Are We a Nation of Zombies
58Apocalyptic Zombies: The American Public?
I grew up in the late 1960s, amidst the pinnacle of Vietnam protests, drug experimentation, and sexual freedom. We thought we were special. I have said before in previous Hubs that I thought my generation was unique albeit ineffective. The only thing we ‘might’ have enabled was the withdrawal from Vietnam. The Kent State Massacre was the most effective on that front. Where am I going with this?
Let me explain.
Not only did I think my generation would change the world, but I thought we have the biggest effect of any generation to come down the pike. I have felt in the last twenty years, as the old hippies began to fade away, that the current group of twenty somethings could care less. I wrote a Hub not too long ago I called When Reality Bites: A Barking Cat where I analyzed, or tried to, my daughter who is a senior in college. I always wondered how I could have raised a Wal-Mart republican with a husband who is a clerk at Home Depot, both of whom are expecting the poof of the American Dream when she graduates in May. You can reference the Hub for more detail on her conundrum of a life; However, an event occurred this week that restored my opinion of my parenting skills, and went miles in showing me the current crop of the twenties group may be thinking. About a year ago I gave him a reading list (and some of my essays) from my grad school days wondering if he would never read them. Following is a synopsis of an email he sent me this week with some obvious editing: He is also a Hub member.
Dad, “…perhaps you can enlighten me on some things. Have I been living in a force fed lie about the truth. . . [of the government] and [the] ignorant people [who] live in the U.S.? I have been doing some . . . research on Fidel Castro and Che Guevara [and] it seems as if they were striving for the well being of the people of Cuba . . . . They [said] that every [citizen] has a right to a free education [through graduate school if qualified] and healthcare. They scared America. Jesus, the only thing that the [U.S] [was concerned about] were [Che’s firing squads, and the communist threat], [and ignored what Che said about necessary collateral damage]. [Was the U.S.] scared of the ties with Russia? Castro [asked] what his options were; he had to trade with . . . someone.”
“It’s funny that other countries . . . can easily see what the common American cannot. America is supposed to be [a] country founded on the basis that every man should be free [yet we cram democracy down the throats of those who prefer any different type of government] via military force, economic sanctions, and CIA assassinations. Who are we to [mandate] to other people [in developing nations when our country was developed] murdering, beating, [Diaspora], and the enslaving the African Americans while [committing genocide on the Indians].
“To be quite honest I’m sick of the country we live in. As George Carlin said . . . ‘It’s all a big club, and we ain’t in it. They (the 1%) don’t care about education . . . because the dumber the people are the easier it is to [institute] their agendas. Talk about a Zombie Apocalypse[:] I believe it has already begun because people . . . are oblivious to reality . . . and consuming like there is no tomorrow [and through the media and advertising] shove that poison down our throats.”
My son is not a Rhoades scholar, yet he has figured out through a little simple reading and reasoning how society works. He makes enough that between his and his wife’s income to live a simple life style and survive paycheck to paycheck. They do manage to get their bills paid on time; however, a serious injury or illness and that picture would quickly change. He, like many others is tired of American attitudes, ideology, greedy consumerism, and broken promises by politicians, e.g. Obama.
My son can’t be the only one out there with these sentiments. We, as a nation are soured by apathy and a lack of effect of their votes. My son votes but feels like it’s useless. So do I. When enough people lose hope, change will occur. As long as people think things are just the way they are, they breed apathy. The far Right is organized, controls the military, controls the economy, and tells us how to live. When the share of dissatisfaction among the 99% gets strong enough—things will change. Until then enjoy your beer and television even if your neighbor is starving—we like our comfy bubbles.
Yellowstone, I'm on track with the basic thrust of your comments, and I've voted this Up and Interesting.
I see you've actually aroused one of the Zombies, pouring forth the usual rightwing BS. Probably means you're hitting some nerves. Keep it up!
Everyone has their own opinion, and American Romance is no different, i.e. he is entitled to his. Healthcare and education are both rights, and no amount of Right wing ranting will change my opinion. I quess I'm one of the liberal academics the far Right hates. To each his own. Most of the material was parahrased from my frustrated son.
