Being an American is exhausting.
I spent the first part of this week in tears. Hanging a yellow ribbon from the tree in our front yard and showing my children the stars on the American flag billowing below the ribbon. Their uncle has gone to war, again.
As I struggled to explain to a 4-year old exactly what a “soldier” does, I thought of all the families involved in this monstrosity of a war, the children left behind, the Iraqi’s lives destroyed. Despite my 100% disagreement with this war and the idiots who started it, I found myself damn proud of our soldiers and their families. Of our stupid, stupid country and its stupid, stupid military.
So as I swelled with pride and wonder for my fellow Americans, imagine my disgust and bewilderment when I had to explain to a Canadian just how FUCKED up our government is when it comes to helping our children. Helping the poor. Helping one another.
It started simply enough, a post about us fat ass North Americans and our lazy, lazy, kids. I tried to explain socioeconomics. I tried to explain the lack of education. I tried to explain why a lard-ass Ogre, who shills for McDonalds, would be our spokesman for combating childhood obesity. I tried to explain that yes, Taco Bell can be found in our public school cafeterias and yes, our produce and healthy foods cost more than the average family can afford. They buy the shit, because the good stuff is more money and hey, it’s got our government’s stamp of approval.
The more I explained the more I shook my head. The more I explained the more embarrassed I became. The more I explained, the more I was moving to Switzerland.
Why does America do this to me? I don’t expect to agree with everything that goes on in the great USofA at every single moment. I also don’t expect to hide my head in shame when I think of the clusterfuck that are these 50 states lately.
Just when I had shaken my redhead so much it hurt, I saw a light. I got an email. I watched something I’ve been involved in since the start head in a new direction. One that made me swell with pride. One that reminded me it’s not about the country. Its not about the borders. Its not about who’s government does what. It’s about what we can do,together. Ladies and gentleman, may I present BlogHer’s ACT.
We are excited and honored to announce today, with Elisa, Jory and Lisa, the launch of BlogHers Act, a year-long initiative to harness the incredible power of women online. That would be you.
BlogHers Act will take on two things —
1. Making a difference on a single global cause
2. Identifying the top four issues that women online want the U.S. Presidential candidates to address in order to win our votes in the ‘08 Election.
Imagine the opportunity that’s in all of our hands right now.
All of us know the positive, productive, monumental ACTION of bloggers, especially women bloggers, when rallying around a problem, an issue or an event. Since we started blogging a few years back, we’ve witnessed – and been so lucky to be a part of – countless moments, big and small, when bloggers worked together to make a difference.
Hell yes. Now get off your fat ass you lazy American, Canadian, or um..non-North American and do something.
You know what, I heard it’s a bad thing to talk trash about our country. I also heard one vote doesn’t make a difference. I also think someone told me you can’t be against the war and support the troops. Hogwash on all these things. I’m proud of our country, but I’m also not naive enough to know we have plenty of room for improvement. Just like nobody’s perfect, neither are any countries. I like the cause, good luck!
Wow.
You know, being Canadian, we’ve always been kind of in the shadow of Big Brother USA.
Visiting there, as much as I do, I am continually struck, again and again, when I see the lines between poverty and rich beyond rich. The poverty, and the dirtiness of some areas just freaks me right out.
I was struck during Michael Moore’s documentary, when standing in an area of Toronto’s supposed ‘slum’ area … he said it looked better then most US cities.
It’s sad. I don’t get it. And like Karen, I don’t really understand the programs and policies of the US either.
Just seems to me that more, for the people, needs to be done.
Blogher ACT is very exciting stuff. It will be fascinating to see the power and potential of this amazing online community of women.
Thanks for sharing the Blogher ACT link! That’s great stuff!
I agree that it’s so sad and pathetic what our country has done to itself. It terrifies me..terrifies..me to think what type of world my children will have when they get older.
I spend so much time frustrated and angry about so much here and feel so helpless sometimes. And lately I have been embarrassed to think what others are thinking about our country. And I feel horrible that I feel that way.
*side note* I am completely against this war also but I 150% support our troops and the families that are struggling during this time.
What Egan said.
A lot of things about our country don’t make sense. Imagine what we could do if we all worked together.
You can see my ass from all the way over there? 🙂
I’m still trying to decided what I want to write about. This is more difficult than I thought it would be.
This is the foundation of my religious belief. I have an odd belief: that there is a God, but God created the earth and heaven, and he/she/it set the rules of earth place in motion and put us on it and then left it up to US to do something about.
We can make it heaven on earth or hell on earth. We can love or hate, nurture or kill. No fault of God’s. Making things nice on earth is hard work. It involves getting our egos out of the way and being kind and helpful, even when we least want to be.
Yes, off our asses. Act. It isn’t hard. Start with what is right in front of us – the people we see every day. And expand ever outward.
This rant reflects a good portion of the reason my Dad moved to Mexico. That, and it’s cheap to live there. He has given up on trying to make any change in the world, and now focuses on enjoying the rest of his life in P.V. I guess it wears on you after beating your head against the wall so often.
Hopefully my head is thicker.
Cheers,
Slipshod
1984
completely off subject here….your little error at the top of the page….it’s gone!!!!
I am Canadian, and I too disagree with the decision to go to war but I fully support the soliders and their families who have been forced to fight a battle that is not theirs no needs fighting.
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