penpusher | LJ Idol - Week [10] - Not The Cheap Seats*

One of my favorite quotes from the infinitely quotable, brilliant philosopher/comedian George Carlin is the following:

“When you’re born into this world, you’re given a ticket to the Freak Show. If you’re born in America, you get a front row seat.”

To me, that quote makes three distinctive statements. The first, obviously, is that Americans get to observe a lot of ridiculousness: behaviors that are rooted in privilege, in wealth, in nonsense that could only be done if you don’t have to worry about having potable water to drink, proper food to eat, clean air to breathe, ground to walk on that doesn’t contain land mines. These are your classic #FirstWorldProblems. And wow! The nonsensical stuff happening is simply staggering, though, admittedly, we’re the ones frequently involved, which leads to the second statement.

As front row ticket holders, it’s extremely easy for Americans to get on stage and become a part of the show. I mean, it’s right there! Americans, more than anyone, are noted for their ability to insert themselves into areas where they want to change things to their own benefit or exploit resources for riches, fame and that world renowned “pursuit of happiness.” And there are all sorts of opportunities to get on that stage, from professional athlete to serial killer to reality TV star, from filmmaker to warmonger to racist tweeter.

Really, America is EVERYWHERE. Thanks to our corporations (American Express to Visa), our entertainment (Disney is just the tip of that massive iceberg), our food and drink (just try to find a place on the map that doesn’t have Coca-Cola. Or perhaps you’ll visit the McDonald’s on the Champs Elysées in Paris or the KFC in the Forbidden City), It’s rare to find a place on the planet that hasn’t been touched by US fingerprints.

But the third statement is one I’m not certain our dearly departed Mr. Carlin intended when he made it. That is, if you’re in the front row, you get to ignore the rest of the audience.

Yes, there’s a status to being in the front row. You have the best view and are the closest to the performance. But it also means that everybody else is sitting behind you. And that means, what they do doesn’t matter to you, what you do that might not be to their liking, doesn’t matter to you and what they think of what you are doing doesn’t matter to you.

Not to say that Americans aren’t polite, friendly, caring about your neighbors sort of folk (depending who those neighbors are, of course). But there is this “lack of sensitivity” undercurrent when it comes to it all. The overwhelming tendency is for Americans (most especially Americans who hold power – economic, political, physical) is to think about the circumstance in question and make a decision based solely on if it is of benefit to themselves. If it is detrimental to others, that may or may not be important, depending on whom those “others” are and what those people have that might be exploited in return.

And maybe that’s the most telling part of Carlin’s quote. When you're in front, it’s just so easy to ignore problems that aren’t your own, or force others in weaker positions to bend to what you want, “requesting” them to do more, to simply get what they already earned. And it’s extremely easy for those with that sort of power to abuse it in the ways we are seeing, currently.

In World War II, The United States played a crucial part in helping defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Since then, it’s really been more about the United States offering assistance to gain something back. Whether in Korea or Vietnam, trying to prevent the spread of Communism, or Iran or Iraq, trying to get a lot of oil on the cheap, the decisions to participate were made for the benefit of the USA first and any other help to the people who truly needed it, second. Admittedly, that’s how things typically go domestically, as well.

There is an obvious difference between genuine concern about a situation where people need support and some sort of quid pro quo arrangement made between governments. The most casual observer can discern it. And that’s why the United States, with that history of popcorn throwing, stand up and block the view, stick our gum under the seats, laugh at the people positioned behind you, and talk louder than everybody behaviors in this theater of the world, would likely get: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting our time” as a response from citizens of those nations dealing with the problems we choose to immerse ourselves in.

Meanwhile, the governments of those same weary citizens are still willing to welcome Uncle Sam to their shores, knowing it means power, money and making friends, or at least a deal, with the front row.

I can just imagine George Carlin, nodding knowingly, as he directs the next crop of people to the box office ticket window of the Freak Show.

*This thinkpost was written for LJ Idol using the prompt: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting our time”

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tamaraland.livejournal.com

This was great. I love the popcorn throwing image. I've left meetings with donors feeling covered in the stuff.

It's not just the US though, it's not like the Nordic countries give millions in aid to Africa because they have kind hearts and good economies (they do), but that aid is also in the interest of keeping people there and not in the asylum queue on their own land. Although I think the US and Russia are the biggest offenders in tagging how their "aid" is used.

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Thinking Is Underrated

LJ Idol - Week [10] - Not The Cheap Seats*

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