The clock is ticking?

Question

I see all this potential, and I see us squandering it. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy sh*t we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.

Answer 1

Sorry for the long answer, but I think it bears repeating.

From a letter written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a jail in Birmingham, Alabama.

"So I have not said to my people: "Get rid of your discontent." Rather, I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action. And now this approach is being termed extremist. But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label.

Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God." And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal ..."

So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Are we to be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremist for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime---the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment."

Apologies to anybody who thinks it's sanctimonious. I try to avoid responses that reference religious figures, just because I don't like to start fights. But Dr. King is a personal hero of mine, and these words move me.

Answer 2

What exactly are you expecting from your question? An entire forum of people to be as pessimistic as you are? You need to find some direction in your life to replace the bitterness of existence that you seem to have. Find some positive things about life and find good ways to give back to the society you've learned to hate. There are far more important issues to deal with in this world and many people could benefit from the help of others. Don't spend your time being a pissed off passivist. Get out there and make a difference.

Answer 3

Finally, someone else realizes this. Look at all of the great things accomplished throughout history, and what are we doing? Finding more foods to fry. Did you know they are coming up with a new 7 wonders of the world, because the Pyramids of Giza at Cairo are the only wonder left? Well, I was actually very interested in this so I mentioned it to a few people. NONE OF THEM EVEN KNEW WHAT THE 7 WONDERS ARE. I understand if not everyone knows what each wonder is but they had never even heard of such a thing as the 7 wonders before. It's because they are all to busy watching music videos and trying to way 90 lbs. Well it's Bullshit!!! We are becoming a disgrace! I like the way you think. hit me up sometime. [e-mail]

Answer 4

I don't see a question here, but I agree in part.

People are only justified in that they have been sold the bill of goods that it is important to be rich and famous and you are not worthwhile as a person if you are not. Frankly, my car mechanic is much more valuable as a human being to MY world than Paris Hilton. And you know what, nothing wrong with being a good car mechanic. But instead we're told to go to a college we can't afford anymore to get a degree worth little, meanwhile working jobs are left to illegal aliens and looked down upon.

It is indeed sad.

Answer 5

What's the question?
Yes, you have been sold a bill of goods.
Welcome to the human race.
Get off your dead a$$ and fix the first thing you come to.
Then, stay in school and get a good education, marry very late, have only one child, and DO something of your choosing with your short, unglamorous life-something to make this planet a better place to live in.
Is it your potential you are wasting? Get the beam out of your own eye, and then remove the splinter from the other guy's.

Answer 6

Anger is well spoken with words. I see jobs that show the way to better experience not necessarily better jobs. And there is a pretty interesting world that is struggling with huge stuff. Money and ideas are a big part of the picture. But we are very pissed off. We do see problems sometimes. They are always with us. What should we do?

Answer 7

I slightly agree. However, I believe I've worked hard, knowing I'll never be a millionare, for the success of myself and my family. I've worked tough and long hour shifts to feed my children, to have something for them, and to show them a responsible and hard working figure. I'm not pissed off because I know life isn't fair. Some of the most vain people get blessed with all the money and fame... but people like me, with good hearts, well... we work hard without complaint... we do it for ourselves and our future generations. I work hard to set a good example for my children... they know that in the real world nothing will be handed to them. We don't have to be blessed with money or fame but just the kindness in our heart and the strength in our bodies to overcome all obstacles. God rewards us later.

{Edit} - In response to someone who said our society has done nothing to remember... do you not remember the courages and bold firemen and police officers that put their lives on the line for the tragic 9/11 attacks? Do you not remember all of the soldiers fighting the war, dying each and everyday, to fight for our country?

Answer 8

Yep. Isnt life (sarcasticaly) GREAT! (no sarcasm) Cheh. I i ruled the world, everyone WILL have a life, no wars or... ANYTHING! EVERY DAY WOUOD BE A HOLIDAY! NO WORK! YAY! ... Except... MAYBE the enemys can work to give us food and junk... BUT FREE CABLE! CARS! And... STUFF LIKE THAT! YAY! And... ANIME AND MANGAS ONLY! MUAHAHAHHA! SCHOOLS SHALL TALK ONLY ABOUT ANIME AND MANGAS! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHaHA... ok. im done. See you when i rule the orld in 2013 or 2016 ^_^

Answer 9

Wow... who pissed in your Cheerios this morning??

And "we're" very pissed off?? You got a mouse in your pocket? LOL I am not pissed off at my life - I am where I am because I work for it. I may buy stuff I don't necessarily need - but dammit I EARNED the right to buy whatever I want.

Answer 10

if everyone is content with what they have been given and what they have acheived then life is good. read this book --its a kid's book called miss rumphius, about a woman who decides to leave this world a little bit better for others, Imagine if each of us did that how much better life could be. "live simply so that others may simply live."