| "Take your tissues", I was told. "You will get so angry", another said. So, I took my handkerchief and steeled my resolve in preparation for the looming emotional provocation. Yet, the tears never fell and the anger failed to reach any significant level. Perhaps it means that I have such low expectations of our political leaders, that I can no longer be shocked much like kids and their overexposure to everything via television. There are no surprises. I am already aware of the fragile seesaw on which our precious lives are balanced every day. We live in a tangled web that was created long before Blundering Bush came along. What Moore showed was how Bush, Papa Bush, and others helped to further snarl this labyrinth all for the sake of personal gain. But, they are not the first to do this and probably will not be the last. I have no idea where the answer lies, but Fahrenheit helped to make me want to ask more questions, to know more.
Please do not think that I am preaching to you as I am just smart enough to know that I know very little about history and politics and the general bullshit that goes on behind those closed doors. Since my one military history in college, I have remained in awe of what we are and what we do for the illusion of freedom. And we all know this. America is not new to wielding its power and taking on strange bedfellows to serve its immediate purposes. Questionable acts have been the name of the game for a long time. Native Americans. Slavery. Vietnam. Let's face it. We entered World War I because our leaders decided that we must become and remain the quintessential Super Power. With a goal such as that, there was nowhere for us to go but into the pits of hell making all sorts of deals with the devil du jour.
We are intelligent people and I cannot imagine that you will be that surprised by what you see on the screen. What I hope is that you will go see this movie and that you will be inspired to do all that you can to affect change in your circle of influence. Register to vote and then vote. Talk to, not at people. Listen and help when you can. Get uncomfortable enough to have to know more than you know right now. But, I warn you about the dangers of education. For with knowledge comes the responsibility of action. I think that fear of having to act keeps many of us detached from that which is not in our immediate sphere. It's certainly understandable as I have been prey to that comfortable ignorance on many occasions. But, sometimes, I just dive right in and really hate what I discover.
I met a senior citizen about a year ago outside of a movie theater. It was part of my usual Southern-style engagement, about which my friends constantly warn me. Anyway, this lady has turned out to be the most negative, miserable human being that I have ever met. However, she has also lost both of her children, a husband, and most of her friends. Furthermore, her cynicism has forced the remaining loved ones to steer clear of her, most likely just waiting for her to die. My friends wonder why I subject myself to her. She isn't mean to me, just annoying and actually gets some pleasure out of our conversations. At least, I think she does. Unfortunately while bringing her joy, at the end of each call or visit, I am most often left feeling drained because of her total lack of hope. She thinks people are just lost and ugly. I should just drop her. Right? I have tried, but I cannot. For she is so lonely and now that I know this sad woman exists, I have to reach out. I have to act.
So why should you go see this movie? Because we need to be aware, even if it is in the form of Moore's personal platform. Look. You know me. I am not a Bush fan. I think that at best he is a buffoon and at worst, he is a careless, khaki-wearing, rich boy puppet trying to make us his pawns by feeding us propaganda about the way things are and why things are. Still I have to wonder how different things would or would not be if Gore had taken the American throne in January 2001. We cannot be sure if sweet-faced, innocent Iraqi and Afghani children would have still lost their limbs or if American children would have lost their parents. It is impossible to envision our world had we not befriended and empowered Hussien years ago and done sleazy business with all sorts of oil people. There is no guarantee that our American soldiers would still be alive and that others who have survived would not have abused their power over foreign prisoners. Can we know if the Towers would have fallen? All that has already happened, being part of a much bigger monster that is not new, and other dreadful things are still occurring.
Nevertheless, America is where we live and love (by choice now) and in these times we must choose through our votes. On November 2, I hope that you will lift your voice and then let's see what happens next. Will it be better or will it be a perpetual building of that enormous, evil snowball? That, I cannot predict. But, I am going to try a little harder, anyway.
Did you know?
You can register to vote as late as 15-30 days prior to the election.
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