Rantings from the Shameless Generation

I wrote quite an extensive piece on the blog mentioned in my previous entry. Here’s a link; comment here or there.

http://afficionados.blogsome.com/2005/02/24/baby-steps-part-ii/

Well this is going to be the shortest entry probably. Two items of discussion for today:

1) Read Foucalt’s Pendulum, by Umberto Eco.

2) I’ve formed a discussion group of sorts. Read us here.

That’s all, have a nice monday.

Well, well, I am about to shock you all! The following is not a rant of any kind, but a message to you, my dear readers. I am taking time off from any forums/blogs that I may be part of to begin a new project, one that kept me up half of last night. I have finally decided to attempt a novel. Of course, don’t expect it for three or four years; I have only just begun the brainstorming and research stages, which will probably go on for a few months. That said, an introduction began forming itself in my head last night so I [might] give excerpts somewhere. Then again, I have a phobia of plagiarists, nothing personal.

Enough said; I’ll just let you all know that this blog will now be dedicated to updates on my novel, but do expect the occasional rant. It’s not like the world can hide it’s faults even when I’m distracted.

Well I’m sure you’ve heard of the whole tsunami affair down in Thailand and the surrounding area - if you haven’t I suggest you get out from under that rock and buy a newspaper, they aren’t more than a dollar or the equivalent in whatever it is your currency is. If they’re more than a dollar, elect a new government. I digress. So you’ve heard of the Tsunami and therefore probably heard of the millions - nay, billions - of dollars going towards rebuilding the victimised countries, which is more money I’ve seen flying around since casinos were invented. The point of this newest blog of mine is to tell you all about what you - and countless billions of others - don’t know about. The setting, Africa; nowhere in specific because I didn’t do in-deptch research, not that I needed to. In many African countries, you might be shocked to find out that there isn’t really a government - no, not even a form of capitalism - but rival warlords and their packs of mercenaries. If you thought the value of life was bad in the society I described in my first entry - ours - than you will also be shocked to find out that the value of a human life in these hellhole African countries is next to nil. That’s right, nobody will be talking about that poor boy who drowned other than his immediate family. Even if he was killed by some soldiers, who’s to stand up to the government? Well, there was that one guy, but he got shot faster than it took “Joey” to get cancelled on ABC. What I’m trying to say is something like this; why the hell are we crying over a natrual disaster - which we could not have prevented - when our own fellow man - that same shameless man - is killing people in the thousands. Oh my god, you say, that’s almost as much as the death toll from the tsunami! It’s the truth, but where the tsunami was an accident, what I am telling you about is genocide.

So think twice before crying over something you obviously couldn’t care less for and look around this world we live in. Don’t turn a blind eye because the media did; tell your brothers and sisters, neighbours and teachers, fathers and mothers of what we should be trying to improve. God, I’d rather see Saddam Hussein rule in Africa than whoever’s fulfilling that role right now. Yeah, yeah, then we’d all get to laugh at some ananymous american for making the dumbest mistakes in history.

I have been lied to my entire life, brainwashed by my government, my parents, and my teachers. I was taught to hate the Soviet Union, antagonise Fidel Castro, and spit on the names of democracy’s enemies. Even now I do not agree with the Cuban government, nor do I hope to see a united Soviet Union once again, but I resent the fact that I have been limited in choices, and that I hailed a government I knew nothing about. Time to set things straight. For one, I am no longer a loyal capitalist, and the simple reason for this is that I have started upon the path of self-enlightenment and have opened my eyes to the multitude of options that are open for me.

Yes, philosophy. While not the wisest of people or the most knowledgeable of philosophers, I do have the understanding to grasp what logic should be instilled to help govern this world, this society that we live in. As stated in my first entry, I am sick of the world around me; we devalue everything, and never learn from our mistakes. Not only this, but I keep asking myself if we really have freedom of choice in a democracy. Where is the independance? Let me tell you. It has been taken from us by the media, and in its place, false values have been instilled. It’s also very apparent that the upper classes are shoving us the in the direction they want, treating their “inferiors” like brainless cattles of cow, awaiting to be herded and slaughtered. This must end!

In my search for a better society, I have come across communism; right, back to the evil Soviet Union and Fidel Castro, eh? Not at all. Let us rather take a look at Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, for those are the idols I follow, not the modern leaders of our doomed world. It was in those days that Marx and Lenin preached that the real ideals of communism were shown to the public, and it was then that we had a chance to use those ideals and better ourselves; we didn’t. Why not? Because we are too stubborn to see that these enlightened men were smarter than us capitalists? That we wouldn’t be making as much money? Ha! Let’s take a look at some of these evil principles of communism:

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”

This, first of all, would mean a lot less money for those upper class snobs, but just read this quote over and over again, and, if you can already recognise the struggles that plague today’s society, you will start to see that communism was headed in the right direction after all. First off, no classes; it would be a society where everyone is equal in value and decision-making, thus rendering this form of government into a true people’s democracy. There would be no homelessness, no poverty, no debts, and less useless death. Heck, it looks as though jealousy might be on the decline as well. And in conclusion, it is starting to resemble my idea of the perfect society; Utopia…

Utopia?
I recently had a rather long and interesting coversation with a fellow thinker on this; he had read my first entry and we started exchanging ideas on what a better society would be. What we came up with wasn’t bad, but seemed nigh on impossible. We both agreed on the following needs the perfect society would need to meet.

