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comment by WanderingEng
WanderingEng  ·  2966 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Free speech is exhausting

My comment here won't be as eloquent as some of the other responses. There's some really great discussion here.

There's one issue that I feel very strongly about. Eight years ago I'd have spoken about it and debated it with someone on the opposite side. I actually flew across the country to attend a protest (still one of my prouder moments; the protest was insanely great). But over the years I've become exhausted. Some people on the other side are as stubborn as me, and I'm tired of bashing my head against the metaphorical wall. Some people on my side have different views of where we are and where we need to go; that's exhausting in a different way. Some people in the group seem to resent my involvement defending a group I'm not a part of. So I've basically stepped out of any involvement.

But even if I'm uninvolved, my moral compass has not wavered. My views of what is right are just as strong. The exhaustion may change what I do, but it doesn't change what I know is right, and it won't change how I act when it matters most (on a ballet, defending someone against violence).

So my point is, at least for me, it's ok to not always take up every battle. It's important to remember what's right and wrong and to know when it's vital to stand up for what's right. I think the other side only wins when we become apathetic.