UNCOMMON CENTS 31

THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT TRY MEN'S SOULS." NO, NOT THE MEMORY OF DECEMBER 7TH, 1941 WHEN PEARL HARBOR WAS BOMBED BY THE JAPANESE, BUT RATHER THE PRESENT ASSAULT ON CIVILIZATION WHICH I CAN DESCRIBE BY ANOTHER QUOTE FROM THOMAS PAINE IN 1776 WHEN HE ALSO SAID, "NOTHING CAN REACH THE HEART THAT IS STEELED IN PREJUDICE." I REFER TO THE IRRATIONAL, CURRENT ANTIPATHY FOR TAKING CARE OF ONE’S SELF. INDIVIDUALS HOLD ONTO A DISLIKE FOR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY BY - THE LANGUAGE THEY USE, THE EDUCATION THEY DON’T ACCESS AND THE MONEY THEY SPEND WHICH EXCEEDS THEIR INCOMES.

I NOTICE THAT THE INTERNET PROLIFERATES WITH VIDEOS OF INDIVIDUALS "UNBOXING PRODUCTS." THESE SITES DEMONSTRATE THE POPULARITY OF "VICARIOUS THRILLS." INSTEAD, I WISH THAT SOME PHENOMENOM IN OUR CULTURE WOULD PROMOTE 'UNLOCKING THE BRAIN,' FOSTERING REFLECTIVE THOUGHT. AMERICAN SOCIETY DOES ITS SILLY BEST TO LIQUIFY THE LITTLE GREY CELLS OF BRAINS THAT ABSORB EDUCATION AND THEN DRAIN THEM FROM CRANIUMS BY THE APPEAL OF TRIVIAL PURSUITS. I REMEMBER THAT A SOCIETY IS AS LAX AS ITS LANGUAGE. NOTHING PROVES THIS FACT LIKE WORDS I HEARD FROM A SPORTS COMMENTATOR DIRECTED TO HIS DIEHARD FANS. THE UPCOMING BASKETBALL 'GAME' OFFERED COMPETITION TO "DRAIN THE NET FROM WAY DOWNTOWN." SPORTS JARGON LIKE THIS POPULAR AND UNDERSTOOD, BUT SUCH ‘COLORFUL’ LANGUAGE WOULD NEVER BE USED IN OTHER NON-SPORTING, INTELLECTUAL ENDEAVORS BY BOTH TALL AND SHORT PEOPLE ALIKE OFF THE COURT BECAUSE NO ONE IS FANATICAL ABOUT THEM.

THE CONCEPT OF THE BUSY LIFESTYLE, MANUFACTURED(I BELIEVE) BY THE ELITE AND SOCIAL EXPERTS, LEAVES NO ROOM FOR SILENCE, READING, REFLECTION OR INTELLECTUAL TIME-OUTS. CONTINUAL MOVEMENT AND PERSONAL CONSUMPTION TYPIFY OUR AGE. CAN DECORATORS AFFORD 35,000 LIGHTS FOR A CHRISTMAS HOME DISPLAY? CAN PATRONS AFFORD SEASON TICKETS OR TRIPS TO WATCH A FAVORITE TEAM? CAN AMERICANS AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE BEYOND THEIR MEANS HOPING THAT THIS ONE AND ONLY INVESTMENT WILL PAY OFF IN THE FUTURE?

MY PET PEEVE CONCERNS OVER- INDULGENCE AND UNDER- INTELLECTUALITY. I HOLD THAT WHAT'S LEGAL NEED NOT MIRROR WHAT'S ETHICAL BUT BOTH OUGHT TO BE GROUNDED IN NATURAL LAW, COMMON SENSE AND ECONOMIC SELF-INTEREST. THOMAS PAINE CHAMPIONED ALL THREE TO THE EXTREME; HIS EXTREME BENT EVENTUALLY SIDELINED HIM HERE IN AMERICA.

HINT: BEING SOFT-HEARTED TO THE POINT OF INDULGENCE MEANS BEING HARD-HEARTED TO WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU AND OTHERS.