Have you ever been asked, “Arrey why are you always talking about politics ya?”
Because… everything is political?
Politics is about power. And power inequalities exist in all spheres of life. To “stay away” from politics is a privileged stance and frankly.. a little selfish. Just because it doesn’t affect you, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care about it. After all, you know what they say, right?
”If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” And by being neutral we mean to say being apolitical.
It is no longer sufficient to not be casteist, not be sexist, not be Islamophobic, and not be actively discriminatory in any way. It is imperative that we are strictly anti-discrimination. We cannot give ourselves credit for not actively causing any harm, because you know what silence looks like to the oppressor? Consent. It looks like we are giving them the green light to go ahead and continue their discrimination, continue their injustices and perpetuate inequality.
Also read: Anti-CAA Protests: Finding Hope In The Age Of Fascism
Detached as we may be from many social realities, we must continue to educate and inform ourselves of issues that may not affect us, but are damaging to the everyday lived experience of others. But please stop short of patting yourself on the back for learning about these issues – it is even more important to engage with others, voice these concerns, and resist anti-human policies to consider yourself a good ally.
This can be hard, because you get backlash not only from people with opposing ideologies, but also from those with neutral ideology. They just don’t get “what the fuss is all about!”
Here’s a relatable video for anyone who has tried to be vocal about resisting social injustices. Which of these dialogues from apolitical people are you tired of hearing?
