Interview with Ivan Espinosa, a high school student in Houston, TX
organizing for the Oct. 5 protests. Interview conducted by World Can’t Wait
organizer Jamilah Hoffman.
Why have you gotten involved with World Can’t Wait?
I
chose to become involved with World Can’t Wait Houston because I am sick and
tired of the lies and corruption of Bush and his cronies. As said by our
founding fathers, it is the responsibility of the citizenry to hold their
leaders accountable. I believe that the Bush administration is driving this
country in the wrong direction. They have alienated our allies and are
destroying the middle and working class. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rove are
self-serving, autocratic, corrupt, unethical, divisive sleazebags. Enough is
enough and I want to support a group that is working to protest and counter the
Bush agenda.
How do you feel about mass political action, such as
those planned for October 5th?
For
the most part, I enjoy mass political action. I believe it is a good idea to
organize rallies and demonstrations. It sends a message that we are fed up with
Bush’s lies and that we want significant change.
We
live in a “Red
State.” How has this impacted your activism?
It
is hard to campaign in a red state. We live in Houston, which is not as red as the rest of
the state. But I believe no matter where you are, you must get active some way
or another and work to accomplish political change. Determination is the key to
achieving your goals.
People
often say that today’s younger generation is jaded, or apathetic compared to
the 1960s. Do you think this is so? What do you have to say to today’s youth
about getting involved?
I
believe that today’s young generation is indeed apathetic and uninterested when
it comes to politics and activism. We need to change this. Youth have the
potential to be the key to change. A LOT of young people are liberal,
left-leaning, or left-wing and if we can somehow reach out to them, we would be
making a difference. If more young people voted, we could more easily elect
ethical, progressive officials. If more young people protested, we could have
larger, louder, and more effective rallies. It is imperative that we reach out
to the youth and involve them in political, progressive, and activist causes.
We need to reach out to college campuses, youth clubs, bars, young political
organizations, and the proactive music venues that are dominated by young
folks.