BigUglyWorld #8 - The Bitter Truth (October 3, 2004)
Band:
Things are really starting to move forward now that Ethyl's on the bass. We've had our first gig back, are working on a bunch of new songs, and have at least two gigs in the next little while. I'm feeling really good about saying that we'll be debuting at least two new songs at our next show, and there's nothing I love more than that.
Me:
This is the time of year when my insomnia really kicks in. I'm almost used to it, which means I'll be writing a lot more. Insomnia is a gift. Aside from that, I'm doing all right. I'm a little bummed that my football team is all gone for the season, but I'm excited about starting Aikido and really getting back at the gym. So all things considered, life is good.
The World Outside:
All I can say is I'm glad we've finally brought a lasting peace and prosperity to the middle east, and even more glad that it didn't cost us any more lives.
Meat:
The bitter truth is that no amount of saving for the future is going to matter to our generation. All the money we're putting away for a rainy day is going into the hands of people who've been lying to us for years at a level even worse than the government does. Ask the investors from Enron, Bre-x, Cell-Loc, or MCI just how much Return On Investment they're enjoying. Not only that, but with everyone pulling money out of the system and socking it for a better day, we see economic gain. What happens to our dollar when everyone starts pulling the money OUT of their investments? What happens to the economy? If half of us are retiring millionairres, what does that say about the value of a million dollars?
The bitter truth is that pop culture will never die out. There are just too many spoonfeeders out there who want their culture vaccuous and unassuming. There are too many people who will put their hard-earned money in the hands of whatever teen sensation is simulating sex in front of a room full of children. There are always a million bands who are happy to walk away from the things that made them unique and interesting and embrace a generic, washed-out sound in order to make a handful of yen. There are too many bottomfeeders in the pool making a living by talking about how much blood was in Courtney Love's last shit.
The bitter truth is that your fat-ass children are learning all their negative bullshit from your selfish two-income bullshit household. Where do you think they learn the value of ordering in? Where do you suppose they get their idolizing of the television? How in the green fuck do you think they chose television and computer games over bike riding? You're too tired or busy to go out to the park with them, and you sure as shit aren't going to let them outside into the streets of your middle class community because even though you've never seen one, there could be a child molestor behind every dark hedge.
The bitter truth is that we let television tell us how to vote, who to trust, and what is just. Think about their track record, and shiver yourself to sleep tonight.
The bitter truth is that we will all sicken and die eventually, and the more money we pour into fixing sickness, the more terrible the sicknesses become. There's strong evidence that suggests that AIDS made the leap from ape to man thanks to our testing new immunizations. Science is biting us in the ass, and it's all for one last breath of air in the gas chamber. Imagine how things would be if we put the money into learning how to ease suffering of the dying, how we can make them lucid and calm in their last minutes. Mother Nature's on to us, and the house doesn't lose.
The bitter truth is that we are going gentle into that good night by living each day for the sole purpose of working for whatever shit job we do. How many people come home after their day at the office and crash in front of the TV? or worse yet, those who come home and work for 3 more hours. Get real, people. The boss doesn't care and the company doesn't love you. When you die, they will brush the tear away and someone else will fill your place. Is this your life or theirs?
The bitter truth is that we've become so distrustful of our leaders that it's not just Mumbley Joe on the corner who's talking conspiracy theories anymore. We're buying into these stories about the Pentagon attack and Princess Di's death with both fists where only a few years ago we totally accepted the authority view of Oka, Waco, and Ruby Ridge. People had trouble imagining that Nixon was the crook he was, and most people from that time would never be able to accept the fairly good possibility that Roosevelt knew that Pearl Harbour was coming. Our leaders today have told us one too many bullshit stories, and we're wise to their ways now.
The bitter truth is that this all continues because we do nothing to prevent it. This is your society. Do something about it.
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