Are you saying 20% of all Americans are on welfare? Where did that number come from? Does it incude the working poor? Thanks for responding, you are entitled to your opinion. And yes, some things like healthcare are rights.
How incredibly pathetic. You and your poor son who has you as a parent. Next time you write a hub, don't hide behind your son, you coward. Own it and own the heat.
I don't hide behind him, read some of my other Hubs, I just wanted to get his voice out. Thanks for the feedback, we are all entitled to our own opinions.
First of all yellowstone did not use me as cover. We had a private email conversation and after speaking on the phone afterwards did he mention I should write a hub about it. Me and my "liberal laziness" decided that I would let my father do it since he has more writing experience than probably 90% of the people on here.
Anyway I dont doubt you love your car, your big house, and all the lavish things you have come to enjoy, but to what extent will you allow yourself to sit back and watch people in your own country struggle to survive before you can even have pity for them let alone lift a finger to help even one struggling AMERICAN? your so god damn patriotic and yet you look at fellow citizens in disgust if they are in need.
Set all the politics aside (even though im sure it is hard to do) and think about what might be better for man kind rather than white america.
There was nothing I read that said we wanted your big house or nice car, or deserve anything that you own, just a natural human right to be healthy and educated. Is that really so hard for you to wrap your mind around? I dont even know why I got on here to defend that when Im sure your little red, white, and blue asshole puckered up real tight when you read this hub or come across any ideas or beliefs that are foreign to you.
I feel like the rest of the world looks at us they way I usually look at people from Texas or Arkansas. And yes in some ways were are the most privilaged and advanced country in the world, and in some areas we are in the fucking stone age.
Yellowstone, yesterday the Heritage Foundation released a 10 year study of entitlement, They discovered that 67 MILLION Americans recieve $32,700 dollars a year, They also compared that to the same class of people working and their salaries were $32,400 a year! What does this tell anyone? Better to live off others than work! yes I meant 20% of America lives soley off of entitlement. This number is unsustainable! My constitution says I have the right to persue happiness, doesn't say I am guaranteed that happiness!.........meaning I have no right to ask my neighbor to support me, educate me nor provide me with health care because I THINK it is my right!
.......and for nightman, conservative states and individuals give 100 times more in charity than liberals, so stop being a hypocrite, funny how you libs care for the poor but only as long as it is taken from my pocket to give to those who really don't need it!
American Romance: I'm not sure I comsider the Hertage Foundadtion a credible source. Looks a little skewed to me. But look, I said to each his own.
American Romance, with you being a Heritage Foundation supporter, i guess I do not need to remind you of the embarrassment H.F. felt when it produced a bunch of bullshit figures on US job projections. To me that says that they will produce numbers to back their agenda until actually called out on it. Then they will just remove it and act like it never happened. So I would take any figures given at this point with a grain of salt.
Besides was it a little mistake? Well miscalculations happen I guess. Although I would feel a little silly if I ever had a math equation where in the end I was off by 1,000,000.
They also came out with figures that show rises in the housing market by 57% by the end of 2012.. I hope your right but I will not hold my breath going off figures given by a conservative propaganda think tank.
Really, there is nothing to be gained from letting AR comment. I delete his rantings instantly from my hubs, so he doesn't even bother to try now.
Yes, I have hope that we can turn the tide. I'm very hopeful for OWS, for example. But i do worry that there are too many new AR's being created by the forces we'd like to curb.
I will delete in the future, but I wanted Nightman to respond.
Sgt Bruno, you have been amember for 17 months and have written nothing. You just slam others. Are you literate?
Not only am I literate, I don't tolerate folly and you are and son are the epitomy of folly. As for your son's comments about my nice house and car, blah, blah, blah. I donate computers to veterans who cannot afford them and repair computers for all persons in my community at no charge. I donate regulary to the Salvation Army. I give away food that I purchage to people in my community who cannot afford these trying Obama times. A couple in my community just came this past weekend and took from my pantry close to a month's worth of food.
Did either of you serve your country? No bother answering, I won't be back. American Romance quits on liberals like you and your son because you are not worth the time or effort.
If you don't mind, I'm going to leave you now not to return. Undoubtedly this will thrill you to no end. I have people who deserve help to take care of now. I am guessing neither you nor your son served in the military. Clearly you are too old. What's your son's excuse?
