Ashwaubenon, WI

Ashwaubenon High School

Run time: 57:46.5 + 1-lap kick

Another dusk track run, another upscale high school. This is only a few miles from historic Lambeau Field, where the Packers play. I was never a Packers fan, though I never rooted strongly against them either. I watch little football these days. The racism of the sport turned me off. I will start watching again if Kaepernick plays.

Whatever I might accomplish with a boycott is personal. That goes for any boycott, not just the NFL. If I intentionally avoid eating at Chick-Fil-A, or watching Fox News, or re-watching Woody Allen movies, it is for my own personal benefit. It helps to align my actions with my reasoned thoughts. I harbor no illusions that my personal activism will have a direct impact on people or institutions with which I disagree.

It might, however, have a small impact on another person. If I choose to boycott NFL football, and someone witnesses this, it might inspire them or give them permission to better align their actions with their reasoned thoughts. It is an added bonus if they learn that they can act with intention for this reason alone, not to be part of a group or a movement.

I have not thought sufficiently about this to make judgments, but grouping oneself in with others seems related to tribalism, which might have run its course as a valuable human trait. Even if you think the group is “right,” or on the right side of an issue, collective action seems to have the potential for corruption and misguidance. If you are part of a group that seeks growth in the pursuit of power and influence over an issue, have you given up on the idea of personal autonomy?

What if humans had never been tribal? What if no human had ever surrendered to the will of another, or sacrificed personal autonomy for inclusion in a group, or followed no internal compass but their own? What if complete uniqueness were the valued trait?

This reminds me of the scene in “Life of Brian” when the mob of followers is waiting outside of Brian’s home, and he tried to convince them that they don’t need to follow anybody, and they repeat back to him, “Yes, we’re all individuals. Yes, we’re all different.” Then one guy says, “I’m not.” I want to be that guy.

Actually, of course, I don’t want to be anyone other than who I am. I love being a part of my family, but other than that, I do not want to be a member of any group. I also love how this post started out with the Packers and found its way to Monty Python, as all posts should.