Fired Up.
26 years into my life and finally I become aware of the world around me. I guess it's been happening gradually, but I'm starting to wonder why I never cared before? That's probably neither here nor there, but...
I'm reading a book that touches on the fall of Rome, and (like so many other Americans) I can't help but see the parallels. We are a flawed monolith, trying to build ever higher while ignoring the cracks at the bottom. And the people who do notice the cracks at the bottom have no possible way of communicating them to the people polishing up the top.
Our great Roman Army, once the pride of the nation, has now fallen under a shadow of apathy and complacency. We have been too long a nation of peace and now we think that we are entitled to it. The rest of the world, not having the privelege of wealth or protection, has no qualms about victory through military might, or furthering their objectives through brute force if diplomacy doesn't work. I'm not saying this is right, but I think that refusing to acknowledge the assumptions our adversaries operates under is foolhardy.
I am tired of politics. Absolutely sick of it. I'm tired of the hidden agendas and the constant bickering. I'm tired of the millions of hours and dollars wasted on inconsequential topics. When I think of all the red tape necessary to make any change, I feel utterly hopeless. When I read the paper and hear about deficits and budgets, I wonder what the hell is so hard about spending only the money you have? If it were the exception rather than the norm that our government operates in debt, that would be ok. But it's not.
"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." -George Bernard Shaw
When I see the papers saying "Oprah opens school in Africa" and "Jolie teaches African chimpanzee to read", my initial reaction is anger. Why are these people so intent on making a change anywhere but in their homeland? But I can't blame them. I would probably follow that route too - where can I make the biggest difference for the least effort?
Maybe I never cared before because I never paid attention. I'm not so sure that wasn't the way to go. Really, what's SO awful being blissfully ignorant? Civic duty shmivic duty. :)
I'm reading a book that touches on the fall of Rome, and (like so many other Americans) I can't help but see the parallels. We are a flawed monolith, trying to build ever higher while ignoring the cracks at the bottom. And the people who do notice the cracks at the bottom have no possible way of communicating them to the people polishing up the top.
Our great Roman Army, once the pride of the nation, has now fallen under a shadow of apathy and complacency. We have been too long a nation of peace and now we think that we are entitled to it. The rest of the world, not having the privelege of wealth or protection, has no qualms about victory through military might, or furthering their objectives through brute force if diplomacy doesn't work. I'm not saying this is right, but I think that refusing to acknowledge the assumptions our adversaries operates under is foolhardy.
I am tired of politics. Absolutely sick of it. I'm tired of the hidden agendas and the constant bickering. I'm tired of the millions of hours and dollars wasted on inconsequential topics. When I think of all the red tape necessary to make any change, I feel utterly hopeless. When I read the paper and hear about deficits and budgets, I wonder what the hell is so hard about spending only the money you have? If it were the exception rather than the norm that our government operates in debt, that would be ok. But it's not.
"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." -George Bernard Shaw
When I see the papers saying "Oprah opens school in Africa" and "Jolie teaches African chimpanzee to read", my initial reaction is anger. Why are these people so intent on making a change anywhere but in their homeland? But I can't blame them. I would probably follow that route too - where can I make the biggest difference for the least effort?
Maybe I never cared before because I never paid attention. I'm not so sure that wasn't the way to go. Really, what's SO awful being blissfully ignorant? Civic duty shmivic duty. :)
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