Humility, acceptance of constructive criticism, always being open to the possibility of differing perspectives and superior new information- these are critical attributes when defining humanity's intellect. Without them, we'd all cease to learn, or evolve.
Bravado, postured displays of perceived strength, listening only to defend and attack instead of seeking to comprehend without prior judgment- these are man's animalistic attributes we strive to rise above. Irrational defensiveness breeds angry ignorances.
Most of us don't even consciously realize which mental methodology we're employing at any given moment. A general rule, however, is that we learn via watching others, thus tend to react based on how our parents or peers react- creating social normalization.
This American consumerist culture of dog-eat-dog economic desperation twists many of us into constant combatants, normalizing injustices, glorifying successful bullyings, cheering personal successes at the expense of others, personifying Might makes Right.
Worse than the religious infusion of corporate capitalism as a life purpose and goal, economic hardship for the majority creates a deficit in family structures, parenting, emotional stability and mental health. Individual values and worth becomes decimated.
Generations of children increasingly being raised by the constructs and entertainment for ego-pandering, groupthink avoidance and purchasable gratification have eroded the very qualities that facilitate our survival, both individually and of the human race.
Contrary to what some other countries think, we're not bad people; just indoctrinated into a psychopathic self-defeating status quo. Our modern conveniences, various perks and constant distractions keep us too busy to worry about society or even the planet.
But staying asleep at the wheel, each of us doing our part to keep the entire machine going has become "being a good citizen". Legalized bribes, murder, and acting against the will of the public has become commonplace, relying on our continuing mass apathy.
You see, under an economic model where legal and political success is acquired merely by being rich- by whatever means- the Greed is Good theory of capitalism cultivated a ruling class of the most adept con artists, thieves, and duplicitous business lackeys.
Any president before Ronald Reagan would (and some did) say that we currently have no functioning Democracy left. Protections and limits have been broken down to the point that legislation is often written by lobbyists, passed without even being fully read.
There is a growing movement of people across this country who reject living under the for-profit oligarchic dictatorship of non-representative corporate rule. It offends a national and humanitarian history, defending freedom over oppression in any disguise.
Whatever representation we had has been hijacked by private influence. Whatever peace we once fought for has been replaced by constant war. Whatever respect we once had in the world has been tarnished by fear and contempt. Accepting this is our culpability.
To some, becoming Great Again means displaying aggressive behavior. It means becoming the Boss through sheer force of will and a willingness to "get your hands dirty". The divisive American ecosystem has successfully bred a religious cult of Neanderthalism.
The two-headed Business party, whose financiers require infinite quarterly expansions of revenue to keep their jobs, cannot accommodate principle over profit. Our demise is their successful business model; in scenarios such as Standing Rock, quite literally.
Humanity's future- if there is to be one- relies on our ability to voluntarily change priorities based on intellect. We either adapt, or condemn our descendants and species as permanent victims to the lowest common denominator of our own bad character traits.
Our civil servants have been replaced by business lawyers. Scandal and corruption has become so commonplace it is effectively normalized, even when proven true. Ethics and compassion are target-sought buzzwords used by focus groups in orchestrating consent.
At the risk of sounding blasphemous, this isn't Freedom. This isn't sustainable. This Orwellian climate of fear, propaganda, and sponsored nationalism is toxic both within our borders and abroad. It's not just killing our shared environment, but our spirit.
Protocol and order are important, but only when in defense of the people, not when it serves to protect millionaire domestic terrorists and facilitate their agenda. Though it sounds unreal, we factually no longer have a legitimate government in our country.
With record-low party memberships, record-low approval ratings, mishandled and proven internally manipulated elections, banks bailed out at the citizens expense, and Nobel peace prize winners running drone wars and spy programs... it is insanity normalized.
It stops only when we stop letting the unacceptable become routine. It stops when we reject this passive role of lifelong cog in someone else's death machine, and defend the now-empty ideals being framed as "unrealistic", "ridiculous", or "perfectionist".
Doing something bad for decades doesn't become it's own justification unless we allow it to happen. Breaking habits might feel wrong, or uncomfortable, but maturity starts with accepting change when the current way is destructive. That is being responsible.
Today, we've allowed our responsibility to be outsourced to the highest bidder, staying lost in continuous selfish preoccupation. We define ourselves through a cookie-cutter career or economic class, utilizing less and less of our own perspective or awareness.
"I'm not into politics" doesn't absolve one of civic duties. "That's just the way it is" has no logical merit, only proving successfully subjugated indoctrination. "Isn't there someone else?" has been the pass-the-buck excuse allowing pervasive corruption.
With an insulated minority using conquest as a business opportunity running things on our behalf, how long before we become victims not just of the economic terrorism, but from the fallout of other countries rightfully defending themselves against our bombs?
When you cannot trust your leaders, you either replace them, or follow knowing it may very likely mean suffering for their whims. As citizens of America and humanity, it's upon us to restore a balance, with proper transparency, oversight, and accountability.
That's the choice before us. Intellectual shared prosperity and cooperation, or total surrender to the crony cabal driving us all off a cliff to protect military contracts and CEO lifestyles. Health care, or creative extortion. War On Terror or actual peace.
The majority of people on earth just want to live out their lives comfortably. Whilst the resources for that exist, they are reprioritized for private benefit. Mankind's future looks dim when individual greed is increasingly empowered over a public need.
I humbly submit that global connectivity is erasing borders for everyone but those in charge of said borders, rendering obvious the wasteful, contrived, and pointless feud over their petty policies of divisionist power. I say there's better if we try for it.
What separates us from animals, we say, is our capacity for reason, morality, and complex higher learning. Proving these concepts very well may be humanity's Darwinist moment of truth- can we collectively unite in defense of unprofitable intellectual sanity?