two really irritating things
Two things that are really irritating are when people say 'I am a citizen of the world, not ________ (insert country that they hold passport in, and are indeed a citizen of--mother of god!)...and when people come back from like a week in Mexico or some shit like that and can only talk about how bad America sucks. Get a life, dudes.
Admittedly when I was around the age of 17, I went thru this after spending time in Ukraine...maybe thats only natural when your eyes are opened so much, but I was a kid fresh out of small town ethics/atmosphere, not a poli-sci major at a state university. I guess I am not being that fair, because some people are not exposed to the outside world at such an early age, but its STILL annoying.
Its just lame to assume the thinking that just because one group of people are without, that they are somehow less selfish,grateful,considerate,etc. than any other group of people put in the same productive environment such as the US, UK or any other Western power. Human nature is going to get what it can then demand more. Always.
People are people everywhere you go. Notice how staying in one place long enough will make your surroundings seem all the same. Just because you cannot understand what the people around you are saying or doing, doesnt make them more noble or more humble.
***********
I took this long tram ride into town today, just to be out in the weather, which is fantastic at the moment; my favourite kind--warm but with a bit of a breeze, Autumn waiting in the wings. I cannot tell you how this feeling always comes on me as I am sitting there with my headphones watching the landscape go by. The music always puts me in a sort of trance where I start seeing all the components as a whole, then they all bleed together; the cars, the bikes, the buildings, the laughter--until they are nothing and then split again...person by person, thing by thing. Everyone is out doing his or her thing with such importance. I look and see all these progressing things which will go thru all the life phases until it reclaims them all, one by one.
The 'IT' of life. I guess thats what I will call it, since death seems to biological and no one can be certain to pin it, the 'afterlife'.
It happened the other day too while I was at the zoo cafeteria. A long table to my left was filled with a group of 5 or so people, all varying in ages. The lady at the end was in comfortable sight and I began noticing her. She was old, very old and sat there like a newborn in her seat--not a part of conversation, not a part of eating, just sitting there. Detached from everything. Reminded me of the Elbow song, 'Newborn'. You'll spend the end days, smiling gently like a newborn..something to that effect. And it is so, really. You leave much like the way you came, if allowed to progress that far in the cycle.
I guess I have been thinking a lot about these things lately. I seem to recap that a lot and have started to conclude that its not that I think about these things 'lately' but really, all the time. So much, in fact, that I should probably consider stopping.
I used to like to sit around with interesting people and philosophize, but now it generally makes me sad and downtrodden because opinions are always the only outcome. And those are like assholes. Everyone's got 'em.
I need to write a story soon. Or something. Music ain't happening---I listened to my disc from Nashville today and its really bad. No, really really bad. I still like Phoenix and I like Write it on a wall, when I play it by myself, for myself.
I bought three journals with the hopes of filling them, but perhaps I have grown tired of expecting to fill them with nothing but my commonplace situations and attempts to sort things out. Most of my books have been filled with meaningless problems, stuff so insignificant to me now...
Which brings me to something else, only because I mentioned the music. I can play for anyone, no problem. On the street, in a cafe, bar, with strangers at a party. But I have the hardest time playing for people I know and value the opinions of. Maybe thats because I am searching for validation in their eyes or something like that. Mark Twain said he could live months off a good compliment. Maybe we're all that way in some way or another.
Well. Enough for tonight, anyhow.
"Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself?
When you're old enough to repay but young enough to sell..."
~Neil Young
Admittedly when I was around the age of 17, I went thru this after spending time in Ukraine...maybe thats only natural when your eyes are opened so much, but I was a kid fresh out of small town ethics/atmosphere, not a poli-sci major at a state university. I guess I am not being that fair, because some people are not exposed to the outside world at such an early age, but its STILL annoying.
Its just lame to assume the thinking that just because one group of people are without, that they are somehow less selfish,grateful,considerate,etc. than any other group of people put in the same productive environment such as the US, UK or any other Western power. Human nature is going to get what it can then demand more. Always.
People are people everywhere you go. Notice how staying in one place long enough will make your surroundings seem all the same. Just because you cannot understand what the people around you are saying or doing, doesnt make them more noble or more humble.
***********
I took this long tram ride into town today, just to be out in the weather, which is fantastic at the moment; my favourite kind--warm but with a bit of a breeze, Autumn waiting in the wings. I cannot tell you how this feeling always comes on me as I am sitting there with my headphones watching the landscape go by. The music always puts me in a sort of trance where I start seeing all the components as a whole, then they all bleed together; the cars, the bikes, the buildings, the laughter--until they are nothing and then split again...person by person, thing by thing. Everyone is out doing his or her thing with such importance. I look and see all these progressing things which will go thru all the life phases until it reclaims them all, one by one.
The 'IT' of life. I guess thats what I will call it, since death seems to biological and no one can be certain to pin it, the 'afterlife'.
It happened the other day too while I was at the zoo cafeteria. A long table to my left was filled with a group of 5 or so people, all varying in ages. The lady at the end was in comfortable sight and I began noticing her. She was old, very old and sat there like a newborn in her seat--not a part of conversation, not a part of eating, just sitting there. Detached from everything. Reminded me of the Elbow song, 'Newborn'. You'll spend the end days, smiling gently like a newborn..something to that effect. And it is so, really. You leave much like the way you came, if allowed to progress that far in the cycle.
I guess I have been thinking a lot about these things lately. I seem to recap that a lot and have started to conclude that its not that I think about these things 'lately' but really, all the time. So much, in fact, that I should probably consider stopping.
I used to like to sit around with interesting people and philosophize, but now it generally makes me sad and downtrodden because opinions are always the only outcome. And those are like assholes. Everyone's got 'em.
I need to write a story soon. Or something. Music ain't happening---I listened to my disc from Nashville today and its really bad. No, really really bad. I still like Phoenix and I like Write it on a wall, when I play it by myself, for myself.
I bought three journals with the hopes of filling them, but perhaps I have grown tired of expecting to fill them with nothing but my commonplace situations and attempts to sort things out. Most of my books have been filled with meaningless problems, stuff so insignificant to me now...
Which brings me to something else, only because I mentioned the music. I can play for anyone, no problem. On the street, in a cafe, bar, with strangers at a party. But I have the hardest time playing for people I know and value the opinions of. Maybe thats because I am searching for validation in their eyes or something like that. Mark Twain said he could live months off a good compliment. Maybe we're all that way in some way or another.
Well. Enough for tonight, anyhow.
"Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself?
When you're old enough to repay but young enough to sell..."
~Neil Young