Fight Cynicism

Egypt is at a crucial point of transition.  Mubarak has stepped down, the military has dissolved the government and thrown out the constitution.  Elections are scheduled for September, but who knows what will happen in the meantime.

The protests and subsequent revolutionary action was in due to large part to thousands of young people voicing their opinions in the streets and via social media. The situation have shifted into a completely new chapter and things could go any number of directions including some of the worst case scenarios being bandied about in the media. In this new period many of the young people who helped create this situation are going to be marginalized and removed from the process.

I think we can begin to see a common pattern emerge. Young people drive change and those who are established come in and co-opt that momentum. In such a pattern two choices are usually presented:

A youthful kum-ba-ya hippie thing in which nothing is ever accomplished

or

A cynical fear-driven reactionary move that stamps out the revolutionary spirit

The second usually prevails as those youthful catalysts look at the situation and become cynical in the face of the establishment. Whether this plays out in Egypt or in your office or while trying to live out your faith in a church, the cynicism is always readily available. For those catalytic moments to become sustainable the younger bloc who were in on the ground floor have to be present, but this bloc has to be willing to allow others to come alongside.

I don’t have a way of relating to those in Egypt who feel like the moment is slipping away from them, but I have been at a church where I felt like cynicism was the only option. You may have a promising idea but lack the leverage or support to make it a reality. Bumping up against these barriers enough and eventually you will want to give up and start passing out blame.

In the coming weeks cynicism will be popular as people tell you how you should view the events in Egypt. As you try to live your life with integrity cynicism will seem appealing in those moments of frustration. Fighting cynicism is crucial if you hope to see if anything change.

Conversely I am not advocating willful ignorance that denies realities. Fighting cynicism engages reality with hope and integrity to do the right thing in the face of those who say it is pointless.