Looking around at the world and I have some serious reservations about where we are heading. I’m optimistic about technology, my future and the future of nonconformists. It is the rest that I wonder about. I’m not really worried about it. I make my own choices and pay my own way. Other people can make their own choices too. They can try to push the payment on to other people’s shoulders but that only goes so far. The world needs people like myself and at a certain point we walk away and do something else.
I just finished reading “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. I wish I had read it sooner because so much of what bothers me about our society was well described in the story. I blame Glen Reynolds and his “Gone Galt” posts during the election cycle. But on the whole it is pretty accurate.
So what am I talking about?
Stuff like this:
· The Arab Sole
· How Clever: Chicago TV Station Stages 'Throw a Shoe at Blago'
There is plenty more. But seriously – is this where we are? To be a hero all I need to do is throw a shoe at somebody? So what about the American soldiers who fought and saved Europe from the Nazi’s? What are they exactly? What about the Fireman who rescues a child from an inferno? What term shall we use for those people? It is also telling to me that there are people who would describe American soldiers as criminals – not just a well paved road, but a twelve lane super highway.
It’s fine. I don’t tend to associate with people like that. I’m too offensive to be around them. Something about hyper masculinity. I’m probably compensating for something. I’m just not clear on what exactly. Maybe it’s my overly liberal parents that have caused my allergy to this crap. Which of course brings up this stuff:
· Tis the Season to be Inoffensive
· The Quivering Upper Lip
The Brits are Brits and we have to keep our expectations within reason. Growing up overseas and going to school with kids from all over the world leads to being pretty comfortable with the reality of situation. Having seen all of this gives notice to Americans having an inferiority complex when it comes to our former colonial masters. Want to take over a room – speak with a British accent. Doesn’t matter which, any will do. Americans will go all docile and obedient at the sound. If you can carry off a convincing Sean Connery (Scottish, but most yanks can’t tell the difference anyway) then you are pretty much a god over here.
The reality though is far different. They’re bigger idiots than we are and are only too happy to trust their government. Didn’t the X-Files teach anybody anything? Trust no one. But where the Brits go we follow. So Amazon has a holiday sale, not a Christmas sale. A lot of retailers tried that. We don’t want to piss off the Wicans. They’re scary – they might cast a spell or something. The Taliban might cut our heads’ off if we show a Menorah. The snivelers might get upset about the overt display of religiosity. You should take no notice though that their liberal ethoses don’t go far enough to giving gay people the right to get married. Why gay people want to do that is beyond me but still – pick a side sniveler.
But that swings back to my point. Perhaps this explains it:
Lose the Pointy Shoes, Guys
But I’m all hyper masculine with the Sketcher work boots, race bikes and computer hacking. What do I know? We don’t need any devils, angels, spirits, or mighty gods to screw things up – we can do the job quite well on our own. Just need somebody to paint the stripes on the road and we should be ready to go.