You know what I really hate?
Writing essays.
Which I will have to do a lot of over the next few months.
Writing essays.
Which I will have to do a lot of over the next few months.
Oh, the "joy" of college.
*vomit*
*vomit*
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
America Haters
Didn't you hear? The latest fad is to HATE AMERICA! Oh, dude, it's the awesomest thing ever! All you have to do is be really annoying and opinionated, and/or make a documentary about how much the president has screwed up, or be a celebrity! And the best part is, everyone will love you and glorify you for it because you will be untouchable.
Just kidding. It's not a new fad because it's been around since the '60s. And in case your sarcasm detector is off, I can't stand people who hate on America for no good reason, particularly if the people are Americans themselves.
I'd say the only people who really have a reason to hate America at this point are Israelis, the English, Native Americans, Hawaiians and maybe the Japanese. I would add African Americans, too, but the ones who were slaves are dead already and the rest get Affirmative Action.
France has no reason to be mad at us. I mean, we've saved their asses so many times it's not even funny. Well, actually it is funny. China? We never did anything to them, except popularize their food and rape the culture of Chinese immigrants. Russia? Well, there was the Cold War, but they've started pretty much every conflict they were involved with. Russia hates everyone. Canada is just mad because nobody ever gives them a second thought. America is like Canada's meaner, sexier, dumber twin that never gets grounded for being out till 4 AM. Why should Mexico hate us? We bring them tourism. Business. Moolah. The ones who make it over the border into the U.S. get jobs and a home. Seriously, I've never seen a homeless Mexican in the U.S. We haven't had a war with them since the 19th century. Africa? Well, I don't know if Africa hates us. They seem to have enough problems on their hands just fighting with each other.
Israelis ought to hate us because we were supposed to protect them against Palestine, and instead we're pulling our soldiers out of the Middle East and abandoning them so they can get blown up more by Palestinians. English ought to hate us because our forefathers were spoiled white aristocrats who didn't want to pay taxes and started a revolution so we could have a country where slavery was legal...basically we stole the land that they claimed (which was stolen from Native Americans). Everyone knows why Native Americans should hate us. Hawaiians should hate us because we basically did to them what we did to Native Americans...I'm not even sure if there was a reason, other than to flex our hypothetical muscles. Japan should be a little mad. They pwned us first, it was fitting that we should pwn them back. But we went just a wee bit too far....
Now, I can see why other countries would hate us, even without an obvious reason to. We use up about 25% of the world's resources when our population is only 5% of the world. Our nation's economy is based on how much our people can buy and consume. Our entire culture is based on materialism, superficiality, and laziness (so basically, it's not much different from France's culture). There are a lot of things that the American people ought to be ashamed of. But there is a clear difference between being ashamed of who we are, and HATING who we are.
Most people who hate their country will generally leave to live in a better one. So why don't the people who hate America leave here? I'll tell you why. Because the people who openly hate America are rich here, famous here, powerful here. Because they want all of the freedoms with none of the responsibilities. Because they know that they will never find another country as free and lavish as America. And most of all, it's because their open hatred of America will never be as strong as their closeted hatred of every other culture in the world.
Would you rather live in a communist nation, where doctors who save people's lives on a daily basis get paid as much as someone who makes your food? Would you rather live in a country that isn't industrialized, and where only people in power are allowed to have cars while everyone else has to walk barefoot for 20 miles to get to a job where they're only paid $3 a week? How about living in a country where you have no privacy, and the amount of children you are allowed to have is restricted by the government?
I'll tell you who wants to live in a country like this -- the people in power. That's why celebrities who are America Haters never get reprimanded. The more the average Joe is influenced to hate the way America is now, the more the average Joe will be willing to sacrifice his freedoms in order to see it "change". The more the average Joe sacrifices his freedoms for change, the more we will see America become just another one of these countries where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, until sooner or later doctors get paid McDonald's minimum wage, only the president gets a car while the rest of us walk, and the government tells us how many children we can or cannot have.
Don't be fooled by the latest fad. Sure, there are certain things about our culture that we should change (like how much we consume, for instance), but don't sacrifice your freedoms because some boob on television said it was the only way other countries will like us. It's a given that other countries are gonna hate us because of our amazing success. Our nation started out in the same place it took other countries centuries to get to. Of course they're going to be bitter. I admit we shouldn't be complacent -- we should always be aware of our faults and try to better ourselves. But by sitting there and hating the country you're in, you aren't going to better anything.
