I've just finished reading What's the Matter with Kansas? like literally 2 minutes ago I read the last words. I'm still digesting the book, obviously, but I am reminded of an exchange between myself and one of my dear friends about a year or so ago. I had noticed that she was not being very talkative so I pressed her on what was wrong. The exchange, word for word, follows:
Me: Nat, what's wrong?
Nat: I just realized that there will never be a Communist revolution in this country.
Me: You just realized this?
Nat: It happens about every 6 months or so that it occurs to me, and it makes me sad.
This may seem to be the most surreal conversation that one could have, but after reading Thomas Frank's aformentioned book, I find myself feeling a very similar sentiment. I long for a shift in the paradigm. I want people to be as inspired by Liberalism as I am. I want people to embrace the issues that mean something to average people, not just the multi-national companies.
I want a revolution. Not of violence, not even of political overthrow(that last sentence brought to you by my fear of the PATRIOT Act.) I want a revolution of thought. I want to be challenged in my beliefs and to have political discourse with both like-minded and disparate people. I crave intelligent political discourse.
I realize that I've been very politically focused lately, but considering last week I was worried that my impending return to college was a waste of time with how my brain was feeling like mush, this recent run of passion feels so good to me. And yes, before anybody asks, I am going back as a Poli-Sci major.
Well, I think that's all for now. So, what do you say? Do you crave the same things I do?
Me: Nat, what's wrong?
Nat: I just realized that there will never be a Communist revolution in this country.
Me: You just realized this?
Nat: It happens about every 6 months or so that it occurs to me, and it makes me sad.
This may seem to be the most surreal conversation that one could have, but after reading Thomas Frank's aformentioned book, I find myself feeling a very similar sentiment. I long for a shift in the paradigm. I want people to be as inspired by Liberalism as I am. I want people to embrace the issues that mean something to average people, not just the multi-national companies.
I want a revolution. Not of violence, not even of political overthrow(that last sentence brought to you by my fear of the PATRIOT Act.) I want a revolution of thought. I want to be challenged in my beliefs and to have political discourse with both like-minded and disparate people. I crave intelligent political discourse.
I realize that I've been very politically focused lately, but considering last week I was worried that my impending return to college was a waste of time with how my brain was feeling like mush, this recent run of passion feels so good to me. And yes, before anybody asks, I am going back as a Poli-Sci major.
Well, I think that's all for now. So, what do you say? Do you crave the same things I do?