1) The utopia would need to be cut off from any ‘mainstream society’ and limit contact with outside influences.

2) Citizens would need to be able to sustain themselves at minimum, but would not be forced to sustain the community. Those extra efforts would be distributed equally to those that require aid.

I’m sure there are more details I overlooked, but these already have problems that we must overcome. First of all, I can’t see the people of today fending for themselves without government aid; we’re just too damn spoiled and lazy. Secondly, the current government imposes too many rules that limit us or force us to live a certain way. I really don’t want to think of it, but a revolution might be neccessary to break free of the government. Which brings me to a point that Lenin brought up; capitalism is turning into a global form of government, and it is being forced upon the working class of the Third World. In order for communism (and thus, my utopia) to succeed, a global revolution would be needed.

And so I leave you, dear readers, to ponder a possible solution. A Third World revolution, anarchy, and the subsequent chaos that would undoubtedly follow, all in the name of world peace…

Behold the wonders of modern medicine! Today you can cure a cold or fever in mere days, correct any problem with surgery, and grow muscles overnight with the aid of a simple injection or pill. This makes me sick. With the dawn of science and medicine, I’ve watched as the value of life has continued to lower until one day I am sure, life will be gambled away with the click of a button. Oh, and it’s not only the scientists that are taking the greatest gift of all from us, but the idiots that take it upon themselves to attempt insane stunts such as skydiving or anything of the like. Is the “ultimate thrill” really worth losing your one and only life? Not in my humble opinion. Which brings me to my point:

“In the midst of life, death is among us.”

This saying could not be more true, and it is not any philosophical pondering or a bible quote; it is a fact of life. One cannot realize the meaning of this phrase until a situation where it is applicable happens, some life-changing event that will make them think immediately of this phrase. When this does happen, when the realization hits, one will feel how fragile life is, and then one will mature into enlightenment and hold dear what is the greatest gift of all. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m an atheist myself, so I’m not promoting the idea that all life comes from God. Life is a gift, one your parents have given to you, so don’t fuck up and make them regret it for the rest of their grief-filled time on earth. I think they earned that right at least.

Sometimes, though we don’t have the choice. To explain, I have a short story I’d like to share with you, all of which is true. While on vacation in the Dominican Republic, a family decided they’d go a fun excursion to let their hyper kids tire out for the day - the excursion was actually an activity with many parts, but the part I am speaking of has the participants swinging on a rope and then letting go to fall into what must be the ocean. Well the family’s eleven year old boy gives it a try, but when he tries to surface out of the water, the waves pulls him back under. He drowned. The funeral was yesterday, but unfortunately, I could not make it. My parents went, however, and when they returned they told me that the family in question was a wreck. I could only imagine…and this was an accident.

Anyway, to make a long story short (as I’m sure these aren’t your favorite things to read) I think we should all just be really thankful we are on this earth, well and alive, and have the opportunity to do whatever we want - that is, if we apply ourselves. So don’t take life for granted, go out there and make something of yourself, have fun doing it, and don’t let anything or anyone get in your way or try to stop you. Sure there’s the law, but if my advice has pushed you to break it…then I’m truly sorry for writing this. On that note, I’m signing off.

“If you govern the people legalistically and control them by punishment, they will avoid crime, but have no personal sense of shame. If you govern them by means of virtue and control them with propriety, they will gain their own sense of shame, and thus correct themselves.”

From this quote I will begin to introduce myself, my beef, and what I am going to have to say in my first online journal. Examining this quote, I agree whole-heartedly with the intention and the wisdom behind it, but then I look over my shoulder to the chaos that is today’s society and shake my head. The plan laid out by Confucius might have worked in his time for him, but today, it would be impossible to put into effect. Could you imagine 100% of the population acting like Confucius, behaving like this? The problem is not motivating people with intrinsic motivation to behave, the problem is the deviants who lack the capacity for intrinsic motivation to behave. These kids will one day take over society and continue to rob the future generations of shame. What is the difference between a democratic society acting lawful because they fear the repercussions of their actions and an authoritarian government where fear controls the public. Nothing.

So now I am caught between wishing for an ideal society that would follow the ethics described in the quote, and yet at the same time my cynicism is telling me, logically, that this “perfect society” would be impossible to achieve because those that make up the society - the citizens - won’t yield to this law, won’t open their souls for improvement. So what do I do? I give up hopes of living in a reasonably better world and expect only the worst from the future. I curse the society that I currently live in and drown my frustration in what I call personal enlightenment. I share my message with like-minded people, giving me futile hope that people will begin to see or be told why we are going downhill. Basically, I become the misguided, foul-tempered, arrogant philosopher…but all this at an age that has been robbed of its youth by oneself.

From that mind-set I bring you this journal, with which I will write my cynical thoughts down in hopes to sway you to see the world in the way that I behold it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say, well so is ugliness. This journal is written in hopes to open this beholder’s viewpoint to you, the reader. My introduction done with, I am ready to sign out, but I have my next entry already in mind, and I’ll tell you now, it only gets uglier.