One of the more curious realities of our present-day is the wide acceptance of promiscuity and debauchery, coupled oddly enough with the direct and immediate suppression of anything which carries the scent of a “call to arms.” For example, this very article, which the reader may have begun with a predisposition of the writer’s intention, would be unplugged at the faintest whiff of words even bordering on armed uprising or revolutionary speak.
Such a funny thing this society has become. Recently, I chose to give my two daughters a tour of the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus on Homecoming game-day. As we strolled among the inebriated and scantily dressed, the questions which repeated themselves to me were “why is that girl’s skirt showing her butt?” and “who is going to pick up all those beer cans?” Although I tried my best to explain what I knew regarding the culture of American collegiate athletics, ultimately I was left without any true, meaningful answer. For a few hours after the Minutemen’s fifth straight loss, my theoretical mind began to wonder whether or not such behavior was conducive to a poorly performing football team. That hypothesis was quickly squashed when I recalled my own collegiate years, and how, no matter the geographical location, every Division I team’s fan base was probably acting much the same.
Of course, even that stance ushers in criticism from both sides of our divided political spectrum. If one took the “conservative” stance on modest clothing, they would likely be burned at the leftist stake reserved for all misogynists. Likewise, those who lament over the waste, over-consumption, and soft date-rape patterns of college football’s effect on our “leaders of tomorrow,” the “real Americans” would quite possibly stand up and say that I needed to leave the country.
There’s worse ideas to be sure. Driving through Bernardston recently, and noticing an unmarked black police car parked by the side of the road, I wondered what that officer’s thoughts were on the present state of our nation. Did he actually want to instill a feeling of fear in passer-by drivers, or was it just something passed down the chain of command? As ICE protests ramp up, these uniformed and armed individuals are arguably laying their livelihoods on the line so that the present reign of tyra-scuity (the combination of tyranny of promiscuity) can continue on for generations to come.
Good grief, I certainly hope not. Though nothing will ever be printed in an American newspaper which calls for citizens to throw away the old and bring about the new by means of a people’s revolution, those of us powerless to stop the increasing centralization of authority have little else to hope for.
Much like the students in Amherst, our federal government has been all about the party, and very little about the cleanup afterwards. “Leave it to the poor and lower classes” has been our nation’s ethos since its inception, and look where it has taken us. A civilization of lonely people convinced of what they see on tiny, shiny devices, which (coincidentally I’m sure) are also tailored to match their interests. What could go wrong?
The propaganda machine is actually quite hilarious. As we are being told of “war zones” in Portland and Chicago, the comical element being remarkably under-reported is how the tear gas fumes choking American citizens are coming from their own tax dollars. Two wings of the same buzzard, slapping the people in the face from both sides. We need more security and protection do we not? From who?
From ourselves of course. No one seemed to give one penny of consideration to the fact that COVID-19 occurred during the Trump administration. Someone shiftier than a bag of marbles telling us we needed to this, and then do that. If it wasn’t so horrifying we would all be on the floor laughing. How do you get a generation of people to wear a face mask: show the person they hate taking his off in defiance.
Yes, we could read the Book of Revelation, and we could watch the film Cabaret, and blah, blah who really cares, am I right? Let’s just keep consuming … because, after all isn’t that what it is all about? Let us not waste time worrying about peaceful immigrants being deported or about how American cities are casually being classified as the “enemies within.” Pass me a beer, and check out that girl in the mini-skirt; why bother our future leaders with cleaning up after themselves?
Amhad Esfanhani lives in Greenfield.