I leave you now with some classic wisdom by The Beatles:
"You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right"
Just kidding. It's not a new fad because it's been around since the '60s. And in case your sarcasm detector is off, I can't stand people who hate on America for no good reason, particularly if the people are Americans themselves.
I'd say the only people who really have a reason to hate America at this point are Israelis, the English, Native Americans, Hawaiians and maybe the Japanese. I would add African Americans, too, but the ones who were slaves are dead already and the rest get Affirmative Action.
France has no reason to be mad at us. I mean, we've saved their asses so many times it's not even funny. Well, actually it is funny. China? We never did anything to them, except popularize their food and rape the culture of Chinese immigrants. Russia? Well, there was the Cold War, but they've started pretty much every conflict they were involved with. Russia hates everyone. Canada is just mad because nobody ever gives them a second thought. America is like Canada's meaner, sexier, dumber twin that never gets grounded for being out till 4 AM. Why should Mexico hate us? We bring them tourism. Business. Moolah. The ones who make it over the border into the U.S. get jobs and a home. Seriously, I've never seen a homeless Mexican in the U.S. We haven't had a war with them since the 19th century. Africa? Well, I don't know if Africa hates us. They seem to have enough problems on their hands just fighting with each other.
Israelis ought to hate us because we were supposed to protect them against Palestine, and instead we're pulling our soldiers out of the Middle East and abandoning them so they can get blown up more by Palestinians. English ought to hate us because our forefathers were spoiled white aristocrats who didn't want to pay taxes and started a revolution so we could have a country where slavery was legal...basically we stole the land that they claimed (which was stolen from Native Americans). Everyone knows why Native Americans should hate us. Hawaiians should hate us because we basically did to them what we did to Native Americans...I'm not even sure if there was a reason, other than to flex our hypothetical muscles. Japan should be a little mad. They pwned us first, it was fitting that we should pwn them back. But we went just a wee bit too far....
Now, I can see why other countries would hate us, even without an obvious reason to. We use up about 25% of the world's resources when our population is only 5% of the world. Our nation's economy is based on how much our people can buy and consume. Our entire culture is based on materialism, superficiality, and laziness (so basically, it's not much different from France's culture). There are a lot of things that the American people ought to be ashamed of. But there is a clear difference between being ashamed of who we are, and HATING who we are.
Most people who hate their country will generally leave to live in a better one. So why don't the people who hate America leave here? I'll tell you why. Because the people who openly hate America are rich here, famous here, powerful here. Because they want all of the freedoms with none of the responsibilities. Because they know that they will never find another country as free and lavish as America. And most of all, it's because their open hatred of America will never be as strong as their closeted hatred of every other culture in the world.
Would you rather live in a communist nation, where doctors who save people's lives on a daily basis get paid as much as someone who makes your food? Would you rather live in a country that isn't industrialized, and where only people in power are allowed to have cars while everyone else has to walk barefoot for 20 miles to get to a job where they're only paid $3 a week? How about living in a country where you have no privacy, and the amount of children you are allowed to have is restricted by the government?
I'll tell you who wants to live in a country like this -- the people in power. That's why celebrities who are America Haters never get reprimanded. The more the average Joe is influenced to hate the way America is now, the more the average Joe will be willing to sacrifice his freedoms in order to see it "change". The more the average Joe sacrifices his freedoms for change, the more we will see America become just another one of these countries where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, until sooner or later doctors get paid McDonald's minimum wage, only the president gets a car while the rest of us walk, and the government tells us how many children we can or cannot have.
Don't be fooled by the latest fad. Sure, there are certain things about our culture that we should change (like how much we consume, for instance), but don't sacrifice your freedoms because some boob on television said it was the only way other countries will like us. It's a given that other countries are gonna hate us because of our amazing success. Our nation started out in the same place it took other countries centuries to get to. Of course they're going to be bitter. I admit we shouldn't be complacent -- we should always be aware of our faults and try to better ourselves. But by sitting there and hating the country you're in, you aren't going to better anything.
I leave you now with some classic wisdom by The Beatles:
"You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right"
Friday, January 23, 2009
Things that Bother Me - A LOT
There are a lot of things that bother me. Call me overly sensitive, or a bitch, or what have you. I can understand how someone who gets bothered by things often can be a real downer. But you know, I have my reasons. Maybe after reading some of these things, you'll have reasons to be annoyed by these things too.
