What do you do? You gaze at your navel and blog about it. :-)

I don’t fight it anymore, but I am equally tired. I get tired of what I read, the injustices and the inadequacies. I do not like that the choices I have in the elections are not what I would even consider to be woefully mediocre. I make my choices, I write my elected officials, and my thoughts seem to never be played out. I try to walk the middle and yet I see a country greatly divided, and not just in politics anymore, but economically. 'I’m right, you’re wrong.' There is no civil discussion. 'I have, you have not.' The gap seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

I spend so much time worrying about whether my children will be productive citizens. Am I making the right choices to provide them with the tools to survive in our country? Am I ensuring they can rise to the occasion in the face of adversity? Am I creating children with a good strong work ethic, yet will not be consumed with work, who will be compassionate to others, yet not get stepped on, can intellectually see what is right without condemning others for their differences, be spiritually sound, yet not fanatical?

It’s tough. But I too am tired. I am emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted and the whirlwind of our chaotic world leaves me despondent at times.

I just can’t go there. So I don’t.

In my case, I simply decided to stop trying to bail out the ship when everyone else is having hose fights and head for the lifeboats. Even got a blog about it: brianboyko.blogspot.com

I think Boudicca encapsulated the struggle, uncertainty, and fatigue very well.

Reality can be oppressive and overwhelming. While we need to be aware of that reality and protect those ideals we hold dear, I find the need to retreat and concentrate on those things over which I have some semblance on control over outcome.

Fight the fight in the grand scheme of things, but carve out and concentrate of what makes you and your life rewarding and enjoyable.

Happiness, as well as those people who are really important to us, can be so fleeting. I would think those things are worth fighting for and holding onto on that very personal level.

Gee, Jack, lighten up. Is is living in France that has made you such a depressive?

I don't see the world the same way you do - at all. I suppose I'm more of an optimist. Perhaps all the European news is so biased that you are getting an unfair picture of President Bush and the US.

I don't think the USA is a bully. On the contrary, I think we are extremely generous to other countries.

I think there are many very good things that happen in our country every single day.

I'm very happy we are not a socialist country. There lies ruin.

Wow, you have been busy.

My political frustration peaked in college. I took it all in, and let it enrage me until I could no longer focus until I either fixed it or let it go.

And I couldn't fix it...

today is the first time i have read this site and this particular entry struck a chore with me, as have the comments (although beth doesn't get it based on her response).

howard zinn's book, a people's history of the united states,is very instructive. his presentation of the history we didn't learn in school helps explain a lot about why thinking, caring persons often feel defeated in the effort to do the right thing and affect positive change.

jack's point about what he sees as obvious but isn't thus for 90% of everyone else it most likely a product of our educational system and other systems that promote the status quo. (if people were truly educated, independent thinkers they would be a threat to the power structure.) i have always felt exactly as jack describes it!
it's like oz, with everyone taking on face value the wizard when i always want to see what's going on behind the curtain!!!

in addition to the education americans don't get, i often think rules are made to keep us just as the power structure wants us. if we follow the rules they are free to break them (just look around....happens at the local level all the way to the international level). the senate right now is all about the rules, each side informing us that rules are only acceptable to members when they are in their favor or terrible when against their side. so we see the hypocrisy of our elected officials....by the way....i watch cspan, uncut, unedited, without commentary, so i can get it all as it happens.

and the minions are urged to take sides so as to further keep us in line. it's "my guy is right no matter what", "your guy is wrong no matter what"; "my values are more valuable than yours"; "my spiritual beliefs deeper and truer than yours". thomas frank's book, what's the matter with kansas, is exactly this bending the people to the will of the power structure. zinn's book touches on this ploy...keeping people arguing among themselves about issues that distract them from the real issues.

as an independent it's tough to find outlets for being heard but i have signed on with moveon.org, truemajority.org and taxpayer.net because with my computer i can register my tiny voice on issues that matter to me through a force more powerful than myself. these organizations have allowed me to sign petitions, send faxes, make phone calls and send email to my particular elected officials in washington as well as other persons of interest on crucial issues as well as keep me informed. while not perfect (is anything?) i do feel like i'm "doing something" by partipating through these organizations (of which i am no more than a single participant). and i would participate in others should i find out about them.

cspan2's weekend programming is 48 hours of nonfiction books. a variety of forums are offered and i often find thinkers that i can relate to and feel they put voice to my concerns.

what's difficult to get around for persons like jack and the posters here is that the debate, the stuggle, the actions undertaken never go beyond a simplistic orbit of issues. and that both controls and narrows the focus of issues.

perhaps the world through time has never been any different than it is now (maybe some better, maybe a lot worst but not different)and what is hoped for by thinkers isn't possible. but within ourselves and what we do has a great an impact as any other force. mother teresa said a person didn't have to go to calcutta to help the poor there to make a difference; look around you and do what you can do right at home. to this end, i volunteer my time for through several venues to make whatever difference i can. it helps ward off feelings of futility, however minor my contributions might make in the larger scheme.

this has become way too long but reading jack and the posters really unlocked these thoughts for me.
i look forward to reading more from jack and those who visit his site. thank you to all.

Jack.........oh, my......
>>

Jack, idealism and having ideals, and a conscience for that matter, has NO age barrier. Consider our founding fathers and mothers.

By the way, I linked with "too alone to continue the fight" and I get your drift. It is obvious they guys do not get it, and neither does the lady in blinders (Beth Donovan). Apparently, its really easy to ignore whats right in front of your face when you aren't looking or don't really want to understand.