What the News Does to Poor People Like Me

It should be noted that on my lazy labor day weekend, instead of getting ahead on my college applications and essays, I plopped down on the sofa and watched two hours of CNN in the middle of the afternoon. On a perfectly sunny day. Oh why, oh why did I make this decision?

The day revolved chiefly around four major stories:

1. Barack Obama wants to speak to children, and this is a problem to some.
2. A wildfire in California goes nuts and destroys half the state. Arson investigation.
3. Some guy in Georgia kills an entire family living in a mobile home. 8 people.
4. Two cops in an unmarked car without uniforms shoot and kill a preacher because they think he's involved in a drug transaction. His last words were "Who shot me?"

So basically, the news wants to make me blow my fucking brains out.

To be honest, based on my knowledge of the workings of society (and don't read me incorrectly), the only one I have a serious problem with is the first of these stories. The others can all be explained by the fact that in any nation of 300 million people, there will be the psychopathic killers, the unfortunate accidents, and the criminals who got more than they bargained for. While I feel terrible about everything that has happened, I accept it as something that doesn't taint my image of the American society, or reflect negatively upon the intelligence and functionality of its citizens.

The fact that people don't want Barack Obama to speak at their public schools, on the other hand, does all of these things. I watched an argument in favor of canceling his visitations on CNN (the only good one, kudos to the guy-whose-name-I've-already-forgotten for raising it) that had to do with Obama's once-controversial lesson plan being distributed directly to the principals of the planned schools without contacting the state departments of education, the parents of the students, or even the superintendents of these schools. On the other hand, 99.99% of the other arguments are based on the belief that Obama is a socialist hell-bent on destroying America's market economy, and that they don't want him to brainwash their kids. The especially large controversy revolves around a line in this lesson plan that was changed almost immediately which asks, "How does the president inspire you?" (In reality, it was asked, "How did the president inspire you?" intended to be asked after his speech was already given.) Now, prepare for me to unleash my skills at angered reasoning.

I have a problem with a lot of things here. First of all, Obama is the freaking President, and anyone who won't even listen to the President is unpatriotic. Even though I am a self-proclaimed liberal by nature, I would listen to ol' W. speak even though I could disagree with nearly everything he said. Also, I don't give half a shit about the inspiration line; his speech is a speech intended to inspire kids to stay in school through all the shit that all inner-city school children have to face every day at home and in school. (AN 9/15: Surprise, I'm correct.)

To be honest though, I neither care about whether others are patriotic nor if people are concerned that Obama "inspires" their children. What I have a problem with is the constant rejection of Obama's persistent, obvious attempts at eliminating partisanship within both the federal government and on a personal level with those who actually listen to him. Instead, Americans become more close-minded and angry than I've ever seen in my 17 years.

On a federal level, the idea that bipartisanship accomplishes the most in all branches of government is prevalent to the point where it is practically carved in stone. In spite of this, the partisan divide (esp. in Congress) has grown so wide that it is essentially beyond repair. The well-needed stimulus package from early this year was passed through the faults of both major political parties in Congress. The Republican Party, hell-bent on shooting down any plan that involved spending money, refused to see reason and ignored the reality that America was going down the shitter. Instead of revising the bill more, or arguing more, the Democratic Party used their majority to pass the bill through both houses with almost no votes from the GOP, alienating the ailing party even more. In summary: Congress has devolved into one gigantic shouting match, with neither side actually listening to the other.

To a large extent, this idea is also reflected by the reaction of the public school systems and the involved parents who don't want their children to hear Barack Obama speak. While the speech itself has nothing to do with any political platform, or any message that a good parent wouldn't want their kids to hear, people deny their kids to hear the man based on their belief that he is a socialist or an extreme left-winger. I don't give a shit if you disagree with his views - that doesn't mean that you shouldn't listen to him - that is what is completely dismantling the country! Like I said, while I disagree with many conservative political figures, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't listen to them at all, regardless of the topic of conversation. The accusation that Obama would brainwash their children is even more ridiculous; humans, even children, are capable of disagreeing with what Barack Obama says. I'm more concerned about indoctrination from parents in this case than indoctrination from the President.

Anyway, sorry if I alienated anybody with my whiny gripes about politics. While I try to remain fairly objective in any political writings, my liberal bias definitely escaped into this blog. If anybody wants to talk about it, contact me and we can have a civil politically themed discussion sometime. Goodbye for now.