I have again been rethinking my assuptions; particularly those regarding revolution, and the need for it in America today.

Recent discussions with the individual known here as $mentor[0] have led me back to thinking about whether we have sufficient motivation, or even a real reason to want to revolt against the status quo ("we" being defined as middle class Americans). After all, from our perspective, what is there to object to? None of us are going hungry. Racism, though it has certainly not been eliminated, is far less of a problem in this country than it was a few decades ago. Ditto for women's rights. Gays too. Though the ascendence of George Bush certainly represents a backslide, might it not just be a momentary aberration from a trend that, overall, points in a generally desirable direction?

I'm also thinking about this comment that bouncing made a few months ago. Sure, this country still has its problems, but I don't think anyone with a socially progressive outlook would argue that there haven't been many improvements over the years.

Besides, we're living in an age when we can watch just about any movie, listen to any type of music, write web pages and manifestos out the ying yang, and download porn to our heart's content. For the most part, the government pretty much leaves us alone, so long as we don't cause too much of a disruption. That's a lot more than can be said of most civilizations since the beginning of recorded history.

So why rebel? Why not just go with the flow and enjoy what we have, even if it is about to come to an end? In fact, assuming that "the crash" is right around the corner, doesn't that provide an even stronger argument to live it up now, while we still have the chance? Relish these luxuries as long as we can before they disappear. (If you view them as such -- which I do for many aspects of our culture, such as scifi movies and video games.)

Taking it down to a personal level, I find myself highly conflicted. Despite the fact that I "should" be content in this techno-utopia in which we are surrounded, I find that there is an recurring undercurrent within my soul -- sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker -- that longs for the demise of the current power structure. Call it an apocalyptic wish, perhaps.

In attempting to articulate my positions, I have made arguments against our consumer culture by pointing out the rampant abuses of third world sweatshop labor, the destruction of the environment, and the oppression that the system inflicts upon even the domestic minimum wage service industry.

But after extensive self-examination, I have to eventually admit that these altruistic motives are not sufficient to fully explain my reflexive antipathy for this lifestyle. It can be argued that it might be possible to address all of these shortcomings through policy reform. Whether this is true, or whether the structure of civilization itself is inherently corrupt beyond reprieve, I'm not wholly convinced either way. Both sides of that argument have their merits. But even if reforms could correct the above problems while still maintaining most aspects of our current way of life, I don't think my own sense of gnawing dis-ease would go away. So... There has to be something more behind it, at least for me.

Today, I was looking at the wikipedia entry about May 1968. One of the slogans used by the revolutionaries struck me:

"We don't want a world where the guarantee of not dying of starvation brings the risk of dying of boredom."

Jackpot. Or at least a big piece of the puzzle. Despite all its amenities, American life bores me on some fundamental level.

At this point, if I really wanted to go conspiracy theory crazy, I could speculate that a large part of this dissatisfaction is the product of a long-term psyop propaganda campaign conducted by the system itself for the purpose of... what? Making us all unhappy with it? That doesn't quite seem to fit with Brave New World style brainwashing.

Perhaps I need to go re-read the Days of War chapter that deals with the co-opting of messages.

Or not. I'm not sure where I'm going with this now, because I haven't reached any firm conclusions. Except the following. I typed it down before I began this piece, with the intent of getting there by the end.

Revolution is about finding a more meaningful way to live.

It is through personal revolution that I discover greater understanding.

This, I believe, is the core of the matter. I need to shake things up if for no other reason than to get closer to the truth about the meaning of my own existence. Whenever I have a personal revolution, I can sense a little bit more of the Source. It is a Mystery, in the original sense of the word. I need revolution, if for no other reason but to escape the stench of my own boredom with myself.

Does the rest of the world need it? I'm not knowledgeable enough to know for certain. All I can do is conduct my own life, and at times, it feels like I'm barely able to do even that. When I get it all figured out, I'll be sure to post another entry. Until then...

Vive!