Sitting around doesn't make me apathetic

I am one of the many members of my generation who fights battles online-- political struggles, quests for equality, justice and fairness, and wars against evil, crime and corruption.

Some people may not consider it enough. I, however, gain much satisfaction from attending virtual rallies, signing online petitions and joining causes on Facebook. Be it for something of global magnitude (Make Poverty History) or local significance (Stop Con Ass Now), or something frivolous (No to the Philippine version of Twilight!), my online participation shows the world that I know what’s going on and, more importantly, that I care.

In a world where news can travel faster than a speeding bullet, where transactions are made with just a couple of clicks, and where politicians form part of your social network, why can’t cyberactivism be considered a legitimate platform for social upheavals? E-activists are not any less real than the color-coordinated people shouting in the streets. Our sentiments are just as genuine. We just opt to meet in a more convenient venue where we can pool our thoughts and resources, exchange ideas 24/7 and from all over the world, and let even the youngest caring members of society take a stand with the rest of us. We both adhere to the old adage “there is strength in numbers,” although our numbers choose to express personal convictions without shedding much sweat and blood. All that our method requires is an internet connection and a concerned heart. Nothing wrong with that.