We’re not going to be able to work the sides against each other, because that’s like trying to call out from the audience of a play to try to influence how the story ends
True, but you can influence the ending of a play by going backstage and putting on a costume. In America they call that a “primary” and it’s how Zohran Mamdani became the mayor.
True, but just because you put on a costume and go backstage that doesn’t mean you’ll get a lead role in the play, or even a role at all. I do vote in my primaries, and I’m very hopeful of Mamdani, especially with help from AOC and Bernie, but I can’t help but feel like I’m being tricked into pacificity; I picture a scenario were a few outspoken antagonists are allowed a place on the stage only to give the like-minded audience hope, but are never given a plot-relevant role.
When I say “hope” I mean “hope that things will resolve themselves without me having to do anything,” which is what nearly every left-leaning person I know in real life is hoping. It certainly doesn’t spur very many people to act more. They see Mamdani as “the world is healing,” which just means “great, I don’t need to change my behavior at all!”
You’re in a weird bubble. I know a New Yorker who volunteered for Zohran’s campaign and showed up to protest Luigi’s incarceration when he went to court. They’re a communist. They’re fighting for a better world and hope is making them fight harder.
That’s certainly good to hear. I hope that people are indeed taking this seriously, even as my own sphere never stopped claiming that Trump’s downfall was inevitable if we just keep our heads down and wait it out.
True, but you can influence the ending of a play by going backstage and putting on a costume. In America they call that a “primary” and it’s how Zohran Mamdani became the mayor.
True, but just because you put on a costume and go backstage that doesn’t mean you’ll get a lead role in the play, or even a role at all. I do vote in my primaries, and I’m very hopeful of Mamdani, especially with help from AOC and Bernie, but I can’t help but feel like I’m being tricked into pacificity; I picture a scenario were a few outspoken antagonists are allowed a place on the stage only to give the like-minded audience hope, but are never given a plot-relevant role.
I think it’s a big mistake to equate hope with inaction. Hope should spur you to act more. Don’t listen to these doomers who want you to do nothing.
When I say “hope” I mean “hope that things will resolve themselves without me having to do anything,” which is what nearly every left-leaning person I know in real life is hoping. It certainly doesn’t spur very many people to act more. They see Mamdani as “the world is healing,” which just means “great, I don’t need to change my behavior at all!”
You’re in a weird bubble. I know a New Yorker who volunteered for Zohran’s campaign and showed up to protest Luigi’s incarceration when he went to court. They’re a communist. They’re fighting for a better world and hope is making them fight harder.
That’s certainly good to hear. I hope that people are indeed taking this seriously, even as my own sphere never stopped claiming that Trump’s downfall was inevitable if we just keep our heads down and wait it out.