Looking For Logic Where None Exists

Lately I have been having trouble with the world. Ok, not lately, but it has stuck in my head a lot recently. I keep trying to find something that makes sense, and keep running into brick walls. Logic has gone out the window, thrown there by stupidity and nonsense. Somewhere we confused too many things, lost our focus on the important items and got too wrapped up in the mundane. Perhaps it has always been this way, and it is merely my perception that is off. If that’s the case, then I’m off to become Jeremiah Johnson, since that seems much simpler and makes more sense. Well, except for the part where he fights with the Native Americans, I can do without that part. But things seem to not make sense anymore. Take a look and see if you agree, or if you think I am nuts.

Why do we obsessively vote for who will win a recording contract and become a TV pitchperson, but could care less in voting for a person who could hold our collective destiny in his or her hands?

Why do some intelligent, rational, caring and responsible people find it difficult to impossible to have children, while someone like Kevin Federline has four?

Why do we lionize and reward those who have athletic prowess, and not those who put their lives in harm’s way for our protection and well being? And on that vein, when did we begin to misuse the word hero, and give that label to the wrong people while taking it away from those who deserve it?

Why do we charge extra in cars, homes and products for the privilege of safety, yet these are things that could benefit everyone? Home security costs are out of reach for most people, yet many live in areas where they need it. Cars with advanced safety features that could save many lives are priced so high, most people cannot afford to purchase these automobiles to keep themselves safe. Why is this ok?

Why do five graduating high school women perish in a senseless car accident, before they ever have a chance to make their mark on the world and add their light to the collective flame, yet someone like Ann Coulter continues to infect the world with hate and vitriol on a daily basis just to sell books and advertising time?

How come we mindlessly obsess on the daily minutiae of the lives of people far less interesting than ourselves, but far more rich and famous, to the point where we ignore the ability and opportunity to live our own lives?

Why are people willing to demean themselves and sacrifice their self respect and dignity just to appear before millions of people for the chance at 15 minutes of fleeting fame or a briefcase full of money?

How can some justify living the good life, when there are millions who barely have enough for a miserable life?

When did we confuse business acumen, fortune and fame with being a successful human being?

How can people justify some of the horrible things they do to others, just to keep their money, power and or fame?

When did “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” get replaced with “I feel your pain” and “Mission accomplished”? And why do we find these replacements acceptable?

When did the idea of getting involved and helping become merely writing a check, marking off the deduction and moving on?

Why are the antics and lives of vapid wastes of space like Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan endlessly debated, discussed, reported on and given countless hours of media coverage, yet no one talks about real problems like the continued tragedies of New Orleans or Darfur?

Why are some still willing to listen to, and take advice from, someone like Rush Limbaugh, who has proven himself a hypocrite? How can people trust a man who cannot, or will not, stand behind his own words?

Why do we look for role models in those that play games or pretend to be other people for a living, instead of those who take the responsibility to try to mold our young into becoming all they can be?

Or better yet, why do we not look to ourselves to become role models for others any longer?

Mind you, I know life is not fair. Almost everyone will agree and attest to that. This is not about fairness; it is about finding something that makes some sense. We seem to have lost our way on the important things, and have become distracted by the nonsensical much like a small child with a new toy. But much like that child, we eventually become bored, and look for a new toy. And it seems as though there is always someone waiting to provide that new toy, that new distraction, that new nonsensical item to keep us focused on, instead of looking to improve ourselves and our lives. And we are more than willing to stay distracted, and becoming ever more so.

These things are only symptoms of the larger problem, which is us. If we did not focus on them, they would not exist. We allow them to continue as they are, unabated and unchallenged. I know life can be difficult and straining, and having a release or two helps. I also know when we feel down about things, a little schadenfreude can go a long way. But when the releases, distractions and schadenfreude become the focus of our lives instead of living life instead of merely existing and working to make ourselves, our communities, our loved ones and our world better, then maybe we need to step back and begin to reevaluate things, and make some changes.

Perhaps I am nuts and these things do not make sense only to me. Perhaps I need to adjust my antenna and get a better picture. Or maybe I do need to live in the wilderness in peace and quiet, away from the insanity. Of course knowing how things seem to work, eventually I would be labeled a crazy loner and have ATF agents paying me a visit. And if that happened, in our world it would oddly make sense.