2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: The Convenience of Complacence Proclamation
Issue date: 7/3/07 Section: Editorial
We are Americans. And ever since our eponymous scion, Amerigo Vespucci, arrived here at the beginning of the 15th century, we have been plundering this land for all it is worth.
We are Americans; indulging is what we do.
It started when we liberated this sumptuous land from the rugged presence of savage natives. We were steadfast. We colonized and civilized - built churches everywhere. Then we liberated ourselves of those bloody British people who had repressed us for so long. We divided our colonies into states and, trusting in God, we were able to build the first American subway system in Boston in 1897. Two years later, we started to bottle the ever-so-refreshing Coca-Cola.
By the beginning of the 20th century, there were fewer than 150 miles of paved roads in the United States and one in seven homes even had a bathtub. One in 13 households had the luxury of a telephone. This strive for comfort was the ideal America inherited from our forefathers.
But a great value change has occurred in America accompanying the ever-increasing convenience of life throughout the 1900s.
We used to fight wars that we supported patriotically. During World War II, Americans planted Victory Gardens in order to supplement canned food rationing. This way, we could actually support troops on the homefront. It took a concerted day-to-day effort in which people plowed the fields and literally reaped the benefits of manual labor.
When we fought against Germany, we felt passionately about stopping their authoritarian atrocities. We battled Japan with an air of righteous anger. We were patriotic.
Patriotism lives on today, but in a different way. We support our troops differently: the commercialization of red, white and blue kitsch. After the tragedies of September 11, President George Bush simply told the Americans to go shopping in order to fight terrorism on the home front. It's convenient to buy "Support the Troops" stickers for our cars. It's convenient to emblematize our patriotism with T-shirts depicting bald eagles.
Our leaders have even conveniently found us new enemies. Their weapons of mass destruction were obviously abounding, according to our expert intelligence gatherers.
Nowadays, our peers are sent to foreign lands and aren't even privy on the real reasons. In this brand of Fast Food Nation, most people are more complacent, apathetic or even unconscious of our war time status. They find it more convenient this way.
At one point, in this great nation, we confused complacence with convenience.
Perhaps, if we strive harder, we can battle this confusion and other destructive maladies - like our lack of a fully functional and accessible health care system. We always, after all, find a way to fund our wars for freedom.
We have idolized the struggle for freedom: from the revolutionary war unto our constant, current problems. We are Americans, it's what we do.
Happy July 4! Indulge in the freedom. Spread the joy, with hamburgers and fireworks for all.
We are Americans; indulging is what we do.
It started when we liberated this sumptuous land from the rugged presence of savage natives. We were steadfast. We colonized and civilized - built churches everywhere. Then we liberated ourselves of those bloody British people who had repressed us for so long. We divided our colonies into states and, trusting in God, we were able to build the first American subway system in Boston in 1897. Two years later, we started to bottle the ever-so-refreshing Coca-Cola.
By the beginning of the 20th century, there were fewer than 150 miles of paved roads in the United States and one in seven homes even had a bathtub. One in 13 households had the luxury of a telephone. This strive for comfort was the ideal America inherited from our forefathers.
But a great value change has occurred in America accompanying the ever-increasing convenience of life throughout the 1900s.
We used to fight wars that we supported patriotically. During World War II, Americans planted Victory Gardens in order to supplement canned food rationing. This way, we could actually support troops on the homefront. It took a concerted day-to-day effort in which people plowed the fields and literally reaped the benefits of manual labor.
When we fought against Germany, we felt passionately about stopping their authoritarian atrocities. We battled Japan with an air of righteous anger. We were patriotic.
Patriotism lives on today, but in a different way. We support our troops differently: the commercialization of red, white and blue kitsch. After the tragedies of September 11, President George Bush simply told the Americans to go shopping in order to fight terrorism on the home front. It's convenient to buy "Support the Troops" stickers for our cars. It's convenient to emblematize our patriotism with T-shirts depicting bald eagles.
Our leaders have even conveniently found us new enemies. Their weapons of mass destruction were obviously abounding, according to our expert intelligence gatherers.
Nowadays, our peers are sent to foreign lands and aren't even privy on the real reasons. In this brand of Fast Food Nation, most people are more complacent, apathetic or even unconscious of our war time status. They find it more convenient this way.
At one point, in this great nation, we confused complacence with convenience.
Perhaps, if we strive harder, we can battle this confusion and other destructive maladies - like our lack of a fully functional and accessible health care system. We always, after all, find a way to fund our wars for freedom.
We have idolized the struggle for freedom: from the revolutionary war unto our constant, current problems. We are Americans, it's what we do.
Happy July 4! Indulge in the freedom. Spread the joy, with hamburgers and fireworks for all.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Mike Murphy
posted 7/04/07 @ 1:27 AM EST
Right off the bat I would just like to question why the writer's name is not with this editorial as I have to post mine with this. Continuing on...
Given the events with the war that have happened over the past few years, it is very easy (and very popular) to become cynical toward all that us Americans hold dear. (Continued…)
jim
posted 7/04/07 @ 10:17 PM EST
next time write about something important or interesting
sam
posted 7/04/07 @ 10:23 PM EST
i'd like to add that cynical bitching about america using big words in a college paper is not only really cliche but it's also totally gay
Moberg
posted 7/05/07 @ 1:32 PM EST
Ummmm. Usually, the bad editorials are either disjointed, pretentious, or uninteresting. This one managed to be all three.
Congrats.
Gonzo
posted 7/05/07 @ 5:00 PM EST
As if the Northeastern Patriot's editorials are consistently intelligent, well-agrued and original. You clearly found it interesting enough to comment on it. (Continued…)
Christian
posted 7/05/07 @ 5:29 PM EST
Wow, could this editorial be anymore negative of Americans? Pretending that our achievements lie solely on soft drinks and comfort? Are you insane?
Also, nice throwing in the Michael Moore influenced jab at our healthcare system. (Continued…)
Gonzo
posted 7/05/07 @ 7:04 PM EST
"Materialized." I like that. It's dubious whether Americans are stupid or lazy, but they sure are materialized. And let them bask in their materialization! Because if they weren't materialized, heaven forbid, they'd just be collections of unconnected atoms!
(I think you mean materialistic. (Continued…)
Christian
posted 7/05/07 @ 10:15 PM EST
Dude, shut up, I've been up since 5am.... you sound as obnoxious as this editorial.
Cyn
posted 7/10/07 @ 12:00 PM EST
I personally agree with this editorial and the author is absolutely correct. Sure it came off as obnoxious and sarcastic and that was the point, try to read what is underneath the surface. (Continued…)
Spud
posted 7/10/07 @ 12:36 PM EST
From a strictly literary standpoint, sarcasm works best when it's subtle. This was about as subtle as a brick to the face.
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