John’s Blog

    “A true education encourages and empowers people to become influential in the world of ideas. A miseducated person neither developes independent ideas nor a desire to influence the environment of ideas. If a person has not developed the power to influence ideas ideas then their education has not been effective.”

                                -Dr. Akbar

             I was thinking, how many people actually use the skills that they inherently have? How many great muscians are working at a coffeshop? How many gifted writers are the “office bitch?” How many would-be athletes are moving boxes? How many Movie Stars, Muscicians, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters are on drugs? How many brilliant genius have turned to cynycism? How many of the working class are on anti-depressents?  How many American citizens don’t vote? How many students don’t know their rights? How many people flip on CNN or FOX and take it as un-tainted news?  People waste oppurtunity. Especially here in America, the “land of opportunity.” 12+ years of education, and nothing to say? Nothing to contribute? Come on, America. Come on, Hipsters. Come on, middle class working dads. Come on, pothead who doesnt have a job. Do something, you’re wasting away! Don’t let the depression, opposition, or hopelessness weigh you down.

“Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture. ”

                                         -Allen Ginsberg

   F°451 is a work of fiction. It’s a book in which Ray Bradbury creates a bleak future of in which books are banned, firefighters burn them, and most Americans (implied) live in a trancelike state where their knowledge, emotions and lives are regulated by supercomputers built into their homes. The government in the book wanted a peaceful, blissful nation, and thats what they got it. (The book ends with a cycle of nuclear war in which the nation is destroyed and is hinted that it will build itself back up and make the same mistakes).

            You are what you eat, you speak whats on your mind, whatever one is fed, one will regurgitate. Im sure you’ve all heard or seen the quote:

                     “Your thoughts become words, your words become actions, your actions become habits, your habits become your character, your character becomes your destiny.” -Unknown

             Now, if we take this quote to be logicaly true, (seems so to me) If one can control the thoughts of others, they in turn can in theory control the character of millions, and the destiny of a people, nation and culture. I can safetly say that the media, projecting bias, controls the thoughts of others to an extent, no? So if that is true…. then yes, whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture.

“I don’t concede!” grumbles my father as he glowers at anything but the t.v screen as Mccain makes his speech. He proceeded to tell me that Obama wasn’t his president, he is the liberals’ president. He is not a welfare sucking Democrat with no job who needs the government to bail him out.

Did he not hear John Mccain’s words?

            He was preaching unity. Yes, we have our differences, and yes, he doesn’t agree with Obama on everything, but aren’t we still the United States of America? Isn’t the whole idea of this country to compromise? I was extremely inspired by Mccain’s speech. This was the patriotic war veteran that started running in the first place. It seemed a weight was lifted of his shoulder’s, he no longer had to please everyone, “ I had the great pleasure to congratulate Obama today” he says, waving away boo’s. This is what the country needs more of- optimistic, clear headed Americans who can maybe not put aside differences, but work around them to improve what used to be the greatest nation in the world, and hopefully will keep and regain the status of the promise and advancement that America has come to stand for.

            Don’t get me wrong.. I don’t disagree with my Dad’s views on the whole, I understand where he’s coming from, I mean the man raised me. But it’s the attitude that will bring the country down- not conflicting views; gay rights, pro life, pro choice, Iraq, the War on Terror…. it’s the despair, the hopelessness that voices will no longer be heard. It’s the pessimistic cynical outlook on life, its defeat, really.

Pop, you’re still an American. You live in the land of promise, opportunity, and equality. Hopefully you will be able to put away the bitter resentment and the competitiveness that comes with Election Day, at least for 4 years. There’s a time and place for everything.