessons barreling towards us at full speed, I’m finding cynicism a comfortable loft above the high water mark. Though safe from the charging tide, the end game is obscured from vision leaving me wondering what is even the point …
I fucking hardly know lately and I know I’m not alone, especially in this exhausting climate of the Information Age. The last thread of willpower I can offer is what Howard Zinn wrote me when I was young: “Find a cause, no matter how small, and dedicate yourself to it. Work for change.” Find a cause. Dedicate yourself to it. Work.
There’s no time for cynicism
no matter how attractive
no matter how comfortable
no matter how badly you need to pull the weight of the world off your shoulders, there’s only time to work –
So new mantra: Work is the best defense against cynicism.
—natalie michelle
Flommist Natalie Michelle doesn’t have a bio. She just rants. Copyright © 2016 Natalie Michelle. Art © flommist Danny Joe Gibson.
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