Have a wonderful day!!!!!
Clearly serving in the military is unrelated to what I was talking about so but hey. I know plenty of guys who are serving or have served that for some reason think an avereage schmuck like me should kiss their ass for it. I will no do that in any way shape or form. There was no draft and we are not fighting for my beliefs obviously so what sense does that make?
Hello yellow, You have certainly done well in 'parenting skills 'so far,hope your daughter sees it,the sense of it !
Your Son is a credit to you and it so nice to see a son stand up with a sensible and informed reply ,
best from jandee
Thanks for the kind words, Jandee. I sure did sure up some Right wingers with this one.
you guys ever notice we don't delete your comments from the conservative writers? Most of you delete ours though because you cannot and do not have enough evidence to dispute us and you become frustrated.
The remark about Heritage not being credible is insane, they have been right 99% of the time, their studies have always proven correct and accurate. Besides who is credible? This morning they interviewed OWstreeters in front of CPAC and they said they were unemployed and being paid 60 bucks by a union to protest! If that doesnt' make your side weak and silly I don't know what does! Not to mention the Obama administration spent 1.2 billion on cell phones for the poor this year..........when I was poor I needed food and hoped to keep the lights on........wasn't thinking about how to text my buddies........
I might add that if you libs refuse to hear the other side then you have no chance to ever grow or mature in knowledge, I welcome any of you idiots to comment on my stuff because maybe some day you will have a valid point to change my mind concerning a topic and then I will grow.
No, AR, I delete you because you write poorly and do not post intelligent comments. I don't comment at your hubs because I don't read them - one or two was quite enough!
You know I am all for everyone getting their chance to speak and should not be sensored but I can see how it might be easier to do just that when it comes to some of the responses I have seen so far.
People like American Romance will never get it. Like trying to fit a square into a circle. I bring up health care an education and apparently I should keep my mouth shut because we get cellphones and computers given to us? You see how quickly they try to shift the conversation to favor them when in fact it just makes them seem uneducated and slightly retarded when you cant stay focused on the topic at hand.
Stop bringing up irrelavant examples of how the poor are helped when its obviously bigger than that.
Besides the examples you bring up to show how "silly" we should feel? Obviously once again you are unable to FOCUS...
Did you ever stop to think that just because I think your side is a bunch of money hungry bigoted closet homosexuals that I dont want the other side to win as well. I want both sides to lose and a new face of the well being of man to emerge, rather than picking Red or Blue.
So stop throwing irrelevant examples of how we help the poor when I do not give a shit about cell phone and computers. I mentioned 2 things and somehow they have become lost in this back and forth ranting.
Stay focused American Romance.
I have not deleted any of the Right wing babble!
To American Romance: Did we have cell phones when you were a child?
We didn't have cell phones, so I suppose you agree we shouldn't be giving them out now? You just made the point that we made it without them?
I understand you guys would prefer me not interacting, I wont write here any longer. I would however appreciate the opportunity to say I truly want the truth out of everything in life, from politics to religion, to raising a family. I am truly concerned for this country.
When nightman spits at me and says I have no compassion for health and education I am shocked! I do not see what you guys see? I see 99% abuse and fraud in the system but all I get from guys is we need to give more and more and more!
It is the law that every person gets treated at the emergency room, my exwife had a stint put in with ZERO health insurance! She sends 20 bucks a month in on an $80,000 dollar bill. she purchased a new truck a while back so I guess it hasn't affected her except she owes 80 grand to a man for saving her life. Health insurance would have been great to save her money ......but not her life!.........same goes for everyone so why the mandate? her room was billed at $3800 per night! Really? maybe that is the health care problem in America! I can stay at the Waldorf for $275 a night and I get a butler and maid!
Education is a luxury and somehow liberals have turned it into something we should freely handout! We do give everyone free education to graduate high school, Most of those accepting entitlement dropped out of the FREE education problem..........what do you say to that?
Sincerely how can you people live in America and believe you have the right to whatever someone else has? Why is their stuff yours without the same sacrifice etc.??? I grew up in poverty, I ate a lot of beans and cornbread along with whatever my Dad could shoot and bring home. My Dad mowed lawns on weekends so he could go to school. My mother worked at a convience store so she could get through nursing school. We never ever had an entitlement check come to our home with a single gas heater in the living area. I woke up to ice INSIDE my bedroom window many times! As I got older I asked my mother why we never had welfare? She said it was not right to take from others what belonged to them.
