InaWorldofStarryEyesandQuietLies

IxchelMelinger

It is no measure of good health to be well adjusted to a sick society. -Jiddu Krishnamurti

Krishnamurtiswordshaveneverbeenmorerelevantthantodayinthisunprecedented ageofadvertising.AnordinaryAmericanwillbeexposedtoanaverageof5000adsdaily. Gettingup,eatingbreakfast,walkingtothecar,drivingtoworktheentiretimewithaninvisible solicitorwhisperinginourear.Hetellsuswhattoeat,howtofeel,howtosmell,howtolook,how tospeakif,ofcourse,wewanttobeasuccessfulandhappymemberofsociety.Heisntforcing youtofollowtheseadvertisementsmessagesbutwho,besidesafewzenmasters,can completelyignore5,000adsscreamingatyouonadailybasis,willingorunwilling?Thatlevelof enlightenmentwouldtakeyearstocultivate.Butletsberealisticforaminute.Ifwewereall sittinginashramsforhoursonend,howwouldweevergetalltheChristmasshoppingdone? Jokesaside,thisisnolaughingmatter.Weliveinaconsumeristsociety,asocietythat sellssexanddrugstochildrenandrefusestogivefundingtoaddictionandabusetreatment centers.Asakid,IremembereverySundaymorningIwouldwakeupandinsteadofflippingon thetvforcartoonsmysisterandIwouldreadthepaperwithmydad.Whilehereadthethenews sectionhedpassofthecomicsformyconsumptionwhileElenatookthelifeandarts,butcatty corneredfromGarfieldIwasingestingsomelessovertmessages.JoetheCamelstoodproudly inapilotsuitbrandishingaslysmileandhiseverpresentcigarettehanginglazilybetweenhis lips,behindhimableachblondbabeiswaitinglookingnotatthethreejetsslashingthroughthe cloudsatlighteningspeedbutatthehandsomesonofagunabouttotakeherfortherideofa lifetime.Talkaboutcool.Thisisonlyoneofthemanyexampleswhereareourculture

contradictsourvalues.Wemightsaythatwevalueourhealthandrespecttowardswomen,but thewomeninthatCameladhasaboutthesameworthasthecoolleatherjacketJoewas wearing,andforsomereasonIstillwantedsobadlytobejustlikeher. Theseissuesarenotgoingtogoawayontheirownsoitsabouttimewestart addressingthem.Thatmeanslookingatthedefectsinthesystemweliveininsteadofplacing alltheblameintheindividualwithinthatsystem.Italsomeanseducatingouryouthonmedia literacywithmandatoryclassesintegratedintoourpublicschools.Ifwedonotevolvethe educationsystemwithourevolvingsocietywewillcontinuetoproducegraduatesthatare unequippedtodealwiththecurrentissuesthatwearefacing,andthatswhatgotusintothis messinthefirstplace. Shortsightedness,unfortunately,isoneofourstrongsuitshereinAmericaanditserves usunbelievablybadly.Ithinkonekeychangeweneedtomake,broughtupbyJeanKilbourne andmanyothers,isthenecessityoftakingbackthegovernment.Itsalmostsacrilegetosay anythinginsupportofthegovernmentthesedays(notthattheyvedonemuchtodeserveit) becauseamistrustofthegovernmenthasbecomefashionable.Corporationsprintshoulder bagswithanarchysignsonthemandamericanflagshirtshaveessentiallybecomesatire,but thesecorporationsaretheonescausingtheproblemsthatweblameourgovernmentfor.Imnot sayingitsnotthegovernment'sfault,itispartially.Theyaretheretoprotectusfromtheevilsof theindustrybuthavebeenboughtandsoldtoletbigbusinesswalkalloverourconstitutional rights.Weneedtogetinvolvedandtakebackpublicofficialsfromprivateinvestorsbecausethey aretheonlyonesthatcancontrolthem.Justbecausewevebeenmakingthingswork,doesnt meanthisisthewaythingsshouldbeworking.Afterall,itisnomeasureofgoodhealthtobe welladjustedtoasicksociety.