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America |
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johnt300 Member
since 1999-09-12
Posts 214san diego, ca. |
(More of a rant than a structured argument) America A perfect little workhorse of a survival-of- the-fittest type of engine, this country is. Cigarettes, alcohol, sex, guns, twinkies... you name it, we got it, and it can kill you in the end. The beautiful part about it all, from Darwin's point of view, I suspect, is that this country revolves and evolves around…no, thrives upon the one aspect of this 'free' country that we love so much, FREEWILL. You are free to dig your own grave, just as you are free to live a life filled with love and happiness. You are free to smoke yourself to death or drink yourself to death or eat yourself to death. It is all up to you, and it is available in abundance. We'll even throw in high stress jobs, traffic, news, and killer youngsters to boot, just to speed up your trip to the liquor store, or whatever may cure your woes. In a land that seems to encourage every form of sexuality, perversions, fetishes, you name it, we'll even throw in this killer little disease that helps your body slowly fall apart over the course of up to 10 years or more. We have it all. This is America. Land of the free, home of the brave. It is all up to you...with a few rules, that is. Don't do too much of it or be careful who you do it with or be careful what you do and when you do it and maybe you will be all right. Let your body be your own prison, enslaving you and those around you. Consume all that takes away the stress, or the depression that accompanies the nightly news. Consume it all so you can function normally and keep your job. Consume it just to please your body. Lower that population count bit by bit. It's what is expected. It's what is needed. It's what is sought after, here in the land of the free. Just do it. Why ask why? The perfect little engine is daily at work for you and I. It cares not for you, wether you survive it. It plants your weaknesses in front of you at every turn, testing you. Daring you to survive. The perfect little engine, if only because it could. Can you outrun it? Some may simply call this life. I know I do. Some would say 'get over it', 'life's tough', etc. But this country is in overdrive right now, and the longer you wait to start fresh, the further behind you will get. I know I am playing catch up right now myself. My college years of wasting money, abusing my body, and adding to the stress of those around me are hopefully gone forever. Hopefully I have joined this perfect little engine. Pulled ahead of it. Saw and understood the importance of the saying, 'we are all in it together'. As a country, we are exactly that. It is hard for many people, of all ages, to imagine this country coming together when the time is needed. Things are very good right now, but I hate say it...nothing lasts forever. That is a fact of life. Something that history proves over and over, whether it is war, recession, disease, etc. I do have hope, though. I can see this country rallying together when the time comes...and the time will come. I am curious how you feel about this. I mean really feel. Are you afraid for the future of this country? Do you realize how dangerous it is today, to have no clearly defined enemies? No other superpower that we can point the finger to and say, 'O.K., there is the enemy. If we keep up with them and keep a close eye on them, we should have nothing to worry about'. Don't let the media fool you. We are on dangerous ground, politically. Our doors are open, welcoming terrorist activity. We are keeping guard with and against countries who have been divided with each other for centuries over religion. We have very loose ties with China and its one billion plus population. It is becoming hazy as to who are friends are anymore. Are we ready for a large threat, militarily? After all the downsizing by Clinton? Our navy alone is the smallest it has been in decades. DECADES. And I don't even have the exact figures of how long it has been since it has been this small. Does anyone know? I guess you could call this a rant, but believe it or not, through the one sided tone, I really would like to hear any and all opinions on the matter of The United States of America. |
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| © Copyright 1999 johnt300 - All Rights Reserved | |||
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
History shows that every great civilization has hit a period of apathy and decadence before it fell to ruin. I agree with your rant in that I believe we are in one such decline towards decadence. Unless we find a common enemy or common goal, we are headed the way of Rome and Constantinople. Further, such decline is inevitable and necessary for true growth. War is always good for the country or group that wins and does benefit mankind in many ways making it a necessary evil. ------------------ Now and forever, my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© |
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Systematic Decay Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1301That place with padded walls and funny people in white......... |
I think that America is so shallow. Our morals are those imposed by the stars. We have pattterned ourselves into thinking, "If its not done the normal way then it's not ok." But what is "normal" anyway? Is it the average of how everyone acts and looks? If you throw us all in to a mathematical equation, what is normal? Normal is just one thing: a statistic. "Normal" people, are they the ones who buy name brand clothes just to fit in, the ones who pattern their speech and vocabulary to be accepted? Is that what everyone is telling me I should strive to be? Was Einstein "normal?" When you strip away the clothes and the habits and the manners of speech, are any of us really "normal?" ------------------ "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage." -Billy Corgan- |
