Harrison George

Last Monday, I was feeling exhausted. I had gone through a full day of class, two club meetings, and still had an event for The Bulletin to prepare for. I had a free hour in my schedule and decided to go listen to the speaker at the Granada Theater.

Her name was Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons. She was a Civil Rights activist who worked with Dr. King during the 1960’s. She spoke about her time as a volunteer in the American South, helping minorities register to vote and working with local churches to spread the word of the Civil Rights Movement.

As I listened to her speak I was consumed by an overwhelming feeling. Suddenly all the feelings of exhaustion, and pride, created from the work I had done that day drained out of me and I was left only with one big question; “What am I doing to change the world?”

To say I found Dr. Simmons inspiring would be an understatement. Her personal story of sacrifice and dedication to a cause she felt so much passion for made my own feelings of commitment pale by comparison. She spoke about the things she willingly risked to become involved in the Civil Rights movement; expulsion from school, disownment from her family, threats to her very life.

Up until that night I felt I was doing a lot in the name of my passions. I felt satisfied with what I had done and was doing, and I felt like I was doing “enough” to support them.

            But after hearing Dr. Simmons speak, I realize there is no such thing as “enough” when it comes to an issue you are truly passionate about. Until that problem is solved, or justice has been delivered, you can never do “enough”.

I’ve always been inspired by the actions taken by the counterculture generation of the 60’s. Looking back at all the work that generation did for great causes such as Civil Rights, Women’s Liberation, the Viet Nam protest, I can’t help but wonder why our generation has not followed in their footsteps.

What will be our great cause? What will cause us to rally by the thousands to have our voice be heard?  What are we waiting for?

It can’t be because there are no more issues to fight. In some ways, we have just as much work to do as any generation that came before us. The problems might not be as clear-cut as legal racial discrimination, but they exist.

I’m reminded of a silly bumper sticker I once saw on the back of a truck. It said “If you aren’t angry you aren’t paying attention.” Where is the passion of our generation? Where is our unstoppable desire to see change?

All of us have watched the harrowing footage of protestors being attacked by police dogs, and being sprayed by fire hoses. I have tried to think of a situation where our generation would put themselves at that much risk for a cause, and I seem to draw a blank.

We’ve let society define us as a generation of apathy; a generation of slackers interested only in instant gratification and job security. Society tends to place its own worse habits on that of the latest generation. We are letting them tell us who we are, and more importantly, how we will be remembered by generations to come.

I know for a fact that I could be doing more. With every day that passes my feelings about our wars in the Middle East grow stronger and more concrete. My dedication to protecting the environment continues to be central to who I am as a person.

So what do I do about it? Why aren’t I protesting, taking my views to the people, making my voice heard?

Because it’s easy to get slowed down in the daily distractions of modern life; TV, Facebook, and the like. Because it’s easier to say you’re an advocate for something then to go out and prove it.

In the 1960’s, the people didn’t wait around for their government to create change. They didn’t put all their hopes on the shoulders of one charismatic leader. That generation stood up, made a plan, and followed through.

Are we going to do the same, or are we going to stay seated?

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