Image via WikipediaThis post is for Blog Action Day 2008.
As a species, Homo Sapiens have a frighteningly high capacity for obedience. A majority of us, particularly in the West, *need*
to be told what to do. The systems put in place by the ruling classes
stupefy us into instant capitulation in the face of authority.
Our obedience is trumped only by our apathy and indifference to what
our governments do on our behalf. We accept facts, arguments and
decisions all too easily.
The existence of poverty and famine is the great tragedy of our
time. We accept the systems around us because they make us comfortable,
but we give no thought at all to the consequences of our economic
systems on less affluent countries. Why do we give it no thought?
Because we haven’t been told to give it thought. The narrative spewed
forth by what in this country we amusingly refer to as the “free press”
simply excludes it from our consciousness.
If we had anything that pretended to be a free press, our headlines
would look very different. Take one of the biggest crimes of recent
history as an example: The illegal Anglo-American invasion of Iraq in 2003, and its subsequent occupation.
Do you know what the cost of the war has been in Iraq? Well, for the Americans alone, it has currently cost $562,423,230,338. Have you thought about what *could*
have been done with that money had we not mounted an illegal invasion?
No. Because you haven’t been told to think about it. Here’s a few
things, we could have:
- *Completely* eradicated world poverty.
- Provided a home for *every* AIDS orphaned child in Africa.
- Provided primary school education for *every* child on Earth.
So why does poverty exist? Because our beloved guardians wish it.
You have only to look at the figures above to understand this. We value
Iraq’s oil reserves *far* more than the lives of Africans, for example.
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the
people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything
about it.” – Albert Einstein
As one humble blogger, I ask this: Engage. Find out what your
guardians are doing. Demand answers, explanations, ask awkward
questions. Do you know what your country is doing on the global stage?
Are you sure the mainstream information systems are telling you the
truth? The whole truth? Find out, and at all times remember this: THEY
WORK FOR YOU!
To find out more of what is happening in the world, look to independent media. For example, www.informationclearinghouse.info
Monitor your guardians closely, for example, I use www.theyworkforyou.com
Discover the truth, form your own opinions, start acting like you
are your guardian’s boss. Take back our democracy from the special
interest groups.
End poverty. Please.