“The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.” – Charles de Montesquieu
America is bitterly divided across partisan lines. Yet, paradoxically, the greatest threat facing our country is not partisanship. There is a faceless evil that afflicts Americans across the partisan divide.
The faceless evil is apathy. We would be well-advised by pundits and politicians to fear apathy’s long-term repercussions. Apathy shapes elections and civic attitudes. Apathy causes a disengaged electorate. Apathy makes us settle for less. Apathy among the rationale body politic permits partisans to take seize influence without challenge.
Apathy is faceless. It carries no banners and its deafening silence will never shout calls to action. Apathy will not rake and rattle its sabers in public spheres. We cannot ignore apathy or counter-protest it. We must exorcise apathy from the deepest crevasses of our civil souls.
Apathy is evil. Apathy feasts on cynicism. Many Americans devote their lives to battling against apathy. Yet, apathy beseages the politically-engaged few; the cannon fodder on the front lines of the war for the spirit of our citizenry.
We must resist apathy’s siren call at every turn. We must remain engaged. We imperil the greatest treasures of our democratic institution of self-governance when we do not break free from apathy with purpose and steadfastness.
Engage those friends with whom you disagree. Call upon your politicians to change course when they propose policies that are disagreeable to our ideals. Peacefully assemble. Publish your views on a website. (You can even do it anonymously.) Vote.
Only when we collectively shed our apathy can we truly be positioned to steady the reins of our republic. Otherwise, hucksters and demagogues of all political affiliations will continue to careen our county down a path of discord and strife.
the irked moderate 