Students skipped classes, screamed, yelled, held up signs and generally made a big commotion that most likely disturbed the nearby classes that were in session. And it’s about time.

The clubs Students for Justice! and the Muslim Student Association, along with De Anza College’s Office of Community and Civic Engagement, organized a student walk-out last Tuesday.

Students marched from the MCC buildings to the Main Quad, and talked about ending immigration raids, racial profiling and U.S. imperialism.

Their numbers were not extremely impressive. About 100 students and staff participated – even more watched – but those 100 gave something most people don’t these days.

They gave a damn.

These days, it’s easy to get lost in a world of television fantasy, or entranced in an ocean of iPod music. Few care about social issues. And when we do care, we rarely do anything about it.

We are the “me, myself and I” generation. We blithely let the world go by, not thinking about the consequences of our leaders’ choices and actions.

We, as a community, have become like the machines we use: we just sit. It’s only when something severe happens to us directly that we use the voices and legs we were born with to react or respond.

We prioritize the wrong things. Sadly, we gave more votes for the next American Idol than we did for the president of the United States. Politics is not entertaining and the next American Idol will not change our lives.

We sit, turning the pages of our lives, assuming nothing serious will happen to us. We avoid conflict, believing others will solve any problems. We will keep flipping through these pages until we get to the last chapter. But, by then, it will be too late.

The demonstrators made their voices heard and demanded a change. They showed that they are willing to do more than just sit. They are willing to do more than just care. They are taking action.

De Anza doesn’t have enough demonstrations. We De Anza students need to go out and change the world for the better. We all need to take action.

Feelings won’t transform the earth, but they can provoke action – and action is what’s needed for change. The demonstrators demanded an end to immigration raids, racial profiling and U.S. imperialism. Regardless of which political party, religion or association the students and staff may belong to, they demonstrated to show that they are willing to do more than care. Informing the public of the events taking place is a start.

Here is the blessing in disguise: despite their numbers, the walk-out received attention from the San Jose Mercury News. Their story told the Bay Area about the demonstrators’ crusade.

Other clubs on campus can learn from this event. I’m not saying every club should hold walk-outs and march through campus. However, we all need to take a step out of our comfort zones. It’s not easy, but it’s better to act now than regret it later.

Be active and engage in the community. You really have nothing to lose.