Earnestness:  that conviction and passion for a cause you see on college campuses.

I joined Amnesty International in college. My best friend and I started the AI chapter at the University of Minnesota-Morris. We wrote letters, drank beer and commiserated about the many political prisoners around the world. Nelson Mandela was top of mind. He was released 11 February 1990 from Victor Verster Prison. I remember watching the live broadcast in France. Did my letter make a difference? Who knows. I felt better for having written it. Nowadays, I mostly donate and Tweet my outrage. I’m such a slactovist.

Soundtrack

• The Replacements, “Bastards Of Young”
• U2, “MLK” (Paris, 1987)
• Green Day, “American Idiot” and Minority”
• Tracy Chapman, Behind the Wall (Wembeley, 1988)
• Josh Ritter, “Girl In The War”
• Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Ohio”
• N.W.A., “Straight Outta Compton”
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, “American Skin (41 Shots)”
• Billie Holiday, “Strange Fruit”
• Brother Ali, “Uncle Sam Goddamn”
• The Black Eyed Peas, “Where Is The Love?”
• Steve Earle, “The Revolution Starts Now”
• Arcade Fire, “Intervention”
• Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth”
• James Brown, “Say It Loud ~ I’m Black & I’m Proud”