AMERICA UNDER SEIGE
As everyone probably knows, these last few days, the world has witnessed TV images of heart wrenching suffering and anguish. It really is a poignant reminder just how fragile modern life truly is. Without electricity and running water, life quickly descends into a Hobbesian world of anarchy and savagery.One thing that really bothers me is that there is a sense of disbelief from around the world that the horrific images shown could not be happening in America; the richest and most powerful country in the world.
Although it looked like the cameras were broadcasting from Somalia or Darfur; unfortnately they were coming from the good o' U.S. of A.
As someone who lives here, I can tell you what you are witnessing is the side of America which is seldom publicized. You are seeing John Edwards’ “Two Americas” speech personified. Urban poverty is the white elephant no one wants to touch with a 10 foot pole.
It takes a catastrophic disaster like this before the camearas are focused on the people who struggle everyday just to live; and it is not a pretty picture.
It is times like this that I look at the current national debates centering around “Defense of Marriage” “Intelligent Design” and Privatization of the only security net most Americans have; Social Security; as absurd and somewhat surreal.
I just hope a tragedy of this magnitude will shake people out of their perceived comfort zone and hopefully ignite a national debate on the urgent issues of global warming and poverty.
Ok, that’s all the ranting for today. Now look at the pretty doggie :)
posted by mimi and kemble | 4:31 PM
3 Comments:
I agree with your opinion.
We need to think what is happening on our earth seriously...
But when I rant about the probrem, my husband always tells me "If all men on earth are equal, we all can survive no more than few years. There is no enough food or energy to keep our life going on.
We civilization can't change our current life either. Do you have any idea to solve the probrem?"
and I always have nothing to talk back...
Yeah, I know I have no power to solve it. Still,I try not to stop thinking about the problem. We may not be able to change the life style drastically or help every person in need though, we can do somthing. Something small within my reach...
from yoko,powerless housewife in Japan
Yoko,
I think your husband provides an extreme example which is hard to argue against in theory. I am not advocating the some kind of communist utopia where everyone is allowed the same resources and opportunities. That theory was a proven failure in Russia as well as in China.
In the United States, the disparity between the richest 10% and the poorest 10% is much greater than any other industrialized western democracies. (One would certainly not see the kind of abject poverty in Japan or Germany) It doesn’t have to be this way. The poor in America is treated much the same way as the “untouchables” in India. They are invisible. They live and work and struggle in segregated parts of the city, and the middle class have very little contact except for the occasional run-in with a “panhandler”.
It seems we can do a lot better; the billions of dollars currently spent building the American military complex can certainly be better allocated to much needed areas of creating employment, schools, and health care.
By the way, thanks for your comments. They are a great encouragement to Miyuki.
Now I understand what you wanna say.
I did't know the states has such a great disparity.
They are treated like "untouchables"...?
Too heavy topic to talk about now , I guess...
I'm much too ignorant about the problem in the states.
By the way, I'm happy to hear that Miyuki is encouraged by my comments. I'm also encouraged by her stories from L.A. Always interesting!
I've started my blog.
(with English translation.)
Come and see in your vacant hours.
from Yoko
http://blog.livedoor.jp/makoyokoai/
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