Escapism - A Sociopolitical Hindrance

Nov. 7th, '26

There is something that I believe is plaguing the political landscape (well, really, there’re a few things…), particularly in regard to the leftist movement.

I spoke to someone recently about their decision to not vote, and they claimed it stemmed from forgetfulness. That they were so overwhelmed with life that the election just fell to the back of their mind. So, I offered solutions. Ways to incorporate political content into their daily social media routines. However, to my disappointment, they confessed that they already tried this, but found it to be too emotionally difficult to handle. That they live their life in two worlds: a “fantasy” world, and reality. And they would rather not merge the two. So, in truth, the problem is not one of forgetfulness. It is one of avoidance. This conversation ended with them saying that my approach of calling them out was “hurtful”, and that I should go out of my way to make sure that they are aware the next time there is an election, because they are often “too overwhelmed” to stay in the loop.

I would like to be clear on what this interaction was. A white man (in an important Republican-controlled state, mind you), told an ethnically-mixed trans woman that she should be the one to deliver information that is the responsibility of every adult to keep track of themselves, because *he* was too tired/unstable to keep track. To be able to forget to vote, in an election that decides whether or not literal Nazis remain in power, requires a remarkable amount of privilege. To, as a white man, complain about your exhaustion to someone that has been watching their people get systemically targeted by a government that wants to genocide them, is absurd. To use that exhaustion as an excuse to defend your failure to contribute towards the dismantling of a Nazi regime is downright appalling. I do not need fucking excuses. I need solidarity. 

Therein lies the point of this article.

Escapism is most utilized by those that have the privilege to resort to it. To those that have been wondering (like myself) why the hardest work is always forced upon the most vulnerable of us, particularly in the context of left-wing political movements, I theorize that this is the root cause. Those with privileged enough lives to still be able to enjoy the comfort of their own lives to some degree would rather cling onto that remnant of normalcy than open their hearts to the suffering of others. The most vulnerable of us, on the other hand, *must* open our hearts to the world’s suffering, because it is a necessary prerequisite to understanding how to cultivate a better world; this “better world” being the *only way* we can continue to exist without being systemically exterminated. For us, political involvement is a necessity. For the rest, it’s optional. And most will only choose to truly fight when it becomes their turn on the chopping block. “First, they came for the communists…”

Escapism kills resistance efforts. Which in turn kills people. I do not, and will never, condone this idea of entrancing yourself within a “fantasy world”. It is more colloquially known as an echo-chamber. Echo-chambers are horrible. They are why the Democratic Party tramples over the voices of leftists and many minorities. They are the means by which the Republican Party became radicalized, favoring imperialism and fascism over textbook conservatism (granted, conservatism is only marginally better). They are why self-hating communities like 4tran exist. They are why incels are rampant. They, evidently, are the reason why people you may consider to be “good” fail to stand alongside you when it actually matters. When your head is buried in the sand, you block out the bloodshed. You fail to see the importance of your aid, until those you are supposedly allied with (or should be allied with) are already dead. And if you don’t understand much of what I’ve said thus far, consider what that might mean within the context of this article.

If you are more privileged than my folks and/or other sectors of minorities, I ask that you stop closing your heart to our suffering. I ask that you endure a little more pain, so that the rest of the world may endure a little less. I ask that you expose yourself to the horrors of the world, so that the darkest aspects of humanity can be expunged with light. I ask that you educate yourself, research, ask questions; so that the policies the world needs can be actualized. You may not feel particularly targeted by the powerful now, but, eventually, you will. And by then, those of us that have been trying to warn you will be nothing more than fleeting memories in the minds of those that cared enough to remember us.

One last thing: everything is political. Nothing can be separated from politics. Near-every statement has political value. All art has political value. Everything can be examined under a political lens. To be apolitical, or politically ignorant, is an admission of universal ignorance and a weak moral foundation.

Do not idle. The world needs your help. And it will continue to wither until you do.