Everything is politics?
Being politically interested in a country characterized by a peaceful history and a claim of possessing so called free media, is often seen as a somewhat annoying attitude. Initiating so called political discussions often seem to make people nervous to "fail" and fear to say things and express views that won't seem intelligent or interesting enough, when the same occasion could be seen as a chance to increase your knowledge, understanding and insight in phenomena affecting your fellow human beings and yourself.
Citizens in, from or engaged in areas affected by armed conflicts and political destabilization are, for obvious reasons, often more interested in discussions related to the political agenda that influences their daily life. One of the reasons for this engagement is of course that these agendas might affect their basic survival, even though these political views may fail to be spread due to a lack of freedom of expression.
I become more and more astonished by the lack of interest shown by the general public in this, and many other so called Western countries, who are not using the opportunity and access to unlimited media sources, of any critical view, to get informed about the world politics. Many state that they "are simply not interested in politics". How can you live in a modern society without being interested in the politics affecting the same society? As if being political is a choice? The wide-spread expression everything is politics is contradicting the claim that political involvement is a matter of choice. The views you express, the choices you make in the grocery store, the channels you select in the unremitting TV-noise, what newspapers you choose to read or not to read, the way you greet people you meet, which countries you visit, which extra-curricular activities you sign up for, who you surround yourself with and who you decide to finally marry. All daily choices are political actions.
Political interest is however often equated with the belief of being party-politically engaged and affiliated. My deepest belief is however that you may be heavily politically engaged without being affiliated to a certain political party, as this affiliation often might decrease your ability of being listened to and getting access to all social environments which in the end might affect your possibilites of change-making. Voting is essential but political activism can be conducted via a broad variety of contexts, e.g. associations, public seminars or simply via the dinner table among friends.
The human being is too afraid of failing, that hen tend not to try. If you ask the right question, the answer is evident. And what did you learn then?
Citizens in, from or engaged in areas affected by armed conflicts and political destabilization are, for obvious reasons, often more interested in discussions related to the political agenda that influences their daily life. One of the reasons for this engagement is of course that these agendas might affect their basic survival, even though these political views may fail to be spread due to a lack of freedom of expression.
I become more and more astonished by the lack of interest shown by the general public in this, and many other so called Western countries, who are not using the opportunity and access to unlimited media sources, of any critical view, to get informed about the world politics. Many state that they "are simply not interested in politics". How can you live in a modern society without being interested in the politics affecting the same society? As if being political is a choice? The wide-spread expression everything is politics is contradicting the claim that political involvement is a matter of choice. The views you express, the choices you make in the grocery store, the channels you select in the unremitting TV-noise, what newspapers you choose to read or not to read, the way you greet people you meet, which countries you visit, which extra-curricular activities you sign up for, who you surround yourself with and who you decide to finally marry. All daily choices are political actions.
Political interest is however often equated with the belief of being party-politically engaged and affiliated. My deepest belief is however that you may be heavily politically engaged without being affiliated to a certain political party, as this affiliation often might decrease your ability of being listened to and getting access to all social environments which in the end might affect your possibilites of change-making. Voting is essential but political activism can be conducted via a broad variety of contexts, e.g. associations, public seminars or simply via the dinner table among friends.
The human being is too afraid of failing, that hen tend not to try. If you ask the right question, the answer is evident. And what did you learn then?
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