What Do We Fear?

Are most North Americans fearful of losing their jobs? Do we fear foreign terrorist organizations mostly? Are we fearful of change within our own personal lives that, in turn, limits our experiences? Whether these fears are inherent in human beings or learned behavior, they are likened to chains rattling behind the feet of most inert North Americans. Where are we to search for the true nature and cause of this fear? Shall we explore the sociological history of humans to see if patterns have formed in behavior? Is it more recent that governmental ideologies have trickled down to the masses who live, (barely for the poor), by its precepts? Basically, has fear overwhelmed that inherent emotion of passion in a battle waged where our own personal happiness is concerned? In a war involving maintaining our jobs, (or seeking one), leisure time, terrorist threats, consumption, and debt, it is no wonder most people live in Fear.
Who has wanted to travel abroad but chose otherwise due to fear of the unknown or because it will incur debt on an already tight financial budget? Due to fiscal responsibilities that fall on all adults, the vast majority of us are unable to open up to other cultural possibilities and, instead, lie motionless in an ever-perpetuating position of fear. Travel has broadened this writer's perspective on the connection between all humans. How can we refute the argument that an open mind is the first step towards progress and human reconciliation? We lay in fear because we don't know. Busting your hump all day does not allow for leisure time to brush up on current events or to explore history. Making ends meet is not a means to an end resulting in personal freedom and happiness. One cannot be naive, however, to the fact that not everybody is able to experience the wonders of the world personally, but we must spread the notion that opportunities could be created for more and more fettered by fear. We must confront student loans that inhibit many from traveling or living more financially free. We need to address overwork and stress. We have to study more closely the factors that contribute towards physical and mental fatigue which directly affects our moods and plays into the hands of fear. We have not evolved to merely plod along but to work together so that more humans can live in that state of freedom conducive to producing a happiness otherwise unknown to most.

The Time is Now!!

As news of the ongoing political campaign floods our t.v.'s, we find ourselves inundated with conflicting messages and a sceptical outlook. Look, you can debate tax increases and funding for Iraq, which seem to never have solutions or you can open up to the real concerns in this country: healthcare, human concern for the homeless and jobless, higher wages, private property, free in-state tuition (because a B.A. is being made obsolete by the M.B.A and M.A), world citizenship and the global community, and fuel & energy alternatives. Obama, Hillary and McCain can say what THEY need to say but we aren't hearing what the country needs. Which is a leader who leads by example. Start checking the Legislative Branch. Keep pounding the Executive. Appoint fair-minded Juducial members so that all U.S. citizens' interests are in mind. This is, supposedly, the land of the free and home of the brave, yet all I see are talking heads trying to gain status to fatten their pockets and perpetuate our status as global hegemonizers.
Democracy is not being spread in Iraq. Our ideals aren't taking shape in the minds of the Afghani people. While soldiers and bombs and tanks continue to travail the deserts of the Middle East the United States of America will be considered hypocritical in that what we are spreading is terror. Yes thats right, TERROR!! We are the leading terrorists in the world. We continue to strong arm, bomb, set up military camps and implement fear into the lives of nations and the people that struggle to survive within them. If we are so bent on "spreading democracy," then why is not the rest of the world on board with our actions over in the Middle East? Shouldn't we be working with France, China, Japan, Scandinavia, Germany and all other powerful nations to set up a global federation? The reason why this won't happen is because humans thrive on competition. And however optimistic one is about the good that can arise from competition, you must examine the gross atrocities on the other end of the spectrum and ask yourself which outweighs the other?
Capitalism has bred the freedom of personal pursuit yet we are all not born with the same advantages. A neigh-sayer will argue that America provides all with this oportunity and thats why so many have flocked here over the past 150 years. I agree, living with the unusual amount of freedom we have here makes us very fortunate. But we mustn't cloak the horros we inflict on smaller nations for our own gain with this fact. While we shop till we drop and laugh daily at sit-coms and chew bubble gum, our country is fighting to remain the world power concerning arms, economics, control on oil and unilateral decision-making with full disregard for the UN or the rest of the world. The reason why Americans think the UN is a joke is because everytime they, (meaning the UN), has attempted to put into action proposals of peace, economic equality, or cooperation, the United States has time and time again thwarted these efforts. We continue to feed weapons to Colombia in exchange for oil. We feed tanks to Israel so that we can maintain our hold by the Red Sea. We back the Turkish government in mass genocide of Kurds so that we may keep a close eye on Iran. This must stop if we are to avoid more backlash from pissed off extremists. Wouldn't we fight back if someone was driving tanks down our roads or flying planes over our cities? Of course we would, so why blame them?
I am not condoning the events of 9/11 or any other anti-US sentiments. I speak with a global mind and a full heart. I am a citizen of this earth and dream of togetherness and awareness building. We have remained in the dark long enough. The news stations don't speak for us. The papers don't have our immediate interests in mind. If you want to continue down the selfish path of which Capitalism has provided then you will only be perpetuating the problem. The solution lies with each other, all of us, the whole world over.