We were meant to live for so much more, have we lost ourselves?
I'm not really sure how to say this, so i think quoting the song "Meant to Live" By switchfoot is appropriate.
"We were meant to live for so much more,
Have we lost ourselves,
Somewhere we live inside,
Somewhere we live inside."
My generation seems to be enfatuated with making money quick. ENFATUATED. If you need any proof, look at the World Series of Poker as an example. A bunch of intelligent, talented young adults dropping out of school to play a fucking card game full-time in hopes of winning money. And nobody really even knows how many have dropped out, of spend every free moment they have, playing online poker. Some people want to call this kind of gambling an addiction. I disagree. I think my generation has just become so disillusioned with society and the government that they're protesting the entire system by saying, "Fuck you, I'm not going to participate in you twisted little system. I'll just get rich and play by my own rules like all the other millionaires out there." Problem is that their solution sometimes works. The rich do get to play by their own rules, and by using these "get rich quick" methods, they can do what every other generation in it's rebellious infancy has done; Give a big middle-finger to the system that doesn't care about them. Problem is, most other generations did this by protesting, writing letters to congress, shaping society into something better than it was. It seems that MY generation is doing this by just withdrawing from the system itself, since the same rules that apply to 98% of us don't apply to the other 2% that have all the money. It's still too early to be sure, but it seems to me that my generation just doesnt care about anybody else.
That being said, there are some examples of young people who actually DO care about what happens to everybody else. The military branches have been shoved down our throats over the last few years as such an example, and while the politicians who are doing so generally DO NOT have good intentions, they are correct on their analysis. Some would argue, as statistics show, that a large portion of the military comes from underpriveledged, empovershed youths who don't see another way out. There may be some truth to that. But assuming it's generally true does a HUGE disservice to all those who enlisted because they want to help protect this country. Because they CARE about everyone else. They are one example we should look to. And I don't mean that in the fake, politician-style "say the right things about the military and get a photo-op out of it" way. They sign on the dotted line knowing that they may be thrown into harms way. And while the government may not be using the military the way it was intended (to serve and protect), their courage is certainly admirable. I think with intelligence being at a premium in our current government, we should look to those you have that courage to stand up for others when selecting leaders. Several presidents and hundreds of congressmen have come from that background, and even recently with senators like John McCain, who are decisive and not afraid to stand up for those who cannot do so for themselves.
I didn't really want to promote or push individual politicians, because I don't want to seem like an advocate. However, I've recently started watching CNN and CSpan on a regular basis, and even though I'd generally (though i dont consider myself) be considered a democrat, this guy is the real deal. He served in vietnam(actually served, i mean), and was shot down and held as a Prisoner of War for over 5 years; none of that "disappearing in the Texas Air National Guard bullshit". He cares about WE THE PEOPLE and is always pushing to reform the government from it's special interests self to caring about the people. Recently he's been pushing for more responsible spending and reducing the number of "earmarks", or additions to approprations bills that send extra money to other places, since that money should be spent elsewhere. Also, he's been fighting against the president's administration in regards to their treatment of prisoners of war, having been one himself. As I said, he fights for the people and those who cannot do so themselves; he isn't a republican, he's an AMERICAN, and I would proudly vote for him in the 2008 presidential elections if he made it through the primaries.
Enough gushing, and back to my original point; Why is it that my generation cares more about themselves then their fellow americans? Politicians, throughout history, have pointed the finger at pop culture. Jazz, rock-and-roll, violent movies, and now videogames have all been targeted, martyred so that politicians don't have to point their fingers at the real culprits. You see, saying videogames is to blame is easy; they're easy to take scenes out-of-context from, and are hugely misunderstood by anyone who doesn't understand their real purpose in society. Videogames also don't have electoral votes, so by turning on them the politicians aren't hurting their re-election chances.
Here are my thoughts; Videogames aren't to blame for anything. The FBI recently released a poll that showed violence has been on the decline for the past 30 years. Videogames aren't the primary influence on children and young adults; their parents are. Parents shape and control young lives until they leave home. THEY are the major influences, and their failures should reflect on the parents, not a game they play a few hours a week. But politicians can't come out and say "hey parents, why don't you try being involved in your children's lives. What they do reflects poorly on YOU, not videogames". They can't say it because they won't get any votes in their next election, and they WON'T because it's easier to pick on someone that can't fight back. It's your typical bully story.
Here's a Thought... We stop blaming pop culture for society's failures; Culture is a reflection of society, not the other way around. If peoples values suddenly changed, so would the culture around us. It wasn't rock and roll's fault we went to Vietnam, it isn't maralyn manson's fault kids were bringing guns to school, and it isn't politicians "flavor of the month" videogames fault that we are fighting in Iraq. Put the blame where it belongs, people.
