Opting Out

One of the best dialogues in cinematic history is from the movie Say Anything. Lloyd Dobbler (played by John Cusack) is over for dinner at the home of his valedictorian girlfriend and her ambitious, overprotective single dad asks what he intends to do as a career.

The father of course asks the young man what he intends to do with his life, what career he wants to pursue. His response is, “I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.”

“Well then,” asks the father sternly, “just what do you intend to do?”

His earnest response is “Kickboxing, sir. It’s the sport of the future.”

I used this in my sermon on Sunday as an example of someone attempting to opt out of the economy -- his list is fairly exhaustive, and includes most possible careers (although, unless you think we're selling something ;) , doesn't include pastors). But even if young Lloyd did manage to avoid buying, selling, and processing as a career, he would still be using all kinds of things that were bought, sold, and/or processed...

My point here being that opting out seems like it's almost always not an option. We are inextricably entangled in too many systems and institutions (economic, political, social) that despite their deep flaws, we can't escape. And most attempts at "opting out," whether in personal interaction or on a larger scale (e.g. not voting b/c you don't like the government) turn out to be acceptance and implicit affirmation of the status quo.