i'm going through a period of extreme frustration with a system that i feel is failing its people. i'm not exactly sure which system this is, but it's one that allows students to be unaware of important people, places, events, and once hearing of them, failing to care. it's a system that convinces us our happiness is derived from our accumulation of things, be they goods, vouchers, contacts, or raw dollars. it's a system that condones violence of all kinds, from domestic to political, and sanctions the exploitation of human beings for profit margins. this system teaches us not to ask questions, speaks to the lowest common denominator, and gives us quick outs and easy solutions to complex issues, sweeping the rest under the carpet. in this system our water is running out, our graduates can't identify "their" from "there", every item in the grocery store contains high fructose corn syrup, the weather is unpredictable, children and women are being bought and sold like commodities, religious celebrations have become commercialized gift-giving days, some waste energy screaming about inconveniences while those in true agony are muted, and we've totally lost the ability to relate to strangers on the level of humanity.
sigh...
4 comments:
i know the system you speak of. i too have seen it, lived in it, and sometimes lived it. it's being unable to rebut the argument that competition which puts the little guy out of business is good because it increases efficiency; it's the 87-year-old Austrian-American homeless, retired university professor I met today who didn't want to bring kids into the world because it's not a suitable to raise them in anymore; it's when "communicating" with people becomes a preferred form of procrastination.
but the world is full of unjust systems - it always has been. perhaps this one is especially frustrating because of the disillusionment it's caused, because so many believed in it - and so many still do.
regardless, the way i like to deal such a system is from the edges (ideologically and geographically ;), not the centre. in true canadian fashion, i question attempts to fight the system too vehemently and believe that if enough of us form healthy, loving communities, others will see and hear of them. and if we've got what's missing in theirs, they'll join us.
Hi Hannah
I think you may be going through a process of discovering your true calling! People are often motivated to address the very things that cause deep frustration. What can be done to identify the cause of this societal problem and what can be done to address it?
m
These are my exact feelings today. I feel hopeless, but you have inspired me. Thank you for your wisdom, your kindness, and your love.
Anonymous...
what brought you to this long ago post yesterday? It is a struggle I return to frequently, feeling angry, and then trying to channel my energy into useful things. How do you handle these feelings? (if commenting on a blog is too foreign an interaction, please email, call, or find me in person to chat :D )
thank you for your commiseration and sweet words.
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