"We were meant to live for so much more,
Have we lost ourselves,
Somewhere we live inside,
Somewhere we live inside."
My generation seems to be enfatuated with making money quick. ENFATUATED. If you need any proof, look at the World Series of Poker as an example. A bunch of intelligent, talented young adults dropping out of school to play a fucking card game full-time in hopes of winning money. And nobody really even knows how many have dropped out, of spend every free moment they have, playing online poker. Some people want to call this kind of gambling an addiction. I disagree. I think my generation has just become so disillusioned with society and the government that they're protesting the entire system by saying, "Fuck you, I'm not going to participate in you twisted little system. I'll just get rich and play by my own rules like all the other millionaires out there." Problem is that their solution sometimes works. The rich do get to play by their own rules, and by using these "get rich quick" methods, they can do what every other generation in it's rebellious infancy has done; Give a big middle-finger to the system that doesn't care about them. Problem is, most other generations did this by protesting, writing letters to congress, shaping society into something better than it was. It seems that MY generation is doing this by just withdrawing from the system itself, since the same rules that apply to 98% of us don't apply to the other 2% that have all the money. It's still too early to be sure, but it seems to me that my generation just doesnt care about anybody else.
That being said, there are some examples of young people who actually DO care about what happens to everybody else. The military branches have been shoved down our throats over the last few years as such an example, and while the politicians who are doing so generally DO NOT have good intentions, they are correct on their analysis. Some would argue, as statistics show, that a large portion of the military comes from underpriveledged, empovershed youths who don't see another way out. There may be some truth to that. But assuming it's generally true does a HUGE disservice to all those who enlisted because they want to help protect this country. Because they CARE about everyone else. They are one example we should look to. And I don't mean that in the fake, politician-style "say the right things about the military and get a photo-op out of it" way. They sign on the dotted line knowing that they may be thrown into harms way. And while the government may not be using the military the way it was intended (to serve and protect), their courage is certainly admirable. I think with intelligence being at a premium in our current government, we should look to those you have that courage to stand up for others when selecting leaders. Several presidents and hundreds of congressmen have come from that background, and even recently with senators like John McCain, who are decisive and not afraid to stand up for those who cannot do so for themselves.
I didn't really want to promote or push individual politicians, because I don't want to seem like an advocate. However, I've recently started watching CNN and CSpan on a regular basis, and even though I'd generally (though i dont consider myself) be considered a democrat, this guy is the real deal. He served in vietnam(actually served, i mean), and was shot down and held as a Prisoner of War for over 5 years; none of that "disappearing in the Texas Air National Guard bullshit". He cares about WE THE PEOPLE and is always pushing to reform the government from it's special interests self to caring about the people. Recently he's been pushing for more responsible spending and reducing the number of "earmarks", or additions to approprations bills that send extra money to other places, since that money should be spent elsewhere. Also, he's been fighting against the president's administration in regards to their treatment of prisoners of war, having been one himself. As I said, he fights for the people and those who cannot do so themselves; he isn't a republican, he's an AMERICAN, and I would proudly vote for him in the 2008 presidential elections if he made it through the primaries.
Enough gushing, and back to my original point; Why is it that my generation cares more about themselves then their fellow americans? Politicians, throughout history, have pointed the finger at pop culture. Jazz, rock-and-roll, violent movies, and now videogames have all been targeted, martyred so that politicians don't have to point their fingers at the real culprits. You see, saying videogames is to blame is easy; they're easy to take scenes out-of-context from, and are hugely misunderstood by anyone who doesn't understand their real purpose in society. Videogames also don't have electoral votes, so by turning on them the politicians aren't hurting their re-election chances.
Here are my thoughts; Videogames aren't to blame for anything. The FBI recently released a poll that showed violence has been on the decline for the past 30 years. Videogames aren't the primary influence on children and young adults; their parents are. Parents shape and control young lives until they leave home. THEY are the major influences, and their failures should reflect on the parents, not a game they play a few hours a week. But politicians can't come out and say "hey parents, why don't you try being involved in your children's lives. What they do reflects poorly on YOU, not videogames". They can't say it because they won't get any votes in their next election, and they WON'T because it's easier to pick on someone that can't fight back. It's your typical bully story.
Here's a Thought... We stop blaming pop culture for society's failures; Culture is a reflection of society, not the other way around. If peoples values suddenly changed, so would the culture around us. It wasn't rock and roll's fault we went to Vietnam, it isn't maralyn manson's fault kids were bringing guns to school, and it isn't politicians "flavor of the month" videogames fault that we are fighting in Iraq. Put the blame where it belongs, people.
posted by Burn1nMyLight at 3:22 PM
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