Welcome to modern America: A land of liberty, seeming possibility, and the sense of impending security and ease for those who may fall upon it. It could be said that Americans, among all countries, have the most oppurtunity before them relative to any other people on earth. With all of this potential, it intrigues me that America is drowning in potential. It would seem as though we have found ourselves within the awful and fascinating predicament of having so much to do and care about that we choose not to care at all. It's an odd parallel to sitting down to thousands of TV channels and having nothing to watch. Yes, we find ourselves treading water in a sea of social and moral and entrepreneurial possibility and obligation, finding that we can only muster the energy to stay afloat, and that's about it.
So, how do we fix this problem?
The question may be more difficult than the answer. I believe the most accurate and poignant question is as follows: In the some of the best years in the world, why is it that we choose not to care? Ah. The ever armed and ever potent why question. It would seem that it rarely fails to cut through the crap. I personally refuse to believe that we as humans are any more self centered than we have always been. People are constantly looking to the youth in the world and attaching every label imagined to them, selfish included. To be fair, it's always been that way. I'm sure that the youth of the Renaissance were accused as being just as immoral and selfish as we are. And it's because they're right. We are.
Let me explain. If we view all of these opportunities as obligations, they become a threat to personal security. Statements like "You have to go to college" or "You have to care and support the environment" are viewed (in some cases) as attacks. Then, just like the children of any generation, we begin to push back. I might be as bold to suggest that if we lived in a society where we didn't "have" to do anything, people would be better. I"m not suggesting anarchy, but I believe in the power of people making their own decisions.
So to all those who feel like they're literally drowning in apathy, might I suggest taking five things that are important to you, and working for those five things. Not because someone told you to, but because YOU WANT TO. I think some of the angst might be taken off, and you might starting floating above the numbness that has permeated our culture.
This 4th of July, let us take a leaf out of our founding fathers book: Find what's important to you. Plan for how to achieve it. Then, let nothing short of death stop you from getting what is important to you. Pay attention to what happens, because upon true introspection, I'd bet you're desires are more philanthropic than you'd give yourself credit for. And who knows? Maybe you'll change the world. But I'd work on taking control of your life first. :)
This is Big Al. Over and out.
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