Thursday, August 26, 2010

Freedom Redux

I'm fairly certain that this post will piss off the masses, but for me it is just further 'proof' that myopia, at least in the US, is right up there, with cancer and heart disease, on the list of 'most debilitating diseases'.

We, as citizens of this 'great' country, are as blind and stupid as any mole or lemming has ever aspired to be. We are guided by an ideal that no longer belongs to all but a very few. So, in defense of this assertion, I give you what for me has become the most aggravating statement of all---'They are fighting to preserve my freedom'.

The men and women of our armed forces are no more fighting for my freedom, or yours, than Rush Limbaugh pumped up on amphetamines, although in order for anyone to be fighting for it, it would need to actually exist. Long ago, we gave up any right to call ourselves free, and as long as our freedom is defined and dictated by the real movers and shakers (and by this I mean oil companies, drug companies, financial markets...fuck, I guess I just mean capitalism in general), the lives we lead will continue to devolve upon the extremely narrow path that they allow us. War, beyond all its evils, is simply a profit-making machine, at least for those at the top of the economic hierarchy, and we ordinary citizens pay the piper with the lives of our sons and daughters. And we do it as though it is the most natural thing to do, believing that it is somehow right, believing fallaciously that it is for the benefit of all of us. We cling to the notion of 'common wealth' despite idly sitting by as job markets, housing markets, all markets (not to mention oil rigs) crumble into ashes.

You do have the freedom to continue to believe, but tell me...who is trying to take that away? Yes, you can continue to believe if you choose to, but take a moment, if you will, and examine what they want you to believe in...that a lottery ticket will bring you happiness...that your fat ass child might become the next American Idol...that BP is cleaning up the Gulf out of the kindness of their hearts...that whole grain Chef Boyardee ravioli is good for your kids...that Barack Obama is not just another good ol' boy.

There are only two economic classes remaining in this country...the sinful rich...and everyone else who will never quite get there. We continue to reach out for the holy grail of acquisition, as we go to work each day (at least those who have jobs), in search of the American dream, convinced by the pablum flow that we need more. We all need the same things. None of us need more. And those at the top...the sinful rich...will continue to use the power we give them, to make certain that we never get the things we really need...things like a better life, or a life at all, for our children. The lives of our sons and daughters are worth no more to BP or Smith-Kline than the dollar bill we chase after every day.

So, go on, and continue to believe, as you swallow your next anti-depressant, fully aware that chemically, you feel much better, despite knowing that it might be exploding you stomach, irritating your bowels, increasing your odds of stroking out, decreasing your urine flow, deflating your erection, rotting your liver, stealing you hope, and bringing you a giant step closer to unavoidable death. Don't worry. There's another pill for all those things. We treat symptoms, symptoms that are created for us, because as long as there are symptoms, there is always the possibility of future profits. You can count on your fingers the number of eradicated diseases, because there is no profit in eradicating them. And don't try to tell me that we are not smart enough. The choice has always been to be smart enough to be greedy enough. Go ahead...ask your doctor.

Can I give you a better way? Probably not, but there is one. I don't know what it looks like, but I do know what it contains. It contains genuine concern for every other being on this planet. It contains an altruistic devotion to the common good. It provides for the needs of every living creature on this planet. It ensures the survival of this planet. It sees a common future...a good future...for everyone.

I treated myself to a little pablum flow the other night. I watched the movie 2012. It contained this memorable quote, which I am making up: "Being human is caring about everyone else". Hold on while I laugh hysterically and roll on the floor for a while. You don't give a flying fuck about me...nor do I give a rat's ass about you. If we did, we would choose to live life caring. We would choose to care more about kids than we care about stray dogs. We would choose to cure disease instead of treating it. Who know? Maybe there's a pill for that. Or maybe a nice little war. Or maybe I just need new glasses.

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