I’m frazzled, still clinging to the blur of spring break. But my stupor comes from long discussions with friends and family that stressed my noggin so much that I felt the inebriation of a dozen Cancun revelers.
It’s this damn war thing. It makes me pause and think about the beliefs that govern my existence — and that’s hard thinking. I’m not so happy with the things I found: I am consumed by consuming, and I am generally more entertained than informed. Example: When the Emerald staff watched President Bush’s deadline for Saddam Hussein’s exile approach, I complained about not being able to play our advance copy of the new Zelda on the same television.
Am I going to change? Not in any fundamental ways. But the need to act has finally caught up with me. The question is: How? I can’t take a stand because I have spent my time focusing on the Oscars and not Saddam-a-rama. So I need the info.
TV news doesn’t help much in that department. It’s just more entertainment. The ceaseless spew can report things as they happen — which is good — but most of the time is filled with babbling, speculation and repetition.
The paradox is needing many sources to cover news and not being able to process all the information generated by these sources. The super-saturation of information makes my head spin — and ultimately, shut down.
The pervasive sense that there is more than I will ever be able to take in leaves me feeling helpless — a sentiment I assume many share. What can I, just one guy in Eugene, do? So I am helpless, but I still have the need to contribute something. This is why the Oscars made the superficial, almost insulting, gesture of removing the red carpet and why I’m writing this rambling column. These small gestures seem absurd when compared to the enormous scope of the war, but it’s all we can do.
I have too many questions and no answers. This war is bigger than just getting the bad guy. The statement issued by Hussein on Tuesday calling on Muslims to wage holy war against the United States cements the weight our actions carry. Holy war?!? Holy crap!
In a San Francisco Chronicle column Tuesday, Tom Plate wrote that although American intervention to remove Hussein is not an act against Islam, some Muslims may see it that way. There are core differences between Muslim and Christian (which I consider to be the dominant religion in America) religious beliefs — not that I fully understand them. But knowing that we are potentially condemning a people’s way of life makes me wonder when they are going to decide to blow up the imperialist infidels regardless of the consequences.
We are a proud nation — proud of our power and freedom. The idea of abandoning this pride is unthinkable. How then do we expect the Iraqi people to abandon their pride? We can subdue pride with power, but we can’t crush it.
I wish we were not in a war that I have nothing to do with. I am afraid of people being dehumanized because they are members of a country or a religion. I’m afraid of people who believe in things so much that they abandon reason. I’m afraid that nothing good will come of this war.
I have a lot more thinking to do and I hope others are taking the same opportunity. I’m up for a good discussion anytime.
But for now, I’m going to play Zelda.
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His views do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald.