tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774688605369751367.post7738280519910613736..comments2024-02-26T00:19:32.692-08:00Comments on Conrad: The Straw and the Camel called AmericaDavid Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03462503019359418324noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774688605369751367.post-60024367242362436762015-05-02T20:24:44.778-07:002015-05-02T20:24:44.778-07:00Years ago I went to school in the UK and I was sho...Years ago I went to school in the UK and I was shocked over and over again about one thing. During conversations about our futures (often over many pints) my classmates would share their dreams and goals about what they wanted to do after the course. For many, but not all, they would shoot down their own big dreams just after they had launched it into the air. There wasn't even time for it to take flight. Gone. Not possible. I would challenge them and ask why. These were intelligent, educated, creative and caring people. The short answer was, "Just because." They felt they didn't have the right to dream big and create even bigger.<br />I think one of the greatest things about America is also our most tremendous vulnerability. We believe we have the right to do what we want. But when that feeling is coupled with technology and culture that is catering to the lowest common denominator of human instincts, instead of reaching towards the higher (and just as innate) needs of all humans, it is a dangerous cocktail. When you have a nation that overall feels it has the right to do what it wants but has the simultaneous feeling of being disempowered a futility arises that leads most of us towards self-absorption and self-preservation.<br />Living in America we believe we deserve to have or at least try to get what we want. But as wonderful as the 24/7 access can be it is a seductress and has slowly left us disempowered. We have left our values and common decency (of moving over when someone wants to pass us) for that momentary Pavlovian hit of feeling important when we get a FB like or a text. Why? Because our innate need to be relevant, and matter, and belong has gotten high jacked and distorted and used to sell us stuff, to sell out, and to forget that what we really want is human connection. <br />When we realize that noticing someone who wants to pass us on the escalator is actually more important that who liked our FB post we might begin to return to reality. And there might be hope again that this country - which was founded on great ideals - can empower itself in the way it was intended: through the individuals that collectively need to be brave enough to look in the mirror and take responsibility for their lives. They wont make a reality TV show about this. It is a daily practice. Maybe we can start a FB page and see how many people like it...Free the escalator movementKJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01096913705856495178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774688605369751367.post-51973908997675279402015-04-21T04:50:07.015-07:002015-04-21T04:50:07.015-07:00Just wondering...
Are you more interested in comm...Just wondering... <br />Are you more interested in comments on the topic (and your approach of it) of each of your post or on the form? <br /><br />Loved the : "Money and Jesus had a baby and that little demon's been torturing this country since the Dutch landed."<br />Well-chosen! Had me smile :-) <br />Can we say: "what a coinage!"?<br />Thank you for helping me improving!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774688605369751367.post-47141229636166357322015-04-19T13:30:18.597-07:002015-04-19T13:30:18.597-07:00Some valid points. I enjoy your writing a lot; pl...Some valid points. I enjoy your writing a lot; please keep doing it. <br /><br />Personally, I think the problem is that now with 24/7 Internet and media, we live in a comparison society. Daily feeds of our supposed victimization. We are not content to be our best selves anymore – we want what “they” have, but that has been combined that with fast food, micro-wave cooking mentality of instant gratification combined with entitlement. <br /><br />Not for better but sadly it turns out for worse, each generation from the start of this country wanted to make it easier for their kids. John Adams : “I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.” Unfortunately, a dozen generations later we are soft with luxuries and participation trophies and programmed to be stupid not only for purposes of control but most prefer it that way. Now, we the people … “anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.” <br />PK the Bookeemonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03478996122841311684noreply@blogger.com