(My rant)
Where are our Kings, our Ghandis and Einsteins? Don’t tell me they’ve all died. What happened to the great musicians; the Beatles, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra? The great poets are missing, Hughes, Bruce, Sanchez, and Shakespeare. What happened to the Mother Theresa's and Diana's of the world?
Every day it seems a new pop sensation has emerged, a new rap star comes out with another demeaning/demoralizing/idiotic “hit”. Doctors are discovering more efficient ways to install breast plants, and yet AIDS is still ravishing Africa. Billions are spent on a liar’s war, and still public education sucks more than Monica Lewinsky. What the hell is going on?
The country is so busy segregating themselves into “comfortable communities”, we’ve, again, forgotten how to communicate with each other. Jena 6 incidents are increasing, people are shooting up schools and innocent kids are dying again. I mean, I’ve never in my life, heard such crudely creative insults for people such as (my disturbing favorite), cum-guzzling slut. Who thinks something like that up?
And then there’s immigration. Immigration! I keep hearing complaints about immigration. This country was born, built, and made for immigrants. If you can trace your lineage back to the Mayflower, well congradufuckalations. I don’t know about job stealing, but the world is competitive, survival of the fittest. Up the ante if you’re passed up for a job (and I’m not saying discrimination & prejudice doesn’t exist) however, playing a race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, whatever card, is not hurting them as much as it is yourself. By pulling a card, you’re unconsciously affirming your supposed inferiority. If you’re running at full capacity, no narrow minded idiot can hurt you.
I’m not touching divorce. My parents stayed together, and they drive each other nuts. We live in an era of self-gratification and discovery. Our personal happiness is more important than “doing the right thing.” And that’s how it should be.
But, I think it hurts the most to see the loss of leaders, our world class thinkers, our social conscious. I mean, if Honda will pay a Harvard engineer 3 times more than a private research foundation, you can at least see the reasoning behind choosing Honda. But government stiffens once helped pay for those institutions, the ones that funded Kenneth Clark’s research, and that of Sanchez and Rogers. Now that money is spent on AK47s and tanks.
Most of us see the issues, we know that there are horrible things about. There is no collective voice anymore, no unified cry of outrage. Too blinded by new ipods, wiis, and Brittany Spear’s custody battle, our attention span, our concern lasts a day, at most.
Remember what we learned in grammar school, “We the People?” If we could come together in response to the lacking virtue in today’s society and government, things would change. The Jena 6 incident caused people to uprise and results spoke clear. PEOPLE changed what could’ve been a unjust end to 6 (emotionally charged, arguably stupid) kids. Things can change.
I heard former first lady Hillary Clinton speak in New York, and I’ve heard senator Barack Obama as well. They’re both awesome candidates, but imagine what they could accomplish if they stopped mud slingin’ and joined together as running President and Vice President. That’s a winning ticket.
I’m hoping topics won’t be on immigration or the war. I think its time focus returned to the people. I want to hear about domestic reform. I want to hear an end to this gay marriage debate nonsense. How the hell do you debate somebody’s rights? I want to hear about environmental changes, time to save mother earth before she kicks our ass. I want to hear about gas prices stabilizing and the government finally regulating the oil companies as is should’ve been doing all along, so that these gross inflations stop occurring whenever a good excuse comes along. I want to hear about getting us out of debt, about fixing public education and helping struggling college students better themselves. I want to hear about helping US, the citizens (and future citizens) of this great nation. We are not yet too corrupt, too off track and task to change.
The American dream is not yet dead. Neither are we.
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Not to be picky, but when people complain about illegal immigration, the complaint is not about 'immigration' but about 'illegal'
Agreed. But we didn't exactly ask to come here either.
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
Right, but when we came here, there wasn't immigration law in place by the American Indians.
There is now. Illegal immigration is a HUGE slap in the face to the immigrants who spend the time to do things right. However, no one stands up for them like people are willing to stand up for those who come here illegally.
Also, I am American Indian, of the Oto tribe. Even if we could be retroactive, and say to y'all "Get off my land." . . . I wouldn't support it. The United States of America is the greatest country in the world, both in terms of might and positive affect in the world, but also in terms of quality of life. Our poor and homeless here are better off than many worldwide.
Good argument. I don't know, I think it just sucks that you dangle the keys to paradise to someone, and then make them fill paperwork for 6 months just to mop the golden floors. Many people that try to come here, exhibit one of the needs displayed on the statue of liberty. She says, "Give me you tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me. I lifet my lamp beside the golden door."
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
What's great about the United States is that you can come here as a poor person of regular birth (not a noble-born) and, through hard work and sacrifice, you can own land and a business.
THAT is the American Dream. being uber-rich isn't. And we have forgotten, as a nation, what it is like for people from socialist countries, where the poor ARE oppressed by the government.
We, as a country, care so much for the poor that we (foolishly) talk about wanting to adopt socialist programs to take money away from you and I to give the poor food, money and shelter, even though they aren't working. That's how good and caring we are.
