A peaceful rant, if you will

So, amnesty is back, but for what?? So that liberals and conservatives have another thing unrelated to peace or resolution to fight over? For the conservatives to be right about how little liberals care about the protection of this country? Or so that our government can keep tabs on every person they possibly can by making them an American citizen? Conspiracy theories and babble aside, what happened to each individual being responsible for their own actions? And by that, I mean not grouping entire populations into stereotypes and judging them accordingly. I am tired of the anarchist political groups creating their own mini-governments. Umm, doesn't that defeat the purpose? I am tired of so-called Republicans pushing big government through "moral reforms." And I am even tired of Democrats who say they are Democrats because they care about the little man but are really just wherever they are to push their own self-gratifying agenda. Everyone lives in their own Hollywood. Wanting to be the star. Wanting someone to tell them how good they are at something.

Project Red gets bashed because it's a campaign to raise money that is spending millions to get its point across. Similarly, the Live Aid concert series to raise awareness for global warming has been beaten down to the fact that yes, the airplanes flying the artists across the globe to participate in these concerts will, surprise, be flying on planes and again, surprise, contributing to global warming. At the least we could be appreciative that these men are actually using their pull to make something good happen. And these men realize that to capitalize on the economic wealth of Americans and actually get support they must give them a show. However much I agree or disagree with these men, I do think they care and they are trying.

Does bitching about it help anyone or does it just help people to feel better about themselves?

"Yep, I sure am right because just look at those dumb liberals wasting all that money." All that money that could be going to what? The war. Yes, let's kill more innocent people please. "But we are stopping those terrorists and they kill people too!"

Umm, yes, yes they are. But only because the American attitude exists in the first place.

It's sad. I would unabashedly like to bash those campaigns as well. However, Bono's and Gore's mindset is right on. The only way to grab the American public's attention is through flashy lights and big money marketing. More people know who Taylor Hicks is than their U.S. representative or senator. Is that because Taylor Hicks has done anything that goes beyond the mundane into the worthwhile? Absolutely not.

I am not angry, nor am I playing nice. I am merely trying to implore people to look at the big picture of what is happening directed by the country we live in. As Americans we are lucky. We can vocalize our protests and show our distaste. But even more than that we have the opportunity to do something. We have the opportunity to help change a mindset by first changing our own. Then we can move to helping a neighbor, understanding a different culture, supporting a cause. Let our understanding trickle down. Then let that understanding turn into love. Hate for hate does not equal love. I love what Michael Franti says "The war on terror is a war on peace."

Are people really angry because somewhere someone might have been imposing on a luxury they thought they should have without that other person even knowing it? Because those "imposers" if you will, are just living their lives, not trying to steal but trying to be equal. And, they are. That this has to be a realization to even one person is beyond comprehension.

Look around you, what are you mad about? Will it matter in the end?