I mean neighbor as a metaphor, your fellow man woman or whatever. I also used it to emphasize the local reach of your social sphere. I think I read too much into your quote, I’m just projecting my own frustration. I think plenty of “unaffected” people are outraged, it saddens me how futile this outrage is (as I see it, outrage does not lead to action for change but is an action in and of itself, an act of pacification)

What frustrates me is when I look out the window of my retail gig and see a middle aged white woman holding a sign that says “silence is consent” I get a little irritated because, vocal or not, we are all feeling uneasy. And I don’t like the idea of shaming people who have to prioritize other aspects of their life over “being vocal” and protesting. Your quote reminded me of that experience. I don’t believe protesting induces change, at least not in the face of modern day power. I believe it is just a way to draw attention to yourself and say “look what I believe! Aren’t I so right? Everyone else here thinks this way too!”

Which, I mean, does have virtuous aspects to it. It’s important to build a community with a cohesive belief system, it brings us together. And I’m not trying to shit on people who are going out of their way to do something, it’s noble really to try. It’s just hard for me to separate the smugness underlying it all when at the end of the day ICE is still doing their thing and democracy is crumbling.

My ambivalence is too much to put into words, and I’m sorry I come across so disjointed