Really, what’s the point??
Posted on 16 September 2009
Yes, it’s true. I’m really so terribly upset by where we find ourselves after all the hope of the last election. Yes, I feel completely betrayed. I understand why many still hold out a conviction that things are going to get better, but I don’t think so, not for a while, not for a long while. I see no signs, other than that the powers-that-be are tightening their grip. And that one of those really feeling the squeeze of that grip is our young and articulate president. Will he be able to take on these forces? I don’t believe so. So why not just give up? What’s the point in even trying if a guy as enlightened and together as Obama can’t make a difference? Why even keep writing or making movies or doing anything other than just join the nasty guys, make all the money we can, eat really well, but cool stuff and then die in a soft, big bed?
First of all, I’ve kind of been in that rich and privileged world. I mean, where did Obama summer this summer? Weird, huh? Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve been there (a lot). I’ve done that a lot. I’ve been to mucho Washington parties and socialite events down Park Avenue and to a hell of a lot of stuff in Hollywood and, frankly, much of it is just plain weird and a little boring. It’s boring the way I suspect the royal courts used to be boring because it’s all just pretty much about power. It’s not what Pete White talks about in my little video, “Stuff, Happiness, Special People,” where – as he describes it – people who are on the bottom rung hang with the people they like (because there’s no other reason to be with them). And they avoid the assholes (because there’s no reason like money or power to be around them). What human is becomes clearer near the bottom and near the top it’s all about getting even more on top, which means the human part gets muddier and muddier.
I admit that all that glitzy stuff is exciting and heady at first (like drugs.) But it can get real nasty later on and then you start to feel empty (like you’re not really human.) At best, it’s boring. At worst, you want to jump out a window.
But for me just rummaging around as best I can in what it really is to be human, to try to share it with those around who are interested, whether it’s here on the blog (I’d love to get more comments and I promise I’ll start responding more – I’m just learning how to do this stuff.) And that’s the other thing, venturing into new stuff – for me that’s this blog — it’s walking down the street and just talking to someone like “The Tattoo Lady,” who looked liked if I approached her she’d just stare me down and instead spoke delightedly about someone she loved. Amazing.
So, in short, two or so months into this adventure of a website, on first asking my cat, Sophie: what’s the point, I think I’m beginning to understand what she was trying to tell me.
2 responses to Really, what’s the point??
The point is to endevour to see the perspective. It was the young without much power who brought Obama into his office. Against Obama are most of those in power, financial, ideological, religous etc. To bring real change takes an enormous positive shock like landing on the moon. Or two generations.
Expectations are great, but you do not change peoples minds like twisting their arms. Yes, Obama’s worst enemy is the high hopes he incited in his voters. You have do endure. You have to educate people how to carry on.
In the old ages governements in the northern hemisphere gave privilges to those who planted oak trees to get a forest of oakes that could be “harvested” some generations later in order to build ships, “man of war”, like the 17th century Swedish ship “Wasa” one of that countries most visited tourist goals. In some parts of the country you have still small oak forests, from that period. But not for shipbuilding any more.
The same is with the health care. People think about their insurances, if any, like the old saying; “The devil that you know is better than the one you don’t know.”. And they take to demonstrations to tell you that.
But the good will prevail, if the supporters persevere.
Carry On The Good Work, Stephen!
H.
Nicely put, Herman G.!
To continue with the tree metaphor: “Blessed is he who plants a tree whose fruit he shall never taste”. So we remain hopeful, we plant seeds, nurture them, and have to pull some weeds too. It is hard work and we are impatient for the fruits of our labor, but we toil not solely for ourselves, but for all who come after us. (hopefully, we also understand that we enjoy what we have because of the good work of those who came before us).
Let us persevere. Let us continue to plant seeds and nurture them. Above all let us recognize that seedlings need light to flourish and fight those who would smother our world in darkness.
Would you like some acorns?