One of my esteemed colleagues has been on an apocalypse trip as of late. Strange dreams all the while we have ghastly storms. On top of the "Ulysses" style weather, sea creatures of different types have been beaching themselves "en masse" for no apparent reason. Many regular folks would assume this kind of talk to be of the insane or of the conspiracy theory variety. I can honestly say its more or less a case of the town cryer ringing the wrought-iron bell in an effort to save the sleeping villagers from certain doom.
We all sit back and make casual jokes about poverty, drug addiction, ignorance, poor hygiene, race, bad politicians, and people's overall lack of moral fiber or social conscience. You can see it in our films, sitcoms, comedy outlets, and even advertising. All of this cynicism and irony permeating in our culture is sort of a big shot of Dialudid to slow the pain of humanity gone awry.
"Laugh it off, sonny boy...It's ALWAYS gonna be this way."
"I can't believe how SHITTY those people look."
"I'd love to lend a hand but I just don't have the TIME"
"You're living in the REAL WORLD, my dear"
The REAL WORLD our corporate and governmental betters would have us believe, anyway. This reality where our neighboors are likely to be harboring notions of blowing up buildings as opposed to being decent human beings. The reality where the arts are merely a past-time and not part of any culture's contribution to history. The reality where family and household are merely a lillipad between sleep and your dayjob. The reality where saving your life through the art and science of medicine will actually COST you the rest of your life...and sometimes even your surviving families after you have long since passed. The reality where all products sitting on grocery shelves are seeped and forged in poison and thoughtless profit. The reality where people actually weigh the difference between potential lawsuits and recall costs for motor vehicles. The reality where providing your self with an education will add another fifteen years to your career sentence. The reality where any phone call, a former tool of keeping humans in contact over long distance to preserve relations ships, is really just a stranger looking to loot and pillage your earnings. The reality where the local coffee shop being out of Cinnamon Hazelnut cream constitutes the kind of verbal abuse formerly reserved for rapists and killers. The reality where a child is more likely to view one man slaughtering a village before he is likely to see the love of a woman. The reality where your body, the soil, the air, the water, and your mind are no longer yours. The reality that we are living in.
I don't have any knowledge of the science of earth decay or any insight into social statistics. I can't measure the seismic activity of our planet's plates and the volcanoes strewn about its surface. What I can do is look into another man's eyes and see the lack of humanity in his face. I can see atrocity after atrocity and try to find some form of meaning for it. When you can't even walk into a house of god to find salvation. When you there are no hands outstretched to catch you when you fall. That means this particular strain of life has run its course and its time for something more sustainable to replace it. Perhaps humanity is really a virus or parasite and the corpse in which we inabit no longer has bacteria on which we can feed.
The most cynical and bleak among us, myself included, used to be the most idealistic. As a child I knew in my heart that their was good in the world. I knew that I would go to school and find a really good job. I knew I would help the local high school coach football. I knew that there would be a woman who loved me and that we would be devoted to each other until the end of time. I knew that there would be a modest home in which we would raise our children. I knew that it would be a place of love, knowledge, laughter, and kindness. All of my dreams in this vein have longed since vanished. I know in my heart that sadness will prevail and that we are all savages looking out for number one. The smashing of idealism is the root of my prophet of doom leanings. But there is still an ember burning inside me that wishes all to be well. It manifests itself in how I treat other people. I try to bring kind words, humor, and a pleasant nature to all I know. I am human and this isn't always the case. But the effort in which I try to brighten the days of those in my sphere is my contribution to maintaining quality life. We all don't have resources to house the homeless, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and educate the ignorant. Maybe it can all start in something as simple as a thank you for being yourself. Maybe we can turn things around. But that might not be good for business. We all know what happens to people who bring self reliance, love, knowledge, and solidarity to large quantities of people. Two through your wrists and one through your feet. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY
Revelon
Scientists
Acid Mothers Temple
Boris
Red Krayola
Albert Ayler
Bunny Brains
Die Like A Dog Trio
Nels Cline
The Homosexuals
The Slits
Wilco
Thee Headcoats
1929
Brian Wilson
I bought $550 worth of music the other day. I've finally put myself into financial oblivion and I don't care. Music is my life and I'll be buried with my collection. FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!!!
