In a Perfect World We'd All Sing In Tune
"But you can fight for democracy at home and not in some foreign land." Billy Bragg
Twenty years on and Help Save The Youth of America and It Says Here feel like they could have been written yesterday.
I wanted to write a long post discussing how I have been listening to Billy Bragg a lot lately and ponder why music protesting Margaret Thatcher's policies should be striking a chord with me today. The similarities are striking--a war on terrorism, dismantling of decades old social policies, infringing upon the civil liberties of citizens, and a growing gap between the rich and the poor to name a few. But, unfortunately, the more I think about it, the more depressed I become and I just want to go back to bed. People have accused the American public of being apathetic, but I think our real problem is that we we are paralyzed by the knowledge that we are powerless, that nothing we do will make most of our political leaders listen to us, that most of them are just interested in getting our money and votes but they plan to represent whatever lobbyists or PACs have given them the most money (which, fyi, is one of the reasons I support Barack Obama--he isn't accepting money from Lobbyists or PACs, unlike Hilary Clinton). So we just focus on our own lives.
However, as much as I want to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and believe that everything will work itself out, I am really worried about the future. As much as I don't want to hurt the feelings of loved ones who I know have very different political views, I can't not voice my opinions. While it may not make a difference in the outcome, I can't just sit here and do nothing. And I don't know what I can do to change things, but I'm sure I'll think of something. To quote Billy Bragg, "If no one seems to understand start your own revolution and cut out the middleman."
Twenty years on and Help Save The Youth of America and It Says Here feel like they could have been written yesterday.
I wanted to write a long post discussing how I have been listening to Billy Bragg a lot lately and ponder why music protesting Margaret Thatcher's policies should be striking a chord with me today. The similarities are striking--a war on terrorism, dismantling of decades old social policies, infringing upon the civil liberties of citizens, and a growing gap between the rich and the poor to name a few. But, unfortunately, the more I think about it, the more depressed I become and I just want to go back to bed. People have accused the American public of being apathetic, but I think our real problem is that we we are paralyzed by the knowledge that we are powerless, that nothing we do will make most of our political leaders listen to us, that most of them are just interested in getting our money and votes but they plan to represent whatever lobbyists or PACs have given them the most money (which, fyi, is one of the reasons I support Barack Obama--he isn't accepting money from Lobbyists or PACs, unlike Hilary Clinton). So we just focus on our own lives.
However, as much as I want to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and believe that everything will work itself out, I am really worried about the future. As much as I don't want to hurt the feelings of loved ones who I know have very different political views, I can't not voice my opinions. While it may not make a difference in the outcome, I can't just sit here and do nothing. And I don't know what I can do to change things, but I'm sure I'll think of something. To quote Billy Bragg, "If no one seems to understand start your own revolution and cut out the middleman."
Comments
I often feel exactly the same way - I just want to bury my head in the sand and forget about it all. Lately, that's been what I've been doing too much of. I paid entirely too much attention prior to the 2004 election, and Kerry's concession speech left me devastated - I remember being awake most of the night with the TV on watching election results, and holding out hope as long as I could. (Not that I was in love with Kerry, but still.)
It is the feeling of helplessness, which leads to hopelessness. And it feels like it just gets worse instead of better.
It was actually the news of Al Gore sharing the Nobel Prize that has given me a little bit of hope, and led me to pay more attention, and try to care more.
When you figure out what we can do, how we'll save the world, be sure to let me know, okay?