illusionofjoy | Post something nice (Reply)

The latest "craze" spreading like herpes throughout LiveJournal is for members to implore other to stop talking about politics and post a picture of something nice. As a form of protest, I briefly considered posting a photo of my naked ass, cheeks spread, which was once sent as a prank. In the end, I decided that nauseating the general public was no way to get my point across.

I do have this to say: now is not the time for apathy. You may have gone out and voted - if so, great. That is an important first step. However, to think that you have done your democratic duty by voting and then taking a four year nap is not just foolish; it is dangerous! I've said it before, I'll say it again: democracy is advanced citizenship and one has to stay astute and informed for it to work its best. Yes, Bush legitimately won this election, but that doesn't mean that he has carte blanche to run over the 49% of America who voted against him. Ladies and gentlemen, if there was ever a time to send a message to your government telling them to fucking work for you for a change, now is that time! Post pretty pictures all you want, but, for the love of the deities, don't stop talking about politics.

This is going to be a rough four years for anybody with even a passing interest in progressive politics. The entire city of San Francisco is up in a tizzy about the election. American's are flocking to the Canadian immigration website in droves. A 25 year old man committed suicide at the site of the former World Trade Center. All of this happened over the weekend! Don't even get me started on Iraq (30 more dead, by the way).

So, people, stop posting pretty pictures, stop saying you're sorry and start doing something. I, for one, am quite astute at letter-writing. You, however, may find that you prefer hitting the streets and protesting. Whatever you decide to do to make a change in America to bring us back in synch with the rest of the world, just do it! Do not rest on your singular actions on November 2^nd and cry about the results on the 3^rd - go out and work for change in this nation! And on the slight chance that you think I am way off in my rant, then I suggest you read this:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Pretty nice set of principles, don't you think?