We give money to countries, free of charge, to help out when they have a disaster that they, as a country, should have prepared for. . . and we ask nothing in return when we have horrible disasters.
Immigrants that come here legally are so inspired by the way of life here that they're willing to go through the hurdles to come here legally. I respect that.
someone jumping a fence to come here illegally to send money home... I don't respect that much. They don't care about the country, just their own pocketbook.
and SHAME on the countries that are so corrupt and socialistic in nature that the poor risk death to come here illegaly and work.
People want to guilt America into just accepting and making legal the illegal immigrants, but are silent when it comes to the countries of origin (mostly the central american countries) being made to account for themselves.
For most people that American dream is vanishing. fewer and fewer people can own a home and are being swallowed up by credit card debt. I see the US becoming more and more of a giant Las Vegas, It offers the possibility of a high pay off but only few can ever attain it , while many struggle to break even.
I'm sure most drives for the financial well being started with only getting what you needed but human beings for the most part have unending wants...when you make more and more and more all of the sudden those ludicrous splurges like that 3rd car, or a collection of fabrishe eggs seem more reasonable.
talking and doing are two different things. Not to mention that aid has a difficulty in reaching those who need it the most . plus in America we have as George Carlin says the NIMBY complex. also, here's an interesting article: http://www.philanthropy.com/news/updates/3103/members-of-congress-questi...
what kind of country would make people pay interest for a natural disaster? you'd be called the douchebag of the international community. Plus when we had our New Orleans fiasco...which could have been prevented too, other nations came to our help without looking for cash. It's one of those unwritten rules of the international community.
Yes, it would be nice if everyone could come here legally but most people don't qualify to enter legally and even those that do still have to go through a long period of jumping through hoops. If you were really needy would you wait 6 months while you starve just to be denied or just simply go and take your chances. When things are at their most grim & people become desperate, they tend to throw away most ideals. It's like expecting for people to really walk out slowly and in a line during a fire or earthquake like they taught in elementary school.
yeah, it's a sad truth about corruption and yes, the governments should provide a better standard of living for it's people in most developing countries but as long as corporate America can do business then no-one is going to instigate change. And for the sake of an argument, you can't really give a country a nickname like the land of opportunity and not expect people to swarm around it like sharks to blood.
No, your people didn't, but the HIspanic's ancestors didn't ask either, when they came from Spain and committed rape and genocide against the Incas, the Mayans and the Aztec peoples who lived in what we now call Mexico, Central and South America.
As a native person, I am offended that ignorant people accept the lies that the illegals from Mexico attempt to perpetuate. That this is their homeland, that they are indigenous. That is spitting in the face of the native peoples. A racist attempt to distract us from the fact that they hurt poor and lower middle class American citizens who are of all races. It's an attempt to play on white guilt, to make you afraid to criticize their bullying and violent behavior. It is intellectual lazyness to accept that specious arguement, and to throw it into the faces of citizens of this country and to allow the hijacking of an issue by a LIE.
Tell me, how much love is to rationalize reducing poor and lower middle class Americans into dire poverty? It's not love, it's hate. You can gift wrap a box of sh*t, decorate it with pretty ribbons, but it doesn't change the fact that it's still a box of sh*t.
Uh, sorry I should have clarified. When I said, "we didn't ask to come over here" I was talking about people as a whole, not one particular race. It was more along the lines of, "The Native Americans were screwed."
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
We should bring back out thinkers immediately.
"still public education sucks more than Monica Lewinsky"
As my girlfriend and I agree, we say:
We need less politicians and more political sciences.
Rating this up into the Highest rated list, because this needs to be seen. :)
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Actually, yes, I am the progressive police.
Are people not reading your blogs?
Thank you, it was really intended just to be a rant (although I see i've offended a few people). And I have to agree with you Scyze, and your girlfriend. :)
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
A very interesting read. I hope you feel better after writing it. You have a passion for this country, this world, and Mother Nature's people. I respect you for that. However, if you want to hear all the good things in life, you need to find the One who stabilizes us while this world rots. Mother Earth has cancer and she is dieing. One day, she will not wake from her slumber. I invite you to find out what comes after our loving Mother dies.
A Broken Servant,
Jared
I assume you're talking about God?
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
Today I attended a lecture by a woman who grew up in Nazi Germany, at our local university. She was there to speak about how insidiously such things can happen, even in a civilized country, among people who weren't that different from any of us today.
She spoke about her parents, and how they were socialists, who cared about the environment and social justice. Who sought a solution in a time when they lived in a disastrous economy, with long term chronic joblessness and hunger. How they told her that they didn't see what ultimately happened, initially. Hitler was charismatic, and they made the fatal mistake of not thinking critically, not considering the wider implications of he said. They allowed rights and freedoms to be trampled, what was first the soft pedaling of hatred and intolerance, but after a while, it was too late and they lived in fear of being accused of something and sent away. She reminded everyone that while some say that Hitler's was a right wing movement, it wasn't true. Hitler's was an extreme left wing movement. That an interesting parallel between then and now, was that in Germany, both political extremes were warring, and that neither intended well for the people.
