Cycle of Cynicism

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world". I feel that 97% of America does not live according to the quote. We as Americans want all the change done for us. Taking the step to do something for ourself, to make that change is too much to ask for.

In the beginning of thereading it talked about how we practically feed off of the media. What ever the media tells us we believe. Our society rely on the media to give us the news. We do not take part in trying to find out information on our own. Recent news has been the disaster in Japan. As the article states the cycle of cynicism we sit around saying to ourselves why did this have to happen, what can we do to make it better, but I'm nowhere near the source of the problem so there is nothing really I can do. I know that I am part of the cycle that what can I really do to make a change or help and I knnow that I really need to stop thinking that way because all it takes is some research and there are probably a million ways for me to help out, just never knew about it. It was kind of funny to me; I watch American Idol and before the show started Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Ryan Seacrest all shared how deeply they are remorsed by this event and how to text in to donate money. Ryan had mentioned at the end of the show it would explain how on Thursday night when you texted in you could donate up to $10. My thought was after this reading was how funny is it that that's all we do anymore just ask for a text message and money will be donated and boom bang your done; you have done your contribution to society. Yes, donates do help out in the end but when did we stop asking for a lending hand, for people to come out and physically help the Red Cross put together relief packages. To go along with this I think moving on/forgetting should be added to the cycle of cynicism. Because no matter what the event maybe it will be a hot topic for a couple weeks to a month and then eventually falls off the radar. Yes, there are the people that are still working on the issue but it is no longer a big deal to society. If the media isn't talking about it then it's not important. Another thing I have noticed the commercials to send in money or adopt a starving child do not air as much anymore. It's as if we have excepted the fact that children are straving no need to advertise it, its a known issue.

I had mentioned in my recent Salsa, Soul, and Spirit blog that we as Americans want everything done for us and whoever is in position of power would be held responsible for our demands. So, it was funny to read in this readaing the line saying, "we become angryand blame the people in positions of power for not doing anything to stop it either". As I had mentioned in my other blog that this is so true as soon as something goes wrong or not exactly how we wanted it we deem the person as a bad leader. But, we need to take on some of the responsibility. This is where we fall short in the US because we assume the little things we do have nothing to with what's going on in the world at all. The questions that were asked: whose car creates smog, whose energy causes global warming, whose lack of support for a community group causes it to close its doors and when reading these questions I immediately answered I am to each of the questions. We all need to start waking up and realizing that each and everyone one of us is the problem. As Michael Jackson's song Man in the Mirror, we all need to start with the man/woman in the mirror and ask them to change their ways.