America isn't dead unless we let it die. We have to force ourselves to live up to our dream and our potential. It requires people who see the shortfalls and want to make us be better. It means that instead of running away, people like us need to run for office.
And rant
And protest
And be a general nuisance if necessary.
Ornery!
Or the war-mongers who think bullets are the one best solution will always win. They have the money and the emotion backing them. But the hangover from these parties is painful. That's why you can't leave, because we will all need hangover remedies from our favorite doctor.
This made me think of the lyrics to a song by the band Propagandhi. The song is called Resisting Tyrannical Government and has some interesting lyrics (WARNING: some potentially offensive language in the song)
The lines this comment of Bobs made me think of were these:
quote: and yes, i recognize the irony that the very system i oppose affords me the luxury of biting the hand that feeds. but that's exactly why priviledged f$#@s like me should feel obliged to whine and kick and scream- until everyone has everything they need
Should we, as citizens of democratic nations feel the obligation to make things better for everyone else? I know that I struggle with guilt over how much I am blessed with and how little most people in many nations of the world have. The idea that we have a responsibility to humanity in general, and not just ourselves/our family/our nation, resonates with me. I feel like there is nothing I can do to help those in worse situations than me. And then I feel guilty that I complain about not having enough money for high-speed internet at home or that digital camera that I want.
The amount I pay for a month of dial-up could probably feed several families for that same period of time. I don't struggle with this all the time, but I feel like there must be some fundamental change that could be made to benefit society. It seems like the world has enough resources that it could support all the residents but we are too hung up on the financial system that "makes the world go round". I feel guilty that I am little more than an "futon revolutionist" to quote The Weakerthans. I don't like the system, but I don't know how to change it. It makes me feel really small and insignificant when I think about the number of people it would take to effect a change on the capitalist nature of the world.
Edited to fix quotes
[ May 03, 2004, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: solo ]
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It's a good question, what sucks is it's also one of those that has been theorized to death. What to do, what to do.
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Well, if everyone gave 1/10th of their income to help others, I think that would do it. That's what I do. It's a good start, anyway.
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Thanks, Anne Kate, that helps to put things in perspective a little more. I do that as well, but I have been doing it so long that I don't even really remember that I am doing it all the time. I think that I need to remember that I am doing something, even if it still doeesn't always feel like much. That makes me feel a little better about what I am doing with my comparative wealth.
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