On the Privilege of Being Apolitical

 There is a lesson I was reminded of just two days ago by a professor. It stuck with me, and I have thought about it often as I watch the world and my own situation unfold.

The Lesson

Being apolitical is a privileged position. To have the luxury of not caring about politics, to not have to think about who is in power, to not worry about policies that affect your life, this is not something most people in the world can afford.

If you can be apolitical, it means your basic needs are met. It means your safety is not directly threatened by the government. It means you are not part of a group that is being targeted, oppressed, or erased. It means you live in a society stable enough that politics does not feel like a matter of life and death.

This is not a moral failing in itself. It is a position of privilege. And those who occupy that position should recognize it for what it is.

What This Means

I am not saying everyone must be political in the same way. I am not saying that being apolitical makes you a bad person. I am saying that recognizing your own privilege is part of being responsible to others.

If you are in a position where you can afford not to care, you should at least acknowledge that others do not have that luxury. You should be grateful for the stability you have. And you should be careful not to judge those who are forced to be political, who must fight for their rights, for their safety, for their survival.

The professor who reminded me of this was not attacking anyone. She was calling attention to a blind spot. She was pointing out that the ability to be apolitical is itself a political fact, one that comes from living in a society that protects you.

My Own Position

I am grateful to live in Canada. I am grateful for the stability, the safety, the freedoms I have. I recognize that these are privileges not everyone shares.

I am not a political activist. I do not spend my days organizing or protesting. But I am aware of the injustices in the world. I hope for a society where fewer people are forced to be political, not because they don't care, but because their basic dignity is no longer under threat.

I hope for a world where everyone can live in peace, where resources are shared, where oppression is no longer the structure of society. That is not apathy. That is hope.

References & Notes

On Privilege and Politics

The concept that being apolitical is a privileged position has been articulated by many thinkers and activists. The ability to ignore politics often correlates with race, class, gender, and citizenship status. Those who are most affected by political decisions rarely have the option to disengage (Lorde, 1984; Sister Outsider; hooks, 2000; Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center).

On the Duty to Recognize Privilege

Recognizing one's own privilege is not about guilt. It is about awareness, responsibility, and solidarity (McIntosh, 1988; White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack).

On Justice and Responsibility

  • Micah 6:8   "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

  • Amos 5:24  "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

  • Isaiah 1:17  "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."

  • Proverbs 31:8-9   "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."

  • Luke 12:48  "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required."

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