[AngstyLady]

Laying dormant
All these feelings I tried to keep down.
Suppression, denial, self contempt.
Drugs and alcohol.
But now that I’ve been sobor for over a year . . . . . . . .
I have this . . . anger and contempt for the world.
Is this the result perhaps of my body readjusting to not using chemicals to self medicate?
I can’t say for sure yet.
But over the past few months I’ve become increasingly contemptuous for modern society and feel rather ‘un-American.’
I have too many qualms with the government and the political system- the way things are run, all the corruption and everything negative going on in the nation and the world at large- I can’t help but be embittered.

Here’s a writing I wrote a few weeks ago:
Silent rebellion

I rebel against the masses,
Yet you may not notice, for there are no blatant signs.
so much as the lack there of.
No need for makeup,
I rebel against the norm-
For the ‘norm’ is what keeps all the sheeple asleep,
Nobody does anything, no one stands up for what they believe.
Everyone’s so apathetic they think someone else will do it.
Well, it starts with one, and if it must start with me, then so be it!
~~~
So yeah, I feel like I’m not long for this world.
Perhaps I’m losing my mind? If it weren’t for my bf . . . I think I’d feel completely lost.
I just sorta feel like, ‘What comes next?’ You know? What do I do with all these feelings?
I want to be an activist of sorts,
Do something with these thoughts and feelings, help change the world for the better but
Am feeling apathetic about it all at the same time. Grr, perhaps I’m bipolar . . .?
P.S. I made my own 'flags' and put them up to show my support for the Fourth of July today! Happy Fourth to everyone, for what it's worth!

[lizardlady]

For what it's worth, I too do not like much of current society. I don't believe that makes either of us "un-American." The actions of some political figures in this country sicken me, but I still love what the country stands for. I love the freedoms we as a nation claim to support.

There's a quote I used to use in my e-mail signature

"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

AngstyLady, you may not be as alone as you feel you are.

[Hellion]

It's hardly un-american to acknowledge the problems in current society, and feel bitter about it.

[winter4me]

Sounds like it might be time to take that energy and choose a "cause" to fight for. Speaking truth to power, letting our government know when we are not happy with their choices etc---What could be More American?--
You can turn the dark internalized anger into a healthy, helping mind/hand.

[Timgt5]

In a sort of round about way you actually captured the spirit of the American ideal going against the norm and fighting for who you are and what you believe in, you are a kindred spirit to many of our founders and in that since you are not "un" American at all.

[Hellion]

Want to know who is un-american? Our current federal government...not the people questioning it. At least that is my perspective.

[guilloche]

I agree. Except I don't think it's *just* government. I feel like it's our entire culture - and I have no idea how one changes any of it.

It feels to me (and I don't know, maybe it's just me?) that we work too much, don't have enough time for real, deep connections, don't have the time or energy to do the things we need to to take care of ourselves (physical, mental, emotional), "sick" is becoming "normal" and everyone wants a fast fix ("there's a pill for that!").

Oh, and while I'm very much in favor of encouraging people to follow their dreams, sometimes it seems like... people want a job, without putting in the effort to actually learn much about how it works. Again, I don't know if it's my skewed perspective, but I feel like we're living in an "Age of Incompetence". It just amazes me sometimes.

In my more depressed moments, I start to think there may not be a way to fix all this - that's it's a side effect of a world/government/culture run by humans, and humans are by definition not perfect... And that's what causes all the problems!

[glok]

Hello, AngstyLady. It would be ideal if more of those who think like you expressed their concerns to their congressional delegation. Representatives who prize party loyalty over the best interests of their constituents need to know they can be voted out unless they make the interests of the people the top priority.

Another major problem is the apathy and learned helplessness of the voters. I truly believe many voters are not aware they are voting against their interests because of their party loyalty.

I am old. I worry about the children.

You are not alone ...

Those who would have us believe we are "un-American" are simply in denial about the reality of the current situation our country is in.

I don't feel un-American when I say we have one of the most corrupt governments in the whole world!

It matters not what form of government we live in and under ... If the system is corrupt, the people suffer, and there's a whole lot of suffering going on here in the good old US of A, and has been for some time!

I love my country but feel absolutely nothing but contempt for the political machine that has taken over and sold us out for their own personal gain ... That would be members from both political parties, not just one or the other ... They are the ones who are un-American ... Not us citizens!

And while (for health reasons) I currently do not participate in the political process often, I don't feel un-American for that either ... As for those who try to belittle (bully) me by saying I don't have a right to express my opinion because I don't participate, to them I say ... As long as my government takes money out of my paycheck, I have a right to voice my opinion whether I am currently able to participate in the process or not!

Also, I know it's the day after, but I really like this and want to share it ...



Vive l'Amérique!

Originally Posted by AngstyLady

Laying dormant
All these feelings I tried to keep down.
Suppression, denial, self contempt.
Drugs and alcohol.
But now that I’ve been sobor for over a year . . . . . . . .
I have this . . . anger and contempt for the world.
Is this the result perhaps of my body readjusting to not using chemicals to self medicate?
I can’t say for sure yet.
But over the past few months I’ve become increasingly contemptuous for modern society and feel rather ‘un-American.’
I have too many qualms with the government and the political system- the way things are run, all the corruption and everything negative going on in the nation and the world at large- I can’t help but be embittered.

Here’s a writing I wrote a few weeks ago:
Silent rebellion

I rebel against the masses,
Yet you may not notice, for there are no blatant signs.
so much as the lack there of.
No need for makeup,
I rebel against the norm-
For the ‘norm’ is what keeps all the sheeple asleep,
Nobody does anything, no one stands up for what they believe.
Everyone’s so apathetic they think someone else will do it.
Well, it starts with one, and if it must start with me, then so be it!
~~~
So yeah, I feel like I’m not long for this world.
Perhaps I’m losing my mind? If it weren’t for my bf . . . I think I’d feel completely lost.
I just sorta feel like, ‘What comes next?’ You know? What do I do with all these feelings?
I want to be an activist of sorts,
Do something with these thoughts and feelings, help change the world for the better but
Am feeling apathetic about it all at the same time. Grr, perhaps I’m bipolar . . .?
P.S. I made my own 'flags' and put them up to show my support for the Fourth of July today! Happy Fourth to everyone, for what it's worth!

