Question If you get to a point in life where you think that concerning yourself with the politics or news of the day is not worth your time, have you become complacent or have you come to a justifiable realization?
We are in the midst of a global pandemic, we had what many would consider an attempted coup in the US, Russia just made an act of war against what is effectively the West. Climate change is undeniably impacting the earth, billionaires are going to space in giant cock shaped rockets, we will likely be on Mars in the next decade. Crypto, AI, quantum computing.... etc.
SO MUCH
Oh to be the Sentinelese who know nothing of any of these things
But, I do know about these things, and my chief concern is my family. My friends and family. Beyond those specific people I care about all other humans equally. I don't think a US life is worth more or less than a Swedish one, a Senagolese one etc. I think some in my country would think I was less American for saying that, but it's how I feel. And it's fundamentally true.
The whole system is set up around tribalism. What is interesting to me is that the Tribes are no longer just nationalistic/ethnic. They're class driven. I guarantee there are a bunch of extremely wealthy people concerned about Russian sanctions that aren't Russian. This entire geopolitical system is pretty fucked up because of tribalism.
That said, I think we are approaching a time when citizenship is going to seem weird. I feel like "The World is my Home" -shoutout to James Michener's great book.
It seems weird to me that when I travel to England, France etc. I have to present a passport. I feel like I have every right to visit every inch of this globe without some meddling bureaucracy. Everyone does.
We are humans. We are collective stewards of the earth. We have no excuse to not come together and overcome all tribalisms. We can do it. But it's gonna take people like me not rationalizing walking away from the battle.
Okay.... I guess I'm still in. I'm gonna fight. I'm never gonna stop fighting. Fuck that. Never.
Thanks for reading this. I'm extremely stoned. Never take edibles, but damn....
Goodnight Hubski.
Good, because I think burying one's head in the sand is indeed a form of complacency, despite my sympathizing with the urge. You gotta balance attention paid with mental health. I also wish that universal human rights equality was considered the most fundamental of American values, but it is not. Too many Americans still cling to the idea of American Exceptionalism. Obviously. Yep. The American democratic republic has always been imperfect, but the ruling class is increasingly violating the entire spirit of a cooperative society. Even though the wealthy have spent a loooooong time chipping away at the political system, I bet they still think that, potentially, our (crippled) democracy might yet hold their wealth-hoarding in check. And huh, what'dya know, hardcore Trumpists now speak openly about their admirations of autocratic, undemocratic oligarchies. And Nancy Pelosi wants to still trade stocks because "it's a free market". Everyone sucks. But, sorry, I think the GOP has crossed the Rubicon. Turns out that legitimate, class warfare-centric grievances can still be completely redirected into racial animus. You could kinda also say this about the democrats, but that's a very, very false equivalence argument, imho. Sadly though, for now, it's enough to keep the 99% from being able to do anything about the increasingly absurd wealth gap through policy. "Oh, you can vote with your money, though!", he said, as he took all of our money. Maybe "he" is Musk, and government subsidies were the method. Thank god, now we have a real, physical, Great Powers war to unify behind, right? I doubt it. I wish, dude, but it's not like that anymore. Despite Biden's neolib credentials, one political party views this as a golden opportunity to blame him for a war he didn't want, and (I think) tried to avoid. Again, the liberal analogue of criticizing Bush for Iraq is not a good one; Bush & co. made the decision to invade Iraq. edit: There have been some recent statements from GOP leaders condemning Putin and expressing solidarity for Ukraine without blaming Biden in the same breath. Good, but we'll see if the GOP writ large doesn't return to the old pattern of eventually falling in line with Fox & Trump. Nationally (and apparently globally) things probably have to get quite a bit worse if they're ever gonna get better. Big "if", btw. Keep fighting. Paying attention counts. So does talking about it. Besides voting, I'm not sure what else to do, yet, besides small, personal actions to keep yourself sane. I dunno, the passport stuff doesn't bother me. I've only had to wait in short lines in the eurozone. Canada was much worse, they "randomly" tested me for marijuana three times within an hour. But I would need to travel more to have a better idea. Such is the plan.I'm never gonna stop fighting.
I don't think a US life is worth more or less than a Swedish one, a Senagolese one etc. I think some in my country would think I was less American for saying that
What is interesting to me is that the Tribes are no longer just nationalistic/ethnic. They're class driven.