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Introduction:
Indifference is a word we often hear
to describe someone or something that does not care, Webster’s dictionary
defines it as “An unconcern, listlessness, apathy, insensibility all imply lack
of feeling. Indifference denotes an absence of feeling or interest; unconcern,
an absence of concern or solicitude, a calm or cool indifference in the face of
what might be expected to.” So why discuss this today in an art class? Well in
recent publications we have seen that more and more millennials, generation X,
and generation Y kids suffer from this ailment, but now it affects the world
and not just the people surrounding them. We call this notion political
indifference and it has swept through our nation and so many other nations
throughout the years. But why should I care?
My vote won’t make a difference, I’m just one person I can’t change
anything. These are just a handful of the sayings I hear from people when it
comes to politics; hey maybe you have even been guilty of saying it as well?
Well I will have attempted in this civil engagement project to try to get it
through the dense head of the CSULA students that caring in it of itself can
change so much in this world. That as an individual you can do something! That
you are not just one person and we can make a difference if we only opened our
minds, hearts, and souls to the human spirit.
Personal Statement:
Like millions of Americans today I
was born to two illegal immigrants from Mexico, my parents crossed the border 24
years ago with my month-old sister and me in my mother’s belly she was 8 months
pregnant with me. They walked through desserts, swam through rivers, and ran
like there was no tomorrow. I was born In Tijuana Mexico and at the age of only
3 days was brought into the United States. I never had a chance, I was not an
American citizen, and nobody ever explained why I would never live the life of
a normal American child. No one ever told me everything I did was going to be a
struggle, nobody ever said this to me, the world just threw me straight into one of the lowest ranking classes and called it quits. My parents worked
hard for everything they had, my father worked two jobs and my mother worked
nights and stayed up with us in the day, that woman never slept. We couldn’t
afford much just the essentials, we sometimes got enough to eat, and when we
didn’t I was just thankful that everyone in my family was alive and well and I
was happy. I was in ESL but quickly dominated the English language and I became
an avid reader. At 15 I got my first job, and at 18 I filled and earned
residency in the United States through a school-initiated program to help kids
like me at the age of 20 I was a United States Citizen and was able to at 21
earn my parent’s citizenship. I jumped through hoops paid a lot of money and
gave up my social life to earn a place in this country, so when I hear people
who have the sheer luck to be born here and pursue whatever they want but
choose not to care it boils my blood. Voting and participation is our political
system is truly what changes this nation and as an individual I feel that we
have more of a say than people believe. Yet political apathy in the newer
generations is quickly turning into the demise of the American democratic
system. I don’t usually get involved in politics... Daily I struggle to
understand these seven words and I am stunned by the vast unexamined privilege rooted
in them. I wonder what it must be like to have the indulgence of being able to
choose not to get involved in politics.
Research:
Political apathy is caused when
there is an emotional disinterest towards the political world. The civic duty
of the individual is undermined, and the person does not participate in events that
would other wise be antedated to the electoral process. Simply put it is
political apathy and this form of discontent is echoed in individuals who can’t
see the point in participating in their nation’s political system. Political indifference
often leads to a low voter turnout, political inertia and an inclusive
democratic shortfall. Take for example how low voter involvement levels result
in misrepresentation, and exploitation due to unaccountability.
Sadly, we mainly see political indifference
primarily occur in minorities, young people, and marginalized groups. How
political indifference came to be has originated from a variety of sources, for
one the lack of suitable political education, this to a meager understanding of
politics and the role of our government in society. The lack of understanding
of political processes leads to a lack of understanding of the democratic
system which today I feel has led to its ultimate demise. Secondly, lack of
diversity and representation within politics which is a strong case today. Groups feel unrepresented on a political
level, when the world is ran but WASP members it’s hard for minorities to try
to get involved because we fear what is to come. Ccording to statistical datta from the US census the 2016
presidential elections the United States saw a significant drop in voter
turnout, with only 55% of the electorate casting their votes. This signified
the lowest turnout since 1996. Voter apathy can go some way in explaining this
phenomenon. As stated by Rawson “states
such as Belgium and Turkey, where voting is mandatory, consistently see
electoral participation rates above 80%.”
Just look at where we stand amongst other first world nations, it's pathetic.
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The community:
Jocelyn Rios
"I never realized how profound it was to vote, I never voted, not for city, not even for last years presidential race, I just didn't see the point."
Melissa Towey
"The newer generations should be the one building up democracy and making something better, not just letting it go to waste."
Chyanne Dela Paz
"I guess I should start paying more attention to the things that go on in my country."
Citations:
1. Varnero Rawson, Stefania, Political Indifference: A
Progressive Disempowerment of Democracy or a Collective Disenchantment with
Democracy? (2014). The Australian Political Studies Association Annual
Conference, University of Sydney Paper. Available at SSRN:
https://ssrn.com/abstract=2440266 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2440266
3. S. Keeter et al., ‘Three Core Measures of Community-based
Civic Engagement: Evidence from the Youth Civic Engagement Indicators Project’,
Paper presented at the Child Trends Conference on Indicators of Positive
Development, Washington, DC, 11– 12 March 2003; T. O’Toole et al., ‘Tuning Out
or Left Out? Participation and Nonparticipation among Young People’,
Contemporary Politics, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2003, pp. 45 – 61.
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