My Tirade of the Week
So, in history, we’ve finally reached modern (as in the last 75 years or so) countries and governments. I get the strangest looks from people in my class. We’ll be talking about the methodologies of socialist and communist countries (right now, we’re on South America-Cuba, Castro, Guevara, even Romero, etc.) and I pipe up to defend the ideals behind them. Not the murders, or the disappearances, or the end results, but the reasoning behind why these men became communists, or socialists, or any other traditionally left ideology. All I get is either apathetic stares, looks of shock, or, at best, a few kids who want to agree with me (I know them, and how they think), but don’t because they see the reaction. Is it honestly that bad to think that there is no reason some people should be living in shacks while ten miles down the road there’s somebody living by themselves in a villa? What’s so wrong with, when being asked what I would do with a billion dollars, say “redistribute it?” I can only think that good things can come from treating everybody like a human being instead of having people who have things and people who have nothing. Yet all people say in class is “that doesn’t make sense” or “why would these people continue to work if they got handouts?” That’s the problem. My entire class is made up of people who have everything. The way they separate others as “these people” disgusts me. WE would continue to work because it’s our duty to other people, since it’s the only way we can all meet our needs.
TOO LONG I SKIPPED THE FIRST BIT-READ FROM HERE
How would it feel, going home after a day, knowing that your healthcare is taken care of for your kids and spouse, even though you’re in a marriage that a large portion of America still doesn’t accept? How would it feel, heading to work and knowing that there’s a billion people that are going to benefit from what you’re doing? How about not being ridiculed for your ethnicity, or status, or sexuality? It would all be pretty great, wouldn’t it. The problem is people who are against being equal, who like looking down on others from their spot on the food chain. There’s one girl I know agrees with me. I don’t think there’s any way for her not to, with all those RATM shirts of hers. So, why don’t you speak up? Even if you don’t share our beliefs and practices, respect them. I see why you like being up top, I just don’t think I would like it, climbing to the top of an ever-growing mountain of diamonds, and realizing they’re being made from the people below. This isn’t me going all self-righteous social justice blogger on you, but it’s something I feel I needed to say.