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
I agree with both you and Dream. I am Canadian but that is irrelivant. Our cultures are similar to the point of there might as well not be a difference in the countries. We become more "Americanized" everyday. I see the course you are talking about clearly and we are heading for some drastic changes. Our political structures are greedy and immoral. Not thinking of the good of the country and the people but of themselves. History does show a patern and we will follow it. What the outcome will be is hard to say from this vantage point but change MUST come. We as a country have become dosile and unaware. My prayer is that my children do not end up casualitues in the enevitablity. (Please excuse the spelling. My mind is on the fritz at the moment) |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Future? Doubtful. In it together? Nope, can't buy that. One of our biggest problems is people's unwillingness to look at the liffe past the end of their own pocket book and desires. If it doesn't affect them on a personal level, then they simply aren't interested. The concept of Country Loyalty is sadly rare and even when found is more often than not based on some personal desire for vilification. Well written Tyson, but I'm afraid that we are unlikely to see a happy ending here, as long as people are for themselves and take those frequent trips to the liqour store or their dealer. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
If your rants are all as good as this one Tyson, please do rant on  ------------------ This is courage...to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends. ~Eurpides |
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johnt300 Member
since 1999-09-12
Posts 214san diego, ca. |
Hello everyone, Thanks for all of your replies. I was surprised by the thoughts and reactions. I was expecting some disagreements after I reread what I wrote. I guess it's never too late to get a few. Good to see you all see things similarly. I don't feel alone thinking those thoughts now that I've read your inputs. Thanks again. Tyson |
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
Tyson you could have been reading my mind. I have most of the same thoughts, I'm just not good at putting them outside my head the way you are Excellent rant. I was in conversation with a friend yesterday on this very subject. I told him America is going to hell in a handbasket. He is quite the optimistic idealist and doesn't think so. I think I will show him your words and ask him his opinion after reading! Thanks! |
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Watcher666 Senior Member
since 1999-10-13
Posts 1606 |
There used to be an old saying " My country...My she never be wrong,but My country right or wrong!' Now that has fallen to the way side.It's now 'I'm worth it'.As Christopher stated no one is willing to get involved unless they are personnally effected. The apathy in this country is appalling.We allow children to be abused and go hungry,the old and the sick are also on their own.Unfortunately until we come against a common enemy we are head for a fall,and I think soon. Well written rant. Please continue! ------------------ Illusion...what we see and what we do...it's all up to you. |
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Ixtab Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 105MEXICAlpan de las tunas |
I hate cliches and yet i can't help but to think about one to describe the situation in your country. The US of A was founded upon the bloodbath of whole ethnic groups (in those times no one called it ethnic cleansning though , they called it "manifest destiny" bs in my opinion. It's most signifcant expansion was conducted waging an unjust war against a country that had scarce means to defend itself. It arrived at it's economic superiorty thanks to that not a single bomb fell on it's shores while europe and asia where devasteted. It has mantiend such a superirity with external politics that have generated millions of deaths (sometimes including your own soldiers) and that have kept whole nations in the realms of unhuman and untold poverty. what you sow is what you will reap was that cliche i was thinking about It seems that it is not accurate to judge a whole country upon the wrong decisions of it's leaders, yet those decisions are what has kept your economy growing strong ergo the cherished "american way of life" going on. It is, as you have noticed a way of life that is most costly to the planet (60% of the earth's resources with 6% of the earth's population, UNESCO) No one consumes so much oil, water or minerals as the average american does. ¿and for what? so teens can discriminate upon each other based on the brand of clothing that you wear. so overfed, lazy men can glue their souls to a dumb innane machine. so a shallow and sad pattern of life can be propagetd throught the world. The United States is a country that could do wonders for humanity, on the other hand it has done much, in materialistic terms, for it's inhabitants. spiritually the american populace (in general) is an infant. an infant bully with big guns and little soul. greetings to all ixtab |
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