I don't have any outrage to spare...
I have tried to get myself worked up over the recent revelations about our government spying on its own citizens. I really have—I can’t do it though. I am out of outrage. The list of things I am outraged over is long, and I just don’t have any more anger in me to give to this latest in a long list of wrongs any more than a passing shrug.
How can I be outraged over this when I am still outraged over the growing disparity between the haves and the have nots?
How can I be outraged when I am still outraged that the Federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour?
How can I be outraged over domestic spying when 13 percent of the homeless populations in this country are veterans although veterans only make up 7 percent of the population?
How can I be outraged over PRISM when 1.4 million other veterans are at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing?
How can I be outraged over the NSA accessing personal data when wages are not keeping pace with inflation?
How can I be outraged over the government watching everything I do and say when it becomes okay to cut food benefits for millions of Americans?
Don’t get me wrong. I think the domestic spying programs are horribly wrong. I just don’t have any outrage left to give. This is only a partial list of what I am outraged over and does not even touch upon the over 4000 gun related deaths so far this year, nor does it touch upon the rights of women being taken away by the forced birth crowd. I have a friend who works for Planned Parenthood—she no longer tells anyone where she works, as she fears what some people may say or do when they find out who she works for. That outrages me—no one should have to fear what someone may say or do just because of where you work. Once I am done being outraged at the social injustices I see everyday in this country I will give some to domestic spying. Until then, I am going to continue to use my outrage to make the world a better place for those who are less fortunate.