Americans: The Manipulation By Complacency
Over the past few weeks, it seems as if the more spiritual and/or personal issues that surfaced occupied most of my posts. I am ready and willing to return to the political arena once again for a bit of fireworks and stimulation. Since I must finish my brief today, I want a bit more challenging information as the fodder for thinking.
On my way to Disneyland on Monday, I noticed that the price of gas had gone up to $2.83 per gallon. It seems as if the last time I looked closely, it was at $2.59, and that was just a week or two ago. Is it possible that the price of gas had risen by 23 cents per gallon without my really noticing it so quickly? Had I become conditioned into accepting what is in this country without thought or question?
Many of you remember a post I had about where have all the stories gone. Those stories on Carl Rove, Downing Street Memo, Abub Graub, the costs of the war in Iraq, the nomination of John Roberts for U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and on and on, seem to be here one day, and gone the next. It seems as if perhaps the question I had posed was not completely a fair one, when I asked, where have all the stories gone. The real question, it seems, deals more with our ability as Americans to accept the stories as they are told, ask a few questions, and move on with the order of business of the moment. Are we not just as much at fault, in some ways, by failing to act, think, talk and make a big deal about an issue we think is important in this country? Remember the saying, from the cult movie, Network, where, I believe it was the amazing actor Peter Finch who yelled, 'I am mad as hell, and not going to take it anymore?' Have we stopped becoming mad at what is going on in America today?
Here is the question of the day: Have we as Americans become complacent people? Are we manipulated into accepting news that happens to us and our citizens, without asking questions or making waves? Has our perception of what has gone on simply changed, or have we become a complacent group of citizens?
On a side note, I am determined to start finish my brief today, and begin working in a bit. Again, my posts and comments may be hit or miss.
To the kind soul who suggested that I start another blog writing erotica, I want to voice my thank yous for that suggestion. I have created a blog especially for that purpose and am having a fantstic time with the writings. Thank you.
Thank you for your minds.
On my way to Disneyland on Monday, I noticed that the price of gas had gone up to $2.83 per gallon. It seems as if the last time I looked closely, it was at $2.59, and that was just a week or two ago. Is it possible that the price of gas had risen by 23 cents per gallon without my really noticing it so quickly? Had I become conditioned into accepting what is in this country without thought or question?
Many of you remember a post I had about where have all the stories gone. Those stories on Carl Rove, Downing Street Memo, Abub Graub, the costs of the war in Iraq, the nomination of John Roberts for U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and on and on, seem to be here one day, and gone the next. It seems as if perhaps the question I had posed was not completely a fair one, when I asked, where have all the stories gone. The real question, it seems, deals more with our ability as Americans to accept the stories as they are told, ask a few questions, and move on with the order of business of the moment. Are we not just as much at fault, in some ways, by failing to act, think, talk and make a big deal about an issue we think is important in this country? Remember the saying, from the cult movie, Network, where, I believe it was the amazing actor Peter Finch who yelled, 'I am mad as hell, and not going to take it anymore?' Have we stopped becoming mad at what is going on in America today?
Here is the question of the day: Have we as Americans become complacent people? Are we manipulated into accepting news that happens to us and our citizens, without asking questions or making waves? Has our perception of what has gone on simply changed, or have we become a complacent group of citizens?
On a side note, I am determined to start finish my brief today, and begin working in a bit. Again, my posts and comments may be hit or miss.
To the kind soul who suggested that I start another blog writing erotica, I want to voice my thank yous for that suggestion. I have created a blog especially for that purpose and am having a fantstic time with the writings. Thank you.
Thank you for your minds.
20 Comments:
sometimes i feel like we live in a country of sheep -- they just seem to follow. there do seem to be some others who ask questions, seek answers, etc. ... but i think they are now in the minority. there was a time when women were encouraged to be intelligent and i think that has gone away culturally in the last couple of decades. it bothers me a lot that there are "missing" stories and that no one seems to wonder.
bb,
Thank you for your interest. Acutally, I am just beginning to get comfortable in this new role, which is a work in progress. Once I find my voice, I will consider giving out the link. Until then, the audience consists of me, myself and I. Writing in blog form is very liberating, I must confess!
I think what you've said is sad but true. After awhile, people just say to themselves, "Well, what can I do about it?" I feel helpless about a lot of things.
We're too "busy" with our lives to notice what's going on around us.
