Saturday, July 26, 2008

Turn off, tune out, and drop in

This past week, as I traveled across country and back for a project, I was walking through airports, stopping at gas stations, and watching TV in the hotel room and at restaurants, an image was impressed upon me. Really, the proper word is 'forced' upon me. I usually avoid watching mainstream TV and avoid looking at mainstream magazines and newspapers. But with the boredom that comes with travel, I'm inevitably taken with picking up a magazine or newspaper, or turning on a TV. And each time thereafter, I remember why I tend toward avoiding current mainstream venues for information. Mainly because it isn't information, rather it's a force-fed message from organizations focused more on influencing political opinions or simply entertainment. No news. Just agendas and entertainment.

This time around, the image I was being force fed was that of Barrack Obama as a statesman and President. I caught myself thinking that he was already elected President of the US. Between the frequent shots of him shaking hands with dignitaries around the world, to dramatic close-ups of him praying on the cover of Newsweek, to everything else, it seems mainstream media this past week was manufacturing the image of Barrack Obama as our elected President. Maybe this image is what is conveyed on a daily basis when I'm not traveling, but I only was slapped with the image this week.

It's telling of a contrast. I get my daily dose of information when not traveling from words. Usually from sources like the BBC and a more broad source of information from the Internet. I purposely avoid most mainstream US media sources. I occasionally peruse mainstream media sites, but I give them no more or less time than other sources. However, during travels, I'm usually only blasted with their info hoses, and usually in visual form. Whether I want to hear it or not. It's kind of like cigarette smoke. I'm in a restaurant, bar, or hotel...a TV is on somewhere, and its blowing smoke my way. Or I'm in an airport or gas station, and the news stands have their dramatic close ups of their pre-elected official.

While I'm hit with the temporary suspension of reality and think that Barrack Obama was already elected President of the US. Reality sets in fairly quick and I realize the source. It reminds me, counter to Timothy Leary's suggestion, to "turn off, tune out, and drop in". That is, turn off mainstream TV, tune out of mainstream news and magazines, and drop in to reality. Seek real information from a broader source, less affected by political agendas and the need to entertain. Unless of course you simply want to march to the tune of the political drumbeats because it's in step with your own beliefs. It's comforting and entertaining, but not even remotely informative.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Independence Day 2008

The other day, a friend sent me and a few other friends an email about the 4th of July. Summarizing this email, it described the actions of a few men who organized to draft a resolution that would dissolve allegiance to the British Crown and declare the freedom and independence of the United Colonies. The declaration also went on to state the rights of individuals for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This small crew of men, initially about five men, knew that their positions and actions were considered treasonous. The authorities at hand, were within their current legal rights to restrain, jail, and execute them.

While many colonists at the time felt the same way and were dissatisfied with the British Crown, it was Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, and a few others that were risking their lives in organizing the push for American independence, and what would lead to the Declaration of Independence.

Today in America, there are many dissatisfied with American politics. Many feel that their tax dollars are being spent on causes that they do not support. They're being taxed and not represented. They're free to vote appropriately, yet voter turnout is low. Their choices are generally between two parties, Democrat or Republican. Yet many choose not to vote, or if they do vote, they vote against the other party.

Contrast this to the actions of Jefferson, Adams, Washington, the Founding Fathers, and ultimately to the men and women they led into the War of Independence. Actions for which they risked their lives for liberty. For modern Americans, we're free to vote, assemble, and organize to change government. Yet many don't vote, vote frivolously, or do not orchestrate desired change.

A fog of complacency and powerlessness has sunk across the land of America. We've let mainstream media dictate whom we feel are viable candidates and issues to address. We've let laws enacted that have restricted our liberty. We've left the keys of government and our finances largely in the hands of individuals whom we feel do not represent our interests. We As a result, we have widespread political malaise and have enabled the actions of a few to dictate the lives of us all.

This is Independence Day 2008 contrasted against Independence Day 1776.