Dear Middle America,

[reverendpatrick]

Dear Middle America,

I would like to thank you, sincerely, for a number of things.

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for growing and processing much of the food that I eat. I recently started playing around with Google Maps, and looking at satellite photos of this great nation of ours, it became clear to me just how much land is used for farmland. Wow! A lot of you folks out there are growing crops, whether on family farms or corporate farms. I’m sure it’s not the most enjoyable work out there, but so many of you do it day in and day out without complaint. Thank You! And there's meat processing. My understanding is that it is pretty unpleasant work. Well, I eat some meat -not a lot- but certainly enough to extend a hearty Thank You! to the people doing that kind of work.

Thank You! Thank you all very, very much!

It’s true that more and more of our food is imported from other countries, and I do eat my share of it. That doesn’t lessen the significance of the hard work that so many of you in this country do. It’s also true that more and more manufacturing is being moved from this country to other countries. And I can understand the economic reasons for doing this. But for those of you who still work factory jobs so that I can proudly purchase items that are “Made in America” I would like to say, emphatically:

Thank you!

Thank you for your hard work and dedication, thank you for your steadfastness and your willingness to do the kind of work that I would not be willing to do. I wish you all a wonderful life, and I hope that you are enjoying the fruits of your labor. There are many others out there in Middle America who do not engage in farming or manufacturing, and it is not my intention to leave you out. If you are contributing your time and energy to keeping this country so well fed, clothed and housed, and to helping in other ways to ensure that I and my family can be so comfortable in this life, then all I can say to you is:

Thank you!!!



Now, Middle America, there are a couple of things that I would like to be honest with you about. Sometimes it can be very difficult to point out things to a friend that the friend may not be aware of. It can also be difficult when a friend tells you something about yourself that you are not aware of. I do consider you, Middle America, to be my friend, so I say this in the spirit of friendship.

OK, here goes:

My friends, many of you are delving into things that you simply do not understand, and expressing opinions that are non-sensical at best, and dangerous at worst. Much of your “thinking” is contradictory and many of you seem to have what I call an “Upside-Down” view of the world. You are not minding your own business where you should be and you are wreaking havoc in much of the world. And for no good reason, I may add.

There! I’ve gotten that off my chest!

Do you understand what I’m trying to say to you, Middle America? I'd like to use an example of something that really should be very small, but that you have turned into one of the great hot-button issues of the day:

Middle America, I wish you would leave my homosexual friends alone. It is none of your business (or mine) what people choose to do behind closed doors (as long as it harms no-one else) or who people want to spend the rest of their lives with. Stay out of other people’s bedrooms! You should be ashamed of yourselves!

You need to understand that many of the “politicians” who have picked up and run with the “gay marriage” issue are simply demagogues who are inciting and using your negativity for their own purposes of gaining and keeping power. That is NOT how our elected officials should be spending their time! If two people somewhere choose to do something that you do not approve of (as long as it harms no-one else), it really doesn’t affect anything other than your sensibilities. Come on, you can live with that! That’s supposed to be the essence of conservativism. Live and let live and leave me the hell alone! When did you get to be such nosey-bodies?

That example, my friends, is a simple and simplistic one, and should be a no-brainer. For me, it’s not even that I am particularly interested in issues that concern gay people, it’s just sort of a micro-cosmic example of your “Upside-Downism.” You don’t want people getting into your business about things that you may be doing, yet... I think you understand what I’m saying.

My dear, sweet Middle America, there really are much more important issues to be concerned about here, and your “Upside-Down” view of things is getting in the way of solving some of them. And this is not a “Liberal vs. Conservative” problem. This is an American problem. Again, you need to come to terms with the notion that there are many “politicians” out there as well as huge swaths of the mainstream media that are using your “Upside-Downism” as a weapon against you. Why would they do this? Simple: to maximize power and profit. People who are confused and afraid tend to seek some kind relief. Relief that can often be found during a nice trip to the mall! A new dress or power drill or DVD box set can be a wonderful salve to the psyche! And believe me, Corporate America is well aware of that fact! They are well aware that... well... how to put this delicately... that so many of you are just not that smart and they can shower you with a heavy rain of cheap plastic crap that you just don’t need, and you’ll buy it because they pull out all the bells and whistles and tell you how much prettier or more virile you’ll become with this latest googaw and nobody is telling you that it’s all a distraction - smoke and mirrors. I hope I didn’t offend you in that last sentence! Power and profit, at your expense. Keep that in mind, my friends.

And war? Do you REALLY want there to be so much war in the world? I don't think you do, my friends, but war has become the keystone to Corporatism. Next time, I'll tell you how that works.

Middle America, I only have one more quick thing to add, and then I’ll stop. It’s my theory of how your “Upside-Downism” came to be. I’ll just give you the nutshell version, so you can get on with your day. I’m certain this will offend many of you, but I have always felt that when one is offended by something, it’s because it speaks to a kernel of truth. I humbly believe that much of what ails this great nation is due to:

Christianity.

Sorry to throw that little stink-bomb, and this is certainly not meant to start whole Christian-bashing thread. However, there is so much that is contradictory about Christianity and the way it is practiced in this country, that I cannot imagine buying into much of it without ending up a huge psychological mess. You know what I'm talking about. We don't need to get mired in the details here.

Mind you, I believe that Jesus was an exemplary human being and taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. I believe that Christianity led to the sanctity of the individual, and EVERY individual is sacred, not just those who go to your particular church. But tell me, HONESTLY, how can so many of you be so gung-ho for things like war and the death penalty and still say that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? How can you allow your elected officials to say who is or is not a “Good Christian” based on a couple of hot-button issues, and not run them out of town on a rail? Christianity is full of contradictions (as are all of the world’s major and minor religions), and I know plenty of people who understand and deal with those contradictions by using logic and reason. They’re in it for the love and the community and they also live in this modern world. However, Middle America, it really feels like so many of you are dealing with those contradictions by trying to destroy the modern world.

And I’m asking you to stop. Please! For the sake of my children and grandchildren and your own children and grandchildren as well as for all that is still good and right in this world, please stop! Please keep your opinions and fears to yourselves, and let the smart people run things. Please pay attention to how you are being used and abused and realize that in a democracy, the key to participation is being well informed and making mostly rational decisions, not just emotional ones. If you can’t be smart about things please stop participating in the public discourse. You’re mucking things up! Are you aware of that?

OK... enough said... try to have a nice day... and once again,

Thank you!


ReverendPatrick
Church of the 5 Senses
[e-mail]

[porphyrian]

1. Wow, you still have some patience and civility.

I just hate the fuckers.

[Misunderestimator]

2. Wonderful post. If only such reason could work.