Some philosopher once said that “the personal is political”. I think that’s bullshit, but I’m gunna embody that concept anyways. I’m going to post an overly-political post on a blog dedicated to music. I hope you enjoy it, you most likely will not, in which case I’ll stick to the choonz.
I’m fine with the American dream being based on money, greed, competition, self- centerdness, and generally acting like an obnoxious douche..that’s what makes America America. What’s fucked is that we’ve ruthlessly and incessantly exported the “American Dream” all around the world to the point where it’s either our way or the highway to each and every citizen of this earth. Do you think people living in Azerbaijan really “like” McDonalds? Do they ‘like’ seeing their kids get fat? Do they ‘like’ the Azerbajani Elevator Muzak that get’s played in tinny sounding McDonald speakers? Do they ‘like’ that they have began eating food no Azerbaijani in the history of Azerbaijan has ever had to eat before them? Do they ‘like’ taking violent ungodly shits upon their immediate arrival home? No, the good people of Azerbaijan probably just the rest of us hate absolutely everything about McDonalds unless they’re drunk. But like it or not McDonalds pops up in their towns and cities and with it comes some menial labor, minimum wages and shitty working conditions. But how are you going to fight McDonalds? It’s that poor Azerbajani who has got to earn a living and support his family versus a company that has an annual revenue of twenty-two billion dollars per year. Our way or the highway.
The influence America has is ridiculous, like it would blow your mind if you knew how much of what happens in the world happens directly or indirectly because of the whims and machinations of a handful of guys in three piece suits chilling in corporate skyscrapers and The White House. Did we ever take a minute to think about all the implications of blindly assuming that chasing paper is what all humans want and should do? We probably did and some sinister corporate CEO who upholsters his rolls-royce with the skin of babies was like, ‘We’ve got it, holy shit we figured it out… we’re going to be fucking rich!’
Individualism, national identity, cultural identity - they’re all meaningless cliched terms that you hear from politically correct zombies and brand marketers who want you to express your individuality by copping a pair of sketchers or driving a hybrid car. The entire concept of individuality has been co-opted by guess who? The brands, the companies, the capitalists. Why? Because just the idea of individuality sells even when it’s devoid of any meaning. Being unique excites us, it makes us feel cool: ‘Oh shit Connor Oberst likes Starbucks and their Free-trade coffee? Well then I will too!’ Let me remind you: The coffee you drink does not make you any more moral, individual, or intelligent than anyone who drinks redbull and crack for breakfast. (Full disclosure: I’ve spent half a paycheck buying clothes I didn’t really need from American Apparel and Urban Outfitters. I’m not a saint.)
Turn on the TV in Tokyo, London, Paris, Moscow, (and soon to be) Baghdad, and Kabul and you’ll all be watching the same shit. The Real World gets broadcasted in like 100 countries. There are 195 countries in the world. I could give you a litany of examples, but it would just bore you. Be bored you must not! This shit is royally fucked up. People hear me say these types of things and they assume I’m a radical leftist, socialist, crazy person, etc, and I end up wanting to slap them silly. The fact that thinking intellectually and saying that capitalism isn’t that chill is perceived as “weird” and “abnormal” as well as being seen as a characteristic of a certain political philosophy just goes to show you how narrow and twisted the state of intellectual thought and politics is in our country and in the world. I don’t think most Americans are happy, I don’t mean happiness as in like oh I got pussy last night or I got an A on a paper ‘happy’. I mean real happiness - a feeling of fulfillment, a sense of purpose and place that transcends yourself and your own insignificant goals. I think that when we get to talking about “feelings” people immediately get hyper defensive. ‘Bro these ideas are lame…Stop thinking so hard… You’re being a buzzkill’…etc, etc. Do I think people really mean it when they say that - not really. I think most people my age ‘get’ that something really messed up is going on in the world. What exactly it is they don’t know or can’t articulate but there’s a pit-in-your-stomach feeling of dread that creeps up every once in a while and what’s the natural reaction to that dread? To push it back down.
Emancipate yourselves to the truth because the world extends beyond your city, campus, and country, and the world is in trouble. This shit is real. But what do I know?
I failed out of College and sleep until 1pm every day. Don’t take my word for it, discover your own reality. Just try and be/stay conscious.
