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it's hell to believe there ain't a hell of a chance
Today makes me wonder- what other nations in the world have the same capacity as the U.S. to inspire such extremes of national pride and national shame (sometimes all in the same person)? Is it prevalent to this degree in any other "developed" (going by that flawed term's general meaning, i.e. relative economic and political stability) nation? I would really like to know.
I have a lot of love for the bones of this country. I spent a not-insignificant number of credits (and thus dollars) in law school exploring the U.S.'s legal and constitutional history (as well as the broader Western jurisprudence that was the basis of much of our legal system) and I did so because I am genuinely inspired by that history.
The thing about learning history is, it makes it impossible to ever really believe things are worse than they once were, when there's no time you can point to and say "that's when they had things figured out, and nothing was going to hell." Something was always going to hell. Maybe that's how it will always be. I think there are terrible things going on right now- it is no secret I hate this war, that I believe most of the deaths on both sides are wasted lives, serving no greater purpose but to sow more unrest, that the people in charge of this country don't give a crap about the other 99.9% of us, and I mean to say this is true of both sides of the political aisle, though the Democrats at least have to pretend to give a crap for the sake of their base. (Well, and the other side gives a crap about a few things, I suppose- though it mostly seems to be things like not letting loving, committed couples get married, because pandering to bigotry is just way awesome, and totally saves lives and puts food on people's tables and rebuilds drowned neighborhoods and gives everyone a living wage and - well.)
Things will always be going to hell. I can't believe this is my conclusion, that this is where I stand. Is the grace just smaller, quieter, local heroes and private joys? Somewhere along the line, did we decide triumphs don't make compelling history?
Maybe it is, to reference Good Omens for a moment, Aziraphale's and Crowley's Arrangement- the intentional balancing-out by gone-native angels and demons, and the ever-present hand of ineffability. (Or perhaps I am just being silly.) (And if you haven't read Good Omens, you're even sillier.)
I've been listening to some not-really-new-anymore, but-still-relevant Josh Ritter recently, and even though these songs can make me cry every time I hear them, it's exactly the catharsis I need.
Girl in the War [lyrics]
Thin Blue Flame [lyrics]
(Both links from Josh Ritter's official website - no worries about piracy, if you care about such things.)
I have a lot of love for the bones of this country. I spent a not-insignificant number of credits (and thus dollars) in law school exploring the U.S.'s legal and constitutional history (as well as the broader Western jurisprudence that was the basis of much of our legal system) and I did so because I am genuinely inspired by that history.
The thing about learning history is, it makes it impossible to ever really believe things are worse than they once were, when there's no time you can point to and say "that's when they had things figured out, and nothing was going to hell." Something was always going to hell. Maybe that's how it will always be. I think there are terrible things going on right now- it is no secret I hate this war, that I believe most of the deaths on both sides are wasted lives, serving no greater purpose but to sow more unrest, that the people in charge of this country don't give a crap about the other 99.9% of us, and I mean to say this is true of both sides of the political aisle, though the Democrats at least have to pretend to give a crap for the sake of their base. (Well, and the other side gives a crap about a few things, I suppose- though it mostly seems to be things like not letting loving, committed couples get married, because pandering to bigotry is just way awesome, and totally saves lives and puts food on people's tables and rebuilds drowned neighborhoods and gives everyone a living wage and - well.)
Things will always be going to hell. I can't believe this is my conclusion, that this is where I stand. Is the grace just smaller, quieter, local heroes and private joys? Somewhere along the line, did we decide triumphs don't make compelling history?
Maybe it is, to reference Good Omens for a moment, Aziraphale's and Crowley's Arrangement- the intentional balancing-out by gone-native angels and demons, and the ever-present hand of ineffability. (Or perhaps I am just being silly.) (And if you haven't read Good Omens, you're even sillier.)
I've been listening to some not-really-new-anymore, but-still-relevant Josh Ritter recently, and even though these songs can make me cry every time I hear them, it's exactly the catharsis I need.
Girl in the War [lyrics]
Thin Blue Flame [lyrics]
(Both links from Josh Ritter's official website - no worries about piracy, if you care about such things.)
no subject
Excellent point. I think a lot of people's discontent and reactionary behavior comes from them looking back at a Golden Time that never really was.
no subject
Oh, wait, now I'm doing it...