Peeved politics

Did we just post simultaneously? Dude.

I hear what you're saying about eliminating tyranny. I could almost buy the Iraq war when it was put to me in those terms. But I kept thinking of all the tyrants we could eliminate if we were really on a tyranny-hunting trip. Shoot, as far as making the world a better place, I would much rather see us sending troops to Sudan than anywhere. Why aren't we doing anything there? Why do we let the UN take care of genocide while it's happening, whereas we get all gung-ho over a tyrant who might have a nerve gas facility/nuclear program and who committed mass murder years ago (while we were his ally, I might add)?

We might not improve the situation, as you note about Iraq. On the other hand, I think Sudan is a place a whole lot more worthy of our resources.

I am tired of being apolitical. I can't say that I have truly been such in my own mind, but I think I've allowed myself to sink into such apathy that I might as well be apolitical. I keep thinking I'm just one person, what can I do, I have my job and my work to do. My life is stressful enough. But how much goes on because none of us really give a shit? Or even if we give a shit, we don't act on the shit we give a shit about?

And what kind of action can I take? Write my congressman? Well, at least it's something. I've done it before and you usually get a little letter back and an info pack on whatever topic you wrote about. It feels satisfying. But I don't know what it accompishes, in the end. I'm just another voice in the crowd. But maybe if enough people are doing it, it will register somehow in national policy.

Work is such a refuge. The problems of work seem so small compared to those of the world, and when I look at the problems of the world and get agitated I can return to the balm of everyday work. My concerns get lost in the details, and I am paid money for doing the work, which is another nice reward. There's no money in being concerned for the world's problems.

Anyway, I've ranted enough for today. I hope I'm not completely turning you off. I think I may have just depressed myself enough to go back to work.