Look Both Ways

I realized something just now as I was finishing a poem on my other blog about the disparity between reality & American dreams: I am so sick of the achievement ideology, and especially of politicians who constantly pay it lip service. It is not just misleading to say that anybody can “make it”–it is wrong, and it is dangerous.

What politicians and dickhead Hollywood producers don’t realize is that for every inspiring speech they recite or feel-good movie they create, somewhere there is an ambitious, starry eyed kid who pisses away his future in pursuit of some grossly unrealistic goal with the thoughtless fervency of a horny animal, and who fairs no better in the real world than a does pubescent puppy crossing a four-lane highway during rush hour in pursuit of the bitch waiting in heat on the other side.

The next time I hear George W. Bush (or any of the douche bags hoping to succeed him) regurgitate the bullshit notion that I “can be anything” if only I “work hard,” I am going to reach through the screen, wrap my hands around his throat, and say “I want to be YOU, motherfucker! What did YOU do to make it to the position you’re in? How hard did YOU work?”

We need to retire the idea that dreams always come true, that successful happiness always follows hard work and sacrifice. This notion is no less fictitious than the image of a rich, handsome millionaire suddenly falling head over heals for a random fat chick.

Those cars out there zooming on the highway, they don’t slow down for puppy dogs. So look both ways before crossing out the humble life.