I'll just say a couple of things and try to make them nonpartisan. People tend to confuse nationalism with patriotism. It is not unAmerican to refuse to ignore the bad deeds done by our government.
And also important... greed gets confused with the American dream.

Originally Posted by glok

Hello, AngstyLady. It would be ideal if more of those who think like you expressed their concerns to their congressional delegation. Representatives who prize party loyalty over the best interests of their constituents need to know they can be voted out unless they make the interests of the people the top priority.

Another major problem is the apathy and learned helplessness of the voters. I truly believe many voters are not aware they are voting against their interests because of their party loyalty.

I am old. I worry about the children.

I don't want to start a political ideology discussion but I'd also like to add to that and hope you don't mind. There is an organized effort to promote apathy and hopelessness/helplessness among mostly the less fortunate. I'll leave unsaid who benefits from apathy and low voter turnout.

[healingme4me]

Well to quote JFK, Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.' How unamerican is it, to recognize apathy and desire to find a niche you can contribute to the betterment of your society and even humanity, as a whole?

I get what you mean, about realizing how looking around you, for the first time feels and seems. It's a bitter pill to swallow, at first. From there, connecting with those on a similar thought plane, takes time, and leads to less bitter, more hope...



Sent from my LGMS323 using Tapatalk

[PoorPrincess]

Thank you, angst lady, for starting this thread.
The posts/discussion are highly interesting and pertinent to these perilous times.

I tend to read/follow/reread/sit with these types of discussion awhile before making comment or offering opinion. One has to be so careful in choosing one's words these days.

Even in hardcopy correspondence with my Congresspersons, it has been my experience that the response or a reaction on occasion was apparently predicated by whatever the political party 'prevailing wind' was blowing from the Party Leaders at the time. Thus perhaps less concern with 'constituency' ?

I cannot say definitively. Is it perhaps emotional intelligence that tells me so?
I honestly do not know. However, I believe what my common sense tells me.

Is it my purpose as a person and an American citizen who really 'doesn't count' any longer to simply 'accept' and 'acquiesce' to this is "Just the way it is"? [

]

Or do I live in intimidation that my words/actions will be 'mined' and even opinions expressed herein may get labelled 'un-American', against the prevailing Parties' winds? Can I believe anyone, anything, anywhere, any longer?
What is 'spin', what is not? Is anything not? Is it all become about manipulation of words/speeches/information/control to subjugation or subordination?

I honestly do not know anymore, People. It makes my poor TBI'd head spin.
Even some of the most interesting and thought provoking threads here, I have concern for responding at all. This is after all the internet, right?

I have no interest in 'flaming' this thread, please know.
If anything written here ruffles any forum feathers, please feel free to simply PM me.

I simply did not wish to sit back too long in contemplating "To reply or not to reply" and perhaps watch this excellent thread die out. I'm slow to think, to formulate my thoughts, to write and hopefully decently edit before I post.

