Hi folks, I know I haven't put up a diary in a long time. I've been pretty busy with family, school (finally graduated!) and work.
This is not a serious diary, nor one overly sarcastic. It's just something that happened to me the other day that I thought I would share.
Currently, I'm working in a very nice private school with a great view. The other day in my advanced conversation class, we were discussing gaffes and faux pas in conversation, and we talked about the pitfalls of discussing politics in America today. My students were very interested in the topic, and they pressed me for my opinion. I guess none of them come here. :)
To make a long story short(er), I hemmed and hawed for a while (as I officially consider myself part of the "establishment" now) and tried to avoid the question. But, I did say something that I never really consciously thought until that moment. Here's a paraphrase:
Me: "I don't like America anymore. Well, Bush's America. When I was growing up, Americans would die for freedom. We didn't care. You could say what you want, do what you want, and it was your right. Today, Americans are scared, and I've never seen it like this before. We live in a culture of fear. This isn't MY America."
After I said it, I didn't really think about it much after that. But, then I started reading a few headlines, and the fear leapt off every page. Americans are afraid of war, terrorists, bombs, nail clippers, each other, the other party, etc. I'm afraid of everybody being afraid. Scared people don't know what they are doing until its too late.
But, this is nothing new. This is why I don't post much anymore. We're not changing. The fear is still there and permeates everything. A look at the front page confirms that. No matter how many diaries anyone posts, this basic underlying fact will not change.
Last November, we had enough to impeach Bush, even enough to arrest him and all his cronies. Hell, we had this same evidence back in 2002. Even 1999. Has anything happened? Nope. You know why? We're afraid of Bush. You can admit it. We're afraid of him and we're afraid of what will happen without him.
So, nothing changes. We continue to post, they continue to post, and Bush continues to screw the world. There are no solutions, only perseverance.
So, my advice: take a look at your own life, take care of your families, live your lives to the fullest, and remember: only 1100 days left.
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