Thoughts on Apathy
Of all the traits one might try to ascribe to the human race as a whole, very few of them are completely universal. We vary greatly in physical features and in personalities. We vary in our likes and dislikes, our values and beliefs, our habits and our tolerances. There’s even a level of variation in our basic needs. One trait, however, stands out amongst all others - and it’s not a positive one. The disappointing truth is that human beings are very good at not getting things done.
So prevalent is the illness known as apathy that some people are able to form careers around it. What, exactly, is the purpose of settling a court case by deciding who has the best lawyer? Congress is even worse - The U.S. Senate just spent weeks debating about whether to have a debate about whether we should send more troops to Iraq. And don’t get me started on the entertainment industry…
College students, however, are by far the worst of all. Not only do we employ apathy, but we wield it like a sword… and we’re very adept at disguising it. You failed that exam not because you couldn’t understand the material, but because you never wanted to understand it? That’s not rebellion - that’s apathy. You didn’t ask that girl out even when you knew she was going to say yes? Not shyness - that’s also apathy. You decided to spend your Spring Break in Cancun, relaxing under the sun, instead of in New Orleans, helping to rebuild and still having a great time exploring the city? (Blah blah, shameless plug, blah blah blah.) Apathy. You didn’t write in your blog for eight days because you thought you were too busy? (You didn’t think I was going to exclude myself, did you?) Yep, that’s apathy, too.
I have no magical words of motivation that will change the world - but believe me, I wish I did. What I have is as simple as this: Quit giving excuses. Think of each and every excuse as exactly that - an excuse. Some of them have a trace of validity, but they all mask apathy in one form or another. Get off your butt and do what you know you have to do; no more excuses. It really is that simple.
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