Many people claim to be “apolitical”, a safe and easy option to avoid the controversy that lingers around political affiliations today. They don’t vote, don’t talk about news or elections, don’t engage in political debates and attempt to be removed from the political world overall. But in reality, being apolitical is a complete impossibility. Simply staying out of politics doesn’t mean being neutral; it’s impossible to be nonparticipatory when just choosing to be out of politics is a political action. When every action, or nonaction, made is inherently political, apoliticality does not exist.
Not only is neutrality a myth in politics, but it is an active choice. Silence and apoliticism is not absence or impartiality, but acceptance. Acceptance of all genocide, all crimes, all heinous actions and situations all over the world.
Staying apolitical is an illusion that comes from a place of privilege that many do not have. A recent example of this is a statement from the grandchild of President Trump. On a podcast, Kai Trump stated that she thinks that politics is a dangerous thing and wants to be completely out of politics, just wanting Americans to meet in the middle. This ignorant, naive and disgustingly privileged statement shows why actually removing yourself from politics is a political action, as Kai Trump is essentially approving of her grandfather’s actions in office. For many, staying out of politics is not something they can attempt to do, and when in a position of any kind of power or influence, staying out of it is just not expecting responsibility.
Politics is the foundation of everything; it shapes everyday life, art, actions and silence. Whether acknowledged or not, our choices, perspectives and values are political and shaped by politics.
Palestinian Poet Marwan Makhoul expresses this in one of his poems, quoted from Makhoul, “In order for me to write poetry that isn’t political/I must listen to the birds/and in order to hear the birds/the warplanes must be silent.” In this, Makhoul highlights how art inevitably is and becomes inherently political, and that he isn’t forcing politics into his work because it is already there. There can be no real separation between life and politics when both influence every aspect of the other.
Attempting to be apolitical is a refusal to challenge injustice and the world’s problems. Removing your voice from the conversations hurts everyone. Neutrality is impossible and dangerous, as it gives more power to those who already hold it above us. Being apolitical is a paradox as it itself is a political stance; we are all inherently political.