1. Television programs these days. Shows like Desperate Housewives, Hanna Montana *shudder*, and I Love New York.
First, let's start with Desperate Housewives, a dramedy that glorifies vanity, promiscuity/infidelity, and over-dramafying everything. I'll admit, I've never even watched a single episode, simply because the name of it bothered me so much. You may be asking how I know what the show is about if I've never watched it. Well, I've seen the previews, which were enough for me. I've also heard fans of the show talking about it, and those fans are pretty much just as mindless and annoying as the characters on the show. The women depicted in the show not only make all housewives seem desperate, but also the whole female species. Why would I want to waste my time and money to watch a show that makes women look like idiots who want sex all the time? If I wanted to see that, I'd go to a frat party.
Next, Hanna Montana. The plotless, pointless glorification of talentless teenyboppers. I don't just mean the show, either. I mean the whole Miley Cyrus/Hanna Montana legacy in general. What's more annoying than seeing her odd, fake smile everywhere, and hearing little girls babbling on an on about how "like, awesome" she "totally" is? Not to mention the fact that she appeals to old groaty men just as much as she does to young girls. I find it strange that the jailbait phenomenon keeps presenting us with younger and younger specimens. Remember that contraversial photo shoot that took place not long after she started getting really popular? How did the photographer get away with that? Seriously, how does nobody get offended by things like that? I don't even have kids (never plan to, either), and I was like "holy crap, I hope my daughter would never do that!" Get photographed naked, I mean.
And lastly, I Love New York. Frankly, I hate pretty much all reality television. But these ones where people go on television and make complete idiots of themselves are just pointless and make me want to puke at the thought that this is what humanity has come to. People go on this show, compete with each other to "win the heart" of some ignorant, annoying, pseudo-attractive bimbos, and the way they do it is by sleeping with each other. It's basically free soft-core porn. And people would rather watch this than go out and live life. Why? Seriously, why? When I surf through channels and take a peek at shows like this for just a minute, I physically feel my I.Q. drop.
2. Politics. In this blog, I will be talking about politics a lot. Not because I like them or even particularly care about them. It's because I hate them. There has never been any such thing as a successful government. Sure, there are governments that "work" for the time being, but it's fluid, it always changes. There has never been a government that works permentently, especially not without becoming corrupt in the process. Humans are untrustworthy. That's how it always will be. And it's all because of one simple thing -- power. People can't get enough. I've said it before, and I will continue to say it for the rest of my life: I hate the government. I realize there has to be some sort of authority that keeps the masses in line to insure that everyone is able to retain and exercise their rights, but as long as that governing force is human, it will be flawed. Freedom is not truly free, nor will it ever be, due to this simple fact. Politics, to me, is just a reminder of how messed up every single system of government is. It's depressing.
3. Liars. Honestly, how hard is it just to be an honest person? When you lie, you complicate things for everyone involved. Why is it so important to have more, to be better than everyone else? What will lying accomplish other than shattering people's trust in others?
4. Headlights that change color or blink, or are really bright. I know this is a ridiculous one but headlights that do that confuse me and force me to drive really defensively because I can't see anything other than the headlights. Usually people with really fancy cars (Lexus, Infiniti) or annoyingly customized SUV's have these kinds of lights. They distract me from the road. I absolutely hate them.
5. Totally inconsiderate people. Such as: loud next-door neighbors, people who blast rap in their cars, children who act way too wild (and the parents that allow them to), people who cut others off in traffic, people who talk in the movie theater, litterers, and theives.
6. Totally evil people. Such as: murderers, pedophiles, rapists, greedy people, terrorists, and Bill Gates.
7. Injustice. A recent example of this would be Obama signing an order closing down Guantanamo Bay, and in doing so, releasing terrorists into our midst.
8. Barack Obama. Too many reasons to list right now.
9. Death. All the unanswered questions that come with it. The pain, the sadness, the fear of what may come afterward. I still really miss my pet rabbit :(
10. Judgmentalism. Tupac Shakur once said "Only God can judge me." Apparently everyone thinks they're God these days. People judge you on what you wear, how you look, what you say, where you're from, what gender you are, who you're with, and what the weather's like. In some cases it comes in handy (chances are, if the person says they think your mouth looks pretty, you should avoid crossing them in a dark alley). But in most cases, judgmentalism is pointless. It's just a way to hurt others. The person saying you're ugly is just trying to make themselves feel better. Usually it doesn't work, and it just perpetuates anger and sadness in everyone. Only God knows the state of everyone's heart. You should definitely leave the judging to Him.
