In all my recent bitterness (and I know, I can be a real bitch, sometimes) over various issues, I am tired of anger, weary of bitter, heartsick when I think that we, as a species (humans), will probably never be on the same level as one another, on the things that could give us sufficient perspective to empathize, and stop fighting. My high school English teacher would have a field day with that last (first) sentence. Whatever. -.-
I know, in expressing this sentiment, I will likely be called a few choice words - up to and including idealistic, socialist, hippie. And so what if I am? Pushing thirty, I've found that I know, possibly, even less than I did a few years ago, in contrast to the number of issues I've made myself aware of, or been made aware of, in that same amount of time. There are no concrete answers - even being vegan is not a cure-all, socially or ecologically (I know I'll draw fire for that, too).
Even as I plunk this out on my keyboard, I strain to find words adequate to describe the utopian yearnings that stir in my heart, and the frustration and disappointment that churns in my gut, when I realize that no "plan" exists to set them in play, on a massive scale, that wouldn't rob one group or another of a choice they would not otherwise make for themselves. Having been given the unique opportunity of being robbed of one choice or another, I wouldn't dream of taking that from anyone else. And yet...
When this nation, these people called Americans, claim they love freedom so, but only so long as depriving another of life does not lead to the populace being deprived of their firearms, I fail to see how any weapon is an "equalizer", of any sort, any more. And yes, I know that they have their uses. Having been raised in a largely Republican family in Alaska, I knew gun safety, how to clean and care for a firearm, all before I shot one - all with appropriate supervision - by age nine. I don't deny the masses their need for some sort of security be it physical or psychological (let's be honest about our ability to shoot in the heat of the moment, hands shaking, scared because something woke you out of a dead sleep), but I wish they would know it comes at a price.
When the political system is so broken, our Congress has spent the better part of five years, inside of two Presidential terms, accomplishing very little, other than partisan bickering and undercutting our few rights to privacy - or trying to, all while ignoring the fact that a large percentage of the populace would like to know what, exactly, it is that they are eating (thank-you-very-much), and that comprehensive healthcare, as the term implies, does not exist within our borders, unless one is either very rich or very fortunate, I have to wonder.
So, let's make a few things clear:
- Guns have not been (and likely, will not be) taken away. I certainly hope the State of Florida reconsiders the rights of George Zimmerman, or his like, to own several or even ONE, however.
- There's this thing called human rights. Many countries name clean water, food that doesn't qualify as Mystery Meat, full equality among citizens, and good healthcare among those rights.
- Any nation's greatest resource is its people. Even the great corporate personhood entities cannot be run without competent people. Speaking of corporations vs. people, and the implication of money, how much money does one person NEED, anyway? At what point does it cease to be about "what I have, because I need it for logical reasons A, B, C", and start being about, "what I can get, because I can get it, just for the sake of having it"? Really think about that one, because I've been wondering it, myself.
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