Week 11: The End of "Toxic Sludge" & The Search for the "Good" in America

Chapter 12 "Toxic Sludge":

In the opening for this final chapter, in a book which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend, is a poignant statement of fact as to the devices of PR and its development in America. As I have read I reached a plateau of emotions, having ridden the wave from fear, to sadness, to hopeless, to numb, and I can honestly say that my final feeling is hopeful having read the final chapter. It is important to understand that in order to create change, even in its simplest forms, first one must know the truth. The fact that it shocks you, or makes you sick, is a sign that you need to step up and make something happen. For me, the story of Lynn Tylczak and her minor league defense against corporate PR being a success, is a major victory for the little guy, and in all seriousness we are all the little guy. Anyone can make something happen, its ideas, and emotion, and anger, and perseverance that builds momentum for any cause, and that all it takes is a spark, that first truth.

Now I didn't really want to sit down and detail my perfect world, because I felt like I had come so far in working away from feeling beaten, and that visualizing my Utopia would only drag me down (in that it would be so far from reality). But when you think about it, for me at least, my Utopia is a conscious America, one that knows the facts, can decipher the propaganda from the reality, and stand to make things of the highest quality for everyone. I guess I just wish everyone read this book, and "Feed", and Bill Mckibbens work, and David McCullough, people working in the system to feed the truth to whoever will listen. I'm hopeful, and not afraid.

Observing Two Sides of America:

Lone Rock Point: I sat at Lone Rock Point as I have many times before, my legs dangling over the edge of one particularly steep drop, and as sat there I realized that to me the importance of the natural world is clarity. To be out in nature, the air, the water, the growth, both its destructive power and its creation of new life, I don't feel separated, but connected. Nature isn't trying to sell you something, and I'm not trying to be simple about it, but really nature doesn't ask anything of you, it exists on a plane unlike that of humanity, because it doesn't need us, but it still struggles to coexist. I think that for me nature is about clarity, honesty, the order of things, and finally it's about knowing who you are, and you are of nature; Humanity is imbibed with all that that nature is, all the good, a history of great successes, and to realize that you must give yourself up to the natural world even if its for 30 minutes.

Televised America: So I spent 30 minutes in front of the television, knowing full well I would be experiencing a variety of flashes and colors, catch-phrases and sales pitches, and a slice of how corporate America sees the American people. I chose not to flip channels, imagining the experience would be disorienting enough, and as I watched I focused on the manner in which, we the American people are perceived on television, how we are represented. And from what I gathered the American is oversexed, unintelligent, loud, vulgar, forceful, and egotistical. Not melodious, beautiful, sensitive or creative, understanding or intelligent, but rather senseless "boobs," but then again that's why its called the "boob-tube." I'm glad I don't have to do this experiment everyday.