That's all I care to write at the moment. More to come.
1. Television programs these days. Shows like Desperate Housewives, Hanna Montana *shudder*, and I Love New York.
First, let's start with Desperate Housewives, a dramedy that glorifies vanity, promiscuity/infidelity, and over-dramafying everything. I'll admit, I've never even watched a single episode, simply because the name of it bothered me so much. You may be asking how I know what the show is about if I've never watched it. Well, I've seen the previews, which were enough for me. I've also heard fans of the show talking about it, and those fans are pretty much just as mindless and annoying as the characters on the show. The women depicted in the show not only make all housewives seem desperate, but also the whole female species. Why would I want to waste my time and money to watch a show that makes women look like idiots who want sex all the time? If I wanted to see that, I'd go to a frat party.
Next, Hanna Montana. The plotless, pointless glorification of talentless teenyboppers. I don't just mean the show, either. I mean the whole Miley Cyrus/Hanna Montana legacy in general. What's more annoying than seeing her odd, fake smile everywhere, and hearing little girls babbling on an on about how "like, awesome" she "totally" is? Not to mention the fact that she appeals to old groaty men just as much as she does to young girls. I find it strange that the jailbait phenomenon keeps presenting us with younger and younger specimens. Remember that contraversial photo shoot that took place not long after she started getting really popular? How did the photographer get away with that? Seriously, how does nobody get offended by things like that? I don't even have kids (never plan to, either), and I was like "holy crap, I hope my daughter would never do that!" Get photographed naked, I mean.
And lastly, I Love New York. Frankly, I hate pretty much all reality television. But these ones where people go on television and make complete idiots of themselves are just pointless and make me want to puke at the thought that this is what humanity has come to. People go on this show, compete with each other to "win the heart" of some ignorant, annoying, pseudo-attractive bimbos, and the way they do it is by sleeping with each other. It's basically free soft-core porn. And people would rather watch this than go out and live life. Why? Seriously, why? When I surf through channels and take a peek at shows like this for just a minute, I physically feel my I.Q. drop.
2. Politics. In this blog, I will be talking about politics a lot. Not because I like them or even particularly care about them. It's because I hate them. There has never been any such thing as a successful government. Sure, there are governments that "work" for the time being, but it's fluid, it always changes. There has never been a government that works permentently, especially not without becoming corrupt in the process. Humans are untrustworthy. That's how it always will be. And it's all because of one simple thing -- power. People can't get enough. I've said it before, and I will continue to say it for the rest of my life: I hate the government. I realize there has to be some sort of authority that keeps the masses in line to insure that everyone is able to retain and exercise their rights, but as long as that governing force is human, it will be flawed. Freedom is not truly free, nor will it ever be, due to this simple fact. Politics, to me, is just a reminder of how messed up every single system of government is. It's depressing.
3. Liars. Honestly, how hard is it just to be an honest person? When you lie, you complicate things for everyone involved. Why is it so important to have more, to be better than everyone else? What will lying accomplish other than shattering people's trust in others?
4. Headlights that change color or blink, or are really bright. I know this is a ridiculous one but headlights that do that confuse me and force me to drive really defensively because I can't see anything other than the headlights. Usually people with really fancy cars (Lexus, Infiniti) or annoyingly customized SUV's have these kinds of lights. They distract me from the road. I absolutely hate them.
5. Totally inconsiderate people. Such as: loud next-door neighbors, people who blast rap in their cars, children who act way too wild (and the parents that allow them to), people who cut others off in traffic, people who talk in the movie theater, litterers, and theives.
6. Totally evil people. Such as: murderers, pedophiles, rapists, greedy people, terrorists, and Bill Gates.
7. Injustice. A recent example of this would be Obama signing an order closing down Guantanamo Bay, and in doing so, releasing terrorists into our midst.
