Why do we not ‘get it’?

November, 18 1999

I’m amazed. Over and over again, the American press hand wrangles about ‘our lost sons’. Of course, like canaries in coal mines, black youths have evidenced the effects of social breakdown far before the curve that now has white middle class males, the very jewels of American civilization shooting each other, and to a stomach turning degree, those unlike themselves at extraordinary rates. We all run around doing a combination of our best chicken little acts, ‘the sky is falling’, and the ostrich in the sand routine, without really sitting down to think.

It’s amazing that in arguably the freest society on earth, we have such a hard time thinking clearly. Perhaps we’ve mortgaged our critical selves to television watching and shopping. As one lucky enough (depending on how you look at it). To have been given ringside seats to American culture, raised in Washington DC, prep school, etc., and also being an outsider – black, female, living abroad in Europe, I can see more clearly with a little distance, and frankly the view ain't so pretty.

Where did we go wrong? Have we thrown out the baby with the bath water in our effort to ‘liberate’ ourselves? Looking at our European cousins, we might learn a lot about how to maintain a society.

1) Fathers are optional (double duty moms, without extended family or community)

2) Wives are disposable (Man in Full, examples of the rich and famous)

3) Old people don’t count (They let their old people run around in public)

4) Murder is entertainment (Sex vs. Death in culture)

5) Diversion is Living (Distraction to resolving problems of life, TV, video games, movies)

6) Play now, pay later (Credit mentality, Clinton, Inner City Education)

7) Illusion as reality (Hollywood, video games, television, Brady Bunch, Ghetto, fake tits, nose jobs, hair extensions)

8) Social capitalism (money is definition of human worth, followed by beauty close second)

9) Replacement of Religion with consumerism, not spirituality (Malls and Casinos are the new Cathedrals)



or



1) Value human Life (Death Penalty, Old People, Underclass, education)

2) Value relationships (Disposable Wives, Fathers, Parents)

3) Elevate Reality over illusion (Limit Media, )

4) Elevate Mental Discipline (Limit setting, fun vs. development, responsibility)



‘Beach Boys – We’ll have fun, fun , fun ‘til our Daddy takes the T-bird away…’

‘Do as I say, not as I do Parenting does not work’



At our core are unresolved issues of immaturity, evidenced by irresponsible behavior and a disinterest in reality. Even though such illumination works such as 7 habits, road less traveled, are best sellers, it seems people must be buying them solely as coffee table books to impress co-workers and the neighbors. Europeans tend to see us as ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’, made rich and powerful through both luck and resourcefulness, but with atrocious manners, and



Possible solutions:

Limit television

Teach families



No, I’m hardly a stock raving Pinko Commie Socialist, I deeply believe a little competition is healthy, but there is more to life than the free market. Human beings need more. And unless we collectively start to ‘Get It’, America, as a society, is doomed to be a ‘flash in the pan’ one hit wonder on the History line of human civilisation.