Indifference is an Accomplice to the Strong and Powerful and Privileged

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to it’s highest humanity. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

A very partial list of “Unreasonable” men and women. These are ones who were considered “troublemakers”, “agitators”, “radicals”, etc.:

1. Martin Luther King

2. All the women who fought against the tide and who were beaten and imprisoned in order to give women the right to vote (1920). That doesn’t happen if you are “reasonable”. Women would not have the right to vote today if it weren't for women demanding it!

3. Anyone who fought to unionize labor so that workers in this country weren’t exploited by management.

4. Any man or woman who fought in the front lines for gay rights. Gay men and women would not have any rights today if it weren't for the tireless efforts of those who were protesting in the front lines.

5. Any man or woman who spoke up against sex trafficking, sex abuse, or any form of subjugation of women. Men will not police themselves over sexual deviance. It must be defined, put into law, exposed, and prosecuted wherever it exists. (Harvey Weinstein went 30 plus years sexually abusing women and virtually everyone acting indifferently (accomplices). It made it easier for him to victimize the next woman, and the next, and the next. Indifference (and silence) comes at a huge cost.

6. Virtually anyone who fights to prevent powerful interests from exploiting the “little guy”, the common man, whether it be for environmental protection, clean water, protection of children, animals, etc..

7. Anyone who fights against long standing cultural "norms" that have some groups at the top standing over other groups at the bottom. Too often power is given to people by you and me based on a silly and crude tradition.

Do you think misogyny and machismo are going to go away by the good graces of men? No, it has to be fought against tirelessly. There must be education, empowerment, and exposure. The oppressors won't give away an inch of their stronghold until and unless they realize that their is a great cost to their actions.

“Reasonable” people remain indifferent or cooperative, numb…...."all progress depends on the unreasonable man”.

It’s not fun having to point out injustices and abuses and inequities….being critical is a social responsibility but it isn’t what these people would like to be doing with their energy. It is a burden but it has to be waged.

Being indifferent plays into the hands of the powerful and greedy. (Everytime) being indifferent allows the strong to subdue the weak, the rich to subdue the poor, and it gives those who would like to lie and cheat the opportunity to exploit those who are unsuspecting.

If we value principles and integrity and fairness and empathy then we must be willing to put ourselves in the front lines to speak out for those principles that we value and against those actions and behaviors that disgrace and compromise and dis-empower our fellow citizens.

Food for thought..

My opinions.