#moralchella ?

With the somewhat unnerving political climate and constantly chaotic atmosphere we find our country in, there seems to be a never-ending list of causes worth fighting for; whether it be women’s rights, Muslim rights or gun regulation, there is a constant need to protect what we as individuals feel strongly about. But as each member of our generation gradually gains a more concrete stance on the infinite issues that face us, the more it seems that those views contradict with our teenage lifestyles. It’s become common knowledge that Coachella’s owner, Philip Anschutz, puts a bulk of the millions of dollars he makes from Coachella-goers towards anti-LGBT and pro-gun organizations, such as Alliance Defending Freedom, National Christian Foundation and the Family Research Council. As a result, the majority of people turn the other cheek, refusing to let this unsettling information interfere with their “rite of passage” that is attending Coachella. There’s a reason the saying is “ignorance is bliss.” What you don’t know can’t hurt you, right? Now don’t get me wrong, I do not, by any means, believe that the mass amount of people who attend Coachella share the same political views as our friend Philip. This is just a prime example of the attempt to balance newfound political activism with the common sentiment, “oh but I gotta get this pic for insta.” It’s easy to convince yourself the 504 dollars you’re spending on a weekend is for just that: an experience, and does not go towards an organization that goes against your morals. But this is just not the case. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are put towards these organizations you’ve told yourself you oppose. Ultimately, money is power. If Coachella went broke, another company would just take over. There is a gargantuan market of conservative individuals/businesses who target a predominantly liberal population that feels like they are “buying an experience.” I personally believe that you can’t march against gun violence one weekend, and the next weekend be binge drinking alcohol as you sit on someone’s shoulders and lose your voice singing along to artists at Coachella, nor can you reverse the order. If you are anti-guns, your actions have to speak that. Your intent and what you claim to believe means nothing if you don’t stand by what you say. The fact is that by spending your money on a music festival that supports the NRA and anti-LGBT organizations, you are indirectly supporting the NRA and anti-LGBT organizations, even if you don’t intend to. Even if Coachella were free, your active decision to attend the festival supports these organizations in itself. It’s not just about the money (although that leaves a lasting footprint), it is about your personal morals as well. This is what makes it so gosh darn hard! How does one determine what aspects of their social life they are willing to sacrifice for their beliefs? Sheesh, being an individual sure is difficult! The first step is realizing that your decision to attend Coachella does have a larger impact than you care to admit. But in the end, it is up to the individual to decide for themself what is good and what is bad, what crosses the line and what doesn’t.  Another example: the Women’s March is an event whose leaders are known to be anti-semitic; in fact, this has been relatively common knowledge for quite a while. Of course Coachella and the Women’s March are completely separate entities: the Women’s March serves as a political connection, whereas Coachella is a business. The Women’s March empowers women all over the world to commit themselves to this cause, and sparks change in millions of people. If more people banded together to change the fact that the leaders of the March are anti-semitic, that would change the impact of the March itself. For the most part, however, the leaders’ views do not affect the March itself. This doesn’t mean that we should ignore their unethical views, it just means that when it comes to the Women’s March, the bigger picture is more impactful than the founders’ perspectives. But this raises the question of intersectionality: if you’re not supporting all women, you’re not supporting women. However, many people like to pick and choose what and who they will go out of their way to support. This brings up the overarching problem that we see everywhere. Political activism has become a social trend, more so than ever. Many people attend the Women’s March and Coachella, motivated by the thought of how many photos they’ll have for the virtual faces on social media to see. Of course there are attendees who are up to speed on what the hell is going on politically, but there are also a large percentage of attendees who are going to post something cute on their feed. This is the paradox that confronts our nation today. It needs to be understood that action is ALWAYS greater than intent. What you do is ALWAYS louder than what you tell yourself you believe. Good intentions don’t mean a thing if they aren’t followed through. If I didn’t support any organization that goes against my morals to some degree, I would be living a miserable life without basic necessities. It’s all about knowing what your tipping points are and being an informed consumer. What do you value and prioritize as a human? What is within the range of your moral codes? Peer pressure and hopping on the teenage bandwagon will only take you so far. Eventually, everyone needs to know their own opinions and be able to back them up with their actions.