Why Do Americans Take It in the Face?

[Karmadillo]

Waiting for our oligarchically chosen leaders to save us sure doesn't seem to be working.

http://www.counterpunch.org/mokhiber01272011.html

With Arab Despots on the Run, America Remains Hypnotized
Why Do Americans Take It in the Face?
By RUSSELL MOKHIBER

All throughout the Arab world, the despots are on the run.

Fueled by Facebook and Twitter, the Arab street is aflame.

In the United States, instead of fueling the resistance, social media is like a hypnotic drug.

A young Arab in Tunisia gets slapped around – the story goes – by a police officer.

He lights himself on fire.

And the whole Arab world is engaged.

Here in the United States, we get slapped around daily by the corporate elite.

And we take it sitting down in front of our computers.

Case in point.

more...

[villager]

1. Complacent, bovine acceptance in the "land of the free..."

That, and we get just enough calories nto remain in front of our screens.

so far.

[maxsolomon]

2. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.

Americans are simply trying to win the class war by responding to corporate depredations with love (:sarcasm:). Islam probably does not have this tradition.

[HughBeaumont]

3. We live in deathly fear of arrest, joblessness and homelessness.

All three means no health care.

All three means no stuff.

All three means no more progress for you.

An American's success in life depends almost entirely on how gainfully they're employed.

[Codeine]

4. Because in comparative terms we live in paradise.

Seriously, half of the population of Egypt lives on less than $2 a day. You're comparing apples and tractor trailers.

[Heidi]

5. Where would you suggest we take it?

All orifices were violated (and are still raw and stinging in many cases) for many more than eight years. If we're gonna take it (and I'm not suggesting that taking it is the correct course of action), we'v gotta take it somewhere.

[Silent3]

6. To be fair...

...the citizens of Arab countries have put up with a lot worse than we deal with in the US before getting to the point they're at.

Then there's the scary part that some of the people who are protesting don't want more freedom for everyone, some of them just want different oppressors running the show.

That said, it would be nice if we'd fight back more against oligarchy and plutocracy in the US without things getting as bad as they are in Egypt or Tunisia first.

[jberryhill]

17. "some of them just want different oppressors running the show"

e.g. Iran

That was a fun popular revolution they had going there for a little while, too.

[Newest Reality]

7. We could take ourselves out!

The myopic vision that goes along with the traditions of the Status Quo and the preservation of said is not made out of concrete blinders.

With some options and the flexibility to exercise them, or even experiment, necessary change would be more practical, viable and desirable.

However, the system we are in creates and supports itself while convincing us that going along with it will always be, somehow, some way, in our best interests for survival. That's why we hear comparisons of how good we have it compared to other countries -- it's a maternal approach that encourages complacency.

In the reality tunnel we collectively are enveloped in, how often are you exposed to really new and fresh ideas about ways of life and ways to live that transcend or diverge from the profit-motivated, corporate paradigm that enshrouds the planet now? Really, considering all the innovation, creativity and adaptability that our species is capable of, doesn't the dearth of options and potentials, even just for consideration, in the mainstream concern you a bit? Is that poverty of ways to transition and transform what is left of our life ground, (survival) potential intentional or just happenstance?

[jaxx]

8. What do you suggest?

And where is there any comparison?

[cali]

9. are you suggesting violent riots? To overthrow the gov't? The corporations?

What exactly do you suggest?

[Karmadillo]

12. You should read the OP. While you may think violence is the only path,

there are other ways of bringing down an oligarchy.

[damntexdem]

10. Hey, we don't take it in the face internationally.

No, we already lost that internationally. ;-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Cause Muricans still have too much to lose

in Egypt this been building for thirty years or so. In the US... we are truly into year ten, when it is obvious that is.

[Codeine]

13. I thought this was another porn thread.

:evilgrin:

[Blue-Jay]

14. heh heh. Me too.

[LostInAnomie]

18. +80085

I was about to post something similar. I just couldn't think of anything that wouldn't get deleted.

[mmonk]

15. Because we're tired of taking it other places.

[Fire1]

21. Exactly! LOL!! n/t

[treestar]

16. We don't have the situation those countries have

People there would give anything to come here, have a country like ours, and in fact aren't they getting closer by overthrowing the despots?

Our leaders are chosen by election.

This is like the rich guy feeling sorry for himself.

[Codeine]

20. I love it when people compare the US to the Third World.

Demonstrates that they've never spent any time in a Third World economy.

[treestar]

22. Right and how much does it take, does one even have to spend time there -

to get enough education to realize how absurd it is to claim we might be oppressed anywhere near as much as those in third world countries.

[Codeine]

19. I'm not sure going from standard dictatorship to Islamist dictatorship

is anything to start applauding about, really.

[Ghost in the Machine]

23. Because our asses are getting sore??

Time for a switch-up!