My father always told me the purpose of Lent is to prove “you are in control of your wants and that your wants are not in control of you.”
If you are not familiar with a lenten fast, the following definition is provided by the USCCB:
“Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday… we serve by giving alms, and we practice self-control through fasting. ”
Over the years, I’ve heard of the usual Lenten fasts – no candy, no pop, no television, no Instagram, but I have also heard of the more unusual Lenten fasts- no hot showers, no wearing shoes, no coffee. Essentially, forgoing a comfort in your life.
In a similar vein, folks around the world are boycotting various company’s products, sparked by collective calls on social media. For example, a boycott of Kellogg’s products after their CEO declared a bowl of Kellogg’s cereal is a great dinner when money is tight, while Kellogg’s raised their prices by almost 20% in the last year. By putting our money where our mouth is, the collective can pressure companies in the only way that matters – their shareholder profits.
But what if I really, really like Frosted Flakes??? (Or hot showers, or Instagram, or coffee?)
Maybe you just need a good playlist to listen to while denying yourself those sweet frosted corn products.
(As always, do not take this as an endorsement from WT about these topics!!! The language is radio-edit versions!)
Talkin’ Bout a Revolution (Sounds Like a Whisper) by Tracy Chapman
You may know her from “Fast Car,” but this is one of my favorites by Chapman. The emphasis on the collective is beautifully done here.
What Are You Fighting For? by Phil Ochs
Every song by Phil Ochs should be on your Boycott Playlist.
Fight the Power by Public Enemy
“From the heart, it’s a start, a work of art, to revolutionize, to make a change, nothing’s strange.” A classic of the genre.
As someone who grew up making bootleg fireworks in my parent’s basement, fire is always the answer.
Never Trust a Man (Who Plays Guitar) by Wingnut Dishwasher’s Union
“If I live then let my heart be like a beating picket line, They’ll sooner see a corpse than see a scab.”
Don’t You Cross That Picket Line by Jester of No Court
“So join the crowd, Be union proud, And don’t you cross that picket line” and a mention of the 1892 Homestead Strike – PGH Proud, baby!!!
Okay, protest music is cool and all, but I really, really, really like Frosted Flakes, etc. What now?
Here’s where Boycotts are a little bit like Lent. The idea of a Lenten fast is that through these little moments of self-control, we practice for more significant moments. We remind ourselves that we are in charge of our choices and decisions, so when tempted to be selfish and unkind, we know we can choose to be loving and generous.
Where do I want to stand when I compare my personal wants with the collective’s needs? Do I want Frosted Flakes so badly that I will undermine my community’s attempt to hold Kellogg responsible for inflated prices and out-of-touch beliefs?* Do my actions line up with what I value?
A small sacrifice may give me the strength for more immediate mutual aid: when a neighbor needs help shoveling their snowy sidewalk, a family needs furniture for their new home placement, or donating to bail funds. The only thing we can really control in this world is how we respect each other’s humanity, so whether you are powering through giving up candy or joining a collective boycott, stay strong, friend.
*This is not to say that one person’s definition of “want” is another person’s “need.” Only you can know your wants and needs and if they align with your values!
