I’m Mad As Hell…
In today’s time and age, hypocrisy tends to lead sheeple in and out of their daily lives. The American public follows world news with a sorrowful eye, proclaiming “oh the poor Iranians, good for them standing up to their corrupt government” and “damn that Kim Jong-Il and his oppressive regime in Korea.” It’s a pitiful state where people would sacrifice freedom for the sake of national security - Source. When we can no longer feed our children because entertainment is more important, living in dilapidated trailers while owning 52” plasma TVs and X-Box 360s, and people are more concerned about the affairs of foreign nations than the bullshit being propagated in their own country. If a country declares the United States an oppressor we look at that country as a rebel and nuisance, rather than address their legitimate concerns. We meddle, we fight, we disturb, we deform, we force westernization on countries that would be better off left alone, and we manipulate. And the “youth” are no more promising than the current “regime.” “Rebels” complain about the state of affairs in their blogs and YouTube videos (Yes, I realize I’m doing the same thing, bear with me) while scarfing down Taco Bell and McDonald’s and purchasing $150 dollar Nikes and converse sneakers and branding themselves with consumerism. Environmentalist and politically minded college students spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on educations that brainwash them into a false sense of activism, making them think they are making a difference and changing the world when really they are just promoting the same old ideas in new shiny packaging. Liberals and Conservatives are guilty of the same “crimes” as the system keeps degrading. The economy is sinking lower and lower while food and gas prices go up and up. Jobs become more and more scarce as the dollars value sinks and we do nothing to attempt to halt the crash. The revolutionaries of old are our CEOs of today, and todays revolutionaries think sitting at their computer will change the world.
Films like Zeitgeist (The Zeitgeist Movement) are noteworthy and valiant attempts to spread knowledge and fight the disease known as apathy, but it’s not enough. The movie Network is an amazing film, which while dated (1976) is still extremely relevant today. Watch this clip to get an idea of what I mean - “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.” If we sit back and watch the world go by, hoping it will change, we might as well be attempting to self-fellate. It’s useless and in the end we’re just screwing ourselves. Constant, vigilant action is necessary to make change. The film V for Vendetta, while a fictional story is a good example. But why do people always have to wait to be led? Why can’t they begin on their own. Must there always be an instigator, a scapegoat. If things go wrong do we need someone to blame? Why? Be accountable for your own actions, or be held accountable for your inaction.
“Living greener” and “promoting social awareness” isn’t going to change the world we live in. You can recycle all the cans you want and bike instead of drive, and donate to charities and be active in the socio-political world, but that’s not going to change things. The system has been in place for so long that working within the system is just going to corrupt the attempts to improve it. As the newest President of the USA has said, we need change. But much more change that I think he had in mind. It’s only matter of time before the system is defeated, or the system defeats us. Change must come… will the people watch it happen, or be the force behind it?
~Ian
July 16th, 2009 at 07:36:40PM EDT
What is wrong? What is right? Why must things change, and what gives any one person the right to decide how things should be changed. Surely, if change needs to happen, we must be active to not just perpetuate past problems in new packaging, but how, in the end, can we tell what we should be doing? In the end, where everything boils down to an assumption that is being made about the way things are, the only way to act out from that is with faith. Not faith in a God necessarily, but faith that the assumptions we're making are right, or at least the best we have. Does knowing that change is ultimately an act of faith make it more valuable or more disconcerting? You can stand on a pedestal and preach for change, but I defy you to find a real, solid reason that anyone should ever listen to you, much as I wish it were otherwise.
July 16th, 2009 at 07:46:29PM EDT
I promoted no cause, but simply the need for change, as it were. I didn't say what was right, simply that the rapid decline on our society, and world is obvious, and something must be done to remedy it, if that's possible. Would you say that the economy and political situation in the US is doing well right now?
I'm questioning the state of the world we're living in right now, the ineffectual attempts to change it, and looking for a change that might work, not declaring I know what to do. Is there a wrong and a right at all? Or is there simply change vs. a lack thereof? Will different change have any effect at all? Does there need to be an instigator, a scapegoat… a force of nature to affect change? And must change have a direction… a goal? Change for the sake of change might make things worse, but it might make them better. If I look for change we'll find it, it just might not be the change I'm looking for. But it almost might be better. I'm not sure that it's necessary to know what I should be doing, as long as I *am* doing.
