Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

I cannot bring myself to say that apathy is a good thing, but I have come to understand it. And I think sometimes that good people, decent people, appear apathetic because they are not up to the fight. Or the debate. Or the intense passion that is often necessary to create change.

Of course, there are some who are apathetic because they are lazy. But others, the ones I’m talking about, strike the pose of apathy as a protective measure; because when they get involved it tears them apart.

I myself am working hard to be rational rather than emotional about the looming election, because I don’t want to become too involved. If my candidate loses, I still need to be able to watch the news or listen to the talking heads for the next four years.

Is this apathy? In a sense, yes. Because, while I am committed to vote for the candidate of my choice, I am not so committed that I shall campaign for him or send money to his organization. My friend Carol, on the other hand, is volunteering to help make sure everyone gets to the polls in a city distant from her own, starting the weekend before Election Day. She is, as they used to say last year, walking the talk.

The really important thing for the election, however, is that whether we are apathetic or fully engaged in the process, we all need to get to the polls on Election Day. We need to make our votes count, because this is going to be close. And it’s not going to be nice.

By voting, at least, we keep true apathy at bay.