American
-noun
4. a citizen of the United States of America.
-from the Random House Unabridged Dictionary
In honor of my least favorite time every year, election season (often called by the losers "the beginning of Armageddon"), this week will bring the critical eye of the Version 2.0 machine on the traditional American person. One must note the noun, not the adjective, is the item in question.
1776 is a year that for most who have a basic knowledge of history rings a bell for the sheer sake of the liberty being expressed on the North American continent. Never before had such an idealistic group achieved actuality in such a short amount of time. The American Founders sucessfully created a new nation with a relatively new system of government all within a lifetime. They cared for the rights of man (as long as the "man" was literally a white, Protestant man), and promoted the values of liberty above loyalty to a government. The first version Americans worked hard, fought for what they believed in, regarded themselves nothing in favor of freedom for the many, and above all, valued "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" (with an "i", not a "y"...curses on Mr. Will Smith).
In the 200+ years since the "glorious" Revolution, the American person has changed drastically. The second version barely resembles the first, achieving a near complete overhaul of the "system," save for one trait.
First off, the 2.0 American is inclusive in giving out certain rights rather than exclusive. Heck, nowadays, even crooks, pedophiles, traitors, animals, plants, and other inanimate objects have rights. Also, the 2.0 American still is violently in favor of keeping certain rights. Now, I say "certain" rights, because the majority of Americans have no clue just how many rights we have lost in the past two centuries. A Founding Father would scoff at the current laws regarding youth curfews, bans on books, requirements for dress in public, and other civil rights. Instead, we worry about how a person lives their private lives or other such nonsense.
Secondly, the 2.0 American works half-heartedly (see statistics on workplace productivity) and will not even fight to save their wallet. Long ago, there was a time when crime did not hold hand with psychology. Criminals were disgraced, often persecuted. The American 2.0 has given up the desire to fight for what is good in favor of living a few extra years of the "good life." So, when held up at gunpoint by a person who could never actually get away with murder and theft, that person will give up the wallet rather than say no, and risk it. American 2.0 does not trust the lives of American soldiers to the cause of liberty as 1.0 did. In WWII, very little public discourse against the government was seen, yet starting with Vietnam, the 2.0 feels they know better. The loss of a mere 5,000 lives is troubling to 2.0, and yet the 2.0 cares not for putting on a seatbelt (or helmet) and driving the speed limit.
In spite of all the negativity surrounding the transition from 1.0 to 2.0, one constant has staying power. As has been discussed, the 2.0 cares not for true "Life" or "Liberty," but they sure do love pursuing happyness. Just look around at all the things designed to bring happyness:
"Your Best Life Now", "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", the entire genre of Romantic Comedies, McDonalds (or the BK Lounge if you prefer), Starbucks, Xbox 360, etc.
The list is never ending for things (yes, material things) that are out there to make American 2.0 happy. Is this the happyness that American 1.0 intended?
Are you happy, American 2.0?
Merry Electionmas and Happy New Term!
~ET86
-noun
4. a citizen of the United States of America.
-from the Random House Unabridged Dictionary
In honor of my least favorite time every year, election season (often called by the losers "the beginning of Armageddon"), this week will bring the critical eye of the Version 2.0 machine on the traditional American person. One must note the noun, not the adjective, is the item in question.
1776 is a year that for most who have a basic knowledge of history rings a bell for the sheer sake of the liberty being expressed on the North American continent. Never before had such an idealistic group achieved actuality in such a short amount of time. The American Founders sucessfully created a new nation with a relatively new system of government all within a lifetime. They cared for the rights of man (as long as the "man" was literally a white, Protestant man), and promoted the values of liberty above loyalty to a government. The first version Americans worked hard, fought for what they believed in, regarded themselves nothing in favor of freedom for the many, and above all, valued "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" (with an "i", not a "y"...curses on Mr. Will Smith).
In the 200+ years since the "glorious" Revolution, the American person has changed drastically. The second version barely resembles the first, achieving a near complete overhaul of the "system," save for one trait.
First off, the 2.0 American is inclusive in giving out certain rights rather than exclusive. Heck, nowadays, even crooks, pedophiles, traitors, animals, plants, and other inanimate objects have rights. Also, the 2.0 American still is violently in favor of keeping certain rights. Now, I say "certain" rights, because the majority of Americans have no clue just how many rights we have lost in the past two centuries. A Founding Father would scoff at the current laws regarding youth curfews, bans on books, requirements for dress in public, and other civil rights. Instead, we worry about how a person lives their private lives or other such nonsense.
Secondly, the 2.0 American works half-heartedly (see statistics on workplace productivity) and will not even fight to save their wallet. Long ago, there was a time when crime did not hold hand with psychology. Criminals were disgraced, often persecuted. The American 2.0 has given up the desire to fight for what is good in favor of living a few extra years of the "good life." So, when held up at gunpoint by a person who could never actually get away with murder and theft, that person will give up the wallet rather than say no, and risk it. American 2.0 does not trust the lives of American soldiers to the cause of liberty as 1.0 did. In WWII, very little public discourse against the government was seen, yet starting with Vietnam, the 2.0 feels they know better. The loss of a mere 5,000 lives is troubling to 2.0, and yet the 2.0 cares not for putting on a seatbelt (or helmet) and driving the speed limit.
In spite of all the negativity surrounding the transition from 1.0 to 2.0, one constant has staying power. As has been discussed, the 2.0 cares not for true "Life" or "Liberty," but they sure do love pursuing happyness. Just look around at all the things designed to bring happyness:
"Your Best Life Now", "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", the entire genre of Romantic Comedies, McDonalds (or the BK Lounge if you prefer), Starbucks, Xbox 360, etc.
The list is never ending for things (yes, material things) that are out there to make American 2.0 happy. Is this the happyness that American 1.0 intended?
Are you happy, American 2.0?
Merry Electionmas and Happy New Term!
~ET86
