Consistently, new movies appear on the silver screen that become classics. Certain scenes in particular capture our interest, get us to think and, upon reflection, are chock-full of illuminating literary tropes such as metaphors, hyperboles and more metaphors.

At the risk of beating the dead horse of what has become a cult classic, consider one scene from the 1999 film “The Matrix.” In the scene, the protagonist — a computer hacker named Neo — sits in a chair opposite the mysterious Morpheus, who is trying to describe what The Matrix is. Then, he produces the famous red and blue pills and offers them to Neo. Take the blue, and Neo would return to the dream world of The Matrix. Take the red, and his eyes would be opened to reality.

Either way, Morpheus warns Neo: “Unfortunately no one can be told what The Matrix is. You have to experience it for yourself.”

In that regard, The Matrix is similar to politics, but not in the Orwellian dystopian way for which the movie ordinarily gets pigeonholed. We participate in the public world, affect it, set our communities going on new trajectories, not by attending rallies or voting but by engaging other people. A politically savvy friend could bring you to all the political events on campus and in Ames but, until you strike out on your own, you will remain a spectator rather than a participant.

It is through asking tough questions, not taking “no” or some lame and worn out talking point for an answer, having original thoughts or applying old ones to new situations, that makes us political. Sitting in an auditorium listening to a candidate speak or walking into a voting booth with no one else inside it, does not make us political actors. If you want the real deal and not just the trappings of participation, be a heckler at a political rally — be disruptive, spontaneous and challenging. Create a situation in which the man or woman who wants your vote will have to think carefully and clearly — but also quickly — to slake your curiosity for a more-than-phony answer.

Or you could volunteer for a political campaign. Making calls and leaving scripted messages on answering machines isn’t political, but every now and then, people pick up their phones and give you a chance to state your case. The real fun begins when they start asking you questions that force you to think for yourself and go off script. (Let’s face it, there’s even a script for questions and talking points for live calls.)

Canvassing or door-knocking is another way to get out there. Especially among people who spend much of their time at home, it’s likely that you’ll knock on the door of someone who wants to give you a piece of his or her mind instead of standing there drinking in the Kool-Aid of your gospel ministrations. At least, that’s what I learned when I went to South Dakota in 2006 to help the people pushing a state constitutional amendment that would prohibit almost all abortions. The experience of one homeowner refusing to take a pamphlet because she thinks all abortion opponents should have been aborted themselves so she could be spared “all these headaches” is an experience that leaves a lasting impression.

With all the lack of enthusiasm for actually doing politics — with our elected leaders’ preference for deciding their votes based on their pre-existing pledges and knowledge rather than the world’s actual goings-on — it doesn’t matter who you work for. The important thing, at this juncture, is to get the experience of doing politics.

It’s not enough simply to attend political events. Such things are staged and, until we venture outside the realm of regimented expectations and act on our own, we lack meaningful participation. A person can attend a church service without taking communion or allowing the hymns and liturgy to work on him or herself. That’s easy. What’s a little more difficult is walking up to the altar in front of all those people, or giving some thought to all the priest’s words and phrases.

The same goes for politics. There may be “a wall of separation between church and State,” but that doesn’t mean the two are completely unalike. “Go therefore and make” politicians of all citizens, baptizing them in the name of participation. It’s only the beginning of October. The election is still three weeks away.

You still have time.