Just some scary pondering.
I'm not posting this on Facebook because I know the horrible flamewar it
will spark but I wanted to write down some disturbing musings I've had today.
As the country is falling deeper into unemployment and recession I think of
two other countries that went different ways when confronted with a deeper,
but similar situation.
One country held strong, united with itself and worked to build itself out of
a deep depression, went to war and clawed its way out with a victory to become
the strongest nation on Earth. The other country divided itself, built its
economy and populist pride in going to war and lost only to become truly divided
for 50 years.
Right now I worry about something I see going on in this country and see some things
that keep me up at night.
I see a nation divided with unreasoning hatred between the groups. I admit to standing
firmly on one side and so my vision is skewed but I have also frequently asked for
real debate and understanding with those who have opposite views but very rarely
find any.
I worry about a propaganda news machine that runs 24 hours a day and tells its viewers
to trust no other news source even when that news has been shown frequently to
give skewed, altered or totally untrue news and opinion.
I worry about a group's leaders who cite altered history to fit their message and their
followers who attempt to change sources of that history. (wikipedia, textbooks)
I worry about a group who don't want to engage in honest debate with real facts
but instead constantly rely on buzzwords, hatespeech and threats. Who have a love
and fascination with guns and violence.
I worry about a group who lives on a tide of patriotism and who decry the decline of our
once great nation on homosexuals, members of differing religions or immigrants.
I worry about the fact that common sense seems a weak voice in the cacophony of
slogans and speeches designed more for emotional impact than reality.
I worry that intelligence is considered elitist and where people prefer the pandering
of idiots who say what they want to hear over those who are working in the interests
of the country.
I worry about people who are more interested in power and getting over the other
guy more than about the fate of their own nation they claim to love so much.
I worry about the fate of the elderly, the poor, the sick and mental who need help but
are the first to lose in the current climate.
I worry about a group who thinks corporations operate with the good of the people as
their primary concern.
I worry about people who feel it is better to make money than to keep our air and
water clean or to preserve the land.
I worry about desperation dividing us instead of uniting us.
I know there are people on the other side who believe in honor, courage, kindness,
strength and country and who feel that I am the demon they have to excise. They
can't understand that I feel I am fighting the good fight because they are convinced
their side is.
Both of those nations climbed out of situations far worse than what we currently exist
in to become the most powerful nations on Earth. But only one became the symbol of what
the world wanted to be while the other became the symbol of the worst man can become.
will spark but I wanted to write down some disturbing musings I've had today.
As the country is falling deeper into unemployment and recession I think of
two other countries that went different ways when confronted with a deeper,
but similar situation.
One country held strong, united with itself and worked to build itself out of
a deep depression, went to war and clawed its way out with a victory to become
the strongest nation on Earth. The other country divided itself, built its
economy and populist pride in going to war and lost only to become truly divided
for 50 years.
Right now I worry about something I see going on in this country and see some things
that keep me up at night.
I see a nation divided with unreasoning hatred between the groups. I admit to standing
firmly on one side and so my vision is skewed but I have also frequently asked for
real debate and understanding with those who have opposite views but very rarely
find any.
I worry about a propaganda news machine that runs 24 hours a day and tells its viewers
to trust no other news source even when that news has been shown frequently to
give skewed, altered or totally untrue news and opinion.
I worry about a group's leaders who cite altered history to fit their message and their
followers who attempt to change sources of that history. (wikipedia, textbooks)
I worry about a group who don't want to engage in honest debate with real facts
but instead constantly rely on buzzwords, hatespeech and threats. Who have a love
and fascination with guns and violence.
I worry about a group who lives on a tide of patriotism and who decry the decline of our
once great nation on homosexuals, members of differing religions or immigrants.
I worry about the fact that common sense seems a weak voice in the cacophony of
slogans and speeches designed more for emotional impact than reality.
I worry that intelligence is considered elitist and where people prefer the pandering
of idiots who say what they want to hear over those who are working in the interests
of the country.
I worry about people who are more interested in power and getting over the other
guy more than about the fate of their own nation they claim to love so much.
I worry about the fate of the elderly, the poor, the sick and mental who need help but
are the first to lose in the current climate.
I worry about a group who thinks corporations operate with the good of the people as
their primary concern.
I worry about people who feel it is better to make money than to keep our air and
water clean or to preserve the land.
I worry about desperation dividing us instead of uniting us.
I know there are people on the other side who believe in honor, courage, kindness,
strength and country and who feel that I am the demon they have to excise. They
can't understand that I feel I am fighting the good fight because they are convinced
their side is.
Both of those nations climbed out of situations far worse than what we currently exist
in to become the most powerful nations on Earth. But only one became the symbol of what
the world wanted to be while the other became the symbol of the worst man can become.