Four Dead in Ohio

It was pointed out to me this morning that today marks the 40^th anniversary of the Kent State “massacre” (I think massacre is a bit of a stretch, but it was an atrocity nonetheless) during the police action in Vietnam (read – the Vietnam War). While times have changed, some things have not … we still have our protestors in the streets, voicing their “rightful opinions”, something that will always lead to conflict – verbal and/or physical.

The more things change, the more they stay the same … the “tin soldiers” are no longer responsible for policing rowdy students on Midwest campuses. No, that job is left to police officers any more – men and women who are under enough stress to begin with (you know, that whole trying to bust speeders, murderers, rapists, pot smokers, etc), that they don’t need the added stress of trying to baby sit members of the “99%”, who are cranky about their places in life and what work they are or are not willing to do. 

I have kept it no secret, I am not a big fan of those who represent the “99%” – for a number of reasons (similar to the way I despised Kurt Cobain being called the “voice” of my generation, fucking really?). There is no organization (regardless of the stories they tell), no manifesto (if you will), and little rhyme or reason as to what they really want. Everyone wants something different, and most of the voices of the “99%” want it given to them … NOW. I, however, expect nothing given to me that I’m not willing to work for myself. Call me crazy, but I don’t buy into a sense of entitlement.

So how do we get to this place in our society? There are a number of factors against society as a whole today … the world is ever changing, and moving faster than before. If something happens, that event can be reported world-wide in a matter of minutes - imagine seeing and feeling the outrage and pain that has been seen and felt in the Trayvon Martin case … as it unfolds on your television screen.  But I digress – we, as Americans, have become lazy (as a whole) and tend to expect life given to us, due to the work of our grandfathers and grandmothers. That great generation that fought in or lived during the Second World War, the ones who returned home (many of them) and went back to work, helping to make America into a great country … only to watch subsequent generations piss it all away with entitlements and greed and sloth.

Pretty heavy accusations, I know, but look around. How much do we produce here in the US (not talking about music or television shows, mind you)? Yeah, it’s diminishing … now look at how much we consume and do the math. Yes, the job market is spotty in places and there is that “1%” who have a lot of the money in this country … and most of those people have even worked for their share of that cash cow (and then there’s Mark Zuckerberg). So, what is one to do? While I am definitely pissed off at the disparity between the classes in America (we are struggling to remain “middle class”), sitting in a park chanting and holding signs is no way to enact change. Neither is violence, damage, destruction – that is only going to be replaced by the insurance company, dumbarses.

You want to enact change? Then you gotta get out and do it. Start small, if you have to, and work your way up. If you aren’t willing to work, not willing to earn yours, then have a seat and be quiet. Change starts with yourself and your place in this world. You want better, then make it so.

RIP - Adam "MCA" Yauch. Another spirit leaving us too soon.