Mitch Kay - Micah Challenge

When we are seeking advice on how to live our lives we tend to not want parenting advice from those that aren’t parents; diet advice from overweight people; driving advice from the blind; or advice on ‘responsibility’ from a kid.

Before I go any further on this blog let me state that this is not comedic in nature and in no way is intended to disrespect anybody, especially those that are passionate about making a positive influence on the world.

Recently, as a part of my breakfast show on 89.9 LightFM, I interviewed Mitch Kay, 21, who through the Micah Challenge and other organisations, is committed to issues of social justice and works hard to be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves, and that is something to respect.

In that interview I started off in a way that I have been told was “a bit harsh” asking him if he has ever had a ‘real job’ and in the midst of him answering a different question I interrupted him from what I stated as a ‘line that he was regurgitating’.

Since that interview Mr Kay wrote a blog about the first question of the ‘real job’, indicating that it revealed the “somewhat degrading and patronising nature often implicit in society’s attitude to those who work for justice”.

However, I haven’t seen such degradation and nor did I have that in mind when I asked the question. More so, the question was first in a series of questions that was trying to acknowledge the cynicism of age and life experience that qualifies a 21 year old to tell a thirty something year old parent how to live and financial decision that I should or shouldn’t make.

The reality is that he is not qualified to tell me how to live my life. He is qualified to talk to me about the issues of poverty and social justice, as he has researched way more than I could ever claim to have. The reality is that YOU are the only one qualified to tell YOU how to live.

However, I make the claim that Mitch Kay is qualified -even at his young age- to attempt to inspire me to put the oppressed and poor in my list of top priorities as I go about deciding how to live.

Here is a young guy who is not supposed to have been focussed on ‘responsibility’, he is supposed to have lived care free, had fun, and spent his money on living out his youth. Eventually he will then decide to get a haircut, get a real job, and live the Australian dream of a family and a white picket fence around a house with a pool room.

Instead of this, he has sacrificed his youth and new shoes in order to fight for the rights of others.

Never put someone down because they are young, instead, allow yourself to be inspired by that youthful enthusiasm. Unfortunately I asked the questions I did in the interview because the cynicism exists and I felt that I needed to acknowledge that. With my time over again I may do it differently next time but do not mistake my questions as a sign that I question Mitch Kay’s passion, the value of his cause, nor that value that he has to offer to the Micah Challenge.



Comments

[Mitch Kay]

Hi Luke,

I tried to post last night but for some reason it didn't come through! Hope this finds you well.

I'd like to reiterate that the post wasn't a criticism of you or an attack on the show, but more a critique of the wider societal attitudes that the question un-deliberately raised.

While you may not have had degradation in mind, I think for many (especially young) people who work within a social justice context, the frequency with which this or similar questions are asked is tiring. And so to this end, whether deliberate, unintended, conscious or subconscious I find it degrading.

I also find the focus on youthful idealism, and its association with social justice worrying. This is especially considering that for Micah Challenge and Voices for Justice the age range of participants is vast.

Finally I'd also contest that this was about me telling anyone how to live. Instead it was much more about considering the character of God and that restorative justice might actually be central to this character, and thus something we are all called to respond to.

Thanks for the dialogue. Looking forward to catching up in the future to talk further.

Much grace,

Mitch

[Luke Holt]

I understand Mitch.

You say though that it is not about you 'telling people how to live' and I understand the semantics of the point that you make. However, ultimately you are...from your conviction out of your relationship with God but you do what you do, and work with who you do, in order to change the behaviour of other people.

You mention the degregation you feel and the worrying focus on youthful enthusiasm but the reality is Mitch that you are flying in the face of centuries of tradition of the contribution of someone so young. Embrace that fact and simply understand you have to work harder to earn respect and a voice than you would if you were 15 years older with different life experiences. It may not be right but it's real.

5 1/2 years ago I was told by some people that I shouldn't be Program Director of LightFM because I was too young, inexperienced and had not been in commercial radio. After five years of fighting for respect and busting my gut I programmed LightFM of a listenership of 741 000 people. This is the largest figure of a community radio station in Australia and the largest Christian station by far.

What you do now in fighting against the stereotypes of youth and their contribution to responsible living will leave a legacy for future 21 year olds. History has ground breakers in race, gender, and age stereotypes and prejeduce...what a great honour for you to be another chapter in the book that chips away at this bias against youth.

My challenge to you Mitch is to not be upset, offended, or insulted by the objections or ignorance that people have about youth or social justice workers but accept the challenge to understand why people think and feel those things and bridge the gap.

Over a decade in radio and my job has been to get as in touch with people as possible to be able to ask what they want to ask, to approach things from the way that they think so I can either feed on that or use it as a starting point to move them to a different place.

I have thick skin Mitch and don't get too caught up even if you were having a go so don't worry about that.