With all due respect to all concerned herein PC; and including our Government, our elected Representatives, our Country, our sister and brother Citizenry.

[Werewoman]

I would LOVE to see every single member of the government, from the president, vice president, supreme court, congress, lobbyists, and anyone associated with them (staffs, etc.) tossed out on their faces and replaced.

I'm so sick of EVERYONE in Washington D.C. because they all have, regardless of political persuasion, a political agenda, and not a one of them gives a flying fleep who gets run over in the process of them shoving down our throats all the things they want us to swallow.

If the NSA or anybody else is 'mining' this post, I could care less. In fact, if I were involved in the government right now, I would be afraid. History has shown time and time again that it is possible for the 'little guys' to take down the 'big guys' trampling all over them.

As usual, I am not the least bit opinionated.

[eskielover]

I think that those who feel the MOST "Un-American" are actually the MOST "AMERICAN".

In just my personal life, I have found that those people who continually give me the most flimsy excuses for NOT doing something or for doing it the way they have.....have a much deeper thing going on under all those flimsy excuses they want me to believe......& I believe this government for years has been doing exactly the same thing as many of the crooked people I have encountered in my life.

I have always stood up against the things I don't like that are going on.....but when it comes to government....it's much more difficult because the rest of the people need to realize the BS they are believing & stop being so dang gullible.

In the past, when people would bring up negative things about people it was because they were trying to ruin their reuptation......not it's because they are trying to bring out the truth & the reputation is already questionable....especially when it comes to anyone in the government.

I for one hate a society that is all about "name calling" if you don't agree with their way of thinking......& sadly, I have seen this way too much...not just in government, but in the people who are trying to push their agenda on EVERYONE.

Some of us will stand up for our beliefs that have a basis that may be different than others.....but there is still a sound basis that is there even when others don't believe the soundness.

It's important to stand up for our beliefs that we know are soundly based & even if we are called names for it or some choose to think we are now to be considered "un-american" for questioning the decisions that are being made.......those who are considering us the "un-americans" in actuality are the ones who are "un-american" IMO

[GypsyButterfly]

I believe we were put here to help others get through this thing called life. However you're able to make a difference to someone, do that. I suggest volunteering, but, I realize, it's not always possible. Every little bit of kindness, compassion & respect you extend, really does help. I know. My husband & I have been on the receiving end of that during our lowest times. We offer that in return, as much we're able.

[-jimi-]

Just a question... why is it so important for Americans to be patriots? I mean I like living where I do but I don't think my country is anymore special than others.

Culture clash?

Originally Posted by -jimi-

Just a question... why is it so important for Americans to be patriots? I mean I like living where I do but I don't think my country is anymore special than others.

Culture clash?

Tough question to answer. There have been things like "Manifest Destiny" that encouraged Americans to feel empowered and blessed by "God." And beginning in the 40s and 50s Hollywood, in conjunction with our government began making films that were ostensibly entertainment but contained much propaganda. That had a profound effect.
Me... I think America is special because as some of our our founders intended/believed, it is an experiment in government. There has never been a government quite like it.
Right now that experiment is in crisis and in danger of failing. I don't mean the nation is in danger of failing... just the ideals. There are people who want to inject religious laws and themes into our government. There are people who are just as adamant in their opposition to that.
It's very iffy at this point.
There are also those who confuse patriotism with nationalism.

[eskielover]

Just a question... why is it so important for Americans to be patriots? I mean I like living where I do but I don't think my country is anymore special than others.

Culture clash?

There were some in Germany in WWII who stood up & fought against Hitler & for their country & what it was & what it could better be & didn't want it taken over by what Hitler was doing.

IMO, that is what patriotism is all about....is that we will stand up & fight for what this country was founded to be & the values that once existed in this country & we will NOT willingly allow others to come in whether from the outside, or through internal manipulation because we believe that what this country was founded on was a very solid foundation & we don't like people who try to manipulate their ways of change that are doing harm to this country. Unfortunately, it's easier to fight an enemy that you can see......some of what it going on isn't like there is a specific group or a specific person leading this......but internally we know that there is a serious changes that are trying to be forced on us.....& we are NOT WILLINGLY going to sit back I allow it to happen because we value the freedoms that this country was founded on & will not willingly sit back & allow them to be taken away.......to me that's patriotism. I don't know if owning a gun & fighting will ever be necessary.

Those in Germany the group that Bonhoeffer was involved in had to plot in the background against Hitler & ended up getting caught & killed for their actions just before the consentration camp he was held in was liberated......but many feel that if there is some kind of force that will take place they will take their stand with their guns & say NO to the death rather than live in a nation that takes away our freedoms.

