Tell HN: My first protest

I'm 27 years old and I've never really been bothered to protest before. Sure, I've volunteered. I've participated in political campaigns. I've signed petitions and written my Congressmen. I've voted. But nothing had ever felt quite so bad to me that I needed to march. Other people would take care of that, as they always have, and the system would fix itself.

Something's changed. A little over a year ago today I enlisted in the Army National Guard. In a week I head to SD for "Phase 1" of Officer Candidate School. (I don't purport to represent the military).

Perhaps the reality of putting my life on the line for our country has made me take political change more personally. Of course, the past decades' worth of restrictions on our freedoms hasn't helped. I've seen many comparisons here between warrantless spying and past oppressions, or with other states' far more terrible security apparatuses. "It's really not that bad." "It could be worse." These all feel like false equivalencies.

We, of all people, should recognize the staggering, unpredictable impact that technology will have on our lives in just the coming decade alone. Given what we know about the accelerating pace of technology, are you really comfortable giving the government – any government – free reign over all your data? Do you want to set that precedent?

I'm no longer convinced that the system will self-correct. I see things coming to pass that make me worry for our collective future. I worry that if I don't step up and say something, these worries will be completely brushed aside.

Today I march. And I feel like it's the best thing I've done since I took my oath of enlistment.

Join me: http://www.restorethefourth.net/protests/