I'm sitting here wanting to write something inspired. I'm practically begging for inspiration, yet nothing comes. I do have a post bubbling under the surfact but it's certainly not made it to the point that I'm ready to let lose that particular rant. So, here I sit, trying to think of something to write.
Yesterday, as anybody can tell, I've been very inspired by the new non-violent revolution in Lebanon, and of course, the recent revolution in the Ukraine, but my admiration has been mistaken by some people I know. So, maybe it's time I clarify a few things.
First, I'm a patriot. I love the USA. I was born and raised in Kansas, the reddest of the red states. I was raised in a family of hunters and Republicans. My family is the kind of died-in-the-wool Republicans who listen to Rush Limbaugh. My late grandfather spent a good deal of the '90s screaming at the TV calling President Clinton a liar. I tell you all this because I want you to know that I was raised with a deep love of this country.
I also tell you that information to let you know just how difficult it was for me, at the age of 15, to realize that I didn't believe in a damn thing that the Republican party stood for. I'm not exagerrating. I can't think of one platform of the Republican party that I hold the exact same position as them on(though that does not mean there is none, just that I'm not omniscient). In fact, in almost every case, I hold the exact opposite position. I believe that radical revolution is actually a natural evolution of our society. I believe that everybody longs for freedom and that the only thing that keeps them from achieving that freedom is how much they are willing to sacrifice.
Now, understand, this does not mean that I think one should be forced to sacrifice certain freedoms to protect others. I think the PATRIOT Act is the single least constitutional thing to ever be put into law. How it's gone this long, I'll never know, but that's a subject for an entirely different post.
I have rambled for a long time and really reached no point, so here is one. Even though I do not agree with the current administration on damn near anything, I still do not support the violent overthrow of the government. I don't support violent overthrows anywhere, in fact. I do, however, support non-violent protests, civil disobedience, and, in extreme cases, non-violent revolution. I want to make a difference in this world, just as I think we all should. But violence is never the answer.
What can you do to make a difference you ask? Vote! Join activist groups! Volunteer at a soup kitchen! Do something! Help people! Do whatever it takes to make a difference and help change the world. I may be agnostic but even I can be altruistic. I ask you all to think of the movie "Bruce Almighty"(yeah the agnostic's quoting a movie about God) and "Be the Miracle!". Make changes in people's lives.
OK, then maybe I'll find my inspiration in your acts, instead of just in the acts of people halfway around the world.
Yesterday, as anybody can tell, I've been very inspired by the new non-violent revolution in Lebanon, and of course, the recent revolution in the Ukraine, but my admiration has been mistaken by some people I know. So, maybe it's time I clarify a few things.
First, I'm a patriot. I love the USA. I was born and raised in Kansas, the reddest of the red states. I was raised in a family of hunters and Republicans. My family is the kind of died-in-the-wool Republicans who listen to Rush Limbaugh. My late grandfather spent a good deal of the '90s screaming at the TV calling President Clinton a liar. I tell you all this because I want you to know that I was raised with a deep love of this country.
I also tell you that information to let you know just how difficult it was for me, at the age of 15, to realize that I didn't believe in a damn thing that the Republican party stood for. I'm not exagerrating. I can't think of one platform of the Republican party that I hold the exact same position as them on(though that does not mean there is none, just that I'm not omniscient). In fact, in almost every case, I hold the exact opposite position. I believe that radical revolution is actually a natural evolution of our society. I believe that everybody longs for freedom and that the only thing that keeps them from achieving that freedom is how much they are willing to sacrifice.
Now, understand, this does not mean that I think one should be forced to sacrifice certain freedoms to protect others. I think the PATRIOT Act is the single least constitutional thing to ever be put into law. How it's gone this long, I'll never know, but that's a subject for an entirely different post.
I have rambled for a long time and really reached no point, so here is one. Even though I do not agree with the current administration on damn near anything, I still do not support the violent overthrow of the government. I don't support violent overthrows anywhere, in fact. I do, however, support non-violent protests, civil disobedience, and, in extreme cases, non-violent revolution. I want to make a difference in this world, just as I think we all should. But violence is never the answer.
What can you do to make a difference you ask? Vote! Join activist groups! Volunteer at a soup kitchen! Do something! Help people! Do whatever it takes to make a difference and help change the world. I may be agnostic but even I can be altruistic. I ask you all to think of the movie "Bruce Almighty"(yeah the agnostic's quoting a movie about God) and "Be the Miracle!". Make changes in people's lives.
OK, then maybe I'll find my inspiration in your acts, instead of just in the acts of people halfway around the world.
You lost me for a minute talking about the Reddest of Red states, Kansas. I thought you were gonna go all redneck conservative on me.
I think that you are right in most of what you have to say here. The greatest way to happiness is to be better people. Start with yourself and the world will follow.
I also have come to accept that violence and tragedy are natural parts of life. Life is like two sides of a coin. They are both so different but the are part of the same thing. Sometimes blood must be shed before a positive change can come around. It's a cycle, a circle. There are different phases of energy, and good and bad both get a turn.