Agreed on all levels, but I do wonder: Since it's more or less equally important that we concern ourselves with our individual responsibilities as well as systemic change, which of the two is better advocated by a voice with relatively large public reach?
Personal responsibility is important, but should it really command equal space in public discourse? Should not public discourse by public figures (such as a widely-read newsletter) prioritise the inspiration of collective action and systemic change, mostly leaving concern for personal responsibility to the realm of more private, personal interactions?
Obviously these distinctions shouldn’t be black-and-white. We can and should all walk and chew gum at the same time. (At least figuratively, haha.)
But I do feel like the moral calculus changes when the cyclist acquires a megaphone.
I really enjoyed this piece! Thanks for this :)
Agreed on all levels, but I do wonder: Since it's more or less equally important that we concern ourselves with our individual responsibilities as well as systemic change, which of the two is better advocated by a voice with relatively large public reach?
Personal responsibility is important, but should it really command equal space in public discourse? Should not public discourse by public figures (such as a widely-read newsletter) prioritise the inspiration of collective action and systemic change, mostly leaving concern for personal responsibility to the realm of more private, personal interactions?
Obviously these distinctions shouldn’t be black-and-white. We can and should all walk and chew gum at the same time. (At least figuratively, haha.)
But I do feel like the moral calculus changes when the cyclist acquires a megaphone.