Intelligent Outrage: Taking Action

The worst possible outlook is indifference that says, “I can’t do anything about it; I’ll just get by.” Behaving like that deprives you of one of the essentials of being human: the capacity and the freedom to feel outraged. That freedom is indispensable, as is the political involvement that goes with it. 

(Stéphane Hessel, author of Indignez-vous! English title: A Time for Outrage)

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots….So my instruction to the class of ’07 [of Haverford College]: Go out there and raise hell. 

(Barbara Ehrenreich, journalist)

Our latest crop of politicians like to hark back to the Founding Fathers and point out how opposing policies and attitudes desecrate the intentions of those first patriots. So long as we’re re-imagining the past, I daresay the Founding Fathers would turn to the audience and ask, “Never mind what this legislator wants to do—how do you feel about it?” And the truth is that most of us wouldn't have an opinion, because most of us have disengaged from socio-political issues. (There are enough cranks and crusaders to go around; get out the nachos and let's see who's going to win tonight's reality-TV contest).

Life was meant to be more than reality TV

You don't have to do or say much, but you do have to take action. It needs to be legal, not violent, and it has to be articulated outrage. Write to your representatives. Donate time or money to a charity, cause, or political campaign. Get the other point of view on the issues; don't foster just like-minded "friends." The internet and social media enable socio-political narcissism; for any viewpoint you favor, you'll be able to find corroborating evidence. The challenge is to find content from opposing viewpoints. 

On social media sites like Facebook, position yourself as a curator of civilized discourse between opposing points of view. 

Find an issue that grips you and follow it: Is it public education? A local labor dispute? The quality of health care for the elderly?...What is the life span of this story in the news? Which reporters are tracking it and why? Which political leaders are positioned around it? And always, always, follow the money, because nothing gets done without adequate resources so if, for example, you feel irate over the quality of computers in your kids' school, maybe track how technology projects are funded in public education — locally, regionally, nationally. You don't need a ton of information, but you need to be more than a frustrated opinion.

Your outrage should speak to accountabilities, because history has shown that when there is no public outcry, crimes go unpunished, innocents are brutalized, and injustices become sanctioned by self-serving thugs masquerading as moral authorities. Simply put, we can no longer afford to be passive, overfed, complacent apathetics.