8. Barack Obama. Too many reasons to list right now.
9. Death. All the unanswered questions that come with it. The pain, the sadness, the fear of what may come afterward. I still really miss my pet rabbit :(
10. Judgmentalism. Tupac Shakur once said "Only God can judge me." Apparently everyone thinks they're God these days. People judge you on what you wear, how you look, what you say, where you're from, what gender you are, who you're with, and what the weather's like. In some cases it comes in handy (chances are, if the person says they think your mouth looks pretty, you should avoid crossing them in a dark alley). But in most cases, judgmentalism is pointless. It's just a way to hurt others. The person saying you're ugly is just trying to make themselves feel better. Usually it doesn't work, and it just perpetuates anger and sadness in everyone. Only God knows the state of everyone's heart. You should definitely leave the judging to Him.
That's all I care to write at the moment. More to come.
Thoughts on the Post-Modern World
On the one hand, there's a part of me who is prepared to accept life as it is. Not so much like I'm not trying to better myself or my position in life...but just being grateful for what I have, trying not to want more than I need. Enjoying every little bit. The most influential, wise, and great people have done this...many of which lived in poverty. I want to be like this. I want to be okay with what I have, even if I one day end up with nothing.
On the other hand, there's a part of me who is defiant, trying to go against the grain, not wanting to settle for what I have or where I am for fear that it is simply a means of control by whatever powers that be. Call it stupid, or paranoid, or whatever. I don't know why I have this irrational fear. At times it seems like it's selfish, that it's materialism...but it also feels like I'm being aware. Maybe it's the idea everyone's pounding in my head, that the only way to be successful and move up in life is to have things... a home, a career, a family. Food on the table every night. Water to take showers with.
At the same time, it's a completely ridiculous idea. Are the people in Africa losers because they don't have clean water to drink? Are they failures because they have very little resources to feed and raise their children with? Granted, there are a lot of people there who can't help themselves there the way people in America can help themselves here, but it's the principle of it. You'll find that the people in 2nd and 3rd world countries are far more grateful for the 2 pennies they have, than people in industrial nations who have all the riches in the world. I want that peace of mind. I want to be able to say, "Hey...whatever happens, happens. And that's okay." I mean, think about it. The less you have, the less there is to lose.
Why should I have to model my life after what the mainstream wants? Why should I have to go my whole life feeling that I'm ugly because I'm not like the girls on TV, or feeling left out because I don't have the same cell phone that everyone else has, or feeling depressed because I don't have a job as a corporate slave; a home so I can feel like I belong in the big city; money so I can pay the conglomerates, so they can pay the government, so they can brainwash us with more commercials, so the cycle can start all over again? Why should I want that? As much as I love things, the convenience of technology, and the comfort of having an identity and a home, I DON'T WANT IT. The more I fill my life with material possessions and distractions, the more alone I feel. The more things we buy, as a society, the more we build our walls and separate ourselves.
I'll give you an example. The first time my mom and step-dad allowed the internet into our home was with WebTV. I will just note that my mom is a technophobe. I say this with love. But yes, she was very hesitant at first, almost didn't want to touch the thing. She would let my sister and I go on all day, because she just wasn't interested in it. Then, after giving it another try, she found out she loved it. Soon she was timing my sister and me, cutting down our hours spent on WebTV until finally she cut us off completely and used it all for herself. For those months that we had the internet at our convenience, we lost our mother. She just wasn't the same person. And even before this, when she had a word processor (this was the early 90's and she was a writer, mind you), she would spend pretty much all day just staring at a screen. Before that, it was soap operas. And so on and so forth.
My point here is that with every new technological developments, or other developments in pop culture, there sometimes comes very strong obsession. I know not every person has an "addictive personality" per se, and not everyone gets obsessed with the same thing. But people don't know just how dependent they are on whatever they care most about until they don't have it anymore. Ever hear of a little thing called planned obsolescence? Its the reason computers crash, cell phones need to be replaced every 2 years, and cars run like crap after half a decade. It's to keep people wanting more, NEEDING more, so that they become dependent on things instead of their own wits. This isn't a conspiracy theory, it's actually a well-known marketing tactic that's been around FOREVER. The more I see of it, the more I hate what modern technology and material possessions in general have done to mankind. What I hate most is when I fall into it, when I start believing it.
