As the United States reaches its 250th anniversary, the conquest of imperialism within the United States reaches what the notable Sir John Glubb states in his book, The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival, as the turning point for most empires, the fall and disintegration period of the nation itself. While this may have some theoretical truth, our nation is telling a different story, a story of complicity, while in constant unrest. In a time of discord and strife, the need for action beyond the talk has become a necessity, but speaking out and talking about it within our inner circles has become the general norm. I call this phenomenon:
The unearned advantage of virtue signalling.
Every individual has a voice, but just talking about the issues is never going to solve these problems facehand.
To best define the privilege of virtue signalling, it should first be noted what virtue signalling is.
Virtue signalling, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is “The action or practice of expressing one’s views or acting in a way thought to be motivated primarily by a wish to exhibit good character, social conscience, political convictions, etc., or to garner recognition and approval.”
Now, what may seem like a minuscule or niche practice is something many individuals practice daily, big or small. Earlier this year, pop singer and songwriter Billie Eilish went on stage during the Grammys and declared “no one is illegal on stolen land”, a common phrase used by individuals who protest the recent action the Trump administration has grossly taken towards our immigrant brethren, while Eilish currently lives in a 3 million dollar home that sits on the stolen land of the tongva tribe, the Indigenous people of the Los Angeles Basin and Southern Channel Islands. People who have resided here for thousands of years longer than the United States has existed. It should be noted that incidents like these always get very huge press appeals, with many journalists painting her as either a widespread hero or this anti-american villain who is trying to overturn the government, while neither of these are true. Her action of preaching while garnering privilege is the exact opposite of what being a hero is; in fact, this can’t even make her “anti-American” because this nation was already foretold on lies like this. If anything, Eilish is doing exactly what the Americans in power do: lie. Does she really care about the inhumane and dishonorable practices immigration and customs enforcement has been taking on immigrants? Maybe. But her ability to preach without change only makes her look good to prevent any sort of public backlash.
On the flip side, there are individuals whose lives have been taken too soon, families separated and people kidnapped for a reason unidentifiable.
Alex Pretti was a U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by ICE agents on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti, being one of many protestors, took physical action against ICE when he chose to kick the back of one agent’s car, shattering the back right headlight in the process. His death will be memorialized through both the people who bear witness and the people Pretti was trying to protect, such as Jose Huerta Chuma, the individual whom ICE was seeking out, who is now in hiding. His actions will speak louder than the words of any protestor, elite, or individual who has something to say.
When is it socially acceptable to make actual change? When can we stop looking at this vast, unruly behavior and say it’s enough?
On March 3, 1991, 25-year-old Rodney King, a black man, was pulled over by cops after a eight mile police chase. Once he was stopped and brought out of his car, police laid 50 blows repeatedly and continuously. They used a stun gun against him without a warrantable cause. In the following year, on April 29, 1992, the lack of justice for King sparked an outbreak that is now looked back at as the Los Angeles Riots. Six whole days of rioting with damages reaching one billion dollars, making it one of the biggest acts of civil disobedience in history.
Even with such a difference in situations, it remains the same. When can we look at an event and sit back? Rodney King was still able to live to tell the tale, but Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Victor Manuel Diaz, Daunte Wright and every individual who was shot and killed by a cop, will have to live on through the voices and actions we take to ensure justice.
What can be done?
Making change comes from doing the things we preach. When we look at the president doing unfair or unjust actions, we have to be the counter systems in place to make an advantageous social disruption. It’s our duty as the people of the world to better ourselves. Read theory, start organizations and actually go and be true with the emotions inside you. When you stay true,
You will be the change.
