The Week

Social Commentary

I had a few moments of existential clarity today.  Not that I don't usually have a couple of moments like that during the day.  But today, I had several of them in a row.  Like in order.  Not just misplaced universal interjections.  They were consecutive.  So, it wasn't just a fleeting thought like "why are birds so loud?"  or "I need to cut the grass." It wasn't just here and gone.  It has been a while since I have had one of those days; one of the days when you remember connectedness and the whole and the greater vision of humanity.  I had one of those days.  And I'm kind of excited about it.  It means that I'm completely fucking lost.

Anyway, while I have been basking in the magnificence of my momentary clarity, I have scraped together a few thoughts on the state of planet Earth based on this weeks "headlines." I don't generally use this forum as social, economic, or political tool.  It's happened before, but I try to stick with bad sex and life's cruel sense of humor.  However, in light of my complete lack of sex and life's perpetual reminder that it's a horrible comedian, we are going to have a little social commentary here tonight.

Maryland  

I have largely remained silent about the unrest in Baltimore.  Starting last Monday, we switched the TVs at work to the Game Show Network and the Weather Channel.  I''m pretty sure that was a managerial decision because they didn't want patients to hear my political diatribes about inequity and injustice.  Which is moot anyway, because the coroner and the district attorney have already made their decisions based on facts.  But more importantly, the crisis in Baltimore is yet another representation of what is so very wrong with this country.

To be fair, I grew up the illegitimate child of two hippie parents.  I didn't understand how dichotomous race, status and gender issues were.  My parents were on drugs and truly believed that equality was a thing.    At least that's what they taught me to believe.  So, you can probably imagine my disbelief the first time I heard a black person say they felt marginalized.  Because I was raised to believe that we are all supposed to have equal opportunities and to love each other...Oh look, a butterfly.

I will never forget that afternoon, in that upstairs classroom at College of Alameda.  For the record, that was the first time I realized I was a privileged, white asshole.  So, naturally, privileged, white assholes kind of put me on edge.  I'm also unnerved by people who respond to violence with violence.  I would much rather people talk about the actual problems:  Injustice and Inequity.  And fear.  I would like to hear people talk about those things without being hateful.  On EVERY SIDE.

Everest

It was with thoughts of civil imbalance in Baltimore, that my mind gravitated to another tragedy:  Geographical instability in Nepal.  While I'm thinking about Baltimore, this fucking catastrophie in Nepal is making an appearance in my cognition.  I kept thinking about the initial 700 casualties compared to the more than 10,000 estimated now.  I thought about the people who refuse to re enter their homes or dwellings because they aren't stable enough to maintain another aftershock.  I think about the people who will never be accounted for.  And again, I think to Baltimore.  Where the death count is currently zero as a result of the riots.  All day, I tried to make sense out of both.  I couldn't.

I had a quiet Friday, and I needed somebody to make some sense for me.  So I texted my friend Drew.  I said "They are estimating close to 15,000 dead in Nepal.  That's a lot.  Why aren't we talking about that.  And Drew, being very pragmatic, said "Because Nepal has no consequence in our lives."  Oh.  Ok.  I see.  He then told me "Most people can't point out Nepal on a map."  I said, "Let's be honest, A lot people in this country can't point Baltimore out on a map of Baltimore."

Drew was right, though.  Nepal is of very little meaning to us.  We want to feel sad for the poor people who are suffering and Facebook asks me every day for donations, so they can match my contribution.  But, unless you are a renegade, douche bag hell  bent on scaling the face of Mt. Everest, Nepal means nothing to us.  They are poor and brown and Hindu.  They aren't privileged white assholes.  We have no need for them.  We don't really need to care.  Just to be clear, you can replace the word "white" with the word "American."  Because if you riot in your neighborhood to make a point, regardless of your gender, status or race, you are privileged.

The Symbol

Speaking of privilege, I have been hearing a lot about flag stomping and how it's viral on the internet. I didn't hear shit about it until people got so angry about it, they started making threats to people who were doing it.  Again, I don't have cable and I'm only exposed to the Game Show Network.  But if it was that big of a deal, I probably would have heard about it with a means other than Facebook.  You would have, too.

This isn't a patriotism issue.  You can't question my patriotism.  I have served my country.  As did four generations that preceded me.   After I was done serving my country, I continued to serve those who serve for more than a decade afterword.  The issue isn't patriotism.  The issue is divisiveness.  Stop generating hate where there is no hate to be had.  If you are going to get mad over a symbol, get mad that the 49ers have committed to a black uniform.  It's the same thing, it's just a symbol.  The flag isn't who we are.  It's not what we do.  It only represents where we pay our taxes.

Don't pledge Allegiance to the flag.  Pledge Allegiance to each other.  That's real patriotism.

Independent

The week in review ends here; it ends with Bernie Sanders.  I'm a little giggly and a little hopeful here.  But Bernie Sanders (I-VT), has decided to make a chase at the Presidency.  He won't win.  But this is WIN for my people.  It means that he has enough influence to make people listen.  He's also a privileged, white asshole. But he believes in health care and education and jobs and veterans and the environment.    That''s what we are all looking for in a candidate.  He won't win.  He doesn't have corporate sponsorship.  Again, this is a win for my people.  I love that he is making his point.

Done

That was a lot of thinking and talking.  I haven't been able to do that in a while.  But think about this week.  We can do better.  Personally.  Professionally.  Socially.  We can do better.  This week is proof of that.

-Inner Peas