|
|
Extra, Extra! 40,000 Years, No ProgressAug 05 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Health Aids
The Bottom Line Watch me change topics faster than a Jackrabbit with a --- that would have turned out to be a really stupid simile...Let's start making progress.
Well, there's been a lot to report in the human race up to this point in its existence. Unfortunately, above everything else which humans can lay claim to lies ignorant racial and social class prejudices. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you shouldn't be prepared to stab some guy for being too rich, not at all. If you have over 2 billion dollars, you can count yourself among those who undoubtedly are in need of critical/fatal blood loss, that's just the way it is, and I might get to why later. Nor am I suggesting that the clinically ugly should not be removed from public display, because a lot of them really do scare me. I am only offering to testimony that humanity has a LOT of work left to do if it ever wants to save itself from eternal internal discord, and at the top of the list are dissolving needless social and racial prejudices. Hell, even prejudices of appearances needs to be addressed, it's out of control. There are those that would say that we've come a long way to this point. Also, there are those like I that would say those people have the perception of a dull-witted sensory-deprived buffalo in heat. There is one simple and logical explanation that makes that lengthy insult-to-the-intelligence-of-my-peers hold water. That simple and logical explanation is that we haven't made ANY progress. Not in the United States, not in Afghanistan, not in Rubistan, Pakistan or in Bananastands. Not nowhere, not with nobody, not no how. There's been no progress, none, nil, aut, zott, hold the tatertots. We haven't made any progress because the only progress we've been making is in response to the regression of human rights we've been imposing upon each other since the conception of the human race. Ah, what? Now he might be making sense, you say? Maybe I'm flattering myself. But regardless of my pompous nature, it's so sadly and entirely true. Some might bring up the points of Women's Suffrage and the fight for black civil rights in response to slavery and later segregation. On a random tangent, I here on, now, and forever refuse to call blacks "African Americans", please, don't make me puke. Back on topic, as I previously stated, that isn't progress but simply a return to a balanced form of civil and human rights in response to the prior regression of the rights beforehand. Pathetically enough, we have not even totally succeeded to that end(direct your references to 29th_Candidate's article, "I Consider You An Equal, But My Government Does Not", for more on this), how embarassing. On another random tangent, however slightly more on topic this time, "equality" doesn't begin with the government, it begins at home. In fact, a lot of things begin at home, such a divorce and spousal abuse(you can tell I'm not a fan of marriage, I'm sure). More directly, prejudices begin with home teachings, those which are often manipulated by culture and vice versa. To make a long story short, how each and every one of us treats others is going to have an altogether tremendous impact on the culture as a whole. Every movement starts with one or a few people. You make the effort to end bigotry and prejudice at home, and there will be results. However, perhaps you're one of the people who don't really care about all of that in the first place, and I know you're out there, because I've probably met about half of you, or saw you on TV at one time or another, or I'm only seperated from you by six degrees of relation, regardless. You should probably try to coax yourself into the realization that your prejudice is not helping anything at all. Truly, you are not helping yourself, or anyone else, by decreasing genetic diversity and oppressing those around you. Generally, it isn't a great foundation to build a culture off of, or a life off of, for that matter. If you are a self-serving, inconsiderate low-life(and no offense to all of you who aren't), it's just as well that you don't hate black people, or jews, or whites, or people who wear baggy pants and freestyle rap at the mall, because it really isn't doing you any good. Oh, and it's annoying the sh-t out of all of us who can rationalize situations. So just take five minutes out of your day, and think about it. Here's a good rationale, "Would I rather kill a Jew, or go have a donut?" I know I'd go for the donut. If you look deep into your heart, I think you really want the donut, too. If you really need a place to divert your anger, your parents is a logical answer, because they're probably the ones who formed you into a (very likely) manic depressed psychopathic bigot who prays on the misery of the easiest local scapegoat. Hoorah for parents! Now, back to our previously scheduled rant... My point is that equal treatment of race, religion, creed(basically a redundancy of religion) colour, gender, sexual orientation, vegetarian state, and other matters are all only BASIC human rights. I don't know about you, but I'm under the impression, that in a modern world, there are a few extra rights that are deserved of everyone. The needs that immediately come to mind are food, shelter, and medical care. I can just hear the "*GROAN* Now this is turning into a flyer for socialism" and no, it's not. I don't consider making sure that basic human needs are met for everyone on earth is socialism. It falls more into the category of "The right, logical, compassionate, empathetic, loving, warm, minty fresh thing to do", and that is exactly the correct category it belongs in, give or take minty freshness. Moving on, I do have a mighty good argument to this point. Or atleast I did have one, before I went off on five random tangents....and before I realized how frightening the term "mighty good" is. Okay, here we go. It's coming...it's coming...yes, I think it's about here...alright, you see, my argument is to oppose those who somehow think that feeding, clothing, sheltering, and caring for people is somehow extravagant and economically damaging. Well, first of all, about the economy thing...there's a little known fact surrounding the corporate world. Doing good things hurts business, that is, unless there's a tax break involved. Technically...that's socialism, it's just shady, indirect shadow-socialism, you follow? The government is paying for the aid the businesses are giving to causes anyway. It's the same thing as the government just giving the money out of your taxes, only the target of the philanthropy is picked by some imbecile with the morals of a puffer fish rather than a board of people who actually care about the country and have sense. Oh, and the corporate scabs actually make money out of the deal. This can be represented by the metaphor of a man in a three-piece suit f-cking everyone in the country in the a-s simultaneously while overviewing his bankroll. ...on to greener pastures now. As for the extravagance, I don't even really have to argue that keeping people from starving to death or dying of exposure is extravagent, but, I will anyway, just to show all of you people how sane and observant I am compared to you(again, no offense to people who actually are observant, as for being sane, I'm still not sure if that's even a good thing, so I decline to comment). There's another simple argument here, which is the argument that the government spends money on other things that are of lesser vital importance to life than food and shelter. Such as...say...education. "OH MY GOD, THIS BASTARD IS GOING TO ATTACK EDUCATION NOW!" Well...no...not really, not today, although I could give it the old college try in another article(hahaha...irony...hahaha). On a side note, I will always maintain that being observant, deductive, questioning and open-minded will serve as far better education than having SH-T rammed into your ear at a constant speed which is, at any given time, either too fast or too slow to be adequately occupying. But that's another story... Let's return to basics for a moment. Or how about a simple scenario? An eight year old boy is entitled, or rather, has the awesome responsibility of listening to innane jackalopes ramble about innane topics extremely innanely, for about 6-8 hours a day(sorry to all of you good teachers that actually make an effort to help as many kids learn as possible; I'm also sorry to these same teachers that current required structure keeps you from doing your job as effectively as it could be done, and making a nightmare for you and some of your more differently apt students). Some people call this activity "schooling" or, handled under the even more grotesquely misleading title of "education". This child's mother has been incapable of work for some reason, or simply lazy, as the case may be(for this example it doesn't matter), for several years. They currently live in not-fit-for-poverty slum. The mother's welfare benefits run out, the boy and his mother lose the house, cannot find assistance, and they both end up on the street, starving and vulnerable. The boy dies of starvation...or disease inflicted by his vulnerable state without shelter. Now...think back. This boy was in school. This boy died. He did not get an education, because he did not get a chance to live. Since when has education outplaced human lives on our list of priorities? That's my question, and part of my point. Education may seem like a vital thing, and, in a way, it is a very vital thing. But how did we come to the point where we care more about someone's future life potential than their current wellbeing? It does make sense. It, infact, makes lots of sense, but only in dollar signs. This is not even to mention the welfare of those that contribute to our society tremendously in a non-monetary fashion, such as artists, musicians, and various innovators and inventors who care more about helping others find joy, or progressing humanity as a whole, rather than their own gains or even their own welfare. Or how about empaths, normal everyday people who serve to cheer people up, and brighten the faces of people, and whose existence was not readily built for the economic game either physically, psychologically or emotionally. Sure, some of them get benefits, some get helped, but others slip through the cracks, some never step forward. I'm only saying that everyone has a right to the live, and survive, and to try to better themselves, regardless of their difficulties, and how ill-fit they may be for society as it has been built today. It's in the declaration of independence, everyone is entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Let everyone have a chance at life, regardless of who they are, what they've done, or what they haven't done, and humanity will be better for it. Look at that, I start ranting and then turn all soapy inspirational. But folks, it's the truth, and I'd testify to that anytime, anywhere. As you consumers might say, the product is well worth the price.  |
| Read all comments (2)|Write your own comment |
|
Ads by Google
|
