The United States of America is in the middle of some interesting times, to say the least. I would call them troubling times, because some of the events resemble what has happened in classic novels, like 1984 and Fahrenheit 451.
If you’ve read my blog before, then you are familiar with some of my views. I am very much a supporter of the U. S. Constitution, especially with regard to free speech and the right to bear arms. If you know me on a personal level, you know that I take advantage of modern technology but I am not on Facebook, I believe in personal privacy, and I am a skeptic about the ways information is shared, obtained, and(un)protected on a large scale.
I am a white, American woman of Irish, English, Scottish, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian, and Texan descent who grew up in Chicago in a mostly white, middle-class neighbor and attended a well integrated public high school and developed friendships with people of many races. I later attended a small college in the South and travelled with a tennis team compromised of American, English, French, Yugoslavian, Russian, and South African players. I have lived in cities small, medium and large. I feel like I have benefited from the opportunities to meet and learn about people from many walks of life. I remember teammates telling me that Americans and their government were wasting a lot of time and resources on a president (Bill Clinton) who cheated repeatedly on his wife, which is apparently common (and expected) in other parts of the world, when the country should be working on other more important matters. Never has any one of these people ever mentioned being offended by a statue, or a flag, or a street name. I believe most of the people I have encountered would today say that the focus is in the wrong place. I feel that they would be right.
The thing that scares me is that I think a lot of history, American and otherwise, has already gone down the Memory Hole. Books get edited and new editions come out all the time, whether they be biographies with inconvenient facts, textbooks updated with new information (which generates revenue for the writer/publisher), the many interpretations of the Holy Bible (50 versions in English alone), and on and on and on. I remember watching the GOP debate in 2012 when Rick Perry mentioned that the hardcopy version of Mitt Romney’s Book had a few different lines that the same chapter of the paperback version of his book. a I read Barack Obama’s book “Dreams from My Father”, and the version I read in paperback referenced Frank Marshall Davis, who some believe is his real father ( I’ll leave that up to you to research and decide), differently that the first edition Hardcover version. Even history books tell different views of the same events, not always out of deceit or bias, but due to interpretation.
My far is that removing statues also removes the chance for people to know what happened and to see who was a part of our American history, good or bad. Taking down the statues attempts to erase events that are a part of some people’s heritage, whether we agree or not. We are slowly but surely putting history, information, and the truth down the Memory Hole so history can be taught the way some people want it to be told instead as it really happened. Read books, research and see for yourself what the history, rather than let slanted media that are paid to present a narrative tell you what happened and what is true. I frequent get my news from alternative sources like InfoWars and Natural News, and then I do my own research. Take time to think for yourself, and then decide what you believe and what you don’t.
Some people think that McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Whataburger, etc. serve good, tasty food, and I disagree. I think those place serve substandard food, since most of it is cheap quality, made of GMO ingredients, chemical-laden, and detrimental to your health. If you disagree, please watch “Supersize Me”, “Food, Inc.”, “King Corn”, and any other more recent films that discuss the quality and health of the American food supply. I know the argument about people buying what they can afford and what is available, and I understand that food deserts do exist in many areas. However, many cities have expanded availability of farmer’s markets, which often times take food stamps (or whatever they are now called in your state) as payment. I go on this little rant because I have family and friends/co-workers with serious health issues that will cost them and the healthcare system A LOT of money throughout their lives because they refuse to make simple changes. I am not a perfect person or eater, but I like to think that I learn from at least some of my mistakes
I am not asking for much, just for people to get up everyday and do their best to be good, decent, and honest people. I make mistakes too, but I at least 90% of the time try to do what I should do as a good, decent, and honest person. I don’t think that this is asking too much.
