Sometimes I feel like an old soul, especially during current times. Why? Because while everyone and their mother is worried about Brad and Angelina divorcing, I’m worried about the current issues facing our society. So here’s my question: who the hell cares?
Why do we as a society care more about pop culture than we do about national and global issues that actually affect us? I mean, it’s bad enough that we pay athletes and celebrities way too much to do nothing more than entertain us, but why do we also have to act like our lives revolve around them? Who cares who Taylor Swift is dating? Why does it matter that two celebrities wore the same outfit to the same event? WHO CARES?! Their lives in no way affect me, I get no benefit from them dating or breaking up with someone and I would much rather put forth the effort reading about the latest national news than rot my brain reading senseless dribble focused on some celebrity.
Our country is faced with the decision of having a racist, misogynistic toddler or a flip-flopper who knowingly hides important documents lead us, we have police being sought out and attacked, an entire race fearing for their lives during routine traffic stops, and the world is on the brink of a third, probably more detrimental war. But yeah, let’s all focus on a couple who is divorcing because that is totally the most important thing. There are people out there who refuse to vaccinate their children because they think knowing how to Google makes them a doctor, but yet we focus on what so-and-so’s kid is wearing. Women are facing the possibility of losing even more rights, but we care more about some vapid celebrity’s maybe baby bump.
I’m worried about the state of our country and world, yet a majority of my peers have no idea what I’m talking about when I try to engage them in conversation. It’s not a generation thing either, I have had the same problem with some people who are older than me. I can’t seem to comprehend why so many people want to remain ignorant to the state of affairs we face but yet complain when things don’t go as they plan. Maybe if they read actual news articles instead of trash mags they would see what’s going on and be able to take the initiative to do something. While changing the world will take a lot of work, it’s possible if we stopped being brainwashed by popular culture we could join our voices together and change our own country since we the people hold the power, not our government.
When I think of the future instead of the image of a united world that isn’t fighting and destroying itself, I am instead confronted with the horrifying image of the world in complete disaster, with everyone just blindly staring at their phones while being told what to think and believe. If we don’t wake up, start focusing on the important things instead of the pointless we will be nothing more than sheep following the rest of the flock. We are not animals being led to slaughter, we are human beings who have the power to change the world if only we would remember the important things. This isn’t me asking you all to wake up, this is me screaming in your face. Wake up to what’s important, realize that our country is in danger, along with the world. Put down the trash mag, look up from your phone and take a long hard look at what’s around you. This isn’t a movie or book, there is no chosen one or hero. You want change? You want to be saved? Then get up on your feet, raise your voice and do it yourself.
