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"And I think to myself..."
Where did our wonderful world go?
Taken from: http://www.argonaut.uidaho.edu/archives/012805/opinion2.html
'Hermann Goering, Nazi reichmarshall and Luftwaffe chief said the following at the Nuremberg trials shortly before his death: 'Of course the people don’t want war. But after all it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.'
My dad was right; this government is becoming alarmingly similar to Nazi Germany. My friend Jase has a book leftover from his college days, where the author argues that the holocaust could ONLY have happened in Germany, and ONLY at that time. He argues that the social, economic, and political climate was such that it formed a powder keg; people are essentially good, and nothing like that could have happened anywhere else at any other time. Now, I may not have read the book, but I agree with Jase: While an interesting theory, it's still a load of hooey. Anyone who can study the gradual beginning of the Nazi movement and NOT see eerie parallels to modern America probably hasn't studied well enough. Or is one of those folks who believe the holocaust never happened, and that the world is flat because the bible said so. Ok, I admit, Bush is no Hitler. he's not smart enough. But the folks he surrounded himself with, the frighteningly evil non-human, slimy, bad, bad people- they are another matter. At least Bush was smart enough to put people in place who are worse than he is- no assassin dare take one for the team; the country would be worse off then it is now. Now, before the FBI decides to break down my door and arrest me for threatening the president, that's not what I am doing. I'm just saying any intelligent, would-be assasin is to scared to try- and would be stupid to do it. I would never do something so heinous, not because I happen to like the dim mind who sits with one finger on the button of worldwide doom, but because I have far too much going for me to risk it all. Bleh. besides, this is just a rant.
And for those who think I'm being a wee bit too paranoid, take a look at the "patriot" act, take a look at the abuses of it, take a look at all the ways the various government agencies can sneak their sticky little fingers into some harmless person's life, piss on their rights, and destroy their life. hell, we had a lawyer in portland who spent several months in Guantanamo Bay without a phone call or anyone being notified of his whereabouts, just because his name was similar to that of a terrorists. Lord, we so obviously do not learn from history. Either that, or we do, and the fiends controlling the government are using this knowledge for evil. normally, I don't like to use the word "evil", I feel that it is used incorrectly and that there are very few things in this world that can actually be considered evil. But this country is re-enating global history: there are shades of the early German Nazi movement, American McCarthyism, the Vietnam insanity of 30 years ago, Well. I could go on forever.
My father was complaining the other day, wondering where all the youth were. His generation protested the wrongful actions of the government. While my parents weren't hippies due to the drug use and free sexuality, they ascribed to the movement's political beliefs. My dad didn't burn his draft card, he volunteered for the navy. It was actually quite brilliant- he reasoned that he'd be lest likely to die in the navy then if he was drafted. So, I grew up in a raving liberal household. My idea of teenage rebellion was to not register to vote, to refuse to vote come election day. Thank Gods I realized the importance of voting, and didn't take my rebellious streak to far and become republican. (Shudder)
So what's wrong with my generation? Why aren't we fighting the oppression during this dark time? I didn't really answer. all I could come up with is the thought that maybe children raised in permissive, peace-loving families were more likely to rebel by rejecting those values- as evidenced by the goth and punk movements. It could be due to the generational shift- Sociologists have noted that generations tend to switch off of one another. Look at the Western generational attitudes towards sex, a key indicator of liberal versus conservative values. In the Victorian era, sexual attitudes, dress, drug attitudes, and political systems were conservative. This changed in the Edwardian era and beyond(1910's-1930's), becoming more permissive. In the 30's to the 50's, general opinion swung back to conservative, then back in the 60's through the 80's. Looking at our era, the 90's until, probably around 2010, we are set to be more conservative. Now, I am hesitant to make such a broad statement- I know that there are always aberrations, movements which do not fit in with the general climate. But looking at the overall average of people's attitudes in a loose manner, this can fit.
The youth of today may also be gravitating away from obvious displays of civil disobedience. We may have a better understanding of how an arrest may affect our chances of getting into a good school, getting a good job. We may be more focused on social change from the inside, attempting to alter our society in more subtle ways.
Who knows? I'm not yet a psychologist, not a social scientist. People study questions like this for a lifetime without getting a complete, satisfactory answer. So, I cannot hope to be the end all on this question.
I do, however, know that most of the people of my generation are hating the way America is being run. Despite what Fox news says, despite the numerous plants in the press to make us think we are alone in a nation of crazies, we know we aren't alone. Ample evidence exists- in school, work, social settings, the internet. It's insane, sometimes I feel like Charlton Heston screaming out, "It's a madhouse! A maaaadhoooouse!" How easily the government can twist our minds, influence us to believe what they want us to believe, and even when we reject that, make us feel alone. We aren't. Despite the fact that the fuck was reelected, despite what our news and press tells us, we are not alone. My only hope is that other countries realize this; that we hate our government as much as they do, if not more. I fear going to Europe and having rotten cabbage thrown at me amid jeers and taunts just because I'm an American. Trust me, I feel shitty enough as it is.
I guess I can understand why Denise refuses to get a citizenship, even though she has lived here, and not her home country of Italy, for the majority of her life. She doesn't want to be one of us.
Which reminds me of a hilarious story....
You have to understand, Denise isn't "anti-American", a sentiment that can get you sent to Guatanamo before you can even say "What?" She merely uses us as scapegoats. It's a joke, to her- well, maybe a half joke. I've heard her quaint mutterings of "stupid Americans" whenever a moron crosses her path. I've laughed while she derides some particularly inane custom. Yet one day, I was able to turn the tables on her. We were at a video store, on the way to my house. It was going to be 5 minutes, no more, until we got there. As we stood in line, Denise grabbed a bottle of water.
"What are you doing?" I asked, "That's like $1.50!"
"I know, but I'm thirsty." She replied.
"Denise, we're going to be home in 5 minutes."
"But I'm thirsty now!"
Suddenly, it hit me. Glee erupted across my face as I leaned towards her. "You know what you are, Denise?"
"Huh?"
"You are demanding instant gratification! Citizenship or not, you are now an AMERICAN!"
Her Luke-Skywalker-esk "NOOOOOOOO!" echoed across the store as I cackled with laughter. The look on her face? Damn priceless.
Hang out with us long enough, start picking up our terrible habits.
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