Oh, sure, we care in the abstract. We care in polite conversation. But unless an issue personally impacts us in some way, we don't care.
As I've read through the diaries out there today, I was once again struck by the number of times the same question, both directly and implied, was asked: How much more will it take, what further evidence is required, before PEOPLE WAKE UP to what is happening to America?
Oh, oh, oh!!!! I can answer that!! Pick me, pick me!!
Americans will "wake up" when - and only when - the issues of the day, either singly or collectively, impact them personally.
And not one minute before.
I grew up in coal mine country, and there is a story I heard growing up about a famous - or maybe infamous - local wealthy business man who supported the coal miner's unions back 30 or 40 years ago. It seems the rich man owned a bottling plant, and his workers up and walked out of the plant one day, in support of local coal miners, who were on strike.
This so infuriated the man, that he spent large sums of money in support of the coal miners, and he is credited with bringing the strike to a favorable close for the miners. The funny thing was, before the strike, he told the local paper he had no opinion about it one way or the other - that it simply didn't affect him.
When he was asked why he got involved on the miner's side, he said, "Because their strike was hurting the entire community, and I wanted to support the community."
Interesting, if true, and it makes an important point about American sensibilities, and our sense of responsibility.
Call me a cynic if you wish, but I am not saying Americans do not care - I merely suggest our behavior says this, loudly and clearly.
If I were to tell you that my 15 year-old neice has cancer, would you jump up and start a fund raising drive on her behalf? Would you rush out and start campaigning for stem cell research, which could eventually save her life?
What if it had been a Red-Stater, or a Freeper, who had a car run through his house while he was at a convention, rather than a Kossack? Would we have started a fund for them?
. . .
Unless a thing impacts us in a personal way, AMERICANS JUST DON'T CARE.
"But, but what about tsunamis and earthquakes? Every time there is a disaster somewhere in the world, Americans send aid like crazy!"
True. But not all Americans. I have never sent a dime of aid overseas, no matter the tragedy. Sure, I feel bad for the victims - but not so much so that I'll whip out my credit card. And I know many of you reading this are the same.
So, in answer to the question on everybody's lips, when will Americans wake up?
THEY WON'T. At least not collectively, in the way so many wish.
Maryscott covered this in a recent article over at My Left Wing, and Shanikka commented on this in a diary today. They suggest that America's fall will not be accomplished in some Big Bang, but rather one piece at a time, little by little, until we wake up one day in a country we no longer recognize. And I, for one, believe they are right.
The reason Americans do not rise up as one in a righteous wave, is because the urgency so many of us in the liberal blogoshpere feel, is non-existent in most of the population. America's slow death has not impacted them personally enough, for them to truly care about it.
"So the NSA is listening in on my phone calls? I'm outraged so much I'll say something about it right now!! But, as long as I don't hear them breathing on the other end, I guess I'm too busy to act on my outrage in any meaningful way. But if something bad happens, make sure you let me know!"
"No bid contracts?"
"Extraordinary rendition?"
"Tax breaks for the wealthy?"
"Rampant vote fraud?"
"Bush broke 750 laws?"
"100,000 dead Iraqis?"
"Torture at Guantanamo?"
"Corruption and cronyism?"
"Well, these things are awful!! But I don't run a business that was hurt by no-bid contracts. And that extraordinary rendition thing, that sounds awful - I'd hate to be those guys!! It sucks that the wealthy get a tax break - but what are you going to do? The wealthy get all the breaks!! I know, the vote fraud is terrible, isn't it? If I lived in one of those states, I'd be pissed!! Bush breaks 750 laws, while I get a parking ticket for the meter running out 30 seconds early - man, politicians get all the breaks!! 100,000 dead Iraqis - but no one I know, so its sad and tragic, but really, what do you expect me to do about it? Torture? I'm not in any danger of being sent to Guantanamo, so I'm not really worried about it. Corruption and cronyism - show me a government that doesn't have corruption and cronyism!!"
We give ourselves lots of reasons for NOT CARING about things happening all around us...unless they impact us personally. And then, we tend to be all over it.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, or a good thing - I'm just pointing out the way it appears to be. Make up your own mind about the morality of it.
I asked in a recent diary if we had the guts to take our country back. And upon further reflection, I don't think its about guts. I think its more about comfort.
I think we are too comfortable to take our country back. I think it is too easy to throw our collective problems into an abstract heap and wait for someone else to solve them.
So when will America "wake up?"
Sorry, I just don't think we will, and certainly not in the naive way so many around here seem to be waiting for...