I think you know my position on this. We have absolutely become complacent. We have forgotten who we are and what we're supposed to stand for. We have handed over our governance to people who really couldn't care less about us because we're not of the same social or economic class. We have stopped standing up for our rights, and as a result, have lost many of them. This is particularly disturbing when you look at the female and minority populations. They fought for their rights only to let them slip away. We're doing absolutely nothing, and as a result, deserve what we get. I spent the majority of my spare time fighting the system, but I can' do it alone.
Complacency? I didn't get any of that in my happy meal.
lol. Becky's nailed it.
Didn't you know? Happy meals are sexist now. Check out http://franklysaurkraut.blogspot.com for a detailed look at KFC's sexist ideas.
I think there is a burnout and overload factor involved here too. There are so many things to be angry about, so many issues that need our attention that I think at times we just become overwhelmed.
Just staying informed about issues takes a tremendous amount of time (especially with the current media uselessness) then there is the research, the letter writing, the arguing. By the end of the day you are exhausted, emotionally drained and it feels like you haven't accomplished a damned thing.
I wonder if on a certain level our leaders and politicians count on this sort of overload to keep us complacent. We can't fight if we don't know where to lash out.
It's a horrible feeling.
Midafternoon break time, great comments here.
There are too indeed many issues, and in my opinion, there is a select group of people responsible for the direction this country is headed. Period. The manner in which we react, or fail to do so, however, is a seperate issue. What interests me most is if we have become conditioned into a perception of complacency, just like we have become used to these gas and oil prices. Is it mass acceptance without question? Elisa talks about us becoming a country of sheep...There is much truth in that statement in my humble opinion.
The gas prices went up instantly on Monday when Katrina made landfall, so don't feel too bad -- the jump really *was* sudden. But yes, I agree that we've become complacent. We trust too much in our politicians, our scientists, our federal regulation bodies. These are the people who approved thalidomide, saccharine, fen-phen, and olestra for public consumption before they knew the outcomes, simply because it was profitable. People won't be motivated to action until they believe that something's gravely wrong with the status quo; unfortunately, that whole "we live in the best country in the world" rhetoric narcotizes us into inaction. And then the people who point out what's wrong are labeled anti-American, whiny liberals. I wonder what names the abolitionists were called back in the mid-1800s. Certainly their aims were anti-industry and anti-economy ("You want to replace a system of FREE LABOR with a system of PAID LABOR? Are you nuts??") so they were very likely the object of resentment among those who gained the most economically from the institution of slavery. Likewise, our country has many current practices that are lucrative and good for the economy but inhumane and damaging to people (our own and citizens of other countries), the environment, future generations, etc.
Anyway, here I am preaching but I'm as guilty of complacency as anyone. But my reasons for not speaking up and acting out are less about a misguided sense of security or laziness than about a very real fear of being targeted by insane Christians. Sad but true. Ten years ago I wouldn't have hesitated to escort a woman into a family planning clinic; nowadays I'm scared of being killed by terrorists (the American ones).
There is a general lack of critical thought and logical assessment.
Is critical thought and logical assessment what is needed to avoid complacency or is it more towards a call to action?
I too, am complacent if I am being rigorously honest here.
I don't know. In some ways, we're one of the least complacent countries, I think. But most people on this earth are wrapped up in their own little worlds and have only so much energy to keep up with the rest of the world. IMO.
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Yes, lots of complacency, on both sides of the Atlantic..we have the same problem here too.
The voting figures continue to drop in the UK...people just don`t trust politicians anymore, and seem to be almost giving up.
Godlessmom is right, sometimes it must just seem overwhelming.
What was noticeable when Katrina struck is that there is a disaster on a grand scale, and that the poorest were the ones who took the brunt.
Also, that while 3000 Lousiana troops are fighting in Iraq, the govt seems to be unable to maintain a cohesive emergency program for the area.
There are big questions as to why there was no program in place..and how this could happen in one the richest and most developed countries in the world.
Excellent point, zeppelinna.
We are over extended in Iraq. And now that we have a real emergency in THIS country, we are stuck! It is heart-wrenching, and goes to show how far Bush will go for the oil.
Is critical thought and logical assessment what is needed to avoid complacency or is it more towards a call to action?
The problem is that too many people fail to think. Too many people just react to situations instead of acting or being proactive.
We spin our wheels on so much nonsense.
JS
I agree with you. More often than not, there is reaction without examination, or action with an agenda. Just look at our government as a prime example.
Barbara,
The gov't is a good example, but so are the reactions of so many people to the actions of the gov't.
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