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Self & Society
Good Morning U.S.A. by Julie Fonda Lately, I have taken to arising while it still dark. I go to bed early so that I can begin my day while it is still night and I can gain an advantage on the day. This morning I am up at 3:30 a.m. As I settle in on our comfortable couch and fire up my laptop computer, the wind blows outside and, in my warmth, I am insulated from the pre-dawn elements. I flip on the TV and find CNN. As I am making the morning coffee and feeding our cats, the troops are still fighting in Falluja, but it seems far away, other-worldly. I wonder how many of my fellow Americans have insulated themselves from the rest of the world. It is – of course – our choice, but is that a viable reason for global ignorance and apathy? Iraqi insurgents appear in a documentary on propaganda films that have been generated by radical, anti-American, Mid-Eastern factions. The camera pans on women fleeing from an Iraqi combat zone, illuminating a stunning dichotomy to our American way of life. Last night, I went to a birthday party for the daughter of a friend. No one spoke of the civilian casualties in Mosul or of Anti-Western sentiment. We Americans view our country as the champion of democracy, and, absent personal vested interest, little thought is dedicated to diverse cultures thousands of miles away. The international community is given only our selective attention. On the screen is a photograph of a recent American casualty in Iraq. He was young athlete from Arizona State University who, in the wake of 911, walked away from a multi-million dollar football contract to enlist in the American military. His team uniform and pads were displayed on the field where he last ran a touchdown. The young man was not swayed by the attitudes of the isolationists or the apathetic. I am struck by the magnitude of his conviction. Words are cheap, but often times the price of participation is high. I think, "Kill the ignorance, not the people." The newscaster reads the headline: "There is a shortage of flu vaccine in America," and it strikes me as unconscionable that we have no back-up plan for protecting our country from such an adversarial, unseen viral enemy. An editorial commentator asks if Congress will amend the constitution to allow foreign-born citizens to run for President, and I envision Arnold saying, "I’ll be back. This is no job for girly men." Will he run against Hillary in 2008? The announcer tells us that budget resolutions are not fillibusterable, and mention is made of Stem-Cell research and more voter fraud in Broward County. Now on the TV there is a parade. Throngs of people in Pismo Beach, California have turned out to honor a local hero who was injured in combat. Most Americans will admit that whether or not they believe in the war, they believe in the kids who are fighting it. It’s a familiar tune that we sing of old men initiating wars, and young men dying in them. The news announcer discusses the dangerous business giving money in the Muslim-American community. The fear of leaving a money trail when giving to charity becomes a mixed blessing, as it can draw the attention of the CIA and the FBI. In the same breath, the commentator speculates about the UN Security Council holding Mid-East talks. Now Cheney is walking out of a hospital, waving to the cameras. His heart is beating in a strong, White House rhythm. A debate ensues. Will there be a Palestinian state? We are told to focus on Israel and our demands on Iraq. Next, the network flashes a picture of a large, stone building onto our television screens. It is a Presbyterian Church. The denomination has taken a public stance against the Israeli position in the Palestinian conflict. Then the newscaster asks what is being done to bring parishioners back to the Catholic church. The Boston Archdiocese must close 81 parishes because it has been financially decimated by legal fees. It is unfortunate that it took so many direct public hits to bring about a papal awareness of abusive priests. This time "insulationism" was costly, and now the Church must pay. It’s time, now, for "Inside Politics Today." Who’s in and who’s out? What is the condition of the Democratic Party? And what will be the future of the United States Supreme Court? Who will be nominated to the judiciary? There are rumblings of constitutionally-questionable judicial action. They tell us that each branch must respect the role and rank of the members of the judiciary. Liposuction is then illustrated, with the help of a close-range camera. When does the price of beauty seem too high? Do you know when to say ‘no’ to plastic surgery? Perhaps we should all say ‘no’ to Botox and nose jobs until everyone in our country has had enough to eat and a place to sleep at night. No amount of nipping-and-tucking or Botox can make America’s poverty appear cosmetically attractive. "Fit TV". Work your body. Free your mind. Absolve yourself of global conscience. Live within small perimeters and ignore everyone outside of them. There are 10 shopping days until Christmas. Where did the year go? |
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