Maybe I just need a break from the world. I know that won't fix the problem, but it would probably help me feel less stressed for a while. I need to unplug myself from the extension chord of television, internet, cell phones...everything. Truthfully, I don't care about "success", at least not the kind of success that society expects me to commit myself to. If success is having a big-screen TV in the living room of my 2 story executive home in the suburbs of Beverly Hills, where all the other rich, beautiful people are, then I don't want it, and I will NEVER strive to be like that. Those brainless tools on reality shows, and in night clubs, wiping their asses with $100 bills without a care of other people in the world because they're too distracted by their call with their CEO partners... those people who think saving the world is possible by BUYING a fuel efficient luxury car... those people who honestly think that buying a bottle of water named after a 3rd world country will save a starving Ethiopian child's life... the people who force their children to go to Harvard when what they really want is to be a writer or join the Peace Corps... and even people like me. The Average American, who has not too much, not too little. Who are we to judge what success is?
I say, success is what you make it. If you are doing all that you can to make the world a better place, and to make yourself a better person.... THAT is what counts most in life. Sure, part of me wants to get a Doctorate degree in whatever, make lots of money in a job I hate, have a dysfunctional family and spoiled children who will grow up to be the dumb broads on The Simple Life. But that part of me is not really me...it's the collective bullcrap idea of what I'm SUPPOSED to be doing with my life. The real me wants to go out with nothing more than the clothes on my back, my car, and whatever money I have saved up, travel the world, live like Jack Kerouac and write a novel that MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. A good difference. I want to walk across the desert and see God, tell everyone around me there's a place much better than this, where we won't ever need or want things again, because we'll already have it. And it's something greater than any computer or cell phone or McDonalds franchise can ever give us. I want to help feed the starving children in Africa, and to hell with any worries of what might happen to me. I want to break down that hypothetical wall, crawl out of the solitary confinement I've sentenced myself to through my addiction to things. I just want to DO something, to actually LIVE life away from a screen.
And I hope I can make it happen soon.
On the other hand, there's a part of me who is defiant, trying to go against the grain, not wanting to settle for what I have or where I am for fear that it is simply a means of control by whatever powers that be. Call it stupid, or paranoid, or whatever. I don't know why I have this irrational fear. At times it seems like it's selfish, that it's materialism...but it also feels like I'm being aware. Maybe it's the idea everyone's pounding in my head, that the only way to be successful and move up in life is to have things... a home, a career, a family. Food on the table every night. Water to take showers with.
At the same time, it's a completely ridiculous idea. Are the people in Africa losers because they don't have clean water to drink? Are they failures because they have very little resources to feed and raise their children with? Granted, there are a lot of people there who can't help themselves there the way people in America can help themselves here, but it's the principle of it. You'll find that the people in 2nd and 3rd world countries are far more grateful for the 2 pennies they have, than people in industrial nations who have all the riches in the world. I want that peace of mind. I want to be able to say, "Hey...whatever happens, happens. And that's okay." I mean, think about it. The less you have, the less there is to lose.
Why should I have to model my life after what the mainstream wants? Why should I have to go my whole life feeling that I'm ugly because I'm not like the girls on TV, or feeling left out because I don't have the same cell phone that everyone else has, or feeling depressed because I don't have a job as a corporate slave; a home so I can feel like I belong in the big city; money so I can pay the conglomerates, so they can pay the government, so they can brainwash us with more commercials, so the cycle can start all over again? Why should I want that? As much as I love things, the convenience of technology, and the comfort of having an identity and a home, I DON'T WANT IT. The more I fill my life with material possessions and distractions, the more alone I feel. The more things we buy, as a society, the more we build our walls and separate ourselves.
I'll give you an example. The first time my mom and step-dad allowed the internet into our home was with WebTV. I will just note that my mom is a technophobe. I say this with love. But yes, she was very hesitant at first, almost didn't want to touch the thing. She would let my sister and I go on all day, because she just wasn't interested in it. Then, after giving it another try, she found out she loved it. Soon she was timing my sister and me, cutting down our hours spent on WebTV until finally she cut us off completely and used it all for herself. For those months that we had the internet at our convenience, we lost our mother. She just wasn't the same person. And even before this, when she had a word processor (this was the early 90's and she was a writer, mind you), she would spend pretty much all day just staring at a screen. Before that, it was soap operas. And so on and so forth.
