3 ms·

That's a very big assumption, that the reason politics is not front and center in my life if because I am somehow privileged and that those in power protect my

That's a very big assumption, that the reason politics is not front and center in my life if because I am somehow privileged and that those in power protect my interests. In truth, I am an immigrant from a poor country. I depend on a Visa to stay in my country of residence. I am an ethnical minority. What is good for your mental health is exercising some detachment. Life is too short to waste it on things beyond your power. I prefer to focus on how I can improve my own life and the lives of those I love instead, and to spend my free time in things that make me happy. Maybe my privilege is having the wisdom to differentiate the things I can change from the things I can't.

Spivak 3y ago
I don't think we're actually disagreeing, I'm in no way advocating getting involved in just random politics for no reason. But if you need to actively participate in politics -- campaigning, fundraising, testifying at hearings, writing or meeting with your legislators, calling your local paper and giving interviews, collecting signatures because of policy you need or policy that is going to meaningfully harm you then you don't have the privilege to detach from those issues unless you already have other people who will stand up for you. But obsessively following news or yelling at no one in particular on the internet about issues, I wouldn't bother either.
quesera 3y ago
> Maybe my privilege is having the wisdom to differentiate the things I can change from the things I can't. This is indeed a privilege which is available to many people who do not take advantage of it! But it's also not available to everyone. Perhaps more relevantly, it is not the present case for everyone. I agree with you in how I live my life, and I'm fortunate to be able to do that. Obviously I don't know you but presumably you chose to immigrate to a place (or a specific location in that place) where you are able to live a fairly safe life. Some people are not there, and are not able to escape where they are. For them, the politicization of everything is existential. ...and some others politicize things because they are unhappy and hurting the people they think are hurting them makes them feel better. Or so it seems. All very unhealthy, and yes I'm speaking from an American perspective. We are not known for our strong and stable mental health.

Spivak 3y ago

I don't think we're actually disagreeing, I'm in no way advocating getting involved in just random politics for no reason. But if you need to actively participate in politics -- campaigning, fundraising, testifying at hearings, writing or meeting with your legislators, calling your local paper and giving interviews, collecting signatures because of policy you need or policy that is going to meaningfully harm you then you don't have the privilege to detach from those issues unless you already have other people who will stand up for you. But obsessively following news or yelling at no one in particular on the internet about issues, I wouldn't bother either.

quesera 3y ago

> Maybe my privilege is having the wisdom to differentiate the things I can change from the things I can't. This is indeed a privilege which is available to many people who do not take advantage of it! But it's also not available to everyone. Perhaps more relevantly, it is not the present case for everyone. I agree with you in how I live my life, and I'm fortunate to be able to do that. Obviously I don't know you but presumably you chose to immigrate to a place (or a specific location in that place) where you are able to live a fairly safe life. Some people are not there, and are not able to escape where they are. For them, the politicization of everything is existential. ...and some others politicize things because they are unhappy and hurting the people they think are hurting them makes them feel better. Or so it seems. All very unhealthy, and yes I'm speaking from an American perspective. We are not known for our strong and stable mental health.