I had brought with me print outs of some of the topics from various discussions here with me to share with friends. Especially those that were racist leaning, and others that spoke of the willing intolerance towards others. The bigotry of those who rationalize the destruction of wage and workplace protections for American citizens, purportedly to "help" illegal aliens, and some from illegals who ridicule Americans rights to work in their own country. I spoke with her afterwards and showed her Kalison's posting from the other day, where she sought to slap down African American students who were offended by racist hate speech. After perusing it, she commented how easy it is for some to ignore their own prejudices, and to even excuse them. She referenced how in Germany, even minor disagreements and frustrations allowed what was once good and decent people to turn a blind eye to the worst kind of inhumanity. She also said how important it was for students, especially to confront their own biases, and not to be deceived into hatred and excusing wrongs. That they must be capable of linear thinking, and to question, and to never accept intolerance, even when it comes disguised as being democratic. If it does not protect the rights of all people it is fascism.
I have to say, you talk about things that require the protection of rights, and humane treatment, yet, you excuse the corporatization of our government and economy. That the world is "competitive" and that workers should get over their jobs being taken away.. the world has always been competitive, that's the excuse of those who rationalize slavery.. the old bottom line, price of everything, the value of nothing. There is no freedom if human beings can not earn enough to live with dignity and respect. Allowing the bottom line of the corporate elite to reign supreme will only achieve one thing, there will be no just and fair treatment for those dying of aids in Africa or elsewhere. It's the reason that everything, even music is middle of the road and shallow.
When you undermine the rights of some, for the benefit of the few, what you achieve is what you claim you wish to escape. You ultimately empower those who will take your own rights away.
"She also said how important it was for students, especially to confront their own biases"
That's a lecture I'm sad to have missed.
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
the world--- We have the teachings of those great people and their examples to help us lead the changes we want to see in our world, WE are all capable like you said, if we come together to stand up and support something that we all passionately beleive
WE really have bceome a nation of inaction unless we are put in extreme situations and cirmcumstances, when things slap us in the face and bring us into action---
That's our problem--We need to solve our apathy loving self and become Passionate+ Active individuals.........and quite truthfully, those leaders and the conscious of our people is not dead or gone, IT's there but we have put it to sleep and
I know of leaders and the conscious of today-- they just aren't famous, not mainstream and don't become famous "idols" because our society has become more obsessed with the antics of uneducated celebrity such as Hilton and Spears than what the Educated INtelligensia has to say about all of us (the world and it's peoples)
"The good life, let's go on a living spree
Shit they say the best things in life are free" --*K A N Y E
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
My favorite quote is, "You have to be the change you want to see." :)
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
It seems to me like you've have lost total touch with reality.
Everyday great scientists make amazing discoveries; Actually, if you ask me, the Einsteins are now so many that we don't consider them special anymore- and that's the problem.
Again; your argument on immigration just confirms the title of this post. Because America allowed immigration some hundred years ago, we should allow it now right? Well, you apparently don't realize that then there was no legal governmental structure. Now, there is. Well, America also allowed slave trading some years ago; maybe we should legalize that again? Open your eyes; the world has changed.
I love the hell outta lala land. I think it’s better to ask for more than to sit back and say, “I guess this is enough”
Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love.
- Thomas Traherne
It just seems like there aren't any good musicians at the time. Frankly put, good music isn't popular anymore. Most of our great musicians and song writers are on independent labels. Modest Mouse is one of my favorite bands and I consider them to be great artists, and it's just now that they've gained some popular recognition. The great musicians are still here, they're just a little harder to find.
It just seems like there aren't any good musicians at the time. Frankly put, good music isn't popular anymore. Most of our great musicians and song writers are on independent labels. Modest Mouse is one of my favorite bands and I consider them to be great artists, and it's just now that they've gained some popular recognition. The great musicians are still here, they're just a little harder to find.
It just seems like there aren't any good musicians at the time. Frankly put, good music isn't popular anymore. Most of our great musicians and song writers are on independent labels. Modest Mouse is one of my favorite bands and I consider them to be great artists, and it's just now that they've gained some popular recognition. The great musicians are still here, they're just a little harder to find.
It just seems like there aren't any good musicians at the time. Frankly put, good music isn't popular anymore. Most of our great musicians and song writers are on independent labels. Modest Mouse is one of my favorite bands and I consider them to be great artists, and it's just now that they've gained some popular recognition. The great musicians are still here, they're just a little harder to find.
all conflicts start from within. if we just focus on making ourselves better first instead of being angry about the issues. anger gets us no where. but if we speak the truth and realize what we can and cant do about it. there wont be mass confusion. as far as the great leaders and poets go, we all have the potential to be those things, but we have to commit, and let go of some of our day to day life. that's a big responsibility. but somebody's got to do it. even if it's me. or you.