A lot has changed in the world recently and social media and the internet have a lot to do with it. The youth of today have grown up in a facebook and youtube world. Within that, an opportunity to share your own rarefied, distilled understanding of the world with the youth of today emerges.
While I read this site and others voraciously trying to gain insight, occasionally I am shocked to discover that a 15 year old has something to teach me.
I want to share with you a video of a speech made by a 15 year old following some civil disobedience and police actions in London recently. This kid is my new hero (sorry Sarah Proud and Tall, I might try to friend him on Facebook and un-friend you to keep my facebook friends total at one).
This kid really understands political messaging. My favorite line of his is:
Well thats why we need a university education. if we don't get one we end up in police uniforms
This line got me thinking about uniforms. He could have said fatigues instead of police uniforms if he was protesting the wars, he could have said a suit if he was protesting capitalism, he could have said a Tyvec jumper if he was protesting nuclear, etc.
The bottom line is that uniforms are respected as long as the leadership of that organization acts responsibly and is held accountable. When no one is held accountable and the leaders of those organizations mess up, respect for the uniform is lost.
So where are we now?
Banking leaders nearly destroyed everyone's security recently
We are involved in a number of unjust and morally questionable war actions
Energy leaders are destroying the environment (think BP-Gulf of Mexico, Fukushima, mountaintop removal, fracking etc.)
I think we have a problem
I think it is capitalism.