I am a senior at IU. Bloomington can be an incredibly lonely and strange place. This year biking as been one of my escapes (classes started yesterday), as I have not many genuine friends here. I still believe I will look back on these years as the best of my life.
Tonight I watched Ron Paul speak on Cspan2. I told several people I know here in Bloomington to watch, but no one was interested. I called my mom even, she watched and gave it some attention, but is still not completely on board. I DO think Ron Paul is a genuine, honest, and fair man who would at the very least take America away from the fascist, rich vs. poor, dumb, and evolving police state it is becoming. It is very devastating to be a part of this transformation.
A few days AMY GOODMAN was arrested!!!
I don't think he is the perfect candidate, but I think he is much better than what the powers that be have put out for the Dems and Repubs. I was greatly moved by his speech tonight, perhaps more than I have been ever moved before by a political speech. I do feel he will not be elected and "what's going to happen will happen" as my grandmother so eloquently added to the issue of the future of the United States of America.
Once one becomes aware of the atrocities and injustice perpetuated by humans against other humans life becomes a world of cognitive dissonance where one must balance doing what they can do to make the world more just and to be more just as an indivdual contrasted with not losing their mind. I think the only honorable thing is to do as much as you can or, lose your mind. Neither of which I have been doing. If you have seen "Gonzo" which depicts Hunter S. Thompson's life you may understand what I mean by losing your mind. I believe Hunter lost his, he was trying to do good. College and middle class America are great ways to not do good and not lose your mind by always being distracted by consumerism, media, and celebrities. I think these are incredibly negative in that situation.
I am making steps to live more locally, frugally, and lovingly, and I hope everyone can share positivity and love, because we are not around too much.
This is poem created by the programme "J and B on the Rox". They started in Bloomington in the 90's created wonderful programming on many compelling aspects of life. Much of their content is available on their website still. As of late their website explains how one of them as een in New Orleans volunteering and helping with the aftermath of Katrina. The note is ended with "Can you remember when J + B was about having fun?"
I think that is a greater call to youth as an idea.
That youth is about learning and having fun. While "maturity" is not.
I bet they would stick by this poem to this day.
You can download and view the video here:
http://www.rox.com/locations/bloomington/
it's at the top right labeled "TO THE GRADUATING CLASS"
TO THE GRADUATING CLASS:
having have had once been much educated i have learned
my parents raised me good
taught me what a good education could do for one's quality of life,
quantity of bread, frequency of good sex; and the like.
Aint nuthin to it.
Post-Literate, that's where I's at.
can't spell for shit, can't finish anything
but sure can plan out the whole campaign
i know how to fix my stereo, but don't.
that's cause i's affected and effected
infused with the hot chocolate morality of the city and the times.
whatcha gonna do when you get out?
Go up to naptown? get a job as a clerk in a lawyers office? as a programmer for the insurers of the car you can't afford, but have to buy?
How bout Silicon Valley? I hear it's real west out there. Or Istanbul, or New orleans. Where do you go after Bloomington, the eternal city.
I've seen so many good heads, good eggs, layed to waste
by the force of decision.
It's over, Chucko.
You can't go home, but you can't just go.
It's over.
Somehow you think that the appeal of the student dime ghetto will wear down and off as you reach predicted maturity.
Maybe ...maybe not.
Cut off the soles of your shoes, climb a tree, and learn to play the flute. Lounge by the shores naked and carefree. Have late breakfasts at the Uptown.
Drink more. Smoke more. Plow Fields.
Peter Pan was right, don't do it. Don't grow up. Don't leave.
You can stay here, deep in the ivory womb.
You can get a job as a painter, or start another paper or something.
Maybe you can get that recording contract and still live out on Smithfield Road.
There's this great flick where the protagonists' mused on the best years of their lives. It was their college days. If you're even halfway happy, this is as good as it's gonna get.
Stay here, don't leave.
You could get a job dishwashing at the spoon. Get back to your writing, buy that old beat up all metal electric guitar and learn a few power chords.
What more do you want for an adequate quality of life? You can live like a monarch here on six lousy bucks an hour.
The secret to surviving is knowing what you don't need, and you need Bloomington. It's in your blood coagulating your motivation as it massages your soul.
YOu know what will happen?
The weekend will come.
And you will finally get a day off.
you'll decide to see a movie.
Cause you've got to do something (got to consume something)
And there will only be two movies worth seeing.
And one will be about the college days
then you will remember what i am saying here
you'll remember how you thought i was crazy
how i was so conservative and infantile
and how those were the best days of your life.
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