Consuming Us

"Yes, we marched on the Federal building. Five hundred of us, young brothers, full of outrage...They were hiring that day. The brothers came with outrage; they left with jobs."

-Kalinga (I'm Gonna Git You Sucka!)

I constantly think about, well the current status of things. Like with gas prices soaring why are people not kirking out and siphoning off of city trucks...hmmmmmmm...not a bad idea. They say that money is the root or evil, but I'm wondering if it doesn't also produce complacency. I just think on a personal level, how many times have I been pleased just thinking of a recent purchase. How often has the ability to buy something made me feel content with myself. Even when I look at the place of black people in America. How many of us think things are cool cause we can work, own and purchase things. Have we truly become a part of the pre-Fight Club mentality? My life will be complete when I buy the couch with pea green stipe pattern! The sad truth is we all have to spend most of our time doing something we hate just to finance living...even if it's not comfortably. So my thought is, how do we upgrade ourselves? I know we need to. This doesn't even come from watching the masses. When I look at those who I know to be intellectual people despite any wisdom they may offer many of them maintain a morose undercurrent. As if in another time they would have taken up a sword, rallied the village and deposed the ruler of the land. Now there doesn't seem to be that sort of immediate satisfaction at hand. We have become desensitized to protests. Even when they make the news. It may seem sad, but even extreme violence doesn't affect us quite the same. When was the last time something horrible happened and your whole neighborhood was ready to just up and go somewhere to do something. Our modern day tragedies and calamities are usually good water cooler talk. Something we can debate about. Even our government seems lethargic in it's responses. As a whole our greatest solution seems to be to throw money at something. This may be helpful in terms of resources, but it still removes us from the situation. For instance I need my brakes done (two weeks ago for real!) so I'm about to go pay someone to do them. I should have all the tools and knowledge and just do it my damn self. The same holds true for many things thought. I have a problem call the cops, something happened get a lawyer. We can't even settle a difference or defend ourselves without worrying about getting sued or locked up. What plenty of rich people have learned is that money may take care of many things, but it still won't fill you. It doesn't make you better, smarter or more good looking. You can get women, but you know you're really buying them in essence. I think my point is all of this outside reliance and validation is dulling the human spirit. Those who may ponder such things are slowly going mad because of it. Those who don't are softened just the same. They may not realize it until it's thrown in their face. I guess the challenge now is how to use our intellect to force change in the world. Should we employ and army of hackers and investment bankers. Should we all become corporate take-over specialists. Why not, I can filter my need for bloodshed to Playstation2. In the meantime my and my army of hackers will be waiting.