Stever Tyler had it right:
There's something wrong with the world today
I don't know what it is
Something's wrong with our eyes
-Livin' on the Edge (Aerosmith)
I find it incredible how people can't truly open their eyes. Ignorance runs rampant through the feeble minds of so many. They see themselves as paladins combatting just that behavior - using both physical and spiritual forces to banish judgement and poor decisions from their lives. However, in reality, they are actually insect queens of this plague, forcing all those around them to become infested with these juxtapositional entities; the image that is the fight for right and the truth that is the poster child for ignorance.
Many people breed elitism. They endorse it in their children, portraying them as being better than everyone else. Then at a certain point, they tell them "okay now, go fit in." It's like telling George W. Bush that there's no churches around, but there's a mosque down the road that should be good enough. It's spending years and thousands of dollars creating a beautiful fish tank, and then adding an exotic predatory fish to make it look pretty. In the cartoon fairy tale Simba stops Nala from eating Pumba. In real life, they would have fought over that scrumptious boar ass. Or, if Elton John was really singing love songs in their heads, perhaps they'd have a more civil Pumba picnic. You can't teach someone one thing and then expect them to turn that off. If you've taught them something that you're not proud of... well fuck you. That's how life is.
Is it ignorant to not call ignorant people on their ignorance? Perhaps there does exist an elite. An elite who woud never utter such a phrase, but who would be known as elite because of this fact. Success and virtuousity are qualities that go far better with modesty than hubris. The Defense would like to submit the case of Maximus Decimus Meridius vs Commodus Aerulius. (Forgive my misuse of attorney babble, and appreciate my cinematic allusion to Gladiator).
I admit I live in a fairytale. Of course, successful people are often the assholes. In fact, I'm well aware that if I am to become successful in a field such as advertising I must have my mask adjusted properly so that the ass cheeks align correctly with my facial cheeks. However, I would hope to use that mask as little as possible.
And so, the question remains. What is it that is wrong with the world's eyes? Tonight I watched United 93 with Jessica. Such a film is truly a testament to Marx's claim that religion is the "opiate of the masses." (I cannot pledge my allegiance to this motto, because Jesus Christ Superstar has music that is just too good. However, my movie-esque love has given me renewed faith in some type of higher power that doesn't want to completely ass fuck me - and us all). In my cultural studies classes we often talk about ideological values. Such is what leads me to my interest of advertising. With society being filled with puppets, it is far too easy to fool them into spending their green paper. It's like when you want a dog to leave you alone, and you throw an imaginary ball far away. If you're good enough, the dog will go sniffing the yard to try to find it.
Are my remarks elitist within themselves? I suppose so. But then again, the anonimity granted to me by this world wide web (and Wildvoice, of course) allow me to speak how I feel in a modest fashion. After all, no one is going to approach me on what I say online. I wouldn't be surprised if one had an entire post consisting of a racist rant and was still director of a college's cultural diversity organization. Even if every member saw such a post, this online world offers you an invisible shield against confrontation. Why is this, I am not sure. Perhaps hostility relies upon adrenaline. It is difficult to remain furious for hours and days. So even if you think I'm being an elitist, you're never going to tell me. (Perhaps such a remark will inspire a user to be gung ho and leave me a comment...)
Someone once said to me we should just kill all the stupid people. It's been tried before. The IQ test sent them to the front lines against the machine guns (basing the thoughts on the presumption that your IQ actually accounts for much of anything...). Hell, God kills people for being stupid and/or horny (See: Noah's Ark aka some annoying index numbers in the Old Bullshitbook...err...I mean Old Testament.) Unfortunately, the stupid people are too busy staying in power and sending a nice mixture of stupid and smart people off to die fighting angry people who die carrying babies made out of bombs. They die for dozens of virgins, we die for one pussy, I mean, Bush.
Just remember this. You're surrounded by idiots, or you are one. Or, the majority of the time, both.
Livin' on the edge, you can't stop yourself from falling...
(Music: A Lonely Dance by James Underberg; courtesy of www.podsafeaudio.com. I put the promo on the end for those curious about it.)
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