"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality" - The Divine Comedy
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." -"Thoughts on the Cause of Present Discontents, by Edmond Burke
When we look back at the past we see events that highlight the evil of all mankind. Every victoy has a hero and a villian, sadly in our times these characters of war have become ideas. The difference between a caddle prod and "breaking news" is far too narrow...needless to say niether are enjoyable.
In our society we don't have a caste system we obey, we have passions to which we flee to as shelters for our fear. Those who speak against the mainstream become court jesters in the grand scandel of reporting. That which was once neutral in media has become biased, even to describe the outlet before consideration, the smallet example being Jon Stewart's "info" via comcast pinning the show as "an irrereverant skewing of current news".
Sadly we cannot decide to even engage in those with long held virtues, for they have become attached as a shield to those who wish selfishly. Mass religion will grasp unto two or three hooks and fight ferverntly for that which they defend, no matter how many flaws are discovered later. Clinging to scream out faith in a person who claims faith along with them. When the channel to "God's will" is through another person...those who do not agree should rightly fear with an open mind, despite the spear being jabbed at our ribs.
I realalize now that the wheels of progress toil and turn despite concern, time is finite, and ideas are once again a reason for punishment. We have all asked ourselves a question fit for Solomon, "Is it already too late?". To which his forced reply, as any leader to offer peace to his people, is a vacant gaze, huddled shoulders over knees, and defeaning silence.
We have no flag to rally behind, no image to unite unbiased our fears. We forget the universal truth of fear, it has no face...no common unity to which we can point and say "that is the essence of fear for our cause!". Instead we must rally to a cause which seeks to do good, not prevent evil. With all battles upon uneven ground this is true...to be said in simlier terms "Never argue with an idiot. For they will only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."
I even must look upon what I have writen and ask myself "what the fuck is that rhetoric?" Sadly I must see that as the sign that I too am losing the will to fight the latest battle in America's new form of Manifest Destiny.