blustocking | I actually turned the computer back on so that I could rant.

Dedication my friends, dedication to my craft.

I haven't had a good, long bitch in awhile now:

#1.

Never have I been on Cloud 9 about our Media, but lately I've been quite...pissed off. I know it is hard to remain unbiased. I know that it is hard to check your feelings and opinions at the door, as I don't think I could. If I were a journalist, I'd probably end up arguing with myself on camera or on newsprint. But lately, lately, it's sunk in just how fucked up our media is. Completely one-sided, biased, bought and paid for, many in this business seem to take no responsibility, let alone think that they should. And should one call them on it, should you point it out, the "news" would cower behind it's very definition. "Hey man, we just report it like we see it. That's what we're supposed to do. Responsibility and foresight is not our department. You want the door on the left." Maybe there was a time when the news, the media, didn't have to think about the other side, how everything they say and show will be viewed by the mob-mentality populace. But that time is long gone. I am so sick of completely irresponsible, one-sided, tabloid T.V. information. NPR, you are my last bastion of the morning commute.

And now for the other side: Ah, the American people, how I love thee and thy brazen patriotism as you cut me off in traffic. The media feeds you a villian and you are more than happy to gobble it up. Mass-produced flags and "We're gunna git you Osama" t-shirts by the dozens. Easy way out, that's what we love. The people need a target for their misdirected anger and the media is more than happy to push that in their faces. I cringe whenever I hear Osama bin Laden on the news or see his face on some mass-forwarded e-mail. It just reminds me that as long as the American people have someone, one man, to blame, they will be appeased and comforted. My only comfort is those close to me who share the same disappointed feelings. Is there such thing as a News Advocate? There should be.

#2.

I volunteered for Greenpeace. It made me feel good. It helps the environment. It's something I've always wanted to do. Win-win situation, the virtue of selfishness, no one loses, right? Well, why do some fuckers have to take the wind out of my sails? Not that I don't like the person who was playing Devil's Advocate with me the other day, but he pissed me off. And when I get pissed off, I'm nut 2 guud @ tawkin...well, unless you're my ex and you royally fucked up.

So, this guy who sits next to me in French, who I like, as a person mind you...he isn't attractive and let's face it, I need attractive. We get along. We make fun of the stupid just-outta-high-school girls in the corner who think No Doubt is the supreme Ska band (yes, I know, I know). Well, he saw my flyers that I'm putting up around school and starts talking about how recycling is, ultimately, not efficient as it does more harm than good. (by burning fossil fuels and the energy consumed in the actual act of recycling products.) This statement shot me right in the head as I wasn't prepared for someone to be AGAINST recycling. I tried my lame defense of, "No, in the long-run, it's better for the environment" and he came back with "Do your research". Okay, that's it. Shut the fuck up. I hate it when people think they have all the facts. To which I said, "Well, if you want to go that way, I could find equal amount of research to support both." This didn't really help my opinion. So, I just kind of ended it by saying, "Yeah, well, I'm working on the Clean Energy Campaign, so...". I said it was arrogant, selfish, lazy, and apathetic to take that view. You feel lower because you're not doing anything, so you justify it by saying, "Well, it's not worth it anyway, see?" Just because you are too lazy and don't give a rat's ass about future generations. He was a little shut up when I informed him, "Yes, I'm fully aware I will not see the benefits of anything I'm doing. It's not about that."
So, on the way to my meeting at work, I stewed about why someone would want to take activism away from someone. If someone is taking their free-time to try and help out a little in this world, why take that away from them? Why step on someone's passion, love, or need to feel useful? Well, he told me he agrees with some of my tree-hugging business, but he was just arguing to argue and hates it when people don't know their subject, but it just set me off.
I don't believe EVERYTHING Greenpeace stands for. I'm not an extremist. I would not volunteer with PETA for that reason. But Greenpeace seems to ride that line. I'm not going to buy into their missions hook, line, and sinker. All I know is that we cannot continue to burn fossil fuels at this rate and maintain a comfortable existence, let alone have a planet to exist upon. That, is what I'm focusing on. Yes, I feel strongly about other environmental issues and yes, they are important as well, but as I should have realized today, it's all interconnected. I realized too late that what I should have said to him is that, "Sure, maybe recycling hurts by the fuel and energy it uses, but that's EXACTLY what I'm working for. If you make the move towards clean energy it would in turn make recycling more beneficial and lower costs significantly. Recycling very well could be just a band-aid solution, but cleaner energy, and renewable energy could make it, and other methods of conservation, a distinct solution.

Moral of the story:
Everyone wants a quick fix. Not many people seem to think outside themselves anymore and even less are willing to work for something that they'll never see the benefits of. Few will step outside their comfort-zone these days, few are willing to give, and few are willing to see beyond the borders of country, religion, or their own little world.

Now answer me this,
Why am I not in bed, asleep? HUH?! ;)