Delusion's Blog

A beautiful day in America and here in Austin as we the people find ourselves enjoying yet another beautiful day of sunshine. Days such as today were made not for work or strife, rather for play and relaxation,  And yet, of course, most of us must work. The crime of it . . .

We read the news about higher gas prices, lying politicians run amuck, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and everything from how light rail will ease our traffic problems to how some idiot child tried to bring a gun into a San Marcus school, and we shake our heads and keep going. Why? Because there are other things in our lives which are more important to us.

A man was stopped entering Walmart a week ago with a gun and lots of ammo and we hear this and shake our heads and keep going. We hear how most of the men from That Compound were released since there was nothing to hold them on, and we barely stop to consider the legality of the whole thing to begin with. Why? Because there are other things in our lives which are more important to us.

We hear about what some believe is the populist fiction of global warming and laugh, we hear about the very real dangers of climate change and equate the two and laugh some more. We hear how all of our problems will be solved if we build a couple of more refineries, not realizing it takes years to do that. We hear how this country will get back to normal once Bush vacates the premises, not realizing the next president has a Herculean task before him. We hear about all of this and don't let it bother us. Why? Because there are other things in our lives which are more important to us.

Or are there really? Have you been to the grocery store lately, or waited in line at any event? Have you seen how people act and react these days to their fellow human? We can say the public has been an unruly, rude mob for years, yet lately it seems we are a little more edgy, a little more . . . brittle.

None of what we hear or see daily affects us? I think eventually it does, and eventually we get caught between the wheels. Pile on and add more and more injustice (perceived or actual), stupidity of those supposedly with our best interests in mind, and outright hostility from our neighbors and eventually you will snap. The fact we haven't yet is almost stunning, yet unless we the people take control of our own destiny, we will indeed have a mob mentality and we will watch the world pass by. We need to start right here at home, specifically by looking at our own lives and our own truth and realize we are not all alike, yet we all have the same wishes: that is, goodwill toward each other, a strong nation, and a common vision of the future. That vision, of course, must include what is good for the country as a whole, not some small yet vocal, almost insignificant sliver.

Do we want to be the ones driving, or the ones left at the mercy of where the car goes? We need to look at this nation as one, with one set of priorities and one set of goals. Freedom for Tibet might be an honorable goal, yet it is hardly a national priority. Nor should it be, objectively. High gas prices are. Gay marriage, while obviously (and purposely) a volatile subject, is not a national priority. Truth and transparency in politics is.  Brad and Angelina are not a national priority, contrary to what many think. Ending a war (or not losing one, depending on who you ask) is. American Idol is not a a national priority, surprisingly enough. Selling America by the dollar is.

Don't get caught between the wheels and don't get distracted. Think of what is in your best interest and the best interest of your country. It is becoming more and more apparent the change we all seek will start and end with us.