And I defy you to find a real, solid reason not to listen.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:05:57PM EDT
My point is that advocating that anyone else do anything is presumptuous and egotistical. If I see the need for change, then I act, and I trust/hope others will do the same. However, I'm never sure what should be done, or if things are really as I perceive them. Certainly I can't say I enjoy the state of our economy or society right now, but I also know my perspective is horribly limited, and that gives me pause.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:25:35PM EDT
Then you're actually doing what I was trying to say. Those who DO wait until others act are the issue I'm attempting to address. You're actually the example I'm attempting to support, act when you see that action is necessary, instead of waiting for someone else to instigate action (my V for Vendetta example). I don't see how advocating action is presumptuous or egotistical, simply a request that people stop waiting for approval to act, and act of their own will.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:26:50PM EDT
You're presuming that your way of thinking is correct and theirs is not, which is egotistical to my mind.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:27:46PM EDT
I'm pretty sure I never said or implied that.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:32:40PM EDT
Your entire post is based around the idea that people who wait are doing things wrong! You may not have said it, but it was most certainly implied, intentionally or not. … smartass
July 16th, 2009 at 08:34:32PM EDT
Quiet you!
But do you disagree with me? That is the question.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:38:41PM EDT
I find that in my own life, I tend to think much the same way about how I should live. I think actively working to make things better is the way to go, if you know how to act to do that. The problem is I mostly don't, and that gives me pause. I disagree however, with asserting that anyone else should think this way. They are free to come to their own conclusions, and though I hope this may be it, I have no interest in trying to sway their thoughts at this time.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:42:41PM EDT
That raises the problem of a lack of change though. Obviously neither of us can, or should force our opinion on others. But if apathy rules the nation, nothing will change that you or I along can't affect, and things will continue to worsen, yes?
July 16th, 2009 at 08:47:49PM EDT
First, what's "worse"? But yes, I do sometimes fear that you're right, but it's still not my place to do anything. I must act, and I must trust others to do the same. That is all.
July 16th, 2009 at 08:50:11PM EDT
"Worse"? Economic depression, completely collapse of social system/government as we know it without any safeguards in place to prevent both the local and world-wise scale anarchy that would follow? The complete disregard for personal liberty (as opposed to the subtle yet only partial disregard for it there is now) by the government and military?
July 16th, 2009 at 08:58:31PM EDT
Ok, I wasn't striking at it at that level. You know very well those are all value judgments, which you are certainly capable of making for yourself, but can you make them for others? We may both be in agreement, and I think many others are as well, but I can't assert those things outside of my own point of view, so how can I ethically try to convince another to adopt that point of view. I'm still ambiguous as to whether even trying to get them to think about it is overstepping bounds, philosophically speaking. (I think this is why people think philosophy is useless, because the common sense approach would be "of course, just fucking tell them what you think and make them bow to your will", but I find it interesting and important to consider these things)
July 16th, 2009 at 09:05:08PM EDT
It is interesting, as well as important to consider these things. I considered them before posting, which is why I bothered posting this rant in the first place heh. I ended up going with my "common" sense and deciding that regardless of if people listened to me, I should say what I have to say. Making people listen isn't truly the point I think… it's putting it out there for people to hear.
July 24th, 2009 at 02:04:49AM EDT
Well, often people fall into a routine. That routine is comfortable, regular, and familiar. If things are gradually getting worse, then people put up with it as long as it doesn't drastically disrupt their routine. That's why you'll have difficulty convincing most people to partake in bringing about social change. They'll pretty much regard you and anyone else as that crazy on a soapbox ranting about issues that they don't see as drastically affecting them.
In the 1960's and 70's, people fought the Vietnam War mostly because of the draft, and that this was not a defensive war. In the World Wars, people felt the draft was justified because the US had been directly attacked and the country needed to shore up the manpower to defend America. Patriotism/Nationalism ran strong. The draft… was tolerable as it was a necessary evil. Vietnam, not so much. During that era, the draft, and subsequently the war, was an unwelcome disruption into the routine people were running. Unless it disrupts people's lives, they don't care, especially if they are complacent.
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