America's Grand Illusion of Freedom
In some quarters you can read some very thought-provoking prose on the illusion of freedom that lives and breathes in America. Does a mixture of corporate greed of the few and mass media manipulation of the many combine to give Americans a sense of freedom even though their every waking moment is consumed by a compulsion to "live the American Dream" and buy more toys until they drop dead? What kind of freedom is that? Freedom to be a blind sheep in the service to the few who control the money, the thoughts, the very hearts of the many?
Maybe the American society is a sick or even dying animal. Maybe consumerism is a phase society passes through on it's way to a greater good... who knows. But here is your reality check folks... That dying animal can usually and overwhelmingly bleat out in relative safety about the dismal state of affairs it lives and dies amongst. Freedom of Speech trumps all other cards, devices, smoke and/or mirrors. Nothing can compare to it - so next time you're sure America is living in an illusion and you want to bleat about it, you better be glad you're not living in China or any of the other nations that don't even allow you to discuss what a dismal state of affairs you're being forced to live in. Can you really bitch about America's agenda-driven media when the government doesn't own and control 100% of the media channels? Lots of countries ONLY have government controlled print and broadcast media... think about what that means. The list of countries without this most important freedom is quite a bit longer than most people suspect. Check out Amnesty International's site for info if you're curious.
Upshot: America is still the land of the highest freedom there is or can be: Freedom of Speech.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Pope Benedict
Pope Benedict XVI
It's only been one day since a new Pope was elected and I'm already tired of hearing revisionist Catholics whine about the new Pope maybe being too much of a hard liner and how he might not "listen" to them. First of all, his long-time pre-papal JOB was to be the iron arms of the law, not Mr. Warm & Fuzzy. Second, ever considered it's egotistical little YOU who should be the one listening to HIM instead of the other way around? Who do you think you are anyway? I think you're spoiled brats.
It's only been one day since a new Pope was elected and I'm already tired of hearing revisionist Catholics whine about the new Pope maybe being too much of a hard liner and how he might not "listen" to them. First of all, his long-time pre-papal JOB was to be the iron arms of the law, not Mr. Warm & Fuzzy. Second, ever considered it's egotistical little YOU who should be the one listening to HIM instead of the other way around? Who do you think you are anyway? I think you're spoiled brats.
Why are you demanding changes to the "church you love" in order to really love it? So you're holding your love for "your church" hostage to your puny demands? You make me laugh. If you're a bunch of women who want to hand out communion and birth control pills, feel free to start up your own church without the benefit or money of the mainstream Holy Roman Church... nobody is stopping you. Stop your belly aching and go away. Nobody cares if the church shrinks because it sticks to it's guns on doctrine. People that respect character will be drawn to a church that knows who it is, not a wishy-washy bend in the wind nonsense church of the week looking to be popular. Being true to itself is more important to the church than bending to the will of people who want to pick and choose what laws they care to adhere to. Thank God.