We are here. We are sitting, waiting, watching, reacting, in this thing we are calling the Trump era. At times it feels as if we are watching ourselves on the latest VH-1 reality show, except – this is not a show; it’s our lives. School districts across the country don’t seem to have a good grasp on how to handle education, or the lack thereof. Citizens seem to be at odd against their local police throughout America, and we don’t know if politicians are working for us, or if they’re looking out for themselves.
As a citizen, these issues seem to be spilling over and manifesting into anger, frustration, and hatred in many forms. However, most folks are simply going to social media to express their concerns. I have blogged often about how annoying it can be when people take their issues to social media, but don’t show up in the community to act on the very thing their complaining about online. Complaining about politics and not doing anything about it seems to be everyone’s new favorite past time.
Today I watched the video below and was completely impressed by comedian Dave Chapelle. As an A-list celebrity, currently on tour, with a multi-million dollar netflix series about to hit television, one would assume that Dave wouldn’t concern himself with what is going on in local politics. However, if we made that assumption we would be wrong.
In the video, Dave addresses an incident with the police is his quiet town of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Although Dave does thank the police department for protecting him many times, he called them out for a New Year’s Eve incident that involved police unsuccessfully using tasers in a partying crowd. Chappelle called it a, “huge gaffe”.
Dave Chappelle, being a multi-millionaire, taking the time from his very busy schedule to attend a local city counsel meeting simply made me ask the question, “if this guy can attend a city counsel meeting, then what is everyone else’s excuse?”
Don’t get me wrong, using our social media voice is cool and all – i mean taking that 45-seconds out of the day to whine about Trump is great, BUT the number one, most effective way to participate in the system is to SHOW UP. Also, yes – these meetings are boring, they are sometimes painful to watch, and often – they can embarrassing to watch. However the only way to stay informed and have the ability to 1) voice your concerns, 2) take info back to your community, 3) take action when real action needs to be taken, is to show up.
Also no! I do not attend every meeting, every week – and shout out to those of you that do, and continue to hold it down. But, even I know that I can do better – i’ve attended a few meetings this year already, but if i have some spare time i should attend more, and/or log in online since my local meetings are live streamed over the internet.
In the video Dave address council by stating that when he was younger, the citizens in his community new the police officers, knew their names, and their families. However, “now we are being policed by what feels like an alien force,” he says. Dave urges the council take advantage of the opportunity to show the world that, “local politics reigns supreme – especially in this Trump era.“
He is right! Local politics are even more important now than they ever have been. It’s time for everyone to step it up, even a little. If you haven’t gone to any meetings, start with one per month. If you go to at least one per month, try attending two or watching online – and then take that info back to your neighborhoods, share the details of the meetings on your Facebook status, discuss it on your podcasts, use the info to write letters/make phone calls to your local elected officials, and then create your plans for action. Now is the time, step up – or shut up.
God’s Kid. Editor-in-Chief of Syllabus Magazine. Concerned Citizen. Gamecock. MBA. Made in Charleston.
