n a t b s

True, the white man brought great change. But the varied fruits of his civilization, though highly colored and inviting, are sickening and deadening. And if it be the part of civilization to maim, rob, and thwart, then what is progress?

I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures, and acknowledging unity with the universe of things, was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization…

-Chief Luther Standing Bear

Star Trek has to be one of the most popular mainstream visions of a utopian human future.  It sees our current path, and basically extrapolates one of the better outcomes.  In this utopian world, science has basically solved every problem.  There is no scarcity, of energy or materials, and medicine has cured most disease.  Surely, we would all agree that such a world is a general ultimate goal of the path we’re on.  But there’s something else that’s interesting about that world; the people aren’t human.  I mean, sure, they’re biologically human (except for the aliens), but what I mean is that they’re not emotionally human.  They’re too rational, too regimented.  Too perfect.  Ron Moore saw this, and tried to inject some humanity into the characters (Family).  But I guess my point is, our system is so unnatural, so alienating of our basic nature, that in the perfect vision of our ideal future, we cease to be people.  We’re perfect cogs in the machine we built, but we’re not people.  This is the path we are on, and this is the source of most problems.  It’s the reason the situation normal is all fucked up.

I’M ALIVE!

I’M A HUMAN BEING!!!!!

When Bush “won” the election in 2000 it was so close and questionable, that when he started doing crazy shit we were extra critical of it.  Not that he didn’t deserve extreme critisism, but it was even easier to hate him and be angry becuase of the 2000 election.  Also the contrast with the prosperous ninites made it easy to hate him.  On the other hand, the election of 2008 comes right after Bush’s reign and the psyoclogical mindfuck he put us all through, so Obama’s presidency will probably look great by comparison and maybe cement the popularity of liberal ideals for a generation.  Yeah.

Growing up in the happy-go-lucky nineties, I learned a lot about the ideals of America, and I believed in those ideals; I was too naive not to.  Getting older and learning about our dubious history, and witnessing our present in the time of Bush, was a painful realization that we hardly live up to those ideals; that that stuff I used to believe as a kid was a myth not unlike Santa clause and the tooth fairy.  George Bush has been the president my entire adult life.  And now, the way I feel about the election of Barack Obama, is kind of like finding out Santa clause is real.  His rise and victory, more than his politics, means something.  It reminds us that America isn’t all talk.  We can put our money where our mouth is and do the right thing.  We can do something unprecedented and once again lead the way.  Yes America is an amazing country, this proves that once again.  And that’s why I felt so good last night, and why I feel so good now, and why so many people in the world do too.  I’ve never seen such joy and jubilation over a presidential election, people were literally dancing in the streets all over the world.  And yes, he’s black, and this country was founded on slavery, and 40 years ago they didn’t have equal rights, and yes that is amazing and wonderful.  It hit me right after they announced it, even though I knew it was going to happen, I didn’t feel it until it was official.  About, 11:02 I’d say, I started to cry.  It was a beautiful night.  Maybe one of the happiest the world has ever known.  We have the hope of a new beginning.

Also, for the first time in my lifetime I can say these words without sarcasm: America, fuck yeah!

On a day where we take one step closer to the world of 1984 with the re-branding of TSA headquarters as “the Freedom Center,” no, really, I feel the need to remind the world (or the 20 people who might read this) that the essential freedom America is about, the one we fought that big ‘ol war over, is freedom from tyranny.  I’m sure most of you know what that word means, but, just for the record, tyranny means “A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power.”  Hmmmm, so it’s not freedom from being blown up by terrorists?  No, not really.  That’s pretty hard to guarantee.  But a government in which a single ruler has absolute power…sound like any government you know?  I mean, sure, George Bush can declare anyone a terrorist for no particular reason and lock them up indefinitely without due cause, but that’s not absolute power right?  Sure he ignores the laws he doesn’t like, and makes up new ones without consulting congress, but that’s not absolute power.  I mean, he still derives his “just powers from the consent of the governed” right?  It’s not like he stole the last two elections.  Nah, tyranny is not even close to being a problem in these United States.  I mean, how could it be with fine institutions like the Freedom Center and the department of Homeland Security guaranteeing our freedom?  Nope, no one in history has ever used the guise of national securty to unjustly seize power, so one must be crazy to think that’s happening now.  I say we all just sit back and relax, I mean, we have a really humble and qualified civil servant running the show.  George Bush loves us, just like God loves George Bush.  And I’m just loving these motherfuckin’ freedom fries!