that drives the imperialism, and that is the American consumer, now more than ever.
The very concept of ‘spreading liberty around the world’ is a lie – because the American lifestyle of consumerism is impossible to export. There’s simply not enough ‘stuff’ on the planet to go around.
The “new way of living” Zinn asks for in the world requires sacrifice by us, and I don’t see any signs of this being offered by ANY politician, and very, very few intellectuals.
Our pervasive attitude of ‘American exceptionalism’, the very conceit we hold is fraying at the edges. Soon, it will be crumbling like the Berlin Wall did.
against the masses… no more than men had a plot to dominate women.
society evolved due to our instincts and then our intellect. sometimes the combo of intellect and instincts goes wrong; sometimes it is so very right.
instead of all the doom and gloom and how terrible we are, perhaps we ought to understand ourselves more clinically. our chemistry and how the world of BushCo makes sense, instinct-wise. Yes. It does. so does consumerism. we are geared, i think, to stock up and store shit.
but our intellect has taken us down a path that doesn’t work in this world our intellects have created.
we have lots of power. we can tell people a better story. not that we are bad and horrible. but that we are at a bump in the evolutionary road. that those of us able to scale our actions and their impact on the globe are the new models.
simply, the meaning of survival is changing and as it dawns on us, we are changing. maybe not in time to save us. or this country. but for sure it’s worth the shot to TRY and save it.
8 comments
Skip to comment form
that drives the imperialism, and that is the American consumer, now more than ever.
The very concept of ‘spreading liberty around the world’ is a lie – because the American lifestyle of consumerism is impossible to export. There’s simply not enough ‘stuff’ on the planet to go around.
The “new way of living” Zinn asks for in the world requires sacrifice by us, and I don’t see any signs of this being offered by ANY politician, and very, very few intellectuals.
Our pervasive attitude of ‘American exceptionalism’, the very conceit we hold is fraying at the edges. Soon, it will be crumbling like the Berlin Wall did.
against the masses… no more than men had a plot to dominate women.
society evolved due to our instincts and then our intellect. sometimes the combo of intellect and instincts goes wrong; sometimes it is so very right.
instead of all the doom and gloom and how terrible we are, perhaps we ought to understand ourselves more clinically. our chemistry and how the world of BushCo makes sense, instinct-wise. Yes. It does. so does consumerism. we are geared, i think, to stock up and store shit.
but our intellect has taken us down a path that doesn’t work in this world our intellects have created.
we have lots of power. we can tell people a better story. not that we are bad and horrible. but that we are at a bump in the evolutionary road. that those of us able to scale our actions and their impact on the globe are the new models.
simply, the meaning of survival is changing and as it dawns on us, we are changing. maybe not in time to save us. or this country. but for sure it’s worth the shot to TRY and save it.