A Dimming of the Light
I watched television last night sober. One should never do that. Alcohol is the only thing that makes television programming tolerable, even on a Sunday night, a night that is targeted for the largest audiences of the week. This is made even worse by the absolutely mindless accompanying commercials. Is every month “Truck Month”? Apparently it is in this state.
I think it’s that I getting depressed. I usually do this time of year. It has something to do with the shorter days and reduced exposure to sunlight. I think it has something to do with the outcome of the recent election as well. My squeeze in a die hard Republican. When I examined the issues one by one with her and she disagreed with W on every single one except the tax cut. But she voted for W anyway. As one astute observer noted “It’s not like people voted the issues, it’s more like they voted for their team.” So it would seem.
On the local news last night we find that some religious militants are in town from the state up north. It seems that a national article had identified a local high school student (or students) as being gay. This loving group of Christians is picketing the gay’s church with “God Hates Fags” signs, and plan to go to the gay’s high school today for another round.
Recently there was a letter to the editor in the local rag. Seems a good Christian was upset that at a sports banquet he attended the opening prayer was led by a Moslem (when did Moslems become Muslims?). “That Moslem doesn’t pray to the same God I do. I think it was entirely inappropriate to have one of those people lead us in prayer.” I’d bet my next paycheck this person is a strong proponent of required prayer in public school.
I lived through the Nixon administration. I noted the cheers in the class I was taking at the time when we found out that J. Edgar Hoover had died. And yet I’ve never been ashamed to be an American, until now. I find this turn toward the right, toward hatred, and bigotry, and a new American imperialism extremely depressing. More depressing yet, I have no control over it. This country is in very serious trouble and doesn’t have the sense to see it.
I think it’s that I getting depressed. I usually do this time of year. It has something to do with the shorter days and reduced exposure to sunlight. I think it has something to do with the outcome of the recent election as well. My squeeze in a die hard Republican. When I examined the issues one by one with her and she disagreed with W on every single one except the tax cut. But she voted for W anyway. As one astute observer noted “It’s not like people voted the issues, it’s more like they voted for their team.” So it would seem.
On the local news last night we find that some religious militants are in town from the state up north. It seems that a national article had identified a local high school student (or students) as being gay. This loving group of Christians is picketing the gay’s church with “God Hates Fags” signs, and plan to go to the gay’s high school today for another round.
Recently there was a letter to the editor in the local rag. Seems a good Christian was upset that at a sports banquet he attended the opening prayer was led by a Moslem (when did Moslems become Muslims?). “That Moslem doesn’t pray to the same God I do. I think it was entirely inappropriate to have one of those people lead us in prayer.” I’d bet my next paycheck this person is a strong proponent of required prayer in public school.
I lived through the Nixon administration. I noted the cheers in the class I was taking at the time when we found out that J. Edgar Hoover had died. And yet I’ve never been ashamed to be an American, until now. I find this turn toward the right, toward hatred, and bigotry, and a new American imperialism extremely depressing. More depressing yet, I have no control over it. This country is in very serious trouble and doesn’t have the sense to see it.
posted by Satterwhite | 5:18 AM
1 Comments:
I'm with you -- if you only had the Biography Channel, you could have watched some Sherlock Holmes. Or, Sunday night, NBC, Law and Order: Criminal Intent is a great show. I never miss. I, too, find myself getting depressed -- but it's not the dark days; I'm energized by dark days. Mine is dark events -- many of which you articulated. And your "squeeze" is just typical of all unthinking people who "voted their team" and didn't go through the issues, one by one. Dorks. Not to get personal, but come ON.
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