America

I got the munchies (not drugs-related) so I got dressed at 1:30 in the morning to go out for some grocery shopping. Yeah, tell me about it. Though I suspect that's really hunger for answers. I did indeed go out despite the rain. And I'm typing with my right hand only while my left is holding snacks.

America is so wrong on so many levels. Before you bash me, I'm an American citizen, living in Japan teaching the American ways. Some sort of representative you might even venture a label. I won't disagree. First of all, let's set the record straight. It's the United States of America. That is, the name of the country in question. America, is, a, continent.

I thought I'll never see the day, but it's coming, for sure it is. You know no nation is capable to escape the fate of pattern. As a matter of fact, all things, are bounded by the law of pattern. Great powers rise, peak, then fall. We know the U.S. will fall. I just don't think I'll see the day. But that might change.

Problems:

Number 1: being patriotic, foolishly so, or nationalistic. (By the way if you think there's nothing wrong with the US, please get the fuck out of my blog, back to Kansas. There you have it, a taste of your own medicine called ignorance.) Being patrotic doesn't work, at least not in a country like the U.S. There are too many idiots. Being blindly patrotic is how all wars started. We might have an unqualified president, but without mal-educated patriots, he can't just go bully every country with an oil reserve. How about being patriotic on the earthling level, hate 'em aliens instead?

Number 2: being religious. Do not run the country with the Holy Grail in one hand. The world is not 5000 years old. If you can't do what your religion book says, then leave it on the altar when you visit it on Sundays. There are questions which science can't answer, but do keep faith to yourself, for it is a personal belief. What do you think caused more deaths in history? Religions or Hitler?

Number 3: being ignorant. Get educated. Although there are many scholars in the U.S., the majority have very little common sense. No wonder Americans are the laughingstocks for the rest of the world. Yes a lot of people are ignorant, Americans or not, but they at least try to elect someone who is not. This administration is beyond jokes. Million of people don't die, starve, or go broke as the result of a joke.

Number 4: being selfish. OK, who isn't selfish. But you can be smart selfish. Instead of raking in whatever money you can get your hands on now, invest a little for the future. A little charity goes a long way. The haves in this country just don't care about the have-nots. The poor will eventually come after the rich. In the end you lose, whoever you are. Share. Is it so hard? Taking care of the poor at home and globally in turn takes care of most of the needs for wars and terrorism. When will people realize material is physical and physical attributes are only temporary.

Number 5: being arrogant. There are other cultures out there just as colorful, educated, diversed, rich, etc, if not more sucessful already. The rest of the world don't have to act in unison with us. The U.S. shouldn't force their ideals on others.

Number 6: being corrupted. We used to say, wow, look how corrupted the Soviet Union, China, Malaysia, Congo, etc, are. What do you think the U.S. is any less bureaucratic? Think again. If you have enough money, you can buy yourself a congressman. If you own a large corporation, you can buy a president. On top of that, what do you think lobbying really is? Government officials no longer get the job because of their merits. Legislation no longer takes the people into consideration as much as to evade the public eyes. Elections no longer reflect the collective will of the majority. And people no longer hold their elected officials accountable.

Number 7: being apathetic. Just how many people give a rat's ass? Shit happens. How much you're willing to risk your peaceful lifestyle to rock the boat? Most couldn't care less, as long as checks still cashed, ends still met. But don't take it for granted.

read:

This is a racing video game forums. The folks are from all walks of life all over the world, which makes them the common folks, a good random sample of the world. They discuss the U.S. This is one of a gazillion discussions going on in the WWW, but a darn good one. Watch out for heavy doses of sarcasm and ignorance.

Another discussion by a random sample of the world.

Another one.