| SCREED - Who Are You? |
| When we look at the world around us, what do we see? Are we progressing as a society? Are we where we should be? Do we care about our fellow "humans being"? How do we treat each other? Are we compassionate? Is there empathy in our day-to-day activities? Look at your habits: how do you entertain yourself? Which books and magazines do you read? Which TV shows do you watch? And the music you listen to? Are our minds open? Do we welcome new ideas? Can we have a civilized discussion about the state of our world? Who are the candidates in the next election? Do you know their names? Their platforms? Do you have an understanding of the implications of those ideas? The world as it stands today causes me great despair. I see rampant ignorance. I see minds numbed by the novocaine of reality TV and bubblegum pop tarts. The misery of others has become a commodity - we trade it like cold-blooded brokers. The war in Iraq? A much-needed entertainment spectacle for a salivating mob lusty with vengeance after the September 2001 attacks. What about the civilians? The children? Well, we are told to accept this all as "collateral damage". "Frankly, if these poor misbegotten souls really cared about their children, they would have overthrown the scabrous Saddam years ago." When you look at it that way, what were the Iraqis waiting for? Wow, who did my thinking for me before neo-conservatives? So call me a snob, an elitist prat, a pretentious buffoon. I really don't care. I do care about this society we're busy disassembling. There are young ones whose future will be determined by the decisions we make today. Should I not care? Should I mortgage their lives so that I can have one more super-mall? One more KFC? One more FutureShop? One more subdivision? Can I be any kind of role model if I don't inform myself? Involve myself? So who am I if I hide away? Who do I represent if I don't represent myself? Am I just a billboard for the corporate meat-grinders who wish to push their noxious branding on the ignorant masses? Do I need Lamborghini cologne? Do I need Nike Nuggets? Will somebody -- media conglomerates, sports corporations, government, someone? -- PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED? Who are we if we don't care? If we don't think? Who are you, anyway? |