Comfort vs. Action: The Internal Debate
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posted by Laura E. Tan, Community Engagement Manager ASU Next Generation Service Corps |
A close friend of mine and I were having a conversation about his future job prospects when he mentioned that the offer he was most interested in didn’t include health insurance. Surprised, I asked him how he could consider taking the job.
He responded, “If I had health insurance, I’d be much less likely to agitate for change so that everyone can get it, too.”
“But you can be in a better position to help others if you’re not at-risk yourself,” I argued.
He shrugged. “If I’m comfortable, I feel much less urgency to try to change things.”
My friend is deeply committed to issues of social justice, which includes equal access to affordable health care for all. His stance raises the question: Does being committed to social change require making one less comfortable or resisting being “too comfortable?"