...although there’s no objective measure of angst that I know of, the world may seem scarier to We, the People, than it used to, and not just because of terrorism. Collectively, our props are falling away. Compared to fifty years ago (as far back as I can remember), communities are fragmented, families are scattered, jobs are ephemeral. Across rural and small-town America, communities that were once homogenous are becoming multiracial and multiethnic. “Givens” about God and Man and Sex and other big issues are being openly challenged.
...Although the world must seem to be shifting beneath their feet, many people are so out of touch with themselves that they may not be fully aware of their fear or capable of understanding what they are afraid of. ...
In America today, the Economy defines us. It tells us who we are and gives us a place in society. We work and consume, therefore we Are. But such an identity gives us no context to understand or even acknowledge the unease gnawing inside us. So, we look outside ourselves for solace. We work harder and buy more stuff. We medicate ourselves with alcohol and other diversions. Even American-style religion is outer-directed, fixated on a God who is Out There instead of the Buddha who is In Here. And we allow propagandists to tell us that what we really fear are terrorists, or atheists, or liberals, or some other shadowy thing Out There, and our salvation lies in God and guns and George W. Bush.
And, in our fear, we cede more and more power to the corporate monsters eating our souls.
http://www.ospolitics.org/usa/archives/2003/12/09/american_p.php#more
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