We all sit back and make casual jokes about poverty, drug addiction, ignorance, poor hygiene, race, bad politicians, and people's overall lack of moral fiber or social conscience. You can see it in our films, sitcoms, comedy outlets, and even advertising. All of this cynicism and irony permeating in our culture is sort of a big shot of Dialudid to slow the pain of humanity gone awry.
"Laugh it off, sonny boy...It's ALWAYS gonna be this way."
"I can't believe how SHITTY those people look."
"I'd love to lend a hand but I just don't have the TIME"
"You're living in the REAL WORLD, my dear"
The REAL WORLD our corporate and governmental betters would have us believe, anyway. This reality where our neighboors are likely to be harboring notions of blowing up buildings as opposed to being decent human beings. The reality where the arts are merely a past-time and not part of any culture's contribution to history. The reality where family and household are merely a lillipad between sleep and your dayjob. The reality where saving your life through the art and science of medicine will actually COST you the rest of your life...and sometimes even your surviving families after you have long since passed. The reality where all products sitting on grocery shelves are seeped and forged in poison and thoughtless profit. The reality where people actually weigh the difference between potential lawsuits and recall costs for motor vehicles. The reality where providing your self with an education will add another fifteen years to your career sentence. The reality where any phone call, a former tool of keeping humans in contact over long distance to preserve relations ships, is really just a stranger looking to loot and pillage your earnings. The reality where the local coffee shop being out of Cinnamon Hazelnut cream constitutes the kind of verbal abuse formerly reserved for rapists and killers. The reality where a child is more likely to view one man slaughtering a village before he is likely to see the love of a woman. The reality where your body, the soil, the air, the water, and your mind are no longer yours. The reality that we are living in.
I don't have any knowledge of the science of earth decay or any insight into social statistics. I can't measure the seismic activity of our planet's plates and the volcanoes strewn about its surface. What I can do is look into another man's eyes and see the lack of humanity in his face. I can see atrocity after atrocity and try to find some form of meaning for it. When you can't even walk into a house of god to find salvation. When you there are no hands outstretched to catch you when you fall. That means this particular strain of life has run its course and its time for something more sustainable to replace it. Perhaps humanity is really a virus or parasite and the corpse in which we inabit no longer has bacteria on which we can feed.
The most cynical and bleak among us, myself included, used to be the most idealistic. As a child I knew in my heart that their was good in the world. I knew that I would go to school and find a really good job. I knew I would help the local high school coach football. I knew that there would be a woman who loved me and that we would be devoted to each other until the end of time. I knew that there would be a modest home in which we would raise our children. I knew that it would be a place of love, knowledge, laughter, and kindness. All of my dreams in this vein have longed since vanished. I know in my heart that sadness will prevail and that we are all savages looking out for number one. The smashing of idealism is the root of my prophet of doom leanings. But there is still an ember burning inside me that wishes all to be well. It manifests itself in how I treat other people. I try to bring kind words, humor, and a pleasant nature to all I know. I am human and this isn't always the case. But the effort in which I try to brighten the days of those in my sphere is my contribution to maintaining quality life. We all don't have resources to house the homeless, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and educate the ignorant. Maybe it can all start in something as simple as a thank you for being yourself. Maybe we can turn things around. But that might not be good for business. We all know what happens to people who bring self reliance, love, knowledge, and solidarity to large quantities of people. Two through your wrists and one through your feet. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY
Revelon
Scientists
Acid Mothers Temple
Boris
Red Krayola
Albert Ayler
Bunny Brains
Die Like A Dog Trio
Nels Cline
The Homosexuals
The Slits
Wilco
Thee Headcoats
1929
Brian Wilson
I bought $550 worth of music the other day. I've finally put myself into financial oblivion and I don't care. Music is my life and I'll be buried with my collection. FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!!!
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
rockin blues trio from the 70's......ace!
thanks for your thought on the writing, my dear. to steal a line from 16 candles, that is why they call them crushes, huh?
my goodness - i've just read your entry. that was absolutely gorgeous - excruciating, excoriating, and deeply grievous - but beyond important. you have an insightful soul, mr. fight. everything you say has truth in it, and yet, each day is still another opportunity to break a little bit of light into the chaos. i am sending you that little light right now.
♥