Revolution

In Egypt social networking is being used as a conduit for revolution. In America social networking is trivial and self promotional. Revolutionary action in wealthy countries is unlikely. As long as basic needs are fulfilled the citizenry will remain passive. Freedom, it seems is a basic need. In Egypt twitter "Mubark, leave! Meet in Tahrir square" and a million people show up. In America you might draw a crowd with a tweet offering "Free Money".

I've witnessed revolution in my lifetime, seen the dogs, truncheons and fire hoses and brave men and women willing to die for freedom. On the streets of Birmingham, Selma, Watts and Kent State in anger and in peace.

The reason the original patriots were armed to the hilt was our history of fear of a slave insurrection and we were fierce in our insistence that the English go away. Later the constitution provided for an armed militia (2nd ammendment) for the same reason and we were ready when the Brits tried us again in 1812. Today our fears are less specific but we hold our weapons dear and murder in the ghetto is o.k. as long as it does not visit our manicured lawns and comfortable lives..

You'd think 10% unemployment would be volatile in the long term but Americans seem content to sit on the sidelines at half pay as long as unemployment benefits are uninterputed and ongoing. The best we can muster is the whining of a 'Tea Party' of dumbed down patriots. There's plenty to be mad about but a nation desirous of wealth and material things cannot focus on the problamatic beyond the next gratification.

Civil rights happened, a bad war ended and Nixon flashed the peace sign and exited our lives forever. Young people did these things and they do these things today, far away. Hooray!