My point here is that with every new technological developments, or other developments in pop culture, there sometimes comes very strong obsession. I know not every person has an "addictive personality" per se, and not everyone gets obsessed with the same thing. But people don't know just how dependent they are on whatever they care most about until they don't have it anymore. Ever hear of a little thing called planned obsolescence? Its the reason computers crash, cell phones need to be replaced every 2 years, and cars run like crap after half a decade. It's to keep people wanting more, NEEDING more, so that they become dependent on things instead of their own wits. This isn't a conspiracy theory, it's actually a well-known marketing tactic that's been around FOREVER. The more I see of it, the more I hate what modern technology and material possessions in general have done to mankind. What I hate most is when I fall into it, when I start believing it.
Maybe I just need a break from the world. I know that won't fix the problem, but it would probably help me feel less stressed for a while. I need to unplug myself from the extension chord of television, internet, cell phones...everything. Truthfully, I don't care about "success", at least not the kind of success that society expects me to commit myself to. If success is having a big-screen TV in the living room of my 2 story executive home in the suburbs of Beverly Hills, where all the other rich, beautiful people are, then I don't want it, and I will NEVER strive to be like that. Those brainless tools on reality shows, and in night clubs, wiping their asses with $100 bills without a care of other people in the world because they're too distracted by their call with their CEO partners... those people who think saving the world is possible by BUYING a fuel efficient luxury car... those people who honestly think that buying a bottle of water named after a 3rd world country will save a starving Ethiopian child's life... the people who force their children to go to Harvard when what they really want is to be a writer or join the Peace Corps... and even people like me. The Average American, who has not too much, not too little. Who are we to judge what success is?
I say, success is what you make it. If you are doing all that you can to make the world a better place, and to make yourself a better person.... THAT is what counts most in life. Sure, part of me wants to get a Doctorate degree in whatever, make lots of money in a job I hate, have a dysfunctional family and spoiled children who will grow up to be the dumb broads on The Simple Life. But that part of me is not really me...it's the collective bullcrap idea of what I'm SUPPOSED to be doing with my life. The real me wants to go out with nothing more than the clothes on my back, my car, and whatever money I have saved up, travel the world, live like Jack Kerouac and write a novel that MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. A good difference. I want to walk across the desert and see God, tell everyone around me there's a place much better than this, where we won't ever need or want things again, because we'll already have it. And it's something greater than any computer or cell phone or McDonalds franchise can ever give us. I want to help feed the starving children in Africa, and to hell with any worries of what might happen to me. I want to break down that hypothetical wall, crawl out of the solitary confinement I've sentenced myself to through my addiction to things. I just want to DO something, to actually LIVE life away from a screen.
And I hope I can make it happen soon.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Very First Blog
Well, I've been flirting with the idea of making a blog for some time now, but it took a lot of stuff to finally light a fire under me to get me to start it. If anyone reads it, that's good. If nobody reads it, that's okay too. The point is just to get my ideas out there. My opinions. And boy, do I ever have any.
I'll just start by saying a bit about myself. I'm a 20 year old college student (and you know that means I'm opinionated), and I really, really don't like the government. Why, you may ask? The reasons change. Honestly, it doesn't matter what the government does or does not do...it's the principle of it. The fact that the people who compose the inner workings of our government have so much power by doing so little, and they abuse this power -- let's just say I'm not alright with that. I don't trust the media, and I don't trust fast food. But hey, it's a brave new world. Sometimes you've just got to bite the bullet (or in this case the Big Mac) and deal with it.
Here on the internet, however, I can feel however I want and say whatever I want about these mundane things. And believe me, I will, whether or not my opinions are supported by facts. Isn't that what every other blog does these days?
Anyhow, that's all I have to say for now.
I'll just start by saying a bit about myself. I'm a 20 year old college student (and you know that means I'm opinionated), and I really, really don't like the government. Why, you may ask? The reasons change. Honestly, it doesn't matter what the government does or does not do...it's the principle of it. The fact that the people who compose the inner workings of our government have so much power by doing so little, and they abuse this power -- let's just say I'm not alright with that. I don't trust the media, and I don't trust fast food. But hey, it's a brave new world. Sometimes you've just got to bite the bullet (or in this case the Big Mac) and deal with it.
Here on the internet, however, I can feel however I want and say whatever I want about these mundane things. And believe me, I will, whether or not my opinions are supported by facts. Isn't that what every other blog does these days?
Anyhow, that's all I have to say for now.
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