Not One More Mother’s Child

It is a striking phenomenon in the United States that with all the privileges and advantages most citizens enjoy there is a sense of apathy and powerlessness. The refrains of, “What can I do? or “I’m just one person” are rather commonplace. With a largely depoliticized culture individuals are left to decide on whether to shop at this chain store or that one. Consumerism has consumed the spirit of democracy. The important societal issues of war and peace, healthcare, education, the environment are left in the hands of a political class driven by power and greed. Every once in a while certain individuals break through passivity, come forward to say, this is unjust, this is not fair, this is wrong. As Margaret Mead once said, that’s the way change has always happened.

Interview by David Barsamian.