Are We Suffering Enough, Fools?

Are We Suffering Enough Fools?

America speaks and debates through mass media—but it’s a shouting match.  John Stewart and Bill O’Reilly gust their speech on the Internet and television loudly. But do we Americans really want all their noise? We should want it. The wings of America’s eagle, the national bird, flap with mass media real news network access and privilege. 

Those wings sounds like flapping gums behind megaphones, calling out corporation privilege.  The town crier?  No, the country cries in the public, for justice, and a redress of grievances to its government (Bill of Rights, Amendment 1).

I think mass media’s free speech and the public outcry are the last of the American  exports.  Forget about making some other country safe for democracy.  F*&k that. Let those overseas hear how we soar in our speech, in our words.  Let them hear us flap.  Let them decide for themselves if they want free speech “amid the noise and haste” (Desiderata) of their own cultures, their own homes, their own heads.

Instead, we need to make sure we make America safe for democracy.  Lest we forget that free speech bears responsibility on the speaker, and grievances demand response from the governing.  You don’t like O’Reilly?  Me neither.  You like Stewart? Me too. But I’m glad O’Reilly’s around. I’m glad his right to shout on the airwaves equals our rights to holler in the town square, or on the streets of New York’s financial districts.

Maybe we aren’t suffering enough, enough to let our cries be heard; or maybe Carlin was right when he said that Americans are too fat and happy. We have cell phones that will make us pancakes and rub our balls (It’s Bad for Ya).  Sure, I’m willing to bitch at my phone company for charging me for an extra 20 bucks when I shouldn’t have to pay it; but am I bitching enough about paying taxes while not having universal health care?  We with voices speak for those without voices, whether we like it, or not.  When we speak, do we really express our grief and grievances for others, for the inadequacies of our government? Not usually.  But Stewart and O’Reilly do.  Maybe once we cop to our own struggles, or count our blessings and achievements, or look to help others with their trials, then we could avail ourselves the true power the First Amendment grants us: the power to keep America safe for democracy.