American apathy - a license to kill

This article is somewhat demotivating, but it's also a good reality check and offers some important insight into the psyche of the 'elite' yet uninformed American. Excerpts below:

You would think that showing maps clearly delineating the truncated, obviously non-viable area available for a possible Palestinian state and showing pictures that define Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories would have some kind of impact on an audience of astute but, on this issue, generally uninformed Americans.

We have shown maps and pictures like these myriad times before, but have never been received with quite such disinterest. Here was a group of mostly retired U.S. government officials, academics, journalists, and business executives, as well as a few still-working professionals -- all ranging in political orientation from center right to center left, the cream of informed, educated America, the exemplar of elite mainstream opinion in the United States.

The first person to comment when our presentation concluded, identifying herself as Jewish, said she had "never heard a more one-sided presentation" and labeled us "beyond anti-Semitic" -- which presumably is somewhat worse than plain-and-simple anti-Semitic.

Our brief conversation with this woman progressed in an interesting fashion. We tried to engage her in a discussion about what exactly was one-sided in our depiction of the situation on the ground and what she would have liked to see to make it "two-sided." She did not answer but indicated that she thought whatever Israel did must be justified by Palestinian actions.

Why is this interesting to anyone but us? Because this in-depth discussion with a small but representative group of intelligent, thinking Americans is indicative of a broad range of U.S. public opinion on foreign policy issues, and their level of disinterest in the consequences of U.S. policies is quite disturbing. The self-absorption evident during this meeting, the general "don't-rock-the-boat" posture, the overwhelming lack of concern for the victims of Israeli and U.S. power amount to a license to kill for the U.S. and its allies.

Fame and Debauchery

Maybe I am the only one disturbed by the growing media-ocracy and cult like following of superficial and "reason bashing" celebrities. People like Paris Hilton and Micheal Jackson, or better yet, antics of OJ Simpson capture the nations population with countless American hours spent in the vicious cycle of being in on the "know" of the likes of whom there is little to know about.

This is my assault on this superficiality that is being created by mass media, the internet and gossip mags that utilize technology, psychology and marketing to assault reason. This is our biggest threat- the threat to democracy is this assault on HUMAN reason and ability to create a society that is enlightened, connected and informed. This assault on reason stems from high tech propaganda.

Did you know that since Rupert Murdoch bought out MySpace.com that all alternative sources of media- links, you tube video's, discussion boards- that are not Murdoch owned and operated have been shut down, people shut out or totally wiped out. Murdoch has also taken an assault on all queer chat rooms, musicians, organizations and discussion boards. He has taken off all criticism of Murdoch and parodies or alternative and anti-marketing campaigns from MySpace.com. Any form of rallying around this issue has resulted in people being locked out.

Remember this is they that runs FOX News- Fresh off Xantac News- the news source that is "Spin Free" and upholding our Democratic principles. This is the state of our Union. Where people follow and are entrapped in the happening of washed out has beens like OJ Simpson and continue to believe that Saddam Hussain is responsible for 9/11 (over half the Untied States believes this). All the while the nations policy makers take some of the most disastrous steps in an Immoral and Unjust war.

While the Senate votes to dismember a nation, remember that we observe the upcoming shopping season of Christmas. I recall seeing the picture from a Marine lounge area in Iraq where a marine walks past a message scrawled out on the wall:

America is not at war. The marine corps is at war; America is at the mall.

And we continue to buy the latest gadgets that keep us connected, and yet we are so disconnected from the reality that is. We are faced with a great threat and that is the loss of our Democracy. A citizen not informed is as good as a citizen who lacks the right to vote and participate.