I want to explore something today, before you think I am nuts I would love it if you would hear me out. And maybe explore some of the ideas with me. I heard snippets of something this morning, it was talking about the doomsday clock. I don't know how many folks are old enough to truly grasp how long we have lived with this shadow always hanging over our heads. The media pulls it out and dusts it off on a fairly regular basis.
Yesterday a friend shared a meme that's been running around for a few days showing a school desk, calling it an old school bomb shelter. I don't know if they still have those drills in school, but man did we used to. Those school desks were full of super powers for those of you that aren't in the know. They could protect you from bombs, tornadoes, hurricanes (just depended on where you lived). Who knew we could be so safe with a small metal and pressed wood desk over our heads, I am truly amazed that we were never encouraged to have one per person in our homes in case of those emergencies.
The headlines on all forms of media always consist of blood, death, gore, things that are designed to instill immense fear and angst. And I am absolutely dumb struck at the fact that we have seamlessly slid from a deadly pandemic (yeah, that's another topic) straight into the beginnings for a world war - at least if you are listening to the media. It was orchestrated beautifully, so seamlessly that most folks have completely forgotten about the hell we have been put through for the past two years. I mean, seriously it was almost to the minute of the two year anniversary. They are now being told to focus on the plight of people in another country - nothing to see here in our country move along...
Is that our attention span?
Or is it to distract us from the rest of the crap? The quickest way to distract people is to have them living in fear. Gas, food, lumber, you name it is soaring in prices. Off the chain inflation, but hey let's look over here at what the boogie man is doing thousands of miles away. Not a single one of us can walk outside and look with our own eyes, so we have absolutely no solid proof that what they are claiming is actually occurring. Don't jump on me about that statement, simply question it, if you have concrete proof (not provided by the media) I would love to see it.
The more I think about it, the more I feel that our government has been working against us for a very, very long time. That we have spent a lifetime being taught to live in constant fear and always looking over our shoulders, waiting for that next shoe to drop.
I remember being a kid and going through all of the nuclear fears. Oh my word were they intense. The movies that showed us the dismal world that would be left. What was it called... oh yeah... "The Day After", was one of them. We were also subject to non-stop showings of "Scared Straight". Did these movies ever do anything to keep someone out of jail? Doubtful. Did the non-stop fear mongering of nuclear war prevent it from happening? Or was it simply to keep us toeing the line. Common sense told you none of the so called world powers were ever going to use the weapons against each other, because world destruction is a little different that world domination. Which is what we were taught all of those countries wanted.
I am not really a fearful person, and I guess a bit of it is because throughout my life I have lived in places that were portrayed as being the epicenter of some of those horrific things. They have never been what portrayed on the media. Most recently with the Ferguson riots, which were portrayed as burning down the entire metro east area, instead of the 6 block or so radius in a small town within the city. I have lived on a military base that had a bomb go off. While it is an experience I will never forget, the portrayal and the reaction were definitely not a true representation. I walked right past the bomb site that very night as I walked to work at Chicken Every Sundae. I sat in a field with my apron on beside a general in a bath-towel that night when they thought they had found more bombs in the very building I was working in. I don't know what was actually in the pillowcases they carried out, but given that a human in non-protective gear removed them... well...
I worked throughout the majority of the "pandemic". I personally know no one that died from it. Sure some got pretty sick. But I also know a lot of folks that got pretty sick from the flu in the past. I'm not saying it wasn't real, remember I was diagnosed with it myself, I'm saying I live in a metro area that is filled with homeless people. I remember a "tent village" being built to protect them so they weren't dropping dead in the streets, I remember the same "tent village" being torn down and removed not a week later. Too many things are glaring contradictions of themselves. I participated in the insanity of signs, non-stop spraying of disinfectants (that I personally am highly opposed to). I participated in keeping children 6 feet apart in camps and classroom settings and not allowing people to do so many things.
Here's the thing, when I was removed from those situations, so was any small bit of induced fear.
I guess because I do have the extreme luxury to choose if I listen to news, people, or... that I am able to sit back and observe. I'm not in the mix of the fear porn any longer. I didn't wear a mask unless forced to and then only if the service was necessary. I'm not focusing on a "war" that might or might not be what is being presented to us. Did anyone notice that Afghanistan has completely left the news cycle? I am guess that they have resolved their lifetimes long battles and everyone is at peace? The refugees are no longer flooding out? The American's have all been rescued? Did I miss that story?
What I am focusing on is what my own country is doing to me. I am focusing on utility bills of all types sky rocketing. Food security is an uneasy thing during times like this. Is it truly supply chain issues or things like the video my son sent me from LA where people are literally stealing everything off the trains and destroying the supplies? And frankly, I find it super concerning that companies and governments are shutting off peoples access to the money when they aren't doing what the "leaders" feel is the right thing to do. Don't you find those kind of things concerning? Doesn't it in the least bit make you feel like you could suffer the same fate?
Did anyone notice the restrictions applied to the woman in Canada that was just released? I was dumb struck. I am not by any stretch an expert on the Canadian constitution, but I do believe it is very similar to ours. By that benchmark, this woman is "free" to live her life as long as she follows a list of things that basically keep her imprisoned. Dictating who she talks to, where she goes, how she spends her money, how she uses social media, etc. It's a damn intimidating list. She was a peaceful protester. At no point did she burn, loot, steal or destroy anything. And she is being forced to live like a prisoner. What about those people that destroyed cities? That murdered people? I am simply in awe. That is just to our northern border, things like that could and are happening in our own country. I find that highly disturbing.
Okay, so my point was not at all to bring people down. To instill my own brand of fear porn. I don't buy into that crap. Sorry. My point is that when we think critically, maybe we see that these things are simply that - fear porn. It's been proven time and time again that fear is the best way to control people.
I am more focused on taking care of what is in my own bubble to control. Of helping my neighbors and being aware of things around me. I remember the years of fear porn of being a military dependent. I grew up walking up on my vehicles looking underneath them for hidden explosives. Some of those things have served me well in my life. Nope, never had a bomb under my car, but did notice that the mechanics forgot to reattach the pan that protects the oil pan on our truck. Simply because of habits.
I am focused on making healthy meals for my family (even the four legged ones), I am working to supplement our grocery list with things that I can grow, gather or prepare at home. I am focusing on being a bit more self sufficient. My veggie towers arrived last night, so I will assemble them and get the soil just right for planting season. I will watch our dollars and if need be look for ways to supplement our income to deal with the all of this inflation. I am looking to support local farmers and sourcing things local to me.
I'm opting out of fear porn. I am choosing to believe what I can see with my own eyes. I am opting into being part of the success and wellness of my tribe of people. I am choosing to keep my mind and my heart free. Does it mean a bit more work, a little more manual labor? Or course, is it worth it? 100% YES!
Okay folks, thanks for letting me clear my head, for reading along as I think through things I am observing. I understand not everyone will agree or even feel I am sane after reading this. I'm okay with that. I am comfortable in my own thoughts and feelings. Finally. For far too long I was not in a position to be able to speak and feel freely. It's freaking liberating I have to tell you!
You be you, I'll be me... I'll still love ya!
Good one! 381+
ReplyDelete