"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." - Martin Niemoller
Okay, so I'm political. In age of spin, corruption and apathy, forgive my desire for something more - for something better.  What really gets me about apathy is the total lack of thought that it represents. Sure, people live their lives and don't see big changes happen - but that's the point. Intolerance, violence and imperialism don't always come in the form of Krystalnacht. Most often, it creeps up on us. It catches us unawares. Like costal erosion, we don't notice that it's been going on until a village collapses into the see. But if we had noticed it, we'd have been able to stop it. The same goes for politics. Little changes happen year on year: another industry is privatised, banks get more and more deregulation, companies can sack staff more easily and with no penalties, a country goes to war under the guise of WMDs and then regime change. This keeps happening, year on year, and no one notices until one day our society 'falls into the sea' - and we wonder, how did things get like this?
The answer is apathy. Democracy places power into the hands of the people. But it also places responsibility in our hands as well. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. If we don not look after our affairs, then others will look after their affairs at the expense of ours. So every time you notice an event that you don't like, even it doesn't seem political at first - think about it. Think about how it affects you and those around you. And if you don't like it, tell someone about it. Chances are that they're feeling the same way too, and just looking for someone else to march with them.
The simple truth of the matter is that we cannot lay blame for all the negative things in society at the feet of our lords and masters. Sure, they're in charge, but only with our consent. Power is never won - only given. We give politicians power - we give them our power. From time to time, it is necessary to remind them that it is only a loan of power. It ultimately belongs to us. Too often, crooked politicians enrich themselves with the toil of workers and soldiers when, really, they should be working to enrich all of us. To this end, every member of society has a responsibility to that society. Politicians do what they can get away with. If we don't allow them to get away with anything, they will work more honestly and our village will not fall into the sea.
For my part, I haven't been as diligent on this site as I should have. I don't intend to prosletyse anyone. But I do intend to speak through my art.