Not My Fault

I used to think that I was just apathetic, but I don’t think that is really the case. Rather, now I think that I am just very pessimistic. I recent elections have made me change my mind. There was a big shift in power with the Democrats taking the House, which they haven’t had since ’94, and taking the Senate, even though it is with only 1 seat. I thought I was apathetic because I didn’t really care which party controlled which part of government. But it wasn’t so much that I didn’t care, it is more that I think it doesn’t really matter whether the Democrats or Republicans are in power since neither party is really all that different. Sure, there are a few things that the Democrats might do that would be beneficial, mainly getting a higher minimum wage enacted and not renewing the tax cuts, but on the other hand the Republicans are so entertaining when in power. So, I was pretty indifferent as to which got power, and still am. But I’m not apathetic because I do care about the direction and this country and this world, so to say it better, I am just indifferent between Democrats and Republicans. And in my hearts of hearts I would probably say that I prefer the Republicans since their entertainment value would out way any meager changes the Democrats might get through.

So, I learned today that my inability to talk about my feelings or what I am thinking, etc. isn’t actually my fault. According to my sister I have inherited that “Damn ‘Dykeman man' gene" that prevents me from doing so. Thus I am simply a product of my genes and if anyone is to blame it is evolution, and not me.

I enjoy Marx. No, I’m not really a Marxist, partly because I’m not sure what all that entails, nor am I a communist…at least I don’t think I am, but I do like many of his ideas. Although I will admit I don’t really enjoy reading him, since he isn’t an easy author to read or follow. I think it is a shame how he has gotten such a bad name because of the Soviet Union and other such “experiments”. The most frustrating part is that Marx would have been totally opposed to the way those countries tried Communism. But, since he is tied to that word he is thrown out along with the Soviet Union as simply being evil and or stupid. As such he is rarely taught or learned about, even though much could be learned from him. And when he is taught generally his ideas are misrepresented. For example most have heard his quote, “religion is the opiate of the people (or masses).” While he did write that phrase, the rest of the quote is left out, and the reason for him saying that (which is partly explained by the rest of the quote) is never told. So people are just left to conclude that he had a very low opinion of religious people and indeed thought all such people were just drug users. I won’t go into the full reasoning behind such a quote, but I’ll just leave you with the full quote, “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, the soul of soulless conditions, it is the opium of the people.”