I'm not an activist by any stretch of the imagination.  Not to say I don't care or I don't have opinions, but I've never considered myself to have the discretionary time necessary to do anything big about it.  Still I do believe that many people performing small actions can effect as much change as one big action.  In this vein, I have decided not to buy gas from BP.  It's the closest to our house, the most convenient by far, but certainly not the only choice.  I've been torn between the rationale that they need all the money they can get to fix this mess in the gulf, and the thought that they don't need my money to support their ongoing pursuit of profit.
In the end, I decided to pump my fuel elsewhere.

Until today, that is.  This afternoon, I heard an ad, a plea really, from the owner of our local BP franchise. 
I'll paraphrase:  "I live here in your community.  I employ your friends and neighbors.  It's not my fault that the BP well exploded.  BP is trying to fix it.  Please don't blame us.  Please buy gas from me." 
It was much more eloquent than that but that's how it broke down.

It made me think.  We know that the fishermen in the gulf are suffering.  We know the tourist trade is declining.  We know the effects of the oil in the ocean can be shown on computer models to be catastrophic if it is not stopped.  But what about the BP franchise owners in Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Washington?  Nowhere near the water, and definitely not on the news, but being driven out of business, loosing their livelihood and savings nonetheless.  All because people like me want BP to know, in a small, small way that we disapprove.

The excuse for inactivity is so easy to make.  My single gas purchase makes no difference and is not felt one way or another.  It is only the cumulative effect of many that makes an impact.  That's true for BP if I don't buy their gas, and for the local franchise owner if I do.  But I do have to choose.  I do have to decide if I side against the large corporation for their non-malevolent negligence or with the local small business owner and a community that has already been financially bludgeoned with the relocation of the steel industry.

Tonight I'm not sure.  I continue to struggle, and I'd love to know what you think.