Commentary

The Hedonistic Slumber-by Greg Strid

Initially, my intention was to write pen a rant that
would center on the mad-capped and continually
escalating mayhem that is being fueled by the
incompetent Commander in Chief of the good
ole’ US of A- and his band of un-merry, completely
warped cohorts.

But why add to the endless stream of ineffective
diatribes that flood the world’s web sites? Everyone
seems to be pointing at one man, “W”, for causing all
of our troubles- granted, much of the blame can be
sent his way. I believe that we did not arrive at this
low point over the course of one boob’s time behind
the wheel of the supertanker/shopping mall that is
America.

Nations, like large ocean-going vessels, take a long
time to maneuver- just like the super-sized SUVs
that so many American patriots choose to navigate
on the nations over-congested highways and byways.
And this country embarked on a path that has
led to unprecedented hedonism decades ago- some
point to the late sixties, others the late eighties (I really
don’t think that pinning a precise date or period is
relevant).

Along the way down to where we currently reside,
America has turned into a nation that is afraid of,
yet completely dependent on, the world that
surrounds it.

We haven’t relied on making things of value in
order to earn our keep for quite some time. In fact,
for a service-based economy, we have only asset-
shuffling, debt-peddling (which finances asset-shuffling)
and mind-numbing, soul-stripping entertainment
“products” on offer to the rest of the planet.

This is the type of society that lays the foundation
for its own demise. The tragedies that are playing
themselves out in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in poor
urban and rural communities at home were
written over the course of decades- and we are all
on the list of contributing authors.

As far as “W” is concerned, it was just a matter of
time before someone like him- completely shallow
and thoroughly unreflective-stepped into the Oval office.
If one were to assemble all of our images together,
and then take a very big step back- the image of out
current president would most surely materialize.

On the bright side, we, as a nation, are just starting to
wake up from our selfish slumber. As our eyes adjust to
the light, we will see that we have been led astray by
greed and fear. We now have to clean up the mess that
we have created. It will be a very long time before we
sleep again.

Greg Strid

© 2007 Splendid Marbles.