Political activism and the curious case of Taylor Swift

I’m what they used to call a “martial law baby,” born and raised in the New Society contrived by a brilliant man notorious for imposing martial law to stifle dissent. In 1986, I was still studying at the University of the Philippines, the supposed cradle of activism, and taking up—what else?—Political Science when the People Power Revolution took place to depose the president. Many students I knew had been joining anti-government rallies, facing off with the police, missing their classes, and getting their adrenaline fix from the excitement of their crusade. The geek in me chose to finish my thesis while moonlighting to supplement my allowance.

I did go to EDSA during those fateful days in February that toppled a dictatorship, but I have to admit that my sorry excuse for civil disobedience was limited to urinating behind a bush during an arduous half-day of simply going with the flow of people walking aimlessly like zombies in a dystopian film. My Camino pilgrimage was a walk in the park compared to that ordeal.

Fast forward to today, and it feels like we’re back in the 1980s, minus the shoulder pads, long-back shirts, and ankle-zipper jeans. The seat of power has been passed on from one oligarch to another, including the current leader, who is savoring being back in the place he called home before his family was hauled off across the Pacific.

I often wonder how the younger generations are faring in this landscape. My children, like most millennials I know, have read or heard about People Power; it’s a holiday, after all, another opportunity to be anywhere but in this country. They have probably discussed it with family and friends over artisanal coffee brewed by hipster baristas. But when it comes to actual dissent, I think they’d rather find fault with their boss or work and hop from job to higher-paying job like they’re playing an endless game of career musical chairs, or get on a plane in search of Instagram-worthy destinations. My unsolicited advice to these kids: work hard, plant your roots, save money, and enjoy the fruits of your labor later.

Don’t get me wrong, millennials are a talented bunch. Having emerged in an environment transitioning from the old to the new, they’re entrepreneurial, daring, and possess a wanderlust that’s enviable, but they’re restless as hell. Will they write about their opinions on politics and government in their posts? Of course, especially if it gains traction and attracts hundreds, even thousands of comments in a day. Will they participate in a political rally outside of the SONA protests? Perhaps. But if it means giving up one day of precious vacation leave, they’ll most likely pass.

Our digital natives, the Gen Zs and Alphas, were born into a world of smartphones, social media, blogs and vlogs, as well as social ineptness. I don’t know enough about them other than that they’re perfectly comfortable with remote learning and a number of them may have less reservations when it comes to relying on AI to fulfill their academic obligations. Most don’t know the pleasure derived from finding books through card catalogues or viewing history on microfiche (if you don’t even know what that is, Google it, dummy). Contemplating the intricacies of political engagement may be much farther from their minds than, say, what’s trending on YouTube and TikTok, or being sold on drunkelephant.com.

I imagine them transforming activism from a sweaty, life-altering experience to one that can be achieved in the comfort of an air-conditioned room by simply changing their profile picture to a viral hashtag or posting a black square on Instagram. They catch their news from “likeable” online headlines, and they’re more familiar with influencers than with the names of their local and national leaders, which is why savvy politicians spend loads of cash on trolls to increase their social media presence, especially near election time. Ask them to march for a cause, and they might reply, “Can’t we instead just start an online campaign?”

Meanwhile, our country’s political landscape remains a soap opera of dynastic proportions. The prodigal son has returned, and his campaign ally has decided to break away and rule their southern fiefdom. The children of the rich and powerful, highly educated here and abroad, are being groomed to take over the family business of civil service. Their names are brands worthy of copyright, the government positions of their ascendants their birthright.

Amidst all this, one can’t help but notice the curious distractions that captivate the masses. Korean idols come and go for concerts and fan meets. Other foreign artists spend a night or two here as part of world tours (if they skip Manila for other Asian cities, our young YOLO generation can always jet off like the rich kids they are or project to be); and streaming services keep everyone glued to their TVs and gadgets. Who cares about politics when you have to go to the UK because you couldn’t get any tickets to the Eras Tour in Singapore? What’s more important than Taylor Swift’s passive-aggressive war with Kim Kardashian, or her PDA with Travis Kelce? Meanwhile, Tay is laughing her way to the bank and American politicians are courting her to reach millions of Swifties voting in November. At least this Blondie knows who she’s backing.

King George III asked in Hamilton, “What comes next?”

I’m nearly at the point of political apathy, but I’ll still vote in the next elections. Despite the rubbish I read in the papers, I continue to stay current with the news. During get-togethers, I will offer my two cents, if asked; otherwise, I will just quietly listen, observe, and hog the food and beer. I have seen and heard enough crap in this world to last me a lifetime.

I imagine ways to reignite the spirit of true political engagement amid all the technological disruptions and well-calculated misdirection through false information. How can we open the minds of the next generation of voters and drive them to act for the nation’s future instead of merely cultivating their individual presence on social media?

Perhaps it’s time for a new revolution, one that blends the best of all generations, a movement that harnesses the tech-savviness of Gen Zs, the entrepreneurial spirit of millennials, and the hard-earned wisdom of Gen Xers.

Excuse me now as I sip my mochaccino while reading the morning newspaper and listening to a Taylor Swift oldie, one that perfectly captures my feelings about all political shenanigans: Shake It Off.