Sunday Snippet: Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

“You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.”

One of my favorite novels of all time is Animal Farm by George Orwell and this is largely because it was a book that I read during school. If it wasn’t for the guidance and instruction of my teacher, I probably wouldn’t have understood the incredible depth of the tale.

On the surface, Animal Farm sounds almost like a children’s book with talking animals, but it is really an allegory for the Russian Revolution. It attacks all sorts of incredibly profound issues, from the politics of government to the treatment of workers. In this mix, Leon Trotsky (portrayed by Snowball the pig) plays an integral role. Trotsky is known as a fantastic orator and a great writer, not unlike a modern day politician like Barack Obama.

In this way, he reminds us that even if you are not interested in something, that something could have a powerful impact on your everyday life. Even if you don’t care about the war in Iraq, it could have an effect on your life. Even if you’re not at all interested in international politics, the resulting policies are “interested in you,” so to speak.

Speaking for myself, I’ve become somewhat disenchanted with the military efforts overseas, having been bombarded by so much news coverage these last few years. At the same time, I recognize why these issues are so important. What about you? Do you stay glued to CNN with every new development? Or do you just glaze over when they talk about “the war” again?