In closing, my poor parents always had elderly people that they would help with repairs around the home, cooking for them, or taking them to doctors etc. We could barely take care of ourselves yet this is what they believed........not to mention they tithed 10% to the church. America is out there folks! Be a Steve Jobs or the guy that invented Facebook and stop harassing us to give to those who not only do not deserve it but have no right in taking from us!...........PS I am more than willing to give my tax dollars to seniors, handicapped and disabled veterans...........but if you got 10 fingers and toes and can move then get a job and get whatever you want in life!
I only feel certain items are entitlements, but healthcare and education are one of them. You comment was at least lucid this time. My son is full of passion, I'm glad he is.I have not deleted any of your comments, however...everyone has a voice, we just have different ones. Why don't you have health insurance? Feel free to say what you want: debate is good.
I disagree.A.R It sounds a stinking system to me. It sounds as though you like charity ! Education is a right to all as is housing and food and heating. If a government cannot organize itself to deliver these to the citizens(through work) it should move over and let those who can do so. Charity is bad,
regards,jandee
I agree Jandee. You just said in a few words what I have been tring to say, i.e. Big Brother is needed or as Plato said, perhaps a "benevolent dictator." I wrote a Hub on Marx you might want to peruse.
Don't like the term Benevolent even from Plato. Don't like Big Brother ! Like someone who the people put there ,not the media. sorry to have confused you,
keep writing it's enjoyable,
best from jandee
AR worries that his money wil go to someone undeserving. I don't care if twenty undeserving people get my money if that's what it takes to make sure those who do deserve it are served.
Of course we should pursue fraud. It isn't anything lie the ridiculous 99% AR paints, but whatever it is, it should always be punished. But not by cutting the programs we NEED.
Jandee; thanks for the reply, I just doubt the wisdom or ability for us to govern ourselves. I am in the corner with Hobbes here. Charity will not do the job, which is why I said what I did. I am also not talking about media control.
I think most sides oposing people like AR are to passive and nice. It pointless to try to get through to people like him. I would have better luck banging my head on a brick wall to get rid of a headache.
Fidel seems to have done well in his time and even those who hate him do respect him !
Fidel has done an amazing job considering the treatment he got from the US.
Not on a hunt but some things should never be forgotten.
Paul Robson,Larry Adler,Arthur Miller, Lena Horne ,John Garfield,Edward G Robinson,Charlie Chaplin too many to say any more,
best from jandee
I'm all about people coming first. We live in a place where we can share ideas, but I'm afraid that gets lost when the media and our leadership puts so much pressure on us to find differences in one another, rather than common ground. Interesting article.I'll be reading more!
![Education: K - 12 - Is an Issue About National Security. [23]\ title=](http://s2.hubimg.com/u/4242509_50.jpg)
American Romance Level 7 Commenter 3 months ago
How can we live in the same country and see things so very very different? Yes I'm sure Cuba said said everyone had a right.........why is it your RIGHT to an education and free health care? What is next? Do you have a right to live in a 7000 sq ft home because I do? Do you have a right to drive a new vehicle because you feel inferior to the one I'm driving? How far do your RIGHTS go?
The far right doesn't control ANYTHING! You said the military? Most military vote Republican, makes sense to me, they are real men and woman defending this country! Obama has his own army.......67 Million depending on me to feed, cloth and house them this year! Yes 67 MILLION, or 20 of Americans depend on the govt for everything including cell phones and cars! Those people have no right to vote! If one does not contibute then they should have no rights to dictate what others do!
Why are there thousands working part time jobs to get through college? Because of liberal laziness you now want it handed to them?......out of my pocket of course? That last sentence when the 99% gets strong enough makes me laugh! The top 10% of money earners pay 90% of all taxes! What poor person will employ you when your happy day comes? How much of Trumps money will the govt send you when they divide it up? How will ruining his life make your better? Sir you have a lot to think about and learn! This country became the best in the world thanks to individuals, ambition and obeying Gods will, not the path you want us to go!