October 2, 2007

• I had myself a little rant on my dear friend's blog, and wanted to save it, so i'm sticking it here. Context: the current war, definitions of patriotism, and the importance of active & diverse forms of discourse. She's always been rather wordy, and given me lots of food for thought during the (gosh!) 12 or so years I've known her. It made being roommates our freshman year quite interesting. She & I both grew up in a well-educated area which once served as a hotbed of 18th century radical thought and revolutionary ideals- and i dunno if there was something in the water there, or maybe my father had too many history books, but at a young age I developed a deep & abiding love for early American history. This comes out occasionally in conversation.

  Anyways, it's kinda different than my usual beads and rabbits kind of entry, so I guess my inner DAR hath revealed itself.  On the same point, I also value the fact that I live in a country where I'm pretty sure I can write about these kinds of things publicly and not fear retribution from tyrranical authorities. There are places, even among Xangans overseas, where you just can't. Though it's entirely possible my name might turn up on some secret government list somewhere. Yipes.

  Anyways, I just didn't want to startle anyone with unexpected non-artsy discourse.

  ---

  .....I think it's absurd to say that it's not possible to be against the war
  and still support the troops. It's an illogical kneejerk reaction toassume the two things are mutually exclusive. Just because I hate the
  mission, and especially the warmongering principles behind it, doesn't
  mean i don't feel empathy for the experiences of the people in the
  midst of battle who are trying to do their best while in harm's way. If
  I'd lived during the Vietnam era I would have hated that whole
  shitstorm, too, but I would have still wanted my father to do a good
  job and come home safely.

  But you know, we live in a scary
  time where people don't think for themselves anymore, and they are
  constantly fed the idea that the best mode of action is mindless
  reaction. They allow themselves to be bullied and brainwashed into
  believing that any other perspective is "unpatriotic". Armchair patriots
  piss me off to no end. Everybody talks like they want to fight for
  freedom, but they all think it means the right to 99 cent cheeseburgers
  and a Walmart in every town, and not having to think for yourself.
  Utter bullshit. Thought and active discourse is essential to the preservation of  universal rights & freedoms. Our founding fathers- some of the greatest dissenters
  in human history- would be spinning in their graves if they knew what
  lazy slobs the sons and daughters of liberty have become.

  • 5:17 pm
  • 7 Comments