I think that is mostly what the patriot mindset is all about IMO. Others may see it differently.

In most countries, the military are the ones that do the fighting against take-overs.....but in the US.....the people are also willing to do what they need to do to be a part of that fighting......think that adds to the patriotic actions of defending what our country was from the beginning.....& I don't think for me that it came from anything Hollywood.......I think it came from studying out history & believing in what it stands for & being willing to defend what we have had for so many years.....& living now in the middle of all that history after moving here from California.....I feel that even more from the people than actually those in California who's center is Hollywood.......so that's my take on your question

[AngstyLady]

re: Eskie lover: I live in California- and believe me, most people that I know hate the Hollywood culture.

[eskielover]

AngstyLady:.....I was born in the San Fernando Valley back in the early 1950's & left only 7 years ago........the Hollywood culture has definitely changed over all those years.....& I agree most people do hate the Hollywood culture that it is now...but if you really watch all those who get totally wrapped up in the entertainment that they are throwing on us......a captive audience in the stadiums.......they really aren't fighting against & protesting too hard & refusing to pay for that kind of entertainment. If they really hated it so badly, they wouldn't be spending their money on it & supporting it & the Hollywood culture wouldn't be thriving the way it is because of that support.

I know there are those who's actions do support their words....but there are many who don't or the entertainment business wouldn't be thriving the way it is......& that would be part of being patriotic.....that kind of entertainment would have NEVER been tolerated the way it's being tolerated today.....part of being patriotic is standing up for the values & NOT allowing those things to be forced on us in the name of tolerance that is totally NOT acceptable. As Americans, we used to be willing to stand against the things that we believed were wrong......now sadly only a few still are willing to take a stand not caring what names they call us.

It's becoming harder to be patriotic in the environment we are living in....but many it's in our hearts & souls & we will stand up for those values that we believe in based on something even deeper than the country...but what the country was built on even though they are trying to tell us that isn't so.

[-jimi-]

Here people also used to stand up for ideals and ideas. It was never called patriotism though. It was more a matter of awareness.

[PoorPrincess]

We, as Americans as a lot, are simply too fat & happy distracted on daily diets of junk food, empty calories, nonstop ET, celebrity feeds, The Nightly News, Sports feeds, sports celebrities, gaga over lives of The Rich & Famous, movies, videos, games, NASCAR, monster trucks, BabiesBooBoo, Un-reality tv, blatant programming lyrics deleterious to young developing minds, values, brains ... on ad nauseum.

We as a general lot are too comfy within that familiar cocoon self-spun so cleverly we don't even notice that we've lost awareness of what's really going on in us and around us.

It's sickening for many of my own generation. Now too tired, too worn out ... physically debilitated and sick at heart and spirit ... to teach any longer ... to spend time, volunteer with youth ... struggling to keep a hearth and home together for our own now-poor
third generation American bodies and souls.

The awareness of which jimi speaks above is still present in many of my generation; I suspect widely less than a majority.
" Too much to think about " seems to be the mantra of many thinking persons in these times. Or, otherwise largely preoccupied with our own immediate concerns.
Or with the never ending extravaganza of entertainment distractions.

Anyway you look at it, it's still undoubtedly a most bountiful cornucopia we have spilling out here in the American dream machine, no?

In the closing words of Edward R. Murrow - " Good night and good luck. "

[AngstyLady]

[quote=PoorPrincess;3866900]
Very true indeed! That's why I don't watch tv anymore. I listen to the radio (Pandora) and surf the web more- watching (for free) some shows and movies that interest me when I have time. I mostly like to learn things about the world. Right now I'm about to re read this book on world religions and then review some flash cards on psychology.
I consider myself an epistomologist, too bad it seems most people really have no ambition to do anything other than work, eat sleep and breed.

[PoorPrincess]

Originally Posted by AngstyLady

... too bad it seems most people really have no ambition to do anything other than work, eat sleep and breed.

Priceless, AngstLady. You said it.

The breeding of/perpetuation of obliviousness, uncritical thinking skills, and more, more, more tiny tot to jumbo consumerism values is of great concern to Princess.
Appreciate knowing your thinking.

[eskielover]

too bad it seems most people really have no ambition to do anything other than work, eat sleep and breed.

I have a little bit different take on that.....I thought it was work, eat, sleep & HAVE SEX.....if they cared about breeding there wouldn't be so many abortions of those not wanting those tiny tots getting in the way of what FUN time they want to claim for themselves.

AngstyLady.....YOU aren't the one who is Un-American....it's wonderful so see that there are those who do care & who will still stand up for the values that made this country strong.