When I was in college, the last thing I thought about was politics. Even more so in high school. Sure, there was election hype during the primaries. However, to try and say I ordered my identity and everyday consciousness around politics would have been absurd. That was too busy skateboarding playing video games and having fun.
When did this shift happen where people’s lack of religious attendance slowly shifted into the political realm and their morality and politics became one? Why are there people right now below the age of 30 obsessing about politics nonstop? Why not choose happiness and have fun?
Politics isn’t “my thing.” I have hobbies, I like to read, play video games, make espresso, work out, play tennis, TTRPGs, etc. I have friends, a partner, a job. I also do some light organizing work, read theory, and talk about politics a lot on social media (basically on Lemmy).
For me, I started learning more about politics through college, and that skyrocketed once I hit the workforce. It has nothing to do with religion, and it isn’t about my “morality and politics becoming one.” I can’t just stand as an idle passerby while my country commits genocide and imperialism around the world, while it destroys protections for marginalized people and workers within my country, while people I love and care for are targeted.
If anyone wants a place to start with reading theory, I made an intro Marxist-Leninist reading list, feel free to check it out! It’s aimed at absolute beginners.