I would like to make a confession here. I have been struggling to post regularly to this blog site. I have been making up all kind of excuses as to why I haven't been able to sit down and produce. I have been telling myself that I have been really busy, have many other things to do or that I have so many things to write about that I have a hard time deciding which of my many, varied and brilliant ideas I should unleash on the world. The truth lies somewhere else, though. I have just let it go. Like many other things that once were important to me, I have let my desire to say some things I think are important take a back seat to just living and being.
I believe that my discontent began as I mulled over the state of our society, where it had been and where it might be heading. I do not intend to be morose here or wish for the good old days. Nothing of the kind. What I am questioning is my apparent willingness to be complacent while the government and some businesses invade nearly every aspect of my life. The NSA is not content with tracking my phone calls but also feels the need to capture my e-mails and text messages. Internet companies such as Google, Yahoo, etc. track everything I do on the internet and store the information they acquire. Further, apparently this information is shared with the government on a regular basis. Telecommunication companies maintain records that are turned over to the government without our knowledge. In fact, all of these actions would prefer to be kept quiet and secret from the populace as is evidenced by how their revelations came about. It wasn't the government or the businesses informing us that this was being done. No it wasn't at all. And when the public found out about these actions the near universal response from government and business was that they would protect our privacy and our rights. It kind of reminds me of Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop telling the Beverly Hills police to "trust me".
I guess that I just don't understand my complacency! I don't have anything in particular going on in my life that I need too hide. But that doesn't make it right or acceptable no matter what the stated reasons may be. I look back at our country's recent history. I don't need to revert to the founders. I don't think the Greatest Generation fought and sacrificed to live a life under he control of government and business. Those who served in Korea and Viet Nam fought for something better. Our current crop of troops are fighting, sacrificing and dying for freedom not "big brother".
Do you remember the picture shown above? I do. It was an attempt by people to claim their rights as humans from a government who held total control. The demonstration of the will of the people did not succeed in changing much but the attempt was made. I admire the actions of those involved greatly. I, though, do not admire very much my failure to act recently according to my values and beliefs. That I intend to change. My thoughts started to come together as I listened to the 1967 song by Buffalo Springfield "For What Its Worth". Might just be worth a listen.
I believe that my discontent began as I mulled over the state of our society, where it had been and where it might be heading. I do not intend to be morose here or wish for the good old days. Nothing of the kind. What I am questioning is my apparent willingness to be complacent while the government and some businesses invade nearly every aspect of my life. The NSA is not content with tracking my phone calls but also feels the need to capture my e-mails and text messages. Internet companies such as Google, Yahoo, etc. track everything I do on the internet and store the information they acquire. Further, apparently this information is shared with the government on a regular basis. Telecommunication companies maintain records that are turned over to the government without our knowledge. In fact, all of these actions would prefer to be kept quiet and secret from the populace as is evidenced by how their revelations came about. It wasn't the government or the businesses informing us that this was being done. No it wasn't at all. And when the public found out about these actions the near universal response from government and business was that they would protect our privacy and our rights. It kind of reminds me of Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop telling the Beverly Hills police to "trust me".
I guess that I just don't understand my complacency! I don't have anything in particular going on in my life that I need too hide. But that doesn't make it right or acceptable no matter what the stated reasons may be. I look back at our country's recent history. I don't need to revert to the founders. I don't think the Greatest Generation fought and sacrificed to live a life under he control of government and business. Those who served in Korea and Viet Nam fought for something better. Our current crop of troops are fighting, sacrificing and dying for freedom not "big brother".
Do you remember the picture shown above? I do. It was an attempt by people to claim their rights as humans from a government who held total control. The demonstration of the will of the people did not succeed in changing much but the attempt was made. I admire the actions of those involved greatly. I, though, do not admire very much my failure to act recently according to my values and beliefs. That I intend to change. My thoughts started to come together as I listened to the 1967 song by Buffalo Springfield "For What Its Worth". Might just be worth a listen.
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